Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 32
However, when we finally got ourselves over the ocean, I saw tears spring to Karina’s eyes. Tears she tried so hard to blink back.
So, I figured a distraction was in order. “Did you enjoy working as the head of H.R.?”
“What?” she asked breathlessly.
I took a bite of my muffin. “Your prior job. Did you enjoy it?”
She swallowed hard. “Uh, yeah. I mean, there were a lot of hours worked. But, I did enjoy it, yes.”
“What’s your favorite memory from working there?”
“My favorite memory of work?” She asked quizzically.
“Mhm.”
Karina narrowed her eyes. “Does anyone have good memories of work?”
“Well, I do.” I tried not to laugh.
“Because you’re a workaholic, Mr. Hearthstone.”
Damn it, I love how she says my name.
“Well, it sounds like you were one of your own volition at your previous job. All those overtime hours you weren’t paid for?” I remarked.
“Well, part of that was not having a choice. I had to work them. Otherwise, my job was in jeopardy.”
“Wait, seriously?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I mean, no one specifically told us that. But, it was understood. We worked when we were told to work, and if we didn’t want to, then someone else might just replace us.”
“So, you worked hours you were never paid for on top of having your job dangled in front of you?”
“I promise it isn’t as bad as it sounds. But, it was a job, and it gave me the ability to support myself. And it provided a good distraction.”
I cocked my head. “From what?”
Her eyes fell out of the window as I took another bite of my muffin.
“It took me a long time to get over my high school sweetheart. I carried that hurt with me all through my college career. And it wasn’t until I took that job and was worked to the bone that my mind was finally able to focus on something other than how much I hurt.”
“He sounds like a real piece of work.”
She shrugged. “It was puppy love. I thought it would last forever, he had other plans. It happens.”
“I’m sorry, Karina.”
She gave me a sharp look. “It happens, Mr. Hearthstone.”
I picked up on the cue. “Well, I do agree that work is a great distraction. I used my education and building this business as a distraction from how disappointed my parents were in both me… and Brenden too, actually.”
Her eyes snapped back to mine. “You’re kidding. Your parents are disappointed in you?”
I grinned. “Well, they were.”
“But they aren’t now.”
I shook my head with a chuckle. “No. Not now.”
“Good.”
She’s cute when she’s protective. “My grandfather built and founded Heartland Assets.”
“Wait. The Heartland Assets?” Karina’s eyes got wide.
“Yep, that’s the one.”
“The company that holds the largest percentage of--.”
I finished her sentence yet again. “--this country’s pensions and retirement funds, yes. I’m shocked, you know that.”
She paused. “I don’t know how to take that statement.”
“I just meant that not very many people know that.”
“Your grandfather founded that company?”
I nodded. “Yep, and he passed it onto my father after he died, so it was expected that, Clint, my older brother would go to work with Dad, keeping everything in the family. Clint hated the idea and joined the military, though. So, Dad looked to me as the second eldest son to come work with him. But, finance wasn’t my thing. It never was… even growing up. Honestly, I didn’t want to inherit something that had already been built. I wanted to build something for myself. And in the end, Branden felt the same way and followed me.”
She smiled. “That’s an outstanding goal to have for one’s life.”
“I thought so, too. But, it caused a lot of friction in my family for a very long time. My father was disappointed. Mom was worried about who would take over. I think she was fearful that Dad would work well past his retirement years and rob her of that time with him because no one was there to take his spot.”
She pursed her lips. “Do they have anyone there now? Or, is your father still working?”
“I don’t know all the ends and outs, actually. I do know that Dad is still involved with Heartland Assets. But when I do get together with my family, we don't talk about business. We learned very quickly that it was the only way to keep a decent relationship with each other.”
I reached for the bag at my feet and handed it to her. The one that held the breakfast burrito. She smiled when she took it, and for a split second, our fingers touched. The spark that flew between us actually popped in midair, and Karina yelped before she pulled her hand back.
“Freaking static,” she hissed.
Maybe so.
Or, maybe it was the spark between us that had lit itself the night we met one another in that club.
My eyes fell out of the window as Karina ate and typed away on her laptop. The sun had risen, and the view was majestic. I was in awe of it every time I flew. Up there, in my private perch, gazing down at just how small the earth was below, I was in awe of how minuscule things seemed. How little we all looked. How insignificant it all felt sometimes.
“Karina, look at--.”
My eyes flickered over to her, and I chuckled when the sight unfolded before me. With her soft snores filling the space between us, she had her head slumped off to the side. Her laptop sat on the floor, and the empty burrito wrapper was still clutched in her hand. Her coffee, sitting empty at her feet, was one good kick away from flying across the damn airplane.
I saw her body softly shivering, though.
She was cold.
“Sleep well, Karina,” I whispered.
I slid my suit coat off and settled it against her body. Watching as her shivering slowly calmed itself.
17
Karina
I gazed out the window of my bungalow and listened to the soft sounds of Zane unpacking next