Chapter 32
Daniel
By lunchtime on Monday, I was growing anxious knowing I still hadn’t heard from Heart.
It had been three days since the silent auction where we bumped into each other.
I thought it was something like fate that had brought us together that night after she asked for space.
Now, I wasn’t so sure. We seemed to be back where we started.
I felt like I was on a rollercoaster that I didn’t want to get off yet.
The highs felt limitless, and the lows felt bottomless.
If it were any other woman, I would have brushed this off, but there was something about Heart.
And it wasn’t just because she was carrying our baby.
Or that the sex was the best I had ever had. She was different.
Impatiently, I drummed my fingers on my desk as I stared at my computer screen.
All my gifts had been delivered over the weekend, but I still hadn’t heard from her.
I became desperate this morning and phoned Leading to Learn to let them know I wanted to double my donation, hoping it would get her attention.
It was a ridiculous ploy that clearly didn’t work.
I let out a sigh of frustration. Clearly, she wasn’t one who responded to gifts. Again, different from other women I had been with.
I wondered what the hell could have happened in the course of an hour for her to leave the hotel and not hear from her again. I had been racking my brain for three days and couldn’t figure it out. It was eating away at me—I had to know.
Standing, I quickly grabbed my jacket from my chair, sliding it on. I walked out of my office and swiftly through the lobby, pressing the button for the elevator.
“Mr. Jacobs?” asked Margaret from her desk.
I looked over and she stood looking nervous.
“Yes, Margaret?”
“You’re stepping out?” she asked.
“I have somewhere to be.”
“But what about your meeting?” she asked, glancing at the clock.
Shit. I had a meeting in fifteen minutes with a representative from London.
“Reschedule it,” I said.
It wasn’t the smartest move, given that this deal with London had been a pain in my ass. I knew it would be worth it, but the time I had poured into making sure all the details were right had been exhausting. This fight, or whatever this was with Heart, wasn’t making it any easier.
“O-okay,” she replied.
The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside as I watched Margaret frantically look through her papers and pick up the phone. London would just have to wait.
On the curb, I texted Armand and he pulled the car around.
I gave him the address for Heart’s work, and we were on our way.
Her building wasn’t far from mine and I could feel my uncertainty start creeping in as we got closer.
It was probably a bad idea showing up at her place of work, but she had really left me no choice.
The car pulled up to the curb and I stared up at the building, wondering what my next move would be.
Armand cleared his throat. “Sir, we’re here.”
As if I didn’t know.
“Thank you, Armand.” I nodded.
He got out and came around to open my door.
I stepped out and smoothed my suit before walking inside.
I rode the elevator up to her floor, trying to come up with some excuse as to why I was there to see her.
We hadn’t been working together on the donation paperwork, but surely it wouldn’t be odd for us to have a meeting.
She was the one I initially wanted to work with before things got complicated.
The elevator doors opened and the girl at the front desk looked up sleepily, only to be brought to life suddenly.
“Um, hello. Mr. Jacobs. Welcome.”
“Hello,” I said, placing my hands on her desk.
“What can I help you with?”
“I am here to see Ms. Heartly. Is she in?”
“She should be. Do you have a meeting?”
“Yes,” I lied.
“Right this way.” She stood and I followed her down the hallway, feeling the watchful gazes of the staff. I had almost forgotten about the phone call I had made this morning that would change their entire company. They must have heard the news.
“I just wanted to say we are just so excited about your generous contribution to our nonprofit. It truly is amazing. The whole office has been talking about it,” said the girl as we walked.
They definitely all knew.
“I like being able to help. Ms. Heartly made it clear the important work you do here. It’s admirable, and I’m happy to do my part.”
“Well, here we are,” she said, knocking softly on the closed door.
“Come in,” Heart called.
My heart rate picked up a few paces as the door opened and I walked inside. Heart was looking down at her desk, focused on writing something on a post-it. She looked so effortlessly pretty in a pinstriped button-down and a makeup-free face. I suddenly felt very anxious.
“Mr. Jacobs is here for your meeting,” said the girl from the front desk.
Heart’s face snapped up and she saw me standing in the doorway. I suddenly felt very hot. The looks that crossed her face were a dance of panic, confusion, and anger.
“Thank you,” said Heart coolly and dismissively.
The door closed behind me and we were alone.
“What are you doing here?” she asked pointedly, sitting stiffly in her desk chair.
“I had to see you,” I said, taking a step closer. “You disappeared the other night…”
“I had to go.” Her words were clipped as she crossed her arms.
“And then you wouldn’t return my calls or texts.”
“I guess I was busy.”
“Well, did you get the gifts I had sent over?”
“Yes, I got your exorbitant number of packages that were delivered.” She sighed.
“I just wanted to help out…”
“More like you wanted to buy my attention when you weren’t getting it.”
“That’s not true,” I said, even though it partly was.
“I’m not that kind of girl, Daniel. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that. I can’t be bought with expensive dinners at French restaurants or gifts from Bergdorf’s. Maybe the other women in your life were easily won over with that, but I’m not one of them.”
“I know that. That’s why I like you.”
“But you don’t like me enough to be seen with me in public. Would it hurt your image?” she asked with a sarcastic pouty face.
“Is that what this is about?” I asked, feeling exasperated.
“I saw this morning’s tabloids. You have no problem parading around someone half my size wearing next to nothing.”
“Those pictures were from last year!” My voice rose an octave.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not who you’re meant to be with. I’m not like those girls. I don’t know what sort of games you’re playing.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I’m trying to protect you from the cruelty of the press? They’ll hunt you down. They’ll dig up your past. You don’t need that stress. Not with the baby.”
“Oh, the baby that you don’t even want?” she asked, shooting me a look.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I heard you the other night. Talking to that man about how you had no interest in marriage or babies.”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t know she had heard that awful conversation that I had to smile through like I believed what I was saying. I must have sounded like such an asshole. No wonder she left.
“Yeah, what a fun conversation to walk in on…” she snapped, noticing my surprise.
“Heart, I didn’t mean any of it.”
She crossed her arms and looked at me as if my nose was growing.
“I’m serious. It was all business. I was just trying to schmooze that guy and tell him what he wanted to hear so we could possibly do business together in the future.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” she muttered.
“I know, but it’s true.”
“Even if it’s true, it’s ridiculous, Daniel. Why would you pretend to be someone you’re not to impress some asshole? Unless, that is who you are.”
“It’s not. It was stupid. But it’s just how business works. You have to understand.”
“I don’t have to do anything. I don’t know what is true or what’s for show with you. If I was doubting you before, now I know I can’t trust you at all. Not to be a father. Not to be a boyfriend. Not be in my life at all.”
“You don’t mean that,” I said, walking behind her desk.
“Don’t,” she said, giving me a look that could have killed me right there if I took another step closer.
I put my hands up to show I meant no harm. “Please, just listen to me.”
“No, I don’t need you trying to get out of talking like you did Friday night. You can’t just pretend there’s nothing wrong by getting me into bed with you,” she said, getting to her feet.
That wasn’t fair. We both got lost in each other in that hallway. In that suite.
“It takes two,” I reminded her.
She rolled her eyes, and that pissed me off.
“Don’t act all high and mighty when you’re the one who came up with me to that hotel room. No one forced you.”
“How dare you.” Her face turned a bright shade of pink. I wasn’t sure if she was blushing or angry.
“Face it. You’re scared too. That’s why it’s easier to fuck than to talk.”
“I never wanted any of this!” she cried, shaking her head.
“Really? Because that first night at my place, you were singing a different tune. In fact, you were screaming my name on the bar of my counter.”
My frustration was fueling the words that were coming out of my mouth quicker than I had time to process them.
“I-I…” she stammered.
“You what?” asked a voice from the doorway.
I looked up suddenly and saw Heart’s boss, Brian, standing there. He looked between the two of us with his head cocked and his questioning brow raised.
“Brian!” Heart exclaimed loudly, pushing past me. “It’s not what it sounds like.”
“Really? Because it sounds like you had sexual relations with a business associate.”
“I can explain,” I said.
“Don’t,” said Heart sharply, whipping her head around.
“Addison?” asked Brian.
She turned to face him and I could see her body tremble as she took a deep breath.
“I’m so sorry, Brian. I just…lost my head for a second.”
“Well, unfortunately, that is not a good enough reason for going against our ethical business practices here at Leading to Learn. I’m so disappointed in you, Addison.”
“But, if you’d just—”
Brian held up his hand and shook his head. “I think it’s best you start looking for another job,” he said. “One that doesn’t trade sex for money or donations.”
He turned to leave, but not before looking to me and giving me a solemn nod.
“Mr. Jacobs,” he said, closing the door behind him.
Heart kept her back to me. She was so still, I couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not.
“Heart,” I said softly, reaching out and putting her hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t touch me,” she said.
I removed my hand. “I’m so sorry. Let me talk to him or—”
She turned quickly and faced me. “No. Haven’t you done enough?”
Tears welled in her eyes and I wanted nothing more than to wipe them away, and pull her into my arms. I had made such a mess of this. Of everything.