When will they ever build a decent cell tower in this town? I shout into the phone once more. “That is not good enough!”
I hear silence again, but I know that they have heard me this time in New York. I can hear the discomfort in the long pause. We need something to wow the investors with, and we just don’t have it. They know that.
“That’s the best we can do.” I hear Joe answer with a clipped tone.
“Fletcher.” I hear the silky voice of my assistant and old friend, Valentina. “Everyone has been working really hard. Joe is doing his best.” She adds diplomatically.
I know he did his best. Our entire team did. People have been working nights and weekends for months to get just this far. But it is still not good enough. We need a product that would impress our investors and the tech world. Otherwise, we will go under because that is how fierce competition is in our field. We’ll lose everything. I have sunk everything I have into this venture.
“Do. Better. I don’t know what I’m paying you for.”
I can hear both Joe and Valentina’s vexed sighs. I know I am a tough boss. I am very demanding, but that is how I became the top in a very competitive field. I had nothing, and I was a nobody. Through sheer force of will, I came to dominate an entire industry and became one of the richest men in Manhattan. When I ask people to jump, the only acceptable responses are “yes, sir” and “how high?”
I hang up, still clenching my jaw. A part of me thinks that this wouldn’t have happened if I was back in New York. Maybe I should put a different team in charge. Maybe I should execute this project from a completely different angle.
Once again, I doubt my decision to come out here. Maybe I should take an overnight flight back as soon as possible.
I am still ruminating when Amelia slips into the room like a little cat. “Sorry, am I interrupting something?” Her thin brows furrow as she notices the look on my face.
I shake my head. I am second-guessing myself. This is so unlike me. I rub the back of my neck and try to calm down. I’ll be back in town in a few days. Joe and the team are the best in the business. That’s why I hired them. Stop doubting and start acting.
“No. What is it?” I watch as she walks closer to me. Her form is exquisite and artless. There is something deeply erotic about her innocence. It is as if she has no idea how amazing she looks or how tight she is making the front of my pants. I shift uncomfortably on the narrow bed. This is my old bed from childhood and quite low to the ground. The tops of my thighs are pressing into a part of me that’s getting tighter and warmer.
“I, er, I’m done with the stuff in the living room. I think that’s everything. I kept the newspapers and magazines in separate bundles.” She pauses and turns a little pink. “Because I think the public library might have a use for the old magazines. They’re always needing stuff for kids’ craft projects. Is it okay if I take it down for them?” she asks hopefully. “Also, do you want me to take everything to the dump or get started on another room first?” She twists and turns her hands as she speaks. Her catlike green eyes dart back and forth. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s nervous. I think I’m the one making her nervous.
Emboldened by that thought and unwilling to let her run away from me too quickly, I show her the box on the floor. “You can give me a hand with these books first.” Sure, I am attracted to her, but it’s no big deal. It’s just a physical attraction. It’s just lust. It means nothing. I don’t have to act on it if I don’t want to.
She gathers the books in her arms and packs them neatly into the box. Pausing for a moment, she pulls out one book; her face full of delight. “I just read this,” she exclaims as she holds up my old copy of “Coordinates of the Soul.” “I loved it!”
I hold out my hand and she hands me my old book. It is a story about a young man finding himself and finding love in New York City. Flipping through the yellow pages with my fingers, I marvel. It feels that it was just yesterday that I was a lonely kid sitting in this room dreaming of bigger things in life. It was one of my favorites.
“It’s alright.” I dump the book into the box.
“I just love Alex. His love story with Veronica is just so perfect,” she gushes as she takes the book out again. Her fingers stroke the cover lovingly as she gazes down at it.
The main character, Alex, was a little cocky but had a heart of gold. He made a lot of mistakes in life but eventually found everlasting love. What an idiot.
I snort. “Whatever.” I loved Alex when I was young because I saw myself in him. I also thought that if I worked hard and pursued relentlessly, I would have everything I wanted in life and be happy. How wrong I was. It was only a book, after all. Real life is, well, more complicated.
Amelia looks a little disappointed but says nothing.
I grab the book out of her hands again and toss it back into the box.
“Why?” She challenges. “Why don’t you like Alex?”
“C’mon. It’s just a book.”
“Why don’t you like him?” She is relentless.
“I didn’t say that I don’t like him. I just think that he’s an idiot.”
“You don’t need to like him but you also don’t need to call him an idiot.” Her green eyes are flashing again and
