Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
MAIA
T here’s a reason I didn’t become a lawyer. I hate paperwork and confrontations.
If given a choice, I’d love to spend my day coming up with new and innovative ideas, programming, or…I’d do anything but reading contracts and discussing backup plans.
However, I have to spend the rest of the day with Suzie looking into the Haux deal.
We want to make sure there aren’t any loopholes in the contract we sent them. We went through all the possible scenarios where Gatsby could damage my company or my reputation. So far, we believe everything is in the clear.
All the clauses are self-explanatory. There’s nothing hidden, or that might give the impression that I’m trying to take advantage of these young entrepreneurs. My mission is to help young people with their ideas and push them to succeed.
A part of me wants to tell Gatsby that, unlike him, I don’t exploit young minds—as he did with me.
The partnership with Haux Drinks is going to be a success—for both companies.
Suzie and her team have to discuss the logistics of how we’ll distribute the drinks.
We’ll see which restaurants will carry those drinks.
I doubt their production is big enough to cater to the entire city of San Francisco.
At five, Jackie peeks into my office. “It’s time to go home.”
I wave at her. “See you tomorrow.”
“You have barre class at seven,” she reminds me.
“Thank you,” I grunt because that means I need to leave now and pick up my things before heading to class.
This should teach me to bring a change of clothes every day, but there’s no doubt that I’ll continue to forget.
Begrudgingly, I turn off my computer and pack my stuff.
It’s not like I can’t continue working after my class.
Actually, I plan on pulling an all-nighter since I lost my entire workday thanks to him and his family.
Since the sun is still out, I put my eyeglasses away. I can use the prescription sunglasses that are in my car.
“Goodbye, Jackie,” I say as I drag my ass out the door.
She grins. “I’m recording this. You’re leaving with the rest of the employees.”
“As one should do when your assistant is so pushy.”
“I’m not sorry about it.”
I take the staircase to the main floor instead of the elevator.
When I pass reception, I realize Owen is already gone.
I’ll check with her tomorrow since she’s going on maternity leave next week.
I haven’t given her the gift I bought for the baby or the gift card I got for a diaper service.
As I make my way to the parking lot, I type a reminder on my phone.
I’m only a few feet away from my car when I feel it. I feel him . I look up, and I come to a complete stop.
My heart pounds hard, so hard it’s the only sound I can hear. My blood rushes through my body along with adrenaline. This must be a mirage.
But it’s not an illusion.
It’s him.
Gatsby fucking Spearman.
My breath catches in my throat.
It’s been fourteen years.
Fourteen long, short, impossible-to-erase, but easy-to-push-away years.
I just gawk at him, too shocked to speak or walk. I’m afraid this encounter won’t go as I planned. I’m not ready. Actually, I’m too angry at him to have a conversation. I’m mad at him, at myself for feeling defenseless like the eighteen-year-old who almost lost everything because of this bastard.
He left me naked and vulnerable. And all I want to ask is, why did you leave me?
I resist the urge to punch him or slap him with my laptop bag. Tapping the side of my hand, I remind myself that I’ll be okay. This is my turf and whatever he wants with me…well, he can’t have it.
He’s still devastatingly handsome. Gatsby leans against my car, arms and legs crossed. He wears a white button-up shirt under a suit that fits him like a second skin.
He’s delicious—tall, broad shoulders, and dark, inky hair.
I remember how it was to run a hand through his messy hair.
God, I was so fucking stupid.
I laugh.
I literally laugh in the middle of the parking lot like a maniac.
What in the world did I think when I thought a guy like him could be in love with a stupid eighteen-year-old girl like me? He was so out of my league. That’s what happens when your parents shelter you from the outside world.
Once I recover, I continue my way toward my car.
“You’re loitering.”
He takes off his aviator sunglasses. “So, not even a hello, Little Blue?”
I glare at him. I don’t know how to answer. Young me would be elated because that nickname meant everything to me. I swore it signified I was special to him, that he loved me, that I was his sky, his star, his… I was nothing. I realize that I never used my brain while I was around him.
Gatsby Spearman meant the universe to me. I gave him too much power, so much that he broke me when he left…I almost died of sadness.
I roll back my shoulders and lift my chin up. I’m not that girl anymore.
“What do you want, Spearman?”
His eyebrow arches. He scratches his chin and studies me for several beats. “This is precious. You’re mad at me. After everything you’ve done, you have the audacity to be upset with me.”
Is he drunk? “I haven’t done anything to you.”
He nods. “Don’t lie, Maia.”
I’m not going to get into a stupid conversation with him. “Why are you here?”
“It was time to confront you. To be honest, I feel blindsided. You seemed to have declared war against me because…” He shrugs as if saying, I’m at a loss . “The least you could do is tell me why and the ground rules. Now you’re messing with my family, and that’s unacceptable.”
This is my fault for not researching the company.
I understand why he’s upset, and though I’m not happy about it, I have to concede.
“I apologize if you thought I was doing business with them for any other reason than their drinks. You can’t deny they’re amazing.
I had no idea Haux Drinks belongs to your family. ”
“It does, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stay away from them.”
Maybe withdrawing the offer is the best for us.While Suzie and I were working on the contract, we discussed the possibility of going with another company. She said she’ll be researching this week. I’m glad we have a backup plan because I’m not going to deal with the Spearmans.
“Should I assume that Paradise Bay Wines is yours too?”
He narrows his gaze. “Why are you trying to fuck with my family?”
“I’m not,” I say, walking around the car and setting my belongings in the trunk. “As I said, I had no idea you owned Haux Drinks. We’ll be happy to withdraw our offer and go with a different company. I’ll make sure to stay away from the winery too. Anything else?”
He moves right in front of the driver’s door, blocking me. “What’s your problem, Maia?”
Our eyes lock, I cross my arms. He watches me with a hot gaze beneath those hooded eyes. I fight my body and the need to squirm under his attention. Is this desire?
It doesn’t matter, Maia. He’s the enemy. Don’t be a fool.
This is a game to him. I hurt his little ego, and he needs to show me that he’s bigger and better than me. He’s not.
“What’s my problem? You’re blocking my door.”
He shakes his head. “You have something against me. I want to fix the issue, but it seems like you don’t care.”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.” There’s no hesitation in my voice.
“I’ve been trying to speak to you for the last few years, and your assistant keeps telling me that your calendar is full. Every time we announce that I’m buying a new company, you take it from under my nose. Am I missing something?”
I give him a sweet smile. “It’s business. Nothing personal.”
“The fuck it’s business. You have a vendetta against me. I can take the punches, but my patience is running thin, sweetheart. If you want it all, I’ll give it to you, but you have to stop torturing me.”
I can’t help but smirk when I learn this affects him. That’s all I need to call this a successful day. If he thinks I’m going to stay, listening to his deep, sexy voice, he’s wrong. I walk around the car, unlock it, and climb through the passenger door.
Big mistake.
He’s sitting in the driver’s seat before me. He locks the car. “Maia. You can’t avoid me anymore.”
“I can and I will.”
He turns on the engine—stupid keyless cars—and puts the car in reverse. “Put on your seat belt. We’re going for a ride.”
“I don’t care about this field trip.”
“I’ve given you many chances to discuss this peacefully, forty-four to be exact. Each time your assistant swore that your calendar was full for the next century. Now we’re doing this my way.”
“This is called kidnapping.”
“It’s not. Would a kidnapper take you home?”
“You don’t know where I live.”
“But I do.”
I almost gasp. Everything I own is under a pseudonym, so no one can track me. How did he do it? “I’m calling my lawyer and getting a restraining order.”
“That sounds like a PR nightmare for both of us. Put on your seat belt, Maia,” he orders.
He’s right. There’s no way to explain this mess, is there?
He fucking broke my heart, and I’m so pissed that I’ve been trying to build an empire while destroying him.
Yeah, it sounds pretty crazy. I sit back and do as he says, not because I’m allowing this nonsense, but what if we get into an accident and I die for not wearing the seat belt.
“What do you want, Spearman?” I’m staring out the window, trying to ignore his cedary, musk scent.
“I’m trying to figure out your endgame.”
“If I were a man, you wouldn’t care about my company or my wins. You’d just accept them blindly. You’re just mad because, despite everything, my company is successful.”
“Please don’t call me a misogynistic asshole. I’m fucking proud of you, but that’s not why I’m here. You crossed a line, and I’m sick and tired of seeing you take away my deals. Why are you acquiring 59PM?”
My heart stutters. He’s proud of me? I remind myself who he is—the enemy.
“Maia, 59PM?”
Well, there are so many reasons, but he doesn’t deserve to know any of them. “It’s a good addition to MarkTech.”
He makes a buzzing sound as if this was a game show. “Wrong answer, try again.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Maia, why are you trying to take 59PM from under me?”
“Your ego is so big, you think this is all about you.”
“Let me tell you why I’m buying that project management engine, Maia. I believe it’s easier to buy it since the company is crumbling. With a good update, the software can make a difference to small businesses and nonprofits that can’t afford software like PMCloud.”
But what about the people who are losing their jobs? He doesn’t care about any of them.
“Another way to tell others that you’re a good person. If only they knew the real you.”
He comes to a complete stop. I realize we’re parked on the shoulder of Bayshore Freeway, right before the airport exit.How fast has he been driving?
“What does that mean?”
I look at him, astounded by his question.
He’s serious? After everything he did, he isn’t even acknowledging his actions. I seriously meant nothing to him. Nothing. He said we were friends. Best friends. He loved me like he’s never loved anyone, the way the sun loved the moon. He swore that he was born to love me for eternity.
I believed him.
I believed his lies and then some. I created so many illusions in my head. He never cared about me. Never.
Though I came out from the debris, I know I’m still broken and hurting. I know because I realize my body is still hoping that he’ll envelop me into his safe embrace and tell me it was a bad dream. He never meant to leave me.
But I remind myself that he disappeared without looking back.
I remind myself that I’m a star—one of the brightest.
I don’t need permission from anyone to shine. I don’t need him to love again. If he can’t remember what happened, I don’t have anything to discuss.
“If you don’t know, I can’t help you. Take me home,” I order.
“You haven’t answered my questions.”
“You might think this is funny, or you have some right, but you don’t. This is making me feel unsafe and attacked.”
“That’s not what… I’m not going to hurt you.” He curses under his breath and drives in silence.
All I want is to curl under the bed and stay there for a few days. I won’t. He’s taken too much from me, and I won’t allow him to mess with my life.
When we arrive at my house, he parks in front of the garage. He knows where I live, but who told him?
“What happened to you, Little Blue?”
I get out of my car, go to the trunk, and pull out my stuff, ignoring him.
“Maia,” he calls me.
I close my eyes, gathering the last drops of energy that I have left in my body. Once I’m ready, I turn around and glare at him. “I’ll withdraw my offer to Haux Drinks tomorrow. As for 59PM, it’s up for grabs.”
He stares at me, confused. “You changed.”
“That’s what happens when someone breaks you into a million pieces. I might not be whole, but I don’t take shit from anyone.”
His gaze narrows. There’s a fury within him. “Who broke you?”
“You’re precious, Gatsby Spearman.” I laugh and make my way into my house. Once I’m safe, the laughter becomes a sad, bitter cry.
I allow myself to bleed just this once—one last time before I put my armor back on.