“So do you think we can get Donovan on board?” I asked.
That was the key consideration. Without Donovan and his fat purse, we wouldn’t be able to offer Petra anything. I didn’t think another investor would be interested in the project, and Donovan was perfect. As long as he saw the potential along with the rest of us, Petra’s little bakery would get its windfall.
“I think so,” Gavin said. “He’s looking for places just like hers. Really, there would be a minimum amount of money that she would need. Just enough for some new furniture and a coat of paint.”
“I think you’re oversimplifying things,” I replied. There was a lot of work that needed to be done to get the place into proper order.
“Maybe,” Gavin allowed. “But not an entire overhaul. I think she could do a lot with just a little bit of money and make the place a thousand times better.”
“To Petra.” I raised my glass.
“To Petra,” he responded in kind, clinking my drink with his own.
We finished up lunch and returned to the office. I was torn. On the one hand, I was glad that Petra was one step closer to getting the funding that she needed. On the other hand, I was a little bit pissed that Gavin got to spend time with her and I didn’t. It was important to get everyone on board, but still, I felt possessive in a way that I shouldn’t have.
Back at the office, I was looking forward to my three o’clock break, but unfortunately, I got pulled into another meeting. One of the other bankers was having trouble with a client, and he heard about the job I was doing. He asked me to sit in on his meeting and give his client my opinion.
What could I do? I couldn’t very well tell him that I had a standing coffee date with a woman down the street. So I shouldered my disappointment and went upstairs. By the time I was free, it was time to go home. I’d missed my chance to hang out with Petra for the first time in weeks. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I consoled myself with the fact that she would soon receive the money she needed to improve her life.
It wasn’t just the business, but all the things that went along with it. By setting Petra up as the point person for the investment, we would give her some real power over the douchebag manager. I hoped that Donovan would agree and that we could move forward on the project. Maybe then Petra would agree to a date. Maybe then I would find the courage to ask her out.