Daniel cleared his throat and stood up from the wall. “I nearly did. I will be gone by tomorrow afternoon.”
Akino gave him a knowing nod.
They both knew Akino had seen him with Harper over the past few days, and it was obvious he was standing here, watching her like a fucking stalker.
“The team’s over here,” he said, throwing his thumb over his shoulder. “If you want to say a quick hello, then get back to other things.”
Other things.
Like illegally listening in on a US senator?
Like interrogating his staff to find out who was liable to be blackmailed into stealing a document that could cost them over a billion dollars?
Like trying to fix this fuck up so he didn’t have to marry a woman he didn’t like, let alone love?
Like fighting every instinct in his body to slam his whisky down and punch the man who had his hands on Harper's hips? Fucker was grinning at her like she was his.
She fucking wasn’t.
Harper was...
Not his. She couldn’t be.
“Sure,” he said instead.
“You want something different?” Akino asked, staring at his now empty glass.
“Yeah, why not. A double Mai Tai,” he said nodding, as they stepped up to the group of off-duty Dufort staff. “Evening, folks.”
They greeted him with a mix of Mr. Dufort, hello, sir, and shy smiles from the newer team members.
“You’ve put on a great event. Well done,” he said, glancing around—everywhere but the few inches of space Harper took up. “Especially the sunset—that was a nice touch.”
Everyone laughed appropriately at his shit joke, and he took the drink from Akino, who had rejoined them.
“It’s been great having you back in Hawaii, sir. Hopefully, we’ll see you back later in the year for the media launch of Ms. Kane’s show.”
For the first time in Daniel’s life, he had no idea what his life would look like in a few months.
From the day he’d been born, or at least from the time he could remember, he’d known he was going to college, knew he was getting into Harvard. Knew he would be the chief executive officer of the Dufort Dynasty. He knew his life path and what was expected of him.
Unlike some kids who grew up resenting it, or rebelling against it, Daniel felt it was his destiny. He loved what he did. He was proud of what his father had created, and he felt a strong sense of responsibility to ensure his family and all the employees of Dufort Hotels continued to thrive under his leadership.
And two years into it, they were.
The numbers were up and, ironically, their debt decreasing. Except for the little issue of extortion they were dealing with right now. If he didn’t marry Nadia, Dufort would pay out an enormous amount of money.
It would derail the entire organization, so it just wasn’t an option.
Daniel nodded and answered questions from his team, who were excited to have him there with them. They took photos and posted them on their social media channels.
There were a few flirty glances, but he deflected them. Daniel had a strict approach to anybody in his company who thought they could get ahead by sleeping with the boss or take advantage of junior staff. In fact, when he’d become CEO, he’d implemented a new company policy which clearly stated there were to be no relationships between staff. Whether for fifteen minutes or longer.
In other words, no fucking your colleagues.
With Harper only fifty feet away, the last thing he wanted her to see was some young Hawaiian employee of his flirting with him.
Holding her in his arms last night had felt different. When he’d first met Harper, it had been pure lust, and yes, she’d been a challenge. Men loved a conquest and Daniel was an alpha. Her disinterest in him, along with her stunning beauty, had been an aphrodisiac. Then, when they’d begun talking and spending time together, something had shifted.