Chapter 8
Greg
I pause for few seconds, another idea just come to me
"Hey Lin, we didn't catch up for many years. How about if I invite you to lunch now? , it's almost lunch time, and I know many great restaurants"
"I….I don't know Greg I think it's not a good idea, you know, you're my client and that might not be right, maybe we shouldn't..." She didn't even finish the sentence but I interrupted her.
"Come on Link, don't consider me as customer, we're friends from a long time, right?. Just two old friends want to catch up together!"
"I just feel it's not appropriate," she said arguing.
"Come on, Linka, it's lunch time already. Do you go out of your office to lunch with your friends sometimes?"
"Ok… I think it's fine" She said after period of silence. She wasn't very comfortable with the idea, but I insisted.
I took her to a nearby restaurant. Classy of course, I usually take to this restaurant some important clients that I care about, and everyone knows me there,
When we arrived, I opened the car door then the restaurant door for her. I was trying to be so gentle with her, usually I am not.
The receptionist greeted us with a big smile, probably because I give him many tips from time to time, he asked us where you would like to sit, I didn't ask Linka about her opinion and chose a quiet spot overlooking the garden near the window.
"This restaurant looks very luxurious, doesn't it?" She rolls her eyes everywhere in the restaurant
"Yes it is. It serves very delicious food that you will like. I am sure" I unbutton my jacket and readjust my tie
"Greg this wasn't necessary" She raises one of her eyebrows and nods her head away
"Come on, it's my treat"
Then she proceeded to go to the rest room, I was looking at all of her body details, her curves , her ass, her long legs, her golden hair swing on her shoulders, I can't wait to put my hands on all this.
The waiter came and took our order, and then I grabbed her hands with a wide smile on my face.
"Oh sweetheart I really missed you. Do you remember our fighting, arguing all the time you were just driving me crazy. But you know? You were right I thank you for that."
"I'm just doing what I have to do, I can't stand seeing people make mistakes against others and the environment and I stay silent." She said, pulling her hands from mine, she ignored it and continued (No problem, sweet heart, even if you take your hands away, I'll get you later)
"Anyway, Lin, tell me, what's new with you? How is your brother and grandmother?"
"My grandmother... died a few years ago,... and my brother works in an oil company in another state. We only see each other on vacations and holidays. But I am in constant contact with him." I saw the sadness in her eyes when she mentioned her grandmother.
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that, my deepest condolences"
"Thank you Greg, so. What about Mr. Hanson, I miss him so much. Is he still doing something at the company or is he retired?"
"He's completely retired, oh ….you have no idea how hard this is. I said that while drinking the beverage the waiter brought me"
"Why, what is there?" She holed her beverage.
"What can I say, I've been arguing with him a lot about everything about the company, the new visions, the operational and marketing strategies, the long-term and short-term plans and goals...Oh, we've been arguing over everything. I was expecting to finish arguing after he retired, but..."
"But what" She hides her laughter
"Why did you change the furniture in the living room, why didn't you tell the gardeners to trim the trees, why don't you come early to dine with me, why are you lenient with the servants?"
"He just feels lonely; you must be a good son and be patient with him because he is your father"
"I know that, but he never makes it easy, I try to convince him to travel from time to time to entertain himself a little, but NOOOOO…. he prefers digging in my head.
He does not understand that I am struggling and trying hard in the market to make Hanson one of the best companies, that I am burning my ass to get the largest market share and achieve a large profit margin, but he does not see that" I said grumbling
Then the waiter brought the appetizers and the most expensive bottle of wine (I ordered it myself to impress her)
"I can understand that, Wheeler used to had a similar relationship with his father, they didn't get along. But now their relationship is better"
"Ohh. The spud stuffer, how is he doing by the way?" I said that on purpose to tease her. Eating the food not looking at her.
"Greg. Please don't say that, he's a law enforcement guy now, he's no longer a kid, and I'm so proud of him" Her voice gets deeper when she talks about it, and when I looked at her I found her eyes shining with love.(Soon, my sweet heart, I will make this sparkle of love extinguish)
"I just want to ask you Lin... and I want you to answer me honestly, I'm your friend and I care about you. Do you...Do you really love him?"
She sighed. She was silent for a while, then looked nowhere, her eyes drenched in daydreams
"Love is not enough to describe my feelings for Wheeler, he is... he is everything to me, he is my friend, my lover, my soul mate. I've known him since we were teenagers and I can't imagine if he wasn't in my life what I would do"
"This is beautiful, my most important question, are you sure that he loves you back?"
Yes, he loves me, I'm sure of that. Why are you asking anyway?
"Don't worry, my dear. I was just thinking... I mean I never thought he'd settle down someday, don't you remember, he was a flirt. He wouldn't leave any beautiful girl in the factory alone, I never imagined that one day you would marry a man who played with girls' hearts like this" I keep eating appetizers.
It was clear that she did not like this, as if she was remembering something bad and painful; it was my chance to put doubt in her heart.
"That was a long time ago and we haven't dated yet" she defended, avoiding looking into my eyes.
"I'm sorry Linka, I didn't mean to make you upset, all I'm saying is that I know men from my experience of meeting them and their friendships. But … I hope I'm wrong... I hope he loves you as you say... As a friend, I want you to be happy. Even if I think, you can do better than him.
"Thanks for your concern, but we're fine"
Looking at the main dishes that the waiter brought, I noticed that she was eating in silence. After a short silence, I put my hand on hers and said:
"Lin. …..I'm …I'm sorry, forget what I said. I just went through the experience of betrayal and it was very difficult, it broke my heart. I don't want the same thing to happen to you, dear.
"Greg, you shouldn't judge him by knowing him as a teenager, it's not fair. If you have a girlfriend who cheated on you, not everyone does that." Here I felt that she was very angry with me and I should change the course of things in my favor.
"Actually. A wife, not a girlfriend, two wives…. Actually"
"What? Wife?... When were you married? "She said surprised
I tried to sound like the poor person, and it seemed to be true (I'm lying, I know it) Take on the character of the deceived lover. I stopped eating and started to move the cup with my hands in vain and tell my story, after taking a deep breath.
"My first wife was Helen, I loved her for a long time, I remained silent for a while, as I was secretive and did not like to show my feelings. I'm not like Wheeler. I tried to hint to her, at first she did not care, but later she responded to me and we fell in love and lived the most beautiful days, but then it became clear to me that she only married me for my money and my position. I was ok with that, but then I found out that she hadn't been loyal to me, so the divorce happened. My second marriage wasn't better.
I met her on one of my trips, and I fell in love with her madly. She showed me her endless love. I married her, showered her with gifts and jewelry, and did not spare her anything, but I found out late that she was cheating on me all the time. This was so cruel." (I've been laughing insanely in the back of my mind, lying has been my way all my life of doing what I want, and every time I have succeeded, I am very impressed with myself)
"Oh Bozi moy. Greg, I'm so sorry to hear that. This is terrible"
"Yes, it was, when you love a person and believe her sweet words, it is like a magic spell cast on you, that makes you not see the truth. I'm so angry at myself for letting someone fool me so easily, and for all this long time"
"Oh I'm really sorry Greg. Now I understand your point of view. I'm so sorry," She said as she put her hand on mine (This is exactly what I want)
"You might think I've lost faith in women, but I still think the right woman for me is out there somewhere." The expression on my face was very sad; I can do that very well too
"Yes, this is what you should think about, you should stay positive. I am sure that one day you will find the woman you wish for." She was trying to console me
(Don't you know, my sweet heart, that the woman I've wanted for a long time is you?)
"Thank you, Linka. You are really a good friend," I said that while holding her hand tenderly and looking into her eyes
"You are welcome Greg, that's what friends for, I'm sorry I brought it up" She seemed so sympathetic to me, she totally believed me.
"So, did you have any children from your previous marriage?" She continues to eat
"no . No kids, you know... I don't know. You're supposed to be happy that you don't have a child to connect you with the person who hurt you, but on the other hand I really wish I had one... You know someone you love and loves you back. Especially since... Oh my God, my father does not stop reminding me of our need, as founders of the company, to have a grandson." (The only honest thing in what I said was that my father always reminded me of the necessity of having an heir for the company.
Other than that, I hate children, I can't stand them, but I would like to have an heir who looks like me, completes the path of evil after me, and boasts about him to my enemies, Daniel and his sons).
"Well. This will happen at the right time, you are still young"
Time passed and we did not feel it in the restaurant, I tried to convince her of what I said, but she is stubborn as I knew her and will not change her opinions. We talked about many things until they brought the bill and I paid them a big tip. Just to impress her.
I opened the car door for her gently, we went back to my office, so she could take her laptop from there