Chapter Five

Selene POV

"Excuse me?" I clear my throat and he turns around, his hands in his pocket and when I see his face, my breath catches in my throat. Something about his thick jaw and blue eyes reminds me of Blake but this guy looks different, organized, and has his shit together. It can't be Blake. Even if it was Blake, he's been missing from the Asylum for a year plus now. It can't be him.

"Hello Mrs. Valenquez" he smirked and I squeeze my fist.

"Uh..." I stretch my hand out for a handshake and he received it. Something about the touch was familiar but I shrug. It's probably just the feeling of meeting someone new. "Mr..."

"Taylor! Jake Taylor" he smiled and I return it.

"I'm sorry but have we met before?" I couldn't help but ask. His face remained the same, no emotions shown.

"I believe it's our first meeting ma'am" He lowered his lips to the back of my hand. "A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Valenquez. As soon as I heard about your company, I decided to come see for myself"

"That's...assuring," I say nervously. Why am I nervous?

"Indeed. And I have an offer, if you may?"

"Of course. We can talk in the conference room..."

"No, no...That's a bit too large" Jake said, his eyes roaming the reception. I quickly slide my hand out of his. "Maybe we can talk this over coffee?" He suggests and I quirk a brow. "That way I can tell you about the deal I have"

"I have a lot scheduled, but I can make an exception," I state, my palms straighten the front of my dress. "Just let me clear out my desk" I turn round and walk away, ordering Penny to give him a seat and coffee before I return.

This is not right! Something about Jake Taylor seems too familiar. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm about to find out. Could it be that we've met before and I don't remember? Because since I started managing PHT, I've met a lot of people and even when I attend balls with Fabrico. I arrange my things into my bag before walking out of my office again, I stop by Kay's office telling her I'm off.

"Everything ok," she asked, staring up from her laptop.

"Yeah, I'm just going to have coffee"

"With the stranger?" She asked.

"Uhm...his name is Jake Taylor and yeah, we're grabbing coffee. He said he had a deal for PHT"

"It better be good, girl" she folded her arms and I chuckled walking away. I didn't tell her that something about him felt familiar or maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Jake is seated in front of the front desk, with a cup of coffee in his hand and when he sees me, he stands up with a smile on his face. "Mrs. Valenquez," he said while holding his hand out. I take it and we walk to the door.

...

It's times like this that I'm thankful there's a cafe real close to PHT. Like, it's just two blocks away and walkable. We enter the little Cafe and Jake pulled out my chair for me. A gentleman huh? I decided to probe him, maybe he'll tell me something about himself so I can clear my doubtful self. The waitress takes our orders and returns in a jiffy.

"So Mr. Taylor..."

"Please, call me Jake"

"Jake...where are you from? Seattle?"

He chuckled. "I recently moved here with my wife and kid"

Oh shit! he has a wife and a kid? This can never be Blake. I narrow my eyes. "Oh, that's sweet. How are you enjoying Seattle then"

"It's a lot of rain here" he chuckled. "Back in Texas it's mostly sun and hays"

"So you're from Texas"

"Exactly" he grinned before taking a sip of his summer Latte and then breathed out. As if the sky knew we were talking about it, it began to rain and Jake shook his head. "see what I mean?"

"I do" I smile and take a bite from my croissant. Time to get to business. "You said you have a deal for PHT"

"Ah yes!" Jake places both his palms flat on the table. "This may seem a little unprofessional, but I have a gym house that deals with the health, you know,  exercising and all that..." I nod my head to show I'm following up. "In the gym house is a medical section"

"Is it legally certified? The medical section" I ask.

"Yes, it is, no need to worry. All I need is the supply of your products to that section. It could help boost my gym and bring in a lot of customers since I'm new here"

I raise a brow. "And what's in it for PHT?"

"Forty percent share from every sale we get. It's also a way to share the panda tea products. What do you say?" He grinned, stretching his hand out to me. "Business partners?"

"I'd love to but I can't just agree to the deal like that. We need to set up a contract and I would love to come to see your gym and inspect it. It's only professional I do that" I try to reason with him. And there's the fact that I don't even know him.

"Of course, where are my manners?" He chuckled at the last part. "I'm glad I got the chance to introduce you to the idea though" Jake states and I smile.

"It sounds like a good deal"

"If it's ok, I can come to PHT tomorrow so we can begin the contract?"

"Sure," I say getting up and he stands too. "It was nice to meet you...Jake"

"Pleasure is mine" he kissed the back of my hand before walking us to the door, I look outside at the pouring rain and shrug. "Perhaps we should wait here for a while until the rain calms" he suggests and I nod. Good idea.

Fabrico POV

Just about a few hours to go and the contract would begin. Emiliano is getting his first company deal so for once, he can do something decent. Leon comes to stand beside me on the balcony.

"What's on your mind?" He asked.

"Everything" I sigh. "Where's Liano?"

"Potty break"

Oh. I dig my hand into my pocket and bring my phone out so I can text Selene. To tell her that everything is going fine and the contract would soon begin. If this kicks out well, we might go back to Seattle soon.

Hey honey. How are things back in Seattle? I send and wait for her reply. In the meantime, I and Leon talk about almost everything and he went further to tell me about his little sizzling romance with Kay which made me roll my eyes.

I stare at my phone again. No text from Selene. She's never hesitated to reply to my text before. Maybe she's too busy to type so I call but it rings and rings but no reply. I felt my palm become sweaty and all of a sudden I'm nervous, walking around the balcony.

"What's up with him?" I hear Liano ask Leon when he returns from his break.

"Not sure. But he's been staring at his phone" Leon replied.

I let out an angry huff. "Leon, give me Kay's number!"

"What's going on?"

"Just give me it!" I sigh and he punched her number into my phone by heart. Huh. I dial the number quickly and I'm grateful that she picks on the first ring.

"Kay Gordy" I hear her say.

"Kay. It's Fabrico!" I breathe into the speaker.

"Oh, hey Fabrico. What's going on? How's San Fransisco?" She beats around the bush when I know all she wants to ask about is Leon.

"Fine...uh...is Selene in her office?"

"I don't think so" what?. "She left the office hours ago to grab coffee nearby"

"Grabbing coffee alone? That's unlike Selene" I frown.

"She's not alone. Some guy came into the office and asked about her"

Some guy? All the hairs on my body stand. Is it?...no, I'm sure Kay would know him if she saw him.

"Who is he?"

"I don't know, didn't see him. But I think his name is Jake Taylor"

Huh. "What'd he want?" I grit.

"Not sure. I haven't heard from Selene yet. It's raining here and I'm sure she's stuck wherever she is"

Oh shit!. "I've been trying to reach her line but she isn't picking"

"Network maybe?" She sighs. "look, I gotta go, I've got tons of work to do. Say hi to... Leon for me" she said the last part with a squeaky voice. I hang up immediately.

"What's up?" Leon asked.

"Kay said you should call her" I groan before walking away. Selene where are you and why aren't you picking my calls for christ's sake! I feel so helpless knowing there's nothing I can do because I'm so far away. And who the hell is this Jake Taylor guy? It's the first I'm hearing his name. He's not a shareholder or investor of PHT except he wants to become one. But why do they need to grab coffee? Either way, I'm still not at ease until I hear from Selene.