Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Kael

Well, that was new information, and I must confess it calmed down my jealousy a bit about Ryan meeting Sarah. I would never admit it to anyone, but I never truly approved of their friendship, and even less so now that I have no contact with Sarah.

I remembered that I had completely condemned the idea of bringing Ryan's girlfriend on our trip, but now I concluded that it was a great idea.

"Did you print the reports I requested?" I asked.

Surely Ryan had already done that, but I wanted to change the subject.

He handed me the papers, and after we sorted out all our pending matters, Ryan returned to the suite where he was staying with Madison, and I tried to focus on work, but without success.

I could only think about Sarah, how close she was to me now, and how much I missed kissing her and being inside her. Even though my emotions were trying to overpower reason, I managed to keep control, and at the appointed time, Ryan was waiting for me in the hotel lobby for the business lunch.

The desire to ask about Sarah was strong, how she was doing, and if she mentioned anything about me, but that would be such a foolish thing to do, so once again, I kept my emotions in check.

The lunch with Cecati's executives was pleasant and productive, and when we headed to the company's headquarters, located in a neighborhood further away from central London, I had already made the final decision about the deal.

When we arrived there, I found out that the team was conducting a training session for the two drivers, and it was excellent to make a more accurate assessment and confirm that this would indeed be a great deal.

"So, this is what you're seeing, Mr. Graham," the team boss said as we concluded the visit.

"Tomorrow, I will send my final proposal, and..." I paused when I noticed none other than Rachel approaching.

"Yes?" Michael Bennett urged me to continue.

I turned my attention back to the men in front of me explained the proposal and closed some more points, but I didn't take my eyes off Rachel for a minute.

I noticed she was chatting animatedly with a man I didn't recognize, but I was absolutely sure it wasn't Lorenzo Fiori, the pilot she was dating.

After the entire negotiation was over, I stayed with the executives, watching the training until it was finished, and only then did Ryan and I return to the hotel.

"Rachel didn't seem too happy to see you at her boyfriend's training," Ryan teased me.

"She must be afraid that I'll tell her boyfriend who she really is."

"Would you do that?" Ryan asked curiously.

"In the current scenario, no."

I really had nothing more to deal with Rachel, at least not until I found out about her connection to my mother.

We went the rest of the way to the hotel in silence, in the taxi, and I noticed that Ryan seemed very thoughtful. In fact, he had been like that for a few days, and I wondered what was going on with my assistant.

When we arrived at the hotel, it was already evening, and after ordering dinner in the room, all I wanted was to see Sarah, and that's exactly what I would do right now.

How would I find out where she lived? Ryan would hardly tell me, and calling her to ask for her address was out of the question. Then I remembered the reports I received about her and Rachel, which included the addresses of the two sisters, who I noticed lived in different places.

With Sarah's address in hand, I walked to the hotel lobby, determined to satisfy my longing for the woman who had affected me like no other before her.

But when the taxi stopped in front of Sarah's house, the first thing I saw was a black Ferrari parking, and shortly after that, a man got out of it and walked toward the stairs leading to the front door.

"This is the address, sir," the taxi driver informed me when he saw that I made no attempt to get out of the vehicle.

"Keep the meter running; I'll pay whatever is necessary."

Sarah

I was finishing getting ready when the doorbell rang, and I deduced it was Enrico because he had suggested a "romantic" dinner tonight at a trendy restaurant that was quite popular among the rich and famous.

He wanted us to be seen in public, and preferably, the press would release photos of us together, in a romantic atmosphere, because that way he could grab Rachel's attention.

I didn't refuse to do what he wanted for several reasons, one of which was knowing that it wouldn't bother my sister at all, and because I really wanted to leave the house, and do something different, as since I arrived in London, my life has been limited to work and home.

Hillary didn't like going out and would trade any outing for a tub of ice cream, a bowl of popcorn, and a TV. It didn't matter if it was a series or a movie; what mattered to her was being on her couch, wearing an oversized t-shirt and a pair of socks.

I heard the doorbell ring again, and after giving myself one last look in the full-length bathroom mirror, I grabbed my handbag and went to answer it for Enrico.

"Don't wait up for me because I have no idea when I'll be back," I joked with Hillary as I walked through the living room.

"Okay," was all she replied, engrossed in the TV screen.

I arrived in the small foyer of the house still smiling.

"Hi," I greeted Enrico, who was casually leaning against the doorframe.

"You look beautiful," he complimented.

Despite the flattering remark, his comment didn't seem to indicate any real interest, and I genuinely thanked him.

"Thank you."

"Shall we?" he said, gesturing to the car parked in front of the house.

"Of course," I agreed, walking toward the vehicle.

Enrico let me go ahead, and when he reached the car, he opened the door for me. Once again, I realized that his perpetually cynical demeanor was just a facade to hide the genuinely kind man he was.