Chapter 3 - Connor

** Over 2 years later **

I march into my office and toss the paperwork for today’s proposal on my desk. 

How could they even think that this was a good presentation?  We have been partners with them for a while now.  Maybe they are getting lazy. 

I sigh and run my hand through my hair. 

It isn’t even 10am yet, and I’m already fuming. 

I yank my chair out from my desk and take a deep breath, trying to let my frustrations go.  However, as soon as my eyes land back on the paperwork strung across my desk, my shoulders stiffen, and my irritation is instantly back. 

What am I going to do with them now?  

As I sit down, my mind rolls through all of our various partners in the glass industry, trying to find the right fit for this enormous project.  Our partner for this project must be someone that I can rely on.

My thoughts are interrupted as Ryan dashes into my office.  “Connor!  Guess What!”

I look up at him and snort, “What?  That meeting was a big bust.  Yeah.  I already know that.”

Ryan shakes his head and stops right in front of my desk.  “No.  I just got off the phone with your private investigator.  He thinks he has found her.”

My heart skips a beat.  Could this really be true? 

I lean forward.  “Tell me this isn’t another botched lead, like the dozen before.”

His smile widens.  “Nope.  The private investigator is positive that it is her this time.”

My breath hitches.  Please, let this be true.  I need to find her. 

I bolt up out of my chair and around the desk.  “Come on, then.  I want to know for sure that we have really found her.  Where did he say she is?”

Ryan chuckles behind me but doesn’t miss a step as we run through the corridor towards the elevator. 

The entire drive to the neighboring town is mostly silent, except for the few times when I ask for the address.  The only other sound is of my fingers constantly tapping on the steering wheel. 

I breathe a sigh of relief when we finally pull into the shopping mall’s parking lot.  As I turn the vehicle off, my stomach flutters with the thought that she may be in there. 

My eyes scan the extensive building before I bark, “Let’s go in and find her.”

Ryan nods and is right beside me as we make our way through the parking lot to the mall.  When we finally reach the entrance, Ryan says, “The private investigator said that she works at a small clothing store on the second level.  I believe the shop is right in the middle of the mall.”

I nod while my eyes immediately scan the area as we slowly walk through the mall entrance and make our way through the building.  With each step, my heart pounds harder against my chest. 

My waiting could finally be over today.  The years of waiting would all be worth it if we can find her. 

After several minutes, my feet finally come to a dead stop outside the clothing store, while my eyes continue to scan everywhere inside, searching for her.  Even a simple glimpse would make my day.

Images of our one night together dance through my mind.  Her angelic voice as she was moaning underneath me and even begging for more.  The beautiful and seductive way she would say my name has my heart racing. 

All of which vanished the next morning when she couldn’t even remember any of it.  Not even my name. 

I swallow hard and take a deep breath. 

Ryan pats my shoulder.  “Do you want me to come in with you?  Are you sure you can do this on your own?”

I don’t know if I can, but I still shake my head.  “No.  I’ll go in by myself.”

He pats my shoulder again.  “Okay.  I’ll wait right here for you.”

With my eyes still focused on the store, I nod and take a deep breath. 

Even though I’m trembling inside, I push my doubts down and confidently stride into the store and glance around.  However, I still don’t see her. 

I only take a few steps into the store before a sales associate comes up to me and asks, “Is there something I can help you find, sir?”  Her bubbly voice irritates me as I turn my focus towards her. 

I barely give her a look before I resume searching the store.  “A friend of mine thinks I know someone that might work here.  She has blonde hair and green eyes.”

“Oh..”  The girl’s perkiness slowly fades.  “She is over there.” 

I look in the direction that she points and my eyes lock on the back of a woman with long, blonde, and wavy hair.  My eyebrows furrow as my eyes roam down her body. 

I quickly turn back to the sales associate and mutter, “Thanks,” while I walk past her to my intended target. 

Once again, my heart thumps louder with each step. 

As I get closer, my breath hitches as the lady slowly turns around. 

My feet suddenly stop and are frozen in place as my heart aches.  The person isn’t her. 

She may have green eyes, but they aren’t the sparkling emerald green eyes that are in my dreams every night.  The ones that hold so many secrets and can make me putty in her hands. 

My shoulders drop as I turn around and head out of the store silently. 

You would think that I would be used to this by now, but I’m not.  I want her back.  I want my sunshine. 

Before I even reach Ryan, he asks, “It wasn’t her?”

I slowly shake my head.  “No.”

I don’t even slow down and walk right past him.  He turns and hustles up right beside me. 

With my head hung low, I mumble, “I thought it was going to be her.  I thought my search would be over.”

He pats my shoulder and softly replies, “Don’t worry.  We won’t stop looking.  We will find her no matter where she is at.  Even if we have to go to another country, we will find her.”

I sigh and shake my head.  “I know, but it is so disappointing.  You had me believing that we have finally found her.  That she was working in that store.  I should have known better.  She would have never ended up working as a salesclerk.  She is too smart and driven to settle for that.”

I glance beside me.  “She is probably in some management position in some company.”  Silently, I add, “I just wish I knew where.”