Chapter 70 - Big Change!

Mike stared at Caroline with disbelief in his eyes. He has the plan to tell her about his s.e.x.u.a.l orientation in the later part, but not now, it's too soon, their relationship is too fragile. "H-how did you k-know?" he stammered, his heart hammering in his chest.

Caroline shrugged her shoulders. "My dear sister Catherine told me about you, that was last year when she and I are still in good terms," she explained.

Mike breathed deeply, now he was feeling fearful that this one aspect of his life may stop Caroline from seeing him as a desirable guy to date and accept as a boyfriend. "I have to be honest with you Caroline...yeah...I'm bis.e.x.u.a.l but...that was my early days. I was confused about what is really my s.e.x.u.a.l orientation. I kind of attracted to both s.e.xes. I have past relationsh.i.p.s with several men, but I can't find the happiness that I'm looking for in them so I stop involving myself with men. Until I finally meet your sister. Catherine proved to me that I find much joy liking women compared to men. Unfortunately, she's already taken by my brother. When I meet you, my heart beats again. I have no relationsh.i.p.s with men for the last two years now. Don't worry I'm clean...I don't have Aids or HIV...based on my medical records last year..." he elaborated. They both should come clean to each other, if somehow their relationship goes deeper, all their kinks had been ironed out from the very start.

Caroline stared at Mike's eyes without blinking. In her mind she was thinking that they both have issues...but they were past issues that don't need to affect their present and future.

"I hope you won't judge me for my past, Car," he said earnestly wanting to hear from her that his being a bis.e.x.u.a.l won't affect their friendship.

Caroline smiled. "Hey... don't be too hard on yourself. Don't worry nothing has changed. If you accepted my dark past then why can't I do the same? We're not saints, we're just humans and some things are out of our control. We're just victims of destiny's cruel game. We can always change for the better. Unless, destiny will play a cruel game on us again, hopefully not anymore," she said wanting to let him know that she didn't condemn his bis.e.x.u.a.lity.

To wipe the worry and sadness in his eyes, she rubbed his back and smiled at him sweetly. She initially wanted to play with his emotion, but she finds herself melting slowly towards him. No! She won't hurt him. She made up her mind she won't deceive him. His honesty and his loving gesture towards her won her over.

Mike's heart was palpitating in joy, he can't believe that she finally reached out to him and now touching him on her own accord, it's the first time she openly touches him.

"Mike, let's go back to the topic of that 10-hectare land that was for sale, I am interested to invest...I mean I want to buy that land," she faltered halfway. "B-but I can only afford the land, I can no longer afford to erect a building and develop that land into a beach resort, I'm short of money," she said. She was thinking that letting the money sink in the bank is a waste of time. If she can buy the land, she can sell it for a much higher price five years from now.

Mike stared at her. "Are you sure you want to buy that land?" he asked again.

"Yes," she answered quickly.

"Okay. I can provide the funding for the buildings and structure, we can erect the beach resort after we buy the land. Let's start with a five-story building first and see if the business will pick up. If the business boomed, then we can always erect another building. The beach resorts will be a corporation between you and I. You provide the land and I will provide the structures including the expenses related to the resort's amenities. There will be a three years grace period, any net profits from the business will be used to improve the resort's amenities. Then after the grace period, we will begin splitting the net profit every month," he explained to her carefully the mechanics of the partnersh.i.p.s.

Caroline's eyes sparkled. The thoughts of owning a ten-hectare land excite her. "That is a brilliant idea! But what about the land?" she asked.

"Of course, the title and ownership of the land are yours. It will be under your name. We will just be partners in the beach resort business," he said.

"I love your vision! I mean your business proposal, Mike!" she beamed.

Mike smiled, loving the way how her eyes light up in excitement. If this business venture can make her happy then he will make sure it will become a huge success, because he loves seeing her happy. If she's happy, he's happy too.

"So, if you want to buy the land, you should see it with your own eyes," he said.

Caroline raised her brows. "What do you mean?"

"You should come with me and inspect the land itself before you go ahead with your decision to buy it."

"Ah, okay..."

"Just inform me if you finally decided to buy the land so that we can schedule a flight going to Mindanao to inspect the land personally. I have to remind you that if you are serious about buying it, we should hurry because there may be lots of buyers interested to buy that piece of land," he reminded her.

Caroline was silent for a moment contemplating...

"Okay fine. Schedule a flight tomorrow afternoon. I want to arrive there by tomorrow evening, then tour around the land the next day and met the landowner by afternoon. I need to buy it!" she said with fierce determination in her eyes.

"Yes Boss!" he joked. Mike was amazed by the intensity of her desire to own the land. Right now, he can liken her mood to that of a child acquiring her first mega-expensive toy for the first time.

Mike picked up his phone from the center table, he logs in into his favorite booking flight app and scheduled a flight for two for Mindanao tomorrow afternoon and paid with his debit card. After his transaction was processed, he showed her the successful transaction. "Here... we already got the confirmation for our flight tomorrow," showing her the screen of his phone.

Caroline's eyes widened. "That was fast!" she raves.

"When you have money, you can move mountains, sweetie," Mike informed her softly.

"Thank you! How much I have to pay you for my plane ticket?" she asked.

Mike was busy browsing on his phone. "Nah. No need to pay me, my treat," he answered without looking at her.

A few minutes later.

Mike showed him the website of the hotel that they were going to stay in Mindanao. The GreenView Hotel is the nearest hotel located near the land that they were planning to buy.

"I already booked us a two days stay in that hotel," he said.

Caroline raised a brow. "Really-?"

"Yes. Don't worry, I booked two separate suites for us," he smiled at her.

Caroline looked at him for a few seconds, she is beginning to see Mike in a different light, his readiness to help her touches her heart.

"Thank you for your help," she whispered.

"Don't mention it, we're business partners after all! Your success is my success too, so, I will support you," he assured her. "Besides this is your first time investing... so I'm more than ready to lend you my expertise and guide you every step of the way." He was about to pinch her nose fondly but go against it at the last minute.

Caroline continues blasting him with her sweet smile, grateful for his never-ending help and support.

That night ended well for both Mike and Caroline, their relationship evolved to a much higher level. From now on they will become business partners.

For Mike, the big change in their relationship is exciting and challenging, more importantly, the wind of change is favorable on his part.