Chapter 35
DASH
Istepped off the private jet onto Greek soil and felt like I was returning home. The air smelled the same. Maybe a bit too warm and humid but still good. The sun hit my face with the same intensity. But everything felt different without her.
The car was waiting on the tarmac, just like I had arranged.
I climbed into the backseat and watched Athens unfold through the window as we drove.
Every street corner felt like a memory. I’d been an idiot to come back here.
But the business opportunity was too good to pass up, and I’d convinced myself it was just a city. Just a country.
Wrong.
The car pulled up to the luxury hotel. I checked in and went straight to my room. The trip was a quick one. I wasn’t here to sight-see. Not yet, but I knew I wanted to come back one day and explore every inch of the city.
I changed into one of my suits, charcoal gray and perfectly tailored, because if nothing else, I knew how to dress myself. It was a Blackwell design from last year’s men’s line. The reflection in the mirror showed someone who looked put together. Professional. Like a man who had his shit together.
The man staring back at me was a liar.
I headed down to the ballroom where the event was already in full swing. This was exactly the kind of event I was trained to handle. Work the room, make connections, charm everyone into thinking I was more than just the Blackwell family fuck-up.
But tonight, I didn’t feel like the fuck-up. For the first time in my life, I was the man of the hour. The guest of honor for something I had done well.
“Dash Blackwell!” A hand clapped my shoulder. I turned and tried to place the face. I knew him. A photographer. Jameson. “I heard about Santorini. That was legendary, man. Absolutely legendary.”
“Thank you. We made the best of the situation.”
“I mean it. That show is still getting talked about. The way you turned a disaster into art? That’s the kind of vision we need in this industry.” He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “I’d love to talk about a potential collaboration. I’m always available for one of your campaigns.”
“Let’s set up a meeting,” I said, pulling out my phone. “My assistant can coordinate our schedules. I just hired her, but she already runs my schedule like a pro.”
We exchanged information and he moved on to work the rest of the room. I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and found a relatively quiet corner to observe from.
A woman approached, tall and gorgeous with her eyes undressing me. Old Dash would be all over that. I would have slipped her my room number and told her to join me.
She smiled. “Hi.”
“Hello.”
“You look lonely.”
“I’m not.”
She laughed. “Okay, but I am.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“You seem like you’re in a bad mood.”
I shook my head. “Not at all. I’m just here to give a speech.”
“And then later?”
“Later, I’m going to go back to my room. Alone.”
She pouted but didn’t push it. Thankfully, my name was called and I didn’t have to issue another rejection.
I stood at the podium in the grand ballroom of the Athens hotel, looking out at the sea of faces.
The room was packed with Greek officials, tourism board members, fashion industry leaders, and journalists from around the world.
I honestly didn’t think I would be back here so soon, but they had been very kind and I wanted to make sure I kept that door open.
I had been brainstorming more ideas for this place and I needed to make sure they would be willing to trust me.
I’d done this a thousand times. But tonight felt different.
Everything felt different now. I felt like a different man.
An actual grown-up. Normally, I’d give a short, cocky speech and then go get a drink and find a woman to take home.
People in our world expected nothing more from me.
I was supposed to be the cocky rich guy.
“Thank you,” I began, my voice carrying through the room.
“I’m honored to be here, truly. When we set out to create this campaign, I knew we wanted to showcase our collection against the most beautiful backdrop in the world.
But I didn’t realize how much Greece itself would become part of the story. ”
Applause rippled through the crowd. I waited for it to settle.
“The response has been incredible. Not just for Blackwell Couture, but for Greece. The world has fallen in love with your islands, your history, your culture all over again. And I’m proud to have played a small part in that.”
More applause. But I wasn’t finished.
“However, I can’t stand here and take credit for something I didn’t do alone.
There was one person who was absolutely integral to making this campaign a success.
The most integral part, actually.” I paused, scanning the crowd even though I knew she wasn’t there.
“Krista Hedley was the logistics coordinator who made the impossible possible. She kept me on track when I wanted to chase every wild idea. She challenged me to be better. And she had the vision to see what this campaign could become. She loves your cities. The history. She told me stories from Greek mythology and it inspired me. I have so many ideas that I’d love to see come to life. ”
More applause.
“For anyone in this room looking for someone who can execute flawless operations under impossible circumstances, who can turn chaos into art, and will push you to create something truly extraordinary, Krista Hedley is your person. If anyone here wants her information, find me. Trust me, she’s worth the investment. ”
The applause was thunderous now. I stepped back from the podium, nodding my thanks, and made my way through the congratulatory handshakes and backslaps.
I was pulled aside by one of the heads of tourism. “I just wanted to personally thank you,” he said. “Our tourism numbers are up by thirty percent and we’re expecting next year to be even better.”
“You live in a beautiful place,” I said. “I look forward to visiting often. I can’t wait to take a real vacation and visit some of the historical sites.”
“You just give me a call and I will make sure you get a private tour anywhere you want to go,” he said.
“I might just take you up on that,” I said.
I shook a few more hands, sipped some champagne and fostered goodwill.
I knew there was no chance I was going to get to have an event at one of their precious historical sites, but I wanted to grease the wheels and cut through the red tape for our next event.
And there would be one. Hell, I was thinking about a whole series with evening wear.
Finally, after way too long, I was able to escape. My suite was on the top floor, with windows on one wall that showcased the Parthenon. The view was worth every penny. Not that I was paying. They insisted on putting me in the nicest hotel in the best room.
The last time I’d been in Athens, I’d been a different person. Chasing pleasure because it was easier than chasing purpose. I had looked at this city and had seen nothing but another playground. More adventures with beautiful people who were willing to get up to some shenanigans.
Now I saw history. Legacy. The weight of thousands of years of human achievement, all built on the foundation of people who believed they could create something that would outlast them.
The architecture was stunning. I couldn’t believe I had never truly noticed it before.
I’d seen it, but I hadn’t really let myself see the beauty.
I thought about my father. What would he say if he could see me now? Would he be proud? Would he finally believe I was capable of more?
I liked to think he would. I liked to think he’d clap me on the shoulder and say something gruff but genuine, the way he used to when I was a kid and I’d done something right. Before I’d started disappointing him at every turn.
“I did it, Dad,” I said quietly to the empty room. “I finally did something that matters.”
I pulled off my tie, tossing it on a chair. I was going to have a drink, order room service, and plant my ass on the balcony.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
I frowned, checking my watch. Nearly midnight.
I hadn’t ordered room service yet. I wondered if the hotel had sent something up for me anyway.
I wouldn’t be surprised. They were treating me like royalty.
Not a bad thing but I felt guilty for being spoiled.
I crossed the room and pulled open the door. And there she was.
Krista.
I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t do anything but stare at her like she was a mirage that might disappear if I blinked. What the hell?
Her chest was rising and falling rapidly like she’d been running.
Her hair was down, falling in those natural curls around her shoulders, slightly messy in a way that made my fingers itch to touch it.
She wore a pale yellow blouse with delicate straps that showed off her shoulders, white capris that hugged her curves, and gold sandals that were pretty and very feminine.
No cargo pants. No ugly tank tops. No combat boots. Just Krista, looking absolutely stunning and completely terrified.
I didn’t even know what to say. I was speechless.
“I know it’s late,” she said quickly, the words tumbling over each other. “But the city’s still awake. I was thinking, do you want to go for a walk? I was hoping we could talk and, uh, go for a walk. Please?”
A walk. Like the one we’d taken in Corfu, when everything had shifted between us. Walking and talking was a lot less pressure than sitting in a room with no distractions.
I felt a grin spread across my face, the first genuine one I’d managed since Santorini. “Hell yes, I do.”
I grabbed my wallet and followed her to the elevator. She said nothing. I didn’t push anything. She was here. Whatever brought her here, I needed to allow her to get to it when she was ready.
We strolled the streets of Athens, stopping when we found a fountain. Tourists were everywhere enjoying the last weeks of summer, despite how late it was. The night was calm. Music was playing from a nearby restaurant. We sat down on a stone bench. I said nothing.
“I have to tell you why I’m here,” she blurted out.
“I’m listening.”
“I’m not a fairytale princess,” she said. “I can’t be that for you, Dash. I don’t know how.”
“I never asked you to be.”
“But you fell in love with her. The woman that let you take care of her.” She looked down at her feet with what was obviously a fresh pedicure. I wondered if she’d ever pampered herself before. “That’s not who I am most of the time.”
“You want to know something?” I asked quietly. “The woman I fell in love with is sitting right beside me. Right now. In this moment.”
“Dash, I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Just then, a large plop of rain landed between us. And then another. Neither of us moved. A few of the tourists wandered away. I wasn’t afraid of a little rain.
I reached out and took her hand in mine.
“You think I fell for some fantasy version of you? That’s bullshit.
I fell for the woman who called me on my crap every single day.
The one who made me work harder than I’d ever worked in my life.
I fell for the woman in the ugliest footwear on the planet and the most boring cargo pants and tanks.
That’s who I fell for. The woman that sang and wore a pretty dress is still the same person in a different outfit. ”
“But I don’t know how to be soft. I don’t know how to be vulnerable without feeling like I’m going to shatter into a million pieces.”
“Then we’ll figure it out together.” I took both her hands in mine. “You don’t have to be perfect, Krista. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to try.”
The rain was picking up, but thankfully, she wasn’t running away. We probably looked insane, sitting in the rain while everyone else had the good sense to get inside. But I didn’t care. This was our thing now, apparently.