37. Valerie

37

VALERIE

Two months later

“Our new investor is waiting in the conference room. Are you ready?”

I turn away from the window overlooking the bay and meet Will’s anxious gaze as he shifts from one foot to another in the doorway of my office.

I hold up the leather-bound portfolio I prepared for this meeting. “I’m all set.”

“Good,” he exhales. “Let’s go.” He spins on his heel. His oxfords sound against the hardwood floor as he walks down the hall. I press my lips together to contain my smile before I grab a pen and notepad from my desk, tucking them and the portfolio against my chest, and follow Will to the conference room.

“Good morning, Valerie,” Gina greets as I pass her desk. She’s the administrative assistant for Paxter’s financial division which used to only consist of me and Tony Queens, another accountant hired by Will who is from the San Francisco area.

Tony and I spent so many late nights at the office, shoring up the company’s finance department, and ensuring we met all federal and state financial regulations. The last thing a startup needs is to incur fines or risk being shut down for not following the rules.

But after one month of exhausting work, Tony and I were finally given the go-ahead to hire help. Gina was the first, followed shortly after by two more accountants. Paxter’s growth is unlike anything we anticipated. Which is exciting, but also daunting.

Good thing I was up for the challenge. I was eager to do anything to help me forget my broken heart. This job turned out to be just that. I barely think about how devastating it was when Carter broke up with me. At least, during the day. When I’m alone at night is a completely different story.

I walk into the conference room and my gaze is immediately drawn to two extremely good-looking men standing on the far side of the room. Their sharp jawlines and handsome features are accentuated by the natural sunlight shining in through the floor-to-ceiling windows as they chat with Will and Henry.

“Valerie. There you are,” Will greets me, looking cool and collected, a vast difference from how he looked just seconds ago outside of my office. Henry pushes his black-rimmed glasses back onto his nose and gives me a nod as a greeting.

“Gentleman,” Will continues, motioning me to walk over to join them. “Please let me introduce our CFO, Valerie Palmer.”

“Mr. Lawson, it’s nice to finally meet you.” I hold out my hand to the handsome man who is slightly shorter than the other. I recognize him from the spread Business Insider did on him and his company, Source Solutions, last month.

“Nice to meet you, too. And please, call me Derek.” The tech millionaire smiles kindly. I feel the press of his wedding ring against my fingers before he releases my hand and turns to the man next to him. “And this is my business partner, Adam Moreno.”

“Business partner?” The olive-skinned man tsks. “And here I thought we were brothers first, partners second.”

Derek rolls his eyes. “Brothers in law ,” he clarifies with a twinkle in his eye.

Will, Henry, and I chuckle.

Adam Moreno takes turns shaking each of our hands.

When it’s my turn, I tell him, “We know who you are, Mr. Moreno.” The Spanish billionaire is a major investor in American tech companies. Once upon a time, he was also a well-known womanizer who frequently starred in tabloids. “It is an honor to meet you.”

Like his brother-in-law, he tells me, “Call me Adam, please.”

I nod.

Henry clears his throat to draw the room’s attention. “We are very excited to have you joining Paxter at this stage. With your capital, we are sure to take the industry by storm.”

“You already are,” Derek Lawson says. “That’s why we’re here. Should we sit to discuss the finer details of the investment?”

“Of course.” Henry pulls back a chair and waves for me to sit down. The men wait until I do to take their seats.

The conversation turns to business. I lay out my leather portfolio when we begin to discuss Paxter’s projected quarterly earnings, handing Derek and Adam each a paper with our current financials, ROIs, product yields, and overhead costs. You name the figure, you can find it on the paper.

“This is very thorough,” Derek remarks.

“Yes.”

“We appreciate thorough,” Adam tells me.

It takes everything I have not to preen from the subtle praise. It’s one thing to think you’re good at your job, but it’s another to hear it. Especially from a businessman who is a freaking billionaire.

“And this investment will guarantee what percent stake in the company?”

“Ten,” I answer. “To be divided between you as you see fit.” This information was covered before this meeting, but it’s not surprising that the men want to confirm the finer details before officially signing a rather large check.

More details are discussed.

Questions are answered.

In less than half an hour, Derek Lawson and Adam Moreno sign the papers to officially join Paxter as angel investors.

Neither Will, Henry, nor I can hide our ecstatic grins. The company was already doing well, but with this financing, our potential is practically limitless. The company will be scaling up so quickly. I mentally prepare myself for more late nights until we can get enough staff to help shoulder the workload.

“I look forward to seeing what you guys can do,” Derek shakes each of our hands.

Adam does the same. “Yes,” the Spanish billionaire smiles. “Let me take you all for a celebratory drink.”

“We’d love to,” Will answers for us.

I keep a polite smile on my face, disappointed that my evening’s plans have been thwarted.

What plans?

Sulking in your apartment while you watch the Rough Riders playoff game?

“Isn’t there a football game on tonight?” Henry asks.

I turn and find the second founder of Paxter watching me. He, as well as everyone else in the company, knows my dad is a coach for the Rough Riders. It’s also likely they know I used to date Carter Jones. Though, no one has ever asked me about it.

I shoot him an appreciative smile before saying out loud, “Yeah, it’s the conference championship game.”

“Ah, I totally forgot.” Will shakes his head and then explains to our investors, “Valerie’s dad works for the Rough Riders. This is the first time the team’s reached the championship in fifteen years.”

“Well then, we should go somewhere that will be playing the game,” Derek says. “Unless you already have plans?”

I do.

“No.” Once again, I force my smile to stay on my face. “I don’t have plans.”

“Great,” Will jumps in. “Let us finish up a few things here, and then we can meet you in the lobby in half an hour. One of our admin assistants can give you a tour of the rest of the office while you wait.”

“Sounds good,” Derek replies politely.

Adam snorts with amusement. “You Americans and your American football. I’m telling you, fútbol is much more entertaining to watch.”

“We’re not arguing about this again,” Derek interrupts his brother-in-law with a good-natured slap on the back. “Come on, Adam. I’m going to need a coffee if you’re going to keep me out late.”

The two men banter back and forth and follow Will out of the conference room, towards the front desk where our assistants sit.

“You know don’t have to come with us.” Henry steps closer to me. Again, he pushes his glasses back up on his nose.

“I don’t mind.” With any luck, watching the game with other people will keep me from wallowing in the fragments of my broken heart when I’m both happy for my dad and Carter for how well the team’s played these past months, but also hurt to know that my absence hasn’t seemed to affect their lives at all.

Not that I want the team to lose or anything.

I don’t.

I just wish I had some inkling that this breakup was even half as hard on Carter as it has been on me.

“Are you sure? You usually like to spend game days alone.”

I tilt my head to the side, surprised by Henry’s knowledge of my habits. “You noticed that?”

“Well, yeah.” His cheeks redden. My surprise grows. “Will and I have invited you to watch games with us a few times. You always turn us down.”

Do I?

I guess I do.

I never really thought anything of it.

After all, the games were always on the weekends. It wasn’t like I was at work and rejecting their invitations to their faces. It was just easier to stay at home rather than put on a brave face and go over to someone else’s house to watch the game.

“Oh,” I reply lamely. I clear my throat. “Right.”

“Not that I blame you. It just seemed like an easy way for us to get to know you. Or, for me to get to know you, anyway. Since I didn’t go to high school with you.” Henry is rambling. And his cheeks continue to darken.

I’m hit with the realization that Henry might have a crush on me.

I think back to our interactions these past months. He’s never inappropriate, and he always goes out of his way to be kind and considerate.

He offered to help me find my apartment when he learned I was staying at a long-term rental when I first moved here. He even suggested a local furniture store for me to check out when I mentioned I needed to decorate the place.

He’s been nothing but friendly.

Now, though, I see that he might be hoping for a little more than friendship. Even if he never plans to ask.

I don’t know Henry well, but I know this company is his dream. Will is his partner, but Henry Paxton is the mastermind behind it all. It’s why the company is named after him.

But Henry is professional. I don’t see him risking the future of his company with a potential HR scandal.

Then again, our HR department consists of one employee at the moment and Tracy is a friend of his.

“I’m sorry,” Henry interrupts my thoughts. “I didn’t mean to make you feel weird. Forget I said anything.”

“No.” I shake my head. “You didn’t. It’s fine.”

He shifts on his feet. “I hope you do come out with us. But if you don’t, maybe you and I can grab dinner sometime? I’d like to get to know you better.”

So much for him not planning to ask me out…

I take care to let him down gently. “That’s really nice, Henry. I’d like to get to know you too… but only as friends.”

He takes the rejection in stride. “I get it.” He gives me a sheepish grin. “I know I can’t compete with someone like Carter Jones, but it was worth a shot.”

“Don’t say that,” I say, ignoring the pang of pain that accompanies hearing Carter’s name. This is the first confirmation that my coworkers are aware of my previous relationship, and honestly, I’m glad to finally talk about it out loud. “You’re great, Henry. I’m just not in a place to date right now.”

I don’t know how I ever will be…

I have a genuine fear that no relationship will compare to what I felt for Carter.

“It’s okay. Really.” He seems genuine, albeit a little embarrassed. “I’m not sure what happened between you two, but if he’s the reason things ended, then I have to say he’s an idiot. You’re great, and I hope you feel ready to move on one day.”

Tears prick the back of my eyes. I blink to hold them back. “Thanks, Henry. That’s nice of you to say.”

“No problem.” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder. “Are you ready to go?”

“Actually, I have a few things I need to finish before leaving for the day. Text me where you guys go and I’ll meet you there?”

He nods. “Sounds good. See you later, Valerie.”

“See you.”

We part ways in the hall. I head back to my office, and it takes all my strength to hold it together until I’m safely out of sight.

I close the door, lean against the wood, and hang my head. Tears roll down my cheeks unchecked.

I don’t even know why I’m crying.

I haven’t heard from Carter in months.

Hearing about him hurts, but it doesn’t depress me like it did at the beginning of our breakup.

It’d been next to impossible to even call my dad and talk about the team.

All I wanted to do was pretend our relationship never happened.

I didn’t want to remember our late-night talks. Or how it felt to be wrapped in his arms as I drifted off to sleep.

But the loss hurts so much more knowing that I’ve also lost the relationships I’d been forming with Abby and Andy. I care about the twins so much—much more than I ever could have expected.

I want to know if they’re happy. I want to know if their living situation has finally been settled and they can find stability with their dad.

But now that I’m not their nanny and I’m not dating their dad, what’s going on in their lives is none of my business. I didn’t expect that to hurt so much.

I wonder who Carter hired as a new nanny.

After he broke up with me, I offered to keep working until he found a replacement. He, of course, insisted that wasn’t necessary.

Probably for his benefit as much as mine.

I’m sure he didn’t want to see his ex moping around his house, looking for any sign that he regretted his decision and wanted her back.

From Dad, I learned Carter’s parents stepped up to fill my void initially, but surely he’s hired someone else by now.

I wonder how the twins get along with her.

I hope it’s going well.

Do you?

Okay… I’m not going to lie. Part of me hopes Carter feels the effect of my absence by struggling to find a replacement that Abby and Andy like.

I want to know he misses me… if only as his kids’ nanny and not his girlfriend.

God, I’m pathetic.

I got over my high school boyfriend quicker than this, and he and I had dated for over a year whereas Carter and I were official for less than a few weeks.

That’s because you weren’t in love with Dylan.

A groan escapes my lips.

Enough.

I wipe away my tears.

This has to end.

I’m an adult. Sure, I had my heart broken but I have a life to live.

I’m young.

My love story is far from finished.

I need to stop wallowing at the thought of another man asking me out—of thinking no one else could compare to Carter.

That may be true for now, but time will change that.

It has to.

The alternative is I mourn the loss of Carter Jones for the rest of my life, and that thought is depressing as hell.

And yet… that just might be my fate…

Ugh.

See what I mean?

Pathetic.