“He’s very charming. He’s taken me out to dinner a number of times. But I don’t like his womanizing ways. That’s what bothers me.”
“He has me now. I think Marcus was just lost for a while. When his father died, he turned to the love of his l
ife. When she rejected him, he didn’t take the loss of her and his father very well. Bottom line, he lost it. But he’s learned from his mistakes. He doesn’t want to lose me. And he’s going to work hard to be a better man. I think everyone deserves a second chance. Don’t you?”
He looked at me as he pondered.
“Markus will be loyal to your company. He’ll work hard and be committed to your company's success. He’ll work for you and do his best and often even put your company's interests ahead of his own. You know that firsthand. And he’s not only loyal to the company, but he’s also loyal to you. Your company means everything to him. Markus told me his dad worked hard for you. Now please give Marcus the same opportunity. He has so many ideas and plans to take you to the next level, including a merger. You just have to take a chance. He’s a good man and I think you know that, Mr. Takahari.”
“Would you invest your money with him?”
My eyes travelled to where Marcus was standing in the sun, gazing out over the lengthy course as he considered his next move. The corners of my lips curved up in a little smile at the look of extreme concentration furrowing his handsome face. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he took a swing and sent the ball sailing toward the next hole.
“You know what...” We both watched as it hit the flag, “...I think I would.”
Chapter 17
“He wants to set up a meeting!” Marcus beamed as the limo sped away into the setting sun. “I can’t believe it! A preliminary strategy session to talk about a merger.”
As I gazed out the window, I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s amazing, Marcus.”
“I don’t know what you said to him out there, but whatever it was, it worked!”
I twisted around to face him. “It wasn’t me—that was all you. You’re the one he’s thinking of investing with.”
For the second time that day, his hand flashed out and caught my wrist. When I glanced up in surprise, he was staring at me intently, his face both thoughtful and sincere.
“I’m serious, Rebecca. This meant the world to me. Thank you.”
I gave him a genuine smile. “You’re welcome.”
He grinned, and his face lit up once more with that boyish enthusiasm. “Well, the day’s not over yet. Where do you want to go? It can be anywhere.” He faltered for a second at my expression and quickly corrected himself, “Or I can just take you home. Whatever you want.”
I thought about it, but realized that I didn’t want to go home yet either. Believe it or not, despite the fact that I’d spent the day at a golf course, I was actually having fun.
“Santa Monica Pier,” I announced.
“The pier?” he repeated, nodding to his driver as the limo changed course.
“You showed me a little of your world; it’s time I show you a little of mine.”
We spent the rest of the evening walking hand in hand along the beach (in case someone was watching, of course), talking about anything and everything as the sun first painted the sky gold, and then slipped beneath the sparkling waves. No subject was off-limits, no question was too invasive, no story was too ridiculous to tell. We rode on the giant Ferris wheel at the end of the dock seven times. By the end of the night, I had laughed more than I had in the last month combined, snacking on corn dogs and cotton candy as we collapsed on a blanket under the stars.
“So that’s when I found out my roommate was gay,” Marcus concluded. “And coincidentally, when I discovered I was allergic to bees.”
I snorted into my hot chocolate, setting it quickly in the sand as it dripped down my hand.
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh, you think that’s funny? That sort of trauma to a child?”
I couldn’t speak, I was literally laughing too hard.
Grinning in spite of himself, he pulled off a handful of cotton candy and stuffed it into my mouth. “There. I hope you choke.”
When I finally came up for air, he was staring peacefully out at the waves, lost in thought. I shivered slightly and pulled the jacket he’d lent me tighter around my shoulders, inadvertently leaning against him as we gazed out toward the moonlit horizon.
“Why is Takahari such an important client to you?” I finally asked. “I mean, it’s not like you need the money—why go after him so hard?”
Marcus stiffened beside me, and for a second I was worried I’d crossed some invisible line, but in the end, he just dropped his head—letting his hair spill over his face as he traced absentminded designs into the sand.