Loose Ends

CHAPTER THREE -THE MEETING

LOGAN'S POV

“Sir, we need to go. It's been twenty minutes,”

“Let's wait a few more minutes,” I responded. I saw the shock on his face.

Logan Scott Ryan doesn't wait for anyone. It was not in my habit to wait, not when I had men of repute waiting on me.

“Sir, even if she does show up, there's only ten minutes left. You have to be at…”

I raised my hand and silenced him. I needed him to be quiet. Matter of fact, I needed the entire room to be quiet.

In my head, I froze and engraved every step she took towards me from the door. I wasn't a believer of fairytale moments, but this was definitely it.

I felt my heart rate increase. Her figure was properly accentuated by the nude colored straight skirt she was putting on and it made her long legs that crossed when she walked even more confident.

She was slender and light skinned and her brunette curly hair showed great length, even wrapped in a bun.

“I apologize for coming late, Dr. Ryan.” She said, trying to take the seat across from me.

“Mrs. Owen, Dr. Ryan is required to be at another…” I stepped on the feet of my assistant, who was with me, before he got the chance to finish his sentence.

“Leave us,” I ordered him away.

I looked intently at her face, wishing I could see her eyes.

“Thank you so much,” she said, fully seated.

“You're late to an official meeting, Mrs. Owen…”

“Miss,” she interrupted,

“What?” I probed,

“The name is Miss. Sofia Mae Carter,” she introduced with so much firmness in her voice.

“Uhm…I'm sorry.” I adjusted, “the information I got was…”

“I'm sure at the time the information was correct,” she said,

It took me a minute, but I finally picked up on her message.

“Divorced then,” I said, “Well, Miss. Carter, if you show up at meetings this late, it begs the question of what kind of executive officer you are,”

“I do not feel comfortable discussing my personal life and I don't believe it's why we're here,” she adjusted her sitting posture.

“Alright then.” I cleared my throat, “I read through your business proposal and I like it, but of course, we'll have to make a few twitches.”

She was extremely quiet.

I wanted to be mad, but I couldn't. I could sit across from her all day and just watch her.

‘What is wrong with you, Logan?’ I scolded myself. My voice only loud enough to my hearing.

‘Where’s the pain and suffering you promised her?’

I took a deep breath.

“Mrs…” I paused and cleared my throat, “Miss. Carter, if you're not ready for this meeting, we can always…”

“No!” She immediately responded, “I’m here. It took me months to get a meeting with you. I'm here, I promise.”

‘Oh, honey. I'd meet with you anytime at your convenience,’ I thought, but instead replied, “well then get yourself here.” My voice was quite loud.

Sofia broke down in tears, instantly melting my heart.

“I didn't mean to yell. I promise.” I began apologizing. “It's just…”

“It's not you,” she said, amidst sobbing. “This isn't about you about at all.”

I heaved a sigh of relief.

“What is this about?”

I was not ready for her response. I sat there for over forty minutes, listening to her share.

“Mason was the perfect man.” She started, “We had everything.”

“After my father died in my first year, it was just Claire and I. All we had was the company.”

“Mason found me in my final year and he was the most supportive. He had his job, while I built the company. He didn't care that the company was doing better, or I thought he didn’t,”

I listened to her and empathy was slowly building in my heart. When I turned my face however, my assistant was losing his mind. He couldn't understand why I was listening to her sad story, and if asked, I couldn't understand too, but there I was.

“We tried for five years for a child. It was the only thing we didn't have.” She continued, “Mason said the stress of running the company was not helping me.”

“He offered to take over the company and I let him. How could he do this to me?”

I sat there with no words, watching every second on the clock tick. I couldn't offer advice to a stranger. Even if I wanted to, I had no advice to offer.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn't be…” she raised her sun shades a bit.

Even with the redness of her eyes from all the crying, her hazel eyes were nothing short of beautiful and captivating.

“I shouldn't have come here to begin with,” she said, trying to get out of her seat, but I got out of mine and held her down.

“Wait!” I held her arms, “I can help,” I blurted.

“What?” She responded, equally as confused as I was after I said it.

I walked slowly to her seat, standing behind it.

“I know a lot about taking over and handing companies over. I might be able to help,”

Standing behind her, I could see her eyes beneath the shades and I could swear they lit up.

“You'd do that?” She probed, turning around to have a look at my face.

Her swift action however put her face barely a breath away from mine. We were staring deep into each other's eyes and we were only a slight shift away from locking lips.

I could not explain it, but the force pulling me to her was magnetic–beyond me.

“Of course, I'd do that,” I responded in a whisper, standing straight and pulling away from her.

“Thank you so much,” she sprung to her feet.

“Don't be so grateful yet,” I said to her,

“It's going to cost you. My help does not come without a price.” This was an opportunity to get what I wanted. What I was initially here for.