We fall into comfortable conversation as dinner progresses. Sione asks me questions about my career and family and tells me about his daughter that he adores so much. I would think she’s much younger than the eight-year difference between us. Then again, a lot can happen between twenty-three and thirty-one.
Axel settles the bill while Sione rifles through his briefcase. He pulls out a folder and an envelope.
“I have business in another country, so I won’t be joining you two at the banquet,” he begins as he handles Axel the envelope. “Here’s a donation for your event. I love the idea of bringing water sports to kids who wouldn’t normally have a chance. Also, I love the idea of swim therapy to help people overcome their fear of water.”
I pause with the dessert fork midway to my mouth.Swim therapy?That’s new. Axel has all kinds of tricks up his sleeve.
“Thank you,” Axel tells Sione as he accepts the envelope.
“Heaven, I’m quite interested to see what you do with this magazine especially with expanding the digital portion. Fresh content will be exciting. I understand Wassergot pulled the sponsorship from the original owner?”
“Yes. I didn’t like their morals,” Axel confirmed.
“I’ll make sure the sponsorship is reinstated since Heaven is the new leader.”
Axel and I stare at Sione for a moment because his words mean he intends to take over.
“You will?” I ask with excitement I didn’t know I’d feel for Axel.
Sione flashes a megawatt, dimpled smile as he opens his blazer and pulls out a silver pen. Opening the folder, he scribbles his signature in a few places.
“Enjoy your retirement, Axel. I don’t think the relocation to California will be too hard for my daughter and me.”
Axel stands and shakes Sione's hands with both of his. “I’m so happy to have found someone who wants the same things for my company. I have a great staff, and they’ll take good care of you.”
I rise and accept Sione’s kiss to my cheek. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“Likewise,” he says and nods at a man in the corner who rushes out the door. “I have to run now; I’ll be back Wednesday for us to officially announce the change. Thank you for keeping this quiet.”
Axel chuckles. “I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
We withhold our excitement until we are in the privacy of his town car.
“You did it, baby!” I tell him, then pepper his face with kisses until he cups my face in his palms.
“Wedid it,” he corrects. “And that unexpected sales pitch. Damn, I almost drug you out of there. It was arousing.”
“It was the truth,” I confess with all the sincerity I can muster.
There’s a softness in his gaze that I haven’t seen before; his kiss is equally gentle like he wants to take his time savoring the kiss and committing it to memory. The warm slide of his tongue asks for entry when it never has before. I moan against his mouth once he pulls me until I’m straddling him. A couple of hours into our evening, and he’s acting like he’s forgotten his vow to behave. Axel runs kisses along my jaw as his hand takes advantage of the slit in my dress. I feel victorious when he grunts because of his discovery.
“Dammit, Heaven. We’re supposed to behave,” his pained complaint makes me shiver.
I dismount when I feel the car slowing down.
“We are going to behave all night if we must.”
“Bullshit. I’m only at these events for two hours max. I’ve learned a long time ago not to make myself the focal point or the host. I have a team for these things—a good team.”
I steal another kiss just as Paulo opens the door. “Until then.”
Axel
My hormones are raging and not in the usual way. Now, I’m a man in love on a mission to officially claim my woman. I don’t try to mask a thing when I look at her as we navigate the new set of paparazzi. Her skin reddens from my attention. I know she feels it too. My dreams of retiring have been realized, and Heaven helped more than she knows.
After a round of introductions with some key players, I leave Heaven with Alfred, Rea, and their spouses while I give my welcoming speech. I’m always happy for the turnout, but it seems the numbers are higher with all the unnecessary press I’ve been receiving. It’s like some of the rich and snobby showed up just in case Janet appears to make a scene. I don’t give a damn as long as they open their wallets for any of my many causes.
I use a similar speech each year with key changes. It’s not because I’m not interested. It’s the opposite,they’renot interested. A lot of them are here to show how rich they are, and the others truly care about my causes. My speech is just a formality—usually. This is Heaven’s first time hearing it, and she looks at me like I can really conjure lightning.
