Chapter 10 - Luke
Luke
“Okay, so we all agree—smaller companies need one pitch, and the big whales need another. Stewart, you, Colin, and Gabe, dig into the smaller companies. Look up their financials, upcoming events, collaborations, influencer ties—anything useful to tailor our approach. Ethan and I will focus on the big publishers. If anyone has ideas about authors who fit our collaboration profile, let me know.”
The meeting with my sales team was going smoothly, but my mind kept drifting off.
Usually, I had no trouble setting personal distractions aside and focusing on the task—whether it was refining a sales pitch, solving problems, or figuring out the fastest route to the ER when Alex dislocated his shoulder after an overzealous beer pong victory.
Today, my mind kept drifting back to this morning.
Hazel and that ridiculously oversized box she was trying to catch, disappearing around the corner before I could help.
Just a glance, a half-smile tossed over her shoulder.
Too quick to mean anything. Too gorgeous to ignore.
There was something about her, light on her feet, always in motion.
Like if you blinked, you’d miss her. I nearly did.
“LUKE!”
I snapped back to the room, pulled from the fog of my own thoughts.
“Yes?” I said, straightening up and clearing my throat. “You were saying?”
“Ethan was saying Colin has suggestions for writers who could fit our needs. Should he email you?” Ethan repeated with that weird I-know-what-you’re-thinking-about tone, leaning slightly forward and a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, definitely. And—” My phone rang in my pocket, cutting me off. I glanced at the screen. “Let’s take ten, then regroup to go over the details.”
I stood and left the room, letting the team chat behind me as I answered.
“Hey, Dad. What’s up?”
“Hi. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Got some exciting prospects at work. I’ll tell you next time I visit.”
“That’s great. Good for you. Listen, have you talked to your mother recently?”
I sighed, already sensing the real reason for his call.
“Why?”
“No reason. I’m trying to sort out some issues with her, but she’s difficult to communicate with these days. You know how your mother is.”
“Sure, Dad. Hey, I’ve got a meeting I need to get to, so—”
“Of course, I understand. Good luck with your... meeting.”
His hesitation was clear, but there wasn’t much I could do.
Even if I solved all their problems—real, imagined, or hypothetical—they’d find something new to argue about.
I wasn’t sure why I even stayed in touch.
They’d never done anything outright abusive during my childhood, but it has always been hard to build a real relationship with them.
I ended the call and headed to the lounge for some coffee. Pouring a cup, I found myself irritated—no cinnamon. Probably because I rarely grabbed coffee here.
My phone buzzed in my pocket again.
“Luke Davis,” I answered, grabbing napkins.
“Hi, Luke.” A soft voice filled my ears. “It’s Hazel.”
I froze, cup in hand. Before explaining the reason for her call, my mind went on a roller coaster, imagining she was in trouble since that was the reason I left the note.
“Okay,” she sighed, sounding defeated.
“Sorry—what?”
“It seems every obstacle has been removed—not by my doing, mind you. The only reason not to accept your offer would be my stubbornness, which isn’t my favorite quality. So, if your offer still stands, I’d like to accept. Hence, the ‘okay,’” she said hesitantly, waiting for my reaction.
A grin broke across my face before I could stop it. Thank God no one was around to see me looking like a complete idiot.
“Oh my God. I can physically hear you smiling,” she said. “Keep it in your pants!”
“No, I’m not,” I said defensively, though my tone betrayed me.
“If you plan to give me crap about this or hold it over my head, just say the word and I’ll decline right now.”
A warm feeling spread through my chest, the same one I’d felt at the bookshop, seeing her up close. The frustration from my last caller vanished instantly. I carefully picked my words to avoid freaking her out, though I doubted she meant her warning seriously.
“Well, Hazel, that’s a wise and excellent decision. Nicely done.” Professional tone, appropriate word choice, no teasing.
“Okay, good. But I have questions and rules,” she said firmly.
“I’m listening.” Her tone was all business, and I did my best to stay professional, just like she’d requested. It was cute. Like a tiny little banker.
“First, thank you for the gift. It’s kind and thoughtful, but I... I can’t accept it. It’s too much, too expensive, and—”
“Did you like it?” I interrupted.
A sudden laugh filled my ear. “Of course, it’s Austen. But still...”
“Then keep it. I didn’t buy it, I got it from someone who didn’t really need or value it, so it’s yours,” I explained. Another pause.
“I want to pay for my own ticket.”
“Absolutely not, next question.” I sipped my coffee.
“Luke!”
“Hazel, as I said, it’s covered by the company. I don’t need your money, so it’s fine. Let’s meet when it suits you, and I’ll explain more about the trip and everyone going.”
“Mhh.” I could sense her struggling to argue about the money, but my reasoning held. I suspected she couldn’t easily afford an international flight, and I wasn’t going to let her stress over it.
“Okay, I’m busy the next two days, so maybe Friday? When do we leave?” I liked how she used the word we.
“We fly out on Sunday. Friday works for me.”
“I’ll probably see you before then if you guys come by for coffee. Till then, I guess.”
“Deal. And Hazel...”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad you’re coming. It’s gonna be great. The sea needs you.” What? The sea needs you? What kind of garbage compliment was that? You’re not even flirting, which, by the way, you promised you wouldn’t do.
“Haha, thanks. Till later. Bye!”
And my day suddenly got better. Ah, Friday felt so far away. I finally had to buy those tickets now. I pulled out my phone, saved Hazel’s number, and sent a quick message asking for her personal info.
Half an hour into the meeting, we were in a heated discussion when my pocket vibrated again.
A text from Hazel with her info, which I immediately forwarded to Sally, my secretary.
She was one of the few women with whom I had a strict no-flirt policy.
Not because she wasn’t attractive, but because business was business.
I needed a strong team, no distractions.
We had an unspoken understanding, and she’d definitely kick my ass if I tried anything.
I quickly skimmed Hazel’s text.
Hazel Ridley.
Ridley. Where have I heard that name?
The meeting ran longer than expected. It was already 6 PM, so we agreed to finish the details tomorrow. I gathered my things, and as everyone was about to leave, I decided to talk to Ethan.
“Hey, man, you’re gonna find out soon, so I’ll just tell you and ask you not to make a big deal out of it.”
“What the hell? Who starts a conversation like that?” Ethan looked concerned.
“Nothing. I asked Hazel to come with us to Portugal, and she said yes. So yeah, she’s coming.”
“Hell yeah, man. That’s awesome.” Ethan said, throwing me off.
“Really? I thought you were gonna give me shit about it.”
“Oh, I will. I would much rather enjoy abusing you in a group. Don’t get me wrong, you are totally into her. But Hazel’s cool. Watching you embarrass yourself in front of her is just a bonus.”
“You’re a douche, you know that? There’s nothing between us. She’s nice, but not my type.” What a load of crap. I couldn’t fool even a 5-year-old.
“Oh, right. Because cute, blonde, beautiful women with blue eyes are definitely not your type.”
“No, I mean women who want a relationship with me are not my type.”
“Who said she wants one?” He got me there. Sure, she responded to me sometimes, that didn’t mean she wanted anything serious. Maybe I shouldn’t worry too much. The wife club would leave me alone for now, and Hazel would just enjoy the vacation.
“I don’t know Hazel that well, but I know you, and you are the one in trouble.”
“Whatever, man. Did Summer give you some of that strong weed she’s smoking? You know you can’t handle that stuff.”
“Hey, where did this idea come from that I can’t handle my weed?”
“Somewhere around when Logan and the flamingo incident happened.” I patted his back as we left the conference room, remembering the idiots we used to be.
* * *
Thursday flew by despite working until 10 PM.
There were endless meetings, competitor analysis, and things to organize before the trip.
I didn’t even get lunch, which meant I didn’t see Hazel.
Well, technically, I saw her across the street from my fourth-floor window, but the odd thing was that she had the damn box again. Was she traveling like that now?
Anyway, it was Friday, and I needed a stronger coffee than what we had at the office. Ten minutes later, Alex, Logan, and I were crossing the street.
“So, Alex, isn’t your anniversary with Ava coming up?” I asked as I opened O’Riley’s door and stepped into a warm cloud of roasted coffee beans.
“Yes, next week,” Alex confirmed.
“Have you figured out what you’re getting her?” Logan asked.
“I’ve got some ideas,” Alex said mysteriously. “But I’m not telling you guys anything. You can’t keep your mouth shut.”
“I’ve never done anything like that! How dare you?” Logan said dramatically, like he was in a Greek play. “Did I ever tell Luke about the time you hooked up with Tracy at that college party? Same one he was at?”
My laughter turned to shock. “What?”
Alex looked at Logan and said sarcastically, “Thank you for that. Ask me again why I don’t tell you anything.” Logan grinned, enjoying the chaos. “And Luke, take a chill pill, you kissed at least three other women that evening if I remember correctly.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right.”
The queue finally moved, and we were greeted with a bright smile.