Chapter 13

13

Easton

My mind has been stuck on Isla all day. I can't concentrate. Never in a million years did I expect her to waltz back into my life. I know she has a job to do, and I didn't want her to favor me, but I wanted to see her again. But after this morning, something was wrong. Something had changed since we went to bed last night and I needed to figure out what. So, I text her.

Me: How's it going? Did you want to go to dinner tonight?

I could just go to her office, but didn't want anyone to found out that we had history. If so, it would make everyone question her decision, and she doesn't deserve that. Her professional career was important to me, and I wouldn't ever do anything to jeopardize that.

Me: We could go to Rolando's? Or are you feeling like something else?

Three dots appeared and then went away. She had read the messages. Why wasn't she responding to me? There was bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Had I gotten my hopes up for nothing? She could easily walk away right now and never see me again. Would she do that? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Why was I doing this to myself? I was my own worst enemy. Sitting here, worrying about what could happen, instead of focusing on work. Isla wouldn't do that to me. We might have spent years apart, but deep down, I knew her.

For once, I wouldn't let my insecurities and doubts come between us. My mind could run through every single scenario and worry me, but until she had told me what she wanted, I would keep on trucking and focus on what was important today. My project. The same thing that I had been focusing on for years.

I turn on my computer and opened email. There was nothing else I could do until Amy brought me the updated results. Most were spam, like always, but one from Paul.

Good morning Largen Employees,

I wanted to let you know that we have decided to have a company Christmas Party this year. If you have any ideas on things to do for the party, kindly send Jenny an email. She will be organizing the event.

Hope to see you there,

Paul

Was he fucking serious? He wanted to cut back a project until the end of the year, but he would throw a company Christmas party instead? In all the years I've worked here, never once had we had a party. Shouldn't that money be put toward projects instead? My face got hot and I needed to take a walk.

Isla

I needed to get my mind off of Easton right now so I could focus on the job I was paid to do without conflictions. I've always been able to separate work and pleasure but right now it's posing to be more difficult. So, I decided to stay away from him until after the decision was made public to the company managers. After reviewing all the reports and going back over the bottom two, Easton's has the least amount of results. Even though the results he did have were good, there were plenty of others that were closer to be completed and could use the funding more. I went back and forth but finally made the decision. The resources needed to be pulled from his project until the new year. He might hate me, and never want to see me again after this, but I had to do what is right. If I wanted to be ethical, then I must put my feelings aside and look at this from an unbiased perspective. Please don't hate me.

The reports were gripped to my side to turn in my final decision. Jenny was sitting at her desk, but perked up when she saw me.

"Give him a second. He's on the phone."

I stood in silence. She kept looking at me. "Is he going to be long? I'd really like to get out of here."

She looked at the phone on her desk. "He just got off the phone. Go ahead."

I rolled my eyes and went into his office, laying the reports on his desk. "My decision is inside that first report. Thank you for the opportunity to work with Largen Co."

Paul smiled and opened the folder. "Great job. He might not be happy to learn that we have now decided to cut it off for longer than we initially anticipated. I'll keep you in mind for next time." He closed the report and sat it back down on his desk and went to move his mouse.

"What do you mean cut it off for longer? I thought this was just about cutting funding for a month or so?"

"Well things have changed. We didn't receive as much funding as we thought and we can't keep all the projects running next year. You made my job so much easier. You can go now."

What in the actual hell was wrong with this guy? Easton was going to hate me now. Not only did I choose his project, but now he wouldn't get funding for a year? The project wouldn't survive after that. Trials would have to start all over and I knew how hard it was to give money to something when it was getting reinstated. I screwed him.

I held my head high and walked out of his office, but I wanted to cry. How could I expect Easton to want to talk to me after he got the results? I just crushed his dream at possibly curing his grandmother's disease.

I crossed my arms waiting for the elevator to take me down to the main lobby. Everyone was busy and no one was looking at me now. They probably knew I had turned in my decision by now, and nothing they could do to change it. The elevator doors opened and then I walked out to my car. It was freezing, but this nightmare was over.

If Easton decided he did want to see if we could work out, then we would. Right now, the ball was in his court, but I wouldn't talk to him until after Largen Co. made the announcement. I turned the key in the ignition and grabbed my phone, pulling up our conversation.

A new message came in.

Easton: Did I do something wrong last night? You were acting weird this morning and now you are reading my messages but not responding. You aren't in your office.

Things were never easy. Easton and I might not get our second chance and it was all because of Largen Co. Although, without them, I wouldn't have known he was even in Oregon.

Right now, I just wanted to open a bottle of wine, crawl into bed, and binge watch television reruns.