Page 20 of Connor

My eyes flick to the piece of paper that was couriered to Sunshine today. A donation made in my honor to the America Wilderness Society for the reforestation of trees. I had no idea what it was initially, before realization took over and I had to sit down. It was a large donation, totally unnecessary, yet somehow also very, very kind. I flick his thick designer business card in my hand, and the grin I try to hold back peeks through. At least he listens to me.

His number stares at me from the cell screen, my heart beating out of my chest, and it has been all afternoon. I’m nervous, because damn, I want this.I need this. Yet this decision is about to turn my safe little world completely upside down. But the opportunity to work with him, build this spa, it’s a job that people can only dream about. I know I’m ready for it. I’ve worked for years in this space, I’m good at what I do, and I have a passion for business and a willingness to learn what I don’t already know. It’s almost like this role was made for me.

I take in another breath, mentally going through the pros and cons. Pros: money, experience, a break from the city, and a break from Sunshine. Cons: he’s rude and arrogant, and I won't be able to just play nice. He riles me up, brings out the fire in me, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why. I am Zen now. I meditate, I do yoga, yet the minute I see or think about him, it’s like I’m back to that fiery young girl I was when I was a kid. I have missed her, though. She’s been mellow for far too long.

“Have you called him yet?” Trisha yells from the other side of the door, and I let go of the breath I was holding.

“No!” I yell back.

“Get one of those crystals in your hand. That always seems to help you,” she says sarcastically, and I look down to my lap, seeing the clear quartz already there.

I roll my eyes. “Go away!”

I hear her chuckle as her footsteps retreat.

I’m not sure why I’m hesitating. It’s the ideal opportunity at the ideal time. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, trying to center myself. But again, the minute my eyes close, the vision of him half-naked returns.

“It’s now or never Daisy,” I murmur to myself and hit the call button, putting the phone to my ear. Rolling my shoulders back, I sit up straight, not that he can see me, but Confidence Building 101 states that you talk with a smile, you sound friendly, you sit up straight, you can tackle anything.

“Daisy,” Connor’s voice hums through the line instantly, like he was waiting by his phone for my call. My name rumbles from his throat, and at his tone, my body involuntarily shivers.

“Connor,” I say in greeting, following his lead.Professional.

“Do you usually leave all your business decisions to the eleventh hour?” he asks, and I still. I look at the clock on my bedside, seeing it’s almost five p.m. I guess I did leave it a little longer than I thought. But I take a deep breath and center myself once more. I need to show him that I’m capable and business-minded.

“Well, I like to look at decisions from every angle. People are too quick these days and sometimes that isn’t always beneficial. I want to make sure I’m getting as much out of this as you are,” I tell him, feeling a little more confident, despite the nerves dancing in my body.

It’s just a job, Daisy. Albeit a job of a lifetime, with a very ruggedly handsome boss, but still just a job.

“You know… sometimes, quick decisions are necessary. So you don’t miss out on opportunities,” he banters back, and I wonder if he’s usually annoying like this to everyone or just me. I need to be mindful; he’s offered me an opportunity, but there’s no contract, no firm discussion on money or timelines.

“I’m a firm believer that good things are worth waiting for. Besides, I’m sure you don’t want to invest in someone who’s flippant or doesn’t take large decisions seriously. You have this amazing spa to open, and you offered me a job to help you bring it to life. You need me, remember?”

“So whatisyour decision?” he asks, cutting straight to it, and I gulp.

“I would like to take you up on the opportunity. We’ll need to discuss timing and remuneration, and—”

“I’ll have my jet bring you here later in the week. I have a place ready for your stay. We’re estimating a month, maybe two, to bring it all together. Remuneration will be on the contract that I have just sent to your phone.”

I stall, pulling the phone from my ear and looking at the screen, and sure enough, it lights up with an incoming message.

“I’m sure you’ll find the offer more than reasonable. Send me your address, sign the contract, and I will see you this week, Daisy. I’ll have a car pick you up and take you to my jet,” he says before he ends the call without even saying goodbye.

I’m left breathless, my heart hammering in my ears. I’m in awe of his business manner. Confident, not ruthless but demanding. I think I just experienced what everyone else must when they’re in front of him. For someone who consults crystals and meditates, it’s in complete contrast, yet there’s something about it, about him, that has me feeling jittery, my body thrumming, my nerves on overdrive, and I quickly pull up the contract he sent through.

It’s for a month, with the possible extension to a second month, depending if timelines require it. Start date is Thursday. He’ll be paying me even on travel days. The Whiteman’s Whiskey jet will transport me to Whispers and can bring me back to the city as required.

Accommodations will be provided in the form of a four-bedroom house on the grounds of the distillery. There will be full food services from the nearby diner or the distillery restaurant if required. My eyes widen as I look through the details about the job itself.

Chief Wellness Center Consultant. In charge of product selection for both treatments and retail opportunities. The hiring and training of staff, rostering systems, treatment menu development, retail and booking system… I pause on that one, because at Sunshine, we don’t have a computer system for our clients. But there’s a new software program that I’ve been researching that I tried to talk to Mom about implementing at Sunshine, so maybe that’s something I can incorporate at Whiteman’s.

I look back at the screen and scroll through the rest of the details. It outlines the project budget I have to work with, which is well into the millions, and my mouth goes dry. We’ve never made a million dollars at Sunshine, so I know for sure that I’ll be able to deliver what he needs within that budget.

Scrolling further, I read through the remuneration package. He’s offering me one hundred thousand dollars, and now as I look at it in black-and-white, in a formal contract, I think my heart stops.

“Please tell me you’re off your call!” Trisha yells from the other side of my bedroom door.

“Umm!” I basically shout. This kind of money is more than I’ve ever had access to. It will set me up to not only pay off our heating bill and my other debts, but maybe start my own clinic when I come back to New York after the project. It’s perfect. A month in Whispers, building confidence, experience, and expertise, and then I can open my own center. Maybe a yoga studio with a side office to do mini treatments?

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