But talking to the sisters is my job. Reassuring them, talking them through this huge change in their lives, that’s all up to me.
They’re the only company I’ve invested in that’s not tech, boating, or utility based, so I’ve got a lot riding on this too.
I’m the general partner of Knight-In—yes, the name of my company is a pun, but it was right fucking there—and in more than two decades of business, I’ve never needed limited partners.
I’ve always put up my own money to finance smaller businesses, and thanks to Ru’s company, my personal wealth keeps growing steadily, which means I can stay as independent as possible with Knight-In.
Even with a huge portfolio of investments, I still make sure to be the person of contact for my investments for at least five years. I don’t offer my money to just anyone, I’m actually rather conservative when it comes to our business, which makes some of my directors twitch, but fact is we’ve never been in the red.
All of this to say that when Noah does step into my office after being led in by Elsa, the best assistant in the world, I know my hair is a mess, my tie’s askew, my shirt is wrinkled, and my eyes are probably beaming with an insane glint.
Not my best impression.
He stops one step into the office, looking adorable and awkward but still too beautiful to do him justice with simple words.
His curls are somewhat tame, his glasses just a tiny bit askew, but his navy blue jacket looks perfectly pressed. His crispwhite shirt also doesn’t have a single wrinkle, but I’m surprised he’s wearing jeans.
When he shifts the strap of his bag on his shoulder, I realize I’ve been staring, drinking in every detail of him, for who knows how long. I snap into action and walk around the desk.
“Yes, that’s fine. More than fine,” I correct myself. Am I speaking too loudly? Too fast?
Yeah, probably.
I stop moving and suck in a deep breath, trying to calm my mind and... arms. God, why are my arms twitching?
“Hello, Noah.” That’s more like it. “Thank you for coming. I’m afraid my day has been hectic, so I haven’t had any time to order lunch. Can you tell me what you’d like so I can ask Elsa to fetch it for us?” After so many years living in the UK, there are some things I’ve picked up, just a few words here and there that don’t sound foreign anymore.
I shuffle the million papers on my desk until I find the menu for the cafeteria in the high-rise that houses Knight-In, and realize Noah’s still stuck in place when I find it.
More hesitant than I have any right to be, I walk over and hold it out for him.
He stares at it like it’s about to explode, until he too inhales sharply and takes it.
I gesture to the round table I have in the corner of my office, right by the windows, and nod at him.
“Please, make yourself at home.”
“Thanks,” he says, his voice so soft I have to strain to hear it.
I hurry back to my desk and wake up my computer, find the file with all the publishing offers I’ve gotten over the past fewyears, and send them over to the printer that’s hidden in the cabinet on the far left wall.
“Uh, I—” I whirl around at the sound of his voice, stronger now, and wait for him to speak when he cuts himself off. He looks painfully awkward, and I know it’s my fault. I know I didn’t greet him like I should’ve, that I’m a huge mess, and that’s probably the last thing he needs from a potential client. “Should I go out and tell Elsa what I’ve chosen or...”
I barely resist smacking myself in the face.
“Yes, sorry.” I push the intercom button. “Elsa, sorry, can you come in here for a moment?”
She doesn’t answer, she never does. Instead, the door opens a few seconds later, and she stares at me with an exasperation and fondness she doesn’t bother to hide.
“Can you get us some lunch? The usual for me, and Mr. Ellington has chosen what he wants.”
She nods once at me and walks over to where Noah’s sitting at the table.
“What would you like, young man?”
I hide my smile by staring at my monitor. She’s such a mother hen, in the best of ways, and I’m not delusional enough to believe I’d be anywhere near where I am without her.
I silence all notifications from both my computer and phone, and leaving the phone on the desk, I walk over to the cabinet and get the printed offers before going over to Noah.