“Seán, my job is here. I can’t permanently leave.”
“Melissa is en route, and Noémie has been informed of the situation. She’ll assign you a new project from HQ.”
I work hard to leash my anger. “No. Absolutely not. You promised me you wouldn’t interfere again, Seán.”
“These are exceptional circumstances.” He doesn’t even make eye contact as he gathers more stuff from around the room.
“Look at me, please.”
He jerks his head up. “We’re under time pressure, darling. You need to start packing.”
I fold my arms. “I don’t want to argue with you, not when your dad is fighting for his life, but?—”
“Then don’t,” he snaps. “For once, can you just do as I ask?”
“I understand that you need to leave, and I will come with you now because I want to support you, but I’m coming back. My job is here. I can’t just drop my responsibilities any time I want.”
“You can’t be serious.” He shoots daggers at me. “I’m not leaving you here withhim.”
I count to ten in my head, reminding myself he’s under enormous stress right now. “I thought we resolved this last night.”
“Things are different now.”
“No, they’re not. If you don’t trust me, Seán, that’s a big problem.”
“Darling, please. I need you in New York.”
“You’re going to be ridiculously busy. You already work crazy hours without the burden of your father’s duties. I’ll just be sitting at home alone while you’re traveling or burning the midnight oil. Whether I’m in New York or here won’t matter.”
“You’re going to be my wife, Astrid. My wife’s place is by my side.”
“And what about my career ambitions?”
“I’ll buy you a business or give you the seed capital to start your own.”
“We’ve had this argument repeatedly. You know I need to do this by myself.”
“You’re being unreasonable.”
“Wanting to be independent is not unreasonable.”
“I don’t have the time to stand around arguing with you while my father is fighting for his life at the hospital. Are you coming or not?”
“I’ll come until Sunday, but I’m returning to Ryemont then.”
“Just forget it.” He pushes past me. “If you’re not returning permanently with me, don’t bother returning at all.”
65
CALLAN
I’m standing outside the ballet studio on Saturday morning, waiting for Darcy to appear after her class, when Astrid rounds the corner, heading this way. She’s dressed in yoga pants and a crop top and carrying a mat under her arm. Her hair is combed back into a high ponytail, and her flawless skin is flushed. There’s a glazed look on her face, and she appears to be a million miles away. She looks incredible. Not as slim as she was when I knew her but still slender with obvious muscle tone in her abs and her arms and curves in all the right places. A pang of longing jumps up and bites me.
Riley and Travis have been getting on my case the past couple of weeks since it was confirmed that Seán Devlin won’t be returning to Vermont. His father is in critical condition in the ICU, but he’s expected to pull through. However, he’s unlikely to be back at the helm of the billion-dollar organization he founded in his twenties for some time. Meaning Astrid’s fiancé is running the show now. The guy is a possessive prick, and I’m amazed he let her stay here by herself. Then again, no one tells Astrid Nevan what to do. She’s always marched to her own tune.
“This is a blast from the past.”
I smother my surprise as I watch her tip her head back, raking her gaze over the building that houses the dance studio. “It sure is.” I run a hand through my hair, warning myself to play it cool. Riley and Travis think I should mount an all-out campaign to win her back, but I won’t get anywhere with Astrid if I get in the middle of her relationship. I have a feeling it’s going to implode without any interference from me.
