“I don’t know...” Nicholas went back to being lost in his thoughts as he continued to watch the investors pace around the store.
After a few minutes had passed, the group walked up to Nicholas as a whole, the female investor leading the pack. “Nicholas Kerstman, we’d like to make you a deal.”
“I’m listening,” Nicholas told her, focusing his attention completely on her.
“We’ll give you a million dollars. All cash. By tomorrow afternoon,” she told him. She held out her hand and someone quickly placed an ink pen and a sheet of stapled papers into her palm. “We’ll own 75% of the business. As requested, your parents can share ownership of the remaining 25%. The million dollars we’re offering you will essentially be buying you out.”
Nicholas nodded, even as his stomach began to twist and turn.
“Then all you’ll need to do is sign right here. Of course, we’ll take care of the future legalities with your office.” The female investor handed Nicholas the pen and the sheets of paper, and then she turned towards Luke. “And thank you so much for your assistance with this, Luke. It’s been lovely working with the both of you.”
“It was no problem at all, ma’am,” Luke replied with a polite smile. “Thank you for considering us for your business’ portfolio.”
Luke and the rest of the investors continued to exchange pleasantries, but Nicholas couldn’t hear a word that anyone was saying.
It felt like there was water rushing straight into his ears.
His world was spinning in circles and his fingers shook while holding onto the pen.
He needed to sign the papers.
He knew that he needed to sign the papers.
He’d be an absolute idiot to pass up a million dollars being transferred to his business’ account by Christmas Day. That was the kind of money that Nicholas had been dreaming about, enough money to start expanding Kerstman Enterprises, enough money to make the kind of name for himself in New York that could last for generations.
But there was something holding him back.
Or rather, someone holding him back.
And Nicholas knew that it was the woman who he’d left sleeping in her apartment, flour caked all over her sweater. The same woman whose smile made his heart come alive, beating faster in her presence, his whole world seeming to get brighter the longer he stayed by her side. The woman who kissed like heaven.
Nicholas also knew that if he signed these papers, if he signed over the rights to Christmas Wishes, there was a possibility that Molly Carmichael would never forgive him.
There was a possibility that Molly Carmichael would be out of his life for good.
Nicholas’ mind tried to handle the situation rationally and logically. Wouldn’t Nicholas be alright without Molly in his life? He’d lived this long without knowing her, so of course, he’d be able to continue on as if she never existed.
Maybe as soon as he went back to New York, he’d go right back to his life of sushi, salad and spending nights at home in his condo and having cordial conversations with the guard every now and then.
Maybe he’d even stop thinking about Molly Carmichael as soon as his plane touched down at LaGuardia.
And even though none of it felt like the truth, the thought of being alright without Molly Carmichael in his life made Nicholas’ stomach settle down. His thoughts calmed from their incessant swirling, turning his mind into something still hazy but much more manageable. Logic and business won out.
“Mr. Kerstman? Are you going to sign the papers?” The female investor asked. “Is something wrong with the pen? We can get you a new one if you need.”
“No, everything's fine. Everything is fine,” Nicholas said with a false smile and he signed the papers, skimming the fine print before he pushed th
em back towards the investors. “Thank you for your time today. We’ll be sure to send over any information you may need in the future, as soon as the dust settles.”
“Can’t wait to see you again, Mr. Kerstman,” the female investor said with a smile. “We’ll have your money ready for you soon.”
As she began to leave out of the shop with the rest of the investors following behind her, Nicholas could feel what he imagined to be a hole opening up inside his chest. A big, black, light-sucking hole.
Guilt hadn’t been a common feeling in Nicholas’ life thus far, but this time the sensation felt like it was threatening to eat Nicholas alive.
How could he ever face Molly after what he’d done?
“Yes! A million dollars in the bag. How should we celebrate, sir?” Luke danced around the room, excitement coming off him at the success. “Please tell me they have a sushi bar somewhere around here. We need to celebrate!”