AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kaia bites her bottom lip, and for a moment, I fear she will turn me down. “You know what? You’re right.” She follows me, her brow furrowed as she mindlessly plucks items from random food trays.
When she doesn’t respond to my banter, I know she’s distracted. At least she doesn’t argue when I lead her to a table.
“You don’t have to worry so much,” I say, pushing a glass of wine her way. “Everything will work out.”
She downs the wine in a single swig. “When you’ve lived the year I have, you wouldn’t believe that.” She returns to pushing her salad limply around her plate.
A year. When I stopped hearing her. I want to ask what she means, but then the emcee takes the stage. After a polite round of applause and other crowd-endearing chatter, he gets down to business.
“Now, the moment we have all been waiting for. Here are the results, ladies and gentlemen.”
Wide screen monitors displayed throughout the event hall showcases the winning bids for all the auctions.
Kaia focuses on the one for Oceana Adventures where it shows that I’m the winner of the auction.
The flash of relief on her face is short-lived before her brow crinkles again. “Minato enterprises? Who’s that?” She looks around the sea of people.
“Oh, that’s right, I don’t think I formally introduced myself. I am Minato Osharu, of Minato Enterprises.” I grin, extending my hand to her. Instead of taking it, she doubles over in a fit of laughter. “Glad to see you still find me amusing.”
She dabs at the corner of her eyes, then finally slips her hand in mine. Her skin is as soft as I remember. “Kaia Solis. Well played, Minato Osharus.”
“Just Minato, please. Let’s just say I don’t quite identify with my surname.” Especially since it belongs to the king of the deeps.
Her smile dims too swiftly, and a sweeping sadness wells from within her. It does not show on her face, though, which is still beaming in laughter at my game. “I hope you treat that ship well,” she says. “I have many fond memories of it.”
I tilt my head to the side. “And why do you think you cannot continue having those memories?”
Kaia’s regal eyebrow arches up. “Because the ship is yours now. You won the auction.” She says it slowly, as if she’s explaining something to a child.
“I won the auction, yes, but I don’t want the ship. It’s yours. It should remain with you and your family.”
I feel the whisper of hope and delirious wonder that surges within her. Yet, she still holds herself back. “I can’t possibly take it. If I had enough capital, I would’ve bought it myself, but—”
I gently take her hand in mine. ”You should have it. It’s been in your family and you have a passion for it. Of all the people who deserve it, it is you.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She says at a loss.
“You can tell me when we set sail tomorrow.” At her puzzled expression, I smile. “Remember, I still won that auction, and so you still owe me.”
A guarded expression shuttered her eyes. “And what’s that?”
I point to the marquee that features her entry into the auction, the same image featured in the glossy magazine. “See there? A three-day excursion hosted by an expert hospitality crew. That was what I was bidding for, not your ship.”
“You bid just for the three-day trip? I don’t know what your bid was, but considering the other interested parties, I’m sure you could have gotten an all-inclusive luxury trip for a fraction of what you paid.”
“But where’s the adventure in that? And I don’t want a luxury cruise. I want what you were talking about earlier. Discover uncharted islands and new species. Get out of the boardroom and onto a deck with sun on my face.”
I can’t quite figure out all the emotions that flicker over her face, but I will learn them soon enough. That I can feel her desire to say yes pushes me further.
“Hell, maybe even catch some fish and eat it for dinner. Come on, you know you like the idea of facing the open seas once more. You admitted you miss it. That you can keep your vessel it’s a win-win.”
I know I have her on the hook when she bites her lip and gives in to a broad smile. Gods, I can kill for her. “So what do you say, doctor? Are you ready to host a three-day oceanic adventure?”
Kaia
What do you say doctor?
When a tall dark and handsome stranger gives you exactly what you want, of course the answer is yes.
