Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I had no idea anything like this existed,” Savannah exclaimed, walking hand-in-hand with Stratos through the nature conservatory.
“Uh-huh.”
Upon awakening this morning, he had announced he had a surprise.
“What is it?” she asked.
“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.”
“How should I dress?”
“However you want.”
Getting date vibes, she’d donned a casual sunny-yellow day dress with a scoop neckline and paired it with a pearl drop necklace and comfortable walking sandals. At the last second before he’d ushered her out of the penthouse, she’d grabbed a light sweater.
He’d refused to provide any hints and even darkened the vehicle windows so she couldn’t see out.
When they landed, the bustling metropolis had vanished, and she found herself in a lush, unspoiled green space abounding with incredible alien trees and exotic flowering plants.
They’d set out on a cultivated walking trail wending through the park.
Flightless birds waddled about, and she spotted fuzzy alien animals rooting under rocks for insects. She inhaled, relishing the scent of fresh, fertile, clean air.
“This is a wonderful surprise,” she said, squeezing his hand, but he didn’t squeeze back.
“Good,” he said.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
At an information kiosk, she donned headphones and listened to a narrative describing the park’s development. Stratos waited, hands in his pockets. The narrative concluded, and she offered him the headphones. He shook his head.
“The park is a biosphere, a habitat for animals and birds. I thought it was like a planned garden, but it’s mostly natural growth, with a few native plants added and cultivated,” she said as they resumed the stroll.
“Uh-huh.”
Why was he being so quiet? He’d brought her to this beautiful park to please her—but then didn’t speak to her?
Feeling awkward and not knowing what to say to him now, she continued to chatter on about information from the recording.
“There are only four access points, and it’s walk in, walk out.
Vehicles are banned from the interior—this isn’t new information for you. ”
“No.”
“You’ve been here before.”
“But not in years.” He paused to watch a mother, father, and three Oberian children lunching under an umbrella tree.
A picnic in this beautiful place would have been perfect if not for the food.
After months on Oberia, she still couldn’t stomach most of the cuisine, which was the only downside to being here.
The foods she could tolerate were so limited, meals had gotten tiresome.
She ate the same half dozen entrees over and over.
“My father used to bring me here. He said nature helped him think,” Stratos said.
She could see that. The park had a relaxing effect for sure, providing an antidote to a hectic week, although the calming effects were somewhat offset by Stratos’ reserved behavior. “What about your sister? Didn’t she come?”
“Rarely. The park bored her, which worked out great for me. I loved the time alone with my father. He was a man of few words,” he said. Like father, like son. His comment was the longest statement he’d uttered since he woke up this morning.
They resumed walking.
“But when we came here, he opened up. He would talk to me. He encouraged my interest in design. It made him happy that I was interested in something he loved. He shared his dreams, his vision for the future. OberTech was small then; we had only a handful of employees. My mother helped my father with everything; she was several departments rolled into one.”
“You miss him.” Did the park dredge up old grief? Was that why he’d gotten so quiet?
“Very much.”
“We don’t have to stay here if the park makes you sad.”
“The memories are pleasant. I want you to enjoy yourself.”
“I am.” She linked her arm through his. “This is a very nice surprise.”
Conversation evaporated again, Stratos resuming his monosyllabic replies to her comments. “You’re awfully quiet,” she said finally. “Is something bothering you?”
He shrugged. “Preoccupied with work. Sorry.”
He was a decisive man of action; he didn’t ruminate. When a problem arose, he made a decision, acted on it, and moved on. Looking back, she realized his withdrawal had begun several days ago. “Did something happen at the meeting with your mother?”
He sighed. “Yes, but it’s not something I can talk about.”
She bit her lip. “It had to do with me, didn’t it?” Their affair? The report she’d written was not up to par? Did Frysta blame her for Stratos missing the first meeting?
“No,” he said tersely.
“It did involve me.” Her stomach sank.
“No.” He turned to her then and cupped her face. “I promise, it wasn’t about you.” He kissed her and then gazed into her eyes as if searching for something. He seemed to find the answer he sought, because she could see the second he made a decision. “Come, let’s sit.” He led her to a bench.
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy. I’m not supposed to share with anybody what’s been going on, but I don’t want you to worry. If I seem distracted, you should understand why.
“Two more of our designs were stolen and manufactured by the Prellims just before we launched our products.”
“Well, shit,” she said.
“We’ve suspected for a while there had to be an inside contact, and our auditors have been investigating. But they turned up nothing. Unbeknownst to me, Mother contracted with an outside investigation firm. They believe the thefts are originating from my department. My employees.”
“Oh, no!” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Who?”
“They won’t tell me until they have solid evidence; right now, it’s circumstantial. All they will say is the individuals are employees who’ve been with the company for a long time.”
No wonder he’d been so preoccupied. He valued everyone in his close-knit department; they were a team. He would view the thefts as a betrayal. A face popped into her head, someone with ample opportunity, but she hated to consider it could be her. “You don’t think…it could be Kyra…”
“Gods, I hope not! I find it impossible to believe she would do such a thing. She worked for my father. She was the first designer he hired.”
Kyra knew as much about their designs and projects as Stratos.
Maybe more since she managed the day-to-day operations in the lab.
She had seniority and a stellar reputation.
What would motivate her to sell out the company that had employed her for decades?
Frustration, maybe? Did she resent her upward mobility had hit a ceiling?
Savannah liked and respected the Oberian woman. Please let it be somebody else.
Stratos ran his hand over his head. “The first clue I was flekked came when I entered the conference room and saw the entire board of directors assembled. Besides the negative impact on the company, the thefts make me look like I don’t know what is going on in my department—which I apparently don’t. Corona could hardly hide her glee.”
“And you missed the original meeting because of me.” She winced. That couldn’t have looked good for him, either.
“Not your fault. It was my decision, and my mother concealed the real agenda. She claimed confidentiality, but I’m sure she intended to blindside me.
“You can’t mention this to anyone. The investigation has to be kept quiet until the guilty parties are arrested.”
“Not a word. Thank you for telling me.” She felt terrible about what was happening, but that he’d trusted her with confidential information meant the world to her.
A breeze picked up tendrils of her hair, worn down today, and blew them across her face. He tucked a few wayward strands behind her ear. “If I seem distracted or I don’t talk much, it’s not you. Being in the park brings back memories of my father and reminds me what’s at stake.
“Ensuring his legacy lives on means everything to me. Whether I become CEO or not, I can’t let someone destroy what he worked his whole life to build.
Over time, as a board member pointed out, the thefts could bleed the company dry.
” His lips drew into a straight line, and his hand, resting on his knee, clenched into a fist. “I feel…betrayed that someone who worked for me would do this.”
She covered his hand and squeezed. Betrayal was the worst sort of pain because it was inflicted by someone you believed would never hurt you.
It struck at your self-worth and your sense of safety and caused you to doubt your own judgment.
She’d suffered the pain of betrayal. Gavin had failed to mention he was married and then spread vicious lies about her to cover his ass when he got caught cheating on his wife.
“Is there anything I can do to make it better?” she asked.
“Being with you helps a lot. Having you in my life.”
“That means a lot to me…because you mean a lot to me,” she said.
He leaned in and kissed her, curving his hand around her nape. She clung to his shirt, gripping the fabric in her fists as the kiss deepened, and that familiar heat began to sizzle. When she lifted her eyelashes, she saw an answering desire glinting in his eyes.
There’d been several secluded grottos along the path.
“You’re not the only one who’s a little distracted today,” she murmured, playing with the buttons of his shirt.
“Oh?”
“You rushed me out of the apartment so fast this morning, I forgot to put on any panties.”