Sam picked up the satellite phone and checked the charge. Of course, the one day he felt like calling his lawyer, the thing had to be fully charged. He couldn't even claim dead battery to delay the torture.



The number was etched in his mind from years of calling to arrange business dealings. His end rang once and then the efficient voice of his Reginald Johnson, greeted him. "Samuel, good to hear from you."



"Ahh, is it really?" Sam asked.



"Yes, don't ever doubt that. What can we do for you today? Need money wired?"



"I'm thinking about coming back."



"What?" Reggie's voice went flat.



Samuel wished he could see Reggie's face. The shock would be rewarding. Too long had passed since he'd shocked anyone. He used to enjoy shocking his VP's and directors at least once every three months.



"I'm glad I shocked you."



"I'm not shocked, just surprised. Last we talked you were done with it all."



"I know." Samuel studied the horizon. A twinge of regret twisted his gut. "Could you email me some of the financials?"



"Financials?"



"I know, Reggie, I know. I haven't been involved for a long time. Two to be exact, but I think it's time I start paying attention again."



Reggie coughed and the sound of papers shuffling on the other end of the phone. "You do know you can trust those who you left in charge."



"I know."



"Samuel, I don't want to worry you, but what if the board decides to vote you off the island so to speak."



Sam's heart skipped a beat. They could bar him from coming back. He'd left the board in charge. Sure he still owned a lion's share of stock in too many companies to count, but what if his board of directors decided to oust him. "I'm a good business man, they wouldn't vote me out."



"The thing is, operations are running smoothly. Even with the unstable economy everything is great here."



"Surely, there has to be something I could do. I do own controlling share in eight different companies. One will allow me to work."



"You've been boating around for a while."



"Okay, I get the fact that I took off and have been living my own life, but seriously I know how to run a company."



"What's the real reason for this?"



Sam felt his defenses go up immediately. Once Reggie knew about Delanie he'd want a background check. After the check he'd want her to submit to a drug test. Then there would be the financial profiling and the undercover detective searching through her life. He didn't need that, or want it.



"There is no other reason than I just want to come home."



"Do me a favor Samuel, don't make any decisions right now. The teams running the companies are doing great. Your corporations are thriving. Your money is up even when everything else is down. The properties you own are making money. You are a success. Don't blow it."



"Hell, I don't feel like a success."



"Samuel, trust me. We all saw what happened after you–"



"I've changed." Anger boiled through his veins. He'd lost it for a few days, and they still held his meltdown against him.



"I'm sure you have, but give it some more time. You have money, loads of it. Don't come back too early. The press is appeased by the explanations we've given them. If you came back now they would want more. It would only hurt your positions."



"Maybe you're right. But I still want those reports. I'll go over them in the next few weeks and tell you what I think."



Sam turned off the phone, unwilling to receive any calls aimed at talking him out of his plans. Damn, one mistake and everyone went off the deep end. He could have stayed in Manhattan, maybe he should have, but at the time all he wanted was his freedom. All their questions and demands had made him feel crazy. He'd pushed himself too hard, done too much and then he'd almost died. The stress had gotten to him. That's all.



Delanie didn't need a guy like him. He was too screwed up. Damn, and he thought he'd been getting better.



Sam jumped up onto the hatch, spread his arms and yelled, "Fuck!"



His lawyer was wrong. He wasn't a screw up. He could go back and run any of the companies he chose. The timing was almost right. For now he would stay on the ocean a month, maybe two. Research would be his thing, and then he would go back.



Delanie deserved a guy who could make it in the real world. He would be that guy, just with more vacations this time around.

Copyright Sara Thacker 2011