Page 14 of Capri

Romeo sips his coffee, choosing to ignore me further and make no apologies. My curiosity takes over as I ask him, “So, about this woman?”

Don’t fucking say a woman in a yellow sundress.

He grins smugly. “Tiny blonde thing, sexy as hell spitfire. I invited her on the boat tomorrow,” Romeo says.

Thank fuck Capri is tall.

“You have such a way with words,” I murmur, questioning how he gets any woman to come remotely close to him.

“Don’t be a hater,” Romeo says. “We could all use a day off.”

“I don’t need a day off. I have too much to catch up on.”

Luca speaks up, “Come on, man. We’ll cruise the Blue Grottos with some beautiful women, good food, good drinks and just fucking chill for a day.”

That doesn’t sound terrible.

But this work won’t get done on its own.

“I don’t think so. You two go have fun,” I tell them.

“Nope. Not happening,” Romeo argues.

It’s crazy to think that just an hour ago, I was smiling like that.

I lift my head, meeting his adamant stare. “Fuck off.”

Luca chuckles and Romeo perseveres. “Nah, I’m good right here.”

“Jones, when was the last time you took a break? You work like a dog to have all the luxuries you do, but you never let yourself actually enjoy them. What’s the point?” Luca asks.

Well, shit.

My pride tells me to ignore them and act like I’m not affected by Luca’s words. But I am. I know I’m a workhorse, but it’s all I have. My mother is in the States, I have no family other than her—this company is the only thing left.

If I don’t work, I can’t afford to support her.

I told myself I’d invest everything I have into my father’s business to honor my brother. I’ve done just that. Archer Chartering has never been more successful and has taken the leading spot in chartering by storm.

It seems, while knee-deep in accomplishments, I lost myself along the way.

I come home to an empty house at night—eat alone, sleep alone, wake up alone.

I guess I can sacrifice one day tolet loose.

“Okay.”

Romeo jerks his head to Luca. “Did you hear the same thing I did?”

“It sounded like the old fucker agreed to have some fun,” Luca says.

I roll my eyes and focus on the stack of papers in front of me. “You can leave now.”

“Hell yeah, boss. You won’t regret it,” Romeo chants.

My two overbearing best friends leave the office, and the sound of the heavy door closing leaves me in silence—the stale air I’m used to.

A day off…I forgot what that feels like.

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