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"Of course, who wouldn't have enjoyed their freedom? New York is full of beautiful women. Who would I be if I didn't enjoy what the world has to offer? A woman only comes to my place for one night, no longer." That had been my iron rule since breaking up with Abigail. I always stuck to it and had a LOT of fun doing so. A whole lot of fun. Sure, some of the women had turned out to be a bit more clingy than expected and thought they could cure me of my "fear of commitment". I quickly dashed their hopes.
I didn't have a fear of commitment.
I simply enjoyed my freedom and had fun in my own way.
"Not all women are like Abigail," Don pointed out.
"Maybe not. But I'm just having too much fun. Why should I settle for one when I can have them all?" My argument was unbeatable in logic.
Don remained silent.
"No woman is coming back into my house, especially not Abigail. Her beloved father is apparently worried about her. He thinks I'm responsible for his daughter being unhappy and living off him. He probably wants to get rid of her too, and he can't think of anything better than tying her to me again."
"That could well be," Don said thoughtfully.
"I want nothing more to do with her. But I want the contract." With these two sentences, I outlined the conflict I had to solve.
"Can't you just pretend with Abigail? I mean..." Don didn't continue.
"The contract spans years, buddy. There's no quick fling and then getting rid of the woman again."
"And the contract is really that important?" Don made sure.
"We've worked towards this for months, if not years." I exhaled audibly and gripped the edge of the desk with my hand. "I'm not giving up that easily."
"What are you planning?" Don wanted to know.
"I'll meet with Abigail's father. Maybe Donovan Hayden Ellesmere will be more approachable in a conversation." I liked the idea so much that I asked Don, "Wait a moment." With the phone to my ear, I turned to my PC and typed an instruction for Francis in the chat window.
Please arrange an appointment with Donovan Hayden Ellesmere. As soon as possible. Preferably today.
This would have actually been a task for my secretary Yolanda. Francis would take care of it.
"I'm back," I said to Don.
"You think he'll talk to you?"
"In the end, he also has to make sure he's making the best possible decision for his company. Our product is leagues better than Cameron's. He can't get around that. I mean, if he only installs a second-rate battery in his cars, they won't be very popular. He'll lose buyers. Not immediately. But in a few years, theElecar Corporationwill already feel the consequences of this decision. Donovan Hayden Ellesmere can't afford that."
"Hm," Don said. "And what if he believes that... well, that you'll definitely follow his request? Then he's got Abigail taken care of AND the better products for his cars."
"That's out of the question! I can't be blackmailed," I was outraged.
"Surely Abigail's father knows how desperately you want this deal."
"Definitely. He knows that I now have the chance to finally outdo Cameron and how much I'm burning for it. And he'll also realize that my company can't grow further without this contract. We've invested a lot of money in developing the new product. Now we have to sell it."
A message from Francis popped up in the chat window.
Donovan Hayden Ellesmere expects you tonight at 7 PM at the Hotel Tiffany.
I grunted with satisfaction.
"I'm meeting Abigail's father tonight. My assistant just arranged it."
"Then you'd better think about how far you'd go to get the contract," Don warned me.
"You mean the old man won't be easily swayed?" I asked.