Read Online Fated to be Mine by Jodie Larson - Free Book Online Page B

for five days, I know the moment he sees me. Andrew takes a sharp breath, almost inaudible to everyone except me. But that’s because I can always hear him just like I always see him. Our eyes lock, hazel to blue, as the others begin talking around us. Their voices fade into the background, becoming nothing but a hushed murmur. Still aware of everything around me, I kick Kara under the table and she discreetly elbows me in the side. She’s going to pay for this one.
    “Thank you for meeting us this way. Video conferencing is always more efficient than teleconferencing. At least I think so.” Chris laughs. “Of course, you remember Kara and Tessa.”
    “Yes, of course. Lovely to see you both again,” Charles says with a broad smile.
    I nod my head, but only because I’m too distracted by Andrew to do anything else. A joke is told and everyone around us laughs. Everyone but Andrew and I. He just keeps looking at me, his eyes raking over my face nonstop. I watch as his chest expands, taking in a deep breath, as if sitting there is painful for him. Well, you and me both, buddy. My heart hurts just looking at him, knowing he’s there and seemingly suffering like me. Although I must say, I’m slightly more put together, at least on the outside.
    Breaking our staring contest, I focus on the paper in front of me, taking down notes as the other four people involved begin talking about strategies, timelines, and accomplishments. But as I write feverishly on the paper, I can feel Andrew’s eyes follow every small movement I make. Every time I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, I hear a faint groan. My eyes flicker to his and sure enough they’re still locked on me.
    “Andrew should arrive the week after next to oversee the building site, making sure that it’s still a good fit. He’ll bring the designs for you to give to your contacts to begin the bidding process,” Priscilla says.
    My head snaps up so fast it felt like it was going to fall off. Did she just say Andrew was coming here? As in Minnesota? In two weeks? The butterflies begin fluttering in my stomach again at the prospect of seeing him in the flesh, being close enough to touch him again and fuel the flames that have dimmed in my blood. My body yearns for him to touch me again, not fully realizing it until this very moment, when reality and fantasy could potentially crash together.
    “Yes, I’m very excited to meet up with you and Tessa so we can go over the plans together.” Andrew’s lips turn up in the corners for the first time as his tongue caresses my name. God I love the way he says my name, letting it roll off his tongue as if he’s said it thousands of times. But there’s also a note of pain in his voice. A pain I have caused by my lack of communication and the Dear John letter I left for him before leaving without an explanation. Apparently, he doesn’t know my new situation yet and once again it’s up to me to break the bad news to him.
    “Actually, you’ll just be meeting with Kara. I’ve been given a promotion and will no longer be working on this project.”
    My heart goes into full arrest as the beautiful smile that graced his face falls, pulling his entire demeanor with it. Can he really be that upset that I’m no longer working with him?
    Charles and Priscilla both congratulate me as I force a smile on my face. “Thank you. I’m very grateful for the promotion and am saddened to not be working on this project anymore. I really do love the work your Foundation does.”
    “Well, we will definitely miss your presence but at the same time are glad that you’re able to move forward in your career with other projects,” Priscilla says.
    The meeting continues, banter flowing freely between the five of them, well, really the four of them. My eyes find Andrew’s occasionally and he’s almost stoic now, looking forward or down, his gaze only skirting over me when he thinks I’m not looking. I take down the notes of everything that