Chapter 19
"I'm so glad we have finally come to this agreement." I signed the contract sprawled out on the conference room table between Winston and me. For the past two months there were so many opportunities to blow this but he had finally agreed to sign with us for a period of three years. The profit he gained off of our clients decisions toward longer term investing with the gains we go them quickly just worked out.
"Me too, and I think we'll have a fruitful relationship." Mr. Harper waited patiently for me to sign each document then pass them to him.
When he said "fruitful relationship" all I could think about was Cici. She hadn't responded to my drunken text messages and it had been a week. I wasn't surprised. I read and reread them myself. I wasn't ashamed of a single one, and I'd have told her the same to her face if she had just called me, but I didn't dare just show up at her office or at Beck's house either.
"Something on your mind?" Winston asked as he took another document from me.
"Ah, no. Just some relationship struggles. I'm sure you and Mrs. Harper have had a few over the years." My father was a conman of sorts, and he taught me that if I was going to lie I should make it as close to the truth as possible so I could remember it and not be caught off guard when someone questioned me. Relationship problems were really what I was having, of the fake variety. Now that Winston was signing, I was obligated to tell Cici she didn't have to help me anymore.
"Oh lord yes, we've had our share. I'm so glad you and Cici have a strong relationship though. You'll get through whatever spat it is. It takes open communication and willingness to hear each other out. That's all." He scrawled his name on a few more lines and clicked his pen shut. "Well there you have it. We'll get these papers filed at our office and get you copies. And you tell Cici I said hello." He stood and shook my hand and I watched him walk out.
Disappointment crept into the corner of my mind. I sat down and ran my hands through my hair. She didn't want me at all, that much was clear. Even when I had been very honest with her about how I felt and what I wanted, she was distancing herself. I had made a fool of myself in that cabin, so why didn't she stop me? When I initiated sex, she didn't hesitate. I had asked her if she wanted it, if it was okay. She had agreed, demanded even.
"Sir? Mr. Adler is waiting downstairs. He said he needs to speak with you." My secretary stood in the open door with a stack of files in hand. I looked up and nodded, wondering what horse shit he'd be dealing today. When she walked away I dragged myself out of that conference room chair and stopped by my office to grab my phone and send a text to my driver to take me to lunch. By the time I got downstairs, the car was out front and Beck was standing by it waiting.
He had his arms crossed over his chest, scowl on his face. It reminded me of the jailer in that movie Cool Hand Luke. Always glaring at the prisoners. Beck thought he was a tough guy, and I understood. If Cici were my sister, and some man like me were hitting on her, I'd be chasing them off too He just didn't realize that she wasn't just another plaything. I loved her.
"We need to talk," he stated in a very stern manner. I almost chuckled at how he thought he could take authority over me, but decided not to poke the bear again. That shiner he gave me last weekend still hurt.
"Get in." I opened the door and waved off the driver, then climbed in after him. He looked tense. He had bags under his eyes and looked like he hadn't shaved for days.
"Look, Drew, we've been friends a long time," he started. "You basically made me the man I am. I really look up to you like a father or big brother."
As he spoke, I began to realize why dating Cici was so off limits to me. He looked at me as family, probably because he'd never had a father. His grandfather had tried, but Beck had just been so damn angry and rebellious his whole life, no one had gotten through to him until me. I was the one who helped him change his major. He followed my footsteps, helped me build my company, then took off on his own, just like a son would do.
"I know you slept with her, and I'm really hurt that you would take advantage of someone so much younger than you. All I've ever wanted to do my whole life was protect Cici from the world."
I thought carefully before responding. "She doesn't need protected from me, Beck. Yes, we had sex, but she is twenty-five years old. She consented and enjoyed that sex." He glowered at me as I said she enjoyed it but it was the truth. "I know there is no way you could possibly understand this because of our history, but I actually really care about her. I think I love her."
"No." He huffed and grabbed handfuls of his own hair before shaking his head. "Why do you keep making this worse? She is just a baby. You are not in love with her. You are way too old for her and--"
"She's a grown woman, Beck. Stop treating her like a little girl."
"Stop the car!" Beck tapped on the glass furiously until it cracked. "Stop the car."
The car continued to bump along the road for a while, and I took advantage of that time. "Look, I understand you're upset, but if you just think about this rationally, you'll understand I just want to take care of her."
