13. Elizabeth
As Will drove me back home, I could not help but reminisce over such a wonderful time I had just had at Charles’s place. He was the total opposite of what I thought rich men were like.
Most rich people are known to be arrogant and snobby. I mean, Will was an example, but Charles was different—he was so down to earth!
God, now I wished I could be adopted as his daughter. I could not even remember the number of rooms his assistant had mentioned that he had in his home.
Being his daughter won’t be a bad idea! I joked to myself as I looked out the window, admiring the scenery as Will drove.
Speaking of Will, he had been silent since he began driving. Not like he spoke a lot, but I could tell he had something on his mind.
It was at that moment it occurred to me that he had gone there for business.
Now, I was curious but, at the same time, scared to ask him if he was able to seal his contract. They barely had time to talk over dinner because Charles and I conversed so much.
Oh, oh, hope I didn’t ruin things for him, I wondered as I suddenly recalled that he had been silent through most of our conversations as well.
As we approached my home, I summoned courage within me, making up my mind to ask him once we were parked.
In less than five minutes, we had reached my apartment building.
“Thank you for tonight,” I said.
“Sure,” Will replied coldly, and it was at that moment I wondered if I did something wrong.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked, but he didn’t even turn to look at me. I sighed and turned my gaze forward.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t intend for that to sound the way it did. Umm . . .” He paused again, causing me to wonder what could have happened. “I’m sorry for being . . . umm . . . a jerk at times. I know you find me arrogant, proud, and egotistical, and for that, I’m sorry.”
To be honest, I did not see that coming. “Why the sudden apology?” I asked because I was surprised; I needed him to communicate what the issue was rather than be silent about it.
“I got the contract.”
“What? That is good news! Oh my god! Congratulations, Will!” To think that I was worried I had ruined things. “But why the mood you are in?”
“I . . . umm . . . I would like to say a huge thank you!”
“For?”
“For being here tonight and for helping me. You’re the reason why I got the contract.”
“Me? How is that even possible? All I did was talk with him, nothing more.”
“Exactly, Liz! Your talking is what got us the contract!”
“Really?”
“Yes! And I owe you one big time!”
“Oh, wow.” I placed my hands on my chest as I felt them racing so fast. I honestly never thought conversing with him was the key.
I did it because I enjoyed his company.
“I’m glad I was of help then. Now I feel like I have done something good to you in return for the loan you gave my business,” I said as I locked eyes with him briefly.
There was a lingering look in his eyes, one I didn’t want to interpret.
“You don’t have to. I’m glad I did. Thank you once again for tonight,” Will said genuinely, and I could feel the genuineness behind his statement.
As our eyes met and locked for a moment, the atmosphere inside the car seemed to intensify, the heat becoming even more palpable than before—even with the air conditioning on.
It wasn’t until I felt the heat in my cheeks and neck that I broke the gaze.
With my heart racing and my thoughts trying to process what just happened, I picked up my bag with the hopes of leaving the car soon.
“Speaking of . . . umm . . . your business, we should talk about it soon. Probably schedule a meeting, and we can get to put some strategies in place if you’re in for it.”
“Of course I am! Thank you,” I said gratefully yet anxiously, still not over the moment we just had.
“Where and when would you like us to meet?”
“How is tomorrow at six p.m.?”
“That’s perfect! It’s not like I have much to do. So how about meeting at a restaurant?” I suggested.
“No, that will be too crowded. We could do my place.”
“Your place?” I asked to confirm that I heard right.
“Yes, my place. Any problem?”
“Oh no, not at all. I would be there,” I said, even though the thought of being at Will’s place with him made me feel some kind of way inside.
I don’t know what to call it, but it felt like butterflies in my stomach, as people often say. To some extent, it did worry me. Why did I feel that way? It was just a meeting with Will, nothing more.
“Good! I would ask one of my drivers to pick you up.”
“Oh, no need to bother. You just send me your address, and I’ll be there.”
“And how do you think it would look if I can’t send my driver to pick up my fiancée?”
Knowing Will, there was no way I was going to win this battle.
“All right then. Guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then,” Will said as I opened up the door to alight from it.
“Good night,” Will added, waving slightly to me as I walked down to the entrance.
As I got into my room, I could feel my heart racing again. The only question I had in my head was “What just happened?”
There was a moment back then in his car, and even he was aware of it. But what concerned me even more was the pace I felt in my heart. Why was my heart racing as though I had just run a 100-meter race?
Elizabeth? You had better be in order!
I reminded myself that this was all business. The last thing we both wanted was emotions involved. Yet, despite my efforts to rationalize, it still weighed heavily on my heart.
Pushing the thought aside, I hurriedly freshened up before settling into my bed.
Reflecting on the evening, this was by far the best outing Will had ever taken me on. How I wish more could come! More of tonight! Because for the first time in a very long time, I was genuinely happy.
I did not think about my business or how much of a failure I was. I was happy.
Turning to the other side of my bed, I thought of Will and how he seemed different this night than other nights. Where do I even start? Was it the moment he apologized? Or the moment he said thank you so genuinely? Or was it the endless stares from him? Especially when we were still at Charles’s place.
Although I convinced myself it was all a part of the charade, to be honest, a part of me knew it wasn’t.
Letting out a breath, I picked up my phone with the intention of calling Lydia, but then, as I thought through it once more, I knew there was no point. There was no need to bother her about this thing with Will.
It was all a charade, anyway.