11. Chapter 10
Sarah
It's Saturday morning and I'm all cried out.
Thankfully, I organize my schedule so that I don't have to work on weekends unless there's an emergency.
When I enter the kitchen, a pang of pain goes through me because I worked on this with Mitchell and until last night I was extremely happy with him and our relationship.
My doorbell rings, and I cringe because I really don't want to deal with anyone right now. When I open the door the last person I would imagine would be on the stoop is Meghan, Mitchell's daughter.
"Hi Sarah. I was wondering if you had a minute to talk with me."
"I don't know, Meghan. I'm in a weird place right now."
"I think I can help with that. Can I come in?"
I watch her as she keeps that smile on her face. I mean who is this happy in the mornings? Should I even be talking to her? She thinks I've been keeping her father away from their business.
"Okay, there's coffee. Are you interested?"
"That would be great."
I show her to the living room and she sits down on one of the chairs. I go to the kitchen and start the pot I have ready to percolate. I take out two cups and two little plates and check in my refrigerator to see if I've got any more of Mrs. Bates snickerdoodles.
I don't feel any regret at leaving Meghan waiting as the coffee starts to brew. I don't know how to talk to her. She's a businesswoman in charge of a big architectural firm that has billion dollar customers. I start to feel small, but then manage to keep myself from spiraling down.
I bring the food on a silver tray that was my grandma's favorite and place it on the coffee table in the living room. I pour the coffee and push it towards Mitchell's daughter. Should I say my piece first?
"I'm sorry I've kept your dad busy with my house. It happened so fast, and I truly believed he was a plumber."
"You don't have anything to feel sorry about. My dad explained how you two met. I think it's romantic."
"I don't know about that."
I look down into my cup and take a deep breath. I don't even know about this woman's mother. Is she still alive?
"My mother died when I was fifteen. Dad threw himself into work, but still managed to give me enough attention that I grew up right. He wasn't the same, though. He sort of hid inside himself and disappeared. I think that's why he was relieved when I took over the company."
"He no longer had to deal with clients face to face or have to lead the most important projects. He was missing something, though. And that something has come back since he met you. I've actually got a lot to thank you for."
"Your father has been very kind to me, but it bothers me that we started our relationship on a lie."
"Could it all have been a misunderstanding?"
"No, he knew I thought he was a plumber or a handyman at best. He did tell me he was an architect, but why would someone as successful as your father want to help someone like me?"
"You're not giving yourself enough credit there, Sarah. I spent last night talking to my dad, and he couldn't stop talking about you and how wonderful you are."
I blush at her candid words. I could come to like Meghan. She seems to be a straightforward person, which I really like.
"I think he's wonderful too."
"Will you come with me? I'd like to show you what my father built in the past thirty years."
I'm reluctant to go with her, but I'm also really curious about Mitchell's life and work.
"Okay, I'll go with you."
Meghan keeps up the conversation while she drives, and I wonder where we're going. Finally, we make our way to the downtown area of the city, and she points to a vast building.
"That's our building."
My eyes go wide open as we near a skyscraper. She goes inside the building and with her card opens the way to the parking. We drive through several floors of parking structure and then finally we get to an area that looks reserved for executives.
Meghan parks there, and I follow her as she gets out of the car.
"Dad started this firm when he was around twenty years old, just out of college. He had a small office on the outskirts of the city and he worked his ass off to be able to grow a client list. I'm very proud of him. I don't know that I could have done what he did."
"I'm lucky that I've sort of inherited the business from him. He didn't let me coast, though, he made me learn every position in the firm until he was sure I could run things by myself. I don't do it all myself. My husband, whom I met at the firm, helps me."
She shows me the huge lobby with the company name facing forward. I wonder what it would feel like to work in a luxurious place like this. We go upstairs through the elevators and go into a floor where there are a gazillion desks. Two to three people seem to be working today and she waves at them.
"This is where all the architects work and plan their designs. Some tables are for drafting work. This is the place where blood, sweat and tears are shed on a daily basis. There's one more thing I want to show you."
We take the elevator again and go into a floor with marble floors and high ceilings.
There are many doors around and I'm hoping she's taking me to where Mitchell works.
I would love to see what this side of his world is like.
I follow Meghan to one of the offices furthest back, and when she opens the door, she immediately stops talking.
"Dad, I didn't know you would be here."
Meghan stopped so suddenly that I crashed against her back, and when I move to the side I see Mitchell looking at us as if he's seen a ghost.
"I wanted Sarah to see what you've built all these years."
Mitchell is silent, but his eyes are boring into me as if he's wishing for me to put all of this behind us. Or at least to give him another chance. Which, I am willing to admit, I want to give him. Finally, he speaks.
"Hello, Sarah."
I feel so attracted to him right now and have to keep myself steady so that I don't run into his arms like a woman in love. He's like this super-sized magnet that keeps pulling me towards him.
"Meghan, would you give us a minute, sweetheart. I need to talk with Sarah."
Meghan, the traitor, leaves the room and closes the door behind her. Now it's just him and me, and I don't think I'll be strong enough to push him away if he makes a move towards me. Fuck, I love the stupid man.
"What did Meghan say to you to convince you to come all the way down here?"
"It wasn't just what she said. I wanted to see what you created."
He stands up and takes a step closer to me. I'm frozen in place and can't seem to utter a word. I need him to know how I feel.
"Mitchell, you hurt me."
"I know, little one. I am so sorry. I think I would do it again if I had the chance, because the work I did at your house brought us together. Now I don't think I can live my life without you. I love you, Sarah."
I take a step towards him. My body is shaking and my heart is beating so fast it feels like it might burst out of my chest at any moment.
"I love you too, Mitchell."
He walks the remaining distance between us and scoops me into his arms. I hold on to him tightly and don't think I could ever let go. Not in a million years.
"Do you forgive me, Sarah?"
"I have to because I'm madly in love with you."
"Will you go home with me? We never finished our celebration last night."
"It doesn't matter where you take me, so long as we're together, Mitchell."
We didn't make it out of the office until after a long while, but later on he took me to his penthouse in a fancy building and showed me how the other half lives. I don't know if I'm made to live that kind of life, but if it's with Mitchell at my side, I'm willing to give it a try.