“Oh, Rose, I feel so stupid. I don’t normally judge people. I…”
“Don’t worry about it honey. He would kill me if he found out I came to talk to you. But the way I see it, I owe him a secret favor, too!”
Jen smiled. “Could you tell me where I can reach him—at work?”
***
The following morning on her day off, Jen walked up to the glass building of Harrington Enterprise. She could not believe that he was owner of this building and the many stores in town. The Blake Harrington was so young!
“Yes, can I help you?” The young receptionist asked as she walked into the beautiful reception area on the first floor. The place had tall ceiling to floor windows which let in a lot of sunlight. The walls were adorned with beautiful artwork. It was a beautiful light environment.
“I’m here to see Blake Harrington.”
“I’m afraid he’s in meetings right now. Do you have an appointment?”
“Um, well no. Can I leave a message?”
“Sure you can. I’ll send it to his email. He checks often just in case—even when he’s in meetings.”
“Thank you.” Jen dictated a message to the receptionist to type stating that Jen Anne from the flower shop came by to say hi and the time she came.
The receptionist quickly keyed in the information and within a few seconds her laptop pinged.
“Um…Just a minute, Jen! He just sent a message back. He doesn’t usually respond this quickly to emails…unless it’s very important.”
“Oh?” Jen felt her face flush.
“He asked if you could wait around for another twenty minutes.”
“Oh, um…sure.”
***
The next twenty minutes seemed to go on forever, even though Jen mindlessly flipped through magazines on the table and occasionally looked up at the flat screen TV on the wall. It was an upscale reception area with futuristic looking chairs. Very impressive. She just could not believe that Blake, her customer, owned all of this. She could not believe that Blake, the billionaire, was interested in her.
Unbelievable!
Coming through a set of double doors were two gentlemen in suits. “That Blake is something else, isn’t he?” one of the men said to the other.
“No kidding. The man is ruthless. Who does he think he is? He thinks he owns this town and everybody in it?”
“Well, you heard what he said. It was his way or the deal was off.”
“Seventy percent of the profits? That’s just crazy.”
“Well, it is his money.”
“The guy has no heart. We’re better to squeeze water from a rock.”
Both men shook their heads and walked past Jen and out through the exit doors of the reception area, oblivious to her presence.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Blake walked through glass doors a few minutes later looking deliciously handsome in his expensive suit, as usual. He had an unreadable expression on his face. Was he annoyed that she came after he’d asked her out the other day and it took her almost two days to respond? Or was he relieved? She could not tell, but he did look rushed. Then she realized that it was probably the business meeting he’d just had with those men who just walked by.
Jen could not believe they were talking about the same sweet Blake. But then her mind drifted back to what Rose said yesterday. His reputation in the business world as a tiger or a lion. He was king where that was concerned. She guessed it would make sense that he didn’t want it out that he had a softer side. A compassionate side. Jen suddenly felt intrigued by Blake Harrington, the man with two distinguished sides.
“No worries. You have a nice place.”
“Thank you,” he said almost distractedly as he keyed in something to his cell phone. He seemed like a completely different person from the relaxed person who came through the doors of the flower shop.
“Excuse me, I just have to send this text,” he said. Then he turned to his receptionist. “Please see to it that the boardroom is booked for the Holmes meeting tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Harrington.”
“Is everything alright?” he asked after he finished his multitasking, texting and giving orders to his receptionist.