Mona called me promptly the next morning, on my way to work. I’d barely been able to drag myself out of the apartment. I felt miserable and angry with myself. I was also ashamed that Jared had seen my desire for him. Now, he would surely know that I had always wanted him.

“How did it go?” Mona asked.

“Good morning to you too!” I said sarcastically. I really didn’t want to talk about Jared right now. I usually told my sister everything, but this wasn’t something I wanted to discuss. I knew what her reaction would be. It was a mistake and I knew it too!

“Elsie, you know I’ve been worried sick about you!” Mona argued.

“Why? It’s not like he’s a dangerous man. Why were you worried?” I knew what she was talking about, but I didn’t want her to make a big deal of it.

“You know why! Just tell me what happened!”

“Nothing happened, Mona. We met and had a few drinks…he apologized,” I replied, sighing loudly. I was already late for work and I knew Mona wouldn’t let me hang up unless I gave her a straight answer.

“Of course he apologized. What else could he do? Did he give you an explanation?” she asked and I pressed my eyes close and imagined his face again. It didn’t take a lot of work; I’d spent the whole night dreaming about him.

“Not a good one. He was busy, got caught up in his new life. He wanted to leave his past behind and start afresh,” I said.

I heard Mona sighing.

“Well, Elsie, I hope you’re satisfied. It’s time for you to just move on. He’s made it very clear to you: once he left, he was done with you,” she continued. I gulped down my anger and frustration. I was close to the office now and I just wanted to immerse myself in work.

“I knew that already, but yes…I know you’re right. It’s time to just let go,” I said to her. Mona’s tone changed after that; she sounded more hopeful.

“I’m glad to hear that, Elsie. I’m so happy you’re saying that. A whole world…of men, is waiting out there for you. You just needed to open your eyes.” Mona was trying to be sensitive, tiptoeing around the subject.

Of course I’d dated and been in relationships in the past ten years. I wasn’t a nun! None of them were serious, but I tried to justify it with the fact that I was busy. I didn’t have time for a serious relationship and none of the men were interesting enough.

“The lack of a man in my life has nothing to do with Jared!” I snapped.

“Okay, Elsie…sure.” Mona sighed exasperatedly.

We ended the call quickly after that. I had work to get to and she needed to get Emma ready for kindergarten. I just hoped that she didn’t call me up in the evening again to talk about it. The less I thought about Jared now, the healthier it would be.

I walked into the office with my coffee in hand.

“He’s waiting for you in your office,” Melissa spoke up when I was passing her desk. I stopped in my tracks.

“What? Who?” I asked.

“Jared Morin. He said he had a meeting with you,” she replied. I could see she was confused. I had a feeling that everyone in the office was wondering why Jared Morin kept visiting our office. Everyone knew him as the filthy rich construction mogul, the poster-child of capitalist success—not someone you would expect to be interested in a charity like ours. What was he doing here?

I strode into my office, my coffee spilling slightly with the force of my steps.

“Elsie!” He jumped off his chair.

“Jared.” I spoke firmly, placing my coffee down on my desk so I could cross my arms over my breasts.

I could feel my cheeks burning up. I wasn’t supposed to see him again. We’d parted ways last night. Why was he still in Chicago?

He was dressed like the previous day. In an equally smartly tailored business suit and tie. His thick blond hair neatly styled, his stubble looking perfect on his chiseled, sharp jaw.

“You really can’t keep coming to my office like this,” I snapped and he grinned. Was this some joke to him?

“Am I embarrassing you?” he asked.

“You’re making it difficult for me to get any work done. Why are you here?”

Jared breathed in deeply, looking about my office and assessing my space.

“The thing is, Elsie, that I had a thought last night and I wanted to come and speak to you about it. I could have done it over the phone, but I didn’t want to seem impersonal,” Jared said with a professional coolness I’d never seen in him before.

The Jared I knew, on his Harley, in his leather jacket…was a rebel, was the guy who always got into trouble. Now I was seeing a new side to him. The one that had earned him all these riches and all his success.

“What thought?” I asked, keeping my head held high. My heart was racing in my chest. Could it be possible that he wanted something more? More than just the meaningless sex we had last night? I didn’t want my mind to go there, to be hopeful…but I couldn’t help myself. Jared Morin had always been the man of my dreams.

“I want you to come work for me,” Jared replied.

He had a smug grin on his face…his usual half-smile. Jared was confident. He believed I would squeal and clap my hands with excitement.

Instead, I was in shock…at his audacity. How dare he!