14. Ian
Chapter 14
Ian
“ I ’m just saying, Ian, you might want to think about it. It would help get you off everyone’s list of eligible whatevers and the story will die down after a couple of weeks or so. You should ask her about it." Sawyer says over the phone as I pace the back of the plane.
“I can’t, man. One, I don’t think she’d go for it and another, I’m not too sure there’s anything I could offer her to make it worth her while. You didn’t see the look on her face when she realized this was all happening.”
“Really, dude? You’re a billionaire and you don’t think you have anything to offer her?”
“Sawyer, I don’t think she’s all about the money.”
“Everyone’s all about the money. Haven’t you learned that by now? No one does anything without a price.”
“When did my little brother become so cynical?”
“You’ve dated enough bitches to know.” Sawyer sighs. “Besides, the answer is always no, if you never ask.”
I look over at Mia and see that she’s fallen asleep. “I’ll think about it.”
“You do that. In the meantime, I've contacted Gabriel Hughes to ensure everything is prepared for when you arrive. He assures me that security will be tight. But she won’t be able to go home tonight or any time soon. Have you told her that, yet? Where are you going to put her? Want me to call The Breakers in Palm Beach and get her a suite?” Sawyer offers.
“No. I’ll handle it. Thanks, man.”
“What’s family for? Call me when you get home.”
“Will do.” I hang up with Sawyer and grab a blanket out of the linen closet to bring to Mia. When I approach her, I see that she’s fallen asleep with her hands holding her crochet needle and yarn. Gently, I pull them both out of her hands and spread a blanket across her lap and chest. I even recline the seat for her so that she’s more comfortable.
When I take her crochet to put it in her bag, a notebook catches my eye. ‘Magical Moments Bridal Business Plan by Mia McIntosh’. In all my years in business, I’ve read my fair share of business plans. I look over at a sleeping Mia and wonder if she’d mind if I read it.
The business plan is rather hefty as I pull it out of her bag and replace it with the crochet. I open it up to the first page and start reading and find myself pulled into the world of bridal sales.
The business plan is good; one of the better ones I’ve ever read. Mia made a lot of notes on the margins that she’s yet to put into her plan and some of her figures are selling herself short, but overall, it’s a solid, if not an excellent, business plan. And Hibiscus Harbor needs a bridal shop. Currently, all the bridal shops are located outside of the area, according to this plan.
What Sawyer was saying earlier pops up, and I’m wondering if I’m crazy for even thinking about it. Would she? Maybe if I offer to help her with her business goals.
Mia’s smart. She proved that last night at the gala, holding up her end of all the business conversations. She talked with whomever was in front of us, versus standing there looking pretty, and bored, like many other women did. Honestly, I was fine either way because she was the most beautiful woman in the room. But she’s got a good head on her shoulders and answering the phones at Gallo Enterprises or anywhere else she may go is a waste of her talents.
“That belongs to me,” Mia says, startling me. I didn’t hear her wake up or walk over to me.
I close her notebook and place my hand on the cover. “Mia, this is really good.”
Her face brightens, “Really?”
I nod, “Yes. It’s one of the better business plans I’ve ever read. What college did you go to?”
As fast as her face brightened, it clouded over again. “Um,” she hesitates as she sits down next to me on the small, tan leather couch. She looks away. “I didn’t go to college.”
“You didn’t go to college, yet you have one of the most comprehensive business plans I’ve ever read.” I’m clearly impressed.
She takes the notebook from my lap. “I’m sure it needs tweaking. It’s really not ready for anyone to read it.”
Shaking my head, “I agree.”
Shock covers her face. “You do?”
“Yes, Mia. Your plan is significantly undervaluing the supply and demand and your net profits by at least twenty percent.”
She looks at her notebook. “I am?”
“You are. I think you could actually make a lot more money than you project in there by year three. Tell me, who’s your banker? Where are you in the process of executing Magical Moments Bridal?” I turn to face her with my knee bent up and my arm across the back of the couch we’re sitting on. I want to touch her, but I’m not sure how she’d react. Especially after telling her earlier that I wanted to kiss her and now being caught snooping in her belongings.
“Oh, I’m not ready yet. I need to save more money first.” She tucks the notebook back into her bag.
I place my hand on her shoulder. “Mia, you were ready long before you met me. This is a solid plan, and if you don’t act on it, you’re going to miss the golden opportunity to be the first bridal shop in Hibiscus Harbor. And if someone else comes in before you execute this plan of yours, they’re going to be the ones with all the exclusive contracts in the area. The sooner you do this, the healthier your business will be.”
She smiles at me, “I love your enthusiasm for this,” she points to her notebook in her bag, “but I’ve only just moved to Hibiscus Harbor a week ago and I don’t have any financial backing. I can’t do this yet. I’m not ready.”
“Mia, if I had that attitude when I first started, I wouldn’t be sitting here next to you right now.”
“Thank you, Ian. Your words mean more to me than you can imagine. I’ll think about it.” She’s shutting me down. She doesn’t believe me or in herself.
Well, here goes nothing. “How about I make you a business proposition?”
“You don’t have to do that, Mr. Gallo. I’m not interested in your charity.” She shakes her head. “Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, but I want to do this all on my own.”
“It’s not charity, Mia. Although, I really appreciate you saying that. It’s rare in my circles.”
“Well, I appreciate the thought. So, when do we land?” She’s trying to change the subject, but I’m not done yet.
“Mia, I don’t want you to answer me now. I’d like for you to just think about it for a day or two. Okay?”
Mia sighs as if she’s tired of this conversation. “Mr. Gallo,”
“Ian.”
“ Mr. Gallo , I appreciate the thought, but I don’t want to borrow any money from you. This is something that if I can’t do it all on my own, I don’t want to do it at all. I’m sure you wouldn’t understand, so I’ll spare you the details, but just know that I’m grateful that you’ve even offered.”
“I wasn’t going to offer to loan you the money.”
“You weren’t?” Her cheeks blush quickly. “I’m so sorry. I just assumed…”
“I want to give you the money.”
I watch as her mouth opens and then closes and then opens again. She shakes her head and stands up.
“Absolutely not.”
“Mia…”
“NO!” Her hands splay out like an umpire calling a runner safe. “I’m not taking your money. I don’t want your money and I definitely don’t want to talk about it. End of story.” She climbs back into her seat she was sleeping in and buckles her seatbelt and stares out the window.
“Mia.”
“I’m not talking about it, Mr. Gallo. Just… no.” She won’t even look at me and I’m trying not to smile at her adamance.
“Will you just hear me out, woman?”
“I can’t stop you from talking, but it won’t change my mind. I’m not taking a dime from you.”
“We’re getting ready to land, Mr. Gallo.” Martha, the stewardess says from the front of the plane.
“Thank you, Martha.” I sit down next to Mia and buckle my seatbelt and then look up to make sure Martha has gone back behind her curtain. I need privacy when I say this.
“Mia, your life has been turned upside down today and it won’t go back to normal for some time. What I’m proposing is a business proposition. You and I play the adoring, engaged couple for the next few weeks. Once the excitement has died down and the deal with Sutherland Park Manufacturing is completed, we go our separate ways. You’ll be rid of me and my chaotic life, and I’ll give you the seed money for Magical Moments Bridal. I think two million dollars should be enough to get your business off the ground, shouldn’t it?”
Mia’s head spins towards me, “Have you lost your mind?” she whisper yells at me as her eyes dance around the cabin of the plane to make sure no one has heard us. “Two million dollars? Fake engagement? And what do you mean my life won’t go back to normal for ‘some time’” She uses air quotes.
“Two million dollars is the price I’m willing to pay to make sure this deal goes through with Sutherland uneventfully and for you to appear as my fiancé. Playing the role of my fiancé will require you to attend a few functions with me in the upcoming weeks. And your life, no thanks to me, has been upended. You can’t go home right now. It’s not safe and you’ll be swamped by reporters, stalkers, and people who will want to see you fail. For the next few weeks, you’ll be staying with me until I know that you’ll be safe.”
“What?” she whispers as she tries to process all that I’ve told her.
I turn to her just as the wheels of the plane touch the tarmac. “Just think about it, Mia. Nothing has to be decided right now. Okay?”
She doesn’t answer me, and I think I might have lost her. I watch her stare out the window of the plane as we taxi up to the hangar. Standing along the fence line is a large group of paparazzi taking pictures of the plane and trying to get a glimpse of one or both of us.
Mia’s phone pings a text message and she opens the app, reads the message, and then closes the app without responding.
The jealousy I feel is unwarranted. She probably already has someone special and I’m kicking myself for even making the proposition without knowing. It’s bad enough I’ve probably ruined whatever relationship she may have had with someone, although I’m not too torn up about that. I still don’t want to hurt her, either.
“Anything important?” I ask.
She places her phone in her bag. “Definitely not important.”
God, I want to know more about her. I hope she lets me in.