Striking Gold by Janine Amesta

Author:Janine Amesta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781959988069
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2023-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

“Wow, Ross, I’m actually really impressed. It looks great,” Luna said on the phone. “Maybe the trick to getting past the Ross Manasse stubbornness was in front of me the whole time. All I needed to do was go ahead and do it. Is it better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission? Be truthful with me. How mad were you?”

Ross sat at the office computer, scrolling through the Etsy page on his screen. “For your information, I was perfectly calm. I was more in a state of shock than anything else. I was shocked right out of being mad. I couldn’t believe it.”

“This girl’s really got you figured out.”

And this was a big problem. He didn’t want Mia to figure him out, to be vulnerable again, not with her. “Whatever. I’m not a complicated guy. Anyway, we’ve already made our first online sale. It’s just a necklace—”

“Don’t knock it. It’s a good start. Once you upload some images for me on the cloud, I’ll put in some time working on our Instagram page, but it sounds like all the hard work has been done.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Soon after ending the call, Ross found his thoughts drifting to Mia. It happened whenever he looked at her handiwork. With it being tied to his business at present, it wasn’t easy to avoid. How many sales would have to come and pass for these thoughts to vanish? Or would it be a constant thing every time he re-posted a listing and stared at her images? After she left, it would be all he’d have of her.

His mind broke free at a soft knock at the door. “Come in.”

The door cracked, and it was as if his thoughts conjured the physical when Mia popped her head in. “Hi, Ross. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

He groaned while returning his attention to the computer, clicking the Etsy page away.

She proceeded into the room, taking the free chair available. “How’s everything going? How’s Hermes doing?”

“Fine. What can I help you with?” Ross was determined to keep this visit short and herded toward the business end of things. There wouldn’t be a handshake, let alone kissing, this time around. Now that he knew the reality of the situation, it was probably best if he didn’t get himself in any deeper.

She pulled at nervous fingers. “What I said during our last conversation—I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m really sorry. Can I make it up to you?”

“How many times are we going to go through this? I don’t want you to make it up to me. Let’s just forget it. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“But I don’t want to forget it, not this time.”

“Look, I can’t exactly be angry about something you actually believe. At least you were being honest.”

“Stop it. Here’s what I believe. I think what you’re doing in this shop is great, and you’re clearly doing something that utilizes your talents. Ross, you’re lucky. And I-I feel like I’m still flailing around in life and it terrifies me.

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