Tristan was not a person who liked indecisiveness. That was just not in his nature. Yes or no, left or right. When given options, he made sure to make up his mind quickly. Then, if there were bad consequences up ahead, he dealt with them. He was not one to waste his time dithering.
It was his humble opinion that if a lot of people took decisions and stuck to them, there would be fewer problems in the world. But when it came to Ariel Jones, Tristan found that he did not mind her indecisiveness.
"Can I have a bit more time to think on this?" She had asked. He had agreed without giving her any grief for it. Tristan had allowed her more time to think because he'd thought that he would be giving her some time to adjust.
After all, it was a foregone conclusion that she would say yes. But now as he stood in his penthouse, his violin in one hand, his bow held in the other, he could admit something to himself. He was ninety-nine percent sure that Ariel Jones would agree to marry him. Her chances if she said no were very bleak.
But even so, Tristan realized that he too had to adjust, to let the news sink in. He had asked someone to marry him. A woman that he barely knew. This was not some normal business deal where he just got to shake hands with his business partner and the project got on. They would be together for life, and life it would be, because Tristan was not for the headache that divorces caused.
No divorce meant no way out, that he would be tied to her for life. Despite it being his own belief that would result in that, it bothered Tristan. The only thing that he knew about her for sure was that she was desperate. Desperate enough to ask a stranger for money. Money which she clearly did not know how to use properly. Seeing that she had gone to a loan shark. Was she a gold digger? Or could it be that there was some other reason that had landed her in the trouble that she was in?
Mulling over that, Tristan began to play. The song was his own composition, something that he often played on repeat whenever he was having difficulty with an issue. As he played his music, Tristan let his thoughts come to him freely, not trying to push away any one of them. If Ariel Jones was indeed a gold digger, then Tristan could deal with that. He had known plenty of gold diggers in his life after all.
But the traitorous heart that he liked to pretend he did not have was having trouble accepting that Ariel could be that kind of person. She had made him food. Granted she was a chef and she ran her own food truck. Who knew maybe she just enjoyed cooking for random CEOs. But for Tristan that said something about her character. She had not needed to try and nourish him. But she had taken the time to do so.
People who were giving in such a way very rarely had the selfishness needed in order to become a successful gold digger. So which was it? Was the woman who would no doubt accept his proposal a professional gold digger, or was she just somebody who was really kind-hearted? His violin let out an awful screech, and it cut off all of Tristan's thoughts. Deciding that he was overthinking something that did not need his energy. He placed the musical instrument back into its case, and put it away.
Whether or not Ariel Jones was a gold digger was unimportant. What mattered was that come morning when they met up, she would agree to be his wife. And he would get to keep being the chief executive officer of Asher Industries. From then on, he would provide for her as husbands provided for their wives. They would live fulfilling yet separate lives. Other people would have been put off by the thought of such a future. But it was that, that finally helped Tristan settle down.
He had no time for romance...for love.
Having a companion would be enough. At least with Ariel, he could be certain that there would be no emotions involved. She was in it because she needed the money to pay off her loan and he was in it because he needed to keep the position that he had worked so hard for. They were clear cut and uncomplicated. And that was exactly what Tristan needed. His mind finally settled. He showered and went to bed.
In the morning just as he was about to head out the door. The calm that had followed him from sleep to waking finally dissipated when he realized something very important. When he had agreed to give Ariel time to think things over. The two of them had not discussed exactly when and where they would be meeting up again. Instead, they had just parted ways without saying anything.
He did not even have her phone number. Tristan did not even have five seconds to spare on the problem before his phone rang. His PA's name flashing on the screen.
"Hello," He answered, keeping all irritation out of his voice because Lucy was not one to just call for no reason. A point proven correct when she filled him in on what was going on.
"Boss, your cousin is here, and he has called a board meeting without inviting you," That was all that she said before Tristan hung up on her, not needing to be told anymore. Clearly Zachariah had gotten the heads up that he could possibly be the CEO in the near future, and he would now be using the information to try and rock the boat a bit. A headache already blooming between his eyes, Tristan pushed all thoughts of talking to Ariel to the side and instead headed into work.
He had to make sure that his cousin did not start unnecessary fires. Only after that was done would he try and make time to speak with Ariel and hear her answer.