She nods before walking over to me and wrapping her arms around my waist, "Are you sure this is a good idea? You hate her." She squints at me.
"True, but this is the season of forgiveness is it not?" I kiss her gently and she rolls her eyes.
"I think it's going to take a bit of getting used to for me when it comes to the decision making." I admit to her simply because I know this won't be the last time I just do something without telling her about it. I'm set in my ways but I can be better with time.
"Yeah well I've met your mother so I know you're accustomed to taking orders from a woman. You'll get used to me doing it in no time." She jokes and I throw my head back in laughter.
If you would have asked me days ago if I'd ever put out an olive branch for Ulla I would have told you never in a million years. Finding someone who shows you how good life can be is one way to soften the heart.
CHAPTER28
DELANEY
Istompy into my office and close the door behind me, covering my face with my hands. What the Hell was Baron thinking! My chest tightens, making it hard to breathe. Seeing that woman for the first time is seared into my eyeballs, and I push my palms into them and groan in dread.
“Oh, no!” I shuffle over to the sofa to throw myself down on my back. Rolling onto my side to face the cushions, I bury my face in a pillow to shriek in frustration.
“Delaney,” Baron’s voice crawls up my spine, and I tense. “We just talked about this, love. Ulla deserves a chance to rebuild herself after the last year and a half. You, of all people, know how difficult it is to escape the atrocities of another.”
“I hadn’t met her yet!” I cry out hoarsely, and I shudder when Baron sits on the sofa against my back. “I take it back- I changed my mind!”
“You haven’t even said a single word to her, love,” Baron rationalizes, and I twist sharply to glare at him through stinging eyes. He puts a hand on my shoulder, but I shrug him off sharply. Sighing, Baron shakes his head. “At least give her a chance to prove she’s tolerable, Delaney. Despite everything Hans did, and who she was before his death, Ulla hasn’t done anything to you. Trust me when I say there’s something different about her since her accident.”
“Shite, Baron, I th- thought I could, but,” I trail off as my throat closes. Once again, he puts a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. “She- she oozes. . . shite.”
“Delaney,” Baron sighs softly, tugging my shoulder to pull my attention. I roll onto my back, frowning at him. “She only ever thought Hans was a cheater, not a rapist. Imagine what it must feel like for Ulla to be carrying a rapist’s baby, he gets murdered, she loses the baby, and then my mom makes her an emotional support animal. Just imagine that for a moment, love.”
A shrill ringing sounds in my ears, and I turn my face away in shame before Baron continues. “They cheated on each other. They were only together because of my mom. But now, who knows who she is? I’m not saying be her friend. I’m not even saying to do the bare minimum and interact outside work.”
Baron’s got points. . . and I hate them. Scowling, I roll over away from him again and cover my head with the pillow. He doesn’t say anything more, knowing he’s won on this issue.
“Fine. . . but she’s an employee- and not even a valuable one- and I will not go out of my way to accommodate her,” I grumble and gulp down the dense lump in my throat. “But I won’t be mean or nasty to her, either.”
“That’s all I’m asking. You’re lucky, Delaney. You had skills to help you, but my mom had her eye set on Ulla since she and my sister went to school together. Ulla has no skills but to lay on her back to rise up in the world,” Baron chides gently. “The same thing my mom did to my dad, basically. She’s probably not even sure who she is without Hans and my mother. It’ll be just as hard on her as it is for you, love.”
“Ugh, aye! Fine!” I throw the pillow at him, but he catches it easily and sets it on the floor. “I get it!”
“Can you gather yourself enough? I have to go meet the construction crew,” He asks, and I sit up sharply to bluster a sigh. Rubbing my face with my palms, I shore up my courage while Baron stands to hold out his hands to help me up. My bump is noticeable, now, and I groan when the pressure pushes up under my lungs. “If you don’t want to, you’re more than welcome to take the super uncomfortable, three hour ride to the air strip.”
“Why couldn’t they use the public airport like normal people?” I grumble and shake my head. Baron chuckles.
“It was a last minute flight. After that rush job in London, I felt like this ‘assist as needed’ project would be a nice thing to do for them. I probably won’t be back until dinner time,” He answers, his voice dipping thoughtfully. “Anyway, you won’t be with Ulla by yourself. The assistant general manager will be there to do most of the talking.”
Baron and I leave my office to head back to his across the hall, and I admit. . . my knees creak with reluctance. I hadn’t even gone into his office, noticing Ulla; I knew she was starting this morning. I’d gone out of my way to avoid her since she arrived. My mouth dries as he opens the door, and I hold my breath.
“Ulla,” She stands up and whirls around, and I get my first good look at her face. Ulla isstartlinglygorgeous. For a moment, I’m stunned by her beauty; she’s no diamond in the rough, either. “This is Delaney, my wife and the co-owner of the resort.”
No wonder Petra Frey was all over this woman. I tense when her eyes meet mine, and Ulla smiles small, politely.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I say curtly.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity,” Ulla replies, her voice soft and kinda scratchy with a natural gutturalness. My guts twist inside me, but I viciously beat down the ice that prickles up my chest and into my shoulders. “I appreciate being given a chance.”
My eyelid twitches when she nods her head. Something about her. . . rubs me the wrong way. Is it the way she’s holding herself? Is it something in her eyes?
Baron had talked up, down, and sideways about how abused Ulla was under Petra Frey. . . but I can’t help but doubt it. There’s no justification for this crawling feeling up my back, and I purse my lips thinly.
“Let’s go meet with your boss.” I declare suddenly, turning on my heel as my mind runs down the hallway. No, no, no. There’s something so disconcerting about Ulla, but Baron can’t see it. I grind my molars and resist the stiffness that nibbles at my joints. Rubbing my bump, I fight a grimace before glancing back at her.
