After dinner, Sara went to pack for the trip while Sean went to the study. As he sat down he responded to some emails then a notification came on his phone. After quickly responding, he sighed leaning back in the chair. He closed his eyes and his mind began to wander. He was soon taken to a different place and different time.
Three months earlier…
In a old castle in Germany, the sounds of heels can be heard on the stone floors. They soon stopped in front of a desk. The mid-twenties woman looked down on the man busy writing at the desk. The dark red shirt perfectly framing his upper body, the brown hair unkept but making him seem more serious, the short stubble that had grown over the past few days. The woman looked at the man who didn't even glance at her before speaking in his normal icy voice, "Karen what can I do for you?" The woman smiled hearing the icy voice, "How did you know it was me." The man, without looking up coldly responded, "You're the only person stupid enough to walk into my study without permission while wearing heels." The woman let out a laugh, "Sean I'm probably the only person to do that without getting stabbed. So are you back for good or are you going to go back to playing teacher?"
"I'm back for a little bit. Some snakes have raised their heads from the grass so it's time to eliminate them." Sean stated finally looking up at the woman. "How goes the Asian community?" The woman plopped on one of the chairs, "Just like everywhere else you send me. Some push back, some fall in line and some leave. Nothing I can't handle. So tell me why do you have Frank guarding this one this time around. She doesn't seem special." Sean organized all the papers on the desk into neat piles before responding, "Is Mr. Carmichael trying to raise his forces in Asia?" Karen shook her head, "not at the moment but we can't be too careless. The old man has gotten more volatile lately. Especially on his search for you." Sean nodded, "he is still looking for his daughter."
"Ah yes the missing Carmichael heir. Everyone knows the story and everyone is led to believe that you know where she is." Sean turned and looked out the window behind his desk. He sat there for a while before sighing in response, "She'a six feet under in a cemetery in Fort Worth." The woman froze hearing what Sean stated. After a moment she regained her composure before asking, "so there is no Carmichael heir. So he is the end of the line. That will make him more unpredictable if he finds out. No wonder you've kept that information so tight to your chest." Sean turned around to look at the woman before stating, "I never said that there wasn't a Carmichael heir. I just said that his daughter is no longer of this Earth."
"You're saying there is another heir. The old man has confirmed he had only one daughter. She disappeared almost 25 years ago. The old man surely wouldn't search so hard for one person if he had another heir to carry the name." Sean sighed before standing up. He walked towards the door and left some parting words before he exited the study, "Who's to say that the heir isn't his grandchild." The woman instantly froze at Sean's words. By the time she recollected herself Sean was long gone.
After a few weeks of eliminating nuisances and making deals, Sean was standing outside a detached house in Scotland. Looking out over the rolling hills the man seemed to finally be at peace for a moment. Karen walked around the house to see Sean standing there with a wine glass in his hand. "You seem to like this house more and more every time you come here." Sean glanced at the woman his face devoid of emotion, "then you should sell it to me. I'll give you the Tuscan style in southern Italy to you. I know you love that place." Sean's words made Karen smile. "I love it but not as much as I'm loving holding this place hostage from you." Sean looked at his wine glass then glanced back at the woman, "It seems you've become to idle since I returned. Maybe the Saharan smugglers need some assistance." Karen shook her head at the thought of all that sand everywhere, "Sean honey you wouldn't do that to me." Sean snorted at her reaction, "remember no matter what, this is a Superior-subordinate relationship. No matter how hard you keep falling for me. We are not compatible. Plus it seems there's someone who has already taken my heart." Sean then walked back into the house leaving the woman alone.
Sean stood in an office in a skyscraper looking out over the sprawling urban area below. Emma Camilla walked in to see this sight. She smiled as she walked up to the desk and coughed lightly. Sean turned around and spoke as he sat down, "what can I do for you Emma." The middle aged woman smiled as she sat down, "Sean it's been almost 3 months since you left her. Do you know what you did to her. She spent an entire day just curled up on your couch." Sean's eyes went soft hearing the woman talk as his mind went back to all those breakfasts that he shared with her. Quickly Sean came back to reality, "It doesn't matter Emma. We both know I don't lead a simple life. This isn't the life she deserves." Emma nodded before thinking for a moment. After a few minutes she spoke up, "Maybe that's your own mind making that assumption. Maybe it's the life that she wants. I know you've been avoiding American papers since you came back. You're trying to avoid thinking about her but she's already consumed you. Sean will you always live in the shadows or for once will you put your flower in the sun and let it blossom?"
"The shadows suit me. She doesn't deserve to be with someone who will not be able to take care of her much less protect her." Emma smiled before standing up. "Then teach her to fight back for herself. Let her fight alongside not cower behind you. Also the Henson's are going to run a smear campaign against you." Sean looked up at the woman deep in thought. "Emma I think Dearborn's chairman should go public." The woman smiled brightly, "that's more like it Sean. What do I need to do?" After laying out his plan with Emma, she left.
As sean leaned back in his chair he pulled a photo out of his wallet. He looked at the woman smiling brightly at the camera. The royal blue dress perfectly shaping here with the gold designs making it look like she was radiating light. He smiled at the photo as she reminisced about the time they spent together. After a moment he threw a pen at the way while muttering, "what the hell. Why can't I get her off my mind"