CHAPTER TWO
KYLE
A New Beginning
†
IT FELT GOOD WALKING the halls of Boston University again. Happy memories flooded my mind, sweeping me away to the pleasant times spent at BU. When my old friend, James Merkel, business and economics professor extraordinaire, phoned me up a couple of weeks ago, asking for my help, it was an easy decision to make.
I replied without hesitation agreeing to assist, as he was not only my friend but also my mentor. Years ago, he helped me realize my love for economics and finance when I completed my MBA at BU. Whenever I had a complex problem, he would listen and guide, challenging me to think outside the box. Hell, even more so, create a completely new box and find my own solutions.
I was looking for a new challenge and his phone call couldn’t have come at a better time. He wanted me to assist in giving a few lectures to his students while in Boston, but the main reason for the invite was to help him co-write a business handbook: Innovative Marketing & Business Solutions: Learning from Third World Countries.
From where I stood at the top floor office, I could see students scurrying from one building to the next. Some were socializing on the green lawn in front of the administration building and others were lazily walking about. It was truly a beautiful campus, its energy invigorating.
To be truthful, I was doing this mostly for selfish reasons. I desperately needed a break from the continuous traveling. Thank God, Claire understood me so well. My older sibling was more than capable of running Hampton Publishing on her own, managing our Santa Monica based head office while I took on the task of traveling to our various international branches, ensuring our company’s philosophy and vision were clear to all. We needed to stay and remain current, and not everyone had the vision or expertise to transition from paper to digital. That was my job – to oversee the migration. My last continent, Africa, was particularly challenging yet interesting.
But I was drained.
I wanted to rest my head on the same pillow in the same country for a while! I enjoyed the challenges that work offered but traveling non-stop also fueled a restlessness in me. Especially the last few months. I know it sounds contradictory, but there you have it. I was losing touch with my friends, my sister. I felt like a spectator, experiencing their lives through a LED screen, never being an actual participant.
I needed to reconnect. The thought of spending more than a few nights with the same woman in my bed was most appealing.
Hell. I was twenty-eight and tired!
The invitation from James was just the excuse I needed to make the change. I was also keen to pass the knowledge I’ve gained on to a few young, eager entrepreneurs. I wanted to teach what I loved – making money and having fun doing it.
I made my way down to the administration building, my growling stomach reminding me it was nearing lunchtime. Students were milling about the campus grounds as I drifted towards the cafeteria. I couldn’t but notice a number of female students casting sultry looks my way, but I ignored it. Having a fling with a college girl was most definitely not on my agenda.
Deep in thought, I turned the corner only to run into a flurry of blond hair and softness, the impact causing her to fly backward, landing on her derriere, books flying all over and her hair falling over her face.
Silly girl. Why the hell was she not looking where she’s going?
“Are you alright?” I asked as I grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to her feet, the force having her grab onto my arm to retain her balance. Maybe I could’ve been slightly less forceful. A half smile played on my lips as I saw how disheveled she was. She looked a little bedraggled trying to pull herself together as she attempted to sweep her hair off her face while trying to pick up her books at the same time.
She was a pretty little thing with green, cat-like eyes too big for such a small face and pouty, pink lips. But there was something so familiar… something about her.
I stepped forward, leaning over slightly and cocked my head to the side to have a closer look. Oh yes – she was just all grown up now, but there was no mistake…
“Eris? Is that you? What the hell…?”
The last time I saw Eris Johnson was when I was hanging out in the basement of their house a few days before graduation years ago, lazing about with my then best friend Alex, her older brother. We were both twenty-two at the time and Eris… well, she was this fifteen-year-old dorky kid who always seemed to appear from nowhere when I came around – talking too much and amusing us with stories she’d written for the school newspaper. Alex was extremely protective of her, and she clearly adored him. I remembered her being a little bit shy when we first met, but over time, she crept out of her shell once she came to know and trust me. A gentle little soul and a heart to match.
But sure as hell, the Eris standing in front of me right now was no longer that same fifteen-year-old nerdy kid I remembered.
“Kyle?” she exclaimed, the shocked look in her eyes probably mirrored my own.
Staring down at her, I couldn’t help but notice the glaring beauty hanging onto my arm, her bright green eyes holding me prisoner. Her still disheveled strawberry blond hair framed high cheekbones and a perky little nose – her mouth full and pillowy.
I reached down to pick up the remaining books, which nearly sent her falling down again. Unable to mask my irritation, I grabbed hold of her.
“Will you stop doing that, woman!” I growled as I steadied her once again. Ignoring the sheepish look on her face, I bent down to gather the books.
“So, Eris. What are you doing here?” I broke the awkward silence after handing her the last book, which she clung to as if holding on to an invisible shield.
Not answering my question, she asked, “What are you doing here?” tilting her head slightly to one side. “Last I heard you were traveling in Africa.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” I said flatly.
“Oh, yes, sorry. I’m a student here,” she explained. “And you didn’t answer mine either,” she fired back.
Oh, sassy.
I had to smile. “I’m helping out a friend of mine for a few months, teaching but mainly consulting. I’m also opening up a new branch in Boston.”
God, she was gorgeous, her green eyes scanning my face.
“Are you enjoying it here?” I asked, breaking the silence yet again.
“Yes, very much thanks.”
“And your major?”
“Journalism.”
“That’s no surprise,” I smiled down at her, annoyed at my own thoughts.
“I remember you being the energetic little Nellie Bly at school, entertaining me and Alex with your stories! You were always good at it Eris. You must be doing well here?”
A soft blush swept over her cheeks as she dropped her gaze, avoiding the question.
“So, teaching and consulting hey. What’s that about?” she asked as she pulled back a rebellious strand of hair that kept falling across her cheek, brushing the outside of her mouth…
“Business management,” I replied shortly, not able to drag my gaze away from her. The thought of kissing her crossed my mind.
Focus damn it!
Irritated, I pushed my hands into the pockets of my Levi’s.
Where is that well-known discipline now Kyle? She’s Alex’s little sister, for God sake!
“Oh. I took that last semester,” she said, flashing me a perfect white set of teeth.
It was quite endearing to see that she still spoke as she did seven years ago - soft, melodious, with a hint of sweetness and innocence. I remembered how Alex use to encourage her; how attentively she’d listen to him after which she would run off only to return with another, better version of the story eager to impress. She was always a shy one, and it was evident that she hadn’t outgrown that fully yet.
I hadn’t seen Alex since leaving on my travels a few years ago, although we tried to keep in touch with texting here and there, and even the odd phone call. However, these last couple of months we barely spoke, which was unfortunate as we had been best friends since the day my family moved in next door to the Johnsons shortly after my fifteenth birthday. I contacted him a few days before coming to Boston, wanting to catch up and renew our friendship. He seemed eager as well and agreed that we would join up in a month or two.
“I heard Alex was off to Washington lecturing at the Bureau?”
Alex was one of the FBI’s top profilers. It didn’t surprise me at all. He was the strong quiet type, always observing from a distance, but not missing a thing, picking up on the smallest details. He was a good listener with an uncanny ability to spot a liar, seeing the mettle of a person very quickly. Which was also the reason why we were such good friends. No bullshit. Just honesty and trust, easy and uncomplicated. God how I looked forward seeing him again.
”We got in touch a few weeks back,” I explained, seeing the questioning look in her eyes.
“Come. Have lunch with me. You can tell me what you’ve been up to the last few years, and I can apologize for knocking you over,” I smiled as I winked at her, brushing the disturbing thought aside of really just wanting to spend more time with her.