Hi guys, this is my first attempt at writing this. I would love to hear your feedback and what you guys think. It's a little rough around the edges but I am working on a part 2 of this and will make the tweaks based on what you have to say. Happy reading!
"Congratulations Mr Williams," said Jared, holding out his hand to him. "Thank
you
Jared," emphasizing on the word you, "this wouldn't have been possible without you." Mr Williams was one of the best clients that Jared has ever had. He was an old 64 year old man, but undoubtedly, one of the strongest and determined men he'd met so far. He wasn't going to give up that easy, especially not on his company, something that he had worked on since he was 21 years old. It was going to be a tough fight but Jared was planning on winning it, something he was good at and the very reason he was hired in the first place. Mr Williams was looking to expand his company by buying out one of the other business in the market. It had been a long way coming for both sides but at last with everything finalized and settled, Jared was ready to take a break from his work. Something that was long overdue.
He had thrown himself in to his work after he and Sharon had broken up two years ago. It hadn't been one of those ugly break ups. They had been together for a long time, and moving in together was one of the worst things that they could have done for their relationship. Being a successful investment banker dating one of the best lawyers in town wasn't a great combo. It had started out very well – expensive gifts, private dinners and extravagant holidays. They were the power couple. He was tall and handsome and she was gorgeous and curvy in all the right places. Everyone was jealous of them. But life wasn't always going to be a bed of roses. When they got busy with their work and saw less of each other, they decided to move in together so that they could come home and be with each other. They did come home to each other but work came along with it. They would sit next to each other, but were worlds apart at the same time.
One day, sitting in bed, Sharon turned and looked at him. He looked at her and knew exactly what she wanted to say. They had the 'Talk.' They both agreed that they cared for each other but somewhere down the line, the love was lost. Things were pretty much easier after that. She moved out of his place and the state. She took up a job that was about to slip away because she wasn't sure how Jared and she were going to make the whole 'long distance relationship' work. After which, Jared made work his life. Not that he needed the money, just the distraction.
He hadn't had much time after that for anything, let alone dating. There had been women who were throwing themselves at him but he wasn't the least bit interested. They were, no doubt, beautiful and he had noticed that. They were women who any man in his right mind would never say no to. But that was the thing that turned Jared off. They wanted him because he was successful and good looking. Not one of them made the the attempt to get to know him – they just wanted to jump him.
Jared returned and sat down in his office after everyone had left. He sat in his chair loosened his neck tie, settling his elbows on his desk and covered his face in his palms. He was exhausted. And not because of the work involved in the closing of this case but of the two years he'd had. He let out a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. He just sat there, flushing out the excitement of his peers and other employees who were planning out their Friday evening. He swirled his chair around and looked the view from his office window. It was the most break taking view. He could see the entire city from here. The noise of the vehicles and people bustling about was muted out and that was the best feeling in the world for Jared – the slience. In that moment, he stood on his feet and went to his boss's office. He waltzed into Gregory's office without knocking - not that he ever did and today was no different. Gregory raised his index finger indicating him to wait a moment. He was on a call. Setting the phone down, he turned to Jared with the most content smile, "What can I do for you Jared?"
"I was thinking of taking up my vacation days and taking a break." Gregory gave him a very fatherly smile. He knew Jared well and treated him like a son. He had wanted him to take a break for a long time but knowing Jared, he didn't push him too hard on that, knowing very well that he'd come to his senses one day and tell him himself. And today was that day. "Something told me that you might ask me that today," with a slight grin, "so I haven't assigned you any new cases since the Williams one."
Jared was surprised but pleasantly. If anyone knew him better, it was Gregory. Had he not only carved the path that put Jared where he was right now but was always understood him and said and did the right things at the right time. And today was another example of that.
"You can take the next two months off," he continued, "if you want more that can be arranged as well."
"No, I think two months is more than enough." Jared replied.
"Sure thing Jared, let me know if need more." He assured me. It was as though he knew what the future held for me.
Jared thanked him and walked out of his office.
~
Jared poured himself a glass of scotch and sat in his couch with his laptop. He went on to a site where you can buy properties. Jared had always wanted a beach front house and now seemed the perfect time to do so. He browsed through a few options and his heart was instantly set on one of them. It was a beautiful modern two storey house with a driveway leading to the garage that could easily accommodate two cars. Then entering into a beautiful living area with a fireplace extending to the ceiling dividing the dining room from the living area. The dining room was not too big nor too small with windows up to the celling leading out to a deck which faced the beautiful beach. The deck had stairs leading to the bare sand on the beach. The kitchen was fitted with the latest technology and a breakfast bar in the centre which was lit up by a light extended from the ceiling. It had a pool which was probably the size of an Olympic pool, Jared assumed. And winding staircase leading to the upper floor at the far end. The lower floor also had a gaming room and TV lounge. Moving up there were three bedrooms, an en suite master bedroom with a walk in wardrobe. The other bedrooms had a common bathroom. Jared couldn't care about where he slept. The selling point for him was that there was a balcony with the most amazing view of the sea.
Jared knew in an instant that this was the house that he wanted. Over the next week, he got his 'guy' to get in touch with the agent and bought the house for the asking price. He would've paid him more if they had asked for it. He wanted it and he got it. That's all that mattered to him. It was partly furnished with the essentials but it was not to his taste. It didn't have the homely feeling when he walked in.
So he decided to hire an interior designer to get this place set up as he liked it. This time, it wasn't going to be his 'guy' to do this because he wanted to make sure that everything was up to what he liked and he was going make sure he was going to see to that personally. He got that best company to send over their best interior designer for a meeting at his new beach house.
~
It was a Wednesday afternoon, when the bell rang. He opened the door and was greeted with a cheerful smile.
"Hi, I am Caitlyn Conner from Studio Red Designs, I am here to meet a Jared Stone."
"Hi, I am him. Please come in."
Jared opened the door wide for her come in. She passed by him and he felt a brief wave of perfumed air – it was Caitlyn's. It was subtle but not enough to ignore. He let out a slight smile and closed the door behind her. He walked behind her and noticed what she was wearing. It was a baggy trouser with dark coloured abstract designs which didn't really reveal the shape of her legs. That was topped with a white short sleeved t shirt which was as long up to her hips and slightly hugged her torso. She wore a wheat color sleeveless bolero which covered only her breasts. Her dark maroon hair was down and was slightly wavy. This was new to Jared. Most of the women he met with wore much more revealing clothes, with cleavage and high heels – the whole deal. That was the norm for him and seeing this was weird for him.
"The view is amazing! I bet that's the reason you bought this place." She interrupted his observations.
"Yes and yes." He answered her with a proud smile on his face. A smile which a parent wears when his child's achievement is complemented. And that was true, because this house and the view was now Jared's child.
"And that's why I will need your expertise to make sure the entire house does justice to the view." He said sounding a little more serious now.
She must have sensed that, because she turned around and said "And that's exactly what I will do for you."
The next few hours were spent discussing Jared's likes and dislikes. She noted everything down. She asked all kinds of questions to make sure she didn't miss anything out. He felt a little awkward sharing details about him at first but as it went on he found himself that he didn't mind sharing what his preferences were, considering he was a very reserved person. Was it was her heart-warming smile or her naturally bubbly personality that affected him to tell her everything without hesitation, he couldn't figure out. They walked into every room of the house and Caitlyn took down notes while listening to Jared's view of what he wanted.
Jared had a peek at her notes when she excused herself to use the facilities. There were ramblings that he couldn't understand, with drawings next to it, not that he understood why but he was impressed with her drawing abilities. But didn't say anything when she returned.
