table. Stephanie was so going to get a huge tip. “So, just forgive him everything and hand over my soul?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Seems only fair since he sold his to The Devil years ago just to be with you.”
“I love you, Vee.”
“I know you do.” She signaled for Stephanie. “Now get your ass to San Fran and put the poor fool out of his misery before he ends up on the six o’clock news.”
I jumped up, hugged her and ran out of Mercury’s.
I sat in traffic for what seemed like days. It humbled me to know that Damien made this drive for me a few times and I knew he’d continue to if I asked him.
I wasn’t going to lie. I was petrified. It’s hard enough to trust someone completely who’s never hurt you, but to take that leap of faith with someone who has a history of doing nothing but, that’s some scary shit. Love was some scary shit.
The commute traffic gave me plenty of time to digest Vicky’s words. She hadn’t pointed out anything that he hadn’t already confessed to me, but I knew now that I just didn’t want to get my hopes up. She was right. The way he went about dealing with his feelings for me was wrong, but I couldn’t deny the idea that he’s loved me since we were five was the shit fairy tales were made out of.
I didn’t want to pass that up just because I was scared. I’d been scared enough. I wanted to be brave and that included being brave enough to handle heartbreak if it came down to that. People who loved unguardedly, even after they’ve had their hearts broken, were the epitome of brave.
My biggest fear was that I would confess my love for him and then he’d laugh in my face with a victorious ‘checkmate’ booming through his laughter. But I realized that I loved him no matter what his reaction would be. Whether his love for me was real or not, it didn’t change how I felt about him, so why hide it? Why hold on to it like a dirty secret?
I finally found myself on the streets of San Francisco heading towards G&C. The closer I got, the more nervous I became. I have been unsure of my feelings for this man all my life, and now that I was certain of what I felt, I had no idea how to tell him. I had no idea what kind of relationship we’d have now, but I knew I wanted to find out.
I was no longer eighteen, and I was no longer lost.
When I easily found a parking space near the building, I looked at the time on my phone and saw that it was almost seven already. I didn’t even know if he was still at his office. But no matter, I’d track him down at his penthouse if I had to. Now that I chose him, I was going to see this through.
I sped walked to the lobby’s front doors, only to find them locked. I started pushing and pulling on them as if that would make them magically open. I could see a security guard making his way over to the doors. He didn’t open them, but I could hear him clearly through the glass. “Office hours are closed.”
“I know, but I need to see Damien…uh, Mr. Greystone.”
“Then make an appointment during the appropriate hours, ma’am.” He pointed to the watch on his wrist for emphasis.
“Please…I…I want to surprise him.”
He finally took pity on me and opened the doors. “Surprise him? Are you some sort of strip-o-gram or something?”
I couldn’t hold back my laugh. “I don’t have that kind of confidence, sir.” He smiled good-naturedly at me, so that gave me some hope. “My name’s Fiona Eldstead and-”
“I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”
“Fiona Eldstead.”
He immediately pulled the door open and ushered me inside. After shutting the doors and re-locking them he turned towards me. “I’m so sorry Ms. Eldstead…”
“Please, call me Fiona.”
He offered me a grateful smile. “I’m sorry, Fiona. Of course, business hours don’t apply to you.”
I knew my face looked as confused as I felt. “They don’t?”
“No ma’am. You’re on Mr. Greystone’s personal approval list.”
My eyebrows shot up. “I am?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I peered at his name tag. “Grant…may I call you Grant?”
Grant inclined his head. “Of course, you may.”
I smiled and nodded. “Well, Grant, I’ve never been here before. I was hoping to surprise Damien, but I’d