elegant architecture—not the modern look. I want beautiful ornate windows along with delicate frescos.”
“What kind of business do you run?”
“Investment company.”
“I understand.” He wanted his business to reek of money, to smell like success. Every person who walked into his office needed to know just how well that business was doing. If they believed in the company, they would throw more money at it.
“So, are you the person for the job?”
“I think so.”
“Great.” He immediately rose to his feet like he was in a hurry. “My lawyer and I will meet you at the site tomorrow, if you’re free.”
Why did he need his lawyer present?
“Also…” He pulled out his checkbook and scribbled a number. “Consider this my deposit.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“I insist.” He set the check on the desk. “I want this done as quickly and efficiently as possible. I can’t afford any sudden drawbacks.” He buttoned the front of his jacket and walked out. “I’ll give you the address tomorrow.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
He waved then disappeared.
That was the easiest job I’ve ever gotten. Hawke knew exactly what he wanted and knew he wanted me for the job. I wish all my conversations were that simple.
Showtime
Kyle
I was nervous this would blow up in my face.
Hawke sat beside me in the coffee shop across the street from the lot where the building would go. Hawke already acquired the lot as well as the permission to build, so now he just needed the architect to begin. He sipped his coffee slowly with a bored look on his face.
“I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”
“It’ll be fine. When she gets here I’ll step out with an important phone call from my wife.”
“Even then…”
“I already gave her the deposit. She’s stuck.”
She could just rip it up.
“And she’s already cashed it.”
Even then, she could just give it back.
“Pretend you had no idea,” Hawke said. “That’s not too hard to do.”
“Lying isn’t too hard to do?” I asked incredulously.
“When the love of your life is on the line, you say and do whatever is necessary to keep her around. So put on your gear and get ready.”
“Why are you doing this for me?” He didn’t owe me anything, and I almost took Francesca away from him.
He shrugged. “Whatever is important to Francesca is important to me.”
“But you’re actually letting Rose build your office. That’s a big sacrifice.”
“All the architects are the same. It’s my vision. She’s just drawing it out.”
“Even then…”
“It sounds like she knows what she’s doing. From what I read on her site she’s worked on a significant number of landmarks.”
“She has.”
“So, I’m sure she’s fine.” He sipped his coffee again.
I watched him, eyeing the watch on his wrist. “You don’t hate me?”
“Why would I hate you?” He pressed his lips tightly together as he rubbed away the coffee stain from his mouth.
“I was with Francesca for nearly a year…” I wasn’t just an ex-boyfriend. I was going to marry her at some point. I never received confirmation for it, but I suspected Hawke knew about my proposal. Axel must have told him. Why else would he swoop in and ask Francesca to marry him first?
“I know. And you were good to her. So I have no reason to hate you.”
“It’s still awkward…”
“Not really,” he said. “After we got married our lives started over. It doesn’t seem like there was ever anything before us. It’s hard to understand, but trust me, you’ll get it someday.”
Maybe I would. But I probably wouldn’t.
“What is it about this woman?”
I shrugged. “What is it about Francesca?”
“Touché.” He held up his mug. “She and I are going to start trying again.”
“For another baby?” I asked in surprise.
“Yeah. The doctor said everything is ready to go.”
“Wow…congratulations.” They just had one kid. I couldn’t imagine trying to take care
“What kind of business do you run?”
“Investment company.”
“I understand.” He wanted his business to reek of money, to smell like success. Every person who walked into his office needed to know just how well that business was doing. If they believed in the company, they would throw more money at it.
“So, are you the person for the job?”
“I think so.”
“Great.” He immediately rose to his feet like he was in a hurry. “My lawyer and I will meet you at the site tomorrow, if you’re free.”
Why did he need his lawyer present?
“Also…” He pulled out his checkbook and scribbled a number. “Consider this my deposit.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“I insist.” He set the check on the desk. “I want this done as quickly and efficiently as possible. I can’t afford any sudden drawbacks.” He buttoned the front of his jacket and walked out. “I’ll give you the address tomorrow.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
He waved then disappeared.
That was the easiest job I’ve ever gotten. Hawke knew exactly what he wanted and knew he wanted me for the job. I wish all my conversations were that simple.
Showtime
Kyle
I was nervous this would blow up in my face.
Hawke sat beside me in the coffee shop across the street from the lot where the building would go. Hawke already acquired the lot as well as the permission to build, so now he just needed the architect to begin. He sipped his coffee slowly with a bored look on his face.
“I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”
“It’ll be fine. When she gets here I’ll step out with an important phone call from my wife.”
“Even then…”
“I already gave her the deposit. She’s stuck.”
She could just rip it up.
“And she’s already cashed it.”
Even then, she could just give it back.
“Pretend you had no idea,” Hawke said. “That’s not too hard to do.”
“Lying isn’t too hard to do?” I asked incredulously.
“When the love of your life is on the line, you say and do whatever is necessary to keep her around. So put on your gear and get ready.”
“Why are you doing this for me?” He didn’t owe me anything, and I almost took Francesca away from him.
He shrugged. “Whatever is important to Francesca is important to me.”
“But you’re actually letting Rose build your office. That’s a big sacrifice.”
“All the architects are the same. It’s my vision. She’s just drawing it out.”
“Even then…”
“It sounds like she knows what she’s doing. From what I read on her site she’s worked on a significant number of landmarks.”
“She has.”
“So, I’m sure she’s fine.” He sipped his coffee again.
I watched him, eyeing the watch on his wrist. “You don’t hate me?”
“Why would I hate you?” He pressed his lips tightly together as he rubbed away the coffee stain from his mouth.
“I was with Francesca for nearly a year…” I wasn’t just an ex-boyfriend. I was going to marry her at some point. I never received confirmation for it, but I suspected Hawke knew about my proposal. Axel must have told him. Why else would he swoop in and ask Francesca to marry him first?
“I know. And you were good to her. So I have no reason to hate you.”
“It’s still awkward…”
“Not really,” he said. “After we got married our lives started over. It doesn’t seem like there was ever anything before us. It’s hard to understand, but trust me, you’ll get it someday.”
Maybe I would. But I probably wouldn’t.
“What is it about this woman?”
I shrugged. “What is it about Francesca?”
“Touché.” He held up his mug. “She and I are going to start trying again.”
“For another baby?” I asked in surprise.
“Yeah. The doctor said everything is ready to go.”
“Wow…congratulations.” They just had one kid. I couldn’t imagine trying to take care
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