Page 76 of Bastian

“You’ll piss her off.” Banning warns with a knowing smile on his face.

Looking him dead in the eye, I reply. “What else is new?” Rising from my seat, I button my suit. “Ellaiza.”

“Yes?” My daughter is lost messing around with her phone, most likely texting Arianna. “I’ll get you the dog and the sister, but you need to keep it a secret, yes? I’ll surprise her once I land in Greece.”

“Uh-uh.” Already done with the conversation, she replies.

“Shaw will stay here with Ellaiza and you’re coming with me.” I tell Banning.

“I want to go.” My kid whines.

Walking towards her, I pick her up from the seat and held her in my arms, kissing her face. “You have school, baby. I’ll be back before you know it.”I promise.

Ellaiza pouts, but like a good girl, she doesn’t argue. “Fine.”

“That’s my girl.” I kiss her once more and then turn with her in my arms towards Banning. My friend, the head of security, hangs up the phone and stares at me with a smile on his face. “All clear with the Vice President.”

I haven’t taken a single sick or vacation day since I entered Office, but I will be taking them now. “Then let’s go.” Placing Ella down on the floor, I look at her smiling face. “You be good while I’m gone, yes?”

My daughter puts her hands on her hips and raises an eyebrow. All attitude. All sass. I wonder where she picked that up. Arianna. “I’m always good, Dad.”

“Daddy.” I corrected her.

“Yeah, yeah.” She giggles, melting my heart.

With one last kiss to my kid, I head out of the dining room. On my way to Arianna.

I put everything on hold for her.

My duty.

My obligations.

Fuck, even the country.

All for her.

I would cross a thousand oceans and travel a thousand hours if, at the end of the journey, she was there waiting for me.

ARIANNA

PARADISE

“Because my way is always the correct way.” — A

Santorini, Greece

Two days.

Two days, and I’ll be back home. No big deal. I try to convince myself that nothing major will happen in 72 hours, but the sinking feeling in my gut tells me otherwise.

A lot can happen in an hour, let alone in 72.

Relax… I tell myself. I’ve been on business trips on my own countless times before. This one is nothing special. But this feeling in the pit of my stomach, I just can’t shake. “It’s all in your head…” I whisper. Yes, maybe I’m just paranoid about all that has occurred in less than two weeks.

The twists of events.

Ellaiza.

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