quietness caused him to wonder if something was the matter. Since Chelsea was never quiet, when she became so, it concerned him. “Are you not enjoying your meal?”
“The food is fabulous.” Looking at her plate, she knew she should’ve eaten more while it was warm. “I just can’t get over the view. Have you been here before?” If anything, she was unsure how he could so casually eat with such beauty surrounding him and remain so unaffected.
Nodding, he indicated he had, but it wasn’t something he cared to elaborate on. Once, a few years back, he had brought a new acquaintance to the opera and for a meal afterward. It was during a season of his life he was none too proud of. In town on business, he met the woman at a dinner party, and the very same night took her back to his hotel room. The following night, he took her out to the opera and to dinner at the same restaurant, slept with her once more and never saw her again. Soon after, he began dating much less. John knew the way he treated her andmany other nameless women like her was unfair. His heart had become so calloused; it took a near disaster to wake him up.
Changing the subject, he asked, “What would you like to do tomorrow?”
So far, they had done many of the usual tourist activities. John worked during the morning hours but was usually free by lunchtime. When he arrived back at their hotel, they’d have lunch together, go out for an afternoon of sightseeing, and have a nice dinner.
“What is your work schedule?”
“I have a conference call early and then several meetings. I probably won’t be free until near dinnertime.”
Nodding, she said, “Hmm. Okay. I’ll find something to get into.” Keller Industries was global, and John had many interests in Sydney, including manufacturing and hospitality. The hotel in which they were staying was owned by KI. Not knowing this beforehand, Chelsea found herself surprised, even a bit disappointed when he spent so much time away. When they were out each afternoon, often he took phone calls which left her alone to finish whatever they were doing at the time. She held a baby koala, and he missed it. She touched a live crocodile, and he missed it. With him excusing himself for privacy or quiet, she would snap her own photos with her phone. It wasn’t exactly the trip she anticipated. Without question, she was having a wonderful time. It was the trip of a lifetime for her, and certainly better than their visit to Las Vegas, but for some reason, she expected there to be more personal time and fewer business meetings.
As she thought this, she felt terribly ungrateful. It wasn’t likely she would ever again have such an opportunity, and often she reminded herself how generous he was and how blessed she was that he took her along with him. Just as he did in Vegas, he insisted on buying her extravagant evening clothes for dinners at some of the finest restaurants in Sydney. For each outfit, he would surprise her with more jewelry. Recalling just how generous he’d been, she felt even more ashamed of her secret disappointment.
Based on her brief response, and when she didn’t elaborate on what she planned to do, he suspected she was a little disappointed with hisanswer. Without a doubt, he’d spent more time conducting business than he had with her, at least during the daytime hours. Having hoped that giving her his full attention during the evenings might somehow make up for his absence in the mornings and how distracted he was when he was with her in the afternoon, he decided that was not the case. Chelsea was not the type to complain; it was simply not in her nature. In fact, that was what he liked least about her. It drove him crazy how she would rarely ask for what she wanted or admit how she felt. If he could impart one thing in her during their time together, it would be that. He wanted to help her find her voice. More than his desire for her in business, though certainly she would have to gain
“The food is fabulous.” Looking at her plate, she knew she should’ve eaten more while it was warm. “I just can’t get over the view. Have you been here before?” If anything, she was unsure how he could so casually eat with such beauty surrounding him and remain so unaffected.
Nodding, he indicated he had, but it wasn’t something he cared to elaborate on. Once, a few years back, he had brought a new acquaintance to the opera and for a meal afterward. It was during a season of his life he was none too proud of. In town on business, he met the woman at a dinner party, and the very same night took her back to his hotel room. The following night, he took her out to the opera and to dinner at the same restaurant, slept with her once more and never saw her again. Soon after, he began dating much less. John knew the way he treated her andmany other nameless women like her was unfair. His heart had become so calloused; it took a near disaster to wake him up.
Changing the subject, he asked, “What would you like to do tomorrow?”
So far, they had done many of the usual tourist activities. John worked during the morning hours but was usually free by lunchtime. When he arrived back at their hotel, they’d have lunch together, go out for an afternoon of sightseeing, and have a nice dinner.
“What is your work schedule?”
“I have a conference call early and then several meetings. I probably won’t be free until near dinnertime.”
Nodding, she said, “Hmm. Okay. I’ll find something to get into.” Keller Industries was global, and John had many interests in Sydney, including manufacturing and hospitality. The hotel in which they were staying was owned by KI. Not knowing this beforehand, Chelsea found herself surprised, even a bit disappointed when he spent so much time away. When they were out each afternoon, often he took phone calls which left her alone to finish whatever they were doing at the time. She held a baby koala, and he missed it. She touched a live crocodile, and he missed it. With him excusing himself for privacy or quiet, she would snap her own photos with her phone. It wasn’t exactly the trip she anticipated. Without question, she was having a wonderful time. It was the trip of a lifetime for her, and certainly better than their visit to Las Vegas, but for some reason, she expected there to be more personal time and fewer business meetings.
As she thought this, she felt terribly ungrateful. It wasn’t likely she would ever again have such an opportunity, and often she reminded herself how generous he was and how blessed she was that he took her along with him. Just as he did in Vegas, he insisted on buying her extravagant evening clothes for dinners at some of the finest restaurants in Sydney. For each outfit, he would surprise her with more jewelry. Recalling just how generous he’d been, she felt even more ashamed of her secret disappointment.
Based on her brief response, and when she didn’t elaborate on what she planned to do, he suspected she was a little disappointed with hisanswer. Without a doubt, he’d spent more time conducting business than he had with her, at least during the daytime hours. Having hoped that giving her his full attention during the evenings might somehow make up for his absence in the mornings and how distracted he was when he was with her in the afternoon, he decided that was not the case. Chelsea was not the type to complain; it was simply not in her nature. In fact, that was what he liked least about her. It drove him crazy how she would rarely ask for what she wanted or admit how she felt. If he could impart one thing in her during their time together, it would be that. He wanted to help her find her voice. More than his desire for her in business, though certainly she would have to gain
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