Page 55 of Ruthless Financier
Russ finished his cup and said, “How?”
“He never left my mom alone. After she left him, he hounded her until she died.”
“If your wife told you to get lost, you would.”
Point one for him. At least I hoped so. I gazed at the white ceiling. If only. I swallowed and watched the ceiling fan turn as I said, “She left without saying a word.”
Frank leaned closer and asked, “Can I ask if you admitted to her how you felt about her?”
My eyes widened. “What?”
Frank and Russ shared a look and then Frank said, “Look, I’ve worked with you a long time. I’ve never heard you ever say anything about your own feelings, except how you wanted your father to pay. We now own his bank and his entire portfolio. He’s out to pasture. But you have a life to lead.”
Without Indigo, I had no life. Normally, I could work out what to do when one avenue to my goal went stale. That’s how I’d finally succeeded in getting my father’s business. But I didn’t know what to do next to win Indigo back.
“I didn’t tell her how I feel,” I said. “I couldn’t.”
Frank said, “Women like romance. And knowing how you feel about them.”
I flinched. They knew me. My chin went down and I shook my head. “I … I’d asked for a divorce.”
Russ closed his laptop and said, “You fucked that up. Go and tell her you love her … with flowers, a ring, and in some sort of big showy way, like how women want.”
I wouldn’t have been half as successful as I was without the two of them at my side. I tapped the table and said, “Russ, Frank, you both deserves raises.”
Russ stood first and Frank packed his laptop as he asked, “Are we ordering the plane to Pittsburgh?”
I stood up last and my mind raced. I’d never thought I’d play the fool that chased the girl. My chest swelled with hope and I let the feeling rush into my veins. Both men stared at me and I tapped my lips. “Let me—“
Russ then added, “The longer you wait the harder it gets to prove you’re serious.”
I let out a long breath I’d been holding and said, “I want to stop and buy a ring and send flowers to her house.”
Russ showed his phone and said, “We can order the flowers.”
I held my hand in the air and said, “But I want to pick out the ring I propose with myself.”
“I’ll make the arrangements,” Russ said, and the two men headed to the door. I rushed to my room to get ready.
The bright sun of the day maybe meant there was hope in the world. Anything was possible. Hopefully Indigo loved me half as much as I loved her.
Chapter 17
Indigo
My heels were sore and my shoulders were slumped and tired as I stepped into my condo.
The air here still had the scent of that woodsy cologne of his. I closed my eyes and let the smell get to me as I carried my luggage back to my closet.
I’d never need these clothes again. The familiar black clothes hanging there made me pause. I thought better in jeans and a t-shirt. So I picked some out, tossed them on the bed, and took a shower.
Maybe if I didn’t still smell Jacob on my skin, I’d stop thinking about him. The water brushing against my body only made me remember that afternoon.
I’d been his, and yet I’d walked away. I let myself collapse on the floor of the shower, like that might make tears rock my body. But soon the hot water turned cold and all I did was shiver. I shouldn’t have expected to feel.
Inside, I was as cold and numb as my wet, shivering skin. I towel dried myself, dressed and headed into my kitchen. I found my packaged coffee and made a pot, but as it percolated, my phone rang. My sister Nicole. She probably needed something from me for her green-living blog. I answered and she asked, “Indigo, what’s going on?”
I found a mug and poured my coffee as I said, “I’m home.”
