Page 16 of Seventeen Years Ago

I couldn’t have planned this better if I tried. I’m sure Reesa expected me to leave the files at the desk for Steven, but I plan on delivering them to him personally.

Time for a surprise visit.

Even as I drove to New Hope, I wasn’t afraid of meeting with Steven. If he was going to hurt me physically, he’d have done it years ago. The only fear I have is learning the truth of why he had come the first time.

Had he really planned on taking someone's innocence? And if so, what changed his mind?

I want to believe that he’s not that man. And scared to learn that he really is.

CHAPTER9

Steven

There was a knock on my door.Allyson or Caydan? Neither of you is who I want to see first thing in the morning.

I hadn’t fully gotten accustomed to the time difference and my body said I should be in bed right now. It didn’t help any that I had tossed all night because visions of Aiza’s fear-filled face when I grabbed her wrist, haunted my dreams. It didn’t matter that I’d apologized. Knowing now what she’d been through, whatIput her through, was enough of an explanation. I was positive that she was having a flashback of the horrible night. If I had known, I’d never have touched her.

The knocking continued and I dragged myself off the couch and opened the door. “Aiza, what are you doing here?” Was I asleep? This must be a dream. No way in hell would she be at my door.

She held out a large folder and said, “President O’Connor asked me to bring this by.”

It would be easy to take it from her and say thanks. Then she could go back to the office and...I’d be kicking myself in the ass for letting her leave.

“Would you like to come in?” I asked. She hesitated and I knew why. This was my room. “I mean. Just long enough for me to put on my sneakers. I was just about to go out for a walk,” I quickly stated.

She smiled and said, “I’m not dressed for a walk on the beach.”

I looked at her again, and like yesterday, she was wearing a gray skirt, a white blouse, and black heels. It was meant to say that she was here on business. That’s great, but the business was over and I had the file.

“You probably want to look at that file. President O’Connor was adamant that I deliver to you immediately,” she added.

“I’m aware of what it contains. Nothing that can’t wait until tonight,” I replied.

“You read in your sleep?” she questioned.

Ah. A sense of humor. Nice to know.

“Sleep is one thing I haven’t been doing at night since I arrived here,” I said. “Different time zones.”

“I forgot that you are not from here,” she said.

I highly doubt that.

“Since a walk on the beach is out of the question, how about a tour of your country?” I suggested.

“I’m not sure that would be advisable.”

“You mean being alone with me?” I asked. She shook her head. “Then why the objection?”

“Tourists are asked to stay on the resort property. Didn’t anyone tell you that when you arrived?”

“A guy by the name Stone may have mentioned it,” I said.

“Yes, that is Bennett Stone. He oversees security at New Hope, but is also an advisor to the President. He and his men have been here for a few years helping....with things,” she said.

What things are that?

I could ask Caydan, but I highly doubted he would tell me. Bennett surely wouldn’t. Allyson was a possibility because she liked to talk. I’d rather hear it from Aiza.

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