Her cool gray eyes survey me, slightly puzzled. “You want to do that, even after what I’ve done?”
“I don’t want us to be enemies. You’re smart and resourceful, and you work damned hard. That’s the kind of energy we need at the Foundation.”
“And in return… you want me to retract what I said about you being drunk? And not announce I’m pregnant?”
We study each other for a moment.
“I’m not asking anything of you,” I say carefully. “I want us to be friends, that’s all.”
She’s still for a while. And then she leans back, a small smile on her face. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“I do.” And it’s true. I do love Chessie as a friend.
She sips her coffee. Then she says, “I’m not pregnant.”
I feel a huge sweep of relief. Holy shit. Thank God.
“Okay,” I say as calmly as I can. Sun, not North Wind. “Thank you for telling me.”
She bites her lip. “I know I shouldn’t have said that. It just really stung when I saw you there with her, and someone said you were planning to announce your engagement.”
“I understand. I’m sorry I hurt you. So… will you think about it?”
She sips her coffee, watching me. “Whose idea was it to bring me on board?”
“Honestly? It was Chessie who gave me the inspiration. She said to be kind, and it started me thinking about what we could achieve if we were friends rather than enemies.”
Sabrina looks away, across the coffee shop and out at the view of the street. I wonder whether that’s taken her by surprise. In our world, it’s common for people to be focused on themselves and not to care about others’ feelings.
Her gaze comes back to me. “All right,” she says softly. “I’ll do it.”
I hide my shock with a big smile. “I’m so glad.”
“And I’ll retract the statement about you being drunk.”
“That would be very nice of you,” I say carefully. “And we’ll make sure we have a photo taken of us shaking hands when you officially come on board.”
She meets my gaze. “It must have taken a lot of courage for you to say that today.”
“Chessie has inspired me to be a better person,” I say honestly. I wonder if she’s done the same to Sabrina?
“So what are your plans for the Foundation?” she asks.
I talk for a while about my long-term vision for it. She listens and offers a few suggestions, which, with her insight into public relations, prove to be useful suggestions. She explains how she does a lot of fundraising for Te Rangi Ataahua, and we talk about some ideas for projects we could work on together.
When I eventually check the time, it’s with some surprise I realize that an hour has passed. She’s smart and knowledgeable, and maybe because of her upbringing, she has a savvy side to her that I’m sure will prove useful in business.
“I’d better get going,” I say eventually. “I’ve got a few jobs to do, and then I’m meeting Chessie for dinner.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me today, and for listening, and being gracious.”
“I don’t know if that word is in my vocabulary,” she says with amusement. “But you’re welcome. And I do appreciate the apology.”
“Friends?” I say, holding out my hand.
She slides hers into it. “Friends.” She hesitates. “I’m glad you’re not angry with me.”