Somewhere during the drive, Rowan shifted the conversation into logistics.
Which immediately made Ulyana suspicious.
That expression usually meant he had already made decisions. This time, he made several of them.
"While I'm gone, Lionel will drive you."
Ulyana blinked. "What?"
"Lionel."
"I know who Lionel is."
"Good."
Rowan looked indifferent, "Because he'll be driving you."
Ulyana stared at him. "Rowan, I can drive."
"I know."
"Very well."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because I'd rather know you're being looked after."
The answer was so immediate she couldn't even argue.
Well.
She could.
But it felt pointless.
Unfortunately, Rowan wasn't finished.
"Oh, and you can stay at my apartment whenever you'd like."
"What?"
He reached into his pocket and placed a key into her palm.
Ulyana looked down.
Then back up.
Then down again.
"You have a key?"
"I have several."
"No, I mean—" She held it up. "This key."
"Yes."
"You're giving me your apartment key?"
"Mhm."
Ulyana looked concerned.
Rowan looked confused by her reaction.
"I've already updated Rafferty."
"…"
"And building security."
"…"
"And reception."
"…"
"And housekeeping."
"Rowan."
He ignored her. "If you ever need anything there, they'll take care of it."
Ulyana simply stared.
Because somehow this kept getting worse.
Or better.
She hadn't decided.
Then Rowan casually delivered another bombshell.
"If you visit the estate while I'm away, Marcel and his sous chef have standing instructions."
She slowly turned toward him. "I'm afraid to ask."
"They'll cook whatever you'd like."
"Rowan."
"Within reason."
"Rowan."
"They seemed quite enthusiastic about it actually."
Ulyana covered her face.
The man had apparently briefed his chef.
His chauffeur.
His building staff.
His security personnel.
His household staff.
Possibly the entire island at this point.
"You're too…" She stopped.
Because honestly she wasn't sure how to finish that sentence.
Too thoughtful.
Too caring.
Too ridiculous.
Too much.
Rowan simply watched her completely unapologetic.
And suddenly Ulyana understood something.
None of this was random.
These weren't grand gestures, these were preparations, because Rowan worried.
Constantly.
About everything.
Especially her.
"So…" she began carefully.
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"So you've considered how I'll travel around."
"Mhm."
"My security."
"Mhm."
"Where I can sleep and rest."
"Mhm."
"You've even thought about feeding me."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Mhm."
"Even though I can do all of those things myself."
For a moment Rowan said nothing, then he simply smiled.
And there it was.
That look.
The one she was beginning to recognise.
Affection.
Protectiveness.
Something quietly possessive.
Not controlling.
Just the unmistakable expression of a man who had already decided someone was important to him.
"I know you can." His voice was gentle.
"I really don't need all of that."
"But I'm giving it anyway."
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then tried again. "Why?"
Rowan looked at her as though the answer was obvious.
"Because it's the bare minimum."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Ulyana genuinely didn't know what to do with a man like this.
A man who treated caring for her as naturally as breathing.
A man who seemed to think these enormous gestures were somehow normal.
Eventually she shook her head.
"You're impossible."
Rowan smiled. "I've been told that before."
Somehow his response only made her love him a little more.
Rowan tilted his head slightly.
A tiny crease formed between his brows.
"Have I misunderstood?"
Ulyana immediately looked concerned.
"What?"
"Is it not enough?"
The question was so genuine that she almost laughed. Somehow Rowan had managed to take giving her a chauffeur, apartment access, security arrangements, and an entire culinary staff as not enough.
"Baby, no!"
The word escaped before she could stop it.
"That's enough."
She raised her hands in surrender dramatically. "More than enough!"
For a moment Rowan simply stared at her, followed by something far more dangerous.
A full smile.
The kind that reached his eyes. The kind she didn't see nearly enough.
"Baby?" he repeated.
Ulyana immediately groaned. "No."
"Baby."
"It just came out."
"Baby."
"Stop."
His grin widened. "Interesting."
"There is nothing interesting about this."
"I think there is."
"There isn't."
Rowan looked entirely too pleased.
Ulyana folded her arms. "You are never letting this go, are you?"
"Absolutely not."
She covered her face. "This is awful."
"This is the best thing that's happened to me all day."
"You are about to get on an international flight."
"And yet." He pointed at her. "Baby."
Ulyana made a noise somewhere between a groan and a laugh.
Lionel, seated in the front, suddenly became very interested in the road.
The chauffeur's shoulders shook suspiciously.
"Is Lionel laughing?"
"No, Madam."
"He is."
"I would never."
Rowan looked out the window to hide his amusement.
Which only made Ulyana more embarrassed.
"Ugh men."
Rowan immediately reached over and squeezed her hand, smiling. Entirely too happy about one accidental word.
- - -
Eventually the car pulled onto the private tarmac.
The enormous Volkov jet sat waiting under the evening sky.
Ground crew moved efficiently around it while luggage and equipment were loaded into the cargo hold.
The operation was well underway.
Lionel brought the vehicle to a smooth stop.
Yet Rowan and Ulyana barely noticed. They were still entirely distracted by a far more important topic.
Namely: Her accidentally calling him baby.
The moment they stepped out of the vehicle, Rowan resumed immediately.
"Baby."
Ulyana groaned. "Oh my God."
"Baby."
"Stop."
"Can't."
"You absolutely can."
"But I absolutely won't."
The pair wandered across the tarmac together while bickering.
Hand in hand.
Completely oblivious to the dozens of people working around them.
At one point Ulyana threatened to push him onto his own jet.
Rowan informed her that she lacked the necessary upper body strength.
She informed him she would simply hire Ivan and Vadim.
Rowan admitted that was a genuine concern.
Meanwhile, around them, his men continued loading equipment and preparing for departure.
Most of them found the sight deeply amusing.
Because their chairman was currently behaving less like a feared businessman and more like a man who had just discovered his favourite activity.
Across the tarmac, Hak exited the second vehicle.
One look.
That was all it took.
One look at Rowan and Ulyana laughing together.
One look at the way they naturally gravitated toward one another.
One look at Rowan's hand resting against the small of her back.
And somehow Hak's mood worsened.
Which was impressive.
Because it had already been terrible.
Several nearby staff members wisely avoided speaking to him.
The last thing anyone wanted was to become collateral damage.
Meanwhile Graham stepped out of the vehicle behind him.
A coffee in one hand.
A tablet in the other.
His gaze immediately swept across the tarmac.
Personnel.
Cargo.
Security.
Flight crew.
Everything appeared to be moving according to schedule.
Then his eyes landed on Rowan.
And Ulyana.
And Hak.
Graham sighed. Because somehow he was managing operational logistics and observing a developing love triangle at the same time.
Neither task was particularly simple.
"Fueling complete."
"Good."
"Cargo secured."
"Excellent."
"Chairman ready for departure."
Graham glanced toward Rowan. Who was currently laughing at something Ulyana had said.
"…Eventually."
The staff member looked confused.
Graham simply waved him away.
As the man left, Graham watched the three of them again.
Rowan looked happier than he had in years.
Hak looked like he wanted to fight the weather.
And Ulyana looked completely unaware of how much chaos she was accidentally creating.
Graham took a sip of coffee then shook his head. "Not my circus."
Another sip.
"Unfortunately my monkeys."
And with that, he returned to delegating tasks while keeping one eye on the operation and the other on the unfolding disaster he was increasingly certain was coming.
- - -
Before long, the jet was fully prepared.
Cargo secured.
Fueling complete.
Flight crew ready.
All that remained was for Rowan to give the green light.
The four of them stood together near the aircraft while the final checks were completed.
Despite the impending departure, Rowan and Ulyana were still in their own little world.
The playful mood from the car ride hadn't entirely disappeared.
Ulyana eventually turned toward Graham.
"Graham."
"Hm?"
"Please take care of him."
She pointed at Rowan. "He never admits when he's tired."
Graham barked out a laugh. "Of course."
He glanced at Rowan.
"Though I suspect my chances of success are slim."
"Impossible actually," Hak muttered.
"See?" Ulyana pointed triumphantly.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about."
Even Rowan looked mildly offended.
Then it came time for goodbyes.
Ulyana turned toward Hak.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Because this was strangely unfamiliar territory.
Usually Hak simply disappeared.
A call.
A text.
Weeks gone.
Months sometimes.
There was rarely a proper goodbye.
But this time felt different.
So they hugged.
And surprisingly… it was easier than she thought it would be.
Not because she cared less.
Never that.
But because something had shifted. Something she couldn't quite put into words.
The hug was warm.
Familiar.
Like it had always been.
Then Ulyana gently pulled back, or at least she tried to.
Hak's arms tightened slightly, preventing her from moving away.
She blinked. "Hak?"
His eyes closed briefly. "Just let me hug you."
The request was quiet and almost tired.
Ulyana's heart squeezed. "…Okay."
So she stayed.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
Eventually Hak was the one who let go.
"Thanks," she said softly.
The familiar sweetness in her voice nearly made him regret everything. Then as she stepped back, something caught his attention.
The necklace.
The silver pendant resting against her collarbone.
The Volkov crest engraved on the silver pendant.
Hak's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
Ah. So he's already claiming what's his.
The thought wasn't angry, just painful because for all Rowan's patience…
For all his gentleness with her, the man was still a Volkov. And Volkovs had never been particularly subtle when they decided something belonged to them.
Hak exhaled slowly.
Then stepped aside.
Allowing her to walk back toward what was rapidly becoming the biggest obstacle he'd ever faced.
His own uncle.
Across the tarmac, Rowan watched the entire interaction.
Calmly.
Patiently.
At least externally, internally was another matter, because seeing another man hold her for that long wasn't exactly his favourite experience.
Still.
He liked her too much to make it about himself.
So he said nothing.
Beside him, Graham was watching everything.
And unfortunately for Rowan, Graham noticed far too much.
He noticed Rowan's patience.
The tension.
The restraint.
Then his eyes landed on the necklace around Ulyana's neck. Immediately understanding dawned.
A grin appeared. "So, the necklace was a success?"
Rowan looked over. The smugness that appeared on Rowan's face was unbearable.
"Of course."
Graham rolled his eyes. Of course it was.
The old strategist also noticed something else.
The reluctance Hak had shown when letting her go.
The way he'd held on.
The way he'd looked at her.
And while Rowan hadn't openly acknowledged it…
Graham was becoming increasingly certain that Rowan had noticed more than he let on.
Which was concerning.
For everyone.
A few moments later Ulyana reached Rowan.
Only now she refused to look him in the eye.
Which immediately made him suspicious.
"Well."
She awkwardly pointed toward the jet.
"Safe travels."
Then she attempted a strategic retreat.
Toward Lionel.
Toward the car.
Toward literally anywhere else.
The chauffeur watched from a respectful distance, already anticipating failure.
Sure enough before she managed three steps, Rowan caught her wrist.
"Not so fast."
Ulyana immediately froze.
Lionel quietly looked away.
The flight crew suddenly became fascinated by the aircraft.
And Graham, from a safe distance, muttered: "Oh this should be good."
"You're not going to say goodbye?"
Rowan's voice was soft as he continued holding her wrist.
Ulyana glanced back at him. "I just did."
"No."
His grip remained gentle but firm. "Not properly."
She narrowed her eyes. "What does that even mean?"
Rowan looked entirely serious. "Hak got a hug."
The answer came out immediately. And perhaps a little more annoyed than he'd intended.
Ulyana stared at him, then laughed. "Oh my God."
"I'm serious."
"You sound jealous."
"I'm not"
"You sound it"
Rowan chose not to answer that.
Which was answer enough.
Ulyana tried to continue toward Lionel's car.
Unfortunately Rowan simply continued holding her wrist.
Preventing her retreat.
She half turned back toward him.
A smile tugged at her lips.
A blush colouring her cheeks.
The sight alone made Rowan feel entirely justified.
"Ask nicely."
The challenge was immediate.
Several nearby staff members froze.
Because there was absolutely no way Chairman Volkov was about to—
"Say goodbye properly…"
Rowan paused.
Then without hesitation added: "Please."
Silence.
Utter silence.
The entire tarmac seemed to stop functioning.
A cargo handler nearly dropped a case.
One of the pilots looked horrified.
Several security personnel exchanged looks.
Because none of them had ever heard Rowan Volkov say please.
Not once.
Not ever.
Meanwhile Ulyana looked equally shocked.
"You said please."
"I did."
"You never say please."
"I just did."
The staff continued staring, unable to believe what they had witnessed.
Across the tarmac, Graham immediately decided he wanted absolutely no part of whatever was happening.
He turned toward Hak. "Come on."
Hak looked annoyed. "I wasn't doing anything."
"You were watching."
"So were you."
"Fair."
Graham placed a hand on Hak's shoulder and physically redirected him away from the scene.
"We're seeking refuge."
"From what?"
Graham glanced toward Rowan and Ulyana.
"From the dog food."
Hak immediately understood.
The pair were feeding everyone enough romantic content to sustain the internet for six months.
Neither man wanted front row seats.
Unfortunately... both of them still glanced back anyway.
As did most of the staff, because they couldn't stop watching.
Back near the jet, Ulyana was still staring at Rowan.
"You really said please."
Rowan looked entirely unrepentant. "I did."
A pause.
"So?"
Ulyana rolled her eyes, the smile never leaving her face.
"You are ridiculous."
"And yet."
He stepped a little closer. "You're still here."
The blush on her face deepened immediately.
Which Rowan considered a victory, a very significant victory. One worth saying please for.
Ulyana immediately hid her face behind both hands.
Which only made Rowan smile more.
"You're so…"
She couldn't even finish the sentence.
Rowan was entirely too pleased with himself.
"Unapologetic?... I know."
A groan escaped her.
The man was impossible.
The worst part was that he knew it too. Several seconds passed before Rowan's expression softened.
The teasing faded.
Replaced by something quieter.
Something more vulnerable.
His hand gently found her wrist again.
Not to stop her this time, just to hold it.
"Can I see your face before I go?"
The question was simple and that made it infinitely harder to refuse.
Slowly, Ulyana lowered her hands with a smile on her face.
Rowan's smile immediately returned. "My favourite smile."
The warmth in his voice made her blush all over again.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The sounds of the airfield seemed to fade away.
The staff.
The jet.
The preparations.
Everything.
Rowan simply looked at her. As though trying to commit every detail to memory before he left.
The evening breeze moved a few loose strands of hair across her face.
Without thinking, Rowan brushed them aside.
His fingertips lingered briefly against her cheek.
"You know…"
His voice was quiet. "I already miss you."
Ulyana's expression was filled with amusement.
"Rowan."
"It's been about thirty seconds."
Despite herself, she laughed. "Ah, there it is."
"What?"
"The dramatic man everyone keeps warning me about."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Liar."
Rowan smiled.
Completely unashamed.
Then his gaze drifted briefly to the necklace resting against her collarbone.
The one he'd given her only hours ago.
Something in his expression softened, "Take care of yourself while I'm gone."
"You too."
"I mean it."
"So do I."
For a moment neither seemed willing to be the one who stepped away first.
Unfortunately the flight crew had different opinions.
A respectful cough sounded somewhere behind Rowan.
The chairman ignored it.
A second cough followed.
He ignored that one too.
Somewhere across the tarmac, Graham pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This flight is never leaving."
Hak looked away.
The pilot looked stressed.
The ground crew looked entertained.
And Rowan looked entirely unconcerned with any of them.
Because at that moment there was only one person he was paying attention to. And unfortunately for everyone else, he wasn't finished saying goodbye yet.