“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.