Page 42 of A Forever Love
CARTER
I’m seated at the bar, a glass of Scotch untouched in front of me. It’s eight thirty, and though I should head back to the apartment, I find myself rooted in place. The image of Merida’s expression when she glanced at me through the café window hovers in my mind. I thought I understood all her emotions, but the downward curve of her lips was different this time. It was as if she was enduring pain she believed would never stop.
Then, Brandon’s face surfaces in my mind. I’ve always suspected he had something to do with Merida leaving St. Peppers the day after prom. That jerk was her prom date, after all. Perhaps my threats weren’t strong enough when I told him four years ago to keep his hands off her or I’d break each one of his bones. But the way his possessiveness roared to life upon seeing me today took me by surprise. Suddenly it felt that the tables had turned, and he was the one silently threatening me to stay away from Mere.
Is something going on between those two? Was he in touch with her all these years when she shut everyone else out of her life? I’m almost tempted to check into the guy and track his whereabouts over the past four years.
“This is nonsense.” I place my phone back onto the table and run my hand through my hair in frustration. “He’s just a twenty-one-year-old kid. Why am I even bothered by this?”
Acting on impulse, I open my web page to LinkedIn and enter his name into the search bar.
My gaze lingers for a second on his profile picture, where he’s dressed in a graduation gown, before I scroll through his educational history. Everything falls into place when I see the familiar name of Merida’s university. My fingers move without conscious thought as they navigate to his friends list, and there, like a bolt of lightning, I find Merida’s name. Not only did they study together, but they also collaborated on papers and projects.
He was by her side even when she pushed her own family away.
What the fuck?
“Well, well. Seems we can’t stop running into each other these days, Carter.”
I don’t bother lifting my gaze to acknowledge Shawn Hades. This guy’s following me like a fucking shadow. “I’m not sure whether I should go through a body scan to find one of your shitty trackers you’ve probably planted on me or just wait for it to malfunction and break down.”
“It’s refreshing to see your sense of humor.”
I turn at the sound of a second voice and find Jason Gibson, the director of the Security Excellence Guild, standing next to Hades.
Fuck!
“Jason.” I get up from my chair. “What a pleasant surprise. I had no idea you were in town.”
“What can I say? Shawn here discovered that my wife has always wanted to experience a small-town fall season. He sent her brochures of the town’s festival and numerous pictures of past years’ events. Once she had her heart set upon it, there was no way I could refuse her.”
“Would you mind if we join you, Carter, or are you with someone?” The suck-up Hades is already grabbing a chair.
“Please, and congratulations on the twenty-fifth anniversary. It’s a significant milestone.” I signal to the waiter for drinks.
“It certainly is. But truth be told, once you navigate the initial ten years smoothly, the rest becomes a breeze.” Jason orders a Scotch before turning his attention back to me. “Now, what’s a handsome guy like you doing out solo on a weekday? You should be holding someone in your arms rather than nursing a drink alone in a bar.”
“This isn’t a habit, Jason, I promise. I just wrapped up a dinner meeting.”
“You work too hard, Carter. At your age, it’s only natural to want to be the best and on top of everything. However, do keep in mind that the relationships you build now are the only treasures you’ll hold dear when you reach my age.”
Before I can come up with an equally corny line, Shawn jumps the gun. “Don’t you worry, Jason. Carter isn’t alone anymore. I ran into him and his girl twice this week.” The smile that pulls on his lips resembles a viper slithering out of a dark alley, moving slowly and poised to strike.
“Is that true?” Jason’s face lights up, causing me to halt in refuting Shawn’s statement. “I’m absolutely thrilled. There’s just one thing that I and the other members of the Guild struggle to come to terms with when it comes to you. You’re like a lone wolf, and that rugged aura of self-sufficiency is so pronounced that it raises questions about whether you can truly function as part of a team.”
What the hell? Running a successful company should be proof enough of my leadership skills, shouldn’t it?
But before I can inquire about his cryptic statement, Jason presses on. “A remarkable leader isn’t always the fiercest warrior on the battlefield. Instead, they’re the one who knows the strengths and vulnerabilities of every soldier. They’re finely tuned to others’ emotions, and that’s how they make the best decisions. In last year’s voting for the best CEO, a collective agreement arose that you never allow anyone to surpass you or your company.”
“But my track record speaks for itself.” I struggle to keep my teeth from gritting in frustration.
“It does. It precisely reflects your work ethic and your achievements as the finest security professional. But a great leader is also empathetic. You must understand when to assert yourself and when to offer a shoulder to lean on.”
Jason’s words make no sense, but I know I need to listen if I hope to secure the award once again this year. He then leans back in his chair. “I’d love to meet the girl who’s supposedly turning you into a more compassionate person.”
“She’s not doing any such thing.”
“So you admit there’s someone?” Jason’s smile widens.