“Yes. They are the formal charges we’re filing against Vincent. I’ve also sent you the résumés of the three candidates we’re considering promoting.”
Christos pulled the pages from the machine and started scanning them. “You and Gui make the choice.”
“So it’s started.”
“What?”
“You’re not going to be an active partner in Seconds now that you’re running the shipping line.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I have plans for the day that I can’t set aside. If this can wait until evening…”
“What plans?”
“Plans.”
“The kind that involve a woman?”
He didn’t answer, but that didn’t stop Tris.
“From your silence, it sounds serious. Which is why we are coming to you.”
“Tristan, I don’t interfere in your love life,” Christos said.
“I don’t have one that lasts more than one night.”
“Exactly. Leave me be.”
“We just want to meet her. You knew we were coming.”
“I’m not going to be on the island today,” Christos said.
“We’ll find you.”
“Somehow I thought you would. I’ll leave Antonio at the Theakis compound, he’ll prepare your regular quarters.”
“Where does Ava stay?”
“In the main house with Theo.”
“How is the boy? Is he your son?”
Christos was starting to wonder if Theo was really his son. Christos knew he should just ignore Ava’s wishes and have theDNA test conducted, but he wanted…he wanted a chance at something more than the kind of marriage of convenience most of his colleagues had.
Tristan had married for love and against his family’s wishes, and for a few brief years had been the happiest man that Christos had ever known. Then his wife had passed away, a victim of cancer.
“What was it like?” he asked.
“What was what like?”
“Being married to Cecile.”
Tristan cleared his throat and didn’t answer for a moment. “Heaven. Is that what you’re searching for?”
“I don’t know that I am, but I want a chance at that.”
Tristan cleared his throat again. “I hope you find it. With Ava and Theo. You deserve that kind of happiness.”
Christos recognized sadness and resignation in Tristan’s voice. “You can have it again.”
