Trevor's POV
"Mr. Walker, what do you think?" Jozette asked. I'm not concentrating on this meeting. My conscience is killing me. I want to tell her the truth. But if I do, she'll hate me forever.
"I'm sorry, Jozette, you were saying?" Fuck! The entire board is looking at me. My father's going to hear about this and then all hell will break loose. I can't get Amabel out of my head. "I think the best way to improve our income is by expanding," Jozette argued.
"I agree, but we have no finances to expand. We can't use our sources and asking for a loan makes our company appear unstable and weak," Alex said.
"What about charity?" Alex proposed.
"What about charity?" I asked, interrupting them both and preventing them from killing one another.
"If we had a charity fund, we can use forty percent of that amount to expand and to put into the business. The other sixty percent can be used for charity. I mean, we help others and get more publicity. More customers... More clients... More..."
"We shouldn't do charity for the publicity. There are actual people who struggle in the world. Mr. Walker?" Jozette asked.
"Both parties make excellent points. The charity fund is a good idea, but instead we use thirty percent for the company and seventy percent for charity. We can expand this way by making another foster home, building another clinic, giving money for medical research, and building homes for the poor. For all of that, we'll need more workers. This way we create more work for others, giving them a job and we expand."
They looked at me and then at each other as they nodded. Then they began to clap. "Thank you. Settle down. It wasn't my idea. This honor goes to both Jozette and Alex," I said, holding my hand out to them as they clapped for them.
"Everything settled?" I asked.
"Mr. Walker, who will take the lead in the project?" Alex asked.
Jozette and Alex both wanted to take the lead, so I came up with a proposition. "Come up with a name for the project, list the amount of things you want to do with the charity money and how you'll divide the finances and whoever has the best ideas gets the project. If one takes the lead, the other still has a lead, but not as big. We'll gather again on Friday, Miss Newman?" I asked my assistant.
"Yes, Sir. Friday is open. How's twelve to two o'clock?"
"Perfect! Right. Who's our contestant?" I asked.
Jozette and Alex were the only two that raised their hands. "Alright, you have your orders. May the best partner win. Dismissed," I said and watched as the board left.
"Miss Newman? Cancel the rest of my appointments for today and reschedule. There's something I need to take care of."
"Yes, Mr Walker," she said and left the conference room, leaving me alone in front of the big window looking out at the ocean.
Amabel's POV
"So, what happened then?" Ella asked as we had lunch in the kitchen. I blushed even at the thought of Trevor's eyes, his lips and that gorgeous body.
"I ran. I couldn't get a cab, so I ran to him."
"Amabel, it rained last night," Ella said, confused.
"Which is why I couldn't get a cab."
"Wait a minute, you're telling me that you ran to him from our apartment to his, in the rain, getting soaked, just to see him?" she asked. Wow, having someone else say it makes me sound kind of desperate. But I had to see him. How can I not?
"Yes, I already told you that. I had to see him. We slept next to each other for a few nights in a row and I got cold and lonely. It's last night when I realized that I wanted to be with him. That I cannot stop thinking about him. That I love him," I said too fast and then covered my mouth quickly.
"What did you just say? Did you just say you love him?"
"Ella, please. Let's not make a big deal out of - and you're already calling Gwen. Great..."
"Hello?"
"Gwen, it's Ella. You'll never guess what Amabel just said. She said that she had to see Trevor last night, that's why she was gone this morning. She said that she loves him."
"Oh my gosh! I can't believe it. I mean I can, but I can't. Amabel, why didn't you tell me?"
"Guys, it's not that big a deal," I said.
"Not a big deal? Amabel, you've never been in love. You've never had a boyfriend before. And you've never had your first kiss..."
"Yeah, about that..."
"Yes, I already know about the make out sesh you guys had in the bathroom at the club, but not a kiss."
"Wait, back up. What make-out sesh?" Ella asked.
"Wait, when did he kiss you? Did you kiss him? Who initiated the first kiss?"
"Gwen! Calm down," I said.
"Everything alright here, ladies?" Mr Walker asked as he walked passed.
"Everything's fine, Mr Walker," Ella said.
"Amabel? A word?" Mr Walker asked.
"Yes, Sir," I said and walked out of the kitchen with Mr Walker to his office. I loved the smell of his office. It smelled like coffee, but caramel and sweet. But not too sweet to make you feel like you've had too much candy that you want to throw up.
"Do you need something, Sir?"
"Yes, the documents from yesterday's meeting and the notes. I want to go through them again before... oh and my son is coming for a meeting here in ten minutes. I hope we don't have an appointment..." Mr Walker said with a look in his eyes that said well-check-the-schedule.
I unlocked my iPad and saw NO EVENTS at the time 15:00. Oh shit! He's going to be here. And I have to be in that meeting too? I can't do that! I don't want to. My face is going to give everything away.
"Is it important for me to attend, Sir?" I asked. Why the hell did you just ask that?
"You don't have to, but I prefer it if you do. Your notes on every meeting are exquisite. Why? Are things going to be awkward now?" he asked. It's like he can read minds or something.
I couldn't say anything. Trevor and I still have to discuss what we are. "You two are already dating, aren't you?" he asked.
"No, Sir. We're not. We're... it's complicated."
"Well, are you together or not?"
"Well, we are but we aren't."
"Young people of today," he said and turned around. "I'll get you the paperwork right away, Sir."
I went back to my desk to get the documents for him to sign. "Amabel? Do you have time to talk?" Ella asked. "Not right now, but yeah. I just have to give Mr. Walker these documents."
I took the entire pack and placed them on his desk. "I made sticky notes on things I thought might be important if you don't mind. And wherever there's a label tag pasted on the page is where you should sign, Mr. Walker."
"Thank you, Amabel. I'll take a look." I turned around and walked away. "Come onnn," Ella said as she dragged me back to the kitchen. "Okay, so Gwen told me everything about that night at the club. Amabel, when are you going to realize that he's in love with you too? He kissed you, he went out of his way to find you at the club, he took you home with him and held your hair back when you threw up. Trevor Walker doesn't do that for just anyone."