“Can I come in?”
Kallie whipped her head up and looked toward the door in the living room.
The first time Ash had used it to get to her in her room.
“Sure,” Kallie said.
She zipped up her suitcase and laid it on the couch of her hotel suite as Ash stepped in.
“I’ve got everything as organized as I can get it,” she began. “The paperwork for the house is in that folder on your kitchen counter.”
“I found it,” Ash said.
“Once you deliver the papers to the realtor, whose address is in there, he’ll turn over the keys. I’ve got an appointment for you tomorrow at a car dealership at ten in the morning. You’ll need a way to get to and from that private beach of yours. The furniture stores are still expecting you, but Fridays are their busiest days, so I suggest seeing them this weekend instead.”
“I’ll do that,” he said.
“As far as the temporary visa goes, that paperwork is here.”
Kallie walked over to her purse and pulled out a small folder of documents.
“Fill those out, get them notarized, and deliver them to the address on the inside of the folder cover.”
“Okay,” Ash said.
Every word that came from her mouth hurt. And she had to admit, there was a small part of her that wanted to give in and stay. But as much as it hurt to leave and as much as it hurt to see Ash so defeated, she wasn’t sure if she could sacrifice everything to be with him. Kallie made a promise to herself when she met James. A promise that she wouldn't fall into the trap so many other women fell into. She wouldn’t succumb to his money and she wouldn’t bleed him dry. She’d keep her independence. She’d keep her want to be a career woman. She wouldn't let the rich society around her dictate the kind of mold she needed to fall into.
At the time, she felt James deserved better than that.
And standing in front of Ash, she knew he deserved better than that.
It wasn’t just her job, though. She was proud of it. Maybe a little too proud. But there were other issues. There was a chance the press would follow them there. Ash in Bali wasn’t a story, but Ash in Bali with his supposedly gold-digging girlfriend was. What if the press followed them? Picked their lives apart after going through all this work to set it up? What if her presence ruined all of this for him? Ruined his perfect world and his perfect getaway? What if she was the reason why he’d always run from them?
She couldn’t do that to Ash. She couldn't force him to constantly be on the run because of her. And she didn't want to be on the run either. As far as she was concerned, she couldn't see a way for them to work. Not without massive obstacles that completely destroyed them the first time around.
“Are you sure about this, Kallie?”
Ash’s beautiful voice yanked her away from her thoughts.
Was she sure?
Would she ever be sure?
“Yes,” Kallie said. “I’m sure.”
“Then I’ll have my private jet ready for you in the morning.”
“I can buy a—”
“Stop,” Ash said.
Kallie sighed and closed her eyes.
“My jet is flying you back to the city. End of story,” Ash said. “It’ll be ready for you on the tarmac we arrived on at nine in the morning. I’ll make sure the driver has the address. Order whatever you want while on the trip.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Kallie forced herself to say. “Thank you.”
“Yep.”