Capsizing Her Billionaire Boss - Sarah Gay Page 0,1
seagull swooped down and landed at their feet with a loud caw. Poppy looked into Kent’s beseeching eyes. She couldn’t turn away from him. He needed her. Pleasant memories flooded her mind. “We were happy. Weren’t we?”
His face broke into a broad grin, the smile where his eyes formed into crescents and his skin wrinkled up like a sweet little old man. His honest expression warmed the hidden places in her heart. She stared into his kind brown eyes. Kent was a good man. He’d proven that when he took care of her after her surgery last year. The day before her diagnosis, she’d thought it was over between them. Then the diagnosis came. She hadn’t had the mental or physical strength to change a lightbulb, much less break up with her boyfriend, which proved favorable. Kent had been an amazing caregiver, providing her with around-the-clock care during her convalescence.
She tilted her head to the side and sighed. He’s wonderful, she said to herself, confused at her own indifference to him. She should’ve missed him more. Her phone rang. She tapped her watch and answered with her earpiece. “Kai, I thought you were sailing?”
Kent’s face soured.
“There’s been an emergency. I’ve chartered a jet to St. Kitts. Can you be ready in thirty minutes?” said Kai.
“Absolutely,” she said, sensing Kai’s desperation. She wanted to question him, but that conversation could wait until they were in-flight. “How many days should I pack for?”
“What!” Kent threw his hands in the air.
Poppy waved Kent away, turning her back to him.
“Two,” Kai answered. “I’m at a loss.” He paused. “I’m just not sure what kind of shape we’ll find them in. They disappeared off the volcano yesterday.”
All surrounding beach noise ceased. The only sound in Poppy’s ears was the thump of her own heart. “Who?” she asked.
“Wyatt Jones and his friend.”
It felt like someone punched Poppy in the gut, taking her breath. Kai loved Wyatt like a brother, and she could sense the pain in his voice. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you, Poppy,” Kai said, ending the call.
She turned to Kent. He stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest. An expression of anger, mixed with fear, clouded his face. She didn’t have time to explain. “Emergency,” she said, knowing that saying anything more would be futile. He’d be upset no matter what she said. She’d explain it to him when she knew more.
She kissed Kent’s cheek and handed him Charlie’s leash. Neither Kent nor Charlie seemed particularly happy about the situation, especially Charlie, who yapped his distress into the ocean breeze. Poppy took off at a sprint for her room at the resort.
Two hours later, Poppy ran her hand along the faux wood armrest and leaned her forehead against the window of the posh jet as it flew over the North Atlantic Ocean. She stared out at the shimmery water in awe. This is what real money can do. She knew the insanely wealthy had instant access to things like luxury jets, but she’d never seen Kai utilize his wealth and connections this way before, not until today. Other than his monthly trips to the ocean to sail, Kai was a family man who lived and worked like any other average Joe. She chided herself. That wasn’t completely true; Kai worked harder at business and his personal relationships than any other person she’d ever known.
Her watch buzzed. With reluctance, she answered the call. “Hi, Kent,” she said, speaking into the plane’s wall to not disturb Kai on his phone call.
“Poppy, why am I here?” asked Kent in a deflated voice.
She’d almost asked him that very same question on the beach, but thought it sounded hurtful. “I think you said to be closer to me?” She refrained from allowing the sarcasm to show in her voice.
“Is this normal? For you to run off with your handsome, married billionaire boss for a few days to an exotic island?”
Her eyes flew to the front of the plane where Kai leaned forward in his seat with his elbows resting against his thighs. He spoke into his phone in hushed tones. By the furrow in his brow, she could tell his call was more distressing than hers. “How did you know—”
“I’m making friends here…with people who like to talk,” he said, cutting her off.
She placed her glass on the small table at her side to prevent herself from chucking it across the plane. She’d never thrown anything out of anger, but that wasn’t to say