by Alexa Davis
He gave me a funny look before speaking out again in a much kinder tone of voice. “You know, I heard what happened to you. I know that you’ve been sick. I hope that you’re much better now.”
I felt all mixed up and sickly at the thought of everyone talking about me behind my back. I would have much preferred to be more private, but in the small world I circled in, it was impossible. When you started spending time with other billionaires, everyone seemed to know everything about one another.
Of course, I had been out of the loop for a while now, so that put my nose out of joint, too. I felt like I was twelve steps behind everyone else with everything.
“Yeah,” I replied hoarsely. “I am – much better, thank you. I got the all clear yesterday, just before you called, actually.”
“Well, I’m very glad to hear it; that must have been rough.”
As he spoke so kindly to me, I wondered why I didn’t hang out with Justin more. He was a good guy who seemed to care. I'd drifted apart from all the guys from my younger days because I'd been so wrapped up in myself. Now, I could see that was a silly mistake on my part.
“Thank you.” We sipped our drinks in silence for a moment before I realized that it was up to me to get the conversation rolling again. After all, I was the one who'd been through the trauma. Justin probably didn't know what to say to me “So, seriously, why did you call me here?” It was time to get down to business.
“Well, I wasn’t too sure if you were investing anymore because I know that your casinos are doing so well. I went to one the other day, and wow... It was so damn busy! But if you are, or if you’re thinking about getting back into it, then I might have an opportunity for you.”
“Tell me more...” I leaned in. This sounded huge, something incredibly exciting, and I couldn’t wait for it. It was a new year now, a new start for me, and this could be great. In a way, I needed this to be the thing that I'd been looking for. I needed a start, a kick up the ass, and I wanted this to be it.
“It’s a fishing company in Oregon.”
Huh, what? “Fishing?” I asked, allowing my confusion to shine through. “I don’t know anything about fishing. Or Oregon.” I couldn’t stop the disappointment from sitting like a heavy weight in the pit of my stomach. “Where in Oregon? Portland?” I knew Justin had his investment business there, so it made sense. “And, have you invested in this company?”
“It’s a small town called Florence, and I know that might sound a little crazy, but trust me, there is a lot of money to be made there. This fishing trade is huge. I haven’t invested in the company myself, but I do think this is for you.”
“Are you kidding me?” I gasped in shock. “Do you realize how sketchy all this sounds? If there is something going on here, I would rather you be totally honest with me.” This was all so weird. I didn’t want to think badly of Justin, but there didn’t seem to be any good explanation for this one. Nothing about it made any sense.
“I know. I totally understand your reservations, but would you at least think of taking a trip down there to see? I can’t explain it. It would be much better if you saw it for yourself. You could probably use some time away anyway, couldn’t you? After all that you’ve been through?”
Okay, that cinches it. There was no way that Justin would be a dick to someone who had suffered all the health conditions that I had. He had to be serious, and I needed to trust him. I had to just push all my instincts aside and listen to him.
“So, what’s so great about Florence?” I asked curiously, just trying to stall him for a few more moments while I sorted out my thoughts. “Have you spent a lot of time there?”
“I have, actually,” he surprised me by saying. “Recently, I’ve been there a lot.”
“For investment?” If he was invested in this random little town, then maybe there was something about it that I needed to know.
“Not really.”
He had that dreamy, faraway look in his eyes that could only mean one thing: love. He’d found someone and that twisted my stomach up in painful, twirling knots. Jealousy. I actually felt jealous. I wanted someone to feel that way about. I wanted someone to love. I never had before.
“It’s for a woman,” he continued unnecessarily. “I’ve met someone there, and she makes everything seem different.”
I thought about all the women in my life and how none of them were the wholesome sort of girl I wanted to settle down with. Maybe if Justin had managed to find someone in Florence, then I could, too. Not long term, necessarily, because then she would have to move, but someone to get my engine revving again. I did need to get back in the game. Maybe if I could find someone to get excited about, then my spark would come flying back.
I needed to feel like myself again before all this ate me alive.
“I’ll think about it,” I finally confirmed, smiling. “Thank you, Justin.”
***
I didn’t feel comfortable with just sitting around after my meeting with Justin. He’d stirred everything up in my mind and I needed to do something, so I hopped in the car to make the trip to Vegas.
I wasn’t exactly up for a night of gambling and drinking, but I did want to check in on my businesses. They ran themselves these days, with amazing managers to keep on top of things, but I felt like it was good to drop by every now and again. Showing my face proved I hadn’t dropped off the face of the Earth.
As my car whizzed through the city of lights, I recalled the days when I saw this city as something to get excited about. I loved my trips down to Vegas, which was why I’d brought the casinos in the first place. The parties, the strippers, the lights, the never-ending fun – it had seemed like a dream to me.
I had come from a small town where nothing exciting ever happened. I'd grown up with fairly strict parents, which was maybe why I went so wild when I first got the chance. This place was a playground for me, and I took full advantage of that.
Now, though, I saw somewhere empty and hollow. The tourists loved it and always had a great time, but I found the permanent residents sad, always wanting to escape. It took the sheen off things, made everything that much less shiny. I was grateful that I didn't live there all the time or I wasn't sure that I would ever be able to enjoy it again.
And there it was: my casino, the romance-themed one people adored. We didn't have a wedding chapel in it like most of the others, but it was requested over and over again. I didn't see it as a good money spinner, though; it wasn't necessary, so I didn't have it.
The noise tore through my ears the second I stepped inside: the music, the machines, the chatter... it was intense. I flickered my eyes everywhere, trying to see anyone I recognized, but all I found looking back at me were scantily-clad girls, flashing lights, and cash being spent at every angle. It was so fast paced, so crazy, it left me a little dizzy. It must have been because I was getting old. I couldn't handle it anymore.
“Hey, boss.” I felt a clap on my back and turned around to see Bill, the manager. He was dressed in a full suit and tie, looking far more capable than I did. I probably shouldn't have come down here in such a rush, after all. “I didn’t expect to see you today. How is it going?”
“Yeah, good, just checking in. Looks like you have it all under control.” I nodded slowly and smiled. “Is there anything you need from me?”
“No, no, it’s all good. Did you see the reports? Business is great, profits are up, events are doing well.” He was so excited to tell me this that it made me grin brightly at him, despite the weird sensation that I had inside. “Our sister casino is doing great, too.”
What was going on with me? Why wasn’t I so happy at that good news? Why did nothing cheer me up anymore?
I guessed that if anything was wrong, it was that I felt useless. They didn’t need me here; there was nothing for me to do. I wasn’t needed, and I had no idea what to do about that. That sense that I was still hanging on a loose end came flooding back.
“Okay, well, great. I might pop over there in
a minute.” I stepped backward as one of the security guards raced to Bill’s side with an issue. “I’ll see you later, okay?” But he wasn't listening. Why would he? He knows more about this place than I do!
When I got back into my car, I thought about Justin and his offer once more. Maybe the idea of an investment opportunity in Florence, Oregon was a ridiculous one, but the chance of a vacation, the thought of hanging out somewhere much quieter, with a totally different atmosphere, was an appealing one. I needed a timeout from my life before I made all these changes I wanted to make. I couldn’t just do it without a break.
Justin was right. I had been through a lot, and I did need an escape. This sounded like the perfect way to do just that.
Chapter Four
Eliza – Wednesday
“Okay,” I muttered to myself as the door swung open. “Today will be a better day.”
It had to be. Yesterday had turned out awfully, and if I wanted to turn things around and make this my year, then things were going to have to start getting better soon. I had to stop worrying and focusing on the negative – I wouldn’t get out of this hole with that attitude helping me along!
It was just January blues brought on by New Year’s resolutions not being completed right away. I was certain that everyone went through it, that it was perfectly normal, and that it was also very easy to get past.
Of course, the first thing I saw was the big stack of my bills sitting on the front desk, which attempted to derail me. I wasn’t going to give them the attention that they thought they deserved. That was what they wanted!
Why can’t I ever get robbed? I thought wryly, trying to make a joke out of the situation. And the thieves only take those bills from me? I can’t pay them if they’ve been stolen... can I?
But, of course, I was never going to get that lucky. I assumed that my streak of bad luck started the day that my parents were killed in an accident. I was nine years old, and a drunk truck driver rolled over their car, ending their lives in a heartbeat.
Before then, I couldn’t ever remember anything bad happening to me. Now it didn’t seem like anything good happened, however hard I tried. Life had been good with my grandma, but things had never felt easy for me. I’d always had that strong sense that something was missing.
Anyway, it was time to put my plan into action. I had fully committed to the idea to at least attempt to rent out the cabin, so I needed to advertise it online. I wasn’t totally convinced it would lead to anything, but it was the only plan I had. It was the only hope for making any money that I could see, so I had to at least give it a try.
I flicked my way through a few websites, trying to work out how to advertise it best. I had a few good images that made the cabin look amazing, but I wasn’t sure which website would be the best place to start.
“Hey, Eliza.” Laynee’s heels clicked through the doors not long after me. “How are you this morning? What are you doing? Updating the website?”
Ugh, God, that is just another thing that I need to be doing. I had to add that to my to-do list. What I needed was an expert to get it right for me, but that cost money I didn’t have. “Not yet.” I smiled up at her through my eyelashes. “I’m taking your advice and renting out the cabin.”
“Oh, good. I bet it’ll do well. It’s in such a lovely place.” She glanced at the pictures with me, losing herself in her own memories. Before Grandma passed, Laynee came away with us one weekend and had the best time ever. It was when she’d just been dumped, so she’d needed a time out from life, and it had done her wonders. By the time we came back, she wasn’t even thinking about the guy who had hurt her.
“I hope so, but I might need some help cleaning it if someone does decide to rent it out,” I warned her. “And since this is your idea, I might have to volunteer you. We all know how good you are at cleaning...” Luckily for me, Laynee was much better at cutting hair than she was cleaning. She just didn’t seem to have the right skills needed. I didn’t understand it – it seemed simple enough to me.
She laughed loudly and nodded, not caring about my little bit of teasing. “Okay, sounds good. I don’t mind. Then if this goes well, maybe we can revisit my party idea. I do think that will do well. I didn’t just come up with the idea. I talked to loads of people first and they would love to do it. Christmas parties, bachelorette parties, baby showers... And the tanning booth, people will love that.”
I held her hand gratefully and nodded at her. “Whatever you think,” I told her seriously. “You’ve stuck by me through so much. I couldn’t possibly refuse. Plus, it sounds like a whole lot of fun. The more events that we do, the more unique things we offer, the better we’ll do in the long run. We might not have much competition in Florence, but we need people to think of us first.”
Laynee walked over to the appointment book and started flicking through it absentmindedly, probably noting to herself how empty it looked. “Do we have anyone booked in this morning?”
“No,” I told her sadly. “But it is January, not many people book in during the colder months, and we might get walk-ins.” It might have all been excuses, but I did hope I was right.
Laynee looked down at the ground for a moment before a beaming grin spread across her cheeks. “So, why don’t we have a little fun? There isn’t much point in standing around doing nothing, and we don’t have any more cleaning to do.”
“What did you have in mind?” I asked her curiously. Knowing Laynee, it could be anything, from something small to something very silly. I never could tell. Usually, I did my best to avoid her plans, but today, I felt like throwing caution to the wind a little bit.
“Let me do your hair. Let me loose on you.” She pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture and cocked her head to one side in a way that she assumed was cute. Unfortunately for me, it was.
“Oh, God,” I groaned. “I don’t know if I trust you with my hair. What do you have planned?”
She jumped up and down, looking far too gleeful for my liking. “I could lie to you and tell you that I’m going to do something normal, straightforward, and beautiful, but I’m not. I’m going to see how wild I can make you look.”
I glanced in the mirror and examined my long black hair for a second. I usually wore it straight because I didn’t like to use too many products on it, knowing the damage that would cause, but it actually sounded like fun. Laynee was the one who experimented with her hair, so it might be funny to see what she could do for me. It might be nice to see myself in a very different light.
“Go on then,” I laughed and shrugged my shoulders, giving in. “Do your worst!”
***
“Oh, my God, I look like a poodle,” I squealed, growing increasingly hysterical with each passing second. “What did you do to me?” I had ringlets hanging down my face, then she’d piled some of it up onto my head, using far too much hairspray. The whole hairdo was practically rock solid, and it made me look like a crazy person. It wasn’t even worthy of a costume party; it was just insane.
“I don’t know, I like it,” Laynee teased. “Mine, too. I think I look like a rock star.” I’d gotten carried away in the fun, too, and crimped Laynee’s hair. She looked like an extra in a terrible eighties high school movies. “Maybe I’ll go out like this tonight.”
“Oh, yeah, you’ll pull in a heartthrob,” I laughed. Laynee was four years younger than me and still into the partying, having the time of her life. I felt jealous about that. I did miss that part of my life, but I wouldn’t have gone back to it.
What I wanted was something more. It just didn’t seem to be happening. “Who do you have your eye on these days?”
Laynee shot me a look, as if she wondered how much of this was about Josh, which it wasn’t.
I mean, yes, it hurt that he’d kissed someone else, but I was totally over that now. I didn’t even care about him in the first place, so why would this bother me? Maybe I had moaned about him quite a lot in the beginning, when we first started to fall apart. About
his laidback attitude, which meant that he was lazy, and the fact that he never listened to me really. When I first saw him with someone else, I went crazy, but now I could see that we were never going to make it work anyway. It didn’t matter.
Except, I’d wanted to be the one to move on first. When we drifted apart and stopped bothering to contact one another, I wanted to be the one who could show him what he was missing out on. I hated being the person left behind – it made me feel sad and pathetic.
“Well...” she started slowly when she realized I wasn’t about to rant. “I did kiss Marc on New Year’s Eve, at midnight.”
“Marc?” I couldn’t picture him for a second. “Which one is Marc?” She had so many admirers, due to her cute heart-shaped face and bright-blue eyes. Plus, she had curves in all the right places, the sort of body that would make anyone jealous, but I couldn’t recall her ever talking about this one before.
“The guy from the supermarket.” I noticed a huge grin spread across her cheeks and a light blush, too. She liked this guy, and from the look of it, she liked him more than she ever had anyone else before. What is it about him that makes him so special? I couldn’t deny that I was intrigued.
“The one with dark hair,” she continued. “He told me that he’s liked me for ages. It was sweet, actually.”
“Wow!” I gasped happily for her. “That’s great news. Have you heard from him since?”
“Well, no...” She stared down at her phone as if some magical coincidence was about to happen. “But I’m sure I will. It hasn’t been that long, anyway, and don’t guys have some three-day rule?”
This all sounded a little suspicious to me. I instantly wanted to warn her off this guy, but I also didn’t want to pass my fears on to her. If this guy was going to be an ass, I hoped that would come to light before she got too emotionally involved, but just because things hadn’t worked out for me, it didn’t mean I had to make Laynee second guess things. Marc could be totally different.