His Darling

Chapter Two

TRISTAN

Rainy Fridays always made the day drag on but there were never enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished. Honestly being the CEO of Copeland Technologies wasn't something I envisioned for myself, but now I love it and couldn't imagine anything else for my future.

When we first started, I was a massive nerd for computers, well I still am, and I haven't quite been disinterested or un-fascinated by the mechanics of creating and administering software. But three years later, and a dozen failed attempts at perfection. I now have the company I drew out in my dorm room back in undergrad. Although I no longer spend nights up until three in the morning writing code – I do have a Fortune 500 Company to run. While I'm not as hands on with the software, as I'd like to be, I still primarily create the updates for InvestNOW. I'm also in charge of nearly 200 employees which handle development, research and marketing for the company.

InvestNOW is the software, or technology, that Copeland Technologies is based on. The overall basis of the software is to create a platform that allows clients to manage their investments and contracts. A majority of our clients are businesses that heavily invest, attorneys that specialize in contracts and professional sports players on salaries, via contract.

Even though I own this company I still make time to socialize – well I used to. Over the last year I've had a dry spell – due to my own actions. About a year ago I was selected as Boston's Most Eligible Bachelor. The ladies came rolling in and I kind of just bolted from the club scene. At first it was really nice, but it grew challenging to figure out who genuinely enjoyed spending time with me opposed to girls just after me for my money. I don't claim to be a saint, by any means, and some nights I have a new girl in my bed. But at one point, I had very questionable girls trying to sabotage measures of protection and I had a couple of pregnancy scares. I don't use condoms just to prevent children but also any diseases. I trust the girls I am with, but you can be careful enough. I am not particularly inclined to have a child right now. I'm barely twenty-eight and I don't have the slighted idea how to be a father. I have an exceptional family background, like my parents were great but that doesn't mean I will be.

It was after lunch on Friday, and I still had a million things to do, one of them wasn't looking out the window at the parking lot where Willow parked her car. It was raining but I could instantly tell she was crying – I haven't seen her that upset since highschool. James had to nearly kill some scrawny Sophomore for playing with her feelings. He had some lousy bet that he could get with James' sister – he was a popular guy that everyone tried to break, it never worked. His baby sister was always a weakness. James and I were always good friends but over the years we've lost touch a little bit. When he moved away from Boston to play the NFL for a team in New York I promised him I would keep an eye on her – and I don't break promises, ever.

I still remember the first time I met Willow; I'd never met a girl like her. She was beautiful and awkward, yet mysterious – I could tell she wasn't aware of her ability to draw you in. It had been one of the few times I went over to James' house to throw the ball around. We played on the football team together, but I was never dedicated about it. James' was upstairs on the phone with his current girlfriend, Ginny, so Willow answered the door. She initially took my breath away. She has a book in one hand and the other supporting the door open. Her outfit exposed more skin than I've seen from her. Army green night shorts with white lace and a white cami that just wasn't quite long enough so I could see a space of skin on her stomach – it outlined her curves without any barriers, especially that of a bra. Some of my most sinful, shameful dreamed included her in that outfit.

Once she realized that I wasn't one of her friends I visually saw her change. She became timid and looked around for something to cover up with, but she fell short, which really just made her more mysterious. Why did she care?