Page 12 of Seventeen Years Ago

He followed me inside but didn’t utter another word, instead, he opened Reesa’s door, then closed it behind him. Only then did I realize I’d been holding my breath. Letting out a long exhale I collapsed into my chair.

So much to think about. If I told Reesa who he was, what he’d come to Tabiq the first time for, then she was going to want proof of it. How do I explain how I knew without telling herIwas the young woman he’d paid for?

I made him a promise. I can’t break my word until I know exactly what his intentions are in Tabiq now.

Hopefully, Reesa was willing to divulge a little information so I could make my decision on what to do going forward.

I hope more than just his looks have changed.

I couldn’t help but be angry at myself. If I hadn’t been looking at him as a man, a very attractive man, I would’ve picked up on things right away. But now that I knew who he was, I needed to find a way to watch his actions more closely while he was here.

It was not what I wanted to do, but for the sake of Tabiq, I was going to make sure our paths crossed a lot while he was here. How to accomplish that was going to take some planning.

No one might know who you are Steven. I might not be able to tell them either. But I haven’t forgotten. And I’m watching you.

CHAPTER7

Steven

“What the hell was that all about?” Caydan snapped once we were in the SUV.

I didn’t allow anyone to bark at me in such a manner any longer, but Allyson was seated beside him, and I didn’t need to put him in his place in her presence.

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to,” I replied honestly. Had he noticed me checking Aiza out? I doubt it. I made sure to be very discreet, and I didn’t even think Aiza noticed, so it couldn’t be that. And in my opinion, the meeting went fine.

“I’ve seen you in action. You question everything, not once but twice,” Caydan stated. “You let Reesa do most of the talking. Have you lost your edge?”

Raising a brow our eyes met in the rearview mirror.Sorry Allyson.“Did you want me to be an asshole in the meeting? Because if so, I’ll be sure to do so at the next.”

“You know exactly what I mean, Steven. Reesa gave you facts, but I know damn well that you wanted more,” he said. “She obviously was prepared, and there was no way you left the meeting without any questions unanswered, unless something else is wrong.”

“I do have some, but what you’re not asking is if I am even slightly interested in taking on such a project. It sounded more like she was looking for financial backing, not someone who would be involved in the actual running of the manufacturing company,” I said.

“That was mentioned on the flight here. You will be involved in the building. I can find someone else to run it,” he replied.

I didn’t like this at all. It’s not like they were asking me to be a business partner. And I, sure in hell, am not the silent partner type. “Caydan, you know that’s not how I work. If my name is linked to anything, I am fully invested.”

“It’s not like you don’t have any say, but you just won’t need to come here. Financial statements can be sent over the internet and any meetings which you should attend can be done virtually,” he explained.

“Why this? Out of everything they could possibly decide to manufacture here, they decided to make medical devices. Why not something else?” I asked.

“Now that's the type of question you should have asked in the meeting,” he said sarcastically.

“Does this mean you don't have an answer?”

Caydan replied, “Unfortunately I don't. I would guess it has something to do with her husband being chief of staff at the hospital.”

Something still seemed odd. “Doesn’t your brother Brice have a manufacturing business?” I was never going to get used to calling any of the Hendersons, his family.

“No. Not really. He is on the invention side, not manufacturing of these devices.”

“Wouldn’t he still be a better choice for this endeavor? After all you are already building here, what’s one more?” I questioned.

“That’s the point. This has all been the Henderson family. We are not here to take over the island. We need others from the outside, people whom we can trust not to screw over the Tabiqian people,” he stated.

And you think that’s me.“You know my company’s reputation.”

“I know your late father’s. I’m hoping you’re still the ethical guy I met years ago. Pay a fair wage, treat people with respect, and not everything is about money. Or have you inherited more than just the company from your father?”

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