Regrets

21.

Daniel helped Anne so much in the business. He was a business magnet and this venture was a small thing. He suggested many things to Heather. He knew the hotel business was saturated, and they needed something different. He helped her buy many rundown Victorian houses at auctions at lower prices and then renovated them and turned them into B&Bs with unique services that were not offered in big hotels.

"You cannot buy everything you see, Anne. You have to look at the conditions of a property. Sometimes there are hidden dangers like structural problems. Damps. "

"Daniel, I admit you have a keen eye on things. I wouldn't have achieved so much without your help."

"It is you, Anne, I am just a mentor. It is all your hard work. You believed in yourself."

"Daniel, I want to donate a percentage of my earnings to women's charity"

"That is a wonderful idea."

"I survived because I had money. What about women who are left with nothing and children who suffer abuse in their own homes?"

Daniel wiped her tears." Your past made you strong. Don't look back. Look front"

They became comfortable with each other with time. Daniel helped Anne recover physically. He used to work out with her. he was like her personal trainer, and within those six months, Anne was unrecognizable. She was fit and healthy.

One day out of the blue, Anne said "I accept Daniel".

His heart was beating fast. What does she accept? Me? His mind was going through every possibility.

"I want you to be my assistant. You are already doing all the work."

"Dear lady, please have mercy on my poor soul. My heart is not so strong. I thought about something else."

Daniel used to flirt indirectly with her, and Heather used to laugh. She never took him seriously.

" For a second, I thought you accepted me."

" Danny !" She brushed it off. There was an attraction between them.

" I am serious. Is it because I am poor? Your employee"

" No! I do not want any relationship at this age. My ship has sailed."

" Then what about me? I am so old. According to your logic, I have missed the deadline for happiness. "

Heather laughed. " You do not look old. You can easily give competition to young boys. "

" Yet I am not good in your eyes."

" You said you had your son in your early 20s. What about your son's mother?"

" Joseph was unplanned. It's just a result of a one-night stand. She was not ready to be a mother, and she gave up all her rights after he was born. "

" How could she do that?"

" ?"

" I mean, it is very difficult for a mother to give up her child. It must have been hard for her"

" For a caring woman like you, it would be. She wanted to abort but my parents intervened. "

"It must have been hard for you,"

"My parents raised him practically. "

" Did you not try to find a mother for him? "

" Would you like to be a mother to him?"

" Why can't you be serious?" she hit him on her shoulder playfully.

Just then, Daniel received an angry call from his son.