Eighty Eight - Simon Peter

Adian's POV

It's been four days since Hailey disappeared on me and I'm becoming the man I used to be. The man who didn't give a darn about anyone, until Hailey and now she's gone!

The changes that Hailey brought out in me are slowly disappearing and I'm wondering if the guy she left behind, will be here when she returns.

There was a single knock on my door before Jerry walks in uninvited.

Coming to sit in front of me, with a file in his hand knowing that I don't want to be disturb with anything, even business.

Slamming the file on the desk, he flicks it over to me. " Prep yourself, we are meeting Simon in twenty minutes" Jerry informs me.

Frowning and irritated, "why?" I flick the file back to Jerry, "you deal with it" I tell him.

Flicking it back to me, "it's your baby and he wants you" Jerry fires back, before leaning on the chair, with folded arms.

I know that I look disheveled, but I at least I smell good.

"I'm not in the mood for this" I threw over my shoulder as I stood up, with my hands in my pocket, I turn to face the floor to ceiling window, looking down into the street below from my office window.

I heard the chair move, before Jerry comes to join me, "talk to me man" my uncle and my best friend prompts me.

Stepping back, I look at him wondering what I should say to him since I also believe that he is privy to everything about my mother, his elder sister.

Shaking my head, I look back out the window, "I'm just worried man, just worried" I told him instead.

Jerry walks back to the desk, picking up the file again, "take the meeting" he said, watching my reflection in the window I stood in front of. "You're forgetting something very important here" Jerry says, not moving. "Simon knows your wife pretty well, maybe he can be your allie" Jerry suggest.

I spun around, for the first time in the last few days feeling a glimmer of hope. Someone whose Hailey's friend.

"Yeah, yeah" smiling, I went to hug my uncle, "thank you" I said, hoping I can find out about Hailey from Simon.

Jerry left the file on my desk, reminding me to refresh myself on my project, a project which was handed over to my wife. A company that has been handed over to my wife but I will have to keep it up and running until she returns to her office and to me.

The ringing of my phone had me looking at the time instead of answering it. Ignoring the phone because the last thing I need is hearing Jerry barking at me because I'm late. Swooping up the file, I left the office with my phone still ringing on the desk, securing my door behind me.

Adjusting my tie, before entering the board room that Jerry chose, "good morning" I greeted Mr. Simon and Jerry.

Walking towards a chair opposite Simon, I put out my hand to greet him. Mr. Simon stood up and for a second, I felt as if he was sizing me up, before his expression, change to a satisfied smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Knights" Simon greeted me pleasantly. I immediately want to ask Simon about Hailey, but I realize it's best that I keep today just about business.

Indicating that he should take his seat, "sit please" I invited him, doing the same.

Looking up, I saw the same look in Simon's eyes from earlier, scrutiny! Ignoring that, deciding to shake myself up and get a move on, "I would like to apologize for taking this long to contact you, when I'm the one who wanted this deal to happen in the first place." I opened the meeting with an apology. I opened my first f***ing meeting with Fantasy Shipping with a motherf***ing apology. Definitely a first for me.

Before I went any further, Jerry's secretary, came in with a tray containing, three coffee mugs, realizing that refreshments were already ordered.

Grateful for the short distraction, thanking God for a moment to get myself together. I am sure that Simon is wondering what the f**k happened to me.

"Thank you" with a genuine smile I took my coffee knowing full well that it's done exactly to my liking.

With drinks before us, I move to remove the introduction page in the file in order to discuss the actual job on hand.

As he sips his coffee, "I didn't get to before, but thank you for your contribution to the children's home last Sunday" Simon suddenly says surprising me.

Never wanting to be thanked for anything charitable, I smiled and nodded, before picking up the second page in the file,

Simon place his cup back down on the desk with a small thud. I lifted my eyes towards him and the f***ing man was staring at me. What the hell!!

I look at Jerry who had a smirk as he observed my reaction towards Simon.

"You should come by on Sunday to meet the kids, they will be happy to meet you and also be able to personally thank you in person for you generosity." Simon invites me.

Never willfully putting myself at the center of attention, for good things, "it was all Hailey, not me" I corrected him waiting for a reaction as I mention Hailey's name, but his expression didn't change.

Chuckling, "I beg to differ" Simon responds with a smirk, "Mrs. Harris and Gerard are both your employees" Simon had the f***ing nerve to correct me.

Never one to beat around the bush, "why are you here again?" I asked, hopefully to remind him that I am here to discuss business not my wife's charitable causes.

Raising my eyes to look at him as the f***ing man continue to search me with his eyes. :