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Chapter 32
Daniel
By lunchtime on Monday, I was growing anxious knowing I still hadn’t heard from Heart. It had been three days since the silent auction where we bumped into each other. I thought it was something like fate that had brought us together that night after she asked for space. Now, I wasn’t so sure. We seemed to be back where we started.
I felt like I was on a rollercoaster that I didn’t want to get off yet. The highs felt limitless, and the lows felt bottomless. If it were any other woman, I would have brushed this off, but there was something about Heart. And it wasn’t just because she was carrying our baby. Or that the sex was the best I had ever had. She was different.
Impatiently, I drummed my fingers on my desk as I stared at my computer screen. All my gifts had been delivered over the weekend, but I still hadn’t heard from her. I became desperate this morning and phoned Leading to Learn to let them know I wanted to double my donation, hoping it would get her attention. It was a ridiculous ploy that clearly didn’t work.
I let out a sigh of frustration. Clearly, she wasn’t one who responded to gifts. Again, different from other women I had been with.
I wondered what the hell could have happened in the course of an hour for her to leave the hotel and not hear from her again. I had been racking my brain for three days and couldn’t figure it out. It was eating away at me—I had to know.
Standing, I quickly grabbed my jacket from my chair, sliding it on. I walked out of my office and swiftly through the lobby, pressing the button for the elevator.
“Mr. Jacobs?” asked Margaret from her desk.
I looked over and she stood looking nervous.
“Yes, Margaret?”
“You’re stepping out?” she asked.
“I have somewhere to be.”
“But what about your meeting?” she asked, glancing at the clock.
Shit. I had a meeting in fifteen minutes with a representative from London.
“Reschedule it,” I said.
It wasn’t the smartest move, given that this deal with London had been a pain in my ass. I knew it would be worth it, but the time I had poured into making sure all the details were right had been exhausting. This fight, or whatever this was with Heart, wasn’t making it any easier.
“O-okay,” she replied.
The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside as I watched Margaret frantically look through her papers and pick up the phone. London would just have to wait.
On the curb, I texted Armand and he pulled the car around. I gave him the address for Heart’s work, and we were on our way. Her building wasn’t far from mine and I could feel my uncertainty start creeping in as we got closer. It was probably a bad idea showing up at her place of work, but she had really left me no choice.
The car pulled up to the curb and I stared up at the building, wondering what my next move would be.
Armand cleared his throat. “Sir, we’re here.”
As if I didn’t know.
“Thank you, Armand.” I nodded.
He got out and came around to open my door. I stepped out and smoothed my suit before walking inside. I rode the elevator up to her floor, trying to come up with some excuse as to why I was there to see her. We hadn’t been working together on the donation paperwork, but surely it wouldn’t be odd for us to have a meeting. She was the one I initially wanted to work with before things got complicated.
The elevator doors opened and the girl at the front desk looked up sleepily, only to be brought to life suddenly.
“Um, hello. Mr. Jacobs. Welcome.”
“Hello,” I said, placing my hands on her desk.
“What can I help you with?”
“I am here to see Ms. Heartly. Is she in?”