by M J Hardy
She smiles and hands me my sunglasses, and I laugh self-consciously. “Thank you.”
She turns to leave and I say quickly, “Are you enjoying your stay?”
“Yes, it’s lovely, are you?”
“It’s beautiful, we are very lucky.”
She nods and heads back and John shakes his head. “She’s a strange one.”
“I thought she was nice.”
“You would. No, I see it in the way she holds herself. She’s unhappy, it’s obvious, and no prizes for guessing why.”
“Why?”
He rolls his eyes. “This isn’t like you, Chloe, you normally spot the gossip way before me.”
“What gossip?”
He lowers his voice, “The two couples over there can’t look one another in the face. The woman who brought you the glasses is pointedly ignoring her husband and keeps on stealing looks at the other woman’s husband. He, meanwhile, is staring angrily at the other man and his wife is angry with him. What do you think happened, a swinging session that ended badly, perhaps?”
Despite myself, I laugh. “You’ve got a dirty mind, John.”
He runs his arm around my waist and squeezes me tightly. “Do you want to see how dirty it is? I’ll show you if you like as soon as we get back.”
Giggling, I smile up at him. “If you like.”
He laughs and dips his head to kiss me softly and suddenly that one small act makes everything alright again with my world. As long as I have John beside me, I have everything.
Chapter 24
Emma
I keep on pinching myself because things like this don’t happen to me. Ben arranged the most amazing pamper session for me this afternoon, and I have never felt so relaxed. The massage made me feel better than I have done in years, and my skin is positively glowing after the facial. The spa itself is state-of-the-art, and it certainly gave me an insight into a world I would love to make mine.
For the entire afternoon, I have dreamed of what it would be like to be part of this world. Part of Ben’s life and it’s not just the money that attracts, it’s the man himself. There’s something intense, dark and mysterious that sparks my interest and the more time I spend in his company, the more I don’t want to leave.
I tried to engage the beautician in conversation, to discover more about my enigmatic host, but she knew nothing about him. I’m not surprised though because it’s all new here and the staff have only just arrived.
So, as I make my way to my room, I look forward to doing some research of my own while I’m here, using my iPad because there must be some information on him somewhere online.
When I reach my room, the scent hits me before the vision of the beautiful flowers that take up most of the space on every surface. I feel so happy I could skip around the room and coupled with how amazing I feel, I never want to wake up from this glorious dream.
Pushing open the doors to the balcony, I venture outside and breathe in the unpolluted air of an island paradise and sink onto the sun-bed for some much-needed sunbathing.
I must have only been back for five minutes before there’s a knock on the door and I groan and grab my towel and head inside to open it.
I’m surprised to see the housekeeper smiling pleasantly at me outside.
“Miss Stone, I’m sorry for the interruption, I hope you are enjoying your day.”
“Yes, thank you, I can’t fault a thing.”
She nods and to my surprise, hands me a large white box tied with a pink satin bow.
“Special delivery.”
She smiles. “For you, compliments of Mr Wheeler. He has also instructed me to tell you that he will call for you at 7 pm.”
I feel myself blushing as I take the box and she steps back. “Good afternoon, Miss Stone.”
As she turns away, I say quickly, “Excuse me, Mrs Chloris…”
“Yes, madam.”
“Well, I just wondered how well you know Mr Wheeler?” She looks surprised and I squirm a little.
“I don’t, Miss Stone. He is my employer, and I have little to do with him. We are all new here and still finding our way.”
“Of course, it’s just that… well. I’ve never had this much attention before, and I was curious about the man behind it.”
“Then enjoy it, Miss Stone, I know I would.” She winks before turning away, and there is a warm glow inside me as I close the door behind her.
Eagerly, I head into the bedroom and sit on the oversized bed and untie the ribbon to reveal the secret inside the box. My fingers shake a little as I part the scented tissue and reveal a beautiful red evening gown nestling inside. I stare in shock as I pull it out and feel the soft, luxurious, silky fabric slip through my fingers and stare in amazement at a creation that must have cost a small fortune. I can tell quality when I see it, and this is way more than my meagre budget would allow. Then I notice a small white box nestling underneath the tissue paper and my fingers shake as I pull it free and open it, revealing a stunning diamond choker.
My mouth drops open as I hold the diamonds in my hand, and I shake a little as I buckle under the weight of desire. Desire for the lifestyle, the gifts and the man himself. This is heady stuff and almost unbelievable. The holiday itself was the stuff of magic but this, this is text book fairy tale.
On the dot of seven, there’s a sharp knock on the door and I shiver inside. This is it, he’s here. I take one last look at my reflection in the mirror and see a woman balancing on the edge of happily ever after. My hair is freshly washed and styled in loose curls and my make-up is subtle, yet designed to accentuate my best features. Red lipstick stains my lips and complements the amazing red dress that fits like a glove. The diamonds sparkle at my throat and I have never looked or felt as good as I do now.
Nervously, I head to the door and my mouth drops open when I see him standing there, watching me with that intense look that dives straight into my soul.
“You look beautiful, Emma.”
His deep voice makes me shiver inside and wraps me in desire. He is dressed immaculately in black trousers with a white formal shirt, slightly open, revealing a tanned broad chest. His dark hair is freshly washed and slightly damp from the shower and his dark eyes glitter with what I’m hoping is desire. His beard is trimmed and his glasses look stylish on him, and I can see they are an expensive brand by the logo on the side.
As his hand reaches for mine, I note the expensive watch on his wrist and he pulls me slightly closer and drops his mouth to my ear, his lips brushing against my skin and his breath hot on my face.
“Are you hungry, Emma?”
I nod and edge slightly closer because the hunger I have is not for the food and he smiles. “Then I hope you will like what I have planned.”
We start walking down the hallway towards the lift and I say in a slightly breathy voice, “Thank you for the dress, the necklace, the massage and well, just thank you for everything.”
“It was my pleasure.”
He grips my hand a little tighter and when we reach the lift, he looks at me and smiles. “I didn’t like the idea of you dining alone. I know how lonely that can be, so I thought we could double up, make a night of it and enjoy some company for a change.”
We step inside the lift and I hesitate, before saying, “I’m surprised you’re on your own. I would have thought you’d find it easy to meet someone.”
He shakes his head. “No, I have no one, I never had the time to meet anyone because all of this takes up most of it.”
“What, you’ve never been married, or met the right woman, I can relate to that, it’s not as easy as you think it is?”
“I agree, but what about you, Emma, why are you still single, if you are that is?”
“I have just never found the right man. Nobody ever measured up, really. There was always something about them that I didn’t like, and I suppose I’m striving for perfection where it concerns my heart.”
“I completely understand.”
I sm
ile. “Do you?”
He nods. “I strive for perfection in every aspect of my life and never settle for anything less. This resort is the culmination of a lifelong dream. A perfect escape. The reason you work so hard all year just for a few days of paradise to make it all worthwhile. It would have been so easy to build a resort that catered to the masses. Fill the rooms with average furnishings and open up the doors to a less discerning clientele. But I want the best, Emma. I want perfection and I know there are people out there who share my desires. The fact we are booked solidly for the next year tells me I was right. So, now my dream is realised, I am turning my attention to the next part of my plan.”
“Which is?”
The doors open and he takes my hand again, before lifting it to his lips and pressing them lightly down on my skin, before saying, “I am looking for love, Emma, the final part of my life plan that will deliver me a family. A woman of rare beauty and intellect who will share my life and passions.”
My heart is beating furiously as his eyes convey his meaning far more than his words and it appears that I am the front runner in this and I’m now determined to be the first past the winning post.
Chapter 25
Evelyn
Charles is brooding on something and I am wrapped in so many emotions I’m finding it difficult to concentrate. Seeing Jack with his wife compounded my misery, and I hated every minute of it. Charles also seems to have developed a weird fascination for her, unless he is using her to bring me back in line by showing me there is always a replacement for my position and that I need to step up and protect my investment. I know how his mind works and he has obviously noticed the cooling off of our relationship.
I don’t think we spoke two words on the journey back to the room and as we step inside, he surprises me by saying lightly, “Kim seems nice.”
“Yes, she does.”
“Her husband is a little intense though.”
“Really, I hadn’t noticed.”
He surprises me by laughing loudly. “If you say so, darling. You see, you forget I’m a man who prides himself on knowing everything about the people closest to him. I saw the way you reacted when he arrived, it made you uncomfortable and that interested me. I saw you darting little looks in his direction and the fact that he ignored you for most of the time, told me everything I wanted to know. You like him. You are attracted to the man and that, my darling wife, was all I needed to make up my mind.”
“What are you talking about, I don’t even know him?”
“Maybe not, but you would like to.”
He turns and the look he gives me makes my blood run cold. “You’ve changed, Evelyn. The past few months, possibly even a year, I’ve watched you become more disillusioned with life. You no longer find excitement in the material things I give you. You tolerate my company and have become cold and unfeeling, which leads me to wonder why?”
I stare at him in shock because he never seems to pay much attention to me outside the obvious and I shake my head. “You really don’t know?”
“No, I don’t.”
Taking a deep breath, I try to control my words because Charles is a business man who would appreciate emotion being kept out of this discussion. Maybe he needs to hear this and perhaps he will actually listen, so I say sadly, “The thing is, Charles, you give me everything I could possibly need or want and it’s a little stifling at times. You have moulded me into a version of your perfect woman and it’s crushing my spirit.”
His eyes flash, but he nods. “Go on.”
Sighing, I sit on the edge of the bed and fix him with a sad look. “I keep on trying to tell you that I want more. Not materially speaking but I want something to engage my brain. A job, something to rekindle my interest for life. A routine, something to call my own and a reason to get up in the morning. I know you will find this hard to believe, but I need to work. To feel as if I’m contributing in some way to our life. Something to talk about over dinner as we compare notes on our day because currently I have zero conversation. This isn’t me, Charles, I’m not a barbie doll that you can dress and style their hair. I am better than that and yet you won’t allow me my freedom and it’s destroying me.”
To my surprise, he sits beside me on the bed and takes my hand, and I think that alone nearly causes my heart to fail.
His voice is almost sad, wistful even, as he strokes his thumb across my hand. “I’m sorry, Evelyn, you’re right, I never listened. I thought you loved the life I have created for us, most women would, and I suppose I was so blinded by my need to make our world perfect, I never considered what you wanted.”
I think I’m in shock as my husband actually opens up a little to me and he turns to face me and smiles. “I know what would make everything better.”
“Really,” I face him with a renewed hope that this relationship isn’t as dead as I think it is because the man looking at me so lovingly is the man I fell in love with all those years ago.
“Evelyn, I worshipped you from the day you walked into my office as that new assistant I badly needed. You were so beautiful and faced me with a bravery that made me smile. It was your first proper job, and I knew you had taken care to present yourself in a way you thought was required. The smart suit, the ponytail and perfect make up. I saw behind that, I saw the yearning for more, for making things work and doing your best. Over the next few months, you never let me down once. Everything I asked, you carried out efficiently and without comment. I know I worked you hard, pushed you to your limits, but you never complained. I fell in love with you every hour and every minute since the day I met you, and all I wanted was to make you smile.”
I am mesmerised by the sadness in his voice and seduced by the memories. It takes me back to a time when I would have done anything for this man. We worked as a team, and I loved every minute of it. Maybe that’s why I’m struggling, because I was the happiest I have ever been when I worked alongside him. The past few years have proved that to me because now I feel empty, have no purpose and no desire for the life he has provided. I’m almost afraid to ask and yet I have to now I’ve started the conversation that is long overdue, so I say nervously, “I want that back, Charles, I want what we had back then.”
He nods and I see a shadow cross his face as he sighs. “I loved you, Evelyn, a little too much possibly. I never wanted a family; I never wanted to see my baby grow inside you, changing your body and causing you discomfort. I always wanted you to remain perfect, to be the woman I fell in love with, and I never wanted to share you. I understand now that was selfish of me and it’s no wonder you’re struggling because it’s in every woman’s DNA to want children. I know what this is, what’s missing from our lives, and the sense of fulfilment, of purpose, can only be attributed to one thing, a baby.”
I stare at him in shock as he moves his hand and pats my flat stomach and says huskily, “You don’t need a job, darling, you need a baby and I am being cruel in denying you that.”
He smiles. “Stop taking the pills, Evelyn, I will allow you one child as my gift to you. Something to occupy your time and give your life meaning. A project of the most loving kind, and I will also entrust the remodelling of our new home to your capable hands. Yes, you need a project and what better one than that. It’s what women want after all, and I am man enough to admit my mistakes and accept I was wrong.”
Words fail me as he stands and looks pleased with himself, as if he has just closed a business deal to his satisfaction. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out as he says more confidently, “We will order room service this evening. If you like, you may go to the gym or have a swim and relax by the pool because I have work to do. You know, I’m glad we had this chat, I feel as if it has chased away a few storm clouds and now the sky is bright again.
He leaves me sitting on the bed, staring after him in disbelief. How does he get it so wrong every time? The last thing I want is a child – with him. That would add another link to the chain binding me to his side and the only thi
ng I want more than air right now, is my freedom - from him.
Chapter 26
Kim
I think I’m living in a parallel universe. Jack appears to have gone full circle and is back to the fun-loving husband I love the most. I am seriously worried about his mental health because he is trying so hard to make things up to me. Maybe it was seeing Charles’s interest that fed the beast inside him. He’s always had a possessive streak and was obviously unhappy about seeing me with another man.
I’m not interested in any other man, I never was and yet, I saw the interest Charles had for me and to be honest, it was a little intense and quite scary really. When I saw him at the airport, I would have given anything for a man like that. The trouble is, it wasn’t him I wanted, I wanted my husband to be like him, not him physically. When I looked at the family and the way the couple took pleasure in each other and their children, I wanted that – with Jack. It’s always been Jack, which is why it’s been so hard knowing he doesn’t appear to want the same things.
We have avoided the conversation we should have had the moment we reached our room but Jack was keen to get to the pool and enjoy the facilities and I’m much the same. We spent the afternoon relaxing and making polite conversation and for now I am happy about that. We need to enjoy this break, not rock the boat and try to find a way forward out of the corner we appear to have backed ourselves into.
In fact, we are both so intent on avoiding the conversation we know is imminent, we just paper over the cracks and carry on as usual.
Dinner is a quiet affair and as we reach the restaurant, it feels as if several people are missing. I am surprised by the number of empty tables and wonder why they invited such a select gathering to test the facilities.