Chapter Four

Diana

Steam rises from the snow-covered landscape. Tall silver towers rise up to the sky, the bases shrouded by mist. Ripples cross the surface of a small lake on the other side of the parking lot even though the temperature is below freezing. The sun hasn’t risen yet, although I can see a haze of gold along the peaks of the mountains. A light snow started just before Viktor turned the car into the parking lot of AuraGeothermal’s Snjóheiði, the first geothermal plant Ari’s grandfather built. Now the snowflakes spin and dance as they fall to the ground, creating a faint dusting of white on the path curving from the parking lot to the main entrance.

I glance down at my watch. Ten ’til eight. I’ll start waking up in a couple minutes. But right now, I just want to enjoy the moment of seeing something I’ve never seen before.

It took me over two hours to fall asleep last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ari. Felt his weight on top of me as he made love to me, then next to me, as I allowed myself the rarity of sleeping with a lover for the first time in years. My romantic experiences have been few and far between since Brian.

My chest clenches. Brian had been sweet, a biology major with aspirations of becoming a doctor. We’d met in a communications class. He’d been cute, with a boyish smile and an infectious laugh. When he’d invited me to coffee, I’d been flattered. When he’d kissed me, I’d felt the faintest fluttering of butterflies, a whisper of possibility. Maybe I could let down my guard, let someone in.

Six months in, I hadn’t let it down enough. Brian had wanted more, had wanted to deepen our relationship much quicker than I was ready for. It hurt him that I wouldn’t let him see me naked, wouldn’t share the scars from Dale’s attack.

So he left. Like my mother. Like the constant rotation of foster parents and case managers.

Like Aislinn.

That’s why, I reminded myself at one o’clock in the morning, my experience with Ari packed such a punch. After Brian, I’d dated casually, only allowing a couple to progress to physical intimacy. Like Brian, my previous lovers had wanted more, so I’d ended things before they could. It had been nearly two years since I’d kissed someone, much less gone to bed with them. My hang-ups with Ari were rooted in satisfying sex—really, really satisfying sex—and nothing more.

My brain and my heart argued off and on until I finally succumbed to sheer exhaustion, only to be yanked awake five hours later by my alarm.

At least the view was worth getting up for. Watching the snow glittering in the air, the steam swirling, is a balm I desperately needed. Already the days are slipping by. I hope I’ll at least have some time to explore. I’ve always enjoyed the places I’ve traveled to. Some have stood out more than the rest. The ivy-covered storefronts and lantern-lit streets of Montmartre in Paris. The meandering lanes between the stone buildings of Heidelberg in Germany. The striped flower fields of Japan’s Biei.

But as I think about leaving Iceland, returning to New York, I feel vaguely unsettled.

“Good morning.”

The gravelly voice yanks me out of my reverie. I turn to see an older man with a weathered face and thinning salt-and-pepper hair standing a few feet away. His head is tilted to one side, a slight smile lurking about his mouth, even as his deep-set eyes darken with suspicion.

Georgios Xenakis. CEO of Hellas Shipping, worth close to two billion dollars. Father of three, widowed in his midthirties when his wife died four weeks after giving birth to their daughter, never remarried.

I run through the facts in my head as I smile and hold out my hand.

“Γειά σου, Mr. Xenakis.”

His eyes widen in surprise as he steps closer and takes my hand.

“Γειά σου, Miss North. You speak Greek?”

“I’ve just spoken two of the ten words I know.”

“You know more than most. I recognized you from the picture on your firm’s website.” He releases my hand and gestures to the surreal landscape around us. “What do you think?”

A small burst of energy slips through me. This isn’t just a simple question or making polite conversation. It’s a test. I can see it in the way he holds my gaze, his own eyes assessing and watching me for any hint of deceit. The way he leans in slightly as he searches for deeper insight versus casual observation.

“AuraGeothermal is an efficient operation.” I gesture to the collection of buildings just beyond us. “Their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint has been very successful to date. Reduced water usage, land restoration, supporting local businesses in the nearby towns.” I hold his gaze. “The company is dedicated to their causes.”

“Dedicated, yes.” Xenakis’s smile remains in place, but his eyes harden. “To their causes here. To Iceland. Collaborating with outsiders, however, is another matter.”

“There are challenges with communication—”

“Challenges?” Xenakis snorts. “Miss North, I’ve never met a man so dismissive, arrogant, and blunt as Ari Valdasson.”

You and me both.

“I understand. But,” I add before Xenakis can retort, “what Mr. Valdasson and AuraGeothermal are trying to do align with your own beliefs about green energy. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think there was a solution to both your concerns.”

He rolls his eyes. “The only reason I’m still here, Miss North, is because the shipping time between the Port of Piraeus and Reykjavik is half the time it would take for me to ship from California or Indonesia.” His hands come up, spread apart to illustrate the vast distance between said destinations and Greece. “That and Mr. Valdasson’s offer to finance the majority of the construction of the ammonia cracking plant was appreciated by my government.”

“But you’re here. And now so am I.”

I hesitate. Ari’s hostile takeover of Aura from his father is public knowledge. But the details Ari shared last night, the ruin his father had almost inflicted to ensure the deal went through, can only be found in a smattering of local articles published here in Iceland. The international coverage pitted father against son, progress against isolationism.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, and a lot of misunderstandings to get through. But,” I add, “I believe a path can be forged.”

Xenakis’s phone rings. His face tightens as he pulls his phone out of his pocket, then eases as he reads whatever’s on screen.

“My apologies.”

“Everything all right?”

“Yes. Yes,” he repeats, as if to reassure himself. “You were saying?”

“Miss North.”

Ari’s voice rings out, making Xenakis and I both turn. My breath catches in my chest. He’s wearing a navy blue suit that deepens the color of his eyes. With the snow swirling around him, he looks like a Viking prince dropped into the twenty-first century.

Geez. I have been reading one too many historical romances.

“Mr. Xenakis.”

I manage to hide my wince at Ari’s cold greeting. Xenakis tenses next to me.

“Mr. Valdasson.”

Ari’s eyes dart to me. “Miss North. I see you and Mr. Xenakis are already acquainted.”

“We met five minutes ago.” I state the facts, keep the emotion out of my voice. “We were discussing some of the initiatives AuraGeothermal has made in reducing their carbon footprint and investing in local communities.”

Ari’s gaze flickers between Xenakis and me. “If you’ll follow me, we’re ready to begin the tour.”

Xenakis and I glance at each other as we follow Ari up the path. Xenakis raises his eyebrows in an I-told-you-so gesture. I stay silent. There’s nothing I can do in the moment. Yes, we’re off to a tense start. But that doesn’t mean negotiations can’t be saved.

The main entrance of AuraGeothermal is comprised of glass and timber. Amid the backdrop of snow and mountains, it reminds me of a glacier jutting out of the hillside. We walk into a surprisingly warm lobby.

“Low-emissivity glass,” Ari comments as he notes me staring out the massive windows. “Triple-glazed for thermal insulation and soundproofing, tempered to withstand the windstorms. Everything we do here is to reduce our own energy consumption even as we generate it. That and ensuring we create a positive environment for our employees.”

The pride in his voice is almost imperceptible. But I hear it, feel it resonate deep within my chest as we follow him to a crescent-shaped desk in the middle of the lobby. A young man with a round face and bright blond hair waits.

“Good morning, Atli. How’s Sigrún doing?”

Atli’s cheeks flush a deep red as a huge, toothy grin spreads across his face. “As well as one can at seven months with twins, herra.”

Ari’s gaze sharpens. “Tell me if you need anything. Either of you.” A ghost of a smile crosses his face and makes my chest clench. “Or rather all four of you.”

“Twins?” I say out loud.

Ari’s head snaps around, eyes narrowed, but Atli’s smile grows until his eyes crinkle into slits.

“I couldn’t believe it either. A boy and a girl.” He slightly shakes his head and reaches beneath the desk, pulling out two dark blue bags emblazoned with AuraGeothermal’s logo—wavy bands of pale blue and white to symbolize the Northern Lights, with the company’s name written below in bold print. He hands Ari the bags, which he passes to Xenakis and me.

“Hard hats and safety goggles for later in the tour.”

Xenakis glances at the young man. “Is he our tour guide?”

Ari smiles thinly. “You’ll be with me for the tour.”

“You?”

“Yes.”

Xenakis is surprised. But beneath his bluster and frustration, I think he’s pleased. Pleased and intrigued.

The tour takes over an hour. And it’s fascinating. I know of the concept of geothermal energy. But seeing it in person, from the geothermal wells drilled deep down into the earth’s crust to the huge steam turbines that convert the thermal energy into power, makes me even more appreciative for the work AuraGeothermal does.

Something else I didn’t expect is Ari. It’s hard to reconcile the man who professed to care about his employees last night and the arrogant CEO I’ve been dealing with on a professional level. Yet every time we encounter someone, he knows their name, greets them like he did Atli. A few times he asks questions, remembering details like children’s birthdays or someone’s recent loss of a parent. He’s still reserved, professional. But the personal investment is obvious. Ari doesn’t just know AuraGeothermal inside and out. He knows about the people. Cares about them.

Xenakis notices, thank goodness. As we walk, the tension bleeds out of his shoulders. His surly expression gradually disappears, replaced by genuine curiosity.

I don’t want to get my hopes up. But maybe, just maybe, this is the start of getting negotiations back on track.

Ari walks us into the lobby at the end of the tour and points to a flat space in the distance.

“The future sight of our green hydrogen-and-ammonia production facilities.”

Xenakis tenses next to me. My hope evaporates in an instant.

“Have you considered my offer?” Xenakis’s voice vibrates with suppressed anger.

Ari stares at him. “It’s still under advisement.”

I can practically hear Xenakis’s teeth grind.

“If I may ask, Mr. Xenakis,” I break in. “What offer?”

“Mr. Xenakis has generously offered to partially finance the new construction of our facilities here in Iceland and the ammonia cracking plant in Greece.”

Ari’s flat tone tells me he thinks the offer is anything but generous.

“Mr. Valdasson?” Atli motions to Ari. “Sir, you have a call from the Energy Authority.”

“If you’ll excuse me.”

As soon as Ari is out of earshot, Xenakis whirls around.

“This, Miss North, this is why this entire deal is in jeopardy.” His face reddens. “I should have known better than to do business with a man who threw his own father out of the company.”

“Mr. Xenakis.” I keep my voice firm, calm. “I understand you’re upset. But Mr. Valdasson’s takeover had nothing to do with trying to take control of something that belonged to his father.”

“It doesn’t matter. He sacrificed family to keep the company isolated. People warned me against working with him.” He throws his hands up in disgust. “I should have listened.”

“Are you familiar with the details ?”

“Yes. Gunnar Helgisson wanted to expand AuraGeothermal overseas with the help of an American company. Valdasson didn’t like that.” Xenakis jabs a finger in my direction. “Rather than work with his father and try to find a solution, he influenced the board to vote Helgisson out.” He shakes his head in disgust. “The man even gave up his father’s name and took another. How can I trust someone willing to be disloyal to his own family? Someone who doesn’t believe in legacy?”

The situation is spiraling, and spiraling fast. I mentally ask for forgiveness and take the plunge.

“Did you happen to read any of the articles that that were published here in Iceland?”

Xenakis’s sullen glare gives me my answer.

“The company Helgisson was working with was well-known for encouraging successful firms to expand into other markets while downsizing their original locations. A lot of people lost their jobs because of that organization. Entire communities dried up when companies shut their doors and moved to another city or country.” I pause, trying to think of how best to phrase my next words without betraying my promise. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a similar situation arose with the deal Helgisson was working out to expand AuraGeothermal.”

Some of the red disappears from Xenakis’s face. He releases a long, shuddering breath.

“I was not aware of that. Only that Helgisson had a vision that differed from his son’s.”

“Mr. Xenakis.”

I flinch, turn to see Ari standing just behind us. His face is still set in that calm, expressionless mask. But his eyes are furious.

“If you’ll excuse me a moment, I’d like to speak with Miss North.”

Xenakis inclines his head to Ari before offering his hand to me.

“Thank you, Miss North.” His grip is warm, his handshake so enthusiastic that it makes me smile. “For everything,” he adds with a gravity that eases some of my tension. Ari might be angry. But maybe, just maybe, Xenakis will take the hint I gave him and make something of it.

“You’re welcome.”

I follow Ari through the lobby, down a winding corridor lined with canvas prints of the plant in various stages of construction over the years. He leads me into a small conference room and shuts the door. The window overlooks a milky blue geothermal pool.

I turn and face Ari. He’s leaning against the door, hands tucked casually into his pockets. But there’s nothing casual about the way he’s staring at me, fury glinting in his ice-blue eyes.

“What were you and Xenakis talking about?”

Irritated, I arch an eyebrow. “Swapping recipes.”

His glare sharpens. “I overhead some of it, Miss North.”

“Then, why bother asking?”

“What I shared with you about my father was said in confidence.”

“And I didn’t say a word about anything you told me that night,” I shoot back. “I encouraged Mr. Xenakis to read some of the more detailed Icelandic articles so he could better understand why a son might remove his father from his own company. You know, instead of hoarding information and refusing to even discuss a collaboration.”

“I told him his offer was under advisement.”

I roll my eyes. “You might as well have given him the middle finger.”

“Don’t think that because you’ve been reading up on geothermal energy you know what’s going on here, because you don’t,” Ari snaps back. “I hired you to help Xenakis see reason, not side with him.”

“You should have hired me because I’ve negotiated other deals that hinged on issues like this. You want to dictate how Xenakis runs his business, but you want him to stay out of yours? How is that fair?” I soften my voice. “Family and honor are important to Xenakis. He has three children of his own, numerous siblings and cousins. The disagreement and the takeover are public knowledge. But the details behind it—the downsizing, the outsourcing—aren’t talked about outside of Iceland.”

“I’m not using my father’s betrayal as a sob story to influence business dealings.”

“It’s not…” I pause, breathe in deeply through my nose as I try to find some balance. “Relevant details aren’t an emotional manipulation. They’re facts. Your father tried to ruin a company you care about, and the people who have been loyal to it, for money. You’re apprehensive about letting someone else in. Trusting them. It’s understandable. But instead of presenting the challenges you’ve overcome, you come across as cold, uncompromising, and overly blunt.”

“Stop the psychoanalysis. The facts,” Ari says as he walks around the table, “are that Georgios Xenakis can come across as charming and persuasive. Qualities that mask his need for dominance.”

“Are you seeing Mr. Xenakis for who he really is? Or are you comparing him to your father?”

His eyes harden into sharp chips of blue ice. “Speaking of blunt.”

“If your history with your father is impacting your negotiations with Mr. Xenakis, it’s either something that needs to be addressed, or you need to reevaluate if you can work with him.”

“Xenakis may not be my father, but he has qualities that have my guard up. As it should be,” he adds when I start to speak. “You’re young, Diana. You don’t know the kind of pain men like my father can wield.”

My last memory of Dale rears its head. The almost feral look on his face as he loomed over Lucy whimpering in the snow. I can taste the sharp bite of fear. Hear the crack of his belt wielded as a whip. Feel the burning pain in my back and Lucy’s trembling body in my arms.

“You’d be surprised.”

I realize too late I’ve said the words out loud. Ari’s step slows. He tilts his head to one side, his eyes assessing. I give myself a mental shake to pull myself out of the past and quickly steer the conversation back to business.

“If Xenakis is wanting more say in operations simply for profit or power, we’ll deal with it. But,” I add, “I truly think there’s more than that.”

“Helvítis.”

He rolls his eyes and looks away. Anger flares inside me.

“Disagree with me all you like, but don’t disrespect my opinion.” I square my shoulders and step forward. “I’m entitled to one after the years I’ve spent doing what I do, and doing it successfully.”

“You are entitled to your opinion. It doesn’t make you right.”

I stare at him. It’s hard to reconcile the man standing in front of me with the one I saw just a few minutes ago, the one who remembered that Drifa in the geology department just had a granddaughter or that Einar the security guard was going on vacation next week.

I’ve dealt with mean executives before. Boorish finance officers, lying lawyers, and cutthroat revenue officials. But I’ve never dealt with one whom I have a shared history. As much as I wanted to quit last night, I won’t. Not just because of the threat of a lawsuit, but because I need to prove to myself that I can do this. Do the job I love and put Ari in the past.

But I need a break. Distance.

“I’m done talking about this right now.”

“We’re not finished—”

“We are.” I pause. “For now. This conversation isn’t going anywhere. You have a guest waiting, one who you at least claim you want to work with, although I’m starting to have serious doubts about that. We have nothing kind to say to each other. We have a meeting scheduled later today. So for now, let’s just walk away.”

“Yes, you’re good at that.”

I freeze. Then I laugh, a low, harsh chuckle.

“Your brother may fit the literal definition of bastard, but you more than match the figurative one, Mr. Valdasson.”

I brush past him and walk out of the conference room. By some miracle I remember my way through down the hall, around the corner, and into the lobby. Xenakis is thankfully nowhere to be seen. I force a smile for Atli and ask him to call Viktor and let him know I’m ready to leave.

I’m nearly at the door when heat flares across the back of my neck. I glance over my shoulder to see Ari standing by the stairs, his gaze fixed on me. I turn around and walk out.

The cold air fills my lungs, brisk but stimulating. The snow is falling faster. I walk through a cloud of swirling flakes and mist towards the parking lot. Viktor pulls the car up to the sidewalk and gets out to open my door.

“How’d you like the tour?”

“It was very enlightening.” I muster a smile. “I have a new appreciation for the field.”

“Glad you liked it.” Viktor closes my door, circles around, and climbs in. “I hope to be working there myself in two years.”

“Oh?”

Viktor meets my curious glance in the rearview mirror. “Mr. Valdasson is paying for my degree at Reykjavik University as long as I work for AuraGeothermal for four years.” He grins. “Not that I ever plan on going anywhere else with the pay and benefits they offer.”

I lean back into the leather seat. Who is Ari Valdasson? The generous, charitable CEO? Or the arrogant, selfish leader who puts on a mask and plays a role?

Worse still, why do I care so much?

I stare out the window and watch the snowy landscape pass by.