Page 8 of Seventeen Years Ago

Forcing a smile, I replied, “Sounds good. But this isnota vacation for me. I’m here on business.”

“You can’t work 24/7,” she said.

“If you want a successful business, you can,” I replied.

“What about personal life? Dating? Don’t you want a wife and family someday?” she questioned.

I looked over to Caydan who shrugged. “You’re on your own.”

“Weren’t you an HR manager?” I asked her.

“I was. What does that have to do with anything?”

“You should know what questions that should be off limits when it comes to business,” I stated.

She grinned. “I’m here on vacation, not business, so those rules don’t apply to me. Now, back to my question. Family? Kids?”

I let out a low growl but answered. “I have neither.”

“Looking?”

“No,” I stated firmly. The last thing I needed was for Allyson to try to play matchmaker for me while I was there. If I could avoid speaking to all Tabiqian women while I was there I’d be thrilled. Unfortunately, there was one I must meet with. The President.

“Well, you never know. So many people have fallen in love in Tabiq. Cayden and I did. Maybe you’ll meet your soulmate here too,” she smiled.

And this is why I want to stay in my room.

“I highly doubt it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head up to my suite,” I said, leaving the two of them in the lobby of the resort. After a long flight, I needed to take a hot shower and unwind. But the truth was, there wasn’t enough hot water or alcohol on the island to get me to relax. Being back in Tabiq had me beyond tense and I couldn’t stop thinking about that girl. She had been so scared. She pleaded with me not to hurt her. No matter what, I know I had. I’d often wondered what happened to her after I left that hotel room. Did she go back home and live a normal life after or was the ordeal so traumatizing that life became unbearable and she had to tell people what happened?

Did you keep your word? Does anyone know about me?

Since the police didn’t arrest me the moment we landed, I doubt she’d told them. Then again, it’s not like I told her my name. I didn’t know hers. That night wasn’t a date. It was my father's twisted way of making me into a man.

Sick bastard.

I needed to stop thinking about what happened that night. There was no changing the past.I hope she was able to accomplish what I haven’t.

Allyson might not like it, but I needed to be in my suite. Even now as I looked out my hotel room window, I could see a lot of Tabiqian people working at the resort. Would they see the shame in my eyes that I saw when I looked in the mirror?

I never would’ve agreed to come if I knew this was where we were heading.

This week was going to be pure hell and I was about to put my acting skills to test because I couldn’t let anyone pick up on the internal turmoil rushing through me.

I wasn’t thinking rationally. I was here only for a week. It was not like our paths were going to cross again. And even if they did, what were the odds that she’d even recognize me after all these years?

Shouldn’t tempt fate. It has a way of slapping me in the back of the head when I least expect it.

There was a knock on the door. Walking away from the window I went to answer it.Please don’t be Allyson checking on me already.When I opened the door, I found a fellow American standing there. “Can I help you?”

“I’m Bennett Stone. Head of security here. I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself. Feel free to let me know if you need anything,” he said.

“Does the head of security make it a point to greet all guests or is this a special visit?” I run hotels and the only time security makes an appearance is if there is trouble, or to give a warning so there won’t be.

“Would you mind if I came in?” he asked.

I opened the door and he entered. “What is it you want to discuss?”

“You arrived with Caydan.”

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