Page 116 of Rival Hearts

I nodded. “Yeah, and she’s pissed. She says I’m just in it for the cash, it’s got nothing to do with what’s good for the company. And I guess she’s not wrong. I mean, we’ll lose money if we do this, but that’s not the driving force, and it sure as shit isn’t about personal gain. Which she says it is.”

Daniel nodded as I talked to him, letting me get it off my chest. The more I talked about it, the angrier I became. I was furious with Charlotte for making it sound like it was about me and for painting me in the same light as her dad.

This was nothing like that. I wasn’t doing something horrible. I wasn’t making the world a worse place with my actions, and although a lot of what we did was about making money, that wasn’t the main focus.

“Maybe you should just explain it to her,” Daniel suggested. “You know where she’s coming from, but does she know where you’re coming from?”

“It’s not like she gave me a chance to explain.”

Daniel shook his head. “Sometimes, when emotions run high, you just need to take some time to cool down, you know?”

He wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t that simple.

“I just don’t think it’s going to work out between us,” I finally said. “I mean, she called it off after one disagreement, and if that’s how she’s going to play it, then I’m not going to be the one to keep fighting. I’m not supposed to be in this alone.”

Daniel raised his eyebrows again.

“At the end of the day, you need to decide what it’s worth to you and if you want to fight for her.” He thought for a moment. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re really good together. I’venever seen you the way you were with her. She brings the good out in you.”

I hated that Daniel said that. I appreciated he was open with me, but fuck, it wasn’t that simple, and I needed someone who was going to be there for me through thick and thin and not just bail at the first signs of trouble.

“Thanks for listening,” I finally said.

“Anytime. I know it’s not always that easy. We have it differently than most. People always think that because we’re rich and we have a good support network, that we don’t have troubles, but with what we’ve all been through as kids… it doesn’t always work that way. A good support network helps a lot, but money doesn’t take away the tough stuff. Ever.”

I nodded. Daniel was right about that.

“When are you in town again?”

“Not anytime soon, but I think I’ll see you in Monaco. I’ll swing by for the show. I hate missing those.”

“Okay, cool.”

Daniel stood, and I did, too. We shook hands, and he clapped me on the back.

“I know it can be pretty fucking hard out there sometimes, but having someone by your side to work through it can make it a bit easier,” he said before he let go of my hand.

I nodded. “I know.”

“You’re going to be fine, bro,” Daniel said. “You just have to stop fighting good things as hard as you do.”

“I don’t do that,” I countered.

“Sure.” Daniel clearly disagreed with me. He left my office, and I sighed, sinking back into my chair.

I couldn’t focus on work, and I didn’t stay in my chair for long. I walked past Marina’s desk and told her to hold my calls and postpone any meetings. She could send urgent calls to me, butchances were I wasn’t going to be able to take them. I didn’t tell her that, though.

When I left the office, I drove to the marina and walked to the boat I’d taken Charlotte out on. I got in, untied it, and started the engine. I left the marina, heading into open sea. The spray on my face and the wind whipping around me was welcome.

Whenever I was out here, I felt free. Nothing could reach me across the waves. No one could find me as soon as I was out of cell range, and I was alone with my thoughts.

Sometimes, it was less soothing than others—being alone with my thoughts wasn’t always the best thing.

But today, I just needed to get away from everything.

For a while, I just explored the ocean, but I soon found myself close to Dutch Island. The old lighthouse on the rocks stood like a lone sentinel, looking out to sea, and the waves made a mist-like spray against the rocks at its base.

I drove toward the beach where Charlotte and I had moored the little boat during the storm.