Chapter Thirteen
~Dathan~
"You cannot try to negotiate with the manure company. They are one of the business we do not own only because our need to seek fertilizer for our crops has made them filthy rich." Kyle argued.
"I think it's time we try to buy them out, why not? I said. I stared at Kyle from across the room. I couldn't stop clicking the pen in my hand. I was growing frustrated with him, why couldn't he simply agree with me? It was a good move for our company, if we ended up buying them out I'd successfully achieve to find means of splitting Aria and Jim apart.
Maybe I was a devil for going to high extremes but I wasn't going to let her slip from my fingers so quickly. I was willing to set whatever price over the table to make sure Jim didn't take his pathetic little cuddling farther. Would Aria hate me for going after his job? I shook my head, determined not to let it get to me. I was feeling guilty but my attraction for Aria was greater.
"Dathan, they will not, and I repeat not bend to whatever price you put on the table. Your father tried to negotiate something along that line and it didn't even happen with him. Don't get your hopes up, I doubt that Mack will consider even hearing you out." Kyle explained.
"My father tried to negotiate with Mack twenty years ago, who knows he might have had a change of heart since then." I pressed.
Kyle rolled his eyes and stood from his chair. He was growing frustrated with me, I could tell. Walking along side the long fourteen chair table in our meeting room he adjusted the button on his blazer and walked out. The door shut and I was left to sit at the head of the table. The room was spacious and fresh, nothing like the awful June weather outside.
Mack was well along in years and since his last grandson died in a skiing accident last year, he had been left with no descendants to pass along the company. Maybe there was a way I could convince him that his company was better off in the hands of my family than anyone else's. My thumb stopped clicking the pen and I set the writing utensil on the table before rising out of my own chair.
It was nine in the morning and Mack always used this time to drive over to a Panel Room to have breakfast. If I was quick I was certain I'd catch him just as his food arrived. I walked out of the meeting room determined to negotiate with Mack no matter what Kyle said. I was very persuasive when it came to negotiating. A smile formed on my lips as I hurried to reschedule my calls and make it to the panel room on time.
Once inside my car I began to recall the newest entries I had read on my grandfathers journal. The year had been faded away, leaving only faint indentations of his writing at the top. No doubt some water damage had gotten to the journal before it was safely put inside the box, along with a few other important things of his.
...the beauty of the world will forever turn black and white in my eyes. I fail to see the colors and the smells like I once did. Its torture knowing I will forever carry the guilt of having lost her. It is much too late to consider trying to salvage our partnership. As I walked the halls of my lonely, hollowed home I could not bear to live in it any longer. Every corner of the place held terrible memories. The guilt was forcing me to waste away and I could no longer live under it's cold comfort. The only heart ache I do carry is having left behind her wonderful refuge. The garden began to mean so much more to me, now I could understand the reason why she had spent so much time in it...
My grandfather had lived elsewhere before purchasing the mansion I lived in now. I was determined to look for it in hopes that maybe knew explanations could surface as to why I was dreaming his past. Every night I read his journal I began to realize he and I were not so different. He presented this hard and harsh persona but on the inside he was just like me.
Every night since I laid eyes on Aria I dreamt of his past. It was a bit scary to read entries I had dreamt before. Things such as arguments they had over letting their only son join a dance class. My grandfather had thought it a thing for sissies while my grandmother had argued that it was classy and gentlemanly of him to learn different things.
I could still see her flushed and frustrated, her hands fisted on each hip. She wore a beautiful pink and white dress, her hair coiled in curls that shimmered with the light every time she shook her head at me. I smiled as I felt my heart leap. I was slowly forgetting that it wasn't really I who had lived that memory but my grandfather. It scared me to realize that I was slowly allowing myself to grow a deeper emotion for the woman who happened to look just like Scarlett.
My felt my mouth grow dry just to think of her name. It flowed nicely off my tongue, I liked saying it, not to mention that the color itself was royal and exotic. I blinked, determined to pay attention to the road, the panel room was but a few miles away. I'd be talking face to face with Mack if I could catch him.
~Aria~
"He's...gay?" Jim said.
I nodded and chuckled as he looked at me puzzled. He was not taking my words seriously as he rubbed my feet. I stretched over the sofa, feeling my limbs relax to the plush and cushiony feeling of my lay-z-boy.
"I seriously thought he was raging with jealousy because he had a thing for you. He did show up here with chocolates, did you not say?" He said, while playing with my toes.
"Jim, really? Didn't you hear what he said to you. "Out of all the women in Harland you had to pick her" He hates my guts. After running me over he didn't leave my sight for fear that i'd sue him. Yes he brought me chocolate coated strawberries but it was just to charm me so that I don't sue." I tried to argue.
"I still don't think he plays for the other team. He was looking at you in pure and utter jealousy." Jim said.
"Yes, only because I happen to bag you for myself. Trust me, it won't be long before he comes out and finally admits that he likes men. There's nothing wrong with that, maybe he holds off because his family will be disappointed. In my opinion if they don't support him they don't love and respect him." I said.
Jim shook his head and simply kept massaging my one good foot. I stared at Jim as he paid attention to the TV screen. He was by far the sweetest boyfriend I could have ever asked for.
"Hey, Jim, thanks for the company, it get's kind of lonely sometimes." I said.
He smiled at me and then leaned in to place a kiss on my lips before setting my feet over a pillow and walking to the kitchen. Resting my hands back I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep. I could use the rest, the pain had been keeping me up all night. I had only gathered little bits and parts of sleep but not a full on nap. I felt it quickly turn my eye lids droopy and my body filled with relaxation as I heard Jim say something but it was too late. I had drifted off.
When my eyes opened I stood in a large garden, the same one I had dreamt of on several occasions. Except, this time I was in pain. A burning sensation filled my stomach as I found myself holding it. Before me he sat, his tall and masculine posture slouching a bit as he looked about the large garden.
He walked the small distance and I felt my cheeks blush as he stared at me with guilt and pain in his eyes. I knew I was dreaming, lost in a memory or fantasy yet for some reason I was determined to make this last. I didn't want to find myself waking up. I wanted to spend an eternity in his presence.
"Scarlett, forgive me." He said. My desire to prolong this dream turned into darkness to hear him address me by that name. I felt my heart stop.
"My grate grandmother was an artist also. Scarlett Heart, ever heard of her?" He had asked. I shook my head, determined not to let it ruin my dreams. It had to be a coincidence!
I fought to say something but I found myself feeling tears slip from my eyes. This wasn't the way I had intended on this dream to go. "Scarlett, if you want me to leave just say so." He said.
Squeezing my eyes tight I tried to steady my breathing, then suddenly I was falling into a black wide space. There was nothing to hold onto, I wanted to scream but nothing left my lips as I opened my mouth.
"Aria! Wake up!"
I could hear Jim's voice calling to me as chills as cold as ice pierced every part of my body. My arms searched the dark for anything to grab a hold of.
"Aria!"
A scream finally left my lips as I sat up. Jim's arms were there to hold me close as I fell limp into his embrace. "Are you alright! Are you okay?" He asked, as he pushed me away to inspect my face.
I was shivering yet sweating as he brushed away the hair from my face. He stared at me horrified as I tried to regain my shaking body and breath,
"You're okay, it was just a nightmare, I'm here now." He reassured as he took me into his arms again.
I rested my cheek on his shoulder and sighed letting my fear fade away. Who in the world was Scarlett Heart? I felt my shaking body relax to the warmth of Jim's arms as he rubbed my back. Squeezing my eyes tight I pushed away from his hold and excused myself to the restroom.
Scarlett Heart...I was determined to learn everything about this woman.