Leaving Him: A New Adult International Romance Serial (Angelique's Greek Book 4) (3 page)

“Just think about it, we could be here all the time, enjoying ourselves.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” Her voice sounded snippier than she meant it to. “You have endless money so you can do what you want. I have to earn my way through life.”

“But that’s what I’m saying,” he said, frustration in his voice. “I’m telling you that you can live off my money.”

She so wanted to say yes. “No. It’s too uncomfortable.”

“Please.”

“No way.”

He sighed deeply. “Please. It’s not like you have to do nothing. You can help me edit my book or something. Or we can start a project together, or a business. Anything so we can spend time together.”

It sounded wonderful, like exactly what she wanted to do. “No. I wouldn’t feel right.”

He turned away from her and looked over the beautiful view. Its beauty almost made her feel even more sad. Eventually he turned back. “Can I employ you as my personal assistant? I’m just trying to think of anything that will make you say yes to spending time with me.”

“You can spend time with me looking for jobs,” she said, looking away so she wouldn’t have to see the hurt in his hazel eyes. She didn’t want to depend on him. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Fine,” he said, his voice full of anger, which she knew was only covering his hurt and rejection. He pulled his top back on and went down the stairs.

She didn’t call after him, even though she wanted to. It was just as if her mouth wouldn’t open.

*****

Chapter 3

The next morning when Angelique woke up, she wasn’t feeling so good. Even though she was in her favorite place in the world, the situation with Theo was gnawing at her insides. He’d come back to the house and spent the evening tapping away on his laptop in his bedroom.
 

The tapping noise of the keyboard had driven her so crazy that she’d had to go out for a walk. She didn’t even feel like going to the gardens, so she walked into town to pick up a can of soda for herself and a cake for their evening meal. Claudine had decided to make devilled chicken, fried breadfruit and vegetables—a family favorite. Angelique couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm for anything, though, since her disagreement with Theo. They’d eaten dinner in a much more subdued atmosphere and she’d fallen into bed without even changing her clothes.

She awoke sticky and miserable, and with a fresh collection of mosquito bites because she’d forgotten to shut the window. After taking a shower she stared at herself in the mirror and tried to psyche herself into happiness.
Everything’s going to be okay
, she told herself, and before she knew what she was doing she was singing the Bob Marley song that had become the family classic in times of trouble.

Don’t worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing is gonna be all right.

By the time she was dressed she’d decided to try and make up with Theo. She hated there being such a tension between them. Perhaps they could talk further and work out an arrangement they were both happy with. Maybe she could work part time, or rent a small building in the Mermaid Hole complex and provide massages for the tourists that came there.

But when she came down, Theo wasn’t there. Neither were her parents. Claudine put a plate of ackee and saltfish on the table in front of her, while she and Josette and Cherie were already tucking in.

“Where is everyone?” Angelique asked. She turned her fork over in her hand. All her appetite had disappeared.

“Daddy went to work early,” said Cherie. “Ma’s gone to see Grandma. I guess Theo’s asleep still.”

Claudine narrowed her eyes. “Is everything okay between you two?”

“Sure,” said Angelique. “We just had a disagreement because he wants to pay for me to have some time out, and I…”

Cherie put her hands on her hips. “You what?”

“I… Oh, well you know what Daddy says already. About not letting anyone make you feel obligated.”

Claudine made a tutting sound. “I think you’re crazy. If you want to take a break, then just take a break. If the man is offering for nothing in return, what’s the problem?”

“But what if our relationship doesn’t work?” Angelique said. “He’ll have wasted his money. I’ll feel like I owe him then.”

“But what if it doesn’t work because you’re having this big argument about whether you’ll accept his money,” Cherie said, holding a dumpling in her hand. “You’re probably making him feel like a jackass.”

Josette leaned on the breakfast bar. “You do actually like him, don’t you?”

“Of course!”

Claudine giggled. “’Cause if you don’t, I’ll have him.”

“You will not,” Angelique snapped.

They all burst out laughing. “She
definitely
likes him,” Cherie said.

“I say go for it,” said Josette. “He’s good looking. A nice guy. Lots of money. What’s not to like?”

Angelique broke into a wide smile. “You’re right. You’re totally right. In fact, I’ll just get him up now and we can sort out this conversation once and for all.” She got up and hurried back upstairs to his room, while her sisters giggled immaturely about ‘getting him up’. She turned back and stuck her tongue out at them over the mezzanine.
 

“Theo?” She knocked on the door. There was no answer. She sighed. “Theo, please don’t be mad at me. I just want to work this out.” But no matter how much she knocked and waited, he didn’t open the door. Maybe he was a deep sleeper. She pushed the door open a crack, but found the room was empty.
 

“He’s not here!” she hollered down to her sisters. All of a sudden she realized how much she wanted him there. Could he have been so mad that he left? Maybe he was already on the plane to Nassau, ready to fly off to Greece that very day. Her stomach churned as she regretted not making it up to him sooner.

“Angelique?” His voice came from the ground floor.

She turned, barely daring to believe it was him. But,
yes
, thank goodness, there he was, standing by the double doors.

“Yes?” she said.

He looked a little sheepish. “Let me show you something. Please.”

“Okay.” She came running down the stairs, then hurried outside with him. “I really wanted to say I was sorry.”

She heard her sisters making kissing noises in the background. Theo turned back and laughed. “I know,” he said. “I’m sorry, too. I’m hoping this will be enough to prove it to you.” He took her hand. “Come with me.”

He began to run, but slowly enough so it wasn’t uncomfortable with their hands together. Whenever he turned back to look at her he had an earnest expression and enthusiasm in his eyes. She scolded herself for ever being angry with him. After all, all he had wanted to do was spend time with her. And deep down, that’s what she wanted, too.

They went through the Mermaid Hole gate, and he led her down a tiny path that branched off from the main one. After they ducked through an archway they came out into a lovely open flower garden, with a neatly manicured lawn. A little pergola was draped over with vines blossoming with flowers of white and delicate pink, and a table had been set up underneath. A breakfast feast was laid out upon it, complete with juice and fresh fruit and dumplings.

“Now,” he said, “this is
not
so you’ll say you won’t get a job. If you want to get a job, that’s what I want you to do. I just don’t want you to get one just because you feel you
have
to. But I don’t want you to feel like I’m holding you back from doing what you want to do. So you should just do whatever—”

Angelique grinned. “Stop babbling, my boy.” Then she launched herself at his lips in a juicy kiss, so forcefully that he almost fell over. When he regained his footing he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back with just as much passion.

They emerged from their embrace smiling and laughing. He kissed her right between the eyes. “Wanna eat?”

“You bet.”

“Oh, just one more thing,” he said. He went and picked a beautiful flower in a muted purple color she loved, then tucked it into her hair where her bun met her scalp. “Wow.”
 

Then he pulled out her chair for you. “I hope you like the breakfast,” he said, his eyes watching her for her every reaction.

“Yes,” she said. “Papaya, watermelon, pineapple, guava, passion fruit, mango, melon, banana. You’ve got just about everything.”

“I tried,” he said modestly.

She leaned across the table to kiss him. “You succeeded.”

Then she took a piece of pineapple and looked into his gorgeous hazel eyes. “You know, I was worried for a second that you had left for Greece.”

He picked up a piece of banana and looked at her, insecurity playing about his eyes. “You were about to start a party?”

“No, silly,” she said, swatting at him. In truth, it was so good to see him a little unsure of himself. It put them on an even footing, for as confident as Angelique usually was, she felt like she’d stepped into new territory. “I was actually beginning to panic. I thought I’d blown it.”

He blew through his lips. “It would have been me who blew it. I’m a determined person, which I guess is a good thing sometimes. Like I set my sight on something and I get it done. Helps in business. Totally ruins your love life, though.” He laughed self-mockingly. “I really am sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She ate a piece of papaya and took in all the beauty of their surroundings. If she was honest with herself, she didn’t want to have to leave it every day and spend all day in a hotel—at least not right then. She wanted time to lie back in the serenity and peace, to reconsider her life as it was. “And I just want to say … that I accept your offer. I won’t look for work right now. We can spend more time together.”

Theo’s face lit up. “You mean it?”

Angelique giggled. “Sure.”

He shook his head, smiling. “You’re the best.”

“Why, thank you.” She did a perfect imitation of her dad’s silly voice, and they both laughed.

“So,” he said. “What should we do first? We can do anything we want in the world. That’s always what I said to myself when I was trying to make it. When I get money I can just do whatever. At first, I did all the normal things, you know, like driving fast cars and clubbing and buying expensive wine and all that. But it gets old pretty quick. At least for me. I need to do something that means something.”

“Me too.” Angelique felt a wonderful affection rush through her.
That
was why she’d gotten with him in the first place. That sense of purpose that surrounded him, that noble aura that showed her he was destined for great things. She guessed he was the kind of person she’d have found sitting in the corner of the club, sipping a drink, with a glazed over look in their eyes, thinking about something else entirely. She was just the same, always sinking introspectively when everyone else around her was partying.

“I know,” he said. “We’re pretty much the same, you and me.”

They enjoyed a comfortable moment together after that. It was such a satisfying feeling for Angelique to think she’d finally found someone who could understand her.
 

There was a difference between them, though. He knew exactly what he wanted, it seemed. He had a direction. A purpose. She had all the fire in her, the driving force that told her she wanted to do good things for the world, but no idea what to actually do.

“You know, I don’t know what I want to do. I’m kinda confused.”

“Confused?” He stopped eating and frowned, looking deep into her eyes. He was so full of concern, like he really cared about her. So much so, that she unexpectedly found a lump rising up in her throat.

“Well, I’m here, in Mermaid Hole, my favorite place in the world. This is paradise, anyone can see that. But I’m just not
feeling
it the way I used to, because I don’t know what I want. I just can’t figure out what I’m supposed to be doing.”

He sat back in his chair. “That’s a big question.”

“Yep.”

“I hate to say this, but I don’t have the answers. What I can do, though, is help you. We can go anywhere in the world we need to go to find your purpose. Or if you think you need to look within, I can help you with that as well. I had to do a lot of personal development work to make the money I did.”

Angelique reached across the table and he took her hand. “Thank you,” she said. She found that a tear had fallen down her face and she wiped it away. “Your help means everything.”

“We can do this,” he said. “I’m by your side.”

*****

Chapter 4

Theo stood on the veranda of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sands, hoping he was doing the right thing. It was so hard to tell sometimes, but he’d learned in life that if you wanted great results, you had to take chances. So he was taking a chance.

“Sit down, sit down,” said Mr. Sands with a smile. He was a very dark-skinned man, with impeccable dress sense and an air of sophistication. “Would you like tea? Coffee? Lemonade? Water?”

“Water would be great, thanks,” Theo said, sitting down and feeling his stomach flutter as Mr. Sands went back into the house. It was the same sensation he got before he went into a big business deal. Will this turn out right? Am I making all the right moves?