A Second Chance

Chapter 8

Evan was nervous. Something was definitely up. His mother was jumpy and Coriene was even more awkward than usual. He knew the situation he was in. He knew he only had himself to blame. He didn’t know who they were bringing in yet. The two of them had been quite tight lipped. He knew that the staff had been prepping the guest house on the grounds so whoever it was would be close by. Kiana said she saw men delivering large boxes yesterday. That confused him as he wasn’t sure what would need to be added to the space. He was annoyed that he had been left out of the process.

“Are you ready?” Coriene anxiously asked. He nodded. Coriene walked to the door of the conference room and motioned for someone to come in. He couldn’t see the person at first as they were shorter than his sister, but then Coreine turned to head to her seat. He thought he my be halucineating, but after rubbing his eyes, she was still there. Evan hadn’t layed eyes on her in person since that day on her porch. Sure he had snuck a peak at pictures on Josh and Jake’s social media, but seeing her in person made his heart ache.

The betrayal and pain in her eyes had been replaced by a haunting emptiness. I wondered if that was because she knew she would be seeing me, or if that was just what she had become. I remembered when her eyes were kind and loving.

Her beauty hadn’t faded. She was still gorgeous. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in waves instead of being bone straight. He wondered if her pale skin was still so soft and enticing. He remembered how he would do anything to just be touching her, even just lightly. Would she still lean into his touch? He tried to stop the memories from flooding back, but he was losing the fight. She smoothed her black shift dress and blazer before taking a seat. “Good morning Mrs. Kivler, Mr. Kivler,” she began. That is when I saw the hesitation flicker in her grey eyes. She began to fidget with her hands. “I know I am not the person you want to see at this table, but I think I can help you and your company reach your goals. I have only had a short time to look over the logistics as I was just signed on to the project a few days ago, but I already see potential.” She kept shifting her gaze between my mother and I. Mom was the CFO just as she had been for my father. “I also know there is likely some hesitation with the history we all share. Please know, I am here under contract, and this will be all about the business at hand.” She paused and swallowed hard. “Evan, I know you and your daughter have had hard times, but that now you are both safe and happy. That is all I have ever wanted for you. This will be 100% purley business transaction. I understand that.”