Unprofessional (Under editing)

Chapter 39: A Mothers Business

Isaac's POV

Even without a single call or message in nearly two weeks—and still, she haunts every corner of my mind.

I stood at the edge of the construction site, blueprints rolled under one arm, eyes glazed over as I stared past the chaos of steel, concrete, and shouting workers. I wasn't seeing any of it. Not really.

I'd come here to make sure everything was running smoothly, but I hadn't even looked at the damn blueprints. My mind—again—had wandered off to her.

Rowan.

I couldn't stop. Everything reminded me of her. The way the sun caught on a woman's copper coils walking by, the faint sound of a child laughing nearby. I hadn't been to the gym in days. Not since realizing Lovey wouldn't be right there, bouncing beside me with that lopsided grin.

I'd called Rowan. Texted her. Over and over. At first, I thought maybe she just needed space. But eventually, the messages stopped going through. She'd blocked me.

I barely slept, barely ate. My team had started noticing. The sleepless eyes. The zoning out. The short temper.

"Mr. Collins?"

I blinked. One of my employees—Cara—was waving at me from a short distance, clipboard in hand.

"Yeah?" I answered, voice rougher than I intended.

"We need your approval on the final slab layout before the next pour."

I nodded, clearing my throat and running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be right there."

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, seeing the call was from mom.

I stepped away from the noise, toward the side of the building where the scaffolding gave me a bit of shade. Though I moved aside the construction clamor was still loud, I stuck a finger in one ear and pressed the phone to the other.

"Hello Isaac?" my mother's voice crackled through. I straightened up. Just hearing her made me feel like a kid again—one wrong word and you're in the hole for weeks.

"Hey mom."

"You know that—." She began then stopped abruptly. "What's that sound, where are you?"

"I'm at a construction site, sorry. Is it too loud?" I asked while moving farther away.

"No, it's fine, I can hear you. Well I called to ask if you'd be bringing you're friend. I furrowed my brows in silent question.

"Friend..." I murmured the word under my breath, quietly trying to recall what friend she could be talking about.

"You know your friend—"

"Mom, I have a lot of friends. Be specific."

"You know, that girl from the Christmas party... what was her name again?"

My stomach dropped.

Of course. Of course she'd bring her up. Like the universe hadn't punished me enough.

"You mean Rowan?" The name came out clipped, like it hurt to say.

"Yes! That girl. I knew I recognized her the moment I saw her. You should invite her to have Christmas with us, if she's not busy."

I swallowed, glancing back at the noise of the construction. I needed an excuse. Any excuse.

"She has a kid, Mom. I don't think she'll be able to come."

"A child?" she repeated, voice rising with interest. "Well, she can bring them. I don't mind at all. Why don't you want me to meet your girlfriend?"

My heart pounded.