What a lousy excuse, she wanted to say, but swallowed the words. ‘There’s progress and progress,’ she said stubbornly, trying to keep her cool. ‘There’s doing it responsibly and doing it irresponsibly. And going by what I’ve seen and heard about your project I can only conclude that it’s not responsible.’ This was an understatement, of course. She thought it was a disgrace. She looked at his shadowed face, unwavering. ‘And I’m sure I’m not the only one who has voiced these sentiments.’
He inclined his head slightly, his face inscrutable. ‘No, indeed, you are not.’ He gestured at the house. ‘However, none of the people who has done so is present here, so I suggest you keep your opinion to yourself.’
The gall of the man! ‘I would have kept it to myself had you not pushed me! You very specifically asked for my opinion and I gave it!’
His mouth curved crookedly. ‘Indeed you did. And I compliment you on your very diplomatic language. I have heard the same opinion expressed in much less flattering words.’ He took a sip from his drink, his eyes on her face. ‘I’d better go inside and tend to my other guests. Enjoy the scenery.’
She watched him stride into the house. Had she made him angry? She couldn’t tell and she didn’t care. He’d asked for her opinion and she’d given it.
‘Enjoy the scenery’, he had said. Well, she would. She was in no mood to converse with people who destroyed nature for the sole purpose of adding on to their wealth. She took a deep breath of the fragrant air and glanced around. Massive old trees—oaks and hickories and hemlocks—shaded the house. Delicate Japanese maples with their wine-red foliage added elegance and large azaleas brightened the grounds with splashes of bright colour.
She was not meant to have peace and quiet, because Sean appeared minutes after Chase had gone back into the house. He draped an arm possessively around her and she stiffened instinctively. She had never done that before and she knew it was a sign, clear and immutable in its meaning. It was over between them. She did not love him. She could not love him. Her throat ached and she swallowed painfully.
‘I was looking for you,’ he said, dropping a kiss on her cheek. ‘Nice party. What are you doing out here?’
‘I just wanted a little fresh air.’ Obviously his anger towards her had cooled, but she could not ignore the significance of the incident in the car. She couldn’t stay blind to Sean’s selfish and disrespectful attitude towards her.
‘What do you think of Chase?’ he asked.
‘Very imposing. Consummately self-confident.’
Sean laughed. ‘Too bad his brother Breck isn’t here. He’s in the Far East negotiating another deal. The two of them make quite a combo. I think I’m going to make out like a bandit on this one,’ he said with smug satisfaction. ‘Everybody and his dog wants to see the rainforest these days.’
Sean was one of the potential investors of the project, be it a small one, but his enthusiasm was large. He hadn’t told her many details and she hadn’t understood the extent of the project until she’d seen the mock-up and other displays this evening. She didn’t feel like talking to him about it and getting into another argument. One argument with him in a day was quite enough. She said nothing.
His hand stroked the nape of her neck. ‘I’m sorry I upset you earlier,’ he went on. ‘But please be reasonable about this trip.’
Fresh anger rose to her head. She moved away from him, gritting her teeth. Sean’s definition of reasonable was giving in to his wishes.
‘You don’t have to go, do you?’ he asked when she did not reply.
Despair mixed itself with her anger—a bitter concoction. He had not changed his mind. He didn’t take her seriously. She swallowed hard. ‘The answer is yes and no. Yes, of course I have to go. This is a fantastic opportunity. And no, I don’t have to go—not as in being obliged to because I’m being ordered by a superior.’
‘So it comes down to the fact that you want to go.’
Anger was taking the upper hand now. ‘Of course I want to go! It’ll be good for my career. You don’t get it, do you? Tell me honestly why you don’t want me to go on this trip!’
‘It’s dangerous, camping out in the wilds like that. You might catch something.’ He was looking the other way as he said it, as if he didn’t quite dare to look her in the face.
She gave a mocking little laugh. ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake! Don’t make me laugh.’ He was making excuses, as if his objection stemmed from his concern for her welfare rather than his own self-interest.
‘You’ll be gone a long time.’ He looked grim.
‘A month. Surely you can survive a month without me.’
‘We’ll have to cancel next weekend.’
‘Yes. I am sorry about that.’ They’d been invited by one of his friends to spend a weekend on his luxury yacht cruising the Chesapeake Bay. She’d looked forward to it, but sacrifices had to be made sometimes. Was it too much to ask from a man that on occasion he accommodate a woman’s career needs?
Sean sighed impatiently. ‘Sky, I needed the time off! I’ve worked at neck-breaking speed lately and I need some relaxation!’
‘You can go without me, Sean.’ She felt a wave of fatigue wash over her. She didn’t want to have this conversation. It was hopeless and useless, and he simply refused to understand.
His jaw went rigid. His grey eyes looked icy. ‘That wasn’t the plan. I want you with me.’
‘I know, but sometimes plans need to be changed,’ she said wearily. He was acting like a spoiled brat. Not an endearing quality in a manor anyone else, for that matter.
‘I thought you’d want to be with me. I thought we…had something.’
You’re wrong, she thought, feeling sadness overwhelm her. ‘I think you’re being extremely selfish, Sean. Why can’t you see that this trip is important for my career?’
He said nothing. It was a very eloquent silence and she felt her heart sink.
‘You don’t really think my career is important, do you?’ She heard the dull resignation in her own voice. She’d recognised the truth, but had resisted putting it into words until now. ‘You seem to think it’s some sort of hobby.’
‘Very few photographers ever make it big, Sky. You know that.’
She tensed. ‘I’ll make it, Sean. I am making it. I’ve done very well this past year.’ Her Hope series had been exhibited in the Benedict gallery in Washington D.C. She’d had several very good assignments. It just took time and perseverence in this business. And a lot of hard work. ‘I support myself, I pay taxes, I have no debts and I own my own house.’
‘A barn, Sky,’ he said with a dismissive gesture. ‘You live in a barn.’ He said it as if she slept in the straw with the pigs.
However, she did live in a barn—a remodelled old red barn—and she loved it. It was certainly an eccentric place to live, but it was spacious, comfortable, unique and it suited her needs perfectly. It was, obviously, not up to Sean’s sophisticated standards. Well, she’d had enough of Sean and his sophisticated standards.
‘You don’t respect my work and you belittle my efforts and you don’t like where I live,’ she said bitterly. ‘I have no idea at all why you’re interested in me and why you can’t live without me for a month.’
‘Don’t start, Sky,’ he warned.
She gave a derisive little laugh and suddenly the weariness was gone and anger gushed from her. ‘I’m starting nothing! I’m finishing something! I cannot tolerate that kind of disrespect from you, Mr Managing Director! You may have a big title and a huge income, but you have a very small