Page 66 of Companion Required

After the four-plus hour flight from Hong Kong to Bali, they had another four-hour drive from the airport in the south to Kennedy’s seafront villa in a small town in the north near a place called Pulaki. During the journey, Kennedy told them all as much as he could, about how Giorgio Milletto had known he was sitting in the Cold Steel reception and that not only had they instantly connected, but they had enjoyed a frank exchange of views and ideas about how to progress their businesses. Kennedy mentioned nothing about the merger. Kieran listened quietly, but Kennedy could tell he suspected there was more to the visit, things Kennedy wasn’t telling them.

As the sun began to sink over the headland, they arrived at Kennedy’s villa. Their driver had called ahead and they were met by villa staff carrying ice-cold glasses of lemon tea. During the year, Kennedy let out the four-bedroom lodgings to friends or close business associates, but he ensured the villa staff maintained the premises, grounds and swimming pool all year round. With the rooms housed on two levels—the ground and the first floor—the villa also had a shaded car parking space beneath the whole structure, which was where the driver parked their car.

On the ground level, they stepped through the front entrance into the spacious living room, then through to the pool and the stunning view overlooking the Bali sea. Shimmering and inviting, the pool ran the length of the villa, surrounded on three sides by the dining room, the kitchen, the lounge, and one of the bedrooms. Three more bedrooms sat on the first floor, overlooking the pool and the sea. Glass sliding doors on each of the internal facing rooms ensured that guests had access to the views. Two features he had always loved were the two-person shaded cabana to one side of the pool, and the outdoor terrace on the first floor, where his guests enjoyed breakfast.

Over the next four days, they relaxed together, although during all but one of those days, Kennedy remained behind when the three went out on excursions. Tim had vetted Giorgio’s proposal and given Kennedy the golden thumb—Tim’s way of saying that everything came up legitimate. At night, Kennedy and Kieran continued to have sex, Kennedy trying his damnedest to make sure Kieran enjoyed himself. Even so, a couple of times, Kieran asked him if something was wrong. Kennedy sensed a storm brewing.

At midnight on the fourth day, while Kieran slept, Kennedy managed to web conference into the meeting with London and Los Angeles. Giorgio handled the call brilliantly, up-talked the merger then handed over to Kennedy. Although nothing had been signed, they made a point of telling everyone—including Giorgio’s staff—that the acquisition was firmly off the table. Kennedy knew he would have to deal with a flood of emails from his staff, but decided to leave them until the morning.

On the morning of the fifth day, Kennedy spotted Kieran talking to Steph on one of the sunbeds beside the swimming pool. After a second, she pointed up to where Kennedy sat at the breakfast table with his laptop open. Kieran looked amazing in shiny scarlet Speedos, a sight Kennedy used to relish but now one that tugged at his heart, as though he had no right to look. Without hesitation, Kieran came towards Kennedy, bounding up two stairs at a time until he stood the other side of the table. Even with his shades on, Kennedy could tell he meant business.

“Kennedy, we need to talk.”

Kennedy had been wondering when this conversation would happen. And apparently the time had come. Kieran would want know what was going to happen when they returned, maybe even ask if they could stay close. Ollie had done the same, and everyone knew what a disaster that had been. Not wanting to spoil the rest of the holiday, Kennedy would need to let Kieran down gently, so he sat back in his chair. He had been rehearsing the speech in his head, to make sure he got the words right, to minimise the pain. But before he had a chance to say anything, Kieran spoke first.

“Shut the laptop down and give me ten minutes,” said Kieran decisively. “So I can say what I need to say.”

Kennedy breathed out a sigh and did as requested.

“I’ve paid the money I promised into your bank account, by the way,” said Kennedy. “With a little extra.”

“I—thank you. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

“Go ahead, then,” said Kennedy, his hands clasped together on top of the laptop.

“We go home in three days.”

Kennedy remained silent, but nodded.

“I just—I don’t want a dark cloud hanging over us as the deadline looms. So let’s clear the air right now and that way we can enjoy the next few days the way we’ve both—at least I hope you have too—enjoyed these past few weeks. Are we agreed?”

Okay, thought Kennedy.That’s not quite what I’d been expecting.

“Agreed,” he replied, cautiously.

“Because I want us to have fun during the few days we have left, and now your business meeting is out of the way. Let’s go to the beach or sunbathe together, or swim in the sea or in that amazing pool. Let’s have sex in the afternoon, if you want to. And I know you do, the way you’re trying so hard not to stare at my cock right now.”

Despite himself, Kennedy chuckled and looked away, but when he brought his gaze back, Kieran’s face had turned serious again.

“Look, Kennedy, I know things between us probably haven’t turned out the way you’d expected, and certainly not how we’d both planned. Believe me, that much I do understand. But a deal’s a deal. And when we get on that plane in three days’ time, when we set foot back in England and you head off on your way, it ends there. I knew that much coming into this arrangement. I’m not going to gush about how great a time I’ve had—the things I’ve seen and done, the new and incredible experiences—because you already know that, you’ve been with me the whole way. But I am true to my word. So I give you my word of honour—and you certainly know enough about me by now to know that counts for something—that I will not attempt to contact you again, as stated in our agreement, once we’re back home. Are we on the same page?”

“We are.”

And yet, for the first time in as long as he could remember, Kennedy had no idea which page he was on.

---