Chapter 4
Grant
Beverley looked different now, but in lots of ways she was still the same. Her blonde hair was longer and reached beyond her shoulders. She kept it open these days, and it fell like a sleek shining curtain around her face. Her eyes were still the same though, green and large and she looked defiantly at me. She was dressed differently as well now. She’d traded in her old college clothes for a pair of straight gray pants and a red silk blouse. Her shoes were gray pumps and she was carrying a large leather bag with her. There were no glasses on her face either.
She followed me out of the elevator, and I had to turn occasionally to make sure that she was still there. She was avoiding my eyes, while I was constantly aware of her presence. It was like five years apart had made me more desperate for her. The moment I laid my eyes on her, I’d felt a movement in my pants. I had to do everything in my power to not take her into my arms.
“After you,” I said and stretched my arm towards the board room I’d ordered to be ready for the meeting. I was slightly disappointed that we couldn’t be alone, and that she’d brought one of her employees with her. I’d just have to work around it.
I noticed the way she walked as she went past me and into the room. She looked around her for a few moments and then took a chair, without me asking her to. Sasha sat down beside her and I took a chair across them. Other than the three of us there was nobody else in the room, since it wasn’t my intention to intimidate them.
After there had been some silence between us, I cleared my throat. Beverley shot her eyes up to look at me, and I saw the rage in them. Just as I’d predicted, she was mad at me for what was happening to her.
“I wish I didn’t have to discuss business when we haven’t seen each other for so long,” I said, directing my attention only to her. Just as I remembered her doing in college, she rolled her eyes at me.
“Just get on with it, Grant. We don’t need to exchange any more pleasantries,” she said and I couldn’t help but smile at her. Even after all these years, Beverley had no time for formalities or corporate etiquette. She wasn’t a sellout like me. Sasha looked slightly embarrassed, but I didn’t care. He didn’t know our history.
“How about I give you a number and let our lawyers take care of the rest? I don’t want this to be a negotiation,” I told her, resting my arms on the table. Beverley had hers folded on her lap.
“Sure, whatever you prefer,” she said calmy and I reached for the file beside me. I flipped it open and slid it in her direction. Sasha was the one who caught it and pulled it closer to them.
I could see his eyes widening as he read the number. Beverley had her head over the page but she hadn’t made a single move.
“This isn’t what the valuation for my company is, this is way more than necessary,” she said in a strained voice. Sasha looked nervously from her to me. He wanted her to take it right then and there before I changed my mind, but Beverley wasn’t going to keep quiet about it.
“I know,” I said and stapled my fingers. “But that’s what I think your company and hard work is worth to me,” I continued and she took in a sharp breath.
“I wasn’t looking for any favors, Grant. I’m just in the market for a buyer, that’s it,” she said and our gazes locked. Her green eyes were narrowed and darkened, she had a scorn on her face and I wished that she would just relax. But I’d never known Beverley to just relax.
“I’m not doing you a favor, Beverley. This is purely business. I can save the programs you’ve written and make a lot of money from them. This is for my gain,” I said and she looked at Sasha.
“I need to think about it,” she said abruptly.
“Bev, really, there’s nothing to think about,” Sasha cut in and I tried to suppress a smile. She whipped around to look at him and I could see that she was glaring. Sasha slunk back in his chair and she turned to me again.
“I need to think about this, Grant,” she said in a formal business-like tone.
“Of course, take your time. I’m in no rush,” I told her with a smile but that didn’t please her either. She slapped the file shut and slid it over to me again, before standing up. Sasha scrambled to his feet beside her, while I remained seated.
“Thank you for your offer, Grant. I’ll keep you in mind, I have to meet with a few other potential buyers and I’ll get back to you,” she said and I continued to smile. I knew there were no other potential buyers. At least none that were offering her this much money. She was just being prideful. She didn’t want to have to resort to taking money from an old enemy.
I nodded my head in silence, as Sasha and she fled away towards the door.
“Beverley, do you mind we have a quick word?” I said and then looked at Sasha, and said “alone” politely.
“I’ll get on back to the office, Bev. It was nice to meet you Mr. Jennings…Grant,” Sasha said before opening the door and disappearing.
Beverley remained standing where she was, with a slightly surprised look on her face. She didn’t look like she wanted to be there alone with me. I stood up and closed the gap between us, and placed my hands on her arms.
“It’s nice seeing you after so long, Beverley,” I said, looking her straight in her eyes and she looked like she was ready to slap my face.