Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Unknown to Pollyanna, Kyr was coming to similar conclusions, but unlike her, it made him feel far from pleased. Rather, he was disconcerted to realize how more relaxed the day was, and all because Pollyanna had been there to keep him company.
And it was goddamn ridiculous, he thought tensely. Except for the time they had been in his room, they hadn’t exchanged a word during the rest of the day. Even so, her presence had served to keep him in a good mood, something he knew his own staff at the office had noticed as well.
He had to put on the brakes on this somehow, Kyr decided broodingly. And so, as he escorted her out of his house, he heard himself say, “Is it all right if I won’t be able to walk you back home tonight? I’m afraid I have an emergency overseas call to make.”
“That’s totally okay,” she reassured him quickly, not wanting him to think she was the type to sulk.
“My security will be with you, though.” When she shook her head, he said flatly, “It’s non-negotiable.” Teleios might have a zero crime rate, but even so, he wasn’t taking chances.
Looking around to make sure she wasn’t going to be overheard, she whispered to him, “B-but you know how they feel about me.”
He blinked. “Who?”
“You know.” She gave him a sheepish smile.
He was even more puzzled. “I don’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “Your staff.”
Ah. He had noticed his staff’s reservation towards her, which was a marked contrast to how they had initially welcomed her with open arms.
“But it’s okay,” Pollyanna was reassuring him cheerfully. “I think it’s great they’re so protective about you, and it’s kinda flattering, too, that they think I have the power to seduce you and stuff.”
She looked tickled pink with her last statement that he asked silkily, “Should I give you a pat on the back as well? You seem to be doing quite nicely on your own already.”
She grinned. “Sorry. But really, I think it’s totally crazy – in a good way – that they think I can wrap you around my finger.”
“You’re right, it’s crazy. I’ll fire them all tomorrow—-”
“I was just joking!”
He smiled. “I was, too.”
She gave him a doubtful look.
“Laugh or I’ll tell everyone how much of a perv you were in my bedroom.”
Pollyanna had never laughed so quickly and hard in her entire life.
When they reached his car, he hesitated then said finally, “We might not be able to meet tomorrow either.”
“Oh.” Her face was projecting the sad-face emoticon in real life, which was cute and crazy funny at the same time.
“Because of work?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Can’t be helped then.” She gave him a sunny smile. “I’ll just use tomorrow to figure out the best way to win your staff over.” At his raised eyebrow, she explained, “It’s clear just how much they love you, you know. I think that’s great, so even if they obviously don’t like me so much right now, it’s only because they think they’re protecting you.”
He wondered if he should tell her she probably had won them over already, with just those words. Right now, they were in a CCTV zone that his security had access to, and his head guards tended to be more gossipy than desperate housewives.
“I’ll see you the day after then?”
“I’ll call you as soon as I’m free,” he promised instead.
And so they didn’t meet the next day or the day after that, and they were the worst forty-eight hours of his life.
Chapter Eight
Kyr gave up on the fourth day. He had done everything he could to get Pollyanna out of his mind. But nothing had worked. The challenge of running his business empire had lost its appeal, and even nightly trips to the mainland hadn’t been able to stop himself from obsessing over a certain strawberry blonde.
And so here he was, heading to the island’s local clubhouse. It required him to go through streets he had stopped visiting, required him to see faces he had stopped seeing. Everyone here knew Kyr, but unlike before, none of them called out to him in greeting. Instead, they only dipped their heads in respect, all of them careful not to meet his gaze. Kyrillos Gazis had changed four years ago, and knowing what Ana had done to him, none of the locals could fault him for becoming aloof and hard.
At the clubhouse, Kyr was stunned to find Pollyanna acting as the host for a birthday party, gaily organizing games for the children as well as entertaining the adults with funny anecdotes of her time on the island.
Kyr spied Abram among the guests and gestured for the boy to come to him. “Who invited her here?” he asked.
Abram colored guiltily. “I did, Master Kyr. I saw her moping around a few days ago and figured she would want to keep busy so...” He took a deep breath. “This is actually the third party she’s organized for us.” Unable to help it, he added proudly, “She’s got a real knack for it, too.”