“You don’t have apassport?”
“No.”
I blink at her. “Howis that possible?”
“Because I don’t.” She says indignantly, shifting her weight. “Not everyone can travel around the world like you,” she says.
I wave a hand vaguely in the air. “Okay, that doesn’t matter. I can pull some strings and get you a passport.”
“Mr. Crawford?—”
“Lucas,” I snap.
“Lucas,” she concedes. “I can’t just fly off to the Maldives. I have my sister to take care of.”
I shake my head, already scrolling on my phone, wondering how quickly my jet can be ready.
“The same sister in the picture on your lock screen?” I ask idly. “She looks old enough to take care of herself.”
She doesn’t reply immediately, and I look up at her as she chews her lip, her eyes narrowing.
“If you don’t have a passport, then you’ve never vacationed anywhere abroad,” I say, changing my approach. “I promise you, the Maldives is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see. It’ll just be for the weekend, that’s it. We’ll be back Sunday night.”
“But—”
“Please, Amelia. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent.”
She puts her hands on her hips, tapping one foot against the floor. She clearly doesn’t think this is a good idea, but I’m desperate for her to agree.
The thought of her accompanying me makes the entire trip more palatable. Although I’m far from certain Barnes will be happy to see me, in fact, I’m pretty sure he’ll be pissed as hell, I know that having Amelia with me could soften the blow.
“Please,” I say again. It’s the first time I’ve begged anyone for anything in my thirty-nine years.
She sighs, closing her eyes, and I know I’ve won her over.
“Alright,” she says eventually. “But I need to talk to Annabelle before I go. Also, I don’t have a swimsuit.”
I grin. “Well, we’ll have a private pool. You won’t need one.”
She snorts. “Rich people really don’t have to worry about anything,” but her tone is playful, and the fact that she’s teasing me makes me feel a whole lot better.
“Thank you,” I say as she turns to leave. “I’ll clear it with Sterling House, and make sure it’s worth your while.”
The little smile on her lips fades, and she nods, looking distracted. “Yeah. Thanks. How long will the passport take?”
“A day. Less if I can manage it. Deal with any work you have today, and then we’ll fly out tomorrow.”
She nods, the little crease between her brows is back, but she doesn’t say anything else as she leaves the office.
Chapter 39
Lucas
I’ve never seen Amelia so excited. She’s walking around my private jet with a huge grin on her face, touching everything.
She’s even noticed the quilted covers over the headrests sporting my initials. As she picks one up and giggles, I realize yet again how much I’ve taken for granted about my lifestyle.
“This is completely amazing,” she says, flitting about the cabin as I sit watching her contentedly.
