Page 53 of The Bargain
“SOL, Paul,” I call out. “It’s on third.”
“I know it,” he says. “Good choice.”
It’s a full half hour later when we sit in a booth with margaritas, guacamole and chips, and my MacBook, as Ethan explains certain parts of the contract to me, outlining ways I could have gotten screwed and didn’t. “Now you know for the future what to look for. And now, you can sign and celebrate.”
My heart leaps, and my hand trembles. “This doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe this is happening.” I scroll to the proper page, accept a digital signature, and make it official. It’s done. And I hesitate only a moment before I send the screenshot to my father with a text:Zoey is happening! It’s done!
Ethan lifts our glasses. “Toast?”
“Toast,” I say, and set my phone down, accepting my glass.
“To a beautiful future dressed in Zoey by Sofia,” he says in what has to be the best toast ever.
We clink glasses, and I’m all smiles when my cellphone buzzes with a text. “I sent a note to my father,” I say, and quickly exchange my glass for my phone to find he’s replied:That’s amazing news, honey. I came by the shop and your house, and you’re not here. Where are you? Did you leave?
My heart leaps all over again, and I turn to Ethan. “My father tried to come see us. He’s asking where we are now.”
“That’s good. That’s what we wanted. Tell him to join us for lunch.”
“Right. Yes. I’ll do that.”
I text my father:We’re at SOL. We haven’t ordered yet. You want to join us? We’d like it if you did.
He answers right away with no hesitation:I’ll be there in five.
I set my phone down. “He’s on his way. You were right. What did you say to him?”
“Pretty much the same things I’ve said to you about him and us.”
“What about us?”
“I told him I planned on staying around, so it was going to suck to watch him do business with someone else when I believe we can make magic and money together.”
“You told my father you plan to stick around?”
“Of course, I did. I also told him what turned me around, which was him, through you. And if he wants to talk business before we leave town, I’m all for it.”
“I can leave after lunch and let you two talk. Or you can use my place, and I’ll go to the store for a while.”
“He might want to go to his offices,” he suggests. “That’s where he feels in control. I’m willing to do whatever. Let’s play it by ear.”
“Okay. I need to go meet him out front.” I lean in and kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Ethan.”
He captures my waist. “Stop thanking me. This is a win for me, too. Keep reminding him of that, baby.”
“I will,” I say, and I slide out of the booth, snatch up my phone, and rush for the door.
I’ve been outside for about three or four minutes when he shows up, and he doesn’t hesitate to pull me into a bear hug. “Congratulations, honey. I’m so proud of you.” He eases back to look at me. “Ethan told me you’re a superstar.”
“I didn’t know he was going to show up at your door. He was supposed to be waiting on me at Starbucks, and after I told him how it went when we talked, he just took off. I couldn’t stop him. Did he freak you out?”
“It was unexpected, but I respect him for wanting to look me in the eyes and share his intentions toward you more than anything. I believe he cares about you.”
“What about him wanting to invest in you?”
He scrubs a hand over his jaw before he plants both on his waist. “It’s weird having an investor and partner that’s involved with my daughter, but there are reasons I approached him. He’sknown to be smart and ethical, and when I met with him, he seemed genuinely interested in our business. It just took me a bit to get out of my own head. I’m sorry I reacted so badly to your visit last night.”
“Don’t be sorry. The Ethan and me thing is unexpected and kind of shocking, even to me but, Dad, he’s from a different world, and yet he seems to think Zoey is going to erase that feeling for me.”
