Chapter Seventeen
“Ugh, I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to make it over sooner, but Jasmine came down with the flu, so you know that meant Isaiah got it, too. It was pure luck I haven’t gotten sick,” Amy said as she quickly came into the sitting room and found a seat.
“I hate it when the kids are sick. Poor babies. There’s not a whole lot you can do for them other than hold them close and keep giving them fluids,” Emily said with sympathy.
“She’s already getting so big. I can’t believe she just turned eight. Where’s the time going?” Amy asked, a slight panic filling her eyes.
“I know. Trevor is shooting up like a weed. He’s my little boy. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when they hit their teen years, and then, even worse, go off to college,” Emily said.
“I miss them already,” Jessica added, though her youngest was sitting on her lap, contentedly sucking on her thumb.
“Okay, enough complaining about the future. I’ve waited days for you to continue, Mom. Thank you, everyone, for waiting on me. It would’ve killed me to be the only one not knowing what was happening. I still can’t believe dad was such a pain. And I want to know what happened with Uncle George. How did they make up?” Amy asked.
Katherine closed her eyes, obviously drifting into her past. They waited.
“I ran that night.” Katherine began. “I was quickly losing my battle with myself to tell him no. I loved Joseph. I had since the first night I was in his arms. But, you see, there were a lot of misunderstandings, and I truly did believe he’d only been with me because of a bet. I didn’t want to give him my heart when I thought all he wanted was to get me in his bed. But each time I saw him, it was a little bit harder to walk away. He had his own plans in the making, though, and like a headstrong man, he was going about things completely in the wrong way…”
Joseph slowly left the elevator, then walked from the building. He couldn’t even think straight. His thoughts were consumed with nothing but Katherine.
If he wasn’t careful, he’d lose his grandfather’s corporation. He had to find a way to balance his life. He just couldn’t think of how to convince Katherine they should be together, while still keeping his head clear for the race ahead.
He’d come to prove he could still have her, prove her wrong for walking away from him, but he was the one being proven wrong. He needed her in a way that was neither healthy nor logical. He wondered if it was just the chase. Was he enjoying the game? Or was he truly incomplete without her?
He drove to his property, his lips turning up as he looked at the calming presence of the water lapping on shore. He’d chosen right. As he sat alone on the sandy shore, he turned and looked at his land, the moon shining down on one particular spot.
“That’s it,” he whispered as he rose to his feet and walked up the grassy slope. He reached the spot and turned in all directions. One way gave him a beautiful view of the water and the soothing sound of the lapping sea. The opposite direction showed him the top of the snow covered mountain, standing high above the ground and offering a sense of protection.
He knew Seattle was growing, and as it grew, more people would spread out further, overtaking the serene little island, but he could make his own paradise right there, build the perfect home, a place fit for a queen.
Before he left that night, he had it all planned. All he had to do was begin making phone calls. Within a couple weeks, his palace would start rising. He’d be there to ensure it was perfect.
He hung his head as he made the decision to stay away from Katherine for a while. He had to save his grandfather’s company. He couldn’t distract her, or let himself be distracted. Soon, though, soon they’d be together.
With that thought, he walked to his car and got in. He had a long week ahead of him and much to do.
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Katherine was mortified as she walked in her door and quickly shut it. She couldn’t believe she’d done something so foolish as to practically make love to Joseph in a public elevator. She really wanted to find out if there was a camera in there, but if she started asking, then people would wonder why.
Hopefully, she was just making the situation into something it wasn’t. So what if there was a camera, she tried to reason. It wasn’t like any clothes had come off. He’d kissed her. Yes, it had been beyond hot, but that’s where it had stopped.
She shuddered to think what would’ve happened had they not been interrupted. She lost her mind too easily when he was around.
Katherine climbed into the shower, and then quickly into bed. The last week had been exhausting and she instantly fell asleep, for once too tired to even dream.
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“Katherine, do you have those numbers?”
“Yes, one minute,” she replied, looking through her desk for the requested document.
“What’s going on, Katherine? This isn’t like you,” her boss asked as he stepped in her small office.
No, it wasn’t like her, Katherine had to admit. Lack of sleep, mixed with stress wasn’t helping her a bit.
She hadn’t seen Joseph in a month. Not a phone call, not at the meetings, not at all. She sure heard his name often, though, as he was quickly rising to the top of the board’s favorite candidate. The closer it came time to elect their new CEO, the more times she heard Joseph’s name.
She desperately wanted the decision over with so she could get on with her life. She knew the minute he was elected, and she had no doubts, he would be, she’d turn in her resignation, no notice given.