Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
LUKE
T he days move by extremely slowly as I count down until I head for LA. Even if Dei doesn’t want a fling or a relationship, I’m just excited to see her and have her back in my life. We had a lot of fun together when we were kids. It would be great to hang out like old times.
Who the hell am I kidding? I want her badly and I don’t care that I’m seriously considering breaking the bro-code.
“Luke?” my boss calls.
“Yeah?” I ask, realizing that he directed a question to me. I look around the conference room at the few co-workers who are with us. “Sorry. I was running some facts and numbers in my head.”
“No worries,” Mr. Casady states. “I know we’re putting a lot of pressure on you to lock this one in. If you get it, you’ll have proven yourself to the whole company.”
“I know,” I huff.
“Is everyone clear on what’s going on?” Mr. Casady looks around the room as everyone nods. “Good. If Luke calls at any point while he’s in LA, even if it’s on your cell, make sure you answer. I don’t care what time or day it is. Got it?”
Everyone, including me, acknowledges his directive with a nod.
“Good,” Mr. Casady says. “Why don’t we all take a break. Enjoy an early day. And Luke…relax a little before your flight.”
“Thanks, Mr. Casady.”
Once I’m home, I head to the gym in my apartment complex, needing to take out the stress and anxiety.
The potential deal has me wound tight, as well as the tension of not seeing Deidre for the past two weeks.
I’ve found myself masturbating to photos of her from the wedding I have on my phone, and let’s just say, I’ve increased how often I do it.
Fuck! I’m getting hard just thinking about her.
Thank God no one else is here at the moment.
I jam my earphones in and crank the music, needing to tire myself out.
After a cold shower, I text Deidre.
Hey, Tyson.
I start packing, trying to figure out what extra clothes to bring just in case she wants to hang out. After about ten minutes, my phone buzzes.
Did you bust a hip while busting a groove?
LOL very funny
I thought it was.
She’s in a good mood. This means she’ll be up for seeing me.
I’m flying out tomorrow. You busy the next few days?
Maybe
Come on. You know you want to catch up again.
What’s your schedule?
I’ve got an early flight tomorrow with a lunch meeting. Depending on how it goes, I could be heading back up Sunday. If not, I might be staying a few extra days.
I might be able to squeeze you in…since you’re like family and all.
Ouch! That hurts. She sees me as family.
Just one friend hanging out with another friend while in town.
I’ll let you know tomorrow.
Sounds good.
Early the next morning, after not sleeping much, I’m on the short flight down to LAX.
The company has a car pick me up and take me to the corporate housing building in Santa Monica.
The driver helps me with my bags up to the apartment, which I’ve stayed at two times before.
The place is completely furnished. It comes with maid service, dry cleaning, and a company vehicle. I have a company card for food and gas.
I map out where I need to go, using an app to check when the best time to head out will be, so I don’t get stuck in the typical LA traffic. I review the documents for this deal several times, but I keep getting distracted by the potential of seeing Dei tonight.
By eleven, my travel app alerts me to get on the road.
Dressed in a business suit, I take the BMW to the restaurant located in Brentwood.
This part of the business is pretty easy.
Most owners want to know you before they make a deal.
If they like you, and better yet, trust you, the deal will close just based on your interactions with them.
I know that two other firms are vying for this deal.
“Mr. Anderson,” I greet, standing up from the table. I arrived thirty minutes early, hoping to respect their time and consideration as well as impress them.
“Mr. Bradbury,” he returns. “You’re early.”
“I didn't want to take any chances with the traffic.” I shake his offered hand. “Please, call me Luke. Mr. Bradbury is my father.”
“Luke, it is,” Mr. Anderson replies. “Call me Miles.”
“Yes, sir. Thanks for meeting with me.”
“You’re welcome. This is my wife, Katherine,” Miles introduces. “I hope you don’t mind that she joins us.”
“Not at all,” I state, offering my hand to her. “I know that you two conduct business together. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Anderson.”
“Looks like someone’s done his homework,” Mrs. Anderson praises. “Please, call me Katherine.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I remain standing, waiting for them to be seated. “I know you’ve been very influential with certain aspects of the family business.”
“Aren’t you sweet?” she comments.
I smile and nod my appreciation.
“I had to see it for myself,” Miles comments, sitting down after pushing in his wife’s chair.
I lower to my seat. “What’s that, sir?”
“Ever the gentleman, too,” Mrs. Anderson applauds.
“I was impressed with your overall work,” he continues. “I had to meet the young man behind all the rumors myself.”
“Rumors, sir?” I chuckle nervously, taking a sip of water.
“Rumors about whether you were as young as they say you are. I’m not surprised. Some of those in the business industry think you need to have years of experience before reaching the levels you’re already at…and you’re what? Barely twenty-five?”
“I’ll be twenty-nine at the end of the year.”
“Ahh,” Miles replies. “Well, why don’t we order, and then we can discuss things?”
“Sounds wonderful, sir,” I reply.
For the rest of our meal, there is no mention of business.
The three of us discuss our ideas of business in general as well as politics, but not any actual business that may transpire between us.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson ask a few personal questions, nothing too invasive beyond who I am and how I got into the firm.
I’ve always been good with numbers. It was pretty easy to understand business thanks to my father owning the company.
He wanted to give me a higher position with the firm, but I turned him down.
I was raised to prove myself first. Plus, I knew it was a little test. Before college ended, I started working with Dad right away and have excelled beyond many of his employees who have been there for years.
There are a few men who don’t like how quickly I’m climbing the ranks, but they can’t complain since I did start at the bottom.
If Dad plans on me taking over the business someday, I need to know how each level operates to keep it going and profitable.
“So, Luke,” Mrs. Anderson poses with a smile. “Are you returning home right after our meeting, or are you staying?”
“I’m staying,” I return. “I have a friend who lives in the area.”
“Is it a lady friend?” she asks.
“Yes. An old friend I hadn’t seen for eleven years until recently.”
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson grin, looking back and forth at each other.
“What are your plans, then?” Mrs. Anderson inquires.
“With the friend? Playing it by ear,” I mention as I sign the bill.
“Testing waters?” she assumes.
“Something like that.”
“Well,” Mr. Anderson sighs. “I think you should definitely enjoy your weekend, Luke. Celebrate with her if you can.”
“Celebrate, sir?”
Mr. Anderson’s smile widens. “Tell your father we accept and we’ll reach out to you first thing Monday.”
“Thank you, Sir…Ma’am,” I return, standing when they do. I reach out to shake their hands.
“You’ve earned it,” he comments. “We loved what was sent over. We just wanted to get to know you.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you. Enjoy your weekend as well.”
“You as well,” Mrs. Anderson replies.
We shake hands before I escort the two of them to the valet.
Once they drive off, my car arrives right as I finish texting my father about landing the deal, and to call when he’s free.
Eager to celebrate, I call Deidre and leave her a message about the meeting being done for the day, hoping to have someone to celebrate with.
It takes just about a minute or two for her to call back.
“Congrats,” she beams over the phone.
“Thanks.”
“So, I guess this means you’ll be leaving Sunday then?” Dei presumes.
“Yeah,” I sigh, realizing that I won’t get extra time with her.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to make the most of it with our celebration tonight.”
“Really?”
“Really,” she confirms. “Text me your address and I’ll be to you in about an hour.”
“Cool,” I answer. “What did you have in mind?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know the area better than me. I wasn’t sure if you had any suggestions about where to go which would determine how I’d be dressing,” I say.
“Keep it casual,” Dei instructs. “Then, we’ll go from there.”
“Sounds good, Tyson.”
“Stop calling me that,” she requests.
“Why?”
“I didn’t even throw a punch at my mom,” she says.
“Me calling you that has nothing to do with your mother. Remember Tim and Carl and the ass whooping you gave them when you were nine?”
“Shit, I almost forgot,” she says, laughing. “Okay, enough reminiscing. I’ll see you in a bit.”