“Derek?” Blake said in astonishment into the phone. “You again?”
It was the second day of the new year. It surprised Blake to hear from him again. He hadn’t called him since he outsmarted him with the Clinton Limited deal.
“Yes, it’s me again,” he said with a hint of laughter in his voice. “I guess you didn’t expect my call. Well, for your information, I am a good sportsman. You win some, you lose some.”
He burst into laughter, irritating the hell out of Blake.
“Derek, what do you want?” Blake aimed the remote at the TV to reduce the volume. “I’m a busy man. I don’t have all day.”
“I want us to meet for lunch or dinner tomorrow,” he said. “I would like to discuss a business idea with you, if you don’t mind.”
“What business?” Blake didn’t understand what was going on.
“Let’s meet for dinner,” Derek insisted.
“Am sorry,” Blake started pacing round the living room. “I can’t come for any dinner if I don’t know what the deal is about.”
“First, Blake, I want you to know that I am not your enemy,” Derek explained. He cleared his throat and continued, “I have been following your progress for a while and I must say you are doing great. I would like us to partner on a project.”
Black said nothing.
“Please don’t say no,” he pleaded. “I promise you, it will be worth your while.”
“Alright,” Blake said finally. “Lunch tomorrow at two pm wherever you want us to meet.”
“Great!” Derek responded happily. “I’ll text you the venue tomorrow morning.”
“Okay, Derek.”
Blake said, and they ended the call. He walked to the bar and fixed a drink for himself.
Blake was alone in the house, except for the security men that were patrolling the grounds. He had been all by himself since the last day of the year when all the staff left for their usual holiday and they won’t be back until the fourth. Jayce had been with his maternal grandparents since the twentieth of December.
He went to his study with his drink in hand. He sat on a rocking chair in the corner of the expansive room. A soft fire sizzled in the antique grate, casting a warm glow over the lavishly furnished space.
Blake held his glass of vodka tonic in his hand, swirling the clear liquid as he studied his financial report for the end of the year, which his financial adviser had emailed to him a few hours ago.
He loved the temporary solitude so much, and he had been using it to strategizing for the new year.
His phone rang on the polished wooden side table beside him. He set his glass down and reached for it.
Looking at the screen, it was Cassie Harrington calling. A smile played at the corner of his mouth as his finger navigated the screen of his phone.
“Hey Cassie,” he said into the phone in his usual deep voice. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good, Blake,” she returned. “Hmm, I think we need to see. Can I come over to your place now?”
“Is everything okay?” He croaked.
“Yeah, all is fine,” Cassie gave a little laugh. “There are some changes with the building plan I would like to show you before we go ahead with the groundbreaking.”
Carter Industries was delving into real estate. They were about to build a world class luxury apartment complex. And Cassie’s father’s company was going to build it for them. Cassie was the Principal Engineer in charge of the project.
“Okay,” he nodded, even though she wasn’t there with him. “My old man spoke with your dad last night about it,” she started explaining. “And your dad insisted I should discuss everything with you.”
“Oh, I see.” He sat upright in the rocking chair.
“Our workers are going to start work at the site by the fifth. I want you and I to be on the same page before then.”
“That’s okay,” he stood up, running his fingers through his wavy hair, a smile gracing his chiseled jaw.
“Hmmm, one problem,” Cassie drawled. “I don’t know where you live. Could you please send the address?”
“That’s not a problem.” Blake looked outside the window. “I will send it to you now.”
“Okay, I’ll be there soon,” Cassie said, and they ended the call.
She arrived ong hour later. He opened the front door before she knocked and smiled down into her face.
“It’s nice to have you here,” Blake said “Come on in,” he beamed at her and stepped aside for her to come inside.
“Good afternoon Blake,” she flashed him a smile. “And I wish you a happy new year.”
“Yeah, I wish you the same, thank you.”
Cassie slipped into the room as if she owned it. Blake gave her a once over. She wore a simple, flowing short dress, her long dark hair cascading down her back. Blake loved her elegance. It was so refreshing.
“You have a beautiful space here.” She looked into his eyes with a radiant smile. “Your interior decorator did an excellent job here.”
“Thank you,” he said to her back as she walked further into the room and stood in front of the fireplace. Looking up at the painting above it.
“This is bea-utiful,” Cassie said, looking in fascination at the intricate painting on the wall. “I love it!” She turned to look at him.
“Everybody loves it,” he put both hands in pocket. “I got it from an Indian artist two years ago.”
He led her to the den. She brought out her laptop from the designer tote handbag she was carrying. And showed him copies of blueprints and designs with explanations for why they had to make some adjustments. Her brilliance and passion mesmerized him. Blake found himself captivated, not just by her ideas, but by the woman herself.
“I must say, you have done a very thorough job,” Blake leaned back on the couch. “The changes in the designs are logical.”
“Well,” she answered modestly. “I didn’t do it all alone. I work with a team of otter professionals.”