Chapter 8 #2
“While you shop, I am going to head back to the hotel and crash,” Aldrich informed her after he paid the bill.
She didn’t mind but couldn’t help teasing him. “Can’t handle shopping with a professional.”
He laughed, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “We both know I can handle anything you dish out. I’m just exhausted. I’ve only slept two hours in the last twenty-four hours. It’s catching up with me.”
“Um, how long were you in the room before you…” Her voice dropped. “…woke me up?”
“About two hours, I showered, then took a nap, then…” Mimicking her, he dropped his voice as well. “…I woke you.”
“Why didn’t you just keep sleeping?” She shrugged, her tone light but curious.
“I like to prioritise my wants.” He winked at her. “You shop. Then come get me, and we can grab lunch. I’ll leave you the car and driver.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know,” he answered, waving her off.
“How will you get back?” she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
“I’ll walk. The fresh air will help me sleep.” It was clear he felt the matter was already settled.
They parted ways, and Sorinah spent several hours exploring the shops.
The driver named Sergio was her shadow. When she left the shop, he was there waiting to take her bags.
Sergio carried the bags up to the room for her after she finished shopping.
He left them in the front room. She offered him a tip, but he declined.
“No, grazie. I am taken care of.”
Sorinah found Aldrich in bed, shirtless and peacefully sleeping. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths; his face relaxed in slumber. Sorinah stood at the door, hesitant to disturb him and unsure whether to wake him or let him sleep a little longer.
“Are you going to keep admiring me, or are you coming over?” he asked, startling her.
He hadn’t even opened his eyes. So, she did the only appropriate thing; she jumped onto the bed, cannonball style. While she was laughing at her own antics, somehow, she found herself pinned under him.
“I thought you were exhausted.”
“Nah, I’m well rested now.” He nuzzled her neck.
Her body responded, but, um, her bladder reminded her she needed to relieve herself.
“It will have to wait. You are going to have to let me up to go to the washroom.”
“Fine.” He rolled over and let her up.
When she returned to the room, he looked as he had when she first arrived. That was quick. Poor guy. She moved to get her bags.
“Where are you off to?”
She jumped slightly. “Shit! Stop doing that; it is creepy.”
He just chuckled.
Sorinah joined him on the bed. “Do you like your job?”
He was quiet for a while before he answered. “Yes.”
It was the first time she had ever heard uncertainty from him. She had always known him to be decisive, his confidence unwavering. Hearing him express doubt unsettled her, as it revealed a vulnerability she hadn’t expected.
“Did you always want to take over the company?” she probed.
“No.” He shook his head.
Disappointment distorted his features for a moment before it vanished so quickly, she wasn’t sure if she had imagined it. Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected that answer. “What did you want to do?”
He sat up and gave a wistful smile. “I wanted to be a football player.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and his pecs and abs flexed.
Well, he certainly had the physique to be an athlete. Aldrich was a determined man with a lot of discipline. She couldn’t understand why he hadn’t gone for it.
“So why didn’t you?”
“My brother pursued his career in cricket, and someone had to take over the company.” Aldrich explained that in his family the eldest was supposed to run the Velkomst empire, but when his brother pursued another career, the task was left to him.
Although he said it matter-of-factly, his features were tight with unhappiness.
Sorinah had always had the freedom to do exactly what she wanted with her career. She rubbed his thigh, letting him know she felt for him.
“Aww, Kitten, don’t feel bad for me.” He covered her hand with his. “As it turns out I’m fantastic at being a hotelier.”
“Honestly, I don’t know how you constantly live out of a suitcase,” Sorinah confessed.
“About sixty per cent of it isn’t mandatory. I could send someone else, but I enjoy being hands-on. It keeps everyone on their toes, not knowing when I will show up. But my mandatory vacation is coming up.”
“How does that work?”
“Well, technically, when you work for your mother, and she is all about the holidays, she makes sure you take Christmas and New Year off. So, starting next Thursday, I am off for two weeks.”
“You don’t want to be on vacation?” Sorinah questioned.
“Of course. I love being home. Especially at the holidays.” His eyes lit up as his accent thickened.
Sorinah found it interesting that even though the headquarters for Velkomst was in Rotterdam, Netherlands, he referred to Trinidad as his home.
“I’m looking forward to being there for the holidays,” she confessed.
Aldrich’s mom insisted on hosting Christmas in Trinidad. “You girls have been looking after the holidays all by yourselves for so long. Let us look after you.” It was a sweet gesture, and the Rowland girls melted at the motherly kindness of it.
“Except for one of your favourite things.”
“What’s one of my favourite things?”
“My dick,” he announced, whipping off the covers. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you as much of it as you can handle in the next eighteen hours to hold you over.”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cuss his ass out. Sorinah decided on the latter, but she barely got out, “You know you’re—” before his kiss swallowed her rant. She moaned into his mouth. Fuck! The man could kiss.