Chapter 31: Other Business

Clyde and Gwen went to a very fancy restaurant near the company, and while they waited for the meals, Clyde went straight to the point.
“Since we don’t have much time, I’m not beating around the bush, okay?” he started, taking a sip from the glass of water on the table.
Ever since he picked Gwen at the company, she noticed that he wasn’t treating her any different. She thought for a second that maybe he could be pissed because of the way she left on the previous night, but he was being his usual charming self.
“It came to my attention that you’re very good at what you do. My company needs a great marketing team, since we’re expanding,” he explained. “I know you are professional. People talk, you know? And I recognize great talent when I see it.”
“How could you possibly know that I’m good?” Gwen asked, surprised. “I just started working at Finn’s company.”
“Business men can tell. The campaigns you worked on so far were a success apparently. And I’m forming a team with only the best in the country. I wanted you to come work for me. It is a great opportunity.”
Clyde grabbed a piece of paper and took a pen from a pocket inside his blazer. His smooth actions reminded Gwen of negotiations in movies, scenes filled with talks of money and power. And when he finally placed the piece of paper in front of her, with an offer of paying her twice what Finn was paying her, she choked.
“Are you serious?” she questioned, grabbing the paper and pulling it closer to her eyes to make sure she wasn’t seeing wrong.
Of course he wasn’t offering her millions of dollars, but it was enough for her to make a good living. She wouldn’t have to depend on Finn anymore, even though she knew he would never leave Cody unsupported. But just the fact that she would not have to work for him anymore, or see him more than necessary was already a very good reason to accept Clyde’s offer.
Taking her last conversation with Finn into consideration, she could tell their relationship was going to be different now. A few weeks before, she still fed herself the illusion of being with Finn again, despite the fact that deep down she knew it was impossible for them to make it work. Even so, her unconscious mind liked to play tricks on her.
But on the previous day, out of anger, she had told Finn that they would be nothing else besides Cody’s parents. The kiss was still pretty clear on her mind, she could still feel his touch on her skin, the way she felt her stomach cringe with excitement when he wrapped his arms around her. But that was just it. A memory.
There was nothing else between them anymore. She would have to accept that. So what was the better way to do it than accepting Clyde’s offer to work at his company? Finn’s proposition came in a good time, she didn’t want to sound ungrateful, but she could walk by herself now. She had other options.
So why couldn’t she say anything? Clyde was looking at her with expectant eyes, waiting to hear her answer.
“That’s… very generous,” she finally said, putting the paper back on the table again. “Are you sure that’s what I’m worth? What would I have to do exactly?”
Clyde smiled.
“Of course you’re worth much more. And you’d start at the same position you are right now, aware of the fact that you can grow if business go well as we plan. So you’ll probably be getting more by the end of the year. We also have bonuses for our employees, so…”
Gwen grabbed the glass of water from the table and drank it all at once. Her throat was dry and itchy all of a sudden.
She still couldn’t take what Finn had said out of her mind. She didn’t believe it was true; Clyde seemed to be very honest and sincere with her. She also didn’t see herself as a person to be used as a threat against Finn. She wasn’t really responsible for his company’s profits, so what did Clyde have to earn with her as his employee?
Finn was probably crazy.
“Can I think about it?” she asked, shaking her head to shove away thoughts of Finn. “I promise I’ll consider it carefully. I just need to organize everything inside my head,” she concluded with a shy smile.
“Of course, take your time,” Clyde agreed, making space for the waiter to put his plate in front of him. Gwen did the same, and Clyde only continued to talk once the man left both of them alone again.
“Enough about business. I have something else I’d like to talk to you about, but I don’t want to scare you,” Clyde continued, looking down at his plate and avoiding her eyes.
Gwen blinked, feeling her heart beat race aggressively. She stopped with her fork in the air, staring at him and trying to think of what he could be referring to.
“You can say anything, I won’t be scared,” she said, encouraging him, although she wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth.
“You know… I had a really nice time with you yesterday, even though we didn’t get to spend it alone for too long, which it was a bummer,” he smiled at his plate, still unable to look up and face her.
She nodded and remembered that he wasn't looking, so she murmured something inaudible to make him continue.
“I might sound crazy, I know that, since we don’t know each other very well…” Clyde sounded very nervous and that was making Gwen anxious.
“Clyde, just say what you have to say. It’s okay,” she encouraged him again, dying to know what was making him weird all of sudden.
He was always so confident and had the right words at the tip of his tongue, so why was he being so awkward now? What could be so serious to make him not look inside her eyes?
“I… I think I may be falling in love with you.”