Club Endless Fantasy

“Yes sir!” She smiled and reached for them. “Anything else?”

“No.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’m ready to check out.”

I had been watching the engraving shop out of the corner of my eye since I walked up to the kiosk. A couple of customers had walked in and out, but they were of little interest to me. It was the woman that normally worked the counter I wanted to see, even if all I got was a brief glimpse. It was why I came to that side of the mall to begin with, even when I should have avoided it entirely. I paid for my purchases, took my bag from the girl at the kiosk, and when I looked back towards the engraving shop—I saw the most beautiful smile in the entire world.

Abigail…

Abigail’s smile wasn’t for me, but for a moment, I lived vicariously through the customer that she greeted as they walked into the engraving shop. They didn’t know how lucky they were to see it—but I did. I remembered every single one of her smiles that were meant for me—from the first one that she gave me when she realized I was staring at her in our Microeconomics class to the broken one she forced with tears running down her face when we promised that we would always be friends. We both knew it was a lie, but it made us feel better at the time.

It would be too painful to say hello—so I’ll settle for a smile that is meant for someone else.

“If you’re thinking about getting something engraved, I believe their holiday deal starts tomorrow...” The teenage girl at the kiosk snapped me out of my momentary trance.

“Thanks.” I nodded and walked towards the exit.

That’s the last place I would go if I did want something engraved…

Abigail was the only woman I had ever loved, but we had already shared all our moments together. She had a wedding band on her left hand and two kids waiting at home. That was the life she always wanted, but I wasn’t the man who gave it to her. I was the foolish kid that thought we were too young to get married and start a family. I wanted to have a stable job and the means to provide for my family before I had one. Abigail took my hesitation as a sign that I wasn’t committed to our relationship and decided to end it.

Now I have the means—and nobody to share it with.

I didn’t truly understand what masochistic tendency forced me to always walk to the side of the mall, where Abigail worked every time I was there. It never made me feel any better about losing her, and it wasn’t like there was an option to rekindle what we had. Maybe I just liked to remind myself that my life would never be perfect, no matter how much money I made. It had been ten years since our relationship ended, and while I had tried dating—the spark just wasn’t there. Ironic, considering that the majority of Alexander Software’s meteoric rise to the top of the market was due to several successful dating apps.

At least I’ve been able to help other people find love—even if I blew my chance before I realized it was the only one I was going to get.

“Here you go.” I put Samantha’s order on her desk. “I’m sorry it took so long.”

“You’re the boss.” She looked up at me and laughed. “Nobody is going to write you up for taking a long lunch.”

“I guess I need to make a note in my own file then.” I chuckled under my breath and walked into my office.

I always tried not to let my disappointments and failures impact anyone else. I could smile, laugh, and pretend that I didn’t have a care in the world while the scars of the past tried to open fresh wounds on my heart. It wasn’t their fault I decided to walk to that side of the mall. I knew what I was doing to myself before I ever saw Abigail’s smile. Maybe it just helped to remember that I wasn’t completely dead inside. Either way, there was work that needed to be done—and it was always a good distraction from the empty house waiting for me at the end of the day.

“Mr. Alexander.” Samantha pushed my door open. “Mr. Benson is ready for the conference call.”

“Thank you.” I nodded. “Put him through.”

Bryant Benson ran an investment firm in a town named Carson Cove. My company had developed two apps for him, and I was hoping that the call was going to lead to a third. Unfortunately, we weren’t the only company vying for the chance. A local company Sinn Technology would no doubt be trying to get that contract as well. Now that they were trying to expand in the app development market. But I’m not sure if they have the infrastructure to service a company as big as Benson Enterprises quite yet. Alexander Software already had an established business relationship with Benson Enterprises, and if I had to cut into my profits a little bit to maintain it, I would.

“Bryant! How are things going in Carson Cove?” I hit the button on my phone to accept his call.

“You must not watch the news.” He chuckled.

“I was being polite.” I stifled my laugh. “At least you’re not right in the middle of the latest scandal, right?”

“A little closer than I’d like to admit…” He sighed. “How are things in the city?”

“Cold.” I leaned back in my chair. “But all the Christmas lights make up for it.”

“Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to visit my daughter and see them before the holiday season is over…” Bryant’s voice trailed off for a moment, and I heard what sounded like typing. “I’m forwarding you the details for the new app I need developed. Let me know what you think.”

“Just a second.” I hit a button to load my email. “Okay, it just came through.”

“It’s basically a way for new investors to see what we offer and have more control over their investments.” He shifted in his chair, and it sounded like he was leaning closer to his speaker. “It will let me bring in a lot of new investors without hiring more account managers.”

Yeah, he probably doesn’t want anyone in the office to hear that…

“Ah, smart.” I chuckled and started looking through the information he sent me. “Yeah, this should be doable. Can you give my team a couple of weeks to put together a proposal?”