Chapter 12

The butler escorted Richard and Amira to the dining area after greeting them at the main door. The two sat where the butler guided them to. They were the first to arrive but weren't alone for long, as soon a familiar face entered.

"Richard." His ex stated his name. When Stan told him he was going to Skyros, he figured he'd end up seeing Carol, and he hadn't known how he'd feel.

Now, facing her, all the anger and resentment was gone. He stood. "Carol, good to see you. I assume the gentleman by your side is Ray?"

Ray extended his hand and shook Richard's. "Nice to meet you."

"Is it?" Richard asked with a laugh. "I can't imagine Carol had much good to say about me."

As Carol and Ray took their seats, Amira leaned over and asked, "What's up with them?"

"Carol is my ex," Richard replied.

"Ohhh…" Amira looked at Carol with renewed interest.

"So, how are things with you, Richard?" Carol asked.

Richard quirked his brow up but only slightly. Carol hadn't called him Richard to his face since before they'd broken up.

When he didn't answer, Carol continued, "Oh, come on, Richard! It's ancient history between us. I've moved on, and so have you. Let's put that all behind us and make sure this is the best SHIT ever!"

"I can't argue with you there," he said, raising his glass in Carol's direction.

"Besides, Amira seems to suit you. And if Stan endorses a couple, then I do, too."

Richard didn't have a chance to respond, as the rest of the group started filing in. The biggest surprise was the last two to enter.

"Hello, everyone!" said a familiar voice. Gregor entered the room with a woman draped around his arm. Richard had to do a double take. He couldn't believe Cherry from HR appeared before him! Except she looked different, more relaxed.

"Hello, King Gregor," Carol said, as they all stood to greet the former king and what looked to be his new girlfriend. "How were your flights? Hopefully not too tiring."

"Not at all. I enjoyed myself," Gregor said with a smile that brightened his eyes as he gazed at Cherry. "I'm sure most of you who work at WANC know Cherry."

Cherry gave a bright smile to everyone as Gregor pulled out a chair for her to sit in.

"What are you doing here, Cherry?" The words came out of Richard's mouth before he gave them permission.

"Gregor asked if I'd like to come along, and Stan suggested I handle your evaluations—well, the paperwork side of it, anyway. As you know, every year we have annual reviews at WANC, and since you're all deep into SHIT here, I figured I'd make it easier and come to you!"

Richard took a sip of water. His mouth had suddenly gone dry. If Cherry was here, that meant that Amira was getting promoted before they left Greece. Carol and Harriet had similar situations when they stayed after the talks finished. His heart seemed to cave as the thought hit him. Amira might end up staying here, while he'd be on a plane going back home.

Amira palmed his forearm, interrupting his sad thoughts.

"Is there anything wrong?"

He shook his head. He refused to admit to her he wanted her back home with him. That was too selfish a thing. What man would ask her to tank her career just so they could be together? He wouldn't do that to her. Not now. Not ever.

The rest of the conversation they had over dinner was heavy on planning security detail for all the dignitaries that would attend the talks, but Richard's thoughts kept redirecting back to losing Amira to her promotion.

Once they got back to the guest house, he was exhausted. Not only was he not used to coming out from behind the desk to do fieldwork but the jetlag had finally caught up with him. It had been three years since he'd had to do a major assignment like this. But he wondered how he'd get any sleep since Amira was on his mind.

"Listen, I'm going to turn in. I'm exhausted from jetlag," he said to her, bringing a palm to the back of his neck.

"Okay. I'm going to make some tea before I turn in," she said as she reached for the teapot to fill it.

He thought he heard her say something else, but he was so tired that nothing registered in his brain to turn around.

* * *

She took a lengthy breath to steady her nerves because the chamomile tea wasn't cutting it. Why had Richard left so quickly? And why didn't he answer her when she asked if he wanted company tonight? Was he having second thoughts about what happened between them, or was it really just jetlag as he'd said?

More than likely, seeing his ex is what had him in a funk. Richard hadn't talked to her about Carol, and she couldn't help but wonder about the two of them. Carol looked absolutely happy with her new man, Ray, but that didn't mean that Richard didn't still have feelings for her.

Was that it? Did Richard's feelings for her pale in comparison to the flame that still burned for Carol?

She had to find out more. She tiptoed to the bedroom, ready to ask him about it, but when she peered in, she saw he was already fast asleep. She sighed.

Maybe I need some fresh air to clear my head. She headed out of the guest house, walking toward the gardens. There, she heard several women's voices. She stumbled upon the group, who looked happy with their wine while they chatted on the patio.

"I'm sorry. I'll leave," Amira said, spinning around.

"Don't you dare!" Harriet shouted. "You get your little lamb butt back here right now and let us get to know you!"

Amira gave Harriet, Carol, Erika, and Treasure a half-smile before taking refuge in a chair opposite all of them. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to Richard's ex, especially if there was unfinished business between them. Amira instantly felt like that could be the only reason for Richard to turn in early.

"So how long did you last before you were jumping your man's bones?" Carol asked with a chuckle. "I think collectively it was only a couple of days for us all when we met our mates. Stan really knows how to pick them for sure!" Carol eyed Amira up and down and poured a glass of white wine for her and placed it in front of her.

Amira's mouth suddenly went bone-dry. She didn't think that Carol would be the first to speak to her. Amira reached for the glass and took an unladylike gulp before responding.

"Can I plead the fifth? Because I'd be lying if I gave you a definite answer. Zagan's potion made it nearly impossible for either of us to remember our first date together. We were casing out The Joint the night before you showed up with King Gregor, Harriet."

"Ah-ha! So, you admit you two have had the hots for each other for a while now! I knew it was a good idea to stick you in the guest house," said Harriet with a chuckle.

"Can I plead the fifth again?" Amira said with a sigh.

"What's the matter, Amira?" asked Treasure.

Amira tried to bite the inside of her lip. There was no way she was going to ask whether Carol liked her or not. They all had a job to do so it really didn't matter, but it sure would be nice if Carol did. It'd make the job a lot easier. But after she took another sip of wine, her voice betrayed her.

"You really don't like me, do you?" she asked Carol. "At dinner, you said you thought I suited Richard, but that's not true, is it?" Well crap that sure didn't come out right. Then again, Amira couldn't help but think Carol was the key to Richard's weirdness and her own.

"Whoa, it's not like that at all," Carol said, holding her hands up to stop Amira. "I like you just fine. I just have to admit I'm worried about you."

"Why would you be worried about me?"

"Because Richard, well, he's not exactly great at relationships," Carol said finally.

"Richard's the cheater, right?" Erika piped in.

"Cheater?" Amira asked, horrified.

"Yeah, one of the things Carol and I bonded over was our cheater exes," Erika explained before realizing the faux pas. "Oh. You didn't know."

"I don't know anything about Richard's past relationships," Amira admitted. "Actually, I guess I don't know much about Richard at all." Her stomach churned with this new realization. Richard was a cheater? Why do I always attract the cheaters? She stood to leave, and though the ladies tried to stop her, she waved them off and headed back toward the guest house.

"Wait!" Harriet had followed her. "Please don't take that the wrong way. Richard is a complicated man."

"Cheating isn't complicated," Amira spat. "And I've been there myself—with a man who cheated on me, I mean. And I won't do it again." She charged forward, and this time, Harriet didn't follow.

She didn't know what to do when she re-entered the guest house. She didn't feel like waking Richard and having a confrontation. She had to admit that she was overtired, and the jetlag proved difficult to deal with.

She decided to sleep in one of the other bedrooms, not wanting to see Richard at all. She wondered if he'd made all the same proclamations to Carol that he'd made to her, just to end up cheating on her at some point.

What was she going to do now? Her crush on Richard had grown. She'd really thought she'd developed real feelings for him, but now she knew the truth about him. How could she go back to work for him after all they'd been through?

Maybe she didn't have to. What if she got promoted to work in Greece? The idea had never crossed her mind before, but she supposed it was something possible. After all, that was what had happened to Harriet and Carol. Could she leave him and take the job? Amira's heart sank. He might not love her, but it was becoming abundantly clear to her she was falling for him. Because if she was honest with herself, she'd turn the job down in a heartbeat if it meant staying with Richard.

She let out a sigh before washing out her cup and heading to the bedrooms. Sure enough, Richard was still fast asleep in the master bedroom. She peered over at him. He looked so at peace. How could a man who cheated seem so at peace while sleeping? Amira quietly grabbed her suitcase and headed for one of the spare guest bedrooms at the opposite end of the hallway. She was an early riser, so her morning run routine would allow her the opportunity to avoid Richard most of the morning. Thank goodness for small pleasures.