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I snorted. "That's the case with every new product." Abigail's father surely didn't think he could fob me off with such standard excuses? "Especially in the automotive industry, it's necessary to keep pace with technological development. Isn'tElecar Corporationsupposed to develop and sell the best electric vehicles?"
"Certainly," Donovan replied.
"Then you need the best batteries on the market. And those come from me. FromCarco Batteries." I leaned back in the low chair as best I could and looked at Abigail's father expectantly.
"That may well be," he now admitted.
That may well be? It was so! Nevertheless, I felt a slight sense of triumph at Donovan's statement. Would he be so easily convinced? I couldn't let up now. "It's not just that it may be, it is so."
Donovan also leaned back in his chair and looked at me scrutinizingly. "I gave your assistant a message for you."
Damn!
So that was it!
At that moment, the waiter appeared and placed two glasses on the table in front of us. I reached for my glass, toasted to Donovan, and took a big sip. The whiskey ran down my throat and immediately calmed me.
"I know. I got the message," I answered now.
"Abigail really isn't doing well, Carter."
"I'm sorry about that." In truth, I wasn't sorry at all. In my eyes, Abigail was a beast. She had tried to control me. That's why I had thrown her out. Now she was probably pulling her father's strings. She was using him and his company for her own purposes. And that purpose was: She wanted to win me back. I inwardly shook my head at such audacity.
"I'm her father."
I just nodded.
Donovan continued: "I want Abigail to be well."
"Don't we all?" Better to take his side on this matter. If I showed that I didn't care about Abigail's well-being, I definitely wouldn't get the contract.
"Since you broke up with her, she's been searching for the meaning of life."
Searching for the meaning of life? I didn't think much of such esoteric concepts. Or more precisely: nothing at all. The meaning of life was exactly that: to live.
"Then I hope she finds it soon." My response remained diplomatic.
"You are the meaning of life for her. She wants a man. A family. That's the meaning of life for every woman." Donovan looked at me expectantly.
I took another big sip of my whiskey. What was I supposed to say to that? As far as I was concerned, Abigail could marry whoever she wanted and have as many children as she wanted, as long as it had nothing to do with me.
At that moment, it got louder behind me. The girls were squealing and laughing with pure joy. The previously discreet music in the bar was replaced by "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez. High time to end this conversation and leave the hotel.
Suddenly, my grandmother's voice echoed in my head.
Your birthday is in four months. At the latest on that day, you'll also be celebrating your engagement.
I grimaced. And at the thought that I had promised my grandmother to present a fiancée to her next week at Cameron's wedding, I grimaced even more.
Where was I supposed to find a fiancée in such a short time? I didn't know any woman who would be suitable. My recent acquaintances and affairs had lasted no longer than a night, and I had consistently deleted their phone numbers the next day. After all, I didn't want to get involved with anyone.
What if I brought Abigail to Cameron's wedding?
Could that work out?
No.
Absolutely not.