I turned my laptop off, plugged it into the charger, and then decided to take a shower. I hated that I wasn’t more excited about meeting with the investor. It was the one thing that I’d worked so hard for with my career, and I had no excitement because I’d gotten attached to Richard.
As the hot water poured over my body, I kept thinking about Addison too. She was like another Caley, so sweet and innocent. Holding her close to me was like hugging my own child, or at least the children that I one day wanted.
I’d been friends with Richard for well over a year, and not once did I cry over him. Suddenly, I couldn’t bring myself to get excited over the possible launch of my lifestyle line because he’d hurt me. All I could think about was how badly I wanted all three of us to be a family.
The worst part was, it was all Heather’s fault. If she hadn’t shown up and caused a scene, Richard and I would still be together. He’d be the first person I told about the investor inviting me out to New York, and he’d probably even tag along with me. He was good at business deals and knew how to talk with investors.
After I got out of the shower, I dried myself off and slipped on some sweats. I was cried out for the day, but I didn’t know what to do with myself. I could sit and think about Richard, or I could move forward with my life.
I chose the latter.
Leaving my laptop plugged in, I sat on the couch and went back to working on my lifestyle line. Richard had told me about five-year business plans, and I had started one on my laptop. It was impossible not to think of him as I worked on it, though. I could still hear his voice telling me about revenue projections, knowing when to invest, and when to hold onto your money, and I wanted so badly to call him.
For a moment, I considered texting him some questions about the business. We’d eventually have to talk with each other, anyway. His brother had married my sister. A quick question about running a small business certainly seemed harmless enough.
I pulled out my phone and hovered my thumb over our text message conversation, but I couldn’t go through with sending one out. It was too soon. He probably didn’t want to hear from me, anyway. I was sure he was busy with work and dealing with his lawyer.
Like he said, he didn’t have time for a romantic relationship.
I let out a sigh and stared at my business plan. The numbers looked good, so long as everything worked out well with the investor. I had an entire binder ready that listed all of my products, starting from the priciest and ending with the least expensive. In addition to it, I also had a bag full of samples that I was planning on mailing to the investor, but would just bring them with me to New York.
That’s when I remembered that Richard’s father had a penthouse in New York City. He and I could have stayed there when I went out to visit, and maybe even brought little Addison. We could have had a whole family vacation together.
No.
We were never a family, nor were we meant to become one. I would invest all of my free time and energy into my business and no longer waste energy on men. If Richard wanted to see me again, then he would be the one to reach out to me. As it stood, at that moment, I was a free, independent woman who was about to launch her brand of products.
It was everything I had ever wanted.
I opened up my email and began typing a letter to the investor:
Dear Mr. Bremerton,
I’m following up on my earlier email regarding traveling to New York City and meeting with you. As it turns out, I can be there as soon as you’re ready. Everything has been taken care of with my yoga studio.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Annie Belmont
I hit the send button and breathed a sigh of relief. A part of me was hoping to postpone meeting with the investor on the off chance that Richard reached back out to me, but I realized that was foolish. I was able to start this line of products on my own, and I’d finish it that way too.
No woman should put her life on hold for a man, and mine would move forward with or without Richard.
20
Richard
Ithrew my bag down on the sofa as soon as I got back to the penthouse. It had been a long work meeting, and all I wanted to do was take a nap, but I had a conference call with Danielle, Heather, and her attorney. My work meeting hadn’t gone as well as I would have liked, which only put me in a worse mood for the conference call.
It was scheduled for two in the afternoon, which gave me a few minutes to have some lunch. I put together a quick salad with some leftover chicken, then sat down on the couch. I didn’t even want to look at my laptop or phone for emails. It felt like that’s all I did lately, and I needed to take some time for myself.
At precisely two in the afternoon, Danielle called me and conferenced in Heather and her attorney, Donald Rathburn. Per her instructions, I kept my end on mute to keep it as professional as possible.
“Donald, Heather, and Richard. Everyone’s here, so let’s begin. The last time you and I spoke, Donald, I gave you a counteroffer for the lump sum payment. My client doesn’t feel as though he should have to pay back child support either but is fine with future child support. So, where are we with the numbers, Donald?”
I heard some papers shuffling in the background, which I assumed came from Heather’s attorney. “Danielle, my client, has declined your offer. She’s holding firm at the original dollar amount plus back child support payments.”
