Jimmy

I dipped into a local coffee shop I had yet to try. It was going to be a long day at work, and I wanted some time to decompress before the work week. I ordered my usual coffee at the counter before I went and sat down, gazing out the window. I wanted to sit and enjoy some time alone. I wanted to relish in the weightlessness of my new life. Nina was no longer in sight, and I didn't have to wake up to her asinine text messages about needing money. My phone was no longer ringing off the hook when the well on her end suddenly ran dry. I felt like a new man. A free man.

And I wanted to enjoy that feeling.

“Excuse me, Mr. Sheldon?”

I plastered a smile on my face as I turned my head, ready to face whatever person was trying to destroy my moment.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to bother you. It’s just, well, my name’s Melinda.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Melinda. That’s a lovely necklace you have on.”

“Oh. Thanks,” she said as she blushed. “It was my mother’s. She gave it to me just before she passed.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Oh, it was a long time ago. No need to dwell on it.”

She obviously knew who I was, but I didn’t recognize her. She wasn’t a client or a girlfriend of any of my clients. Was I supposed to recognize who she was? Was she expecting me to draw on some imaginary memory I was supposed to conjuring up?

“You look like you could use some company. Do you mind if I sit down?”

I drew in a deep breath, nodding my head as my coffee was set down in front of me. I could tell what she was doing. Fiddling with her necklace and giggling in my direction. She was flirting with me. Hitting on me, I guessed. And she was a beautiful woman. Shapely legs. A tapered waist. Bright blond hair that fluttered around her shoulders. Her nose was pinched, and her lips were thin, but it lent a delicate frame to her features.

“So, Miss Melinda. What brings you to this coffee shop this morning?” I asked.

“They have the best matcha tea in Miami,” she said with a smile. “I’m addicted to the stuff.”

“I’ve never had the pleasure of partaking in it, though my friend Ross tells me it’s good.”

“Have you tried their cinnamon rolls here? They’re decadent. Though I can’t have too many of them. My hips wouldn’t allow it.”

“Nonsense. I’m sure your hips would look fabulous in a cinnamon roll,” I said with a grin.

Her bright hazel eyes sparkled with joy, but there was something lacking in them. The woman kept talking and smiling, leaning forward on the table to try and get closer to me. I felt her leg slipping against mine, pressing closer and closer as she continued our very one-sided conversation. But there were so many things about her that seemed out of place.

And then, I put my finger on it.

“Mr. Sheldon?”

“Yes?” I asked.

“Did you hear me?”

“Forgive me, Melinda. It takes a little while for my caffeine to kick in,” I said.

“Oh, it’s not a problem. I’m sure I probably ruined some quiet time for you or something.”

“Your beautiful smile couldn’t ruin anything.”

Ah, she was a self-deprecating flirt, a woman looking for a man who could give her the constant reassurance she needed and get his high off her constant need for him to compliment her. There were men out there like that. Ross was one of them. He enjoyed women that lit up at his compliments and his praise of them. But I wasn’t one of them. I enjoyed a woman with a quiet confidence and a curvier body. I enjoyed a woman with intelligence who was unashamed of her knowledge of the world. I enjoyed a woman with rounder features and bolder eyes. Darker hair and a thirst for more knowledge.

Ashley.

I enjoyed a woman like Ashley.

I shook the thought from my head as my eyes fell to Melinda’s lips. I tried to keep up with what she was saying, but her voice kept going in and out. It was a grating sound, high-pitched and strung with stress and exhaustion. It wasn’t sultry like Ashley’s. She spoke from her diaphragm, not her chest like most women.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Why was I thinking about Ashley all of a sudden?

I had to stop doing it. I couldn’t be thinking of her like that before going in to work with her. I’d made Ashley a promise. I’d told her nothing else would take place that would ever make her feel uncomfortable. And yet, I was sitting in a coffee shop comparing a very bright and beautiful young woman to her.

Picking out every small little issue because Ashley was the measuring stick.

“Well, Melinda, it was wonderful talking with you, but I’m afraid I must get to the office,” I said.

“Oh! That’s fine. Well, if you ever want to give me a call or anything, here’s my number.”

She slid a card my way with her name and her phone number on it. She walked away with a smile on her face and a confident sway in her hips. I waited until she was gone before I stood from my seat, and then I carefully slipped the piece of paper she handed me into the trash can as I headed out the door.

I had no intention of calling a woman I couldn’t even pay attention to.

“Jimmy! Finally! I thought you’d never get to work.”

“I’m five minutes early, Ross.”

“And that’s five minutes late when I’ve got exciting news,” he said.

“What’s up?”

“Try a new coffee shop?” he asked.

“What?”

“That’s not your usual coffee cup.”

“Yes, I tried a new shop. So sue me,” I said.

“You did it, didn’t you?”

“Did what?’

“You broke things off with Nina.”

“How do you do that?” I asked.

“Like I said, I have many talents. So, how do you feel?”

“Like a boulder finally rolled off my shoulders.”

“Good, because I need you to pay attention. The numbers we have rolling in from Ashley and the investors look really good. I got everything up and running with our new warehouses last night.”

“You worked on a Sunday?” I asked. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because you had more important things to do. Like break up with Nina.”

“You don’t want the details?” I asked.

“No. I’m just glad you finally did it. Now, with the agreements we have in place, not only will we be making eleven million dollars off the top of this one contract, but the yearly maintenance he bought into will rake in another two million on top of that. And that’s just for a select number of hotels. If the man likes what he sees, he wants us to install what we’ve got going now in all of his hotels. Around the world, Jimmy.”

“Do you have those numbers for me?” I asked.

“En masse? Seventy-seven million dollars.”

“You’re shitting me.”

“I’m really not. That’s not including all the maintenance that would be guaranteed through us. That adds another fifteen million to the pot.”

“Holy shit,” I said. “We did it.”

“The company’s holding strong, Jimmy, despite what you thought would happen.”

“And Ashley’s run these numbers?”

“She has indeed. She’s working very well for our company. I think she’s the best decision we’ve made for this place in a while.”

“I think she is as well. Had she updated the investors on all this?”

“I gave her the numbers this morning to run. She’s getting to work on them now.”

“And she’s in her element? Adjusting well? Getting along with the investors?”

“Why are you suddenly so concerned about her?” he asked with a grin.

I shot him a look as a chuckle fell from his face.

“I know, I know. Go to hell. Got it. But I do have to ask one thing that’s going to make me look like a massive hypocrite.”

“What?” I asked.

“I set you up another meeting with the guy Nina showed herself in front of.”

“How the hell did you swing that?”

“Some alcohol, a free dinner, and a lot of ass kissing. The issue? This guy is big on commitment. He’s a bit of a sleaze when it comes to women, but his business history suggests he does favor men who are committed to things. It’s not going to be a good look that you just broke things off with Nina.”

“Yep. That makes you look like a massive fucking hypocrite. But don’t worry. I’ll go in and be myself, and if all goes well, Nina won’t even come up. For all he knows, we’re still together. She hasn’t shot off her rocker yet, so there’s nothing in the media to field or combat. I’m sure it’s coming, but we’ll figure it out once it comes. When’s the meeting?”

“Tuesday evening.”

“I’ll put it on my calendar,” I said.

“You sure going alone is the best thing? I could go with you again.”

“I’ll go as myself, and that’ll have to be enough. We knew we would run into this issue. I warned you about it.”

“I know, I know. I’m eating my words, got it. Let’s hope you can nail this thing,” he said.

“Yes. Let’s hope.”