Page 61 of Keeping Skylar
I won’t tell my sister about the body-trembling orgasm I gave Skylar or that we slept in the same bed last night. That’s not information she needs to know, now or ever. What I do want her to understand is that I genuinely feel something for Skylar, and I want to see where this could go.
“Look, I know you’re worried about her getting hurt. And I think that’s very admirable of you to want to look out for her. But I promise you, Hannah. I would never do anything to hurt her or betray her trust. You have my word,” I say earnestly.
Hannah lingers in silence, probably deciding whether to believe my words. But the truth is, the only person I need to prove myself to is Skylar, and I’m willing to spend every damn day showing her that I’m trustworthy and loyal.
I hear the start of a car engine on the other line, signalling the end of our argument.
“If you break her heart, Heath. I swear to you—”
“I won’t,” I quickly interrupt before she finishes her sentence. “I have no intention of ever breaking her heart. If I do, I’ll hand you the knife myself.”
“Well, in that case, I’m happy for you. But just remember to be patient with her. Don’t rush her into doing anything she’s not ready for,” she reminds me.
“Of course. Only tiny baby steps.” That earns me a chuckle from Hannah. We end the conversation on a positive note, fine-tuning the details for Skylar’s birthday.
After saying our goodbyes and hanging up, I walk into the restaurant with my head held high and my heart on my sleeve, envisioning a birthday feast worthy of a queen.
CHAPTER 26
Kaden
Rick, our CEO, is already seated at his usual spot at the head of the conference table when I walk into the boardroom. It’s that time again—our monthly general meeting—and I can practically taste the stiff drink I’ll need after this. I slide into my seat between Mark, the Brisbane Operations Manager, and John, our Head of Finance. A quick nod to them both, and it’s straight to business as usual.
When I first joined Nova Car Rentals just over ten years ago, we operated only six services. Since then, the company has expanded to thirty across New South Wales and Queensland. Through years of hard work, determination, and perseverance, I gradually worked my way up to become the manager of our Sydney operations—a role I’ve proudly held for the past three years.
A large part of my success was because of my wife. Skylar had always been my driving force—constantly pushing me to work harder and reach higher. She inspired me to grow, to become better, and everything I achieved was because she stood by me, every step of the way.
Now that she’s gone, there are times when I feel like giving up entirely—just going through the motions and doing only what’s necessary to get by. Losing Skylar meant losing more than just the woman I loved; it meant losing the drive and ambition that once pushed me forward.
Rick’s been talking for some time now, but I haven’t absorbed a single word. My eyes are fixed on the laptop screen in front of me, but my mind is miles away. I’m distracted, unprepared, and silently praying he doesn’t start firing off questions I can’t answer.
But of course, I’m not that lucky—because next minute, Rick calls my name in front of everyone. When I finally look up, the wordMelbourneis plastered in bold letters across the projector screen behind him.
Oh yes, that’s right. The company’s recent expansion. We’re about to open three new services in another city, and we’re set to launch the first one, in Brightly Bay, in the coming weeks.
I straighten up in my seat and try to shake off the fog. “Sorry, what was that, Rick?”
He gives me an irritated look but repeats himself. “We’ve just hired Scott, our new Operations Manager for Melbourne, and I need your thoughts on how to get him up to speed with our processes before the grand opening,” he says in his usual authoritative tone.
We were cutting it close to the deadline when HR began the search for a suitable Manager for Melbourne. Now that we’ve finally filled the position, he’ll need to get on top of everything fast—with the grand opening just a mere four weeks away.
“Well, we could have him come to our Sydney office to undergo intensive training, where he can shadow me at several of our facilities,” I suggest, aiming to sound competent.
He shakes his head, dismissing my idea. “Unfortunately, that won’t work. Scott can’t leave Melbourne right now. His wife is due to give birth any day, and he needs to stay close,” he casually informs me.
“Oh . . . umm . . .”Fuck! Well, I’m out of ideas.
“Or ...” Rick cuts in, “we could sendyouto Melbourne for a few weeks to conduct the training on- site,”heproposes.”We’ll cover your travel expenses and sort out temporary accommodation. You’ll also have access to one of the vehicles from any of the three facilities while you’re there,”he adds, his expression stern.
Oh, fantastic. I’m being forced to return to the one place that holds some of my worst memories—the time when my marriage to Skylar was falling apart. Not that it matters anyway, my marriage is practically over now. Still, there has to be a better solution than this.
“Am I the only option you have?” I ask, hoping he’ll assign Mark instead.
He shoots me a look that practically screams ‘are you fucking dense?!’ “You’re our best shot at getting Scott up to scratch. You’ve been with the company the longest—you know the ins and outs of our entire operation better than anyone. If there’s anyone who can get someone up to speed fast, it’s you,” he says with conviction, and despite myself, I can’t help but smile at the recognition.
I guess I should be grateful that Rick has such unwavering faith in my ability to pull this off. In a way, this could be the perfect opportunity to regain my focus and reignite the motivation I’ve been lacking.
Lucia’s probably going to have a huge meltdown when I tell her about my plans to be away for a few weeks, especially considering how strained our relationship has been lately.
