I met Henry the next afternoon at a quiet café with exposed brick walls and the smell of fresh espresso in the air. He was already there, nursing a black coffee, looking more composed than in our last encounter.
He stood as I approached, offering a handshake that I accepted briefly.
"Thank you for coming," he greeted. "I know our previous meetings haven't been ideal, and I sincerely apologise for that."
"Tell me why I'm even here, listening to what you have to say when I remember vividly you telling me I should forget about it," I said, crossing my arms.
"That's because we would agree on one thing," Henry replied, meeting my gaze steadily.
"What's that?"
"Me being a complete jerk."
Despite myself, I chuckled. "Well, at least you're self-aware."
"I truly want to make amends and discuss potential business synergies," he continued. "I was hoping we could start fresh."
