Page 35 of Keeping Skylar (Fractured Hearts #1)

Kaden

Rick, our CEO, is already seated at his usual spot at the head of the conference table when I walk into the boardroom.

It’s that time again—our monthly general meeting—and I can practically taste the stiff drink I’ll need after this.

I slide into my seat between Mark, the Brisbane Operations Manager, and John, our Head of Finance.

A quick nod to them both, and it’s straight to business as usual.

When I first joined Nova Car Rentals just over ten years ago, we operated only six services.

Since then, the company has expanded to thirty across New South Wales and Queensland.

Through years of hard work, determination, and perseverance, I gradually worked my way up to become the manager of our Sydney operations—a role I’ve proudly held for the past three years.

A large part of my success was because of my wife. Skylar had always been my driving force—constantly pushing me to work harder and reach higher. She inspired me to grow, to become better, and everything I achieved was because she stood by me, every step of the way.

Now that she’s gone, there are times when I feel like giving up entirely—just going through the motions and doing only what’s necessary to get by. Losing Skylar meant losing more than just the woman I loved; it meant losing the drive and ambition that once pushed me forward.

Rick’s been talking for some time now, but I haven’t absorbed a single word. My eyes are fixed on the laptop screen in front of me, but my mind is miles away. I’m distracted, unprepared, and silently praying he doesn’t start firing off questions I can’t answer.

But of course, I’m not that lucky—because next minute, Rick calls my name in front of everyone. When I finally look up, the word Melbourne is plastered in bold letters across the projector screen behind him.

Oh yes, that’s right. The company’s recent expansion. We’re about to open three new services in another city, and we’re set to launch the first one, in Brightly Bay, in the coming weeks.

I straighten up in my seat and try to shake off the fog. “Sorry, what was that, Rick?”

He gives me an irritated look but repeats himself. “We’ve just hired Scott, our new Operations Manager for Melbourne, and I need your thoughts on how to get him up to speed with our processes before the grand opening,” he says in his usual authoritative tone.

We were cutting it close to the deadline when HR began the search for a suitable Manager for Melbourne. Now that we’ve finally filled the position, he’ll need to get on top of everything fast—with the grand opening just a mere four weeks away.

“Well, we could have him come to our Sydney office to undergo intensive training, where he can shadow me at several of our facilities,” I suggest, aiming to sound competent.

He shakes his head, dismissing my idea. “Unfortunately, that won’t work. Scott can’t leave Melbourne right now. His wife is due to give birth any day, and he needs to stay close,” he casually informs me.

“Oh . . . umm . . .” Fuck! Well, I’m out of ideas.

“Or ...” Rick cuts in, “we could send you to Melbourne for a few weeks to conduct the training on- site,” he proposes.

”We’ll cover your travel expenses and sort out temporary accommodation.

You’ll also have access to one of the vehicles from any of the three facilities while you’re there,” he adds, his expression stern.

Oh, fantastic. I’m being forced to return to the one place that holds some of my worst memories—the time when my marriage to Skylar was falling apart. Not that it matters anyway, my marriage is practically over now. Still, there has to be a better solution than this.

“Am I the only option you have?” I ask, hoping he’ll assign Mark instead.

He shoots me a look that practically screams ‘ are you fucking dense?! ’ “You’re our best shot at getting Scott up to scratch.

You’ve been with the company the longest—you know the ins and outs of our entire operation better than anyone.

If there’s anyone who can get someone up to speed fast, it’s you,” he says with conviction, and despite myself, I can’t help but smile at the recognition.

I guess I should be grateful that Rick has such unwavering faith in my ability to pull this off. In a way, this could be the perfect opportunity to regain my focus and reignite the motivation I’ve been lacking.

Lucia’s probably going to have a huge meltdown when I tell her about my plans to be away for a few weeks, especially considering how strained our relationship has been lately.

She’s been spending a lot more time out with her co-worker friend lately, often coming home just before midnight.

Our fights have become more frequent, and when we fuck, it’s usually after a heated argument.

There’s something undeniably hot and intense about angry sex, but the emotional toll of the arguments beforehand is starting to wear me down.

Maybe some distance and time apart will be exactly what we need to get our relationship back on track. It might give us the space to miss each other—to reignite the spark that seems to dim a little more with each day.

Yes! That sounds like the perfect plan!

“Alright, I’m on board. When do I start?” I ask.

Rick nods, clearly pleased with my decision. “I want to get you over there as soon as possible. Can you make it to Melbourne in a couple of days?”

I nod. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Okay, great! I’ll have my assistant, Joanna, book your flight, and set up your accommodation. Scott will pick you up at the airport with your company car,” he confirms.

I thank Rick for the opportunity, and we move on with the rest of the meeting. But as the discussion shifts to next month’s budgets, my mind stays fixed on the upcoming trip to Melbourne—and how the hell I’m going to break the news to my girlfriend.

Lucia and I are sprawled on the couch, slurping down Vietnamese noodles while a cooking show plays in the background. I’ve been trying to find the perfect way to drop the Melbourne bomb for the past hour—but so far, all I’ve managed to drop is extra soy sauce on my shirt.

As soon as the show wraps up, she gets up to use the bathroom. While I wait for her to come back, I pop open a bottle of Prosecco I brought home after work—figuring a little alcohol might help soften the blow.

While pouring the wine into our glasses, Lucia’s phone lights up on the coffee table. I glance over and catch a glimpse of a text from her colleague, Addie—the message partially visible in the notification preview on the locked screen.

Addie: Thanks for today, babe. You’re amazing! Can’t wait to see you ...

Huh. Just how close are these two? It’s strange how I still haven’t met this Addie chick, despite how much time Lucia spends with her. That unsettled feeling creeps in again, subtle but persistent. I’ll make it a point to meet her when I get back.

Just then, the bathroom door clicks open. I quickly switch off the screen and sink back into the couch, trying to look like I hadn’t just been snooping on her phone.

Moments later, Lucia walks into the room and sits beside me, her eyes immediately landing on the bottle of wine and the two glasses on the coffee table. “What’s that for?’ she asks.

I smile, holding her gaze. “I have some news to share.”

Her eyebrows knit together in curiosity. “Okay. What is it?”

“Rick is sending me on a business trip for a few weeks to train our newest Operations Manager. He said I’m the only one who can get the job done efficiently,” I casually inform her, bracing myself for her reaction.

“A few weeks? Where are you going?” she asks, her voice surprisingly calm.

“Melbourne.”

She remains quiet, her gaze lingering on mine with an unreadable expression. I can’t tell what she’s thinking—her face is revealing nothing, and the silence stretches uncomfortably between us.

After a minute’s pause, she reaches for the wine glasses, handing mine to me.

As I take it, she raises her own with a small, almost gentle smile.

“Congratulations, babe,” she says, her tone light but her eyes holding something I can’t quite read.

“I have no doubt you’ll excel in the task.

You’re a determined worker.” She clinks her glass against mine before taking a hearty sip.

Well, goddamn! That’s the last reaction I expected from her. Normally, she’d explode with anger and frustration, throwing every insult at me, but I guess I was wrong. “So, you’re actually okay with me going?”

She shrugs, as if it’s not a big deal. “If you have to go, then you have to go,” she says. “I can’t stop you from doing your job.”

Okay, who is this person, and what has she done with the Lucia I know? I was preparing myself for an explosive confrontation tonight, yet here she is, actually being supportive for once. I’m completely at a loss for how to process all of this.

“When do you leave?” she asks.

“In two days.”

She nods, and takes another sip of her wine. “Okay. Well, let me know if you need help with packing.”

Well, shite! This is definitely not at all how I expected the night to unfold. Not only is Lucia okay with me leaving for a few weeks, but she’s being surprisingly nice about it.

I’m going to take this for what it is and leave it at that. It’s been a while since we’ve been civil with each other, and it would be foolish to ruin the moment.

I lean in and kiss her softly on the lips. We spend the rest of the night cuddled up on the couch, watching the remaining episodes while my mind races with everything I need to do before heading off to Melbourne.

I still can’t believe it.

Lucia is being nice for a change, and I’m off to fucking Melbourne!