Your person

~Richard~

I walked up to Martin’s door with a bottle of Domaine Henri Jayer Cros French wine in hand. A wide smile was plastered on my face as I knocked on his door.

“Martin?” I called out, my excitement slipping out as I spoke.

“Come in, dude,” Martin answered from inside the house. “The door is open.”

I went in and met Martin pulling his tie off his neck. “I came in a few minutes ago,” he added before turning back to look at me.

I had my hands in the air. He smiled, furrowing his brows. “What’s going on?”

“Great! Great news, my friend!” I happily said, walking to the center table. “You remember that estate I have been wanting to sell for two years now?” I asked, and he nodded, paying rapt attention.

“Well, I just signed it off with a client! Massive income, Martin! I’m talking millions!”

“What?!” His face lit up. “That is amazing! This is a milestone for your business. I am happy for you!” Martin expressed his happiness. He stood up and walked to his bar to grab glasses.

“Thank you, brother,” I answered, tearing the capsule off the cork of the bottle. “It’s crazy because she wasn’t a prospective client for that estate before. It just happened! I am elated right now!”

“I’m glad that everything has been a blast since you returned,” Martin responded, walking back to where I sat with the glasses in his hand.

He held one out to me, and I took it. I filled both glasses with wine and clinked our glasses before we proceeded to drink. I took a deep sigh after the first sip, enjoying the savory taste of red cherry and leather against my buds.

I looked at Martin and noticed his smile slowly fade off as he took another sip from his glass.

“Hey, tell me about your work too! How is it going?!” I asked with a high, lively tone, hoping to keep the excitement in the air much longer.

A smile formed across his lips again. “Fine, fine.” He shook his head. “You know, there are a few ups and downs, like any other businesses out there… but overall, it’s going well.” He nodded, taking another sip, as if trying to suppress something deeper.

Deep down, I knew something was up, but I didn’t know if trying to force it out of him was a good idea. “You sure?” I asked, still keeping my wide smile.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” I asked, and he went silent for a second.

“I have been thinking about something, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to bring it up today, especially not when we’re celebrating your win,” he answered, placing his glass on the small stool next to his couch.

“What are you saying, Martin? C’mon, just tell me what’s on your mind.” I persuaded him, focusing on him fully.

“I have been thinking about what would become of both of our businesses if we partnered. You know, we can have cross-promotion and referrals from both companies, exclusive service bundles, joint events, and many more,” he explained, leaning forward and resting his hands on his legs. “This would help both of us grow more clientele.”

He stopped talking and stared at me with so much hope in his eyes, as if waiting for me to say yes.

I furrowed my brows. “That’s all?” A surprised scoff escaped my lips, and he nodded. “Of course!” I answered almost immediately. “I think the idea is beautiful and beneficial to both companies. Why not?” I shrugged.

“Really?” he asked, his excitement bubbling over, which made me even more confused.

“Yes. Why are you acting like it’s a big deal? C’mon, let’s do this.” I laughed, picking up my glass of wine again. He picked his too, and we clinked glasses.

While we sipped in silence, the main door opened, pulling our attention to it. Elena walked in, dressed in this jaw-dropping blue dress. Her black heels made clacking noises as she approached, her hips swaying meticulously, as if trying to pass a message.

“Gosh, she is breathtaking,” I thought, my eyes locked on her perfect body in the dress. I gulped hard and clenched my jaws as I hastily looked away, guzzling the last bit of my wine.

“Hey, sweetie,” Martin’s voice cut through the air as she got even closer.

“Hey, Dad.” Her soft, lively voice echoed in my ears, and then I felt her gaze on me. “Hey, Mr. Richard, I didn’t know you would be here tonight,” she added, and I smiled faintly, raising my head to look at her.

“Hi, Elena.” My voice sounded less steady than I had imagined in my head. “You look… stunning,” I added, my eyes trying so hard not to wander off from her face down.

“Thank you.” She smiled, and I could swear I saw her cheek turn red. Our gazes locked for just a few seconds—enough time to tell me I was starting to stare too long.

Just as I looked away, swallowing hard again, Martin spoke up. “You should join us. Richard had a big win at the office today. We’re celebrating.”

Elena sighed softly and sat on the couch next to me. “Congratulations, Mr. Richard.” She smiled at me before turning to Martin. “I just don’t think I should take any more wine tonight. I have had enough at the party.”

“Oh, right, and how was it?” Martin asked as he reached for the bottle to pour himself another.

Elena got busy removing her heels as she responded. “It was so beautiful to behold. Sophie didn’t see it coming. She was so shocked, yet excited. I kinda shed a tear with her too.” She sighed heavily, staring into space as if reliving it. “My friend is off the market.” She shrugged happily.

As I listened to her, my eyes fell from her face to her neatly pedicured feet. They looked so fair and soft. Her red acrylic toenails glittered under the chandelier. “I just know they smell so f**king good,” I thought, gritting my teeth.

“I am happy for Sophie. I know you will find your own person soon,” Martin sipped. Elena scoffed softly and smiled, turning to look at me. Our gazes locked again.

“Maybe. Maybe not. My first date was horrific,” she answered, and I shook my head.

“That means nothing. He fumbled you. Period. Martin is right—you will find your own person.” I answered, keeping a faint smile as I struggled not to look at her beautiful feet again.

Just then, Martin’s phone rang, and he reached for it in his pocket. He looked at his phone screen and stood up. “Sorry, I have to get this,” he said as he walked away, leaving us in the living room.

I clenched my jaws again and sat up, trying to keep my eyes off her.

“Mr. Richard?” she called, almost in a whisper, and I felt my heart thump against my chest hard. I looked at her. “What do you think of my dress?”

My brows raised in surprise. “Ermmm…” I chuckled. “It’s a beautiful dress. You look really beautiful.”

She grins hard, and her cheeks flush. “Thank you. You’ve always had great taste in dresses,” she muttered, and I smiled.

“I wish it was only in dresses,” I thought as Martin walked back in.

“This just dropped in my head right now,” Martin announced with a huge grin, and we both looked at him, waiting for him to spill the beans. “What if your person is Julian?!” he asked, as if spilling the tea about a mafia gang.

“Fucking hell,” I said in my head.

“Who is Julian?” she asked, her gaze moving from Martin’s face to mine in uttermost curiosity.

I forced on a smile. “My son.”