Page 93 of The Grumpy Billionaire
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Once again, Sheldon was like a kid at an amusement park when we reached Reid’s hi-tech company headquarters to film there on Tuesday. He even joined a pick-up game of basketball at the much-admired indoor court when we finished the shoot.
Afterward, as Reid and I walked together toward the building’s entrance, I drew close and asked in a low voice, “Have you thought of an answer to that question?”
He gave me a sneaky grin. “Still working on it.”
“Okay, but I have to start writing the story soon, and Sheldon’s got to edit. In fact, we’re heading back to the station now to start logging the footage and to pull some sound bites for the promotions department. Rob wants to get promos on the air ASAP for this. Sure you don’t want to just wing it?”
He stopped at the door, turning to face me. “I’m sure. Tell you what—how late will you be at the station?”
I looked at my phone. “It’s three now. I’ll be there at least until news time—six o’clock—maybe later.”
“Why don’t I swing by there and pick you up for dinner? If I think of the perfect answer by that time, I’ll just come in, and Sheldon can shoot that part of the interview there at the station. Would that work?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so. You think you’ll be ready by tonight?”
He gave a confident nod, a strange gleam lighting his blue-green eyes. “I do.”
As Sheldon and I drove back to the station, I started to like Reid’s idea more and more. We could wrap up the interview completely, and dinner with him afterward would give us time to talk.
I’d been thinking about what Mom had said last night. Even after everything my parents had shared, even though they’d had three kids together and were still attracted to each other, she was convinced it was best not to spend your life with a man you loved too much. The risk was too high.
It made a lot of sense.
Continuing to see Reid… did not. We’d had an amazing week together, but there was no reason to continue this… whatever we had.
Well, okay, there were a few thousand reasons Iwantedto keep seeing him, but it was just foolish to indulge myself that way.
It couldn’t become anything permanent, and every day I spent with him would only make it harder to do what would inevitably have to be done.
I had to leave him. Better now than later when I might have even less control over my own heart.
Whenever that heart started to rip open at the thought of being without him, like right now for instance, I’d sew it up with a thread of logic and good sense and carry on.
THIRTY-THREE
Two Words
Mara
Sheldon and I spent a long time logging the story footage, searching for just the right video and sound bites to make up the first part of our series of reports.
Once in a while, one of our co-workers would peek into the edit bay and squeal (if female) or curse (if male) at the sight oftheReid Mancini on camera and carry on about what an epic sweeps piece it was going to be and how lucky we were to be the ones doing it.
Someone from promotions also came by to ask Sheldon about a video clip so they could whip up a quick promo for tonight—apparently Rob and the GM just couldn’t wait any longer—they were convinced these reports were going to launch us ahead of the other local stations for sweeps month.
Around news time Sheldon left me in the edit bay to go help with a live shot. I planned to stay and work until Reid called or buzzed at the front door. At six-fifteen, Shannon, one of our newsroom interns, came to get me.
“Miss Neely?” The awkward girl barely raised her voice above a whisper.
She wasn’t exactly a go-getter, and though I kept encouraging her, she kept insisting she had zero potential as a reporter.
“You can call me Mara,” I reminded her for at least the third time since we’d met.
“Uh, Mara… there’s a guy here to see you.”
“Okay, thanks, Shannon. I’ll be right out.”
