Page 37 of Faith

“How long are you going to be here?”

He had arrived the night before and now he was ready to head back. It was as if he couldn’t go twenty-four hours without seeing Nicola. Pathetic.

“What did you say?” he asked Alfie.

“Sorry. Lost in my thoughts.”

Alfie smiled. “Hawaii does have that effect on me. Hard to hold onto thoughts.”

“Excuse me,” Robert Johnson said.

He turned with a smile. “Yes?”

“We are going to need a few days to consider this option.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“We might have a counter offer.”

Alfie opened his mouth to respond, and Jensen knew it would be negative. “Any response other thannomakes me happy.”

Robert’s rigidity seemed to melt a bit.

“I understand you’re staying on Oahu?”

“Yes. We have a house over there, or I would stay here for the negotiations.”

“Why don’t I fly over there next Monday? That way you don’t have to make the trip over here again.”

“Of course. Give Nicola a call with your details and we will be happy to get together.”

He nodded and walked back to the rest of his family.

“Well, that’s brilliant. Now I can head back early.”

“Of course.”

There was a thread of irritation in Alfie’s voice that caught his attention.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, I just don’t know why I’m here.”

He waited until the rest of the Johnson family had left them alone.

“Mainly because you are my VP in charge of acquisitions and you wanted to come, remember? Or have you forgotten your push to have some time in Hawaii? Take the rest of the week to enjoy the island. Fly to one of the other islands.”

“Sorry,” he said rubbing his temples. “I can’t seem to get used to island time.”

“Sure. Well, I’m off to the airport. Do you need a ride over?”

“No. I think I’ll take your advice and spend some time enjoying this island first.”

“Good. Let me know if any of the Johnson family contacts you early.”

“Of course.”

With that, he pulled out his phone and started getting everything ready to head back to Oahu.

---