Ken’s POV:
I stared at the phone, hesitating before dialing her number. I pressed the call button, listening to the ringing tone as I waited. Finally, Mirabelle’s voice came through the line.
“Yeah?” She answered as if I were the last person she wanted to hear from.
“Hey, it’s Ken. I just wanted to remind you about the lunch with the investors today; you remember, right?” I tried to keep my voice calm.
“I remember, Ken.” She replied coolly. “You don’t have to keep reminding me.”
There was a hint of something in her voice, irritation? Annoyance? I couldn’t quite place it, but I knew better than to push too far.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was good. I’ll see you there, okay?”
“I said I remember.” She stated. “I’ve got it covered.”
Before I could say anything more, I heard the click of the call ending.
She’d hung up on me.
I let out a deep sigh and stared at the phone for a moment.
—
The restaurant was a quiet place, the kind of place where deals were made over plates of pasta and glasses of wine.
I’d arrived early, trying to get a feel for the place before the investors arrived. I looked at my watch and checked the time. Mirabelle was still a no-show, which wasn’t unexpected.
She always had this way of making an entrance, although never punctual, but when she did show up, all eyes were on her.
A few minutes later, the door opened, and there she was, beautiful as ever. Her eyes scanned the room before they landed on me. I forced a smile, standing up to greet her.
“You’re late.” I teased, but I could see her stiffening slightly at the comment.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” She replied. “Let’s just get this over with.”
She slid into the chair opposite me, not bothering with pleasantries. I could feel the distance between us, like an invisible wall that had been built up over the years. Despite everything, I couldn’t help but miss her. Even now, sitting across from her, I felt that old pull.
We sat in silence for a while, I wanted to say something to break it, but before I could, the door opened, and three people walked in-two men and a woman.
They looked exactly like you’d expect from a high-end company-well-dressed, confident, and slightly aloof. I rose to my feet and extended my hand toward the two men first.
“Gentlemen, I’m Ken.” I began. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
The men, both Italian by the looks of them, shook my hand firmly.
“I’m Marco.” One of them said, with an accent. “This is Stefano.”
The woman, who was standing slightly behind the two men, introduced herself next. “And I’m Alessandra. I manage the day-to-day operations of Sam&Sea.”
After the introductions, we all sat down, and the conversation shifted to business.
I couldn’t help myself-I went into my usual pitch, talking about the potential of my company and what we could bring to the table. I was passionate about this deal; it could change everything.
“We offer a unique blend of services,” I explained. “With your expertise in the European market and our efficient products, I believe we could really make a mark. Sam&Sea is an excellent company, and we could be the perfect partner for you.”
I glanced over at Mirabelle, waiting for her to chime in, but she didn’t. Her eyes were fixed on the table, and her posture was stiff.
“And with your operations already so established in Italy.” I continued. “We’re in a unique position to make this a lucrative partnership. Think about it-we could expand into other markets and broaden our reach globally. The sky’s the limit.”
Before anyone could respond, Mirabelle cut in. “Well, I suppose you could always try starting small.” She said, her eyes flicking toward me. “Maybe focus on getting your own company in order before making global ambitions sound so easy.”
I froze, and the room went silent. Marco and Stefano exchanged puzzled looks, while Alessandra raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her sudden outburst.
“Mirabelle-” I began, but she was already looking at me like she’d won some sort of unspoken battle.
“That’s all, Ken.” She said smoothly. “No need to continue. Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? Do you have something solid to offer, or is this just another overhyped pitch?”
“Well, uh, maybe we could…” I started, but she cut me off again.
“If you want a partnership, Ken, you’ll have to show them something they can’t ignore. Not just empty promises.”
I wanted to argue, but at this point, I knew better. She had a way of making me look like a fool, and the last thing I needed was to dig myself into a hole in front of these investors.
We spent the next half-hour discussing the details, but my mind kept drifting. Mirabelle had always had a way of undermining me, even when she wasn’t trying to.
The lunch ended without much fanfare. The investors seemed interested enough in Mirabelle’s pitch, but I could tell that Mirabelle’s interruptions had shifted the mood.
But she didn’t seem to care.
I tried to catch her as she stood to leave, but she was already heading for the door, not sparing me a second glance.
“Mirabelle,” I called out, hurrying to catch up. “Can we talk for a second?”
She didn’t even acknowledge me; she just walked out without a word. My frustration was quickly turning into anger, but I knew better than to confront her in public.
I sighed and pulled my phone from my pocket, only to get a call from the rental company.
“Hello, Mr. Sylvester?” The woman on the other end of the line asked in a calm tone. “You’ve exceeded the time limit on your rental. We need the car returned immediately.”
“Listen.” I began, trying to stay calm, “I was in an accident. I should’ve informed you sooner. I know. But I-”
The woman didn’t let me finish. “We require full payment for the extended time. It’s company policy.”
Great. Just what I needed. I hung up and looked around. Mirabelle was still sitting in her car in the parking lot, her engine idling.
I rushed over to her, knocking on her window before she could drive off. “Mirabelle! Please, I need a favor.”