Twenty-Two Unforgettable Hours

(Barrington Billionaires Book 22)

Jeannette Winters
Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://ebookmass.com/product/twenty-two-unforgettable-hours-barrington-billionaires
-book-22-jeannette-winters/
TWENTY-TWO UNFORGETTABLE HOURS

JEANNETTE WINTERS
An original work of Jeannette Winters, 2024.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events,
business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.
 DE DIC ATION

This book is dedicated to my late, dear sister-in-law, Herlinda. Her encouragement and support was as endless as her
generous heart. You are not forgotten.
Also a huge thank you to Deepti Mahajan, my editor, at mahajandeepti@hotmail.com . We make a wonderful team.
And to my wonderful readers. You continue to challenge me and I love it. Please keep those emails coming.
 CONTE NTS

Jeannette Winters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Also by Jeannette Winters
By Jeannette Winters & Lizabeth Scott
By Jeannette Winters & Lena Lane
 Jeannette Winters
Author Contact

Website:
JeannetteWinters.com
email:
authorjeannettewinters@gmail.com
Facebook:
Author Jeannette Winters
Twitter:
JWintersAuthor
Newsletter Signup:
www.jeannettewinters.com/newsletter

Also follow me on:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jeannette-Winters/e/B00ULE95S8
BookBub:
bookbub.com/authors/jeannette-winters
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13514560.Jeannette_Winters
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/authorjw/boards/
 T W E NT Y-T W O U N FO RG E T TA B LE H O U R S

Niko Rio

I was born and raised here. Tabiq is my home, or at least it used to be. I have spent too much time away. Now there is a
disconnect, and I can't figure out what it is.
All that I do is to benefit my country. Everyone can see that. Well, all except for one. Ovi Mayas is not afraid to voice her
opinion and has the nerve to accuse me of no longer being loyal to our people.
Having her work for me has become problematic. I tell myself that I need her because of her skill set. But I could hire someone
else to do the job. Someone who doesn't challenge my decisions. Someone who isn't so damn beautiful that it makes it
impossible for me to think clearly when I'm around her.
I should fire her so that I can focus on what is important; running my business. But I can't. It's not just because of this powerful
attraction, but now I'm starting to wonder if she is right. I thought I knew what I wanted, but she's opened my eyes to what I
need, and it's her.
Trying to convince her of that was going to take a lot more than just telling her I love you. I need to prove that I'm the man she
needs me to be. One who is loyal to Tabiq. One that is loyal to her.
 C HAPTER 1

Niko Rio

“ I assure you that your order is getting shipped today, and you will have it by the end of the week. I’ll personally see to it.” I
said, frustrated that this was the third time this customer had to inquire about the same thing. This was getting out of control,
and I needed to get back to the plant to find out what the hell was going on.
“Mr. Rio, I do business with your company because you make the best Teakwood furniture, but if you can’t deliver it on
time, then I will need to take my account elsewhere,” he warned.
“Understood,” I replied before he ended the call.
This wasn’t an empty threat. Mr. Baker meant it. His wasn’t our largest account, but any negative review could damage our
reputation. It wouldn’t take long for other companies to start looking elsewhere too. I’d worked too damn hard at building such
a large clientele, to sit back and watch it all crumble. I had a lot more than just myself to worry about. My factory employed
seventy-five skilled craftsmen who counted on me to earn a fair wage. If I go under, so do they.
Mr. Baker had no idea what Tabiqian people had been through. If he did, maybe he wouldn't have threatened to pull his
business. But this wasn’t on him. This was on me. I’m the one who wasn’t overseeing things as well as I should be. That
needed to change.
I had proactively placed a call to the factory earlier today and confirmed that Mr. Baker's order was being shipped today.
As it had been for the past week, my manager Trye Mayas seemed to be too busy to take my call. Busy was good, if he was
doing what I needed him to do, overseeing the factory. But my gut said that wasn’t the case and he was avoiding me.
There was no way he didn’t know I was pissed. I’d pretty much sent him a text message a week ago telling him that. Was it
unprofessional that I had threatened him to either get his shit together, or he’d be replaced? Yeah. Half of me meant it but what I
was trying to actually do was motivate him. Trye had been an amazing manager. Not so much lately. I knew his workload, like
mine, had changed. Trye never said he couldn’t handle it. Even his response to my warning was that he would do better. It was
evident that Trye might be trying, but he surely wasn’t succeeding.
Even though it was late in Tabiq, and everyone would’ve gone home, I knew Trye would be there preparing for tomorrow’s
workload. At least that was what I hoped, since that was what I paid him for. His office phone went to voicemail. So did his
cell phone. I wasn’t going to leave him another message. No point. What needed to be said, had to be said in person.
It was only about a six-hour flight from Dubai, but I needed to charter a jet, and that made it more challenging. Commercial
flights weren’t allowed to fly into Tabiq. The airport had been upgraded over the years and handled cargo jets coming and
going. Yet President O’Connor refused to allow any commercial flights. Anyone coming to Tabiq was closely monitored. I got
it. My country had a past that no one was proud of. As president, she was doing what she could to ensure that mistakes weren’t
repeated. But when it came to running an international business, it complicated things.
As though the universe had taken pity on me, my phone rang, and it was Dean Henderson. He wasn’t my partner, but he had
given me a loan to start my business. I still didn’t understand why he did, but I am grateful that he did. I’d repaid every penny,
so I had no idea why he was calling.
Answering, I said, “Hey, Dean. What can I do for you?”
“I heard you’re in Dubai. So am I. Do you want to get together for a drink?” he asked.
Not sure how he heard I was here, but I hadn’t made it a secret. I was here to sell my product. I suspected Dean was doing
the same. But from now on, I’d need to keep my whereabouts a little quieter. Not that I had anything to hide, I didn’t like anyone
tracking my movements for any reason.
“I’d love to, but I’m busy.”
“Meeting with a client?” he questioned.
No point in lying. "Trying to charter a flight and head back to Tabiq.”
 “How soon do you need to be in Tabiq? I’m in Dubai on business and have a meeting in the morning, but I was planning on
flying out shortly after,” he said.
He didn’t reside there. From what I knew, he and his wife Tessa lived outside of Boston somewhere. I’d traveled to the US
several times, mostly to Boston, New York, and California. Not once had Dean extended an invitation to his home, even when
he knew I was in the States. We were socially polite, but I wouldn’t call us friends.
“You’re going to Tabiq?” I asked. Since his family owned and ran the only resort in Tabiq, I shouldn't be surprised that he
was going there. But I had a feeling there was more to it than that.
“Wasn’t planning on it,” he said. As I thought. “I wouldn’t mind stopping in and visiting with my brother Alex. We had
seen each other for Christmas and discussed a new business venture. I probably should follow up with him before he changes
his mind.”
It was common knowledge that the Henderson family had all traveled for a family reunion. I couldn’t picture them all sitting
around a Christmas tree without talking business. Dean's comment confirmed my suspicions. No matter how hard they tried, or
what the circumstance, they were all about business. I understood that. It was the one thing the Hendersons and I had in
common. We were all driven and hard-working.
I wanted to ask what type of business, but I knew enough about Dean to know that he wasn’t going to share any more than he
had. He also knew that he’d planted a seed to pique my interest. It worked.
Even if I reached out for a charter plane elsewhere, the odds of leaving tonight were slim. Most likely, sometime tomorrow,
that too in the evening. Taking Dean up on his offer made the most sense and with any luck, it’d give us time to discuss some
business ventures of our own. Not that I wanted a partner, but if I was going to take my business to the next level, I would be
needing someone I could count on. Trye clearly wasn’t that person.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to join you on that flight.”
“And how about that drink?” he asked.
“Sure. My lobby has a great bar. Thirty minutes?” I suggested.
“Perfect. It will give me a chance to call Tessa and let her know about my change of plans.”
He ended the call. Before I could slip my phone into my pocket, it vibrated announcing a text message. The ID said it was
Trye.
Can’t wait to hear your excuse for not taking my calls this time.
MR. BAKER’S ORDER WAS SHIPPED.
It was the only good news I had received today. But it didn’t get Trye off the hook. Whatever was going on with him, he
owed me an explanation as to why it was affecting my business. For now, I needed to keep the line of communication open as
much as possible.
Trye liked short messages, so I had one for him too.
GOOD.
In less than twenty-four hours, I was going to be face-to-face with Trye. He won’t have any way of hiding the truth from me.
If I don’t like what I hear, or see, then he will be fired. That simple.
Of course, it would mean that I would have to take on the manager role myself temporarily, but it beat the hell out of sitting
back and watching everything I had built, slip away.
Is that why you’re reaching out to me, Dean? Is it already affecting my reputation out there?
If that was the case, then meeting him for drinks was the last thing I wanted to do. Everyone had opinions, I just didn’t want
to hear any of them. This was my company. I was solely responsible for each order and every employee. That didn’t mean I
wanted to be questioned or lectured. Calling him and backing out now was only going to raise a red flag if there hadn’t already
been one.
Fuck.
Slipping my cell phone into my pocket, I grabbed my key card and headed down to the lounge. When I got there, Dean was
sitting at the bar drinking a beer. I took the seat beside him.
“Hey, hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long,” I said.
“Not at all. What are you drinking?” he asked.
I waved the bartender over and said, “Bourbon.”
The bartender nodded and Dean said, “That kind of day?”
“Yep. We all have them occasionally,” I stated.
“Isn’t that the truth? Today was a total shit show, and I’m hoping tomorrow’s meeting goes better.”
“What happened?” I asked, glad to keep the conversation off me.
“They didn’t show.”
“No advance notice?” I said, shocked.
“Nope. Strange, because they were the ones who reached out to me. If they contact me again, and they will, my answer will
be no. I don’t give second chances when it comes to business,” he said downing his beer.
 “That’s my motto as well,” I replied.
“What are you going to do about Trye?”
So, you have heard.
My gut usually didn’t steer me wrong.
“Not sure. Trye used to be on top of everything. But I’ve received complaints over the last few months regarding orders not
being on time.”
“What was his answer when you asked him about it?”
This was none of his business, but did I really care what he thought? His tone wasn’t judging as I expected. “The
communication has broken down. That’s why I am returning to Tabiq. I need answers.”
“All you needed to do was reach out to Alex, or Bennett and I’m sure either one of them would drive by the factory to
check on it for you,” he stated.
“Thanks. I appreciate that, but I need to do this,” I stated firmly. This wasn’t a Henderson business. It was mine. And I was
going to fight to keep it that way.
The bartender brought Dean another beer. He raised it in the air and said, “Here’s to a better day tomorrow.”
I raised my glass of Bourbon and said, “To business.”
 C HAPTER 2

Ovi Mayas

Oh, Dad, where are you? I can’t do this. Not like you do.
I’d never met Niko Rio, only seen his picture hanging on a wall beside the mission statement. He was a very handsome
man, and the words on the wall were meant to encourage and give hope for the future of not just the factory, but all of Tabiq. It
was a shame that his text message to me, I mean to my father, didn’t reflect that mission statement. If anything, it portrayed him
to be a very...controlling and unpleasant person. That was probably why my father just up and left. He couldn’t take the
pressure any longer. Goodness knew the orders for new custom pieces were coming in faster than ever before and I wasn’t
even sure the employees could produce what was being asked of them. Mr. Rio needed to hire more people. I could pretend to
be my father in a text message to Mr. Rio to answer his general questions. Even then I said very little so as not to draw too
much attention to myself. But when it came to staffing issues, that would require a lengthy conversation. One that wasn’t going
to happen via text message.
This was just another reason why I needed my father here. But it wasn’t just his job that he had left… he had left me too. I
needed him. Why didn’t he understand that? Granted, at twenty-eight I wasn’t a child any longer, but it had only been a couple
of months since my mother had died. It might not have been sudden, and people thought that because it was expected, it was
easier, but they were wrong. My heart ached each day, and I’d cried myself to sleep almost every night.
That was before my father decided he needed to get away from everything that reminded him of her. Guess that included
me. I loved him and would support him in whatever he needed to do to grieve his loss.
Even if it meant covering for him at the factory. Which was getting harder and harder each day. There were a lot of things I
knew how to do, like answering basic questions from employees about the quality of the furniture or giving suggestions as to
what needed to be done to make it perfect. I grew up assisting my father in carving the wood and making what I thought were
masterpieces for people most of my life. But when it came to managing the rest of the business, I was clueless. Tasks were
falling behind and there was no hope of catching up. At least not before Mr. Rio realized there was something wrong and
decided to return to Tabiq.
Closing the laptop, I rested my head on my folded arms and sunk into the desk. I was beyond exhausted. It wouldn’t be the
first night I was too tired to drive home. I just wished there was someplace comfortable where I could sleep. Granted, there
was plenty of furniture in the warehouse, but it was all spoken for, and customers wouldn’t appreciate getting used pieces.
Just like they don’t appreciate not getting their order on time.
I needed to remind myself that at least they were still getting them. If the assistant manager, Almi, wasn’t a family friend
and helped me cover for my father, the factory would’ve stopped working altogether. But since they were all used to seeing me
bring my father lunch each day and hang around to observe the process, my being here now didn't seem unusual to them. Yet,
they were beginning to question why my father no longer walked the floor inspecting the work himself. We had convinced them
that he was on calls with Mr. Rio so much and doing the paperwork all the time that he only had time to inspect the products
after hours.
That lie could only go on for so long. Eventually, someone was going to figure it out. They would end up calling Mr. Rio
and my father would be terminated. Rightly so, but that didn’t mean I shouldn’t try my darndest not to let that happen. I knew my
father was going to return. When he did, he was going to need this job because it was all he had. With my mother gone, his
work would be his life.
My eyes fluttered and closed. I knew sleep was inevitable. I only prayed that I wouldn’t be haunted by nightmares of Mr.
Rio learning of the deception and taking his wrath out on me.
Just as I drifted off, one of the cell phones rang. My first thought was that it was Mr. Rio calling demanding yet another
confirmation about Mr. Baker’s shipment. I realized that it wasn’t my father’s business cell phone ringing, it was mine. A
different type of panic filled me. It was almost two in the morning. Who would be calling me at this time?
I sat up filled with tension and quickly grabbed my phone off the desk. The caller ID was from an unknown number. I
debated letting it go to voicemail and dealing with it later, but it must be important given the hour of the call.
Please don’t let it be about my father. Don’t let them call me with any...bad news. It was a fear that I’ve had since he told
me he was leaving. A fear that it was goodbye, and not just see you soon. I took a deep breath preparing myself for whatever he
was about to say.
“Hello, this is Ovi Mayas. Can I help you?” I knew my voice was shaky.
“Ovi, it’s me.”
Father. I was relieved to hear his voice again yet until I knew nothing was wrong, I couldn’t relax.
“Hi. Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Yes. It is. I will be coming home,” he said.
Thank God.
My heart began to beat normally again. “Good. I need you here. The employees need you here.”
It was the truth. This wasn’t just about me or him. Mr. Rio paid a fair wage and so many people relied on the factory for
their livelihood. If it were to close, their families would suffer. Unlike some other countries, there was no help given. So, when
you had a job, you did everything you could to keep it. It explained why each piece of furniture was made with such care and
attention to quality. What they produced amazed me. They were driven by the need to be the best, to shine in their trade. They
were constantly afraid that if they weren’t at the top of the game, they’d be replaced. No one could afford to lose such a well-
paying job. They had limited options as to what their next career would be if they did.
Before I could ask him when he’d arrive, he said, “I will be there in a couple of days.”
“Why so long?” I blurted out.
“I am not in Tabiq. It will take me that long to get back,” he said.
I knew he didn’t fly out of Tabiq because if he did, people would’ve known that he was gone. That left only one other way
off the island. Why hadn’t I thought about it before? Oh yeah, I'd been busy doing his job. If I hadn’t, then I’d have remembered
that his friend was a well-known deep-sea fisherman and owned a boat. Not only was his friend loyal, but he was also the only
person my dad would go to for help.
Part of me was glad that he wasn’t going through all this alone. I wish I could say the same about me.
“I can’t wait to see you. There is so much I need to tell you,” I replied.
“Is everything okay?” he questioned.
If I told him now how the orders were backed up and that Mr. Rio wasn’t happy, it might make him question if he should
return at all. “Yes. It’s fine. I...I just miss you so very much.”
“I miss you too, Ovi. I’ll be home before you know it.”
Just not soon enough.
“I love you,”
“I love you too. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I am not sure how I would’ve been able to get through all
of this if you hadn’t,” he stated.
And I couldn’t have done it without Almi’s help.
“We are family. We take care of each other.”
“Yes, Ovi. We are family. And I’ll see you soon.”
He ended the call, and I sat there just staring at my phone wishing it would ring again. It didn’t. But I was wide awake now.
I could stay here in the office and try to work, or I could get in my car and go home, shower and change, and get ready for
another workday. If it was anything like this past one, I should at least try to get a few hours of shut-eye. I needed to be back
here in a couple of hours to do it all over again.
Just a few more days. That’s all I need to do. Then everything can go back to normal.
Grabbing my keys, I got up, turned the lights off, and left the office. A lot had gone wrong today, but hearing from my father
gave me hope that it was all about to change.
As I got into my car and headed home, some animal dashed in front of my car, and I turned quickly to avoid hitting it.
Instead of maneuvering as I expected it to, my car jerked to the right as it hit a pothole. I pulled over and got out of my car to
make sure there was no damage. The tire wasn’t flat and that was all I knew about cars. All I needed was for it to get me home.
I could deal with it in the morning.
I walked around to get into my car, but the door wouldn’t open. I tried it again, but it was locked. I reached into my pocket
but couldn’t feel the keys. Shit! I knew exactly where they were. In the ignition.
Out of habit, I always hit lock on my doors when getting out of my car. Crime seemed under control in Tabiq now, but I
wasn’t taking any chances. And there was no way to get back in. Normally, I’d call my father to come and rescue me. I had a
few others who could give me a ride, but then I’d need to explain what I was doing out here and why I hadn’t called my father.
The only way I was going to be able to pull any of this off was by keeping it a secret. Not about to blow it now when we were
so close to the end.
I looked down at my feet and instantly regretted not changing into more comfortable shoes before leaving the office.
Kicking off my three-inch heels I placed them on the roof of my car. I’d get them on my way into the office later when I returned
with my spare set of keys. Right now, I couldn’t think clearly enough to make it home and back here in the dark. At this time of
night/morning, there weren’t any vehicles on the road, but with only the moon to light my way, it was going to be a slow, long,
walk home. It meant getting less sleep, but it was still going to be okay.
He’s coming home.
 C HAPTER 3

Niko

The flight to Tabiq with Dean was as I had expected. He spent most of it on the phone discussing business. That was fine with
me. He had just been the means to get me back to Tabiq. But as we were about to land, Dean decided to turn his attention to me.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do regarding your manager?”
“As I mentioned yesterday, I'd like to hear him out before I make my decision,” I reminded him.
“Is there really a valid excuse for falling behind in production?” he asked.
Ya. I got it. No second chances.
“We do things differently here in Tabiq,” I stated. “Having said that, my factory was also the first company to export to the
world. I built it from the ground up and I’m not going to let any harm come to it.”
“I hope not. I know Reesa is counting on you to grow that business. It’s good for Tabiq.”
I hated the fact that he used her first name. “President O’Connor is aware of the situation and knows that I am returning to
Tabiq to address it.”
“Good. But you do know that me and my family are here to support you as well. If you need help, have any questions, or
need to utilize our connections, just let us know,” he offered.
“Thank you. But trust me, I've got this under control.” At least I will once I’m back in the office. “I know what needs to be
done. And if Trye is not the person, he’ll be replaced.”
The jet landed and Dean said, “It’s not easy finding someone you can trust to run things when you’re not there. I’ve been
burned a few times myself. Maybe that is why I’m so cynical. Tessa tells me that I need to be more...understanding. Forgiving.”
“I’m sure there are people who’d say the same thing about me. I’m not as easygoing as you may believe. It’s just that Trye
has been with me from the beginning. This is out of character for him. He’s been a loyal employee and I feel as though I owe
him at least the opportunity to explain what happened.”
“You will probably make fewer enemies with that approach,” he said.
That was one of my goals. We deboarded, and the SUV I had ordered was waiting for me. “I guess that’s my ride. Do you
need me to drop you off at the resort?” I asked.
“No. Alex should be here shortly.”
I grabbed my luggage. “Hope your business pitch with Alex goes well too.”
“I have a feeling he’s not interested. He’s happy just writing his stories. Who knows, maybe you’ll be interested if he’s
not,” Dean said.
I hoped he was joking because I didn’t want to be tied to the Hendersons that closely and being a partner in a business with
them was more than I could handle. Not because I was afraid of them, but because we would butt heads too frequently. Like all
the time. “Thanks, but I’m good with the one business I’ve got now. Not looking at starting another.”
“Yeah, I thought not, but I had to ask. Too bad. It was a good idea. Well, at least I can enjoy the warm weather while I’m
here. Tessa told me it was snowing back in Boston. The kids were begging to go skiing again. I was okay with no snow for a
while,” he replied.
“Yeah. I’ll never get used to the cold. For me, there’s no place like home.” Tabiq is a beautiful lush tropical island. I didn’t
mind visiting Boston, but I’d rather be surrounded by our tall teakwood trees than all those skyscrapers. “Thanks again for
letting me tag along on the flight.”
“My pleasure. Good luck.”
This wasn’t about luck. It was about learning the truth. Hopefully, Trye and I could still work together after that. “Thanks.” I
climbed into the SUV and headed to the factory.
When I arrived, Almi was out on the floor doing a final inspection. When he caught sight of me, he stopped what he was
doing and rushed over.
“Mr. Rio. I didn’t know you were returning today,” he said, looking around, quite nervously.
“I’m here to see Trye. Let me guess. He’s in his office,” I said.
“I...I’m not sure. Maybe. Possibly he is out on an... errand,” Almi stammered.
What kind of errand would require him to go instead of sending one of the staff? And why was Almi so jittery? Had Trye
told him how pissed I was about the late shipments? They say shit rolls downhill. Maybe I told Trye off and he told Almi off.
“I’ll let you get back to work. If you need me, I’ll be in my office. If you see Trye before I do, please tell him I am looking
for him,” I said and left him to return to what he was doing.
I wasn’t going to head right for my office. Even if Trye wasn’t there, I wanted to see what was going on in his office. The
door was closed so I knocked. No answer. I turned the knob, and it was locked. The light was shining from beneath the door.
Was he there and ignoring me like he’s been doing for the past month? He was not going to be happy when he did see my face
finally.
I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door. When I turned the knob, it opened this time. It didn’t look like anyone was
there, yet his laptop was open and on. I walked around the desk to close it when I noticed a pair of high heels and slender legs
tucked under the desk.
What the hell?
“Who the hell are you and what are you doing in here?” I snapped.
She knew she was caught, and slowly backed out from beneath the desk. When she raised her hand to lift herself upright, I
took hold of her assisting her until she was stable. She was short enough to fit in the small quarters. Her dress was modest, but
it also clung to enhance her curves. When my eyes made their way up to her face, there was only one word to describe her.
Gorgeous.
I could easily let her looks distract me. But I hadn’t come back to Tabiq for a woman. I was here to save my business.
Asking again in a firmer tone, “I am asking for the last time, who are you and what are you doing in here?”
“I’m...I’m here for...the...laptop,” she stammered.
“You were stealing it?” I asked, surprised. It wasn’t even Trye’s property. It belonged to me, and I never authorized it to be
used by anyone other than Trye.
She shook her head vigorously. “I...I was getting it for...Mr. Mayas,” she said.
That was not much of an explanation. “Since I do all the hiring, I’d know if you worked here or not. So don’t waste my time
trying to pretend as though you work here,” I warned. “How did you get into this office? And why are you taking the laptop?
Answer carefully or I will call the authorities and have you arrested.”
My hand was still on her arm, and I felt her trembling. I hated using my size and position to intimidate her, but I needed
answers. I saw her eyes begin to glisten and I knew the waterworks were about to start. A woman’s way to get out of
everything. Not something I was used to seeing here in Tabiq, but I’d been witness to enough of it in my travels. I was about to
tell her that tears didn’t work on me, but I didn’t need to.
She puffed up her chest and stood up straight. Looking me directly in the eyes, in a firm tone, she said, “Mr. Rio, I do not
appreciate being manhandled. Please remove your hands from me.”
Manhandle? I’d never been accused of such a thing. With the history of how women had been treated in Tabiq, I was
always very cautious of my interactions. Never wanted my actions to be misconstrued as anything improper.

Instantly, I let go of her arm and dropped my hands to the sides. “I am sorry. My intention was only to ensure you were steady
on your feet.”
“As you can see, I am fine. Now if you’ll excuse me. I must be going,” she said, trying to slip by.
I liked her tactic. Smooth. A good try, yet it wasn’t working. She was not leaving with or without the laptop. Even if she
wasn’t here to steal, she was trespassing on private property. My property.
Blocking her way so she couldn’t get to the door, I reminded her, “I am still waiting for an answer.”
The fire I had seen in her eyes faded. “I already explained.”
“Not to my liking. I understand you were here for the laptop. Why?”
“I told you. It was for Mr. Mayas,” she said.
“And is there a reason why he is not here retrieving it himself?” I asked.
Her eyes avoided mine as she replied, “He’s not feeling well.”
“So, he is sick?” I questioned. She nodded but said nothing. “And you’re here to bring him his laptop so he can work from
home?” I asked. More nods. Still didn’t make any sense. Why didn't Almi know Trye was out sick? Why hadn’t I been informed
either? She was spinning a good tale, but I wasn’t buying it. “And why haven’t I been informed that he has been ill? Don’t you
think he should’ve called me?”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “He had left his phone in the office with the laptop.”
The phone could belong to anyone. But if it was Trye’s, it was easy enough to find out. Reaching out I asked, “May I have
it?”
She hesitated for a second, then handed it to me. I opened it and sure enough, it was a company cell phone. At least she
hadn’t lied about that.
“Are you satisfied?” she asked.
Not at all.
“Maybe I should bring him the phone myself,” I stated.
“No,” she blurted out. I raised a brow and she added, “I mean, I wouldn’t want you to get sick too. Who would run the
business if you did?”
I am sure she was not concerned with my health. But if Trye was ill, it would make sense that he chose to work from home.
At least he was making the effort to stay on top of everything.
Handing her the phone I said, “I agree. Someone needs to be here. Do you have any idea how long he will be out?” So far,
she hadn’t even said what Trye was suffering from.
“I...I would think he should be back in the office within a week.”
“A week!?” She nodded. “Has he seen a doctor?”
“I’m sure he is getting the care he needs. But if you’ll excuse me, I will bring him his things and he can get back to work,
which I’m sure you will be happy about.”
“You make it sound as though I don’t care about his well-being,” I replied.
“I would never make such an assumption. Maybe you’re just feeling guilty,” she said.
Wow. A moment ago, the woman was acting as though I intimidated her, and now she was challenging my character. Either
she was the bravest woman or just didn’t realize who I was.
“Trust me, I have no feeling or guilt. I have a business to run. Many people rely on me to do my job, so they have one.
If...Mr. Mayas is unable to do his, then he can and will be replaced.” I forced a smile and said, “But please give him a message
for me. I hope he is feeling better soon because we have a lot to discuss when he returns.”
Her eyes were wide, and she looked at me in disbelief. No sweetheart. You’re reading me right. I am an asshole. It's
called being the boss.
She cleared her throat and before leaving the office as I expected, she said, “I still need the laptop. I’m sure there is plenty
he can still do remotely.”
“There is.” I walked over to the desk and grabbed the laptop and cord. I handed both to her. “Is there anything else I can get
you?” I asked sarcastically.
“You can open the door for me… please,” she said.
I opened the door, but before I let her pass, I said, “You are removing company property, don’t you think I should know
where you’re bringing it?”
“To Mr. Mayas, so he can work from home,” she replied.
Not sure how much work he was going to get done if he was truly that ill. But some was better than nothing, and at least he
would have access to what information I need from him.
“One last thing.”
“What is that?” she asked.
“Your name,” I said.
She held her head up high and said, “Ovi.” Then she walked past me, leaving me standing alone in Trye’s office.
Ovi. No last name. I couldn’t believe that I was letting her walk out with the laptop and the phone, but my gut said that she
was really bringing them to Trye’s home.
A gentleman would’ve offered to help her carry the stuff to her car. Then again, a gentleman wouldn’t have stood there
checking out her ass as she walked away either.
I shook my head trying to clear thoughts of her away. But it was easier said than done. I had no idea who Ovi was, but I
wanted to find out and it had nothing to do with business. None of this was why I had returned to Tabiq, and as the owner of the
company, I needed to take such matters more seriously. But when I looked into her eyes, I didn’t see anything that indicated she
was a threat. At least not to the company. I found her...captivating. And that was my excuse for just letting her walk away with
company property without checking any documentation or identification.
I’m never going to admit this shit to anyone, especially Dean.
Dean had considered going into business with me. He’d be thanking his lucky stars that I had turned him down. How I dealt
with Ovi was worse than me thinking about giving Trye a second chance.
Somehow, I was now even angrier at Trye. Not only was he falling behind in his work, but I think I know why he was so
damn distracted. I was in the same room with Ovi for maybe ten minutes, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. What I couldn’t
understand was what was someone like Ovi doing with a guy like Trye? Granted, Trye was a good guy, honest and trustworthy.
Very respectful. But hell, she looked half his age and easily could be a cover model. She could have any man she wanted. Why
him?
 Home sick pfft... Lovesick maybe.
I pulled out my cell phone and sent him a text message.
CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR PHONE. WE NEED TO TALK.
Unless he was on his deathbed, he had a lot to answer for. For the orders falling behind and the fact that no one should’ve
been given entry to his private office. Not even one as beautiful as Ovi.
 C HAPTER 4

Ovi

CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR PHONE. WE NEED TO TALK.

I couldn’t believe that Niko had sent my father a text message so soon. Well, his demand wasn’t going to be fulfilled. Even
if my father was here, he had no clue that Niko was back in Tabiq. I was positive that my father was going to need to adjust to
being back in the office, not rushing in and answering all of Niko’s questions. It was over. Niko was going to learn the truth.
There was no way of preventing it.
Then again, I managed to get caught in my father’s office and still get out of there with the laptop without being arrested.
The day really could’ve gone very wrong. I’m still not sure why Mr. Rio let me go, but I couldn’t waste any time worrying
about that. I needed to figure out how I was going to have a conversation with him on the phone, as my father did.
Granted, I told him that he was ill. Maybe he is so sick that his voice is barely audible? It would be a good reason why he
sounded so different, but could I pull off sounding like a man?
“Hello, Mr. Rio. This is Trye,” I practiced in a very deep voice. I laughed because I sounded more like a cartoon character
than a sick man. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a silk handkerchief and put it over the mouthpiece. Maybe if I muffled it a
little bit, it would work. But I needed to try it on someone before I used it on Mr. Rio. So, I dialed Almi’s number.
“Hello.”
“Almi, it’s Mr. Mayas,” I said.
“Trye? You sound horrible. Are you ill?” he asked.
I chuckled. “Almi, it is me, Ovi. Did you really believe that it was my father?”
“Only because you said it was. You did not sound like him at all,” he stated.
“Did I sound like me?” I ask. “You know, like a woman?”
“No. You sounded like a man who was very sick,” he replied.
“Perfect. Mr. Rio wants to talk to my father, and you know that isn’t going to happen.”
“You’re going to call and pretend to be him?” he asked, sounding shocked.
“What choice do I have?”
“Ovi, if Mr. Rio learns the truth, he is going to be very angry.”
I knew that. “If he finds out my father hasn’t been in the factory in a month, he’s going to be angry anyway. So, what do I
have to lose? Besides, I spoke to my father, and he should be back to work in a week. All we must do is get Mr. Rio to think my
father is home and sick until he’s back. Can you keep our secret a little longer?” I pleaded.
“Yes. I can,” he said and ended the call.
We were asking too much of Almi and I knew it. He wasn’t doing this just for my father. He was doing this for me too. I had
grown up with his daughter Mia and we used to play with our dolls all the time together. One day I would eat lunch at Almi’s
house and the next day, Mia would come and eat lunch at our house. Mia was the closest thing I had to a sibling. But she left
Tabiq to go to college in Europe and never returned. Like so many other people I knew. Once you got a taste of what it was like
elsewhere you saw that the possibilities were endless. Unlike here. You had a job, and you’d most likely do that same job until
you are too old to work.
Once upon a time, I had wanted to leave, but my mother had been so sickly, and someone needed to be there to care for her
while my father worked. They never asked me to stay. They didn’t need to. It had been an honor to care for her until she passed.
But now that she was gone, and it was my father who needed me, just in a very different way.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and said a silent prayer that this would work. Then I dialed Mr. Rio’s number. He
answered almost immediately.
“Trye, I thought you’d have texted me instead of calling,” he said.
 I would’ve if I thought you’d have accepted that.
Forcing a pretend coughing fit, I covered the phone and started what I hoped was the beginning of a performance of a
lifetime. “Mr. Rio...I...I am very sick. I can,” coughing again, even louder, then added, “can’t talk much. I will be,” coughing
again so much that it actually hurt my throat, “be back to work next week.”
“I understand. Are you able to email?”
“Yes,” I choked out.
“Okay. When you’re feeling up to it, please send the list of outstanding orders along with their status and I will take it from
here. We can talk when you get back in the office.”
“Thank you, Mr. Rio,” I said and ended the call.
I put the phone on the coffee table in front of me and leaned back on the couch. It seemed like I pulled it off. Can’t believe
it, but I think I just bought my father a couple more days to get his stuff in order and get back to work.
My father never talked about work, but I imagined he was returning to his job. He said he was coming home. He needed to
earn money, and, in that position, he earned a very good salary. Hence, he was able to take off for so long. I wish he would just
be honest and clear with me. Then again, I didn’t think he really knew what I’d been doing while he’d been gone.
I dialed the number he’d called me from yesterday, but it said it was no longer accepting calls. Did that mean it was shut
off? Just another thing I didn’t know.
With nothing else to do, I opened my father’s laptop and for the next few hours, I prepared the reports for Mr. Rio. I didn’t
need to have a business degree to know we were well behind on most orders and for some of them, it was weeks. He was
going to be upset when he read it, but lying about it would only make things worse. Customers needed their orders, and I
wasn’t the one who could drive the staff to produce more. Maybe Mr. Rio being back was a good thing. Just not so good timing
for my father.
I read the email one last time before pushing send. As ugly as they were, they were facts. At least I wouldn’t need to see
him again or feel his wrath for all that was going wrong.
It had been a long day, and I was tired. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Just drained. But for the first time in a month, I
felt as though I could just go lay down and sleep without worrying about what was going on at the factory. What I should be
doing. None of it was my responsibility any longer.
As I kicked off my heels and pulled my feet up onto the couch, I chuckled. This had become such a mess. I remember the
first day I went to the factory to talk to Almi about my father. We met in my father’s office and his cell phone buzzed. It had
been Mr. Rio checking in. I had no idea what made me pick it up and reply, but once I did, one message turned into ten. Before
I knew it Mr. Rio was giving me instructions, and I was implementing them.
Almi had been sitting there the entire time just watching. I looked up at him and said, “What have I done?”
He told me that I was pretending to be my father and now I must continue until he returned. We both had thought that it
would only be a day or two. Maybe a week. We were wrong, but once the lies had started, all we could do was continue and
hope he’d return before Mr. Rio did.
That didn’t work the way we had planned. And we sure never thought I’d get caught in my father’s office. An entire month
had passed, and no one had caught me. One day with Mr. Rio back in Tabiq, I got caught hiding under the desk.
I panicked when I heard the keys. Flying off the chair and crawling under the desk was the first thing that came to my mind.
Foolish. Where was I going to go from there? It made me not just look guilty, but childish as well. I was so embarrassed. There
was just one thing I was grateful for. He didn’t know who I was, so nothing really linked me back to my father except the fact
that I was sent there to retrieve his laptop and phone. For all Mr. Rio knew, I was hired to do it.
Hmm. What kind of job would I qualify for? Actress? I sure had done a lot of pretending lately. But I think I did a fair job at
handling the reports that Mr. Rio requested. If I hadn’t already burned my bridge, I could’ve applied for a job. Goodness knew
they needed more help. It was something I had mentioned in my email to him. That the staff was doing the best they could but
could no longer keep up with the increase in demand.
This was ridiculous. I just told myself that I didn’t need to worry about the factory, and here I was still thinking about the
place. What was wrong with me? I could relax now.
But it was the report that troubled me. My father wasn’t there to be questioned. That meant the next in line was...Almi.
I had just put my ally in the line of fire, and he had no idea it was coming. I grabbed my father's cell phone and called Almi.
“Yes,” he answered in a serious tone.
“I need to tell you that Mr. Rio wants a report from me. I mean from my father.”
“Yes. I know. I’m on my way to his office. Can’t talk now,” he said, ending the call.
Oh no. What did I do?
What if by protecting my father, I got Almi in trouble and fired?
I should’ve minded my business. My parents taught me that one lie leads to many. They were right and now I was caught up
in them and unfortunately so was Almi. I needed to find a way to make this all right. Just not sure how to do that without hurting
my father.
Looks like I’m going to have to see Mr. Rio one more time.
 C HAPTER 5

Niko

I could blame my lack of sleep solely on jet lag, or on the reports that I received yesterday. I couldn’t stop thinking about Ovi.
And it wasn’t just about all the reports she emailed me. From what I learned from Almi, Ovi didn’t have a background in
business, yet she was able to pull together some very detailed information. She was good. Very good. Her beauty and
intelligence definitely haunted my thoughts.
But I couldn’t let that distraction blind me from what needed to be done. Those reports were high on the list of things that I
had to address today. I knew it was bad, but if those reports were accurate, then things were worse than I had thought.
Mr. Baker wasn’t the only customer who was going to receive the product late. We had fallen behind on at least a dozen
orders. This was beyond unacceptable. If I didn’t turn things around quickly, my fear was going to become a reality. The
suggestion in the email was to hire more people to meet the increasing demand. I usually would have Trye sit in on the
interview process, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not now. Not ever again.
Even thinking about Trye got my blood pressure up. My meeting with Almi yesterday left me speechless. It sounded more
like a practical joke than anything else. It also explained a lot about what had been going on. Like why Trye wouldn’t take my
calls and only reply via text message. Never mind doing his job, the guy wasn’t even in Tabiq.
That was something that I’d need to address with him when he eventually decided to show his face again. I’d hear him out,
but his ass was fired. I’d done right by him all these years, and he owed me at least the courtesy of letting me know he was
taking a leave. I could’ve returned or hired someone to take over for him while he was gone. Instead, I was left in the dark and
it was costing me.
Almi wasn’t off the hook either and he was lucky I didn’t fire him after that meeting. I understood. He felt that because he
reported directly to Trye, he needed to do what he was told. But I owned the place. I signed his paycheck. As I explained to
him, if anything like this ever happened again, or I felt as though I couldn’t trust him, then I’d send him packing too. He swore
he wouldn’t tell anyone about our conversation, not Trye and definitely not Ovi.
Trye wasn’t the only person I was angry with. I was pretty pissed off at myself. I should’ve guessed that she was Trye’s
daughter. Probably would’ve if she’d been sitting behind the desk, but her position distracted me from the obvious. So did her
eyes, and that little smirk of hers, when she was trying to prove to me that she wasn’t scared of me. Damn, I found that
very...very attractive. But the facts were, she wasn’t forthcoming about who she really was. She referred to her father as Mr.
Mayas. And now I knew that she intentionally didn’t provide me with her last name because she didn’t want me to know they
were related.
Now I needed to figure out what I was going to do about this. She had done some impressive work over the past month.
Even though I would like her to continue until I found a replacement for her father, how could I have someone I couldn’t trust in
my building?
Maybe I would have a better idea of what to do after she and I spoke. Requesting her to come into the office wasn’t going
to work because she had no idea that I knew who she was, or that I was aware of everything that had transpired this last month.
It left me with only one option. I was going to go to her.
I’d never been to Trye’s home before, but I knew where it was. And thanks to Almi, I also knew that Ovi lived there. Not
uncommon in Tabiq for a single woman to continue living with her parents. It used to be for safety reasons. Now it was more
out of convenience, I believe. I couldn't handle not having my privacy. Then again, as soon as I turned eighteen, I wanted to be
out on my own and I’d been living happily by myself ever since.
Pulling into their driveway, I noticed a curtain in one of the windows move slightly before closing again.
You know you have company. And I know you’re home.
I parked my SUV, walked up to the door, and knocked. There was no answer, so I knocked louder. This time, I called out,
“Ovi, I’d like to talk to you about your father.”
That should be clear enough. There was no point in her hiding or lying any longer. Actually, it would serve her better to
come clean with things now before I learned any more from others. I’d be more understanding and forgiving even.
It took a moment, and I was beginning to think she might not open the door, but eventually, it opened a crack. I could barely
see her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’m here to talk to you,” I said. “May I come in?”
“No,” she said firmly. “Give me a minute, and I’ll come out and we can talk there.” She closed the door. I was speechless
for the second time in less than twenty-four hours.
There was a bench under a tree near the driveway. I wasn’t going to stand at the door or sit in my vehicle, so I went and
waited on the bench. She took her sweet time joining me. I would guess that she was making a phone call to Almi trying to gain
some information as to why I was there. If Almi was smart, he didn’t take her call.
When she came out of the house, the first thing I noticed was her attire. She looked dressed for a business meeting. White
blouse, with a navy skirt and heels. Interesting choice.
I thought she would sit beside me but instead, she stood in front of me, and asked, “What is it you want to talk about?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit?” She shook her head and I added, “Okay. But this might take a while. I’m here so you
can explain to me why you were in your father’s office yesterday.”
“I believe I made that clear. I was there for the laptop and cell phone.”
“For your sick father?”
Crossing her arms, she said, “Did you come here to retrieve them? Because if so, I can go get them for you and you can be
on your way. I mean, I’m sure you have things to attend to at the factory.”
That was an understatement. I didn’t have time to play games. Yet, I’m here. “I will require them to be returned since your
father is not utilizing them.”
She looked me in the eyes, and I expected her to give me some crazy excuse, but she didn’t. “We both know that he is not. If
you’ll excuse me, I’ll get them.”
I was glad she admitted it. It was a start. “Wait. Before you do, I need to ask you something,” I said, reaching out and
grabbing her hand so she couldn’t leave. Big mistake. She snatched it back and her eyes turned dark.
“I believe I told you once before not to put your hands on me,” she snarled.
Releasing her I said, “Ovi, I’m sorry. I was just trying to stop you from leaving. We need to talk.”
“Is there anything really to talk about? I mean, I have a feeling you already know everything. Do you need to hear me say it?
Are you expecting an apology from me? Because if you are, you’re wasting your time. I’m not sorry for going into the office
and doing my father's job. I’m only sorry that you returned unexpectedly, and I got caught. Another week and my father
would’ve been back in the office, and you’d never have known. And for the record, you should be here thanking me. If I hadn’t
stepped in, then it wouldn’t be just twelve orders behind schedule, it would be a lot more,” she stated firmly.
I don’t recall being on the attack, but she was very defensive. She was also stating facts that I already knew. “I’m not saying
that you didn’t do a good job holding things down while he was gone. Because you did. I’m impressed with what you sent me.
Hell, it should've been a red flag with the detailed reports I was receiving. Not something your father ever did. But I do
believe you shouldn’t have pretended to be Trye. You easily could’ve sent me a text or called me. We could have put in a game
plan and moved forward. But you didn’t. And I need to know why,” I demanded.
“Because I love my father and I know that if I told you he was at his breaking point and was walking away during such a
critical period, you’d have fired him. Am I right?” she asked.
Not proud of it, but it sounds like me. “It is possible and only because he never spoke to anyone about anything personal.
Definitely not to me.”
“And you were so busy that you never even noticed what was going on in his life. All you wanted was for someone to come
in and do their job while you sat there getting richer,”
Her accusation was way off. “You don’t know me,” I stated firmly.
“And you don’t know me.” But I’m trying. “Or my father.”
“I know what I need to know,” I snapped.
“Really? So, you know that my mother passed away about six months ago?” she asked, glaring down at me.
“No,” I replied, shocked. Trye never mentioned it, nor had he said that his wife had been ill. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m
sure it has been difficult for you both.”
“It has, and all I would hear each night when he came home was that you were demanding an increase in productivity. And
he was fighting for all the employees. He was pushing them as hard as you were pushing him. We know how that worked out.
You pushed him to his breaking point,” she said. “I couldn’t let you crush him when he was in such a delicate emotional state.”
“You don’t know what I would’ve done,” I replied. Hell, I don’t know either. I was hard, but not cold. If I were, then I
could have moved my business out of Tabiq. To a place that was more convenient for shipping and growing my business. But I
cared about Tabiq and all my fellow Tabiqians. I didn’t need to share that with her. It had nothing to do with what she did.
“Mr. Rio, you...you...” she sighed, and I prepared for her to accuse me of something else. “You’re right. I don’t know what
you would’ve done. And what I did was wrong. I was trying to save his job. Save everyone’s job. I know what your factory
means to people. None of them can afford to lose their job.”
“Then come and work for me.”
“What?”
What? Why did I say that?
The words were out, and I couldn’t retract them now. Just alter them a bit. “Not permanently. Just until I can find a suitable
replacement.”
“For my father?” she asked. I nodded. “Even with what you know you’re firing him?”
“It’s not personal. It’s business.”
“This job is very personal to my father. He loves it. He’s been with you even before the doors opened and you started
production. It was just...one mistake. Can’t you give him a second chance?” she pleaded on his behalf.
The universe must have sent Dean to me for a reason. Maybe it was to drill into my head to keep business separate from my
personal feelings. I did feel for Trye. Not that I’d ever been even close to getting married, but I could imagine that losing his
wife of more than thirty years must have crushed him.
“Ovi, I’m sorry, but what your father did was wrong. He should’ve let me know. He’s not just one of the staff. He has been
my right hand all this time. Everyone in the factory looks up to him. If I let this slide, what does that mean?”
“That you’re not heartless. That you haven’t forgotten that you’re Tabiqian and we take care of each other,” she stated.
Damn. She was laying on the guilt heavy. Or maybe I was just feeling guilty. I was in a way. Maybe if I’d been returning to
Tabiq more frequently, I’d have noticed that Trye was struggling. But I paid him well to manage the factory so I could travel
and grow the business. Putting my feelings aside, I knew that I could never relinquish such control again. Not for the length of
time that I had in the past. Six months was too long. Wasn’t doing me any good if I was increasing the orders and customer list
if we weren’t able to deliver.
I needed Ovi to understand all of this. That I wasn’t the bad guy here. But she was blinded by the fact it was her father. She
couldn’t be impartial. That meant I needed to focus on something positive.
“I know that nothing I say will change your mind. But don't forget, I was born and raised here. You’re speaking as though
I’m not Tabiqian.” Ovi opened her mouth as though she was going to argue but said nothing. Finally. “Ovi, I know things are
not good between me and your father, but that doesn’t mean I’m not grateful that you stepped in and tried to help.” That was
true. “Now, do you want the job, or not?” I’m sure she thought I was an asshole, and she would be right. But like she said, jobs
like that are hard to come by. “Temporarily, of course.”
“I...I will do it. Not for you, but for everyone who works there,” she stated firmly.
Not sure why she was still so pissed at me. I’d said and done everything I could so she would see that all I was doing was
running my company. I didn’t fire Almi, or have Ovi arrested. Sounded like she should be thanking me, instead of still trying to
make me feel as though I’d done something wrong.
My lack of trust in her made this whole thing stupid. If it all blows up in my face, I will deserve to lose my company. Yet, I
stood up and said, “Good. Be in the office tomorrow at nine.”
“I...I’ll be there, Mr. Rio.”
“Call me Niko.” I wanted to stay and talk about anything else than work, but this wasn’t personal. It was business. As I
walked to my SUV, I knew I was lying to myself. A wise business decision would’ve been to get the laptop and phone and cut
our ties.
Instead, I just hired the one distraction I couldn’t afford. The only good thing about it was that she was not interested in me
in the least.
I’m sure she thinks about me at night, but they are not nice thoughts.
 C HAPTER 6

Ovi

This didn’t feel right. I didn’t belong at my father’s desk. Kind of funny, because for the last month, I’d been sneaking in here
and working with the lights off so that no one knew. I wish that was still the case. The looks that I got as I walked through the
factory with Niko earlier gave me chills. I knew I was going to be the talk of the factory. Many of them knew who I was and
must now be wondering what happened to my father.
Niko entered my office, closed the door, and sat down across from me. “I know I threw a lot at you, but this isn’t really
your first day. So I have full confidence that you can handle it. If you have any questions, you know where my office is. But I
wanted to make sure you were...okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked.
“I saw the looks.”
They were hard to miss. I wasn’t going to allow my mind to wonder what they were all thinking. Whatever gossip was
about to take place wasn’t going to change anything. I was here to do a job. For me, my father, and for them.
“It was expected. I’m sure they have questions as to what happened to my father. Should I answer those or direct them to
you?” I had no problem telling them that Niko had fired him. There was just one problem, my father didn’t know it yet.
“I will address any concerns and questions they have. You just worry about scheduling the workflow. Your report said that
our back is against the wall. I’m actively looking for more staff, but I need you to prioritize orders and make sure the staff is
aware of what needs to be done first. We cannot afford any more customers chasing us for their product.”
“Would you like me to proactively reach out to customers with the new shipping dates?” I offered.
“Are you going to email them?”
“If you don’t have an issue, I’d like to call them, and then follow up with an email. You are already delivering top-notch
products. I think we need to make sure the customer service aspect also reflects that as well.” My father was good at many
things, but his English was not as strong as mine. He had a very thick Tabiqian accent. But I’d been fortunate to have worked
for a couple of years at New Hope Resort. I’d picked up a lot being around American tourists. Even some of their slang.
Niko looked at me as though this was the first time he’d ever heard of such a thing. Then he said, “I was right.”
“About what?” I asked.
“You.”
“Excuse me?” He needed to explain that.
“You are going to bring something new to this role.”
“Ah. Well, I’m sure my father would’ve done the same, but he was busy dealing with the customers, and the staff. I’m not
running this place all on my own. At least not yet. I’m sure it won’t be long before you decide that you’ve been here long
enough and take off again,” I said, giving him a dig.
He didn’t even flinch. “I will not be leaving for a while. As I said before, I need to get the company back on track. I’m not
saying that I don’t trust you, but...”
“But you don’t,” I cut in.
“I never said that,” he replied.
“You don’t have to. If it will make you feel better, I will notify you ahead of time regarding which customers I will be
contacting.”
He tapped his hand on his leg, but then shook his head. “Just log detailed notes in their customer record so I know their
status.” Then he got up and said, “I’ll be on the floor keeping track of productivity.”
He closed the door as he left my office. God, he makes me nervous. I hoped he didn't pick up on it. I was trying so hard to
look confident and sound professional, but the truth was, I didn’t have experience in this. I was just doing what I’d heard my
father say. Niko might think that I’m so much better than my father, but that wasn’t true. Everything I knew was because he
taught me. I needed my father. He would know exactly what we needed to do to get back on track. And if he hadn’t left, then we
never would’ve fallen behind. But I didn’t know how to make them work faster than the orders coming in. And if I was right,
neither did Niko.
You just don’t want to admit that my father is the backbone of this company. He’s just going through a difficult time. And
you’re not cutting him any slack.
I wish I understood why he was so...unforgiving. It wasn’t the Tabiqian way. Maybe with me being here, I could get to
know him better and help him see that he was handling the situation wrong. Yes, my father handled things incorrectly too, and
could have done better. But as far as I was concerned, so could have Niko.
My cell phone rang and I was half afraid to answer it at work. But I did anyway.
“Hello.”
“Ovi, where are you? I thought you would be at home,” my father said.
How did he know I wasn’t? “I’m at the office,” I said.
“I should come and meet you there, so you can go home.”
“No!” I blurted out. Quickly, I tried to cover myself. “You should relax and settle in. It’s been too long since you’ve been
home.”
“Too long since I’ve been in the office too,” he reminded me.
I couldn’t tell him that Niko was going to fire him. And if I did, then Niko would be angry with me, and I’d be fired as
well. That would make everything so...final. Maybe if I could talk my father into staying away just a little longer, I would be
able to convince Niko that my father was the best person for the job.
He’s so stubborn, it might take me years to get him to listen to anything I have to say. It might take a miracle, but I have
to try. For the sake of my father.
Right now, I couldn’t focus on Niko. I needed to think about my father. “It is not a good time to come in. I would give it a
couple of days.”
“Why? I thought you would be ecstatic that I am home.”
“I am. And I can’t wait to sit and have dinner with you tonight. There is so much I want to ask you. So much I need to tell
you. And you know what I would really love? One of your special homecooked meals.”
My father loved to cook. I did too. But he cooked special meals that my mother loved. Since she had passed, he hadn’t done
that. Hopefully, it didn’t bring back the pain of losing her all over again.
“Special?” he asked.
“You know. Like you used to, can you make one for me? Please,” I begged.
I could almost hear him smiling. “Anything for you, Ovi. Yes, I’ll cook you one of my very special dinners.”
“Thank you. I missed them so much.” I miss Mom.
“So do I,” he said softly. I knew he wasn't referencing the food.
“I’ll see you tonight. I love you, Father.”
“I love you too, Ovi.”
I ended the call and let out a heavy sigh. Keeping my father away from work was going to be more difficult than sneaking in
here and pretending to be him. Not only did I need to keep him away, but I also needed to make sure Niko didn’t know he was
back. That would be just as bad.
There was only one person who I needed to update if I could get a chance to. Almi. Of course, he didn’t look too pleased to
see me with Niko. Can’t blame him. I’m sure he got into trouble. And now here I was, following Niko around the factory. Almi
must have a lot of questions. The funny thing was, I couldn’t answer any of them. Just like all the employees on the floor, my
being here made no sense to me either. Niko said he was impressed with my reports. I didn’t care how good they were. I had
lied, sneaked around, and impersonated an employee. I shouldn’t be allowed to go anywhere on company property, never mind
be paid to be here.
The person who knew Niko the best was my father. Maybe tonight over dinner I could ask him about Niko. That would be a
sure way to ensure we both got indigestion.
Niko owned the largest manufacturing company in Tabiq. I shouldn’t have asked my father about him. His information must
be all over the internet.
Opening the laptop, I keyed in his name, Niko Rio. Sure enough, a picture of him filled my screen. The saying a picture tells
a thousand words was wrong. All it told me was he was very handsome. Something I had figured out the moment I had crawled
out from under the desk. But I needed to know what was behind those gorgeous dark eyes of his. What was he really thinking?
What drove him? What were his likes and dislikes?
I kept searching and found an article about him. I scanned it but noticed he never once mentioned Tabiq. All he did was talk
about the quality of his furniture and how he prided himself on fulfilling custom orders. Great. Something else I already knew.
Where was all the personal information about him? I spent the next hour glued to my screen but came up empty. Either Niko
was the most boring person there was who had no life outside of work, or he was amazing at hiding it.
Guess I was going to have to find out for myself. The only way to do that was by spending time with him. I got up from my
desk and went to his office. His door was open, and I could hear him on the phone. I stopped and should’ve turned and gone
back to my office, but I couldn’t once I overheard him.
“Firing him was the right decision,” he said. “Should’ve been done a long time ago. Totally useless.”
What an ass! I couldn’t believe he was speaking about my father like that. He was far from useless. For years, my father
gave this company everything. When my mother was sick, he came to work and never let anyone know the hell he was going
through.
I was so angry. My hands clenched in fists. This might cost me my job, but no way was I going to allow him to tarnish my
father’s name.
Turning the corner, I stepped into his office and found Dean Henderson sitting there with Niko. Great. He wasn’t only
trashing my father but doing it to a Henderson. The only other significant employer in Tabiq, one who might consider employing
him.
Niko was surprised to see me and was sure my expression had puzzled him. But he was about to learn I was not someone to
mess with.
Hands on my hips, I growled out, “Mr. Rio, I do not know who you think you are, but you have no right to talk about him in
such a manner. Useless?” I had such a hard time even uttering the word, but I did. “He is a very hardworking, loyal person who
has done far more for your company than you give him credit for. Maybe if you were here in Tabiq overseeing your company
more often, you would know that.”
Niko waited and then asked, “Are you finished?”
I looked at Dean who was sitting there with a stupid grin on his face. That only angered me further. Turning back to Niko I
said, “It doesn’t matter what I say or think. You have already made up your mind about him. Sadly, you will not know how
wrong you are until it is too late.”
“I guess you’re not finished,” he stated.
I huffed, and said, “You are infuriating. I’m being serious here and you’re acting like this is some kind of joke.”
“No. I’m enjoying listening to your rant about something you know nothing about, and I have no idea why,” he said.
“Really? I overheard you talking about him. You called him useless. You said firing him was long overdue,” I reminded
him.
“And you know we were talking about him, how? Did we say his name?” he asked.
I thought back and then shook my head. Had I jumped the gun? No. My father was the only person Niko could’ve been
speaking about. Try talking your way out of this one. “Is there someone else that you fired lately?”
Niko grinned. “Not yet, but getting tempted to. Not that I need to explain myself, but Dean and I were discussing one of his
employees. Or should I say, former ones? One of the useless ones. We were not talking about Trye.”
I felt my cheeks burn hot with embarrassment. When I met Dean’s gaze, his expression was filled with amusement.
“I’m...I’m sorry. I...I...” There was nothing I could say. I blew it. Not just for me, but for my father as well. Not only was I
wrong, but I admitted to eavesdropping on their conversation.
No words would come, and I dashed out of his office back to mine, grabbed my purse, and left the building. I didn’t need to
stay to hear the words, ‘You’re fired’. It was inevitable. I deserved it. I couldn’t have been more unprofessional if I’d tried.
When I got in my car I was overcome with tears of frustration. It was as though the past month had been for nothing. And
now I needed to go home and tell my father the truth.
The drive home was a blur, and I was surprised I made it home in one piece. A couple of horns blared as I cut them off, and
I didn’t even wave to apologize. I needed to get home, lock myself away, and let myself have a good cry, more than the one I
was already having.
As I pulled into the driveway, I had the perfect view of our kitchen window. The blinds were open, and I could see that my
father was cooking. Parking my car, I watched him. Even from a distance, I could see that he looked...happy. When I opened the
car door, I could hear music coming from the house, and my father's voice booming as he sang. I closed my eyes briefly soaking
in the sounds that brought such joy to my heart. It sounded like the old house before my mother became ill. A time when we
were all happy and carefree. It felt so good until I remembered why it all ended. Mother died and took a piece of us with her.
My heart ached. I missed her so much. Although I didn’t agree with how my father dealt with his grief, I could only imagine
what he had been going through. He always told my mother that she was his world, and with her gone, so was his reason for his
existence.
His voice boomed again. I knew I couldn’t go in with my cheeks tear-stricken. Pulling out a handkerchief, I patted my
cheeks dry. My father was happy and tonight I was going to make sure he stayed that way. If this was all we had before Niko
came and dropped the bomb and sucked all joy out of our lives, then we needed to make the most of it.
Easier for you, Father. You have no idea what is coming tomorrow.
It was probably better that way. When I got inside and smelled his cooking, I knew I was where I wanted to be. Enjoying a
night remembering happier times.
Wish all the good times weren’t in the past. We both could use a little joy in our future.
I walked into the kitchen and my father turned to me. “You’re home early. I thought you said you were spending the day with
friends,” he said.
A lie I had told him because he’d never have let me go into the office if he’d known the truth. Should I continue to play
along? It felt so wrong. Was it better to rip the bandaid off and tell him everything? Where do I start? Telling him Niko was in
Tabiq would set him off, and I might not even get to tell him the rest. Can’t tell him that he’s fired. Although he seems to be so
much better than he was before he left, I was still concerned about his mental state. We hadn’t had time to really talk about
what happened after my mother died.
This wouldn’t be a quick, or easy, conversation. I needed time to prepare and to explain. Tonight, while he slept, I’d be
coming up with the best way to handle all of this.
“Couldn’t stop thinking about what you were cooking. And from the smell, it seems like you’re making some of my
favorites,” I smiled.
“When I go back to work, I will be too busy to be doing this. So, I figured I’d better make the most of this time.” He patted
the back of a chair and said, “Sit down. Let me take care of you.”
“Father, you should sit because you’ve been the one cooking all day,” I reminded him.
“Don’t worry. You can make it up to me by washing the dishes after dinner.”
I looked at the pile of pots and pans and chuckled. “You’re right. I should sit.”
At least my father wouldn’t wonder why I was up late because he just provided me with the perfect excuse.
 C HAPTER 7

Niko

I knew that I shouldn’t have called her out in front of Dean, even though she had done so to me. Ovi was embarrassed, as she
should have been. I was slightly miffed. Not sure if it was because she had been listening in on a private conversation or the
fact that she lost control and yelled at her boss.
“That was...interesting,” Dean said, with an odd smirk.
“You find that funny?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t say funny. Not what I expected when you told me about her. You had made it seem as though she was...quiet and
reserved. Could you have been talking about someone else?” Dean asked, jokingly.
“I may have left out a few things. But not about the quality of her work. I’m telling you, even though my work orders had
slipped behind the past month, that was the only thing here. She maintained all the books better than they had been since I
opened this place.” It was sad to admit that because it was another thing that fell on my shoulders. I couldn’t blame Trye for not
doing his job when it was evident that I had been slipping on my responsibilities as well. “She is very detailed and precise.”
“And hotheaded,” he added. “Nothing like I remember her.”
Had I heard that correctly? This was not their first meeting? “You know her?” I asked, shocked.
“I wouldn’t say that I knew her, but our paths have crossed on several occasions. She used to work at New Hope Resort.”
Ovi hadn’t mentioned that. Of course, it wasn’t like she had submitted a resume or I had interviewed her for the job. I knew
so little about her and was hoping that our working together might change that. Hiring her had been purely based on impulse.
Even with what just transpired, I still didn’t regret it. I wanted her here. Maybe not just for business reasons. I couldn’t let
Dean pick up on that.
“And you fired her?” He shrugged. That wasn’t an answer. “Why did she leave?” I questioned. Since she was going to be
working for me, I needed to know if something major had occurred that New Hope needed to release her from her duties. From
what I knew, no one ever stopped working at the resort on their own.
“I’m not usually in the weeds of all the details that happen at the resort. My brothers Alex, Caydan, and Shaun handle most
of it.”
“I’m aware of that. But I also know it is highly unlikely that someone willingly leaves a secure well-paying job, like those
at New Hope.” It was the same here at the factory. If you got the job, you did everything you could to keep it. Finding something
equivalent was nearly impossible.
Was this all a ploy? Had she planned on me asking her to work for me? Was I just blinded by her beauty?
There had been too many women who had tried to get close to me, but I always knew it was my money they were attracted
to. Ovi didn’t put out those vibes. Hell, I’m not even sure she can stand me, never mind like me. That would probably make it
easier for her to do something malicious and ruin my business. All she would need to do is gain my trust and then stab me in the
back.
Fuck!
I couldn’t have been so foolish as to willingly hand access to my business to someone I shouldn’t trust.
“True,” he finally replied, eyeing me from across the desk as though trying to read my thoughts.
Good luck with that. She’s already got my brain all jumbled.
“Would you be able to find out why she was let go?” I asked, hating to owe him a favor, but if it affected my company, it
was worth it. If she’d been caught stealing, that would be something I couldn’t let go.
He pulled out his cell phone and said, “I’m sure my brother-in-law can access the records very quickly.”
I didn’t care who it was as long as I had an answer.
“Do you need privacy?” I asked.
 Dean shook his head, pulled out his cell phone, and dialed. “Hey, it’s me. Are you available to check an employee record
for me?” He paused, then said, “I’m looking for any negative marks, and the reason for the separation.” “No problem.” He
turned to me and asked, “What’s her last name?”
“I thought you knew her?” I questioned.
“Her face, that’s it.”
Dean had said that he wasn’t involved much in the resort, but I’d have thought he’d at least know the employees' names.
“Mayas. Ovi Mayas,” I said.
He raised a brow. “Is she related to Trye Mayas?” I reluctantly nodded. That was going to come with an entirely different
set of questions. “We’ll talk about that later,” he said to me. Not if I can help it. It’s none of your business. Poor attitude to
have when I was asking him for a favor. I sat and listened while Dean updated Bennett Stone with Ovi’s name. “That’s not what
I expected, but thanks for the information. Tell my sister that I’ll be back in Boston in a couple of days. We can get together
then.”
As far as I knew, his sister was the only girl in the slew of brothers. I never officially met her, but I’d dealt with her
husband Bennett on several occasions. He was just like his in-laws, a hard ass nonetheless. Guess you’d need to be in order to
survive in the Henderson family. They had their good traits, but also could be lethal as fuck.
When Dean ended the call, I asked, “What did you learn?”
“First of all, I was too busy looking at the fire in her eyes when she was yelling at you that I hadn’t picked up on the fact
that she’d mentioned Trye or father.”
“She didn’t. At least not by name, just implied it. But I am surprised because I didn’t think you missed one word of that
awkward display,” I stated.
“Me too. Not as surprised as I am that you hired his daughter. What the hell is wrong with you? Do you really think that she
is going to be able to work for you and not hold resentment? Before you answer that, think about her comments again,” he
suggested.
“Agreed. But before that, I really thought she could separate the two.”
“I was that naive about women before. And then Tessa set me straight.”
“I’m not fucking naive about anything.,” I snapped. “And for the record, she's an employee. That's all,” I reminded him.
He had that stupid grin on his face that made me clench my fist wanting to remove it.
“If that was the case, then you would’ve used your business head and not hired her.” Dean raised his hand. “Don’t bother
giving me the line about her skillset again. I could’ve recommended someone that didn’t come with so much...history. But I’ve
been in your shoes before. Tessa worked for me. I told myself that it was strictly business. I was lying. I was attracted to her
from the minute I laid eyes on her. Just too damn stubborn to admit it. You’d never believe what it took to wake my dumb ass
up.”
Don’t ask. It’s not important. Ovi is just my employee. I don’t like her...well...
“What happened,” the question slipped out.
“Remember when we talked about enemies?” I nodded, and he said, “Well it took one of my father’s enemies to come and
take Tessa hostage. He held her at gunpoint and there was a split second that I thought I would lose her forever. That’s all it
took. I knew I never wanted to live my life without her.” He smiled and then added, “Let’s just say that she no longer works for
me.”
I had to admit, that wasn’t how I thought he and his wife got together. Held at gunpoint? Damn, I knew it wasn’t easy being
with a Henderson, but never imagined the women actually had put their lives on the line to be with them. “Glad it all worked
out for the two of you. But that still has nothing to do with me,” I stated again.
“Ok, but I'm warning you, this is all going to blow up in your face because this is not just about a job. It’s very personal on
many levels. I could see the way you looked at her. If you weren’t taking her feelings into consideration, you’d have stood up
and fired her on the spot. Yet you didn’t.”
No, I didn’t.
“You’ve made your point,” I said flatly.
“Niko, if I’ve learned one thing about being married is that women don’t forget anything. You might think she can brush
aside the fact you fired her father, but like earlier, it’s to come out again and probably when you least expect it. When that
happens, and it will, it won’t be your company that you’re worried about losing. It will be her.”
“I’ll tread lightly. Now, how about telling me what Bennett told you? Why was she fired?” I asked.
“She wasn’t. Ovi was working in the office and from what Bennett said, she was an excellent employee. But one day she
gave her notice and informed Cayden that he’d have to find a replacement. She worked for two more weeks and then left. There
was no reason on file as to why, but at least you can rest assured it wasn’t performance-related dismissal.”
It explained her office skills, even if it didn’t provide a reason why she left such a good job. In Tabiq, too many people
were unemployed. The poverty level was getting better, but there were still too many poor. They lived in shacks, with no
electricity and not much food. Leaving a job without having another willingly was unheard of.
 “It must be something very serious,” I said.
“I agree. Unfortunately, Bennett didn’t have any more information. He offered to investigate for you if you wanted him to.”
Shaking my head I said, “No. It’s not important.” At least not for everyone to know. Just me. I’d find out on my own. Dean
was already getting too involved in my personal life. I didn’t like the intrusion.
“Let me know if you change your mind. I’ll be in Tabiq a couple more days.”
“Still trying to talk Alex into going into business with you?” I asked.
Dean got up from his seat. “No. His response when I mentioned it to him was that if I ever asked him again, he’d put me in
one of his stories, and I wouldn’t want to guess how it ends.”
I burst out laughing. “I have a feeling you’re not going to be the hero in the book.”
“Me either. Guess that’s what you get when your brother writes murder mysteries,” Dean replied as he headed out of the
office.
Sometimes I was happy being an only child. Other times, I wished I had a brother I could talk to. This conversation with
Dean wasn’t what I had wanted to discuss, but I’d hoped if I had a brother, he would’ve been as straight and blunt with me as
Dean had been. Not sure a brother would’ve had any more luck than Dean trying to convince me that there was something more
between me and Ovi. I only gave in, so he’d drop it. But I was about to go and talk to Ovi right now. If Dean misunderstood the
situation, I needed to confirm that Ovi didn’t as well. I couldn’t have her believing there was some hidden agenda behind her
being here.
I walked to her office and knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked again and still no answer. The lights were on, so I
opened the door and walked inside. Cell phone on the desk, laptop open. Boy this reminded me of the first time I saw her. But
there was no reason for her to hide under the desk this time.
“Ovi?” I called out, not going to check. But she didn’t answer, and I knew she wasn’t there.
I was sure that she needed time to cool off. Couldn’t blame her. I’d give her the space she needed, and we could talk later.
Or tomorrow. It would also give me time to think about exactly what I wanted to say.
Probably should start with I’m sorry.
As I made my way back to my office, Almi was heading that way as well.
“Niko, do you have time to come and do a quality control check on a few orders that will be shipping tomorrow?”
One thing we’d never had a complaint about was quality. Since I arrived and met with Almi, he seemed to be under the
impression that I needed to check every piece of furniture.
“Do you feel comfortable with the quality?” I asked.
“I do, but Trye insisted on checking each piece personally. He did not want the company name tarnished.”
That must’ve taken a lot of time. Almi wasn’t telling me this, so I felt guilty about firing Trye. He was just providing facts.
That’s the way he was. But the fact was, I never knew Trye had been doing that. When he was looking out for the company, he
was looking out for me.
Damn it. I do feel guilty.
It made me question who had been doing it for the past month. “Have you been doing all the inspections yourself lately?”
He shook his head. “Who?”
“Miss Mayas has been doing it after hours when everyone has gone home.”
This didn’t please me at all. “Ovi had the final say on what shipped and what didn’t?”
“Yes, sir.”
Now I had an entirely different concern. Mr. Baker was going to get his shipment tomorrow. If there was even one thing not
to his liking, I was going to hear it.
“What made you trust her?” I asked.
“Her father. I trust him. He trusts her.”
The Tabiqian way. Family trust. Family loyalty. Great. Another reminder of how I was in this alone. I just hoped that all
that loyalty wasn’t misplaced. “Are there any pieces that she approved still here?” He nodded. “Lead the way,” I said to Almi.
There was only one way I was going to find out. See it for myself.
For the next hour, I looked over each piece more closely than I normally would. They were perfect. And the ones she had
rejected, were because of things that I even might have missed.
Damn it, Ovi. Is there anything you can’t do?
As I headed back to my office, Dean’s words flooded back to me with the answer. She can’t forget that I fired her father.
 C HAPTER 8

Ovi

Surprisingly, I got some sleep last night, but I hadn’t expected to sleep so late. It wasn't even my alarm clock that woke me up. I
woke up hearing knocking on the door. At first, I thought it was my father tapping on my bedroom door, but as I sat up, I
realized it was the front door.
Shit!
I flung the covers off, grabbed my robe, and slipped it on as I rushed to answer the door before my father did. When I
opened it, sure enough, it was the last person I wanted to see standing there.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I asked, “What are you doing here, Niko?”
“I’m checking on you. You didn’t show up for work today. Is everything alright?”
Was he for real? Didn’t he remember our little confrontation yesterday? “I’m fine. Didn’t know I still had a job,” I stated
honestly.
“Did I fire you? Because that would be something I’d recall,” he smirked.
“I just assumed that...that after I...I intruded on your meeting, you might prefer finding someone who...”
“Didn’t eavesdrop or wasn’t so outspoken?” he asked.
Placing my hands on my hips, I snapped, “I had good reason to speak to you like that.”
I saw his eyes lower, and I remembered my attire. Quickly, I grabbed the belt and tied my robe close. It wasn’t as though I
was wearing anything provocative. Heck, I lived with my father. But still, I didn’t want him seeing me in my cotton nightgown
either.
He smiled as he raised his eyes to meet mine. “I’m listening.”
Now I couldn’t remember what I had been trying to say. So, I turned this back on him. “You could’ve saved yourself a lot of
time by calling. But as you can see, I am well. Now you can go.”
“I’ll wait and we can go into the office together,” he stated.
“You serious? You still want me there?” He nodded. “Why?”
“I told you before. Your reporting is very good.”
“But the rest of the package isn’t,” I replied.
His eyes roamed over me as he said, “I wouldn’t say that.”
The way he looked at me made me feel scared and excited, both at the same time. It probably was my imagination, but for a
split second, I could’ve sworn his eyes darkened as he looked at me. It was different from how I’d ever been looked at before.
As though he...desired me. That was impossible. He could barely stand me.
Gripping my robe closed even tighter, I said, “I don’t think my working for you is a...a good idea.”
“Why? You don’t need the money?”
“Money isn’t everything.” But it sure helps when you don’t have any. It had been almost four years since I had earned a
paycheck, and my funds from when I had been employed at New Hope were starting to run low. I didn’t regret leaving my job.
Caring for my mother took all my time and energy. Keeping her as happy and comfortable as humanly possible had been my
sole focus. With her gone, I needed to find a job. Not sure working for Niko was the right choice, even though the pay was
extremely generous.
“No. It isn’t. But I don’t think the other employees feel the same way. It was your father who let his duties slide. I thought
you agreed to help me fix it, so others didn’t suffer.”
I couldn’t believe he was guilting me into staying. “If you really thought about it, you’d see that my father is the one who
could get everything back on track faster than I can.”
“He made the mess. I don’t need him there to fix it. As I already told you before, your father is no longer an employee. And
when I see him, I’ll be happy to let him know.”
I hated how cold and matter-of-fact his tone was when he spoke about my father. It hurt. But not as much as hearing my
father's voice from behind me.
“Mr. Rio. You’re here in Tabiq,” he said.
Please don’t let him have overheard us talking.
He needed to know, but I would rather it came from me when we were alone. But my hope that maybe my father had gone
for a walk, or was out shopping was shattered. He was about to learn his fate, and probably in a cruel way too.
Turning around I said, “Father, he’s here to speak to me.”
“Then invite him in,” he instructed.
In Tabiq, one didn’t tell their parents, no. Reluctantly, I stepped aside and asked, “Would you like to come in for a cup of
tea or coffee?”
“No. I need to get back to the factory,” Niko said.
My father said, “I should gather my things and head there myself.”
I shot Niko a pleading look. He met my gaze, and I bit my lip waiting for what he was going to utter next.
“No need to, Trye. You can stay where you are.”
“Why?” my father asked.
“Ovi has informed me that you have been...ill. Stay here. I’ll be in touch.”
“What about the factory? The orders?” he asked.
Please, don’t push it. I don’t want Niko to say it, but you’re forcing him to.
“Everything is under control.” He nodded to me and said, “We will talk later. Maybe over dinner?”
I wanted to refuse. Tell him what he can do with his dinner invitation. But Niko held all the cards, and he knew it. Forcing a
grin, I said, “I look forward to it.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at six.” Then he turned and headed back to his SUV.
I closed the door and turned to find my father standing with his arms crossed. “What?” I asked.
“Dinner? Is there something going on between the two of you that you haven’t told me? Oh, wait. Since I didn’t even know
that he was back in Tabiq, and you did, then I guess there are a lot of things I am clueless about. Maybe you and I should talk.”
He extended his hand pointing towards the living room. “How about I go and shower and get dressed first?” He shook his
head. Thought not.
When we got to the couch, I sat down and waited. He stood there staring at me. Lying to my parents wasn’t something I was
used to doing. At least not until recently. I had two choices, come clean now, and deal with the consequences, or continue the
lies and he’ll only be angrier when the truth comes out later. I’d done everything I could to protect him. I hope you understand
that when I tell you exactly what I’ve been doing.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you, but I didn’t want to,” I said.
“You and I have never kept anything from each other. Tell me what is going on,” he said.
“Niko, I mean, Mr. Rio returned to Tabiq a couple of days ago. No one knew he was coming. I had been in the office to
email the reports and respond to his messages like I do each day. But he came to your office and caught me there,” I explained.
“What did you tell him?” he asked.
“That you were home ill, and I was there to retrieve your cell phone and laptop. I guess he believed me because he let me
leave with them.”
“That explains why he thinks I should stay home,” he replied.
No, it doesn’t.
Now I know he hadn’t overheard Niko’s entire comment. He had no clue that he wasn’t employed any longer. Maybe it
would’ve been easier if Niko would’ve done it. Just I thought the words wouldn’t sound so...harsh coming from me. Either
way, I knew telling him was going to be the hard part.
“He...he figured out that I was the one sending the reports, doing your job, for the past month. He was very upset that you
hadn’t reached out to him and told him what was going on. He...you...you’re...”
“Fired,” he sighed. I nodded and a tear rolled down my cheek as he came to sit beside me. “It’s okay, Ovi. Don’t cry,” he
said, taking my hand in his and giving it a squeeze. “Niko is right. I should’ve reached out to him. I was just in such a bad state
that I couldn’t talk to anyone, not even to you. I cannot be angry with him for terminating me.”
“I can be,” I said firmly. “You’ve been so loyal and hardworking all these years. He shouldn’t take this one instance and let
you go,” I sniffed. Granted it was a huge issue. I’ve seen the Hendersons terminate people for a lot less.
“You’re thinking like my daughter instead of a business owner. If I were Niko, I would do the same thing. I was his right
hand while he was gone building the business. I knew what was expected of me, and I let him down. Let the entire company
down. Leaving, the way I did showed him that he couldn’t count on me. Once that trust was gone, I had no business holding that
position anymore.”
His tone and expression weren’t what I expected from him. I wasn’t willing to go as far as to say he looked relieved, but
definitely not troubled by this news. Heck, I was more bothered than him. My stomach is doing flips, and my head is pounding.
“Father, you talk as though you’re not surprised by any of this news,” I said. Had he spoken to Almi? Almi promised not to
say a word, but they had been friendly for a long time.
“I’ve been gone a month. I can’t believe you were able to pull it off for so long.”
“I would do anything for you.”
He smiled. “I know that, Ovi.”
He still didn’t look as though he was ready to fight to get his job back. I never thought I’d need to convince him to do that. I
thought Niko would’ve been the one I would struggle with. I needed to see that it wasn’t just me who believed in him. “So
would Almi. We both know that you are the one who should be managing the factory,” I said. Niko might have me doing some
things at the factory, but I was far from managing it.
“Thanks. I’m glad you both have such confidence in me. But things have changed. Honestly, I never expected that I would
return, and everything would go back to normal. How can they? The love of my life is no longer here. I have been in this house
for just two days, and I...I am overwhelmed with the memories of the good times we had here, and also...the moment we had to
say goodbye, forever.”
How had I missed that? Maybe my happiness in seeing him again had blinded me and I couldn’t see his pain. Maybe I was
trying to pretend that everything was okay because I didn't want to deal with my own pain.
I wrapped my arms around him. I needed that hug probably more than he did. “I know. I miss her too.”
We stood hugging for a few more seconds before he pulled back slightly. “So, you understand why I can’t go back to the
factory?”
I shook my head. “I think you just need a little more time. I know once Niko sees that he was wrong and gives you your job
back, things will get better.” I couldn’t give up hope, even if he had.
He pulled my arms from around him and shook his head. “Ovi, I love you. And I came back to tell you that. To see you
before I left again.”
My stomach twisted into a knot. “What do you mean, leave again? You just got back.”
“I know. There were a few things I needed to do.”
Like crush dreams for a happy life?
I know thoughts like that seemed insensitive, but I wasn’t sure my father understood how hard this had all been for me too.
Four years were spent caring for my mother. Then she was gone, and I not only missed her but felt as though I had no purpose
left. With him back, I would have someone to cook for and care whether I made it home or not. My life wouldn’t feel
so...empty.
It wasn’t his leaving that crushed my dreams, I now needed to face the fact that my life was changing once again, and I still
hadn’t given thought to what my future was going to look like. Not without my mother, and not without my father.
I hated this. His mind was already made up. I could tell by the look in his eyes. He was stubborn. I knew because I got that
trait from him. I hate giving up, but I knew that nothing I said or did was going to change his mind. That didn’t mean I had to
like it or agree with his decision.
“Where are you going?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t going to be as far as he did the last time. I still didn’t know exactly where
he had been, but I knew it wasn’t Tabiq.
“I’m going to help my friend on his fishing boat. He needs me and honestly, I need him. More than that, I need to be out in
the open sea. I cannot stay here in Tabiq any longer.”
Not what I wanted to hear. He wanted to leave the country again. I felt as though I was going to hurl. I needed to be strong
so we could discuss this.
“I’m confused. Last night you cooked dinner and we laughed and talked about the old days. I thought you were happy,” I
said, choking back tears. Don’t cry. Don’t do it.
He tipped my head up to make me look at him, and said, “My dear daughter, I was happy. Happy to see you. I'm just not
happy to be here. This is not my home anymore.”
“Of course, it is. It is our home. It’s where we’ve lived ever since I was born,” I reminded him. My parents had worked
together to build this house when they were first married. My mother told me stories about staying up late at night to get it all
done, because in the process of building, they learned they were building more than a house, they were building a family…
with me.
“Now it is yours.”
It wasn’t a home without him. It was just a house, a bunch of walls with a roof. An empty place filled with memories.
“Father, I cannot stay here without you.” I had for the past month, but I knew that it was going to be for a short time before
he’d come back. I didn’t want to do it again, not indefinitely.
“Of course, you can. You are strong and brilliant like your mother was. You can do anything that you set your mind to.” To
be compared with my mother was a great compliment. He added, “And Mr. Rio seems to think so as well, otherwise he’d
never have hired you.”
 I didn’t want to even think about that man. If he hadn’t shown up here this morning, then maybe my father wouldn’t be
leaving. Maybe I could’ve convinced him to stay a little longer so he would see this was really where he belonged. You might
not need me, but I need you.
“He knows nothing about me,” I said firmly. If he did, then he would know he’s breaking my heart by firing you.
“Give him a chance. He’s not a bad man,” he said.
“I beg to differ.” He was arrogant and didn’t care about anyone but himself.
“You’re only angry at him because you think he’s to blame,” he stated.
Isn't that true?
“If you had your job, you wouldn’t be leaving,” I said, believing that with my entire being.
“I won’t lie to you. I might have stayed, but not for long. I meant what I said. I don’t belong here. I need to go and find who
I am without your mother. And you need to learn who you are without us as well.”
“Father, I know who I am. I’m the daughter of the greatest parents that ever were. I have already lost Mother and now I
don’t want to lose you too.” It was my fear, and I finally admitted it, not just to him, but to myself as well. My grandparents
passed when I was just a toddler, and I have no siblings. He was all I had left. Why couldn’t he see that we needed each other?
“You’re not losing me.” Feels like I am. “I will call and check on you all the time. But I must do this. And this time, you
won’t have to pretend to be me. You can live your life the way you want.”
“If I was doing that, then you’d be here with me,” I stated.
He ignored that comment and added, “All that I have is yours. I have enough money set aside for you to be able to live
comfortably for a few years if you decide not to continue working for Mr. Rio.”
“You need the money. I will be okay,” I lied. I assumed he had set some money aside, but never asked. It wasn’t something
Tabiqian people ever discussed.
“Where can I spend it on a boat?” he asked, and I shrugged. “Exactly. And besides, the owner of the boat will be paying me
to help so I will have money. Besides, you never know, you might decide that Tabiq is not the place you want to live in either.
There is a big world out there. Take some time and go explore it. You might like what you find,” he suggested.
“I like it here.” You did too, once upon a time.
He kissed me on my forehead and said, “All I want for you is to be happy. Whether it is here in Tabiq, or a country on the
other side of the world, I just want you to be happy.”
How was that going to happen when he was going to be leaving me again so soon? “I want the same for you Father. When
are you leaving?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“I’m going to pack now. I won’t be here when you get back from dinner.”
“Why so soon? Can’t you stay for a couple of more days?” I pleaded.
He shook his head. “No. The boat leaves in the morning and I told him I’d help gather the supplies. And, you have things to
do too.”
“Like what?” I asked. Besides crying my eyes out.
“Go to work. He wouldn’t have hired you if he didn’t believe you were capable of doing the job.”
“I don’t want to work for him.” My loyalty was with my father and Niko doesn’t deserve mine.
“Then don’t. But I think you need to.”
“Why?” I questioned.
“Not because of me, but because everyone in that factory needs you. Almi told me what you’ve done and how impressed
Niko is. When your mother became ill, and you left your job at New Hope, you gave up so much. Now it is your time to shine
and show everyone what you’re capable of.”
I had thought about going to Alex Henderson and seeing if he’d hire me again, but that position had been filled. President
O’Connor had her own staff as well. My other options were so limited, and none would hold enough of a challenge to keep me
interested in it for long. I didn’t want to admit that I enjoyed working, but I did. And I had plans on what I could do to even
make it better. Too bad it meant working for Niko.
“But I...”
“No. Don’t look for excuses for why you shouldn’t do it. Just think about why you should,” he said. “Now go and get ready
for work. That place needs you. Mr. Rio needs you.
He needs someone to put him in his place and tell him the world does not revolve around him.
“Father, I don’t want to talk about him,” I said.
“Ovi, I need you to be...nice. Be... open-minded. Give him a chance. He is a good man. What he is doing for Tabiq is
amazing. You know that. It’s not like you to be so...unforgiving. Is there something that I don’t know?” he asked.
I did not answer, because I didn’t know myself. There was just something about him that made me feel...uncomfortable.
“We are just so...different, that’s all.”
“Different can be a good thing. Your mother and I were different as well and look how good that turned out,” he smiled.
“Don’t have to worry about that with us.” I can barely tolerate being in the same room as him.
 “Tonight, over dinner, I want you to set aside whatever you think you know about him, and just pretend as though it is your
first date.”
“It’s not a date,” I clarified. It’s been so long since I’ve been on a date, but things couldn’t have changed that much. A date
is when two people who are interested in each other agree to go out and spend time together. That is not Niko and me. He
probably wants to complain about what my father did again. I had no interest in hearing it… again.
“Dinner is a date. Now, just do as I suggested. See how the night goes. Then tomorrow, if you still believe you can’t work
with him, tell him to find someone else. Can you do that for me?” he asked.
He was asking an awful lot, but I couldn’t tell him no. “Yes, I can do that for you, Father. But only if you promise me that
you’ll call me at least twice a month, and not a two-minute call either.”
“My, you’ve become a tough negotiator. Pick that up while pretending to be me?” he asked. I nodded. “Impressive. And to
answer your question, yes, I promise.”
It was a very small victory, but I would take them where I got them even though I had to make a little promise myself. But it
was only going to be one dinner. There was nothing Niko was going to say or do to make me change my mind. And tomorrow, I
would return the laptop and phone and would never have to see him again. Very simple.
“I won’t complain if you decide to call more frequently.” I hugged my father tightly. “When will I see you again?” I asked,
trying to get a commitment out of him for that as well.
“I will return every few months.”
That was not enough, but I couldn’t ask him not to do what he needed just for me. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Ovi.”
It hurt like hell, but I let go of him and headed to my room to get dressed for the office. I wasn’t sure who was going to be
more surprised about me returning to work, me or Niko.
I’m doing this for you, Father.
 C HAPTER 9

Niko

Was I hearing things? Only one person wore high heels in the factory. Ovi. But she had made it very clear earlier that she
wasn’t coming into the office today. I even had the impression that she had no intention of returning here, ever. But that clicking
sound said otherwise.
I’d have liked to think she had suddenly changed her mind and realized that she couldn’t stay away from this place. From
me. But her expression had told me she was hoping never to lay eyes on me again. The woman couldn’t stand me. The only
reason why she agreed to dinner was because Trye had been standing there. If not, I was sure she would’ve told me what I
could do with my invite.
This only made me wonder what the hell she was doing here now. When she left yesterday, she hadn’t taken the laptop or
phone, so it wasn’t to return them. Hopefully, she wasn’t here to destroy them either.
That thought was enough to get me out of the chair and head to her office. As I approached, I saw her door was open. Nice
change. The last few times I came by she kept it closed. Probably to keep me out. Never worked.
I peeked inside and Ovi was seated at the desk with the laptop open. She was deep in thought and hadn’t even noticed me
standing there. I tapped on the door jamb. “Hi. Is everything alright?” I asked.
She looked up, startled. “Yes. Fine.” Then she turned her attention back to the screen.
I didn’t feel comfortable leaving just yet. I needed an explanation. “I didn’t think I would see you until tonight.”
“I changed my mind,” she replied, as she typed.
If she thought that I would accept that and leave her to work, she really didn’t know me. Walking into the office, I sat in the
chair opposite of her, yet said nothing.
Finally, she looked up and asked, “Did you need something?”
“Yes.”
“What?” she asked.
“An answer. Why are you here, Ovi? You left yesterday without a word, and this morning, let’s just say you weren’t thrilled
to see me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“What changed?” I questioned.
“My father. He said I needed to be here. So, I’m here,” she explained.
Sounded like Trye. For the most part, he was the most reliable person I’d ever met. That was until he wasn’t.
“I’m glad you decided to listen to him.”
She glared at me. “Just to be clear. I’m not here to make you happy. I am here to make my father happy.”
“Point taken.” It was obvious that she was still pissed at me. But she was here, and that was promising enough for me.
“How is your father?”
“You know he isn’t really sick,” she stated.
I nodded. “I also know that he is no fool. He must have questioned why I was there. Unless you had already informed him
that I was back in Tabiq.”
“No. I hadn’t. I’d planned on doing so, but you arrived uninvited. Is that going to become a habit of yours? Showing up at
my home without an invitation?”
I grinned. “Since you don’t invite me, I guess that is the only way I have. But on a serious note, what did you tell your
father?”
“The truth. That you’re cold and heartless and you have fired him,” she said, angrily.
I could tell Ovi was hoping to get a reaction out of me. It didn’t happen. “I would’ve liked to have told him myself, but at
least he is aware now.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“What would you like me to say, Ovi?”
She huffed. “That you are sorry. Or that you realize that you were wrong and that my father isn’t the horrible employee you
make him sound like.”
“I don’t recall ever saying he was horrible. For several years he was...very responsible. That changed. You can argue with
me all you wish, but you will never get me to agree that what he did was right.”
“Because you’ve never made a mistake, have you?” she challenged.
“I’ve made plenty.” Hiring you is probably one of them.
“Then you should be more understanding, and not expect perfection from others.”
I laughed. “There is a huge difference between perfection and someone not showing up for work for more than a month.
Hell, he had you impersonate him.”
“No, he didn’t. I did that on my own. He knew nothing about that at the beginning.”
I couldn’t believe that. Ovi was analytical, not devious. Then again, she hadn’t done it for herself. Ovi loved her father, and
because of that, I could see her doing just about anything to save his job. Good thing I’m not a scumbag who would take
advantage of that.
Ovi closed the laptop and added, “Now that you know the truth, I’m sure you feel the same way about me as you do my
father.”
She stood up and I asked, “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Why? You just got here,” I reminded her.
“You can’t be serious! I’m not fired?” she asked, looking stunned.
“Do you want me to fire you? Because if you do, then I will,” I said, hating the fact that she might take me up on that offer.
She didn’t reply immediately. Instead, she sat back down and sighed. “I want things back the way they used to be.”
“You’re talking about your father,” I said.
She nodded, and a tear rolled down her cheek, then another until she was sobbing.
Oh, God. Don’t cry.
It was too late. The waterworks had started. I was no good at dealing with emotional women. Actually, I was very good at
it. I had always managed to avoid them. I could get up and leave her office. That would prove she was right, and I was a cold-
hearted man. Or I could get up and console her. That was opening another door.
As though I had no control over my feet, they took me around the desk, and I rubbed her back gently as she cried. Her
reaction was a bit extreme, which made me wonder if it in fact was all about her father being fired. If Trye was that bothered
by it, he’d have shown up and talked to me, but he hadn’t. To me, that spoke volumes. He didn’t want the job back. So why was
she advocating so hard for him?
Why are you crying?
“Ovi, don’t cry. You have done everything you can. This is between me and your father,” I said, hoping it would help. She
only cried harder. Damn, I suck at this. “If I could give you what you want, I would, but I can’t.”
She turned her head to look up at me and choked out, “I know. No one can.”
I continued to gently stroke her back. “I’m sorry,” I said softly.
Ovi shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
That was a first. She had been blaming me from the moment we had met. I’d like to think that it was something I’d said or
done, but I doubted it.
I should have been happy that she was no longer crying, and slowly made my exit before it started again. But I was missing
something. I just felt it.
“So, you’re okay with my terminating your father?” I asked.
“No!” she snapped. “But he is. It just shows me what a good man he is. When I told him, he said that he agreed with your
decision. That if he was in your position, he’d have done the same. All he did was tell me what a good man you are. How I
shouldn’t judge you. I should give you a chance. Do you know what?” I shook my head and she added, “He wants me to go to
dinner with you tonight so you and I can have a fresh start. Do you know what I think?”
I was afraid to ask. It didn’t sound like it was going to be good. “I won’t even try to guess.”
“Let me tell you. I think we are going to have dinner and spend the time arguing. By the end of the night, I will go home
knowing that I was right, and you will know that hiring me was a mistake and we can both go our own way.”
“All that from one dinner?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m sure we could do it over a cup of tea and have the same results if you want to skip dinner,” she offered.
“No. I’m looking forward to it.” To prove to you just how wrong you are.
“That makes one of us,” I heard her mutter under her breath.
 I knew if I stayed any longer, she was going to come up with more reasons why we shouldn’t go. Instead, I said, “Since
you’re here, would it be too much for me to ask if you could run a few reports for me?”
Ovi flipped open the laptop and said, “That’s what you’re paying me for.”
“I’ll send you an email with the list of things I need.” Give me a chance to show you I’m not the asshole you think I am.
I don’t know why what she thought of me was important, but it was. Since she didn’t believe what Trye told her, I knew I
had an uphill battle ahead of me.
When I left her office, I quickly sent her an email with assignments that should keep her busy for the rest of the day. Then I
called Dean.
“Hi, are you still in Tabiq?” I asked.
“Did you change your mind and want to hear my pitch?”
I couldn’t contain my laughter. Not even if you paid me to. “If you can’t get your own family in on the deal, why would I
want to?” I questioned.
“Good point. So, what can I do for you?”
“I know only guests are allowed to dine at the resort, but I am hoping you can make an exception,” I said.
“That can be arranged. When would you like to come?” he asked.
“How about six tonight? Can I have a table for two set up outside where we won’t be disturbed?”
“I know you’re not inviting me to dinner. Who is joining you?”
Dean was going to learn as soon as I showed up, so there was no point in hiding it. “Ovi.”
“Ovi Mayas. Hmm. You really like playing with fire, don’t you.”
“Don’t know what you mean,” I replied.
“You can’t date the daughter of the man you fired. When he finds out...”
“He knows,” I cut in, smugly.
“What? You’re joking, right?”
“No. He knows that he is terminated. And not only does he know that I’m taking Ovi out for dinner, but he also encouraged
it.”
“Are you sure you didn’t hire him back?” he laughed.
“It struck me as odd as well,” I admitted. I needed to talk to Trye about this, but later. Right now, I want to focus on Ovi.
“Your table will be ready. Secluded. And... romantic,” he teased.
“I don’t believe I asked for all of that.” This was not a date.
“You’re welcome,” he chuckled and ended the call.
Romantic? That was not going to go over well with Ovi. She already questioned my intentions. I could text Dean telling
him exactly what I wanted. But what the hell. She said tonight was going to determine it all, so might as well put it all out there.
Ovi already expected that tonight was going to be the last time we saw each other. Even if this pissed her off more, it
wasn’t like the outcome was going to be any different. Trye might have told her to give me a chance, but I saw it in her eyes,
her mind was already made up. I’m an asshole. Might as well act as one then.
My computer announced that I received an email, and it was from Ovi. I didn’t really need any of these reports today, but I
could use the distraction.
Looks like we both have something to keep us busy.
Several hours later, I headed back to her office. She was still keying away on the computer.
“Not finished yet. One more to go,” she said, not even looking up at me.
“It can wait until tomorrow,” I stated.
“Not sure I will be back so I might as well finish it now.”
I wished that it was an idle threat, but I knew she meant it. Ovi believed that this was her last day in the office.
Taking the seat across from her, I waited, not so patiently. The factory was closed for the day and our reservation at New
Hope was fast approaching.
A few more keystrokes and then she closed the laptop. Looking at me she said, “That was the last one. You have everything
you need.”
Not exactly. I need you not to despise me.
Standing, I said, “Then I guess we can go. Would you like to stop at your house and change first?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Why? This isn’t a date. It’s a meeting over dinner. What I am wearing is fine.”
It wasn’t her attire that I was hoping to change. She didn’t look relaxed or comfortable. My gut said that when we arrived at
the resort, it was only going to become worse.
“Then I suggest we go because we have dinner reservations for six.”
“Give me the address and I will meet you there,” she replied.
“It’s private access only. We will need to take my SUV.” She peered at me and I added, “Your vehicle will be safe here
until we return, or we can drop it off at your home along the way. Whichever you prefer.”
 “Home.”
That was the first promising thing she said.
We locked up the office, and I followed her to her house. She didn’t go inside which surprised me. When she was in my car
and we were on the road, she asked, “How did you manage to get a reservation at the resort?”
“You figured it out,” I said. So much for a surprise.
“It’s the only place in Tabiq with private access. Normally you must be a guest to enter.”
“I almost forgot that you worked there before,” I stated.
She shot me a look. “How do you know that? I don’t believe I shared that information with you.”
“No, you didn’t. Dean remembered you. He mentioned it to me yesterday.” I was leaving it at that. She didn’t need to know
what else he’d shared with me.
“I’m surprised. I had limited interaction with him. I can see why you two are friends,” she stated.
“Not sure what that is supposed to mean.”
“You’re both all business. You don’t let personal feelings affect your decisions.”
Really? I hired you. Dumb business decision. Dean had no problem voicing that either.
“I thought you were going to take your father’s advice and be open-minded tonight,” I reminded her.
“Please, don’t speak to me about my father,” she requested as we pulled up to the main gate and the security guard checked
our credentials.
Once we were cleared, I pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. When I turned off the car, I asked, “Why? Trye and I
don’t have a hostile relationship or anything.”
“Because I asked you not to. That should be enough, shouldn’t it?”
I nodded. “You’re right. I won’t mention him again.” I got out of the car, walked around, and opened the door for her.
Giving her my hand, I helped her out. The SUV was perfect for being all terrain, but a bit too high if you were wearing high
heels.
When we got to the resort, we were met by a hostess who said, “Welcome Mr. Rio, Miss Mayas. Your table is ready and
waiting. Please follow me.”
She took us through the lobby and down a long hallway until we reached large glass doors.
“What are we doing here? The dining room is the other way,” Ovi said.
“Mr. Henderson has a table set up for you both outside. It’s a lovely night. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the spot he chose for you.”
When we went outside, I noticed the hostess was bringing us towards the beach. Did Dean forget that we were coming from
the office? Ovi didn’t protest, but stopped and placed a hand on my shoulder while she took off her high heels so she could
walk barefoot in the sand.
“I think that’s a good idea,” I said, following her lead.
We passed by many empty tables, yet the hostess continued walking until a table far off from the others came into sight.
There was a canopy with white drapes blowing gently, and a table with matching linen and flowers.
Ovi stopped and looked at me. “This can’t be our table, is it?”
I shrugged and the hostess said, “Yes, it is. Your waitress will be over shortly to take your order. There is chilled
champagne on the table. Would you like me to pour you each a glass?” she offered.
“No. Thank you. I can handle that,” I said, trying to get her to leave before she overheard Ovi ripping into me as though I
planned all of this. As soon as she was out of earshot, I turned to Ovi and prepared myself for whatever she was about to
accuse me of. But she wasn’t even looking at me. Just staring at the ocean. Softly, I asked, “Is everything okay?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Not one darn thing is.”
Pulling out a seat for her, I suggested, “Why don’t you sit down and tell me about it.”
Ovi looked up at me and said, “So you can enjoy my misery?”
Wow. Did she think that low of me? I looked directly into her eyes, and it wasn’t judgment that I saw. It was heartache and
sadness. “I wouldn’t do that,” I said, honestly.
She sat down and I took the seat beside her. “What are you thinking?”
“Besides the fact that I shouldn’t be here?” she asked. I nodded and she added, “That my world has been turned upside
down and I...hate it. I wish that everything could go back to the way it was five years ago.”
From what I learned from Dean, that was the time before Ovi’s mother had learned she was sick. “I’m sorry. Losing a
parent isn’t easy.”
“And you know this how?” she asked, still looking out at the ocean.
“I lost both of my parents years ago.”
She turned to me with a look of surprise. “I...I didn’t know. My father never said anything.”
“It was before I started the business.” It was probably why I threw all of myself into the business. In the beginning, I
needed a distraction. Working so hard and so many hours became a habit. So did asking the same of my staff. Damn it. I need
to fix that. “At least your father is back. Hopefully that will help.”
 “He left.”
“Yes, but he returned. Remember, I saw him this morning,” I reminded her.
“I’m not a scatterbrain. I know you saw him. But after our conversation, I told him that he was terminated. He explained
that it was okay because he was leaving anyway. And when I go home tonight, he’ll...be...gone.”
Her voice shook towards the end. “Did he say why?” Was it because of me? Had I made it so she lost her only living parent
too?
“He said that there are too many memories of my mother here. It was too painful to stay,” she sniffed.
“Did you tell him that you’re hurting too?” I asked as it was evident that she was hurting as well.
“Why would I do that? His mind was already made up.”
“Ovi, I know you love and respect your father. But you have the right to voice your feelings.” God knows you don’t hold
back when talking to me.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything. He’d still have left. And would have to carry the guilt of leaving me behind,” she said.
Alone. It was an unspoken word, but I knew.
She continued. “He’s going to work on a fishing boat. Can you believe that he’d rather go and do that than fight for his job
with you?”
“I could be wrong. I’m no psychologist, but I have a feeling this is not about any job. It’s not about you either. People deal
with grief differently. Granted, I never would’ve thought Trye would have left, not the first time, and definitely not a second.
Maybe he deals with it...”
“By not dealing with it?” she asked. I nodded. “Doesn’t sound healthy.” She sighed. “And do you know what is worse?”
“No.”
“I’m here sharing all of this with you,” she huffed. “We’re supposed to be talking about work. Or whatever you invited me
out to discuss.”
“I had no plans to discuss work. All I wanted was to get to know you better. And for the record, I’m glad you told me what
is going on. Keeping it all bottled up only eats at you,” I stated.
“And telling you only makes me look...weak,” she said.
I had no idea what made me do it, but I reached down and took her hand in mine. “You are many things, Ovi, but weak is
not one of them.”
She didn’t pull her hand away immediately, but after a few seconds, she slowly pulled it back And said, “Thank you.”
Well, that was an emotional start to our evening. It was time to bring it down a notch or two. “How about that glass of
champagne?”
“One, because I have work in the morning.”
Yes!
It was a small breakthrough, but she wasn’t quitting. If all we accomplished tonight was being able to work together, then
I’d have to settle for that. But I couldn’t help but hope that we could build from here.
She can tolerate my company and I consider that an improvement. What a sad situation to be in.
We just need to make it through dinner without any disagreements and who knows, maybe tomorrow we can work on
being...friends.
It’d be a lot easier if I wasn’t so damn attracted to her.
My feelings weren’t important. Ovi had been through hell, and from the sounds of it, it wasn’t over. She might not have
spoken to her father, but I don’t recall her telling me that I couldn’t. For this, I was going to need to ask Dean for another favor.
Hope he’s not keeping track because I don’t even want to think about what he’s going to ask of me when he decides to
collect.
 C HAPTER 10

Ovi

I looked at myself in the mirror again, and the dark circles under my eyes hadn’t faded even after my hot shower. Not that I
regretted staying out well after ten last night. We were having a nice time. We talked about many things, but after the
conversation regarding my father leaving, we didn’t speak about anything personal. Maybe that’s why we had fun.
A chuckle escaped my lips. I never would’ve thought that I’d use the words fun and Niko in the same sentence. After all the
butting of heads we’d done, I was sure he was feeling the same way. But no matter how much we had enjoyed ourselves; it
didn’t give me a pass for being late in the morning.
I quickly pulled back and brushed my still-wet hair into a single braid at the nape of my neck. I’d been so busy lately that I
hadn’t had that much time to do any laundry. The only clean clothes left didn’t match my normal business attire. Pulling my blue
and white polka dot dress from the closet, I slipped it over my head. It was way too cheery for the office.
This would’ve been a better dress for last night.
It didn’t matter now. If I didn’t want to be late, I’d have to rush. Grabbing my keys and purse, I left the house, got in the car,
and drove faster than normal. When I arrived, I looked for Niko’s SUV, but I didn’t see it parked in front of the building. But he
was the boss. He had the privilege of making his own hours if he so wished.
Getting out I entered the building and headed for my office. Almi was in the hallway walking my way. “I was just coming to
see you.”
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
“Yes, there is. Mr. Rio isn’t here, one of the employees, Ibby, cut his finger badly. He was rushed to the hospital for
treatment.”
Almi looked flustered. I’d like to be able to say that was unusual for him, but my father told me that is why Almi could
never be promoted to management. He was great at motivating people and great at quality control, but when even small things
went wrong, his nerves rattled. “Oh my. Is it that bad?”
“Yes. I couldn’t stop the bleeding. I need to go and pick up his wife so she can be with him at the hospital. I need someone
to be on the factory floor with the other employees in case anything else happens,” he said.
My heart was pounding, hoping that Ibby would be okay. “Yes. Please go and get his wife. I will handle things here until
Ni...Mr. Rio arrives.”
“Thank you,” Almi said and rushed out.
Instead of going to my office, I headed down to the factory floor. Work seemed to have come to a stop, and I understood
why. With Almi gone and Ibby at the hospital, people were thrown off their routine. But with us already behind on orders, we
couldn’t afford any downtime. As I approached, I realized why everyone was standing around. There was blood everywhere
on the floor. It was evident that this wasn’t a small cut. He was really injured.
My stomach did flips, and my knees felt weak. There was a reason why I never took a job at the hospital. Blood and I
didn’t agree with each other. I fought back the nausea, and said, “Hello everyone. Almi has brought me up to date with what
happened.” Not everything obviously, but the basics. “Ibby is in good hands. There is nothing we can do for him now. But we
all have a job to do. So, if you can all please get back to your work area, I’ll come around and answer any questions you might
have shortly.”
One by one, they all went back to work. That left me standing at Ibby’s station. Even though I didn’t want to, I needed to
clean up the blood. I walked into the back room and grabbed a bucket of sudsy water and rags. Thankfully, I also located some
rubber gloves, because I wasn’t cleaning this with my bare hands.
When I got back to Ibby’s station, I began cleaning everything. I wish you were here, Niko. It wasn’t about the cleaning, but
I had no idea what the protocol was for such a work accident. During my time at New Hope, there was one accident. I hadn’t
seen any of it but heard that there had been a surfboard accident with one of the guests. He needed to be rushed to the hospital.
It was different though. I wasn’t required to clean up the blood.
I carried the bucket into the back room and disposed of everything. For some reason, before I took my gloves off, I wiped
my hands on my dress. Instantly, I realized what I had done. Looking down I saw that I had dirt, and a little bit of blood on my
dress.
This was not the way I anticipated my day going after yesterday. I figured Niko would be here, give me a few assignments,
and maybe we could talk about last night. Not that anything happened, that shouldn’t, but when he had brought me home and
walked me to my door, I had thought he was going to kiss me.
I had to shake such thoughts out of my mind. Niko hadn’t been sending off that vibe. He had been a gentleman. In a weak
moment, I had wished he’d forget everything I had said, and that I worked for him. I just wanted him to look at me as
a...woman.
A heavy sigh rumbled through me. This was not the time or place for my mind to be wandering. It was work that I should be
concentrating on and not on something that didn’t and shouldn’t even happen. It was bad enough that thoughts like these had kept
me up last night. I didn’t need them.
But I did need Niko, and I had no idea where he was, or when he would arrive. Even if he had overslept a little, he
should’ve arrived by now. I don’t recall him mentioning any off-site meetings today. Not that he needed to provide me with his
itinerary. It was just that I hoped that our communication would have improved, but obviously it was still lacking.
Looking down at my dress again, I knew I couldn’t speak to the other employees like this. And it wasn’t as though I could
skip out and get a change of clothes. I’d promised Almi that I would keep an eye on everything until he returned. I wasn’t
breaking my word. If I did so, I’d disappoint Almi, my father, myself, and Niko.
Taking a clean rag, I tried to wash off the stains the best I could. They still showed, but not as before. Hopefully, everyone
would be too busy to notice. After the frail attempt at cleaning, I headed back out to the factory.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. What happened to Ibby had rattled me. It was understandable if they felt the same. I was
beyond impressed when I saw how everyone had pulled themselves together and was back at work. My first observation was
that things seemed to be running smoothly. I’d like to say it was something I’d done, but it was their own doing. My father used
to come home from work bragging about this crew. He said they were the hardest-working people he knew.
I hope you appreciate what they all do for your success, Niko.
Walking the floor as promised, I stopped and asked each person how they were doing and answered what questions I could.
Most of them questioned the status of the project they were working on. A few questioned timelines. Both things I was very
familiar with. That made the time fly by. Of course, my stomach was growling, and my feet were killing me. I always wore
heels, but I never spent so much time standing in them.
I excused myself and went to the restroom. The first thing I did was take my shoes off. Instantly my toes felt so much better.
I remembered that my father had a locker here and always kept a spare set of boots. They were steel toes to protect from injury.
Not sure how they were going to feel on my blistering toes, but there was no way I was going to put those heels back on.
Leaving the restroom with my heels in my hand, I snuck to the locker room and found one labeled Mayas. No one locked
their lockers as it wasn’t needed. I opened it and instantly my eyes homed in on a picture plastered on the inside door… of my
mother. I dropped my shoes and gripped the door tightly. My legs felt weak, and I was emotionally drained. This was just what
was tipping me over.
I wanted to be here and to do the best that I could. But I don’t feel as though that is enough. I’m not my father who can
motivate people. I’m not my mother who had the heart of an angel either. I’m just...me. Too much had changed in my life, and
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, or where I belonged anymore. I was grateful for the job, but the factory wasn’t the place for
me. That much I knew.
It wasn’t easy, but I mustered up all my strength, pushed away the doubts, grabbed my father’s spare boots, and slipped
them on. They were too big, but at least they were roomy, as opposed to my heels.
With my heels in hand, I headed back out to the floor to check on how everyone was doing. When I turned the corner, I
slammed into Niko with such force that I stumbled back. Niko reached out for me, but it was too late. I tumbled onto the floor,
landing on my backside, my head making contact with the wooden floor. The thud seemed to echo in my ears.
Niko was by my side, touching my cheek gently. “Ovi, are you okay?” I was too dazed to answer right away. He instructed
softly, “Don’t move. You’re bleeding.”
His tone was filled with such tenderness that I barely recognized the voice as his. That snapped me out of my daze. I
thought I had washed all the blood off my dress, but apparently not well enough. “No. It’s not my blood. It’s...Ibby’s.”
He looked down into my eyes, and said, “No. It’s yours.”
Niko sounded so sure that I almost believed him. I tried to sit up, but my head hurt. I lifted my hand to the side of my
temple. It was wet. Only then did I realize he was right. I was bleeding, but that wasn’t the part of my head that hit the floor.
Then I remembered my heels were in my hand. I must have brought my hands up and hit the side of my head with them during
the fall.
 Damn. These heels are going to be the death of me.
I was sure it was just a scratch as I didn’t feel much blood. As I tried to sit up, the room spun. Reaching out to him, I said
pleading, “Niko.”
He scooped me into his arms, and I heard him say, “It’s okay, Ovi. I got you.”
My eyes fluttered, then closed again. “Niko...”
I had no idea how long I passed out, but when I woke, I was lying on the couch in Niko’s office, and I could hear him
shouting at someone on the phone.
“I need an ambulance immediately. She is unconscious and...”
Ambulance?
He was making too much out of this. It was a little bump. That was all. “Niko, I’m okay,” I called out.
He spun around and rushed to my side still holding his cell phone. “Ovi, don’t move, you hit your head. You need to go to
the hospital,” he ordered.
I raised my hand to my head, which didn’t hurt half as badly as my feet did from those darn heels. “I’m fine.” Not listening
to his instructions, I tried to sit up and he placed his hands on my shoulders so I couldn’t move.
“Please, Ovi. You could be seriously hurt,” he said.
“The only thing that still hurts is my pride. I passed out because of lack of sleep, and I didn’t eat anything today. That’s all,”
I tried explaining.
His hand came up and touched the spot where my heel had made contact. “This is not from lack of food.”
“No. It’s from my heels. When I fell, I hit myself on the head. It’s just a small cut. A little water and a band-aid are all I
need.”
Niko looked at it closely. The care and compassion in his eyes sent my heart pounding. Who is this man? It can’t be the
same man who fired my father. This man would never do that. “Once I eat, I’ll be fine,” I stated. “If you don’t believe me,
then ask whoever you have on the other end of that call.”
He looked at the phone as though he’d forgotten he had been talking to anyone. Niko brought the phone to his ear and said,
“She said she fainted because she hasn’t eaten.” He listened and then turned to me and held up three fingers. “How many
fingers do I have?”
Trying to make light of it I said, “Ten.” He snarled and I quickly replied, “Three. See. I’m okay.”
He listened to what the person on the phone was saying, then back to me. “They said that is possible, but you should still go
to the hospital and get checked out. I agree.”
“I don’t. I just need to eat,” I said firmly.
Niko listened again to the person on the phone, then said, “Okay. Twenty-four hours. Got it.” He ended the call and looked
at me. “You don’t have to go to the hospital.”
“Told you.”
He raised his hand. “I wasn’t finished. You don’t have to go to the hospital, but you need twenty hours of observation.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, puzzled.
“It means you’re coming home with me,” he stated.
Gee. Not as romantic as I would’ve thought that invite would sound. I looked at him, then laughed. “I think not. As I said,
I’m fine.” I went to stand up and instantly felt lightheaded again.
Niko reached out and caught me. “It is not up for debate. My house, or the hospital. Which is it?”
I didn’t like either option. Most of all, I didn’t want Niko to think that he could tell me what I had to do. “I’m sure when I
get home and rest, there will be no need for a babysitter.”
“Home wasn’t on the list of options,” he replied.
“Your list, not mine. I’m going home,” I said firmly.
He shook his head, but said, “Fine. Home it is.”
I was glad he wasn’t going to argue with me any longer. I didn’t have it in me currently. “My purse and keys are still down
in the factory.”
“Look at the size of those boots. No wonder you fell right out of them. Why on earth were you wearing them?” he asked.
“Because my heels were killing me. And I had no idea how much longer I was going to be supervising production today,” I
said.
He looked stunned. “What do you mean, you were supervising production? Where is Almi? Did he...”
Niko stopped and didn’t finish his statement. Was he about to say something about my father? If you were, I'm glad you
didn’t. I don’t need that right now.
“Almi is at the hospital with Ibby.” Niko looked puzzled. “You mentioned that the blood belonged to Ibby. What
happened?”
“I wasn’t here and had just arrived at work when I saw Almi in the hallway. He looked distraught. All I know is what he
told me and that isn’t much. I guess Ibby had a serious cut and was rushed to the hospital. Almi went to retrieve Ibby’s wife and
was going to stay with them. He asked me to keep an eye on the production until you arrived.” I sighed. “I figured that was
going to be a few minutes, maybe an hour tops until you came into work. When lunch came and went, I assumed something had
come up. All I could do was answer questions and keep production moving. I know how important it is to get back on track and
not lose any more ground.”
That was the truth. If Niko lost customers, then he could end up terminating employees who weren't needed any longer. I
couldn’t let that happen. None of them could afford to be unemployed. Not even me and I don’t even like this job.
“First of all, thank you for doing all of that. I appreciate it. But why the boots? They didn’t even fit you,” he asked.
“You’ve never had to wear high heels. If you had, you’d understand. They can be pure torture. My father’s boots were my
only option at the time.” Even talking about it made my toes ache. “So, you know everything I do. And now, I’d like to go home,
please.” He bent down and scooped me up into his arms. “Hey. What are you doing?”
“I’m bringing you to retrieve your purse and keys,” he stated.
“No. I mean, why are you carrying me?” I questioned. Although I enjoyed being in his strong muscular arms, this was
totally inappropriate for the office.
“Didn’t you say your feet hurt?”
I rolled my eyes. “I did. But that doesn’t mean I can’t walk. Please put me down.” I didn’t want anyone to witness this. I
was positive people were already talking about me. This would only fuel the gossip fire. There would be no coming back from
it.
“You have nothing on your feet. I’m trying to help.”
I’d forgotten that my shoes and my father’s boots were still on the floor where I’d fallen. It wasn’t a good idea to walk
around barefoot in a factory that deals with wood. But Niko insisted on the place being cleaned each night before people went
home. Most likely I won’t step on anything.
“But you’re not,” I said firmly.
He looked down at me, and slowly let me slide out of his arms. Why did getting my way feel so...crappy? I missed his
warmth and touch. That was not a good sign. He was my boss, and I was...attracted to him.
Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.
“Did you change your mind? I’m still willing to carry you if you need me to.”
“No. Why?” I asked. Was he reading my thoughts? Could he tell how much I had been enjoying being in his arms? I thought
I had hidden it well. Maybe not.
“You look uncomfortable,” he said.
Oh, I am. It’s not because of my feet though.
These feelings and thoughts that I was having were not something I was used to. If I wasn’t in the office, or with him, then
maybe I could figure out what was going on with me. All I needed was a little time alone. “I’m...hungry and tired. That’s all,” I
lied. At least part of it was true, the only part I was willing to share with him.
“Then let’s get you home. I’ll bring my laptop so I can get some work done as well.”
“Bring it where?” I asked.
“Home. With you.” He smiled and I knew I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say. “You presented a third option.
Your house. So, I’ll be staying with you at your house.”
And it doesn’t sound like that time alone was happening anytime soon. I crossed my arms. “There isn’t anything I can say,
is there?” He shook his head. “I hope you know I’m not happy about this.” I wouldn’t have minded spending time with Niko
again, but on my terms, not his.
“It’s not about you being happy. It’s about you being okay,” he stated. “If there is even a sliver of a chance that you have a
concussion, I would never forgive myself for leaving you alone. And with your father gone, you need someone. So let me be
there. I mean, you’re only hurt because you were here when I wasn’t. I owe you.”
Owe me?
So, all of this wasn’t because he cared deeply about me. He just felt like he owed me. And this was his way of paying his
debt. “It’s my job,” I said.
“No. It’s mine. Now, are you ready to go?” he asked.
I nodded and he walked me down to the factory floor. I gathered my things while he touched base with the employees. Just
as we were about to leave, Almi came in. I overheard him giving Niko an update on Ibby. I felt horrible. Ibby had been in
surgery and lost several of his fingers. I knew it had been bad, but never imagined it to be that bad.
I felt for him, for his family. How was he going to provide for them now? I wasn't going to be able to sleep until I knew
they were all going to be okay.
Not that I liked the idea of Niko spending the night at my home, but maybe the universe was working its magic and making a
way for the two of us to devise a plan to help Ibby and his family.
Since we’re stuck together for the next twenty-four hours, we might as well put it to good use.
“I’m ready,” I said to him.
 “You sure?” he asked.
“You have your laptop and I have mine.”
“You don’t need yours. You need to rest,” he said.
“If I have a concussion, then I shouldn’t sleep,” I reminded him. “I don’t have a television at home and reading puts me to
sleep. Might as well work.”
I could tell he knew he was defeated. He just didn’t know why I was being so compliant now.
You’ll find out soon enough.
“Okay. Let’s get you home,” he said.
And let’s get to work.
I was feeling horrible about what happened to Ibby, but thankful that I had a distraction because being with Niko for the
next twenty-four hours in my home would be torture. Physically and mentally.
It was so much easier when I hated the man.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
sympathy it represented, together with its mute assurance that in the
household she would find at least one friend.
 CHAPTER IV
THE NEW LIFE

The next morning Posey was awakened by the voice of Mrs.

Hagood at her door, “Come, Posey; time to get up, and be spry
about it, too.”
The clock was just striking six as she came out of her room, but
the kitchen was already warm and Mrs. Hagood in a loose calico
wrapper was busy about the breakfast.
“I don’t want you to dawdle in bed,” was her salutation. “I’m stirring
myself mornings and I want folks about me to stir, too. Hurry and
wash you, then take this dish and go down cellar for some cucumber
pickles. They are in that row on the left hand side, the third jar. Now
mind and remember, for I don’t want to keep telling things over to
you.”
As she returned with the pickles Mr. Hagood came in with a pail of
foaming milk, and Posey, who in her household experience had been
accustomed to see milk measured by the pint, or more often the half-
pint, gave a little cry of wonder and delight.
“I want ter know?” and Mr. Hagood’s thin, kindly face wrinkled from
mouth to eyes in a smile. “Never saw so much milk as this at once
before. Why I get this pail full every night and morning, and I calc’late
Brindle’ll do still better when she gets out to grass.” As he spoke he
had strained out a cupful of the fresh, warm milk and handed it to
Posey, saying, “Drink that now, an’ see if it don’t taste good.”
“What are you doing, Elnathan?” demanded Mrs. Hagood, who
was skillfully turning some eggs she was frying.
“Wal, now, Almiry, I’m just givin’ the child what she never had
before in her life, a drink o’ fresh, warm milk. I thought, Almiry,” with
an accent of mild reproof, “you’d like her to have what milk she
wanted to drink.”
 “You know as well as anybody,” was her tart retort, “that I never
scrimped anybody or anything around me yet of victuals; Posey can
have all the milk she wants to drink with her breakfast, but there’s no
use for her to be stoppin’ her work and spendin’ time to drink it now,
or you to be lettin’ the cream rise on the milk before it’s strained, to
watch her.”
Breakfast out of the way Mrs. Hagood said, “Now, Posey, you may
go out and feed the chickens. You will find a bag of shelled corn on
the granary floor; give them the basin that stands on a barrel beside
it twice full.”
It was a command that Posey gladly obeyed, but she wondered
that the flock of eager fluttering chickens, who crowded around her,
and flew up into the granary door, seemed so indifferent to the
breakfast she scattered for them. “Go and eat,” she vainly urged,
“go!”
Posey had on occasion seen city hens, poor, dirty, bedraggled
fowls, but these were so different, plump and snowy, bright of eye,
and sleek of plumage, that it was a pleasure to linger among them.
But Mrs. Hagood’s voice soon sounded from the door, “Posey, is it
going to take you all the forenoon to feed those hens?”
A little later as Posey was washing the breakfast dishes, taking
great pains to follow all of Mrs. Hagood’s many directions, for she
truly wished to please, she heard that lady calling her, and dropping
the wiping-towel ran out into the yard to see what was wanted.
“How came all those beans here on the ground?” Mrs. Hagood
demanded sharply, pointing as she spoke to the white kernels
scattered around.
“Why,” replied Posey in surprise, “that is what I fed the chickens as
you told me.”
“‘As I told you!’ A likely story that I would tell you to feed the hens
beans. Don’t you know enough to know beans from corn?”
“No, I don’t,” retorted Posey hotly. “And why should I? I never was
in the country before in my life, and I don’t know anything about corn,
except green corn, or beans, either.”
 “Shut right up,” exclaimed Mrs. Hagood sternly. “I won’t put up with
any impudence, and I want you to make up your mind to that. Now
look here,” holding up a handful of yellow kernels, “this is corn;
remember it, and if you make such a blunder again I’ll help you to
remember with a whip.”
Posey turned slowly and with a swelling heart re-entered the
house. She had meant no harm, the two bags had sat side by side,
the mistake had been wholly accidental, and under other
circumstances she would have been sorry enough, but now with the
sense of injustice burning at her heart she said to herself, “Cross old
thing, I don’t care if I did spill her old beans, not one bit.”
So Posey’s life with Mrs. Hagood began, and had the latter been
an agreeable person to live with it might have been a pleasant life;
she was comfortably clothed, she had an abundance of wholesome
food, and the work expected of her was in no way beyond her
strength. But Mrs. Hagood always so managed that when one task
was ended another was ready to take its place. With her it was one
continuous grind from morning till night; that the child required a
share of pleasure and recreation was an idea she would have
scouted. She worked all the time, she would have said, why was it
any worse for Posey? Besides, this was a poor child who would
always have to earn her living and the sooner she realized it the
better.
So the stocking was set up, and Posey inducted into the mysteries
of knitting. For other spare moments there were towels to hem and
sheets to turn, and when everything else failed to fill all the available
time there was always on hand a huge basket of carpet rags to be
cut, sewed, and wound.
With it all she was one of those women who never dream of
bestowing praise: if the work were ever so well done, and Posey was
at times fired with the ambition to see how well she could do, never a
word of commendation followed; if on the contrary, there was any
failure, and Mrs. Hagood’s eyes were always alert for faults, there
was always the word of sharp reproof. Then Posey would solace
herself with the reflection that she couldn’t suit her if she tried, and
she wasn’t going to try any more, and she hoped she wouldn’t be
suited, “so there!”
Often and often as Posey sat in the open doorway in the long
summer afternoons, the distant woods beyond the village beckoning
with their green shade and the basket of endless carpet rags at her
side, did she wish herself back within the pent-up walls of the
Refuge; for there when her appointed task was done she could enjoy
some free time, while here was no escape from the atmosphere of
repression, fault-finding, and petty irritation, to say nothing of the
absence of all love and sympathy, or even interest.
Mrs. Hagood would have said that all she was doing was for
Posey’s interest, but it is exceedingly doubtful if Almira Hagood ever
viewed anything or any one in a light separate from her own interest.
With a sublime self-confidence in her own ideas and opinions, she
would unhesitatingly have crushed a stronger opposition to her will;
how much the more anything so insignificant as the wishes and
feelings of a little charity girl! One, too, whom she had taken solely
that she might have her work, and whose highest good therefore
was to be useful, as her highest aim and desire ought to be to do the
work she assigned her quickly and well; while, unfortunately for both,
Posey’s mind was often filled with a host of other and widely differing
wishes and desires.
Had kindly Mr. Hagood been an active factor in the domestic
economy, her life would have been very different; but he was only a
passive factor, so passive, in fact, as to be seldom considered, and
least of all by his wife. From the first Posey had regarded Mr.
Hagood in the light of a fellow sufferer, with the present advantage of
his little shop to escape to, where with his work as a plea he
managed to spend not only most of his days but many of his
evenings, and where he could enjoy the pleasure of his pipe and
dog, both forbidden the house, and a frequent chance visitor. For
Mrs. Hagood so frowned upon his making one of the nightly group at
the village store and post-office that, social as he was by nature, he
seldom ventured on the enjoyment.
 Still if this was his present advantage, he would always, so Posey
reflected, have to live with Mrs. Hagood, while some glad day she
would be old enough to leave, and then never need see her again
unless she chose, which she didn’t much think would ever happen.
An amiable, easy-going man, Elnathan Hagood, it was said, at the
time of his marriage had inclined to ways slightly convivial. But his
wife speedily changed all that, and by the sheer force of her superior
will had set and kept his feet in a straight path. By nature “handy”
with tools the shop had been her idea, where she started him as
surgeon to the various disabled vehicles of Horsham; while she, in
the meantime, having taken charge of his modest patrimony,
proceeded to put it out to usury, in a literal as well as figurative
sense.
In all the country round no one knew how to drive a sharp bargain,
and for that matter a hard one, better than Almira Hagood; and woe
to the luckless debtor who expected mercy at her hands. With these
qualities but few really liked Mrs. Hagood; she was too dominant,
positive, selfish, and avaricious to win many friends, or to care much
for friendship. At the same time, and for all that her methods were
now and then a shade questionable, there were many who admired
her thrift, energy, business shrewdness, and practical ability, and
took a certain pride in her success as in some sort reflecting credit
on her home village.
It is almost needless to say that in the twenty years or more she
had managed the property it had greatly increased in value, and at
this time included outlying farms, village property, bank stock,
mortgages, and sundry other investments. In regard to this she
never thought of consulting her husband, and if he ever ventured on
a suggestion as a rule passed it over without the slightest regard.
The word “we” was one seldom heard from her lips. It was always
“my horse,” “my cow”; she referred to the time when “I built my barn,”
or “when I bought my farm,” with a complete ignoring of any partner
in the firm matrimonial. Indeed, whatever the light in which she
regarded Elnathan Hagood personally, for his ability and opinions
she did not disguise her contempt, and any attempt to assert himself
was quickly and vigorously suppressed; and the common opinion as
to his condition was voiced by an old companion, “I tell you, she
keeps his nose clus to the grindstun.”
It was then not strange that for the most part he went about with
the subdued and apologetic air of one aware of his own
insignificance. Sometimes, for his kindly nature held an especially
tender place for children, he attempted to expostulate in Posey’s
behalf; but his mild, “Now, Almiry, I wouldn’t,” or “Almiry, you know
children will be children,” made matters no better for Posey, and only
brought a storm about his own head.
Weakness held no part in Mrs. Hagood; “capable” was the term
that truly fitted her; at the same time there was no more tenderness
in her nature than in her well-polished cook-stove. A timid, sensitive
child would have wilted, pined, and perhaps have died in her
atmosphere; but Posey was not more sensitive than the average
healthy, hungry child, and was even more than usually high-spirited
and fearless. Her affections—meagerly as they had been fed—were
warm, her impulses generous, and her nature one to whom love and
kindness might have proved controlling forces where threats and
violence failed. Such being the case, her life with Mrs. Hagood could
hardly fail to intensify all her faults of temperament; the more so as
the almost daily outraging of her sense of justice led to a feeling of
resentment that from its frequency became well-nigh constant.
There were also occasions when this rose to an especial high-
water mark. One such was the event of a Sunday School picnic to a
little lake distant some half-hour’s ride on the cars. An event that all
the younger members of the school had looked forward to with eager
anticipations, and Posey perhaps most of all, for a picnic was
something she had never known. But when the time came Mrs.
Hagood flatly refused her permission to attend.
“I’m not going to throw away forty cents to go, and if I wouldn’t for
myself I don’t know why I should for you,” she had said. “Crystal
Lake! I want to know! Nobody ever thought of calling it anything but
Wilson’s Pond when I was a girl, or of its being any great sight. But
now it’s Crystal Lake folks must all run to see it, and I don’t suppose
it’s anything more than it was before.”
 “Almiry,” ventured Mr. Hagood in his most persuasive tone, with a
glance at Posey’s drooping head, “ef you’ll let her go I’ll pay the
fare.”
“Really, Elnathan Hagood,” turning on him with withering sarcasm,
“seems to me you have grown suddenly rich. If you have more
money than you know what to do with you may go over to the store
and get me ten pounds of sugar, and a couple of pounds of raisins. I
want them right away. As for Posey, I’ve said once she couldn’t go
and that settles it. I don’t believe in picnics, anyway; they’re just an
excuse for people to spend time and money; Posey hasn’t been
good for anything since they began to talk of this one, and if she was
to go she’d wear out her shoes, and tear her dress, and come home
so used up she wouldn’t be good for anything for a week to come.
It’s all nonsense, and she’s enough sight better off right here.”
So with a swelling heart Posey saw the others gathering for the
start. “Why, Posey, aren’t you ready?” called one of her classmates
over the fence as she was sweeping off the walk.
“No, I can’t go,” she answered with the curtness of despair.
“Won’t Mrs. Hagood let you?”
Posey shook her head; it was an occasion where words were
insignificant.
“Well, I just think she’s a horrid, mean old thing,” cried the
indignant and friendly sympathizer.
“Who’s that is a ‘mean old thing’?” demanded Mrs. Hagood, who
at that moment suddenly appeared around the corner of the house.
“No-nobody,” stammered the little girl, all the more frightened
because of her guilty consciousness.
“Oh,” blandly remarked that lady, “it was my mistake then; I
thought I heard you saying that somebody was,” and with a grim
smile she turned away, adding as she did so, “Posey, you have
swept that walk long enough, come in now and wash the dishes.”
It is to be feared that Mrs. Hagood found Posey anything but
efficient help that day, for the bitter rebellion in her heart found
outward expression in careless, sullen indifference. She slopped
water on the floor, jammed the wood into the stove, and slammed
the dishes with a violence that threatened their destruction. And
when Mrs. Hagood sharply demanded what she was thinking of, she
muttered a reply in a tone that brought her a shake, with the
admonition to be careful, if she knew what was good for herself.
After the morning’s work was finished Posey was sent out to pick
currants for jelly; and a little later Mr. Hagood might have been seen
slipping, with all the caution of a criminal, along behind the screening
grapevine trellis towards the end of the garden where were the
currant bushes, and half hidden among them Posey shedding hot
and bitter tears over her task.
“I’m real sorry you couldn’t go, Posey,” he said in a voice lowered
as if fearful it might reach the keen ears of his wife, “for I know how
you’d been a-lottin’ on it; but Mrs. Hagood knows what’s best fer
you.”
Loyalty was a strong element in Elnathan Hagood’s nature.
Whatever his private thought might be, not a complaining word of her
had he ever been heard to utter. And child though she was, Posey
instinctively recognized and respected this feeling, but now carried
away by her disappointment and grief she exclaimed passionately, “I
don’t know whether she does or not! At any rate I don’t believe she
ever was a little girl in her life.”
“Well, you know the real trouble is,” explained Mr. Hagood, “that
she never had any little girl of her own.” For it was one of his favorite
theories that a child, especially a little daughter, would have softened
all the asperity of that somewhat flinty nature, rendering it at once
sweet and tender.
“Besides,” he continued, “a picnic isn’t anything really so
wonderful. I wouldn’t give a single cent to go to one myself; though
to be sure I’m gettin’ oldish and a bit stiff for swingin’, and rowin’ on
the lake, and racin’ through the woods, an’ all that sort of thing I used
to enjoy so when I was your age.”
 He checked himself with the sudden realization that this was
hardly the way to impress upon her what undesirable affairs picnics
were, and busied himself in extracting a paper parcel from his coat
pocket. “Now don’t cry any more,” he urged; “see here, I’ve brought
you some nuts and candy.”
“Oh, Mr. Hagood,” cried Posey impulsively jumping up and
throwing her arms around his neck, to his great astonishment, and
hardly less confusion, “you are the very best man in all the world!”
“Well, now, Honey,” his wrinkled face flushing with pleasure at the
caress, to him something so unwonted and unexpected, and giving
her hand an awkward stroke by way of return, “you be a good girl
and mebby you and I will go somewhere and have a picnic by
ourselves some day. I’ll see if I can’t fix it.”
Then Mr. Hagood, in the same stealthy manner with which he had
come, returned to his shop. And Posey behind the currant bushes
forgot to breathe out threatenings and slaughter against Mrs.
Hagood, as she munched her candy, so much the sweeter for the
sympathy that had accompanied it, and found herself more cheered
than an hour before she would have believed it possible she ever
could be again.
 CHAPTER V
THE PICNIC

“Elnathan, I’m out of flour; you must go to mill to-day,” said Mrs.
Hagood one morning a little later.
Mr. Hagood had been anticipating this direction, but he answered
with a guileless air, “Must you have it to-day? Joe Hatch is a hurryin’
about his wagon.”
“Yes, I can’t bake again till I have some more flour; and I guess
Joe Hatch can wait.”
“You couldn’t go?”
“Me? The idea; no, my time’s worth too much to spend a good
share of the day going to mill. There was a payment due yesterday
on that money I lent Dawson, and if he doesn’t come this morning I
shall go around and see him.”
Mr. Hagood paused in the door with a reflective manner, “I don’t
know, Almira, but ’twould be a good idea to take Posey along and
show her the way; old Jim’s that gentle she could drive him well
enough, an’ ’twould be dreadful handy sometimes if I could send her
to mill when I’m pushed with work. She’s quick to learn anything.”
“Quick enough when she wants to be. But why don’t you send her
to-day? You can tell her the way; she could hardly miss it.”
“Y-e-s, but it’s kind of ticklish gettin’ down the hill there at the mill,
I’d want to show her about that myself. But it’s just as you say.”
Mrs. Hagood hesitated, but the thought that if Posey could take his
place in going to mill Mr. Hagood could be at work decided the
matter. “Well, take her then,” she said; “she’s in the garden picking
peas; call her in and tell her to get ready.”
 Just before he was ready to start, Mr. Hagood came in, “There’s
never no knowin’ how many will be ahead of me, or how long I’ll
have to wait my turn; the last time I got pretty nigh famished, so I
wish you’d put up a bite o’ lunch in case I have to wait again, as I’m
likely to.”
Then with the bag of wheat in the back of the stout buggy, the
basket of lunch under the seat, and Rover, the old dog, capering
around them, they set off, between meadows where the sun of the
July morning had not yet dried the dewy freshness from the grass,
and cornfields, the ribbon leaves of whose green rows waved and
rustled in the light breeze. When they were well outside the village
Rover came to the side of the buggy and looked up with expectant
eyes. “Almiry says there ain’t no sense in lettin’ a dog ride,” Mr.
Hagood remarked apologetically, “an’ I s’pose she’s right. But Rover
does enjoy it so much that when I’m alone I generally let him. Come
up, old fellow! There,” as the dog bounded into the buggy, “sit up
now like a gentleman.” And Rover lifting his head, lolled out his
tongue, and looked first at one and then the other with an air of deep
content.
It was a five-mile drive, but it seemed short to Posey, though easy-
going Jim took his own gait, and once when Mr. Hagood saw on a
converging road another wagon piled with bags he held his own
horse back until he saw they had the right of way, which in this case
assured him a wait of two or three hours at least.
At last the mill was reached, with the wide, smooth pond spreading
above it, whose water tumbling over the dam hurried foam-flecked
away through a deep, rocky gorge, made still more shadowy by the
hemlocks that lined it, on whose very verge stood the tall old mill.
“You think it’s a pretty place?” as Posey gave a little cry of delight as
the shining water came in view. “Well, I do myself, for a fact. But look
now ef I ever send you alone,” and Posey watched as he wound
down the short but steep descent to the mill door, through which she
looked with wide, curious eyes.
“And you never saw a grist mill afore? Well, come right in an’ see
one now,” and Posey followed Mr. Hagood and the miller who had
shouldered their bag of wheat inside, where belts and bands were
whirring, and great hoppers slowly turning as they fed the grain to
the crushing stones. The noise and clatter drowned the miller’s voice
but she understood his good-natured smile and beckoning finger as
he opened little doors here and there and she caught glimpses of the
wheat on its way to be cleansed from impurities, of the flour passing
through its silken bolting sieve, of a flowing brown stream of bran,
and a white cataract of swiftly falling flour: the flour that whitened the
miller’s coat and cap, and lay as a covering over the floor, and
powdered all the beams and ledges of the mill, and swayed with the
wind in cobweb veils and festoons from the high rafters. And mingled
with all was the steady, insistent sound of the falling water just
outside, the power that gave force and motion to it all.
“We’ll have quite a spell to wait,” remarked Mr. Hagood, motioning
Posey to the door so that his voice could be heard, “there’s two big
grists ahead of us; how’d you like to go out on the pond? There’s a
boat under the willows at the end of the dam.”
Like it? Of course she would, and in a few moments she was
dipping her fingers in the clear water as Mr. Hagood rowed the little
boat toward the upper end of the pond where lily pads were floating
on the placid surface with here and there a blossom opening waxy-
white petals. It was an hour that Posey never forgot, the soft blue sky
above, the gentle motion of the boat, the lake-like water that rippled
away from the oars, and the lily blossoms with their golden hearts.
“Well, now, Posey,” said Mr. Hagood, as they drew in to shore at
last, “must be about noon by the shadders, an’ rowin’s kinder hungry
work, so I guess we may as well have our lunch.”
For this they chose a spot down close to the stream below the fall,
on a great rock that jutted out, covered with a green carpet of softest
moss, and shaded by the drooping hemlocks that found their
foothold in the ledges above. Here Posey spread out the contents of
the well-filled basket, for Mrs. Hagood’s provision was always an
ample one, the slices of bread and butter, the thin pink shavings of
dried beef, the pickles, the doughnuts and cookies, while Mr. Hagood
added as his contribution a couple of big golden oranges.
 “I’m so glad we had to wait!” observed Posey as she munched her
bread and butter.
 It was an hour that Posey never forgot.—Page 75.

“This isn’t much of a wait,” answered Mr. Hagood. “When I was a

boy an’ used to go to mill with my grist in a bag on the horse behind
me, like as not I’d have to wait till the next day. An’ before that when
it was a hundred miles to the nearest mill father used to be gone a
week at least.”
“I guess he didn’t go very often,” hazarded Posey.
“Not very, especially as there wasn’t anything but blazed trees for
roads to go by. In them early pioneer days when folks first began to
come here to Ohio it was a pretty serious question how to get meal
and flour; sometimes they’d shave it off, an’ sometimes grind it in a
coffee mill. I’ve heard Aunt Sally Bliss tell that once she nailed the
door of an old tin lantern to a board and grated corn enough for
Johnny-cake for her family; while quite a few did like my father; he
hollowed out a place in the top of a stump, worked off a stone till it
had a handle for a pestle, then put the wheat or corn, a little at a
time, in the hollow and pounded it till it was fine enough to use.”
“That must have been ever so much work.”
“Yes, there was plenty of hard work those days, but the people
had real good times after all. Sometimes I think better’n we have
now,” he added as he slowly peeled his orange.
“Not any better than to-day,” protested Posey.
“An’ have you enjoyed it?” a smile brightening his face, as the
miller came to the mill door and waved his whitened hand in token
that the flour was ready and they rose to leave, “Has it been like a
picnic?”
“A picnic, yes,” a sudden comprehension coming to her what he
had meant it for. “Dear Mr. Hagood, it’s been so good of you, and it is
the loveliest day I ever had in all my life.”
So it will be seen that even under Mrs. Hagood’s rule Posey’s life
was not all shadow, the less so that Mr. Hagood touched by her
pleasure managed with gentle guile and under one pretext and
another to secure her for a companion now and then. Outings which
it would be hard to tell which enjoyed the more, Posey for herself or
Mr. Hagood for her. Occasionally, too, some matter of business
would call Mrs. Hagood away for the afternoon, when she would take
her towels to hem or carpet rags to sew, as the case might be, out to
the little shop with its mingled odors of fresh lumber, paint, and
varnish, where Mr. Hagood hummed old tunes and whistled softly to
himself as he worked. And where seated on a rheumatic buggy seat
in one corner, with the shaggy head of Rover resting on her knee, in
watching Mr. Hagood at his work, and listening to his favorite old-
time stories she would find real if unexciting enjoyment.
Then again during the season of raspberries and blackberries
many were the delightful hours Posey spent berrying in the “back
pasture.” A field this, only a little remote from the village, but hidden
from it by a bit of intervening woods, and so shut away from all
outward, disturbing sight or sound that with its peaceful stillness and
sunny, wind-swept solitude, it seemed as genuine a bit of nature as
though the subduing hand of man had never been laid upon it, and
one which the city-bred child fairly revelled in.
A big, stony, thin-soiled field was the “back pasture,” affording
hardly grass enough for the two or three cows which fed there,
hence held in slight esteem by its owner and suffered to lapse into
an almost unchecked growth of briars and undergrowth, with here
and there a thicket of young and fast-growing trees, a spot where
wild growths ran riot, where bittersweet hung its clusters, and the
wild grape tangled its strong and leafy meshes; a spot, too, that the
birds knew, where they nested and sang, for the most part
unmolested and unafraid.
But the crowning charm of the place to Posey was the chattering
brook that with many a curve and bend, as if seeking excuse to
linger, ran in a little hollow through the centre of the pasture. A clear,
sparkling little stream, gurgling and hurrying through the sunlit
spaces, loitering in the shadows of the willows whose green fingers
bent down to meet its current, with shallow places where one could
wade or cross on stepping-stones, and deep pools where minnows
loved to gather and hide them under the trailing grasses of the
banks.
This was Posey’s first acquaintance with a brook and for her it had
not only charm but almost personality; she talked to it as she would
to a companion, beside it she felt a certain sense of companionship,
and no matter how often she might come, always she greeted the
sight of the stream with the same delight.
For her these were truly halcyon days, and most fervently did she
wish that berries ripened the year round. As it was, being both quick
of eyes and nimble of fingers, Mrs. Hagood permitted her to come
nearly as often as she chose while they were in season. So many a
summer morning was thus spent, for the best picking was to the
earliest comer, and where it often happened, an addition to her own
content if not to the contents of her basket, she met other children of
the village bent on a similar errand.
And always whatever of the hard or unpleasant the days might
hold, every week brought its Sunday, when the interminable
hemming and patch-work and carpet rags, with the other more
distasteful of the week-day duties were laid aside for one day. Mrs.
Hagood was not herself greatly given to church-going, but she
considered it an eminently respectable habit and saw to it that the
family credit was duly upheld by Mr. Hagood and Posey. In her own
mind Posey held the Sundays when Mrs. Hagood stayed at home as
by far the most enjoyable. For then Mr. Hagood could pass her
surreptitious stems of caraway seed, with an occasional peppermint
drop; moreover, he could drop into a gentle doze, and she could
venture to move now and then without fear of a sharp nudge from
Mrs. Hagood’s vigorous elbow.
There, too, was the Sunday School, where she could sit with a row
of other girls, exchange furtive remarks between the teacher’s
questions, compare library books, or loiter for little chats on the
homeward way.
Then in the long summer Sunday afternoons she could lie on the
grass under the shading maples and read the same library books; or
perhaps, what was still better, while Mrs. Hagood dozed in her
favorite rocker, she, Mr. Hagood and Rover, who made the third in
this trio of friends, would stroll away together, beyond the village,
across the open, sunny, breeze-swept fields, past ripening grain and
meadow, along fence-rows where alders spread their umbels of lace-
like blossoms, and later the golden rod tossed the plumes of its
yellow-crested army. These fence-rows that were in very truth the
“squirrels’ highway,” on which the sight every now and then of one
skurrying along with bright eyes and bushy tail saucily waving
defiance, would set Rover nearly wild with excitement, to the great
amusement of his companions.
“Poor old Rover!” was the way Posey commonly spoke of her
dumb friend. But there was certainly no occasion for the first
adjective, for Mrs. Hagood could truly boast that nothing around her
suffered for the lack of enough to eat; and as a reward for his canine
faithfulness she even went so far as to give him a discarded mat on
which he might lie in the woodhouse. But whine he ever so pitifully,
he was not allowed to cross beyond that threshold and join the family
circle, a privilege his social dog nature did so crave. And all his tail-
wagging and mute appeals were equally without avail to draw from
his mistress the caressing touch or word his dog soul so evidently
and ardently longed for.
Rover was a trusty watch-dog, and for this Mrs. Hagood valued
him; at the same time she frowned on his idle existence, and had
even considered the matter of having Mr. Hagood make a dog-power
that she might use him to churn with. Against this her husband had
urged that he wasn’t heavy enough, though privately he confided to
Posey that it “wasn’t in nature for dogs to work like humans, an’ he
wa’n’t goin’ to make no dog-churn for old Rover to tread, not if he
knew himself, he wa’n’t.”
 CHAPTER VI
THE STORM BREAKS

The thing, however, which rankled deepest in Posey’s mind, and

caused her more bitter feelings than everything else, was that for all
Mrs. Hagood’s promise, which she herself standing by had heard,
that Posey should go regularly to the near-by school, she had not
been allowed to attend even for a single day. At first she had waited
expecting something would be said about it every day, and at last
had ventured to ask when she was to begin.
Mrs. Hagood heard the question with an air of surprise. “School!”
she repeated, “and all the house-cleaning, and spring and summer
work coming on, I wonder how you think I can spare you to go to
school. One would think that with all I’m doing for you, and the work
you make, that you’d want to help what little you could.”
Posey choked back a lump in her throat; in her own mind she was
sure that she was doing more work than she made, and earning all
she received or she wouldn’t be kept; at the same time it was plainly
evident that school, at least for the present, was not for her. “If I can’t
go this spring term, can I in the fall?” she asked somewhat anxiously.
Mrs. Hagood was busy making pies, and fall was far in the future.
“Yes, I guess so,” she answered, glad to get rid of the matter so
easily. “If you are a smart girl to work this summer you can go to
school next fall.”
So summer went by, and all through its days Posey bore this
promise in mind; many a time it was an incentive to her when she
would otherwise have flagged; and a spur to endeavor without which
she might have been negligent. Autumn came, apples grew ruddy in
the orchards, grapes ripened on the vines, and the woods changed
their summer’s dress of green for one of yellow and scarlet. Yet
Posey, who all through the spring and early summer had watched
with longing eyes the children passing to and fro, saw the opening of