I didn’t read her correctly.”
Kai closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “No, you read her correctly.” He shook his head. “I thought you two might hit it off, but I was hoping it would happen gradually. Give you some time to actually get to know each other...and maybe make a few billion in the meantime.”
Damian swallowed hard. “Are you messing with me?”
Kai pointed to the computer. The screen had locked. Damian was able to bypass the password in seconds, but the archaic machine ran like a snail. He made a few minor programming adjustments, but it would need a serious clean to speed things up. He got the process going then asked Kai, “Do you mind if I speed this up?”
Kai shrugged. “I don’t touch Poppy’s computer. She gets raging mad if anyone goes near it.”
“Now you tell me?” Damian asked with a sigh.
Kai laughed. “Something tells me she won’t mind you touching it.”
Damian rubbed his chin. “Why do you say that?”
Kai rolled his eyes and leaned forward. “To cut to the chase, I know what you and Eli are capable of and I’m willing to invest in you. Everything is outlined in the proposal. Poppy will be president. You’ll answer directly to her.”
The plane dropped in elevation for their descent into San Juan, causing Damian’s stomach to jump into his chest. He looked around the cabin. Everyone except he and Kai were asleep. “Sounds too good to be true. What’s the catch?”
“You can’t date Poppy until the project is finished and taken to market. Too messy. I need you two focused. I need you to do what it takes to keep those flames at bay.”
Damian didn’t attempt to hide the disappointment from his voice. “Too steep.”
“It’s the only way, Damian,” Kai said, patting Damian’s shoulder. “Be patient. Poppy needs this as much as you do.”
“What if she marries that other guy in the meantime?”
Kai scoffed. “After that lip lock I saw you two in. I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “I met the guy. If anything, he’s your safest bet right now. You don’t want her meeting someone else who stirs that same passion she feels for you, do you?”
Thinking about the possibility of Poppy with another man got Damian’s heart pounding. Get a grip! he chided himself. You have no claim on her. And it was only one kiss. Maybe she’s not that into you anyway.
Kai pointed at him. “When this is over, Poppy will be an independent woman who will never have to worry about her family’s medical bills again.”
Medical bills?
Kai leaned forward. “Work hard and play it safe with Poppy and you’ll have everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
The plane touched down, which meant their conversation had ended before he’d been able to convince Kai that dating Poppy wouldn’t sabotage the project—whatever the project was.
“I get your disappointment. Trust me,” said Kai.
“How?” Damian said softly, not wanting his brothers to overhear. “You have everything.”
“I’ll be flying home soon to Ari, my rock, my heart, my passion. But love isn’t what we’re talking about here. If you want what I’m offering you, then you’ll have to work like a beast. You may never have a chance to prove yourself like this again. In a few years, your name will be a dinner table topic.”
It wasn’t every day an offer of riches and glory was offered so freely. Damian’s head spun with the possibilities. Kai had done it. He’d turned millions into billions through his tech company—and now he offered to mentor Damian. “This sounds too good to be true. I’m having a hard time digesting it.”
“That’s because you think fame and money will bring you happiness.”
Damian furrowed his brow. “Isn’t that what you just said?”
Kai grabbed Damian by his shoulders and stared him down. “It won’t. If anything, wealth corrupts the soul, but it doesn’t have to. You could help a lot of people—and animals, and even amphibians, it turns out. Ari has made it her life’s goal to save the Costa Rican cloud forests, and she’s doing it. You want real happiness, earn the heart of an exceptional woman. Now that’s true joy.” He released Damian’s shoulders and pointed at him. “The passion you’re feeling isn’t real.”
A stout airport employee pushed a wheelchair down the aisle. With the help of Rob and Jack, Wyatt slid into the chair with ease. Mazy, Wyatt’s new doctor slash love interest, spoke gently to him, then gave him a tender kiss that left Wyatt looking slap happy.
“It was