Page 3 of Reeling in Love

Eva walks to the door. “You wanna come for drinks tonight? Lily and me. Drinks for you at least, just water or juice for me.”

“Um. Let me see if Rick has planned anything. Raincheck?”

“Sure,” Eva says and leaves.

Has Rick planned anything? To be honest, I’m beyond caring now. Truth is, I’ve started feeling more and more uncomfortable and out of place when both Eva and Lily are together. Hey, don’t get me wrong. I love them both.

Lily is Eva’s childhood friend. During the time she was opening her dance studio, I helped her out a bit, and we became good friends. On top of that, she’s now engaged to Eva’s brother, Alex. And that’s the rub. Since they’ve both gotten into these deep relationships, things have been a little different. Let’s just say, they are at a place in life where I never wanna be. Eva’s going to have a baby and Lily and Alex plan to get married next year.

Love! Soulmates! Gah! I could vomit.

It’s all nonsense spewed by the entertainment industry to get people to read and watch and buy stuff that they otherwise wouldn’t. It’s not a real thing. I mean, do you know of any person who really makes you feel like a book boyfriend does? No, right? At least I don’t. Rick is the latest on my list of boyfriends. There’s no need to be scandalized. There haven’t been that many.

I like steady relationships, if they qualify my parameters. I should get complete freedom. We don’t have to spend our free time together. No jealousy if I spend time with my male friends, aka Gabs. And no clinginess. That’s a sure deal breaker. Has to be working and independent.

Rick checks all the boxes. In addition, he has an apartment that suits my needs perfectly. But lately, I’m noticing that, like all the ones who preceded him, he’s getting a wee bit possessive and a little clingy in the sense that he wants me to spend weekends with him. I mean, I can do a few hours, but I have a life. So I know it’s time to move on.

Chapter 2

Gabriel: #Embrace TheAnimalWithin

I gaze out the taxi window and marvel at the weather. I love Boston at this time of year. It's sunny, pleasant, and gives off a warm feeling. If only my mental state were good enough to appreciate it.

The taxi pulls up in front of the building where I live. I pay the driver generously, grab my single bag, and make my way through the gates.

I wave to the guard. “Howdy Jenkins.”

He shrugs with a familiarity. “Same as ever, boss. Had fun in Paris?”

It’s my turn to shrug. “Y’know,” I say as I make my way to the waiting elevator.

Fun! Far from it.

Ryan and I had gone to Paris to meet an investor, Gerard Dumas, for the next round of funding for MooreGames. Dumas is a big investor and we did all we could to woo him. He liked the company. He loved the team, and he adored the products and the future strategy. In short, he liked everything. Well, everything except the CFO—me. Yeah right! Who would’ve thought that somebody would not like yours truly?

I get out of the elevator on my floor and march through the corridor to my condo.

I mean, what is not to like in me? I’m smart, capable, work well with teams and manage stakeholders decently well, even if I say so myself. I joined MooreGames, Ryan’s company, when he started it and helped him grow it from a fledgling dream to what it is now. But this investor thinks I’m inexperienced. Well, maybe I am. A little. At least in the traditional sense.

I’m not one of the Wall Street investment bankers or one of those people who’ve slogged hard and worked their way up the ranks. But I know money. I know business. To insinuate that I’m inexperienced and worse, to keep my stepping down from CFO position as a condition for financing! I say it’s a bit much.

My phone screen lights up. Message from Nora.

“Just met Ryan and got to know about the Paris meetings. Call me when you wanna talk.”

I smile. Nora is the one aspect of my life that I’m grateful for. One that I have somehow managed not to mess up. She knows me better than myself and knows everything in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

I’m about to call her when the phone rings and I see Eva on the line. Guess Ryan told her too.

I pick it up.

“Hey Gabs. Ryan briefed us. I’m sorry you had to hear all that from Gerard. I would never have taken this forward if I had any inkling.”

Eva used to work at a Private Equity firm before joining MooreGames and yeah, we had found the investor through her ex-colleague, Neil.

“’Course, you didn’t, Eva. And what he said isn’t completely off base.”

“It doesn’t matter what it is or isn’t. There are many investors out there. We don’t need him. Yeah?”

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