Page 41 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

“Nothing weird is going on. It’s a business transaction and I think we’ve gained some mutual respect for each other in the process.”

“Mutual respect,” Carson repeats, amusement coating his voice. “Anyway, just be careful, alright. Especially with Emilia. I don’t know what’s going on, but if there’s anything between you, shut it down. I can’t think of two people that would be worse for each other than the two of you.”

I stiffen. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Carson grows silent for a beat. “Just that the two of you already have a lot of shit going on in your lives. You’re really similar in the sense that you hide your emotions and you’re both hardheaded as fuck. I just don’t think your personalities would work well together.”

“We get along,” I say coldly.

“That’s good. Just keep it friendly,” Carson states. “Now, is that all? I’ve got a shit ton of reports to go through before I have to bed.”

“No, I need Emilia’s number,” I tell him in a low tone. “Before you say anything, it’s business related. If she’s really ready to sell her café, I need to get the documents ready for her to sign.”

“Uh-huh,” Carson says cautiously. “If you say so, Harrington. I’ll send it to you after the call.”

“Thanks.”

He hangs up and I let out a deep breath before lying down on my bed. That was a draining conversation. I’d like to tell Carson to fuck off and reiterate that there’s nothing going on between me and his sister. But then I think about the way she looked at me right before I left the hospital and I’m not sure that wouldn’t be a total lie.

I might be screwed.

Unsurprisingly, Emilia hasn’t changed her mind. I text her as soon as Carson sends her number over, but I can tell she’s distracted because she only provides short answers to my questions. Then she says the reason she’s so distracted is because Paige has just been transported to the city.

She assures me that she’ll be ready to sign the contract in two days. I tell her she can come to the office any time and I’ll have the documents ready by then.

I’m on a call with a potential investor for the new project when I get another call through the office phone. I inform the man on the other end that I’ll arrange a meeting so we can talk about the deal and he agrees. After he hangs up, I pick up the office phone.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Harrington, Ms. Cameron is here to see you,” the receptionist informs me.

“Okay, please have someone direct her to the lounge on the first floor.”

I need some water anyway, and it’ll be less intimidating if we meet there instead of a stuffy office. I step out of my office, heading to the lounge to wait for Emilia. I grab a bottle of water in the meantime, drinking some before placing the bottle on the small white table in front of me.

Emilia walks through the doors of the lounge soon enough. She smiles when she sees me and the sight of it causes a flutter in my heart. Maybe because I hadn’t been expecting it. I rise to my feet.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah I’m fine.”

“How’s Paige?”

Emilia beams. “She had her surgery yesterday. It went well.”

“That’s great. I’m happy for her. Have a seat,” I say, gesturing to the chair opposite mine.

“This is a pretty cool company,” she informs me, taking her seat.

“Thanks,” I mutter. “I didn’t build it.”

“Yeah, but you contribute to it every day. It’s impressive,” she states.

I need to remember not to look into her eyes because they’re incredibly distracting and it’s the last thing I need right now. Emilia seems to have come to the same conclusion because her gaze is fixed somewhere on the table when she speaks again.

“Anyway… I heard you’ve got a contract for me to sign?”

I’m momentarily distracted by the sight of her legs in the dress she’s wearing.

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