Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
In which I assure Oliver that Ocean is nothing more than a summer fling. Riiiiight.
The weekend was amazing, but inevitably, Monday arrived. I’d never looked less forward to a working week than now, which was a new experience for me. Alas, duty called, and I was on my way to the Krause Group for another meeting with James, their CFO. I’d poured over the detailed reports he’d sent me and had some more questions.
The soft hum of the engine vibrated beneath me as I leaned into the buttery leather seats of my private car. My fingers absently tapped my phone screen, scrolling through messages without really seeing them. I had the hardest time concentrating on work. My mind kept drifting back to the past few days in Melbourne—to Ocean.
I’d never met anyone who made me so at ease yet so uncomfortable at the same time. He made me want to be myself, which explained that contradictory feeling when I was with him. Submitting to him came so naturally. I wanted to make him happy, to do what he asked of me—even if it was cleaning myself for him, which I now did every morning.
But every time I so easily followed his commands or fulfilled his wishes, alarm bells went off. Being with Ocean stirred up memories. Bad ones. Not because he was anything like his father. He wasn’t. The more I got to know Ocean, the more I saw Marcia in him. He had that same vibrancy, that zest for life, that charisma that drew you in.
But he also had that natural dominance, the one Victor had possessed. And like Preston, Victor had been firmly relegated to my past…until recently. I kept thinking about him, about what he and I had shared. Our life together had been good, had been gold until it wasn’t and everything crumbled. My fault as much as his—I was honest enough to admit that.
What would’ve happened if he hadn’t believed Preston? If Victor had given me a chance to explain and had listened to me? Would we have made it as a couple?
He was married now. I’d looked him up a few years ago and saw him tagged in pictures on Instagram by his wedding photographer. His husband had been younger than him—probably my age—and they’d both looked radiant and happy.
I was glad. I wanted him to be happy. Well, I did now. It had taken me a long time to stop being angry and blaming him and start to wish him well. Once I did, I’d been able to let him go…until this week.
The comparison between Victor and Ocean was an easy one, a natural one, yet they couldn’t have been more different. Victor had been fifteen years my senior, a respected businessman, and an experienced Dom—though I hadn’t figured that part out until later in our relationship. The only thing Ocean had in common with him was that dominant side, which came as easy to him as it had to Victor.
But unlike with Victor, I was terrified. When Victor and I had started experimenting, as he’d called it at first, I’d been excited, elated even. Being with him had given me something I’d never experienced before, a peace I hadn’t even known existed. The joy of submitting, Victor had called it once he’d explained the dynamics to me properly. And it had been joy. Pure, peaceful joy unlike anything else. I’d never felt it again.
Until now. When Ocean fucked me, and I surrendered to him wholly, I’d experienced that same joy of submitting. I was in so much trouble with him, but what was the alternative? Walking away? The thought alone made my insides clench. I wasn’t ready for that.
Maybe if I stayed vigilant and ensured it didn’t go too far, it would be okay. It had to be.
My phone buzzed, startling me out of my reverie. Oliver’s name flashed on the screen. I took a steadying breath, trying to shift back into business mode. “Hey, Oliver.”
“Good morning to you and a good night to me!” Oliver’s voice bubbled through the speaker. “How’s my favorite bossman doing?”
I smiled at his irrepressible cheer. “I’m good.”
“Yeah? I wanted to check in because I didn’t see any emails from you over the weekend, and I feared I might have an issue with my email. Maybe a server problem?”
Oh crap. It hadn’t even occurred to me that Oliver would notice, but of course he had. From the day he’d started working for me, he’d adopted the philosophy that if I was working, he was, so he often clocked a few hours each weekend. “No, everything is fine with the email. As far as I know, at least. I just didn’t send any emails over the weekend.”
Oliver was quiet for a beat. “Why?”
I sighed. There was no avoiding this, was there? “Because I didn’t work.”
“Did you actually leave your hotel room?”
I chuckled despite myself. “As a matter of fact, I did. I took some time to explore the city and go sightseeing like you suggested.”
There was a dramatic gasp on the other end of the line. “Sightseeing? Cash Sullivan, workaholic extraordinaire, actually played tourist? I’m shocked. Shocked, I tell you!”
“Very funny,” I said dryly, but my cheeks warmed.
How could I possibly explain the whirlwind of the past few days? The unexpected connection I’d felt with a man young enough to be my son? The way Ocean had somehow slipped past all my carefully constructed defenses?
I wasn’t ready to share that yet, even with Oliver. So I deflected. “How are things at the office?”
“Oh no, you don’t,” Oliver scolded. “You can’t casually drop that you went sightseeing and then change the subject. Something’s different. I can hear it in your voice.”
Damn. Sometimes, I wished Oliver didn’t know me quite so well. “It’s not that big a deal, Oliver.”
“Oh, but it is. When was the last time you took a break? And I mean a real break, not answering emails from a different location.”
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it again. He had a point.
“That’s what I thought,” Oliver said smugly. “So, come on, spill. What convinced you to step away from the spreadsheets?”
I hesitated, my mind flashing to Ocean’s infectious laugh, his bright eyes, the way he looked at me like I was something precious. And suddenly, I wanted to tell Oliver. “Actually, I met someone.”
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, then Oliver’s voice erupted with excitement. “You what ? Tell me everything. Right now.”
I chuckled at his enthusiasm, even as nerves twisted in my gut. “His name is Ocean. He’s…different from anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Ocean? Like the body of water?” Oliver’s curiosity was palpable. “What’s he like?”
As I began to describe Ocean, a warmth spread through my chest. “He’s vibrant, full of life. Blond hair that looks like it’s been kissed by the sun, eyes as blue as the sea. He’s a surfer, actually.”
“Ooh, a beach boy,” Oliver cooed. “Sounds dreamy. How old is he?”
I swallowed hard, my voice dropping. “He’s younger. Twenty-four.”
“Twenty-four?” Oliver repeated, his tone more intrigued than judgmental.
“I know he’s too young for me.”
“Bullshit. Age is a number, and he’s far above the age of consent. What matters is how he makes you feel. So, how does he make you feel?”
I closed my eyes, picturing Ocean’s radiant smile. “Alive. He makes me feel alive.”
“Then that’s all that matters. You deserve happiness, Cash. Don’t let your fears hold you back.”
His words washed over me like a balm, easing the tension I’d been carrying. “You really think so?”
“I know so. Now, tell me more about this surfer boy of yours. I want all the juicy details.”
No way in hell was I sharing the truly juicy details or letting Oliver know about the details of the arrangement between Ocean and me, but I did tell him more about what we’d done and the things I had seen.
“He sounds wonderful, Cash,” Oliver said.
“He is. I know this is nothing more than a summer fling or whatever the Australian equivalent is, but he makes me happy, and right now, that’s enough.”
“Don’t close yourself off beforehand from what could be, okay? I’ve never heard you talk like this about anything or anyone.”
I couldn’t allow myself to think about that. That would only lead to disappointment down the road. “I gotta go. I’m at the Krause Group for the next meeting.”
“Alright. Say hi to Ocean from me…and send me some pics!”
I ended the call, letting out a deep breath. Telling Oliver about Ocean had felt good, better than I had expected. Oliver had reacted so well, even when he found out about our age gap. But as we pulled up to the curb in front of the Krause Group headquarters, I pushed all thoughts of Ocean away. I had a job to do.
The lobby was a hive of activity, men and women in crisp suits bustling about their day. I signed in at the reception desk and received my visitor pass. My shoes clicked against the polished marble floor as I made my way to the elevators. Inside, I caught my reflection in the mirrored walls. I looked…different. There was a spark in my eyes that hadn’t been there before. Was this the Ocean effect?
The elevator dinged, and I stepped out onto the executive floor, where I was immediately ushered into James’s office. James’s firm handshake and warm smile set the tone for our meeting. “Cash, good to see you again. How was your weekend?”
“Good. I explored a bit of your beautiful city and had the best time.”
He looked pleased. “So glad to hear that. Now, shall we dive in?”
I nodded, and we settled next to each other at the small conference table in his office. “I just got some new numbers in. Our Q3 earnings have exceeded projections by twelve percent…”
As James began to outline the company’s financial position, I focused on his words, making notes of some key facts.
“…which brings us to our expansion plans,” James was saying. “The board is eager to hear your thoughts on the Asian market.”
I leaned forward, all business now. “I’ve been reviewing the data, and I think there’s a real opportunity there, but we’d have to do a study into how we’d need to adapt the products for that market.”
“You mean sizes?”
“Yes, but also fabrics, patterns, and colors. Some of the current product lines may not do well because of cultural associations with some of the colors used, for example.”
“Good point.” James scribbled a quick note. “Definitely worth studying that. But all in all, you agree there’s room for expansion?”
“Absolutely. I think it’s smart that you focused on domestic growth first while building a solid reputation for quality and customer service. That will help tremendously with conquering new markets.”
He tapped his pen against his chin. “How do you view our reputation?”
“The Krause Group has always been about more than mere profits. It’s about creating a legacy, one built on high-quality products, trust, and innovation, while at the same time focusing on sustainable growth, environmental care, and supporting charities. I want to preserve that ethos while pushing the company into new frontiers.”
James’s eyebrows lifted, a spark of interest igniting in his eyes. “So if the deal goes through, you’re not planning on splitting up the company and selling certain parts off?”
His question wasn’t without reason, as I was known to ruthlessly cut subdivisions that weren’t making a profit or didn’t contribute to the company’s performance in another way. But this one was different.
As the Krause Group was a privately owned company, Garrett Krause could decide who he wanted to sell his company to. This was not a hostile takeover where I could set the terms. But strangely enough, I liked the challenge this deal represented. It had been a long time since I’d been this involved in a deal, and it felt good.
“Not initially, though we’ll need a specific plan to improve Wavey’s results. It may do better with a separate business manager with experience in that market or a similar one. Marketing to Gen Z is a skill not many of us possess.”
James chuckled. “Tell me about it. It’s like my kids speak a different language. I don’t even understand half of what they’re saying, and then they look at me with poorly disguised pity for being old.”
“Exactly, so we’ll need someone who can speak their language. But other than that, we’ll keep focusing on sustainable growth,” I continued, my passion bleeding into my words. “Investing in green technologies, fostering local partnerships in new markets. But most importantly, we’ll double down on what made this company great—its people and reputation for quality, integrity, and service.”
“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear, and I’m sure Garrett feels the same. We’re proud of what we’ve built, and we’d hate to see that go to waste. You mentioned our people, our employees. Are you planning on keeping everyone on?”
“Right now, I see no reason not to, including you. From what I’ve seen so far, you’ve done a terrific job, and I’d be a fool to lose your experience and expertise.”
As I spoke, the tension in James’s shoulders eased. His lips curved into a smile, relief washing over his features. “Thank you. That’s high praise coming from you.”
“It’s well-deserved. Barring any surprises during the formal audit my accountancy firm will do, I’m ready to make an offer.”
“Garrett will be pleased to hear that.”
I met his eyes. “I would like to be the only one whose offer you’re considering until I’ve made my decision.”
He hesitated. “In the interest of full disclosure, we are talking to one other investor. He approached us over the weekend, actually.”
Something tickled the back of my head and an unease crept down my spine. Was I about to lose another deal? “I’m assuming you’re not willing to disclose who it is?”
James firmly shook his head. “We gave you the same courtesy.” Something passed over his face, a hint of worry that increased my concern.
“I respect that. But can I ask that you allow me a week to run the full audit and make a formal offer?”
“I’ll have to confirm with Garrett, but I think that’s a reasonable request.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. The last thing I want is to make a rushed offer under pressure. I think both the company and I deserve better.”
“Agreed.” James closed his laptop. “For what it’s worth, I’m hoping you’ll be the new owner.”
And that tingly sense that something was off was back. “You don’t like the other investor?”
It was a highly inappropriate question, but I couldn’t help asking. I had to figure out what was going on.
James hesitated again. “I haven’t met him in person yet, but…” He pressed his lips together. “Let’s say my first impression of him over the phone was not favorable and leave it at that.”
“Okay, I’ll stop asking questions, but you can’t blame me for being curious.”
“Not at all.” He leaned back in his chair. “Cash, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your approach. It’s been a tough few months, and this… Well, it’s a weight off my shoulders.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I replied, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. “How are things outside of work? How did your wife’s surgery go?”
James’s expression softened, a mix of love and worry crossing his face. “It went well, but it’s hard on her, as it would be on any woman. The first time, they did a lumpectomy, but now they did a full mastectomy, and the emotional impact is big. But Caroline is the strongest person I know, and she’s fighting with all she has.”
The raw emotion in his voice struck me hard. Here was a man juggling the pressures of a high-stakes job with the personal struggle of supporting a loved one through illness. It made my own worries seem trivial in comparison. “I’m not religious, so my prayers won’t make much of a difference, I fear, but please know she’s in my thoughts, as are you.”
He nodded, blinking rapidly. “Thank you, Cash. That means more than you know.”
I left the Krause Group building with James’s words echoing in my mind. It was a stark reminder of what mattered in life beyond balance sheets and business deals. I thought back to my conversation with Oliver earlier. His surprise at my weekend sightseeing, his genuine excitement about Ocean… When was the last time I’d allowed myself to truly experience life outside of work?
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I’d been so focused on building my empire, on maintaining control, that I’d walled myself off from real connections. Sure, I had hookups, but when was the last time I’d let anyone get close to me? I’d told myself it was what I wanted, what was needed, but was that really true? Or had I just been scared?
Ocean’s face flashed in my mind—his youthful energy, his infectious laughter, his care for me. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine what it might be like to have someone like that in my life regularly. Not for a month-long fling, but…
I shook my head, trying to clear the thought. It was ridiculous. I was too old, too set in my ways. Wasn’t I?
But James’s words kept coming back to me. Life was precious, unpredictable. Was I really living mine to the fullest?
As the car pulled up to the Queen Victoria Hotel, a strange anticipation brewed inside me. For the first time in years, I was genuinely uncertain about what the future held. And oddly enough, that uncertainty didn’t terrify me.
It excited me.