Page 21 of Faith

“Which is exactly what we want.”

“I know, but whenever a big company like Wulf shows up on the islands, everyone freaks out. Rightly so. Your family has no ties to the islands. Just remember, the heritage of the Hawaiian people was stolen from them.”

“I'm not trying to steal anything.”

“Still, they aren’t going to believe you until they see an agreement. That's why your mother sent you and not your brother or sister.”

“Why?”

She rolled her eyes. “You can be charming if you want to be. So, charm them. Let them know that you don't want to steal their resort and then they might believe you.”

He sighed and shook his head. “I feel like a piece of meat. You still aren't going?”

She shook her head. “Alfie will be there.”

“I don't like Alfie.”

“He's your VP of acquisitions. Besides, I happen to know that you were best friends at Eaton.

“Are you still friends with any of your high school friends?”

She shrugged, relieved that they were finally finished with the work. “I didn't really go to school. I had tutors and took courses via correspondence.”

“Ah, yes, the training. But you had to have friends back then.”

“A few, but it was odd.”

“In what way?”

She hesitated for just a moment. This was not like Jensen at all. He knew her history, knew her life before this. But he had never asked specific questions. “We were all competing against each other.”

“It's like that in a way for all kids. Competing for sports, academics, all that.”

“Yes, but it was more life or death. Plus, the competition was played out on the world stage. So many of us just don't even keep in contact.”

“That's kind of sad.”

“I guess I should rephrase that. The others probably do. I sort of had a stigma attached to me, so everyone avoided me.”

“Jeff doesn't.”

“No, but we were both outcasts. He came out early in life when it wasn't as accepted as it is now.”

“You were both brave.”

She shook her head. “No. I mean, Jeff was, but I wasn't.”

“You walked away from a career you didn't want anymore. It would have been much easier to just stick around and get the endorsements.”

If he only knew that it was more about survival than anything else, he would be stunned. As would most people. The story behind her departure and her ex-partner's suicide was so much worse than anyone could even imagine. And if she were honest, she missed the ice as much now as she did when she walked away.

“I guess.”

He looked like he wanted to say more, so to divert his attention, Nicola decided to change the subject.

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

“I'm going to go over these write ups you compiled about the family.”

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