39. BEN
39
BEN
“ T hat’s right, it’s all custom-made,” I said to my new client on the phone. “We’ll fly you in to look at the options, and you can decide exactly how you want it.”
A knock sounded on my door.
“That’s perfect. I’ll wait to hear from your assistant, and we’ll take it from there,” I said.
The door opened and someone walked in, but I focused on my laptop, entering the new details of the client so that we could get this plane sale through.
Work had been so good lately. It was almost as if my mood, my new outlook on life, changed the way clients responded to me and how many sales I made.
“I’ll be with you in a second,” I said, not looking up, and I made the final notes.
When I finally looked up, Richard Thompson stood in front of me. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed back, his beard trimmed, and his dark eyes rested on my face.
“Richard,” I said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
I stood and walked around my desk, extending my hand.
Richard took it, to my surprise. The last time we’d seen each other we hadn’t exactly parted on good terms.
“I wanted to talk to you,” Richard said. “I thought it would be better in person.”
I nodded and gestured to the armchairs that faced my desk so he could take a seat.
“Can I get you something to drink? I can order coffee for us—”
“No, nothing, thanks,” Richard said with a wave of his hand.
He crossed one leg over the other and unbuttoned his blazer before he put both arms on the armrests and looked at me.
His expression was a little disconcerting but I kept my poker face in place, offering him a million-dollar smile.
“How can I help you?” I had no idea what he would be here for.
“I saw the press release on TV,” Richard started.
I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Is it true that you’re funding the project yourself?”
I nodded. “We’re starting next month with the basics. The idea, as you know, is to eventually have a Blackwood factory and marina there, but the town can use the help, and I’d like to focus on that first. The yacht business is booming as it is, and the new location for our branch can wait a while longer.”
“Mm,” Richard said and I had no idea what he was thinking. “I didn’t expect that from you.”
I blinked at him. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
“You, putting your own money behind it. You didn’t strike me as the humanitarian type.”
“I wasn’t, to tell you the truth,” I said honestly. “I was fighting a lot of demons, and sometimes, it makes a man unable to see past his own struggles. But I’ve had a few epiphanies along the way, and the simple fact is that the people of Harborview could really use the rejuvenation. I’ve seen what their circumstances are, and I want to make a difference.”
Richard narrowed his eyes at me. “How involved is Sofia in this?”
“Oh,” I said. “She’s very involved, actually. She’s spearheading upgrades to the hospital there; we’re working on getting the right permissions.”
“You’re still working together?”
I nodded. “We are. She’s very excited about the change. She might have to take some time off in the next couple of months… we’re expecting a baby and I don’t want her to strain herself.”
Richard raised his eyebrows, and then he looked confused.
“Look, Richard,” I said with a sigh. “I know I screwed up. Badly. When I told you that we were married, it was a mistake. I should never have lied to you and for that, I’m deeply sorry. But Sofia and I… I guess pretending to be together opened our eyes to something more, and now that we’re starting a family together, we’re facing the future as a team.” I smiled just thinking about her.
When I looked at Richard again, I wasn’t sure what his expression meant.
“So, you’re together, then?”
“I haven’t proposed or anything, but I plan to marry her,” I said. “I’ve never met someone who could change things for me the way she does. It took losing her to realize what I really want to fight for.”
Richard nodded as if confirming something to himself. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“I knew it couldn’t only be an act. Two people who aren’t in love can never pretend the way the two of you were with each other. I was disappointed that you lied to me, and that’s why I called off the investment, but love… you can never fake something that’s so real.”
He was right, of course. It had been impossible to fake what I’d felt for her, and I’d long stopped trying to pretend.
“I want in,” Richard said.
“What?” I asked, blinking at him.
“The rejuvenation project, the investment, I want to be a part of it. I want to invest money and I want to help where I can. Harborview needs it, and I was committed to getting involved from the start. Now that I know what I saw is real, and what you’re doing is from the kindness of your hearts and not just as a facade, I want to be a part of it.”
“Oh,” I said, surprised. “Of course. If you’re happy to get involved… I can draw up some paperwork today and we can see where we can form a partnership.”
“That sounds good,” Richard said and stood. He reached over the desk, holding his hand out to me. “Thank you, Ben.”
“For what?”
“For not letting a love like that slip through your fingers. A love like that is hard to find, and when you’re lucky enough to come across it, you hold on to it as tight as you can.”
I smiled. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
Richard let go of me. “I’ll wait to hear about the paperwork.” He walked to the door. “Oh,” he said just before he walked out, turning to me. “Congratulations on the new addition to the family.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile, and when Richard left, I turned to the view of the harbor outside my windows.
Things really were working out the way they were supposed to. Who knew it had just taken me getting out of my own way? God, I could be such an ass sometimes.
But with Sofia in my life, and our baby on the way, I was going to focus more on not being an ass. And best know I wasn’t going to stand in my own way ever again.
No, I had a family to focus on now.