Chapter 72 Expensive gifts
Timothy
Hannah was avoiding me.
That was the conclusion my mind kept circling back to, no matter how many times I tried to frame it differently.
Avoiding.
Deliberate. Calculated. Intentional.
For the past few days, she’d been a ghost in my own house. Doors closed. Meals upstairs. Momo appearing in the hallway like a substitute ambassador while she remained safely out of sight. The timing was almost impressive; she emerged only when I was either in meetings or already out.
We had been fine.
Better than fine.
The awards ceremony. The car ride. Midnight cereal. Breakfast the next morning.
There had been no argument. No harsh words. No misstep I could pinpoint.
So what changed?
I stared at the file open on my desk without seeing a single word.
What had I done?
Had I said something? Not said something? Missed something?
My jaw tightened.
It irritated me more than I cared to admit, not just the avoidance itself, but the fact that I didn’t understand it. I prided myself on reading people accurately. On anticipating shifts before they happened.
With Hannah, I was constantly two steps behind.
“Timothy.”
Rowan’s voice cut through my thoughts.
My head snapped up.
I realized, vaguely, that Josie and two department heads were standing in front of my desk, mid-briefing. I cleared my throat and straightened in my chair.
“Apologies,” I said coolly. “Continue.”
One of the managers hesitated before sliding a document forward. “As outlined here, the third-quarter projections….”
I skimmed quickly, forcing focus.
Right. Numbers. Percentages. Expansion logistics.
Ground yourself.
I tapped the page. “Adjust the timeline. If we accelerate this by two weeks, we pressure them before they’re fully positioned.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, nodding.
I turned to the other. “And you, tighten compliance review. I don’t want a single loose thread. Understood?”
“Understood.”
They left efficiently, the door clicking shut behind them.
I leaned back slightly. “What’s the update?,” I said to Josie.
She stepped forward, tablet in hand. “Our rival’s media announcement has gained traction, but investor confidence in us remains stable. There’s speculation about their new partnership.”
“With the director,” Rowan added, finally looking up from his phone. “It’s almost confirmed.”
I frowned. “Source?”
Rowan lifted a shoulder. “Reliable.”
Josie nodded. “We’re monitoring closely.”
I exhaled slowly. “Good. Let them think they’re ahead.”
In truth, the news didn’t alarm me. It felt like we were gradually funneling them into a corner of their own making. Desperation leads to mistakes.
I checked my schedule. “Reschedule Thursday’s lunch. Move the call with legal to this afternoon. And tell finance I want revised projections before end of day.”
“Yes, Mr. Blackwood,” Josie said smoothly before exiting.
The office quieted.
I rubbed my forehead.
Rowan studied me. “You look like hell.”
“Thank you.”
He smirked. “So. What’s actually wrong?”
I hesitated, then muttered, “Hannah is avoiding me.”
That got his attention.
He leaned forward slightly. “Avoiding how?”
“She barely leaves her room. Eats upstairs. Times her schedule so we don’t cross paths.”
Rowan whistled under his breath. “Ouch.”
I scowled. “We were fine. More than fine. Then suddenly, this.”
“Well, what did you do?”
“That’s the point,” I snapped. “I don’t know.”
He watched me carefully. “Last time you spoke?”
“Awards night. Breakfast the next morning. Everything was normal.”
“And then?”
“And then nothing. It just… shifted.”
Rowan’s lips twitched. “Maybe she realized she’s in love with me. Decided I’m the superior option.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fuck off.”
He grinned wider. “You never know.”
“Highly unlikely.”
Rowan leaned back, folding his arms. “Okay, serious suggestion.”
I waited.
“Buy her something.”
I blinked. “Something?”
“An expensive something. Women like gifts.”
I gave him a look.
“What?” he said defensively. “They do.”
“I’m not trying to bribe her.”
“It’s not a bribe. It’s… reassurance. They like nice pricey things.”
“That makes no sense.”
Rowan shrugged. “You’re overthinking it. Grand gesture. Problem solved.”
I leaned back in my chair, considering.
Hannah wasn’t materialistic. If anything, she’d roll her eyes at extravagance.
But maybe Rowan was right about one thing, gesture mattered.
Before I could respond, Rowan glanced at his phone, expression shifting subtly.
“I’ve got to meet someone,” he said, standing abruptly.
I watched him. “Now?”
“Yeah. Quick thing.”
He moved toward the door.
“Rowan.”
He paused.
“If you need help,” I said evenly, “with anything…you know I’m here. Right?”
For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes.
Tight. Drawn.
Then it vanished beneath his usual grin.
“Yeah, man,” he said lightly. “Don’t get soft on me now.”
He gave a lazy finger salute and slipped out.
The door closed.
Silence settled heavily in the office.
I stared at it longer than necessary.
Rowan was off.
The tension. The phone calls. The sudden exits.
And Hannah.
Two separate problems.
Or maybe not separate at all.
I exhaled slowly and leaned back in my chair.
No. Focus.
Hannah first.
If she was pulling away, I needed to understand why. If it was something I’d done, I needed to fix it. Directly. Not through avoidance or pride.
Rowan’s suggestion replayed in my mind.
A gift.
Not extravagant.
Thoughtful.
Something that showed I was paying attention.
I reached for my phone, already making mental notes.
If Hannah thought she could retreat without explanation, she was mistaken.
I intended to close this distance.
One way or another.