GREG
I didn’t recognize the number on the phone and since it had been such a long time since I had seen Mandy, I didn’t even think that it could have been her. Instead of answering, which I would have done if I would have known, I let it go to voicemail and turned my phone off for the meeting that I had with Darryl and his lawyers. I was there for a merger, but it was starting to look like me and the old man was not on the same page. It was one of those days that I wasn’t too interested in being there, my mind back in Watertown and the weekly trip that I was going to make to see my Aunt.
“Good morning gentleman. It is good to see that everyone was able to make it today.”
Darryl was the first to get up and shake my hand. I had worked with him for years on similar projects for other companies, but now it was his own company that he wanted to sell. I was the one to do it and though I was going to make a tidy sum, there was no pleasure in the end of such a long working relationship. There weren’t that many more businessmen to work with like Darryl. He was honest and I always knew what to expect from him because he always kept his word. To me, that was priceless.
“Good to see you as well Greg. It looks like you had a long week.”
I kind of chuckled and though I knew it was a woman on my mind that had created the bags under my eyes. I blamed my lack of sleep on construction that was going on across the street. It didn’t bother me of course, I could sleep through the end of the world, but with Mandy constantly on my mind, it is harder than ever to actually even get to sleep in the first place.
“If that is your way of saying I look like shit, I would have to agree, though you are not looking too good yourself.”
Carter stood up and shook my hand as well, though the grip was light and quick. I didn’t really care for Carter, never have and the fact that he was even there was kind of irksome to me. I liked things to be less formal, but this was a big deal and the old man must have felt better to have someone there that was looking out for his best interest only.
“Oh come on Greg. I am almost sixty seven years old. I think I have earned the right to look a little tired.”
I kind of nodded that it was a lot better excuse than the one I had. I wasn’t going to tell him what I thought of all of it. It was a lot easier to just go with it.
“So what are we all doing here? I thought we had ironed everything out Darryl?” I was never one for small talk. I liked to do it afterwards, when you knew if it was going to be easier to be nice to them or not. If the deal went well, there were no pleasantries to make it a little more personal. Business first in my eyes.
“Well Greg, I was going over some of the numbers and…”
I just kind of sighed and sat down. I should have known that Darryl hadn’t wanted to go over it again. It was his lawyer that wanted to sweeten the pot or do something. I was under the impression that he was just worried about keeping himself and his ridiculous salary relevant, but it didn’t matter the motives, I didn’t want him putting a wrench into our plans. It was a great deal and I didn’t want him to derail it with his opinions of numbers.
“Just spit it out Carter, I don’t have all day.”
The younger man was about my age, but there was almost a lifetime of experience between us. He was a man that took orders and though diligent in his work, never was nothing more than a rule follower. He was the equivalent to a grown-up hallway monitor and the last thing I wanted to do was deal with him. Shooting Darryl a look, he just kind of shrugged like he didn’t know what to say and let him go on. We both did and I didn’t interrupt again until he was going over the deal and how much more that they wanted. The number wasn’t too high, but it was higher than I had wanted to see it go. The man was going to make me more problems than he was worth.
By the time I got out of the meeting, I was starving and my head was hurting. I turned the phone back on and saw that I had a voice mail. No one left those anymore and I saw that it was from that number that I had ignored when they had first called. When I heard the voice, I liked to have died. I knew who it was before she ever said her name in the end like I somehow would forget her. Didn’t she realize that I had thought about her for all of these years? If she did, there was no way that she would have suggested something so silly. She wanted to talk if I was going to be in town the next night. It didn’t matter what was in the plan, there was no way that I would miss that for the world. I needed to see her again and I knew that if I was going to get another chance, I was not going to ruin it.
Getting my things and calling my assistant back to get me an earlier flight, I was on a plane in less than an hour and when I touched down, the very first thing that I did was call Mandy and let her know that I just happened to be in town again that weekend and that I would love to meet up with her.
“Oh, okay Greg. That was fast. I didn’t think you lived here anymore.”
“I don’t, but I am back and forth quite a bit. I am glad that I heard your message. I would love to see you again. It has been a long time and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
I stopped before I said too much and waited for her to say something. I was starting to think that I had said too much, but she agreed. “It was good to catch up as well Greg. I have to tell you something and I haven’t been able to get it off my mind. Maybe you would like to have a drink at my house when you are available? I know that it is short notice and you are a busy man...”
“I’m never too busy for you Mandy.”
“Why don’t you come down around seven or so?”
I looked at the clock and it wasn’t even five yet. That meant that I had a little bit of time to visit with Dawn and I knew that more than anything I needed some advice. I still wasn’t sure what I had done the last time she left me and I wanted to know what not to do. I didn’t want to lose her again. I didn’t think that I could deal with it again. I was going to make her see that we were always meant to be together. I wasn’t sure how I was going to convince her yet, but I had a feeling that Dawn would have a better idea about it than I did.