Page 6 of Heart Like Yours
From my very first conversation with Paige, I knew she would do remarkable things. All it took was a single interview to know I needed her in any way I could have her. Professionally, of course.
At least, that’s what I told myself during the first six months of working with her. After that, there was no denying that everything she did captivated me. She’s smart, dedicated, always willing to learn and do whatever needs to be done.
Her presence lights up every space she enters, demanding all focus without even realizing it. All I can do is soak up whatever she gives, then cling to her beautiful smiles and traces of her delicate, floral perfume once she’s gone. She is without a doubt the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. I should have known that her being my employee wasn’t going to be enough to stop me from falling for her.
And now I know that she’s not happy.
She didn’t need to say those words out loud for me to know that deep down, Paige is no longer satisfied in her role. If I didn’t already have a solution to her problem, I would have panicked that she was going to leave.
If I were a better man, I would have offered to help her get whatever dream job she wants. Having worked closely with her for so long, the list of her talents could go on and on. Finding her when I did was the best thing to happen to SweetHeart Publishing. Now, there’s no doubt that she could walk into any other company and run it better than their current owner.
Plus, if I let her do that, there would be no red tape in the way of me pursuing her.
But when it comes to Paige Adams, all sense of logic goes out the window. The selfish part of me wins every time and I will bend over backward to keep her to myself.
She just doesn’t know that.
When I first began making my new plans, I was already including her in them, not that I could tell her that. I’ve never been one to speak to things before they’re set. There’s only ever been one person who hears my plans when they’re simply ideas.
I met Leo Henderson during college. He had just gotten the “partying” phase of his life out of the way during his twenties and was trying to turn things around now that he was in his early thirties. Which was how it worked out for him to be in the final year of getting his bachelor’s degree at the same time as me. Weonly had two classes together, and even with him being a bit older than me, we hit it off instantly. Something I’m endlessly grateful for.
Despite the rough first few years of my life, my success would be nowhere near as big if it weren’t for two families who helped me at pivotal times in my life.
My friend Dominik and his family took me in when I was too young to even fully understand what was happening. They made sure I always knew what it was like to be loved, to be a child, and to always have a safe space to land. Then Leo and his father stood by my side as I fumbled into figuring out how to be an adult and helped set me up to be a successful businessman.
Over the years, Leo and I only grew closer. Once I graduated, his father hired me to work at his company. While teaching his son how to run things, his father also took me under his wing. After a few years of working with them, Mr. Henderson pulled me aside to ask what I wanted to do next. It was the first time I told anyone my plans for my first investment, a company I thought had potential to buy out, as well as my idea to launch a publishing company. Part of me had expected him to laugh at my ambitions.
Instead, he helped set me on the right path and taught me what I needed to do in order to get my feet off the ground. His only ask in return for helping, was to allow his son to be a shareholder in the company should it be successful.
This past year, with Leo’s fortieth birthday a few months back, he has officially taken over his father’s company. The two of us have multiple investments and mergers together, making him both one of my closest friends but also my best business partner. Even with the nonstop hustle of running a company, he’s still always willing to talk business deals through with me. Or even occasionally talk me out of one.
To this day, Leo is the only one who knows my biggest secret.
As if summoned from my thoughts alone, my phone lights up. A grin tugs at my lips as I accept the call.
“This is Garrett Walker,” I greet, choking back my laughter as Leo groans in response.
“Dude, you sound like my dad when you answer the phone like that,” he says and I don’t have to see him to know he’s scowling at the phone.
“Well, since I know your dad, I’m gonna choose to take that as a compliment.” I laugh, leaning back and turning in my seat to look at the view of the city from my office windows. “How are things going up in New York?”
“Busy and cold as balls.” He sighs.
“And yet you still choose to live there,” I remind him.
“The things I do to stay close to family.”
“So it’s worth it,” I state, that familiar ache that never really goes away tightens like a vice grip just like it always does when I think about family.
“Yeah, tell that to my sister,” he retorts.
“I take it Simone is still talking about moving to California?” I question and Leo huffs out a breath.
“Yeah, she has her heart set on one of the hospitals out there. Dad managed to convince her to get through the nursing program here in New York before she makes any serious moves for a job she might not even like.” The sarcasm is thick as he finishes his sentence. “I tried to point out to Dad that when I was Simone’s age, I was on the other side of the world and drunk out of my mind almost daily. That maybe she just needs us to support her choice for now and know that if it fails, we’re here to help her back up. But he won’t budge.”
“He’s trying to protect her,” I offer while trying to remain neutral.
“Yeah, well, if he’s not careful, he’s gonna push her away completely.” Leo sighs heavily before changing the subject. “Anyway, I read through that proposal you sent over.”