“I’m not saying you shouldn’t expand, just not at that exact location. There are plenty of places in West Virginia, some of which would be more suitable for your needs.”
Ralph laughed loudly. “I’m so glad to know you know what is best for me. How have I managed all these years without your insight,” he said sarcastically.
Was Ralph always such an ass, or was this his way of saying he disapproved of him dating Kollette? Either way, Ethan wasn’t intimidated. Apparently neither was Ralph. He was going to need to change tactics if he was going to make any progress.
“Maybe you can tell me why you want the Potters land?”
“I’m not in the habit of explaining myself,” Ralph said.
“Nor am I. But maybe for Kollette, you will.” He hadn’t meant to bring her name into this, but she was a part of it, whether he wanted to admit it or not. “Did she tell you about this place?”
“She did.”
“I’m not talking about the land; I’m talking about Roy and Mabel. The people who won’t have a home if you move forward with this.”
“They will be able to buy any home they want. Maybe find a place that doesn’t snow so much.”
“Mr. Sommers, it’s not about what the cabin looks like, or what the weather does. Roy built that place for him and Mabel. Not had it built, but actually did it himself. That isn’t something you can replace.”
“I can have it moved to a new location,” he stated. “There’s always a way. You just have to look to find out what the person needs, and make it happen.”
“What they need is to be left alone. No one can understand or replicate what that place is like. You have to be there to experience it.”
“Are you suggesting that I go and stay with the Potters? Because I’m telling you right now, there is no way that will ever happen. I have a business to run. I couldn’t reach my daughter except for once. There is nothing there right now that appeals to me. However, I’m going to change that. I’ll have a cell tower built. Actual roads put in. And of course, a luxury lodge where people are waited on hand and foot, not cutting and hauling wood. Or cooking and doing dishes. That’s not a guest. Not a vacation. What type of place are they running?” he asked.
“You don’t get it. They aren’t running anything. The only thing this place is, is their home.”
Ralph seemed puzzled. “I know how Kollette ended up there, but what I don’t understand is how you did.”
“I told you, they’re my friends. I go and visit when I get the chance.”
“And you just so happened to show up when my daughter was there? I don’t believe in fate or coincidences. How long have you been stalking my daughter?”
“What?” Ethan said, totally in shock. “I’m not stalking Kollette. I had no idea she was going to be there,” he defended himself. Ethan sure as hell didn’t like being accused of being some creep. He got why Ralph might think such a thing after the incident with the manager John, but that was just a misunderstanding.
“Then how can you explain the fact you continue to show up where she is? The Potters. You came to Miami. And went to Hawaii.”
“As I said, the Potters was unexpected. Yes, I came here looking for her and didn’t handle it the way I should have. There were things she and I needed to talk about. And that is what we did in Hawaii. I don’t believe you need any further information than that.”
“I have one more question. Do you love her?” he asked.
Ethan wasn’t prepared to answer that. Not to Ralph. Not to Kollette. Not even to himself. Things were moving so quickly with them. Too fast actually. It was too late to slow things down, but he wasn’t ready to keep moving at this speed either. So he answered Ralph with the only honest answer he could give. “She means a lot to me. That’s why I’m here. I’m not the only one who cares about the Potters. Kollette does as well. If they lose that place, it will hurt Kollette too. I don’t want to see that happen. There’s no need for it to.”
Ralph asked, “Does she know that you’re here with me?”
Fuck!
“No. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“So you’re willing to lie to my daughter. That’s not very comforting,” he stated.
“I plan on telling her. But I didn’t want her here when we spoke.”
“Why. Did you plan on threatening me?”
Ethan chuckled. “I’m not in that line of work. But I did want you to know, if you decide to move forward with this, it won’t be a fight with the Potters.”
“You’re willing to go head to head with me over a piece of land?”
“No. For a home. And whether you believe it or not, for your daughter’s happiness as well,” he stated firmly.
“I am not prepared to make any promises. But I will, however, review my business plan. There may or may not be any changes made. That’s all I’m will to do,” Ralph announced.
He didn’t really expect Ralph to walk away so easily. But Ethan could see by his expression, something he’d said had opened his eyes. The only problem was Ethan couldn’t tell if it helped or hurt the Potters.
You’re definitely the tyrant your daughter said you are. Hopefully you love her more than you love money.
Ethan went to get up and Ralph added, “Sit. Since you’re here, we might as well eat and talk business.”
“What business is left to discuss?” Ethan asked.
“The steel business,” Ralph said.
He wasn’t in the mood to gain Ralph as a new client, then again, he might not ever get this opportunity again. Ethan could do the ground work, and hopefully this time, Seth wouldn’t screw it up.
Hell, who am I kidding? I’m the one fucking this one up.
Kollette thought for sure she’d have heard from Ethan by now. But then again, the cell service sucked at the Potters. If she could give them anything, it would be a land line phone so they never would be out of touch again.
She laughed knowing that was something they could’ve done all along if they had wanted. The Potters like living they way they do. Part of Kollette wished she could. It was okay for vacations, but everyday living, that was a different story. She liked being connected to the world. Right now, she’d like to be connected to Ethan.
Kollette could sit there and wish and want all she wanted, but it wasn’t going to make it happen. The sun had already set and it wouldn’t be long before she called it a night. Her bed was going to feel cold, lonely, and so very empty without his warm body cuddled up next to hers.
It was ridiculous that she missed him. They only spent one night together. One amazing, mind-blowing night. What she missed most of all was how she felt when he was close by. She was struggling to find the word to describe it. Safe, well she didn’t feel unsafe before, so that wasn’t it. She was confident, and independent, and didn’t need taking care of. But somehow all the things that she was, were enhanced by his presence. As though she was even more with him, than without.
Kollette wondered if she had the same affect on him. She knew the chemistry was there, but was she bringing something to his life as well? No relationship on any level, should be one-sided. It was too soon to even consider having this conversation with him too. Things had progressed so quickly, with a lot of encouragement from her. But they couldn’t keep going at this pace. If so, they’d be married with a bunch of children by next month.
She couldn’t even believe that thought had crossed her mind. Marriage? Children? Those things would only get in her way as she worked on her career. Career? That was almost as funny as the other two. The moment she walked away from the hotel managers job, her career was over. She hadn’t given her father any notice. How unprofessional could she get? And her grounds for quitting were based off personal feelings.
Kollette looked at the clock. There was an eight hour time difference from Hawaii to Miami. Calling her father now to apologize was out of the question. He might appreciate it more if he wasn’t wakened from a dead sleep for it.
If
she didn’t get up, she’d find herself asleep on this rocker. It would be an awesome way to see the sunrise, but her body wouldn’t enjoy the position. With little sleep last night, she might as well make up for it tonight. Not like there’s anything else to do.
Dragging herself from the balcony, she went into her room and slipped out of her clothes. She dropped a lavender and lilac mist ball at the bottom of the shower which she knew would sooth her aching muscles and help her relax. As the hot steam filled the shower, she leaned back against the shower wall. Her mind had been racing all day, worried about how the Potters were taking the news that Ethan was delivering. She wished she’d have gone with him. This wasn’t going to be easy on him and she wanted to be there to support him. It was too late. She let him leave, and now all she could do was wait.
Kollette hated waiting. It made her feel so useless and that’s the last thing she was. She might not have the funds to go up against her father and block this purchase, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have something to offer. And it doesn’t mean I have to stop trying.
She knew what she needed to do. Tomorrow she had to call her father, ask to see him, and try one more time. And if that didn’t work, then she would need to keep trying. Fighting her father wasn’t the answer. Showing him what the Potters place meant to her, was.
So many things had changed when her step-mother died. She noticed it in Connor, because he walked away from the job he supposedly loved. But her father’s changes weren’t so obvious. She just thought it was him wanting to build the business. But now she knew it was his way of burying what he didn’t want to feel. Loneliness. She knew that her father loved her step-mother, but only now was she realizing just how much. Her passing had left such a void in his life. Kollette wished she could go back in time and find a way to show him he wasn’t alone. The fact was, no matter what she had said or did, loss… grieving, were things you had to do alone.
She turned off the water, grabbed a bath sheet and wrapped it around her. Kollette knew how to save the Potters land. Why hadn’t she thought of it before? She knew it would work. And not just work, but help everyone.
Kollette heard her phone chime. She rushed from the bathroom, but it was too late. She missed the call. When she saw the caller ID her heart skipped a beat. Ethan. She was glad she wasn’t going to be without hearing from him. Instantly she tried calling him back, but it went directly to voice mail.
Damn it.
She really wanted to hear his voice. She hit re-dial and once again, voicemail. Her initial excitement was replaced by disappointment. If she had to, she’d duct tape it to her so she didn’t miss another one of his calls.
Kollette giggled thinking how corny that sounded. She was a grown ass mature woman who was so damn smitten that it was almost like a school girl. Maybe it was a good thing he wasn’t there. If last night was any indication of how he made her lose control, she could only imagine what tonight would be like.
I know it won’t involve any sleep.
She was just about to remove the bath sheet, when she heard a knock on her door. Kollette hadn’t ordered room service, but it was possible someone from the hotel had an issue and they knew who she was.
I’m his daughter, but I don’t work for him anymore.
She already had to redirect several questions, some to human resources, others to the manager. None were her concern, or business. That didn’t stop them from seeking her out. There was no way she could answer the door dressed like this. Of course they knew she was in, so ignoring them wasn’t an option either.
Kollette walked up to the door and said, “Sorry, I can’t see you right now. Please come back tomorrow.”
“But the ice cream will have melted by then.”
Ethan?
Quickly she unlocked the door and opened it. “What are you doing here? I thought you were at the Potters?”
His eyes traveled from her head to her toes. “We can talk about that later. You know you shouldn’t answer the door dressed or better yet, undressed, like that.” He stepped inside and kicked the door closed behind him. “You might distract the person and he might totally forget what he came here to say.”
Never breaking eye contract, she reached up, grabbed the corner of the bath sheet, tugged it free, and let it drop to the floor. “Is this better,” she asked
Kollette saw his jaw tense, but he didn’t step forward. “What about the ice cream?” he said raising the bag.
“I’m more of a cake person,” she said. Stepping forward she asked seductively, “What’s your favorite dessert?”
He pulled her into his embrace and said, “You.”
She wanted to hear about the Potters, as it was important to her. But they could talk in an hour or two. Right now she wanted to show him he could make her melt faster than that ice cream.
10
Jetlag two days in a row was tough, and the time difference wasn’t helping. Hawaii, to Miami and then back again took a toll on a person’s sleep pattern. Normally he would’ve stayed in Miami a night before boarding the flight back, but after his meeting with Ralph yesterday, he was in a rush to talk to Kollette.
Yet there wasn’t much talking that happened last night, but this morning was going to be a different story. While she slept, he went down to the restaurant and had breakfast made up special for them. There was a benefit to dating the owner’s daughter. Once they knew who it was for, it didn’t matter if it was on the menu or not.
As he opened the door to her room, he saw her sitting up in the bed. “I was wondering where you went off to.”
“Thought breakfast in bed sounded like a good way to start the day,” he said, carrying the tray over to her.
“You do know that we have room service.”
“It’s not the same if they bring it to you,” he said. When he placed the tray on her lap and lifted the cover she gasped.
“Ethan, what is this?”
“Steak and eggs.”
“For an army. There’s no way I can eat all this,” she said.
He slipped back in the bed besides her. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that, because it looks delicious.”
She laughed. “Wait. Are you sure this is my breakfast, because I vaguely remember you saying this was your favorite.”
Ethan lifted the cover on the small bowl on the side. “I got you yours too.”
There was a bowl of mixed fresh berries. She shot him a look. “I get to pick which is mine right?”
“You wouldn’t?”
Picking up the fork and knife she cut into the perfectly cooked T-bone steak and took a bite. “Oh, this is…soooo…goooood.” Then scooped up some of the eggs. “Oh, cooked perfectly. No shells.”
Ethan reached over and grabbed a strawberry and popped it in his mouth. “And this is…fruit,” he said flatly.
Kollette cut another piece of steak but this time she held the fork in front of his mouth. He took a bite. “How is that?”
“Now that is breakfast.” He picked up another strawberry and held it to her mouth. She took a bite. “How is that?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Healthy,” she said and chuckled. “I think after last night, I need a bit more. Feel like sharing that steak?”
“What would you say if I told you I already ate?”
“I’m not sure I’d believe you. Did you really eat?”
He nodded. “Not steak and eggs, but I was up early. Coffee wasn’t cutting it.”
She smiled, “So this is all mine.”
“I thought you said you couldn’t eat all that?” he asked.
Kollette cut more steak. “I changed my mind.”
She moaned as she ate another bite. Although he’d like to wait until after she finished eating, there was no time like the present to discuss what he really did yesterday.
“What do you say you and I talk?” he asked.
“Good. I’d love to hear how the Potters took the news. And then I can tell you about what I thought I’d try too. I’m not g
iving up on my father just yet. He’s a good man. I know I can reach him.”
“I hope so,” he said. Because I had no luck.
“So what did they say?”
He wasn’t sure how this was going to go. Actually he couldn’t picture it going well. Why would it? She was going to think he lied to her.
“I never made it to the Potters. I made a detour instead.”
“What do you mean? They still don’t know? Ethan, what if my father contacts them first?”
“He won’t. That’s where I went. I was in Miami.”
She put the fork down and looked as though she was trying to process what he was telling her. When she looked at him she said, “A plane doesn’t go off course like that Ethan. Not unless the pilot was told to. Did you ever have the intention of going to the Potters, or was meeting with my father always the plan?”
“Yes.” He saw the hurt in her eyes. There was no avoiding it. He wished he was able to say that his plan had worked. But that was still undetermined. “I’m sorry. I know if I told you, that you’d want to come.”
Hurt turned to anger. “Of course I would. He’s my father.”
“Exactly. And you told me everything you said to him before. Sometimes you can’t hear the people who are closest to you. I needed to see if he’d listen to me.”
“Why would he? He doesn’t know you. Oh right, that’s the point. A stranger coming off the street can actually get in to see my father, when people on his staff have to make an appointment.”
“I actually think he saw me because of you,” Ethan stated.
“That makes no sense. I never spoke to him about you.”
“No. I guess I need to back up a bit. This wasn’t my first trip to Miami. I went there looking for you. John, the new manager informed me you weren’t with the company any longer.”
“You went to find me? Why?” she asked.
“The same reason why I came to Hawaii. I wanted to apologize. I had been wrong for speaking to you like that at the cabin.”
“Yes. And I remember how we made up. But that’s not the point. What does you speaking to John have to do with my father?”
The Billionaire's Deception (The Blank Check Series Book 5) Page 12
