Page 34 of Seventeen Years Ago

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not come to the office. Would you have any issue with meeting here at the resort?” I asked.

“None at all. How about ten tomorrow morning?”

“That works for me. Have a good night,” I said.

“I plan on being up all night coming up with a proposal you can’t refuse,” she replied before ending the call.

I knew Reesa would update Aiza on my status. Unfortunately, I was going to sit through another meeting when I already knew my answer.No.

CHAPTER14

Aiza

I didn’t know if I was happy or mad to learn that Steven was staying a few more days. He could’ve let me know instead of me having to hear it from Reesa when she called me to come into the office early this morning to help her print out things for their meeting.

As I helped put everything in order, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I needed to know. “Has Steven decided to move forward with the project? Is that why you are rushing to get this all done?”

“No. He insists that he’s not the right person. I totally disagree. But because of the weather, no planes are flying in or out of Tabiq for the next several days. He agreed to meet with me again, so I am going to do everything I can in order to get him to change his mind.”

“If he doesn’t want to do it, why not find someone else?” I asked.

“Aiza, it’s not that simple. I don’t want just anyone for this project. We have been looking for more than a year he is the one. I just need to convince him of that,” she stated.

And because of me, he thinks he’s not.

I hated this, but Reesa needed my help, even though she didn’t know it.It’s not the project he doesn’t want. It’s me.

“Reesa, may I ask something of you?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“May I join you for this meeting? I know it is not normal practice, but I’d really like the opportunity to see how negotiations work. You know, just in case someday I decide to run for president.”

Her eyes opened wide. “Are you really considering it?”

I shook my head. “But I’d still like to learn more about how this all works. You know what you tell me all the time.”

“That knowledge is power,” Reesa sighed. “Why is it that you always use my words to get what you want?”

Smiling I replied, “Because they are the wisest words I know.”

Reesa rolled her eyes. “Yes, you can come, but not because you are trying to flatter me. I agree. It might be good for you to see what normally happens behind closed doors.”

That sounded a lot different in my head than she probably meant it to. I quickly finished packing everything up and we were on our way to New Hope.

“I am surprised you didn’t have Steven come to the office,” I said.

“He is the one who requested me to meet him at the resort. I guess he’s trying to keep it less formal.”

Or just trying to avoid seeing me. I get it.

When we parted ways last night, I was still angry. He probably thought it was all directed at him, but it wasn’t. How could it be? I knew probably before he did, that he was the same guy, and I never fessed up to it. Our reasons may differ, but that was all.

“Will there be anyone else at the meeting?” I asked.

“I honestly don’t know. I would’ve thought Caydan would have reached out, but he hadn’t. Probably because it’s his anniversary today. Guess it’s a good thing that you came along. I am not sure it is good for my reputation as a married woman to meet a single man in his hotel room.”

“I hadn’t even thought about that. Maybe we should ask him to meet with us in an office somewhere,” I suggested.

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