Ian's POV
Last i saw Bonnie was a week ago in Thomas's office... She'd been ignoring me for a whole week. I've never even seen her paying Tony a visit. She'd already done the ads Thomas was demanding but she never delivered them herself, instead she sent another Jared guy from her workplace. I hated it when she ignored me. It was like the first time I touched her back in high school all over again.
"You called for me?" Christian asked as he sat across me in my office.
"Yeah... Bring the car around we need get to that Skyline meeting in forty minutes."
"Where's Alexis? He's the chauffeur." he complained leaning back.
I sighed, "Handling something..."
"Bonnie?"
I deeply exhaled then looked into Christian's blue eyes and he gave me a tight smile before sighing. "What did you do this time?"
I chuckled, "I touched her... Just held her in my arms and breathed her in..." I paused before continuing, "She tightly held my hand and laid her head on my chest... Well, that was before she pulled out of my embrace and left."
"Explains why last I saw her exiting the building last week she looked like she'd seen a ghost."Christian got up and fixed his suit before speaking up again," She's in a relationship, Ian. She's probably feeling a bit confused... Old feelings resurfacing or something like that."
I grabbed my coat, phone and briefcase then we both walked out of my office. We got to Alejandro's estate,thirty five minutes away. It was a huge building, beautifully built with huge blue windows that complimented the white wall paint and the roof that was in a light shade of grey.
The doorman in an all black suit opened the huge wooden door as we approached and we were escorted to the living room by the helper then she served us each a glass of whiskey. Alejandro descended the stairs quickly with the sound of his expensive leather shoes echoing throughout the whole house. His long black hair tied up in a messy bun, broad eyebrows furrowed, dark brown eyes intensely inspecting the two of us and his hands tucked in the pockets of his maroon suit pants.
"Ian!" he finally smiled as he opened his arms awaiting my hug. I got up and gave him a rough man-hug but it was warm... Me and him were pretty good friends. "Took you long enough to come this side. I've been anticipating your arrival for a year now."
I let out a chuckle as i sat down again, "Well, I'm here now." The helper rushed back into the room and served Alejandro with his glass of whiskey.
"Ian Joshua Clarke..." he gave a sigh as he widely smiled at me. "... You certainly know how to get business done. So, tell me about this Skyline Project."
"I thought you read the briefing file?"
"I did... But i just want to hear what you have to say about it. Ohh... Excuse my manners, this must be Christian. Your cousin?" he stretched his arm out to give Christian a handshake and he took it.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise..." Alejandro took a seat across us on a black leather sofa as he crossed his legs and leaned back. "Ian... Do tell."
"Skyline was dad's project but he never got to follow through with it. He planned to construct the most luxurious hotel here with a total of five other branches in a time period of approximately ten years. Huge amounts of money will be taken out with a project like this one. We'll have material shipments distributed by the company in all five branches. Makes it easier running a money laundering ring and shipping merchandise when you have a well-known, multi-billion dollar business as a cover up."
"How much?"
"We can launder ten million in three months for each branch... We can't risk being called out by the cops."
He took a deep breath and a sip of his drink before he shot his eyes at me. "I like It... Buy me in?"
"Five million."
"Craig!" Alejandro called out and a giant blonde haired oak walked in the room. "Make the transaction... Five million."
"Yes, boss." he muttered before leaving.
"Then you men got yourselves a deal!" he let out an excited laughter. "So, when are we launching?"
"Friday... Dress up." i said as me and Christian got up and were ready to leave.
"You know i will, brother." he walked us to the door and gave me another hug, "See you on Friday, Ian... Christian."
****
After a long while of driving i received a call from Alexis.
"Yeah..."
"I think I'm done tailing Bonnie for the day. She just got to her building."
"Tony?"
"They went out to lunch. She's alone now."
"You can call it a day. Thanks." I hung up on him.
Christian cleared his throat before asking, "Want to knock on her door?"
I simply nodded and Christian drove me there.
"I'll wait here."
It was a nice building, nicely furnished with a home feel to it. I took the elevator to the the third floor. The hallway was empty, floors covered with a navy blue carpet and some few art pieces hanging on the white walls. I walked down the hallway to the second last door to my left... Room 46. I hit against the brown wood with my knuckles and it was silent for a while, then i knocked again. I waited for a couple seconds and before I could knock again the door flew open.
Bonnie's eyes shot open when she saw me standing there.
"How..." she sighed and she walked away leaving the door open, so I invited myself in. Her apartment was peaceful and simply put together. Wooden floors, brown sofas, a round glass coffee table, huge tv,some pictures of her mom, Ming and Amy on display and the air conditioner was just about the right temperature. "How did you know where i live?"
"I have my ways."I said still taking in the lovely features of her apartment.
" What are you doing here? "she asked as she stood right in front of me making sure that i would give her an honest answer.
I stopped whatever I was doing and looked at her brown eyes. The heels she wore at work did her a great deal because she was basically still as short as she was back in high school... I had grown a few inches but i doubted that she did. She wore a grey v-neck, short sleeved top with grey sweatpants. She wasn't wearing any shoes and her hair in a messy updo. "Should i take off my shoes?"
She tucked her tongue in her cheek before kissing her teeth, "That would be appreciated."
I bent down took off my black, Italian leather shoes and placed them near the couch. I was left in my black socks and she walked over to the kitchen then i followed shortly behind her. "I was just driving by and thought of you."
"Lies... Ian, I know you."
I sighed, "Fine... You think i wouldn't have noticed that you were ignoring me?"
"I wasn't... And I don't want to talk about that."
I took a seat on one of the black kitchen chairs that were behind the counter and undid the first two buttons on my shirt. "So... Tell me about the last seven years of your life."
She sighed and just before she could say anything i cut her off, "I just want to know, Bonnie. If you remember well, we never broke up... So, me still caring is something pretty normal."
"Fine. Coffee?" she finally gave up on fighting me and I nodded. A couple minutes later she made us both coffee and sat next to me as she took a deep breath.
"Thanks."
"Well...I was away for four years. I came back and when I couldn't get any job for like two months, i worked as a waitress at a place two hours away. Did some counseling... I'm feeling a bit more open to new people, i don't freak out when I get touched anymore and haven't had a panic attack in seven years." she chuckled when she noticed my staring and took a sip of her coffee." What?"
“Nothing...Just admiring."
She squinted her eyes at me before proceeding, "Amy and Ming are still around me... So, that's another plus. And... Tony's nice."she stole a glance at me when she said that..." You're staring."
"You're so beautiful..."
"Ian?" she warned.
I sighed, "It was just a compliment, Bonnie."
We remained silent for a while until she decided as her last attempt to make conversation to say, "Your wife's nice. Pretty bubbly but overall I think she's nice."
I gave her a tight smile, "Don't do that, Bonnie."
"Do what?"
"Try pushing me away by mentioning Tony and Mira in our conversations."
She looked at me, "Fine. I won't,but don't try anything." she warned.
"It's not like I do anything you don't want me to."
"Ian..." she warned again.
"Fine... I'm guessing I'll see you again on Friday?"
She raised her eyebrow and pursed her lips, clearly didn't know what i was talking about.
"The launch?" she shook her head 'no'."We're hosting a a party on Friday... Maybe it slipped Tony's mind."
She scoffed, "I don't even have something to wear and you're telling it's in three days? Tony has a knack for last minute announcements."
"I can get you one..."
She shook her head 'no', "Ian, no... You can't."
I reached for her hand that rested on the kitchen counter and held it in mine. "I insist. I'll come by your office with someone to take your measurements."
"I'm not working tomorrow."
I smiled, "Fine, I'll come by here."
She blushed and looked away, "You do know that you don't have to...?"
I cut her off, "I know... But i will." I got up and stood really close to her looking at her trying by all means not to look at me. I placed a kiss on her forehead, "Thanks for the coffee and talking to me. See you tomorrow." she shut her eyes, taking a deep breath.
I put my shoes back on and left. It was a well spent two hours listening to her and just looking at her was something I had wanted to do again for the past seven years. And no matter what Mira would hit me with to get me upset wouldn't work that time.
****