by Claire Adams
“I was twenty-four, actually,” I replied with a smug smile.
“Asshole,” he said, with skipping a beat. “But you see, being a CEO at thirty-nine like myself is much less impressive than being a CEO at twenty…”
“Eight,” I offered.
“Twenty-eight,” he nodded.
“Well, a little healthy competition is good for the soul,” I said.
“That’s a good way of spinning it,” he joked.
“Let’s talk soon,” I said. “Unfortunately, I have to get to a lunch meeting.”
“Busy man,” he nodded. “I understand. We’ll meet soon.”
I said goodbye to Gregory and headed for my meeting with Jordan. I tried to make a mental list of all the things I needed to bring up at the meeting, but I only managed to get to point number three before my mind wandered to thoughts of Molly and her impending arrival.
Chapter Four
Molly
The air was different in Hawaii. It seemed crisper and cleaner, somehow. I could smell salt and coconut in the wind and felt my body relax instantly. It had been a long flight, and I was severely jet-lagged. My eyes were tired, but I didn’t want to miss any of the sights.
Tristan had had a car ready for me when I’d arrived at the airport. It had been a short drive to an expansive meadow-like area where a helicopter, of all things, had been waiting for me. The resort’s name was emblazoned on the side in an understated font, and I couldn’t help marveling at how far Tristan had come.
The helicopter ride to the resort was nothing short of spectacular. I only wished that I had been more alert to enjoy the experience. Hawaii was hands down the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The pictures and travel shows didn’t do it justice. Even the colors were brighter and bolder; the greens were greener, the blues were bluer, and the reds were redder. Everything jumped out at me in living HD.
Making sure my earphones were firmly fastened, I leaned out a little and looked down at the ocean below me. It was the most impressive collection of blues I had ever seen. It almost seemed like the ocean was graded with color. I could see soft blue-greens merging into cobalt that flowed into sapphire that rolled into aquamarine that dazzled the eye.
Ten minutes later, we approached the resort’s helipad, and I braced myself for landing. The blades of the chopper were powerful, and the wind it manufactured threatened to throw me off the roof. Luckily, there was a tall man at the door, ready to guide me into the resort. He had intense hazel eyes that bordered on frightening, but his dark hair and tall build softened the effect of his slightly stern features.
We entered the building through a large elevator perfumed with a floral scent and decorated with mirrors. The moment the elevator doors shut, the sound of the helicopter was cut off completely, and I could hear the light classical music that was playing in the background.
“Welcome, Ms. Sinclair,” the hazel-eyed man greeted. “I’m Ben Brown, Mr. Dubois’ hotel manager and personal assistant.”
I shook his head. “It’s nice to meet you, Ben,” I replied. “And please, feel free to call me Molly. Being referred to as Ms. Sinclair makes me cringe just a little.”
One corner of Ben’s mouth turned up in what I assumed was a smile. “Whatever you’re comfortable with, Molly,” he said easily.
Just then, the doors of the elevator sprung open, and we stepped out into a massive marbled foyer with a glass-domed ceiling from which the sky was visible.
“Wow,” I breathed.
There were a few different reception counters, and Ben led me to the largest one, situated across the marbled foyer, directly in front of the elevator we had just stepped out of.
“Uh…my suitcase is on the helicopter,” I told Ben.
“Don’t worry about your things, Molly,” he assured me. “They’ll be transferred to your suite.”
“My suite?” I repeated.
“Yes,” he nodded. “You’ll be staying at the grand suite for the duration of your stay. It’s the finest room we have here at the resort.”
“Uh, I’m sure it is,” I said politely. “It’s just that… I don’t need a fancy suite. Any old room will work for me.”
“We don’t have ‘any old room’ at this resort,” he said. “Plus, Mr. Dubois left strict instructions with me.”
“Did he?” I asked, slightly flattered that he had gone to so much trouble for me.
I wondered momentarily how much a single night in the grand suite would cost. Looking around at my luxurious surroundings, I suspected I wouldn’t have even been able to consider a night here if I was paying for the room myself.
There were two women standing behind the reception counter that Ben and I stepped up to. One was small and caramel-skinned. She was staring fixated at her screen. The other woman was slightly taller and extremely beautiful. She had gorgeous thick black hair, large exotic eyes, and delicate native features.
“Welcome, Ms. Sinclair,” she greeted in a friendly, welcoming tone.
“It’s Molly, please,” I said quickly.
“Of course, Molly it is,” she nodded. “I’m Alani, assistant manager at the resort. Feel free to let me know if you need anything at all during your stay. I’m more than happy to help.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Iolana, is the grand suite ready for our guest?” Ben asked, addressing the small young woman next to Alani.
“It is, Mr. Brown,” Iolana nodded.
She walked towards a huge framed picture behind the reception desk, hooked her fingers around the side, and pulled. The frame opened out like a door to reveal a collection of brass keys hanging neatly in rows. She reached up and grabbed one of the top-most keys, then closed the frame and walked back, offering Ben the key.
At the same moment, a sharply-dressed waiter materialized on my right, pushing a cart with a wide selection of refreshments. First, he handed me a cold towel for my face, which I accepted gratefully, hoping it would wake me up a little. Then he offered me a choice from the vast array of options on the cart.
“We have coconut water, ma’am,” he told me, in slightly-accented English. “But we also have a range of fresh juices—mango, papaya, orange, lime, watermelon, kiwi and mint, and mixed fruit. If you prefer something more complicated, I can also get you a mocktail of your choice.”
“Or a cocktail,” Ben interrupted. “Whatever you prefer.”
“Wow… I think I’m a little too jet lagged to process too many choices just now,” I said, self-consciously.
“Then might I recommend the kiwi and mint, ma’am,” the waiter suggested. “It’s wonderful.”
I smiled and nodded. “Kiwi and mint it is.”
He handed me a tall glass and the moment I brought it to my lips, the intoxicating scent of mint rose up to meet me. I intended to take one dainty sip, but the taste of the drink was so good that I kept going till I had emptied the glass.
“Sorry,” I said. “That probably wasn’t very ladylike.”
Ben said nothing, but Alani smiled. “I did the same thing when I tasted it the first time. I don’t blame you one bit.”
“Can I offer you another glass, ma’am?” the waiter asked.
“No, no thank you,” I said. “That was a generous glass.”
The waiter bowed courteously and headed off towards the elevators. I noticed that the resort wasn’t as crowded as I had expected it to be. But before I could ask, a young man in a pressed vest emerged from a hidden door to the side of the reception desk and went straight to Ben.
“Mr. Brown,” he said, sounding close to frantic. “There’s been a small mix up…”
“What now?” Ben asked, keeping his voice low for my benefit.
“The food delivery we were expecting for tonight’s dinner has been waylaid.”
Ben’s expression remained calm, but I saw a vein in his forehead pop. He turned to me and gave me a small, stiff smile. “I’m very sorry, Molly,” he said. “I was supposed to take you through to Mr. Dubois’ offi
ce, but I think I’ll need to handle this situation first.”
I tensed immediately at the mention of Tristan. Apparently, he had asked his assistant to bring me to him. I bristled slightly at the man’s presumption, but I reminded myself that it was just like Tristan to do something like that. It would never have occurred to him to meet me at the helipad or even here in the foyer.
“Of course,” I nodded. “You go ahead. I’ll just head to my room.”
Ben paused for a moment. “Uh… Mr. Dubois was very intent on meeting you the moment you arrived,” he said. “Alani will show you to his office.”
Cornered, I had no choice but to nod. Ideally, I would have liked to rest a little before I saw Tristan, but apparently, that wasn’t going to happen. I became aware of my rather shoddy appearance. Considering I was traveling, I had chosen to dress for comfort. I was wearing my favorite worn-in boyfriend jeans with a soft white t-shirt and my go-to black and white striped sneakers.
“Follow me, Molly,” Alani said, as she walked around the desk and led me to a different elevator on the right. I said goodbye to Ben, and we headed off to Tristan’s office.
“I must admit, the whole staff has been very curious about your arrival,” Alani said unexpectedly.
“Have they?” I asked, in surprise. “Why is that?”
“All Mr. Dubois’ guests so far have been important business contacts and investors,” Alani replied. “You’re the first personal friend he’s invited. It’s very mysterious.”
I laughed. “I assure you, there’s nothing mysterious going on here,” I said, with some confidence. “Tristan and my brother are close friends, and because Jason couldn’t come up here himself, he sent me along in his place.”
“Oh,” Alani said.
I smiled. “I’m sorry there’s not a more interesting reason I’m here,” I said. “The staff will just have to get their daily dose of intrigue and mystery somewhere else.”
“How disappointing,” she sighed, and I couldn’t help warm to her. I liked that she treated me more like a friend than a guest. It made me feel more comfortable.
We got off the elevator on the fifteenth floor and walked out into a massive hallway that faced floor-to-ceiling glass that boasted a spectacular view of the ocean and the beach.
“Wow,” I said again, walking up to the windows and gazing down at the inviting blue water. “Do you ever get used to this view?”
Alani smiled. “Eventually,” she nodded. “Takes a while, though.”
“I’m so tempted to hit the beach right away,” I said. “But I’m just so jet-lagged.”
“Get some rest,” she advised. “You can explore the island tomorrow with fresh eyes. Would you like me to make you a booking at one of our restaurants for tonight?”
“How many restaurants do you have?”
“Four,” she replied. “There’s the Lagoon, which specializes in seafood; we have Spices, which specializes in Asian fusion. Then there’s Mosaic, which is our international restaurant that produces dishes inspired by many cultures and countries across the world. And finally, we have Pepe Albero, which is our Italian restaurant.”
“Geez,” I said. “That’s quite a choice.”
“We also have the Cove,” she continued. “Which is our bar lounge where you can order a range of different snack and pub foods, not to mention cocktails.”
I whistled. “I think maybe I’ll just stay in my room tonight,” I said. “Maybe order in.”
“Of course,” she nodded. “You’ll find our in-room menu on your bedside table.”
“This place is fantastic,” I said as Alani started moving down the hall.
“Mr. Dubois is a visionary,” Alani said, and it was obvious by her tone that she was as impressed with her boss as I was. “He was instrumental in the architecture of the resort, and he was involved every step of the way.”
I nodded, looking around at the casual blend of modern and classical elegance. “I can see his influence,” I said. “He always did like mixing periods.”
Alani led me to huge double doors and knocked once. I heard a faint “come in,” and then she pushed open the door and gestured me inside. I took a deep breath and entered.
Tristan was sitting behind a desk, with his back to yet another stunning ocean view. But somehow, the scenery seemed to pale in comparison to the man who stood to greet me.
It had been six years since I’d last seen him, and yet in the three seconds that it took him to cross the room towards me, I regressed back to that shy eighteen-year-old girl whose only goal in life was to impress Tristan Dubois.
He was still as handsome as ever, except now there was maturity to his features that only served to enhance his looks. I remembered daydreaming about that strong, confident jaw, the slant of his cheekbones, the way his dark eyes could look passionate and dangerous in the same breath.
“Molly!” he smiled.
I pushed back my nerves and reminded myself that I was no longer the shy and insecure eighteen-year-old I used to be.
“Hello, Tristan,” I replied calmly.
Chapter Five
Tristan
It was strange seeing Molly in the flesh after six years of absence. I could recognize the young girl that she had once been, but I could also see the woman she was now.
She had that tousled, fresh-off-the-plane look, but it did nothing to detract from her appearance. She had the kind of old-world beauty that couldn’t be hidden. Her blonde hair had been tied into an untidy topknot, from which loose strands trailed around her face and down her neck. Her blue eyes were lighter than I remembered, and it put me in mind of the ocean just after sunrise.
I calculated in my head and realized that she was around twenty-four now. It didn’t matter, I told myself firmly. She was still Jason’s sister.
“It’s been a long time,” Molly said.
I smiled and leaned in for a hug. I thought she returned the hug stiffly, but that might have just been my imagination. When I pulled back, I tried not to get sidetracked by the intensity of her blue eyes.
“It has been a long time,” I nodded. “Too long.”
Alani cleared her throat, and I realized she was still in the room. “I’ll just wait outside,” she said, with a knowing smile. She shut the door behind her, leaving Molly and me alone together.
I gestured towards one of the chairs opposite my desk. “Come, sit down,” I said. “You must be exhausted after the flight.”
Molly followed me to the desk, and I noticed that she was preoccupied with the view as she sat down. “I am,” she replied. “I had been hoping to head straight to my room and get in a couple of hours of sleep first.”
“I’m sorry, I should have thought of that,” I said. “But I just…had to welcome you to Hawaii.”
Molly smiled, and I was struck again by how much she had changed. There was a new confidence about her that hadn’t existed before. There was more maturity in her features, which lent itself to her beauty. She really did look like a modern-day Grace Kelly.
“Have you had anything to drink?” I asked. “I can get some refreshments up here.”
“No need,” she said quickly. “Your staff already saw to it. I met Ben downstairs.”
“Ben,” I nodded. “I expected him to bring you up to meet me.”
“There was an emergency he needed to sort out,” I told him.
“Thank God for Ben,” I said. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
We fell quiet for a moment, and in that silence, Molly’s eyes met mine. She was looking at me with a curious expression, and I couldn’t help searching her face. It felt as though there was an unspoken conversation that needed to be had, sitting between us and distracting us both.
“Thank you for the plane ticket, Tristan,” Molly said at last, breaking the silence. “I haven’t traveled first class in quite some time.”
“You’re most welcome,” I replied. “How was the helicopter ride here?”
“Fabulous
,” she said, and her eyes lit up. “It was amazing experiencing Hawaii from that vantage point. This island is breathtaking.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I nodded.
“Tristan…” She looked at me awkwardly.
“Yes?”
“Are you sure I can’t pay for this trip?” she asked. “I feel bad staying here for free.”
“Nonsense,” I said immediately. “I want to do this.”
“You wanted to do this for Jason,” she pointed out. “I’m not Jason.”
I was surprised to find that I was annoyed at the mention of Jason. He was just another reminder that Molly was off limits to me. Then again, I reasoned that I needed reminders to keep me in check, especially if Molly was going to be around for the next few weeks.
“You’re a lot prettier than he is,” I joked, brushing off my initial annoyance. “Which means you’re more deserving.”
She smirked at me. “This was very generous of you,” she said. “And, I want you to know how much I appreciate it. So does Jason.”
“Of course,” I nodded. “Don’t even mention it.”
She nodded. She seemed to be working through something in her head, and I wondered for a moment if she was remembering the last time we had spoken.
“How have you been, Molly?” I asked.
“I’ve been better, to be honest,” she replied. “I’m sure Jason has already told you that I was laid off.”
“I am sorry,” I said. “It’s always hard when companies choose to scale back.”
“It wasn’t a corporate decision; it was a legal one,”
“I heard,” I nodded sympathetically. “I don’t know if Jason mentioned to you the possibility of a position here.”
“He did mention it,” she replied. “And, I’m flattered and grateful but…”
“Too weird?” I offered.
She smiled. “I don’t know yet,” she clarified. “Maybe we can just…see how it goes.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I nodded. “Like I told Jason, there’s absolutely no pressure. If you decide you enjoy the atmosphere here, the job’s yours.”