Dylan:smart decision.
Rafe:speaking of letting go, have you fired the captain yet?
Rowan:of course not.
Dylan:I have to go. Call if you want to talk.
Rowan:same goes
Rafe:don’t worry, Ro, it will all work out.
I went in search of Andrew and found him on the sundeck, typing away on his laptop. There was no one else up here, save the captain in the wheelhouse, so I sat down on the opposite lounger.
“I won’t be needing you to bring me my tea at eight this evening.”
Andrew took off his sunglasses and rested them on his head.
“What brought about this change?” He looked around the deck. “Five minutes ago, you wanted me to kiss you,” he whispered angrily.
“Dylan reminded me that if we get caught, a lot could be ruined. You would be thrown into the public realm, your life, your family and friends dissected by the tabloid press. And I’d be painted as the wealthy arsehole who takes advantage of his employees. I don’t want to place you in the eye of such a hurricane. The international tabloids are vicious and will stop at nothing. I can’t put you at risk like that.”
“You didn’t seem concerned this weekend, out in public. At restaurants, and bars. Holding hands.”
“It’s a tiny island, and I was wearing a hat and sunglasses when we were out, so I doubt anyone recognized me. Well, I noticed a few people paying attention, but I didn’t see any cameras. I have a pretty good radar for that sort of thing. And most of our time was spent at the hotel. But on board, with crew everywhere…” I paused. “I won’t take the chance that one of them or my guests might see something. And there’s another reason, one that I have haven’t shared…”
“What?” Andrew asked.
“If I don’t finalize that deal with Owen in the coming weeks, I’ll be terminated as CEO and lose my shares. The company means... It’s my father’s legacy and now mine to pass on. I’ve put so much of my blood and sweat into it that I just can’t let my uncle and the board take it away from me. So given all this, I’m placing you back on chief stew duties. Kayla will fill my PA position. You’ll retain your adjusted salary.”
Andrew nodded. “Anything else, Rowan?” he replied calmly.
“No. Wait, yes. At the end of March, when your contract is over and before you go home, we could spend a week or two together. When you’re officially off the clock.”
“As soon as I’m done working here, I’m heading back to the US. This past weekend was amazing, but I guess we were fooling ourselves. It was fun while it lasted,” he said coolly.
“It’s more than that. I wish that things were different, but I don’t know what else to do for the time being. I don’t want to expose you to the media jackals.”
“We both understood this was a temporary thing. I was the one who made the offer for a weekend only for a very good reason. I mean, you’re you and I’m me. The differences are obvious.”
“What do you mean by that?” I bit out, my blood pressure rising with my temper.
“You’re a billionaire, Ro. You can have anyone you want. It was stupid of me to think you could have feelings or that mine would be returned.”
“Don’t speak for me. After the time we spent together and everything we said and did, you should know exactly how I feel about you. Just because I have more money than you, it doesn’t mean you aren’t my equal. And this is just a temporary situation. We’ll figure things out.”
Andrew scoffed and looked away.
“Andrew, please. Listen to me, love.”
I was met with a resigned sigh. “If there’s nothing else, Mr. Carter, I have work to do.” Andrew dismissed me, and I reluctantly walked away.
I’d done the right thing for both of us. Too bad it felt like the worse kind of regret.
TWENTY-THREE
ANDREW
A month later…