Chapter 335: From Crestview Bay to CEO Territory

Leaving Crestview Bay turned out to be tougher than I thought it would be.

I had spent the night before convincing myself that, as a mature adult, I could just pack up and head to a new city without getting too attached to things like the front door, the living room curtains, or even that kitchen cabinet that never really wanted to close right.

But that cabinet had been part of my life during some tough times, and I figured it deserved some respect for what it had done for me.

“Oliver, sweetheart, if you keep looking around like that, we’re gonna miss your flight,” Dad said from his usual spot in the chair, his cane next to him as he watched me do one last inspection of the living room…probably the sixth time that morning.

“I’m saying goodbye to the house.”

Dad chuckled, and I turned away from the living room before he could catch me considering snapping a photo of the kitchen counter for nostalgia’s sake.

Damien had already arranged for our bags to be taken to the airport, and our driver was waiting outside, but I still wasn’t ready to leave without one last look at a place that had seen me through four challenging years.

This house had witnessed me at my worst, fucking exhausted, scared, broke as hell, and even so tired that I had once poured orange juice over my cereal instead of milk.

Yet, it had also been my sanctuary since graduation, a place to find joy with Dad, and somewhere to slowly piece my life back together after Damien’s absence had felt like losing a part of myself.

Leaving didn’t mean I was leaving those memories behind, but I had a feeling it would take some time before I stopped feeling like I was forgetting something crucial.

Dad opened his arms, and I went over to hug him, resting my cheek on his shoulder while he gave my back a comforting pat.

“You’ll call me when you get there,” he reminded me.

“I will.”

“And when you arrive at the penthouse.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“And before you go to bed.”

“Dad, I’m still in the same country, not moving to another planet.”

“Well, considering how Damien has money, I’m not convinced his penthouse isn’t on another planet.”

From by the door, Damien shot Dad an amused glance. “I can set up a visit if you want.”

“Don’t tempt me, son. I’ve always wanted to see Earth from space.”

I groaned as Dad laughed, but that laughter softened when he cupped my cheek and looked at me with that familiar warmth that always managed to make me feel a bit younger.

“Go enjoy yourself, Oliver. I’m doing just fine, and I’ve got plenty to keep me busy on the island when I get there. You don’t have to worry about me every second of the day.”

“I know.”

“And stop looking at me like you’re leaving me to survive in the wilderness. I’ll have people looking after me, and I bet I’ll be too caught up at the marine biology center to even notice you’ve gone.”

“That’s somehow more insulting than reassuring.”

He chuckled again and kissed my forehead before letting me go, and I finally stepped toward the door where Damien was waiting with my coat draped over his arm.

I glanced back one last time, waved at Dad, and followed Damien outside before I could change my mind and start unpacking the furniture again.

The drive to the airport was pretty quiet at first. Damien held my hand while we passed the familiar streets, which gradually faded into the road leading out of Crestview Bay. I watched the houses go by, pondering how odd it was that a decision made just a few days ago was already changing so much of my life.

“You’re quiet,” Damien noted.

“Just gearing myself up.”

“For what?”

“Your lifestyle. I have a feeling I’ll need emotional support when I find out you have a separate fridge just for pricey bottled water.”

By the time we got to the airport, my nerves had calmed down enough for me to take in the plane waiting for us.

It was a private jet, of course, because Damien apparently thought commercial flights were a form of torture. I was old enough now to understand that his life came with some luxuries I could never have dreamed of when I was just scraping by in university.

The cabin was spacious and quiet, decked out with cream-colored seats, polished wooden tables, and soft lighting that made it feel more like a fancy lounge than an airplane.

There was even a small dining area at the far end, and the refreshments were arranged so neatly that I wouldn’t be surprised if even the water bottles had been trained to stand at attention.

A flight attendant greeted Damien before turning to me with a friendly smile.

“Welcome aboard, Mr. Reyes. Mr. Lockwood mentioned you’d like coffee, so we’ve got it ready for you. Is there anything else you need before we take off?”

I glanced at Damien, who was settling into his seat. “You told the flight crew about my coffee?”

“I told them what you like.”

“I can order my own coffee, you know.”

“I know.”

“Then why does everyone act like I’m some damned delicate houseplant?”

Damien raised his eyebrows, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Would you prefer that I tell them to ignore you?”

“No. I just wish you’d stop making it so hard for me to complain about your behavior.”

The flight attendant smiled politely as she set my coffee down, and I thanked her before sitting next to Damien.

The seats were ridiculously comfy, making it all too easy to imagine spending the rest of my days lounging there while others dealt with any issues.

I took a sip of my coffee and sighed in satisfaction, Damien looked over at me. “Good?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Unfortunately?”

“Yeah. I was hoping it would be awful so I could give you a hard time about wasting money on private flights.”

He laughed, stealing a strawberry from the small plate between us before I could stop him, and I spent the next few minutes explaining to him that theft is still theft, regardless of how much money someone has.

The flight was smooth and comfortable, with Damien asking about my plans for work while I explained that I wanted to settle in before making any major decisions.

Sure, he’d offered to help me adjust, but I wanted to keep some independence, especially regarding my career. I had fought too hard to become an assistant lecturer to throw it all away just because my boyfriend had the means to buy the building where I taught.

When I shared that with Damien, he just nodded.

“We’ll work around your schedule. I want you to build a life here that’s yours, Oliver, not one that revolves completely around me.”

I looked at him, a bit taken aback by his sincerity. “That’s very fair of you.”

“I can be reasonable, you know.”

“Occasionally, maybe.”

He smiled, reaching for my hand and rubbing his thumb over my knuckles as I leaned against him. Outside the window, clouds billowed beneath us like pale waves, and for the first time that day, I started to focus on what lay ahead instead of what I was leaving behind.

New Havenport looked stunning at night, but I didn’t have much time to admire the view before the city welcomed me in the most unwelcoming way possible.

The plane landed under a dark sky dotted with distant lights, and as I followed Damien through the terminal exit, I expected to find a driver, a couple of security guys, and maybe even a receptionist who’d greet him with the kind of professional enthusiasm reserved for wealthy people.

But the moment we stepped outside, cameras started flashing all around us.