Their Double Blessing

Chapter 7

George sat on the plane pondering what might happen while he was gone. It was silly to think Patricia would ever step out on him. She wasn’t that kind of person. Always kind and loyal to those she cared about, unless they turned on her or were getting hurt. He never intended to do anything to anger her. That didn’t prevent mishaps, but accidents like the blindfold incident and the veal debacle weren’t enough to turn his love away. So there was nothing he could see outside of a genuine betrayal to guarantee an end to their relationship.

But that didn’t stop him from worrying. This was still new after believing there would never be another soulmate. A thought that seemed silly now with Patricia in the picture. How many years had been wasted moping around instead of trying to move on? Then again he might have settled for someone else before true love came along. There was no way of knowing how things might have been different if heartbreak hadn’t turned him away from romance for so long. In the end, a mall security guard was the one he wanted in his life forever.

Remembering their first official meeting at the luncheon was both beautiful and painful. He had been so awkward and accidentally creepy. The very fact that she didn’t storm off or put him in a headlock proved fate had mercy on him. Patricia had been burned in the past and didn’t need a weird rich guy making passes. But he wanted more and was willing to wait for her to be ready. It had been a fun and strange journey for both of them. From strained acquaintances to friends and then lovers, if not more. He’d wanted to find a woman to be with for life and now that hope was within his grasp. Then reality had to slap him in the face.

This trip was a big deal for his reputation and business. Partners needed reassurances he was on top of everything, that these charities weren’t going to slow things down or mess with the bottom line. Money was the main thing for them, and plenty of it. The wealthy wanted more not less. Their investments needed to be well maintained and those working with them cutthroat. There were no princes and princesses where he was going. Everyone was hard and shrewd. Outsiders thought this was all fun and games but the truth was very different.

He couldn’t wait to get this over with and come back to Patricia. They were just getting to a new level in their relationship when he up and flew away. If she didn’t start considering an out, that would be lucky. She wasn’t the person who dropped people at the drop of a hat, but she needed stability and that meant a man who would be there. Her sister might tolerate a man who disappeared at all times as long as the money was there but Patricia was not like that.

Sooner or later something would have to give. He was scared of what changes were on the horizon. Funny, since he was a businessman trained to work with just that: The ebbs and flows that came with life in general both at work and in his personal life. Patricia was different. The idea of losing her in any way was devastating. He could never come back whole from that. Losing one soulmate was soul-crushing. A second just might be the end of him. No way that one trip could end them but he would always have a new one coming.

“We’ll be lifting off in a few minutes.” Cynthia joined him buckling herself in. She tilted her head, staring at his lap. “The computer screen is blank. Unless you’re daydreaming I’m going to guess that this trip isn’t on your wishlist. Of course with the ten requests for rescheduling you sent through one of the other employees might have been a hint too. I might have an inside track as to why you’re sulking instead of acting like an adult.”

“I’m not in the mood.” George struck her down. Usually he would have tried to have a conversation, discuss the pros and cons of the situation. His publicist was a confidante paid well to take of the business and personal interests. But she was also his friend. One that would be gone after contracts were done. There was always the reality of that. Cynthia didn’t stay in personal contact with former employers. Something he could ignore in the past. But being with Patricia made him yearn more for authenticity instead paid courtesy. Cynthia was always going to be business first and he didn’t need reminding of that hard fact.

Cynthia laughed out loud. An unexpected move after a straight rebuff. The sound was refreshing though after being in the doldrums all the way to the airport. Which had been a quiet affair with the publicist going over their itinerary and him mostly nodding. She hadn’t questioned his attitude then. Probably assessing things in her own way before making any snap judgments. Which made her both perfect at the job and impossible to hide from. She was the best at what needed to be done, keeping both him and the business afloat.

That night with Patricia had been the best of his life. Nothing compared to her staying over at his penthouse. He feared that she might get turned off thinking that he was too forward. Instead they had an awkward meal then great conversation. The swan confession was over the top in retrospect, but he never expected that she would be so against veal. It was still from a cow. Either way the rest of the night went well and there was no doubt she was glad they’d gotten the chance to be together all night. He had no complaints about the matter.

The morning after when she had to leave was hard. Neither wanted to go and she brought up again the chance of ‘playing hooky’. It both warmed and broke his heart that she wanted to be with him that much. But the answer had to be no and they both knew it. They were working people at the end of the day. Him a billionaire with a business to run and her a mall security and activist for a great community. Their purpose might not align but neither wanted to let down those who depended on them. That wasn’t who they were at the end of the day.

“This lady must be the one, to be able to bring your business obsession grinding to a halt.” Cynthia faced him with a smirk. “I knew there was someone out there for the great George Kent. You thought I was wrong but look where we are. Flying in luxury and you just want to go coach with the woman of your dreams. If I wasn’t working, I would bring out the tissues.” She relaxed as the plane started take off, the look on her face making it clear the conversation was not ending anytime soon. Silence wasn’t going to protect him.

“If I say this is neither the time nor place it won’t stop you will it?” George sighed giving her his full attention. Sometimes he wished she didn’t care about him outside of a spreadsheet and schedule. But her personal touch was what made her so valuable, along with all the other skills. He never really wanted her to change.

“I’ve been doing my job for decades. The stewardess on this plane won’t report anything new. Every outlet keeps trying to guess how many secret lovers and babies you have. Unless there’s a family hiding in the Caymans I’m pretty sure we’re safe to talk.” His publicist wasn’t one to hold back and from the gasps of everyone else but his bodyguards, everyone else was aghast. But in truth this was Cynthia when she was being nice, mean was worse.

“I won’t risk the business. There needs to be a balance.” George had no idea what that might be. He’d done everything to make time to be with Patricia. Make her feel important and provided for without being too clingy. Yet he felt as if enough wasn’t being done at all.