Chapter 25
Harrison
I was thrilled that Caroline had come down to St. Kitts with us.
So thrilled, in fact, that I had to devote a non-zero amount of energy into appearing like it was no big deal.
I had come to look forward to our meetings every Tuesday and Thursday, if only to chat with someone who treated me like a real person rather than a source of money.
Telling her about my life was like a strange form of therapy, leaving me feeling lighter and in a better mood after.
Having her down here in the Caribbean felt like a step forward in my quest to wear her down, to get her to like me. Not in any romantic way. I just wanted her to like me as a person, rather than the evil billionaire strawman she’d created in her head.
Then fucking Lucien Moreau showed up in his yacht. I glared at the boat as if my gaze could set it on fire.
“I take it you didn’t invite him?” she asked, appearing next to me.
“I did not.”
“I like the name of his yacht,” she said. “Eau La La. That’s funny.”
“It’s hilarious.”
She patted me on the back. “Get your angry glares out of your system now. You look mad enough to chew rocks.”
“That’s because I am.”
“You let him get under your skin,” she said, softening her tone for a moment. “You just completed a brilliant chess move against Dyson and now control a larger portion of Intel than any other person in the world. And your mood has been completely ruined by a rich French guy.”
The boat drifted closer. A man stood at the bow, waving in our direction.
“For a billion dollars, I’ll take a stick of dynamite over and blow up his boat for you.”
I glanced sideways at her. “You have no idea how tempting that offer is.”
“A billion dollars, and you have to tell me about your parents.”
“Now you’ve gone too far.”
She laughed, then gasped. The man on the front of the boat swan-dove into the water. He must have been five hundred meters from shore, but he swam steadily toward us. Sure enough, the man who rose from the water and walked up the shore was none other than Lucien Moreau.
“I guess he doesn’t make his bodyguard follow him everywhere,” Caroline muttered.
I stiffened. She meant it as an off-hand comment, but I couldn’t help but take it personally since I had three bodyguards within twenty feet of me. Not counting Rafael.
“Harrison!” Lucien called, walking up to my pavilion. “And Caroline Fairfax! What a happy coincidence this is.”
Water ran down his muscles in rivulets, highlighting a body that was as shredded as any athlete. I tried not to think about the way Caroline was looking at him.
“A happy coincidence?” I asked, shaking hands with my partner. “Or did you look up my jet’s flight log and decide to come crash the party?”
Lucien looked back and forth between us with a puzzled expression. “What a silly accusation. Surely it is a joke.” He favored Caroline with a smile. “Your boss is quite funny.”
“He’s not my boss,” she replied.
And she actually smiled back at him.
“It is such a delightful surprise to find you here as well, Caroline.” Lucien took her hand and bent low to kiss the back of her hand. “But it seems as though Mr. Blackstone does not want me crashing his beach party.”
“Nonsense,” I said automatically. “You’re always welcome here, Lucien.”
I hated that keeping up appearances was necessary in my business.
“Are you certain? Say the word, and I will sail my yacht to another island. There are so many, of course.”
“Stay, please,” I said through my best smile.
Lucien grinned and spread his arms wide, showcasing his muscular frame.
“Well then, how can I say no? Thank you for your hospitality.” He glanced over his shoulder.
“I must return to my boat, lest they begin a mutiny! Until we meet again.” The way he glanced at Caroline made it clear the last part was for her.
We watched him jog back down to the beach, then begin swimming back to his yacht. Caroline chuckled, then went to refill her drink.
“Want me to kill him?” Rafael asked quietly.
“Probably not. Is that a serious offer?”
“Probably not,” Rafael replied. “Probably.”
The two of us laughed for a moment. I was glad to have him on my team. Lucien was famous for pulling stunts like this, showing up unannounced and then making himself the center of attention.
But I had a bad feeling about his presence this time.