A Curve Ball Called Love

Tiffany raised an eyebrow.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“He’s liquidated everything he owns including the house he was mortgaging. He is betting it all on the book.”

Tiffany took a long, deep breath.

“Get legal on this and call Douglas Ingram. We need to be all over this.”

Ian nodded and got up before he made his way out of the office, leaving Tiffany wondering what her next step was going to be. The decision was quite simple really but Vincent was acting like a real psycho. She was beginning to think that perhaps she needed a restraining order or something…

*****

Douglas didn’t know why Tiffany’s assistant had asked him to go to her office but he was excited anyway. Any time he got to spend with her was precious. It was four in the afternoon when he walked into her office but at nine, he was still in her office.

“Do you think that we should order in?” he asked as he leaned back in his chair.

She shook her head.

“Yeah, I don’t know. Maybe just get out of the office altogether. I’ve been in this chair for thirteen hours.”

“I’m guessing that your muscles are just packed in that chair, huh?” he asked and she smiled. “I have a better idea for dinner.”

She shrugged.

“Shoot.”

“Best restaurant in town. Open twenty-four hours a day.”

Tiffany frowned.

“Is there an Olive Garden I don’t know about?” she asked. “Because most of them close by ten. Or are you talking about a drive thru?”

Douglas grinned and Tiffany shook her head.

“Douglas Ingram, are you trying to get me to come home with you again?” she asked and he shrugged lightly.

This wasn’t the first time he was making this proposal.

“So Olive Garden?” he asked and she shook her head.

“Actually, something greasy like a burger and a side of fries. I think that after today I’ve earned it,” she said as she reached for the phone. “You?”

“I’ll have what you’re having,” he said before she went ahead and ordered. Their order was delivered less than half an hour later and they moved to the couch. One of the perks Tiffany liked about her new office was having a mini-living room right there and a private bathroom to go with it. As they ate, they talked about work. At first, they were just talking about work and how Vincent seemed to be bent on taking revenge on Douglas for taking his office and then they began talking about life in general. What got Tiffany into public relations in the first place and what got him into business.

“It is all about the bigger picture,” he explained. “My family also had business interests. Some that they actually had to learn on the way. So, I thought I would do the same thing.”

“What about life in general?” Tiffany asked. “Do you ever think about having a family? Having kids someday maybe?”

He took a long deep breath and looked into her eyes.

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it but I always wanted to wait to find the right person.” He smiled. “I know it sounds cliché but that’s the truth.”

Tiffany reached for her water and took a sip.

“What exactly constitutes a ‘right person’?” she asked and he shook his head.

“Great personality, talent, beautiful ebony black hair that’s almost always held back, dark skin tone that could rock the runways…” his voice trailed off when he noticed her cheeks flushed a bright red.

“Why does it sound like you’re describing me right now?” she asked and he shrugged.

“That’s because I am.”

Tiffany didn’t know what to say. She was just sitting there quietly. His words had completely caught her off guard even though in the back of her mind, she somehow expected him to say that or at least something like that, but now that the words were out in the open, she didn’t know what to do. She was just sitting there, looking into his eyes. Her mind was working on overtime as she tried figuring out what she was supposed to do or say next. As if he read her mind, he reached for the bottle of water in her hand and put it on the small table before he moved closer to her. She knew exactly what was happening between them. She could feel the tension between them growing. She wanted to move away and at the same time, she wanted to simply lean in and close the gap between them. She gasped silently when she felt his hand on her cheek.

“I have missed you so much,” he said in a soft voice.

“I missed you too,” she whispered back.

It wasn’t a lie. She’d been thinking about him for a long time. Thinking about how perfect they were together.

His hand slid down to her chin and he gently stroked it with his thumb. He was so close to her she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin and smell his scent all at the same time.

“Tell me if you want me to stop,” he said and suddenly. As if those words had triggered something, she leaned in and let her lips gently brush his. He pulled away for a second, surprised, before he leaned back in and took her in his arms.

“I love you so much, Tiffany Meyers,” he said in a whisper.

She held him tightly and exhaled loudly.

“I think I love you too, Douglas Ingram.”