Paul crouched in undergrowth until the helicopter was gone. The wind had picked up and no pilot in their right mind would risk flying for long in this weather. He had that on his side.
But Ellie was a problem.
Whatever happened to the sweet, naïve girl he’d adored from afar for more than a decade? He’d watched her make terrible choices in men and almost lose everything by defying her father. All he’d ever wanted was for Ellie to see him. Really see him. Not the man looking after security, even when at her side or behind Jack. But as the man he was.
The helicopter left and Paul continued along the creek.
The night he took Ellie out for dinner, they’d been so close. Over an expensive dinner and candlelight, they’d talked. That one time, he’d almost lost sight of what he’d worked so hard to achieve. Almost.
Ellie chose to treat him the way everyone else did. No respect.
And it didn’t matter.
There was a million dollars in his bank, plus all the cash Jack carelessly left in no less than four safes. More fool him.