Limits of Destiny (Volume 2)

by Sharlyn G. Branson

  “Seduced and abandoned.” I pretended to be displeased.

  “We won’t miss out on the bedroom, sweetie. We have plenty of time.” He winked at me and then took out his laptop from the briefcase and logged in. “I want to show you the picture from the ball, the one taken by the photographer from Neue Zürcher Zeitung.”

  He looked through his inbox and found the email with the attached photo. “Here, look.”

  “Mmm… We make a nice couple.” I smiled at him sweetly.

  “I really like it too. I’ve decided to frame it so it can adorn my office desk. I’m also thinking of having a copy blown up to hang in the study at the house. When I’m furious, I’ll look at you and let off steam. The picture looks professional and has a very high resolution, so there should be no problem.”

  I gazed at him, unable to believe my luck—this wonderful man wanted me and needed to always be able to see my image.

  The pilot advised us to fasten our seatbelts. I stared through the window as the airplane gathered speed and smoothly gained altitude. After a few minutes, I could see the puffy, cotton ball clouds, while sunrays glimmered though the round windows. My hearing became muffled. I swallowed a few sips of water to make them pop.

  Alexander followed suit and then turned to me and took my hand. “You’re not afraid of flying, are you?”

  “No, I think I’ve never been afraid. In fact, I really enjoy it. Ever since I was little, I travelled a lot with my parents. On every school holiday, we went somewhere in the Caribbean, Mexico, Miami, or Hawaii. Perhaps that’s why I love being in the water so much and surfing.”

  The memory of the carefree days when Mom was still alive brought a smile to my lips. I recalled our walks and pleasant picnics. I saw my parents as clear as day, walking arm-in-arm along the shore while I ran across the wet sand, overjoyed by every wave. My life was so carefree then.

  “You can surf?” He regarded me with astonishment.

  “Yes, I learned when I was six. My father is an avid surfer. At first, my mother was worried and didn’t really agree with it, but my father managed to convince her in the end.”

  “God, Alexia, you continue to surprise me.”

  “What’s so surprising about this?”

  “I don’t know… It’s just that you’re so delicate and this sport is quite intense. I also like surfing. You get a great adrenaline rush riding the crest of the wave.”

  “We should put it on the itinerary, then.”

  “I don’t know. We’ll see.” He thought about something and scratched his cheek, deliberately avoiding eye contact.

  “Why don’t you want to? Don’t you trust my skills?”

  “I’m just worried.”

  “You don’t trust me. I get it.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest and looked out the window.

  “We’ll see if there’s enough time.” He leaned toward me and kissed my hair, then took my hand, lifted it, and put his soft lips on my palm. The now-familiar electricity surged through my body.

  I turned my head to him. “As you wish. I don’t want us to argue.”

  2

  During the flight, I managed to watch the film Meet The Parents. I’d seen this comedy starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman at least twice, but I couldn’t resist the temptation of watching it again. Good comedies always made me forget about my problems, even if only for a while.

  I couldn’t keep myself from giggling out loud at some scenes. “Alexander, I’m sorry. It’s just… so funny.”

  He looked up from his laptop and smiled at me warmly. “Don’t worry. You’re not disturbing me. I like the way you laugh.”

  The stewardess brought out risotto and a bottle of white wine Château d’Yquem. Polite and discreet, just like Mrs. Schmidt, she served us the food and then disappeared. Katarina dared to come only when Alexander pressed the call button.

  After I’d finished eating, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came out, I found Alexander lying on the bed, propping up his head with his hand. His black jeans and white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, emphasized his masculine body.

  “I want my dessert,” he said and patted a place on the mattress next to him. “But first you will very slowly take off this blouse of yours, which outlines your breasts so nicely, and I want you to take off those tight jeans even more slowly. I’ve been dreaming about taking them off for hours. I want you to leave the underwear to me.”

  “Dessert, huh?”

  While I was taking off my white sandals, his hungry gaze slid across my entire body. I started to undo very slowly the first, then the second button of my white silk blouse. Alexander watched me with slightly parted lips. I felt sexy—his burning eyes staring at me turned me on so much my panties were quickly wet. When I’d undone all buttons, I let the blouse fall from my shoulders.

  “God, Alexia, my jeans feel far too tight now.” He moaned.

  I bit my lower lip and ran my fingers through my hair. I ruffled it, and then my hands slid down my neck, traced my cleavage, played with my breasts a little, and made their way to my belly. My eyes were locked on his. His breath quickened—he watched me without blinking, following every movement of my fingers.

  When I began to undo the button of my jeans, he whispered, “Oh, baby, you make me so fucking hard.”

  I undid the zipper and stuck my thumbs in the waistband. I slid them down very slowly, sexily shaking my hips.

  Alexander couldn’t take it any longer. He gracefully got out of the bed and was in front of me in an instant. He took my head in his hands and passionately pressed his lips against mine. “You’re wonderful—born to be stripper.”

  “Pardon?” I frowned.

  “That’s not an insult. Believe me. I know what I’m talking about. You’re incredible,” he said between kisses. “I want you to do it more often, but the stripteases will be just for my benefit. You’re only mine.” He expertly removed my bra and his palms covered my breasts.

  “I think I should undress you,” I suggested.

  “At your service, miss.” He pulled his shirttail out of his jeans, and I slid the shirt off over his head.

  I stroked his bare shoulders and then glided my hands along the tight muscles of his chest and his six-pack. My fingers started to impatiently unbuckle his belt.

  A faint smile appeared on his lips. “You can’t wait, can you?”

  “You can’t wait for me and I can’t wait for you.”

  In the span of a few moments, we lost ourselves in a sea of love.

  * * *

  Flying in a helicopter was an amazing experience for me. On our right lay the expanse of the Persian Gulf in greens and blues, while on the left twinkled Dubai with its numerous skyscrapers, all of which were dwarfed by the highest building in the world—Burj Khalifa. I was as excited as a little kid, squeezing Alexander’s hand and my smile never leaving my face. Dubai turned out to be a true oasis.

  The helicopter approached the Burj Al Arab hotel, which, thanks to its unique architecture, had become the symbol of Dubai. It was no accident it was famous as one of the most exclusive hotels in the world. Next to it was the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and in the distance, I could see the Palm, built in the ocean from millions of tons of sand. We landed on the helipad at the top of Burj Al Arab, where we were greeted with glasses of champagne.

  As soon as we entered the hotel, my eyes were drawn to the beautiful golden columns around the elevator doors. The expertly crafted floor mosaic in front of them reminded me of an expensive Arabian carpet.

  It turned out every floor had its own reception. After we’d checked in at the reception of our floor, we entered our suite. As the door closed behind me, I was instantly whisked away to one of Scheherazade’s tales. The floor was covered with an incredible Persian rug and the walls were decorated with red wallpaper in golden patterns. My eyes slowly scanned the Oriental lamps, tables of all sizes, and armchairs in soft tiger-stripe upholstery. Numerous round and rectangular cus
hions were neatly arranged on the bed, armchairs, and sofas. Beautiful pictures in golden wreath-shaped frames adorned the walls.

  The panoramic windows showed a wonderful view of the expanse of the Persian Gulf. And we had a private butler service at our disposal at any time of the day.

  I lay on the bed, which was a real joy for the eyes with its canopy of red and yellow, small and large drapes, and Arabian tassels. “Ah, Alexander, you’ve certainly swept me away to the land of fairytales,” I said in awe.

  “I knew you’d like it.” He smiled. He lay on the bed next to me and stuck his hand under my blouse. His playful fingers slid across my belly and cupped my breast. “We’re going to have a great week.” The sparks flashing in his eyes told me what he had in mind.

  I swept aside a lock of hair from his brow and pulled him in for a kiss. “Thank you, baby. It’s enchanting.”

  He dug his nose into my neck and slowly made his way down to my cleavage, then stopped for a second and took a deep breath. “You’re intoxicating, but I have so much work to do. I’m leaving Henry at your disposal, and please don’t walk around on your own. It’s dangerous.”

  “And who’s going to protect you?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ve thought of everything. I’ve hired a bodyguard for me.”

  “I’m concerned about your safety, Alexander.” I pressed him tighter against me.

  “I’ll be careful. I promise. While I’m out, you can go for a swim in the pool or enjoy a pleasant massage.”

  “It won’t be the same when we’re not together. I know you have a mountain of work to get through, but I can’t help you with anything.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’d also prefer for us to spend more time together.” He ran his lips across the bottom of my chin and whispered, “I’ll try to finish my business more quickly.”

  Gently, I smoothed his hair. “I don’t want to get in your way. I know how to take care of myself. And you should focus on assisting the investigation. Hopefully, this hellish experience will be over soon.” I ran my index finger across his perfectly shaped lower lip and sighed. “I’ll miss you.”

  Uninvited tears started to fill my eyes. I looked up and blinked. I didn’t want to show weakness.

  “Hey, baby, calm down. We’ll find that bastard, and I promise you he won’t get away with this.”

  “Please be careful.”

  “Don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen to me.”

  His iPhone rang. Alexander took out his cell from the pocket of his jeans. “Herzling, you’re in front of the hotel? I’m coming down now.” He hung up.

  He bent down, gave me a quick peck on the nose, and said, “See you soon. I’ll call you. If there’s something… whatever it is… make sure you call me. Do we understand each other?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry about me. Henry will be with me after all.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Come in,” shouted Alexander.

  Henry had appeared as if by order.

  * * *

  On exiting the lobby of Burj Al Arab, I peered at the indoor fountain, the jets spraying to the rhythm of its own soundtrack. On both sides, it was surrounded by escalators, next to which were huge aquariums containing all kinds of fish. The entire interior of the hotel was impressive. But what made me bate my breath were the majestic golden columns shaped like palms. They rose as high as the first four stories of the hotel, while the upper stories were made to look like a night sky full of brightly twinkling stars.

  Henry never left my side the entire morning. He patiently waited while I enjoyed a pleasant massage in the hotel. I then walked around the shops and bought a disc of Arabian music from one. I really wanted to surprise Alexander with a nice gift and, thus, make his day better. Looking around the beautiful Oriental boutiques, a lantern shaped like some sort of a holy temple caught my eyes. It was divine—masterfully crafted from stainless steel and light-green glass. I decided to buy it at once, in the hope that Alexander would also like it.

  The morning flew by, and when my stomach started to complain of hunger, I decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have lunch on the terrace of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. There was a wonderful view of Burj Al Arab and the beach from there.

  It was clear the desert wasn’t far, as it seemed a cloak of sand had been thrown over the sky. I didn’t feel any sand on my skin, but if I looked closer, I could see it floating at cloud level.

  I asked Henry to keep me company and have lunch me, but he wouldn’t hear of it. It took a lot of effort and negotiation, but I managed to persuade him in the end. After all, it was time for his lunch break and he had to eat too.

  “Henry, how long have you been working for Alexander?” I asked while we were waiting for our order.

  “Around five years.”

  Our waitress served us the doner kebabs and French fries we’d ordered. They seemed very appetizing.

  “Is your family in Switzerland?”

  “No, they live in Germany. I have a younger brother and sister. In Zurich, I live with my girlfriend. You know how it is, Miss Welson. Wherever one’s love is…” He shrugged.

  “Please address me by my first name—Alexia.”

  He said nothing, but the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile.

  “I also have a brother—ten years younger than me. He lives with my father in Boston. How long have you been with your girlfriend, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Since high school. She waited for me to come back from the war in Iraq. And—”

  “You were in the war?” I interrupted. I couldn’t believe it—my heart sank. I didn’t want to think about the awful experiences he must have had there.

  “Yes, it was the most nightmarish time of my life,” he said after swallowing a bite.

  “Were you afraid about whether you’d come back alive?”

  “I don’t believe there are any soldiers who aren’t afraid. But when you’re on the frontline, everything happens so fast you don’t get much time to think. You act, give it all you’ve got, and have only one wish—to keep yourself and your fellow soldiers alive.” He took a sip of his Coke and added, “Thank God everything is okay now. I’m happy with my job. Life in Zurich is nice, and I’ve started to think about marriage.” He smiled.

  “That’s great, Henry. I’m very happy for you.” I realized I’d never seen him smile—he was always so serious, like a true soldier. I gazed into his gleaming eyes. The eyes never lie, and his showed the strong love he felt for his sweetheart.

  Henry was a good guy but also really macho. If he wanted to, he could scare you off with just a look. I’d observed how he scanned the area and how precisely he did his job, and I felt very safe and secure with him.

  His phone rang. He picked it up and his face reverted to its usual serious look. “Mr. Kraftberg… Yes, of course. She’s with me.” He passed me the phone. “Mr. Kraftberg wants to speak to you.”

  I started the conversation by saying, “Hi, baby, how are you?” I was happy to hear him, but my inner sense told me something was wrong. And it rarely lied to me.

  “Alexia, why aren’t you picking up your fucking iPhone?” His voice was icy, almost petrifying.

  He’s furious. God… Why is he so easy to anger?

  “I haven’t heard it ring. Hang on.” I rifled through my bag and took out my cell phone. I had three missed calls from him. Great! “Shit!” I swore aloud.

  “What’s the problem with your phone?” He continued in that icy tone.

  “Nothing. I just didn’t hear it. I’d turned down the sound… Sorry, but don’t forget—I’m not alone. Everything’s fine,” I said, trying to calm him.

  Unsuccessfully!

  “Alexia, be more responsible and check your cell from now on.” He sounded like my father, which made me roll my eyes.

  I took a deep breath. “Sorry. I promise I’ll be more careful in the future. Alexander, please calm down and don’t be mad at me.” I wanted to ask him how
the investigation was going, but I wasn’t sure if it was prudent to say it over the phone.

  “I’ll call you later,” he informed me and hung up.

  I didn’t want us to fight, but that’s exactly what happened, and it was all my fault. Alexander had enough on his plate without having to worry about me.

  I gazed at the beach. There were tourists, but it wasn’t packed. Several families lazily lay on chaise lounges and kids ran along the shore, trying to outrun the waves.

  “Ah, Henry, will they manage to catch the person who…” I whispered, reluctant to say left the bomb aloud. I felt awful. Uncertainty scared me, and nobody liked feeling uncertain.

  “Alexia.” He leaned toward me and very quietly said, “They have a good lead.”

  Henry knew much more than that, but he didn’t want to discuss with me. My stomach was literally rumbling, so I took a bite from the kebab, hoping the food would improve my mood. While I was swallowing, my iPhone rang again. This time it was Lily.

  “Hi, Lily.”

  “Oh, Alexia. Francesco is incredible. Thank you, thank you, thank you…”

  “Lily, you didn’t…”

  Without waiting for me to finish, she said, “Yes, I did, and it was the best experience of my life. God, Alexia. Francesco is so sweet and tender. It wasn’t just sex; it was making love. The orgasms he gave me were so intense that—”

  “Lily.” I interrupted her. I wasn’t sure whether I’d turned up the sound of my phone too high. I didn’t want Henry or someone around us to overhear our conversation. “I’m in a restaurant. It’s full of people and I’m not comfortable discussing such things. You understand, right?”

  “Yes, dear. I’m just in seventh heaven. I’m ecstatic.”

  Smiling at her words, my face beamed. I was happy for her and hoped Francesco felt the same way about her. I loved Lily like a sister and all I wished her was happiness.

  “Miss Ferrai, you don’t know how glad I am to hear this.” I giggled.

  “How is Alexander?” she asked me.

  “He has a lot of work and headaches.” I sighed.

  “Oh dear… That’s unfortunate. I hope you have a nice time in Dubai anyway.”