“So where are you two with the wedding plans?” Barbara inquired after he walked away from their table. “Have you narrowed down where you want to have the wedding ceremony?”
Natasha smiled and nodded. “We’d like to have the wedding at the house. Ari and I feel this is the perfect place to begin our life together as husband and wife.”
Barbara gave a slight nod of approval. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
Sage agreed. She was absolutely thrilled for Ari, but there was a part of this that highlighted the fact that there was no man present in her life. It wasn’t the lack of male companionship literally, because she was constantly approached by celebrities, business professionals, athletes and even a couple of college students.
However, Sage was very selective and cautious when it came to relationships because of a bad experience she went through in college—something that still haunted her from time to time. She was determined that no other man would ever deceive her again.
* * *
Sage thought about the homeless man from the day before. She had not been able to forget about him. It was the expression that was on his face—the one that said although his circumstances looked as if he was past hope, he was still optimistic about life.
Impulsively, Sage headed toward the lobby exit. She walked outside, her eyes surveying the surroundings. A way of relief swept through Sage upon seeing him.
What am I doing?
She didn’t wait for the answer. Instead, Sage inhaled deeply and then exhaled slowly before approaching him.
“I thought you might be out here,” she said. “My name is Sage. What’s yours?”
“Ryan,” he responded. “Ryan Manning.”
“I hope that you were able to enjoy a hot meal and a clean bed. I know that the shelters are overflowing, and they can’t accommodate everyone.”
“Yes. Thank you for the money. I can’t tell you how much it helped.”
She smiled. “I’m glad I could help you in some small way.” Sage paused a moment before continuing. “Actually, I would like to try and really help you, Ryan. I can’t explain it, but my gut instinct tells me it’s something I should do.”
Ryan’s eyes widened in surprise, but he remained silent.
Sage was well aware of the curious glances and stares she was receiving from people all around them, including the hotel employees, but she didn’t care. She had to do what was in her heart.
“I hope I won’t offend or embarrass you by this question, but when was the last time you had a bath and some clean clothes?”
He gave a slight shrug. “It’s been a few days.”
“Well, we’re going to change that right now,” Sage stated. “I want you to come with me.”
She couldn’t remember the last time she had acted so impulsively, but it was too late to turn back now. Sage had always trusted her instincts; this time would be no different.
Chapter 5
Hotel security hurried toward them, but Sage quickly waved them away. “He is with me,” she told them. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine.”
Ryan silently noted that the two men backed off immediately, although their body language signaled that they were still on alert and ready to pounce, if needed.
He was still in shock that Sage had not only given him money but was now leading him into the Alexander-DePaul Beverly Hills Hotel.
Patrons gasped and stared in horror as they made their way through the lobby. However, Sage Alexander appeared to be oblivious to the stir she was causing. She walked over to the front desk. She was speaking so softly that Ryan had no idea what she was saying to the reservation manager.
He dropped his head to keep from meeting the gazes of anyone.
“I’m going to take you to a room on the second level,” Sage told him. “You can shower and shave, and I’ll have Franklin bring you some clean clothes.”
“Franklin?”
“He’s the head of our security and someone I trust with my life.”
“I appreciate all you’re trying to do for me, but Ms….you don’t know a thing about me. For all you know, I could be a serial killer.”
“That’s why I want Franklin to meet you,” Sage responded. “He’ll let me know if there is anything I need to worry about where you’re concerned.”
Ryan chuckled. “Do I need to worry about a cavity search?”
Laughing, Sage shook her head no.
“Ms.—”
“It’s Alexander, but please…just call me Sage,” she interjected quickly.
“Okay, Sage…why are you doing all this for me? Are you some type of Good Samaritan?”
“I wouldn’t say that,” she responded with a smile. “I just care about people, that’s all.”
A young woman with blond hair and wearing a trendy-looking business suit greeted Sage but took one look at Ryan and then glanced away.
“I apologize for her rudeness,” Sage stated as they walked to the elevators.
“People are uncomfortable when staring poverty in the face,” Ryan responded. “They know that it exists, but they do not want to put a face to it.”
Ryan had been a guest at the hotel in the past. In fact, it was one of his favorite places to stay when in Los Angeles. He was acutely aware that everyone was staring at him—some with open disdain. He cleared his throat softly.
“Really, why are you doing all this?” he asked when they were alone in the elevator.
Ryan reminded himself that he had to tread carefully with Sage and not ask too many questions. He didn’t want to make her suspicious.
“You obviously need help, and I am in a position to help you,” Sage responded truthfully. “I would want someone to lend a helping hand if I needed one.”
“So you just go around picking up homeless people?”
“No, I don’t,” Sage stated. “I’m good at reading people and…well, when I saw you yesterday I felt in my gut that I had to do something to help you.”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful,” he told her.
“It’s okay,” Sage responded. “You don’t know me either, so I can understand why you would be apprehensive.” She awarded him a bright smile. “All I can say is that it was placed on my heart to bless you.”
Ryan followed her off the elevator. Sage had a little bounce to her walk; her hips swayed gently from side to side. She was dressed in a pair of navy slacks and a bright orange and navy silk top. Her long hair was neatly secured in a ponytail by an orange-and-navy barrette.
She was a woman with a mission, and Ryan could tell from her demeanor that she would let no one thwart that determination.
Ryan considered all of the women he had come across throughout his life and could truly say that he had never met a woman like her. His ex-wife was also a very determined woman, only she had no problem using lies or manipulation to get whatever she wanted. It never occurred to her that perhaps being honest was the way to go, especially if one wanted to earn trust.
* * *
Inside of the luxury hotel suite, Sage handed Ryan a menu. “Feel free to order whatever you want to eat. It’s my treat.”
He hadn’t been aware that he was staring at her until she said, “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Ryan cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I…I just can’t get over how generous you are. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“I’m just me,” Sage responded with a shrug. “There’s nothing special about a person who cares about others. I’m one of many.”
“I don’t agree,” he responded. “To some degree, that quality makes you rare. People say they care, but I believe that actions speak a lot louder than words.”
“I knew there was something very different about you,” Sage murmured
.
“What do you mean?” Ryan asked, instantly on guard.
“Just that I’ve been around many of the homeless. I volunteer at one of the shelters twice a month. I know that you’re educated. There’s actually many layers to you.”
“Not all homeless people have some sort of impairment,” Ryan blurted. “People end up without a roof for many reasons—mortgage and rent arrears, the breakdown of relationships, families or friends withdrawing their support. However, it seems that most people assume that only those suffering from personality difficulties, the onset of mental illness or addiction live on the streets.”
“I think I’ve been guilty of that assumption,” she confessed. “Even at the shelter, I have never come into contact with anyone who speaks as eloquently as you. Most are dealing with addiction or a mental illness. I guess I just never really considered that included in the transient population could be people who have lost their homes or jobs.”
Ryan decided not to say more for fear that he would give away the ruse. He had probably already said too much. Sage didn’t appear to be suspicious of him. Perhaps she just assumed that he was speaking in defense of his current situation.
Their gaze met and held.
Sage broke the visual exchange by saying, “I’ll have Franklin get your clothing size.” She checked her watch and then said, “I’m afraid I have a meeting to attend, but I’ll check on you afterward.”
“Thank you for your kindness,” Ryan murmured sincerely. “I don’t know many people who would go this far for a stranger.”
“We shouldn’t have to wait for something terrible to happen before we reach out to help others,” Sage stated. “My dad used to say this all the time.”
“Sounds like your father is a wise man.” Malcolm Alexander apparently shared some of the same philosophies as his biological father.
“He is,” Sage confirmed. “He also used to say that a true act of kindness happens when there is no reason to be kind but simply out of caring for our fellow man.”
Ryan gave a tiny smile. “I like that.”
Sage walked toward the door. “I have to go, but I hope you’ll enjoy your bath and meal. Franklin will stop by and arrange for some clean clothes for you.”
She was gone before Ryan could utter a response.
* * *
“Franklin, I wanted to let you know that I placed a guest in unit 210,” Sage announced. She called him from her cell phone as soon as she left Ryan.
“Is this a friend of yours?” he politely inquired.
“Not really,” Sage answered honestly. “He is someone who has been living on the streets as a transient. He’s an educated man, and I’m pretty sure something must have happened in his life for him to be homeless. In a way, he reminds me a lot of you, Franklin.”
“I see.”
“This is not something that I’ve done before, but there is something about this man. Franklin, I felt as if I had to do something to help him.”
“I understand completely,” Franklin responded.
“Do you really?”
“Yes. As you know, I was homeless when Mr. Robert and I met,” Franklin reminded her. “Like you, he had a kind heart, and not only did he give me a job but also a place to stay. You and your grandfather are kindred spirits.”
“I do feel this connection with Robert,” Sage admitted. “I’ve never said this before because I don’t want my family to think I’m losing it.”
“There’s nothing insane about it,” Franklin assured her. “His blood runs in your veins as well as your father’s. It’s natural that you would possess some of his traits.”
“We’ve been so blessed, Franklin, with all of this. However, even before the inheritance came about, I’ve never known what it feels like to be hungry or homeless. I volunteer at the homeless shelters and donate, but this time it just didn’t seem enough. Once I looked into this guy’s eyes, I just had to do something more.”
Franklin had served as a butler to Robert DePaul until his death. Her father had no use for butlers, so he promoted Franklin as head of the security and housekeeping staff. He traveled frequently, making sure everything ran smoothly with all of the hotel properties. He often accompanied Malcolm and Ari when they travelled, rarely entrusting them to the care of any other member of the security team.
“If you would see that he has some clean clothes, you can put them on my personal account. I mainly wanted to alert you in the event someone said something about his being here. Please make sure the security team understands that I do not want him harassed in any way. I want Ryan’s stay to be a comfortable one.”
“Understood. How long will he be staying here?”
“I’m not sure,” Sage answered. “I’m hoping we will be able to provide a job for him, as well. But anyway, thanks so much, Franklin. I appreciate all that you do for us.”
“It is my pleasure,” Franklin responded. “I will head to the second level to introduce myself to your guest. I want him to know that he can contact me if he needs anything.”
Sage smiled. “His name is Ryan Manning. Thanks.”
Beneath all the grime, Sage could see glimpses of an extremely handsome man. He had not been on the streets long, she decided. He was muscled and strong. Ryan hadn’t missed too many meals—that much she was pretty sure of, although she really didn’t know much about him.
Sage made it to the conference room minutes before her staff arrived. She wanted to go over the departmental vacation calendar as there had been some recent changes; two of her employees had been promoted to other departments.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” she greeted, closing the door so they would not be disturbed or disturb others. Blaze was in the room next door, meeting with his direct reports.
“We need to review the vacation calendar to ensure that we are going to have coverage,” she began.
Her meeting lasted for about thirty minutes.
After it was finished, Sage stopped by her office to make a phone call to Personnel. She was interrupted by a visitor.
“Harold, what do you want?” she asked. Although they were related by blood, Sage had a hard time considering him part of her family—especially after the way he tried to manipulate her father.
“I still have friends here,” he responded.
“Don’t you mean spies?” Sage countered.
Harold chuckled. “You really shouldn’t be so paranoid.”
“Why are you here, Harold?”
“I would like to make peace with your family,” he announced. “I thought the best person to start with would be you, Sage.”
She eyed him hard. “Do you think that I am the weakest link? Because if you do, then I’m afraid I will disappoint you.”
“I don’t think that you are weak at anything,” Harold responded. “There is no escaping the fact that we are related.”
“You’re right about that,” Sage uttered, betraying nothing of her annoyance. She leaned back in her chair, studying Harold DePaul. “There’s something you want from me. What is it?”
“My sister Meredith is looking for a job in residential sales. She would really like to work with you in the family business.”
Sage had only met Meredith once, and very few words were exchanged between them. “Why didn’t she come here to talk to me? She’s a grown woman. I assume she can speak for herself.”
“My sister wasn’t sure how she would be received,” Harold confessed.
Sage straightened up in her chair, saying, “We are not the reason for the discord amongst Robert DePaul’s relatives.”
“I am well aware of that, Sage,” Harold responded. “We had no idea that Uncle Robert had a son. Surely, you can understand why we were concerned as to what would happen to the estate?”
“To a point,” Sage st
ated. “You do know that you are not going to get off the hook that easily, Harold.”
“Let’s not make this about me. Are you willing to give my sister a chance? I offered her a job, but as I said, she wants to be a part of Uncle Robert’s legacy. She wants to work with you.”
“I really have to give this some thought.” Sage found it a little hard to swallow that Meredith suddenly wanted to come work with her. She didn’t trust Harold as far as she could throw him, but it wasn’t fair to judge Meredith by her brother’s actions.
“I would like to speak with Meredith. She wants the job, so she’ll have to meet with me.”
Harold nodded in agreement. “I hope that you will be fair.”
“I am always fair,” Sage countered. “If you had taken time to get to know me, then you wouldn’t be worried.”
Harold’s smile was without humor.
“What?” Sage asked.
“You remind me of Uncle Robert. You really are a lot like him.”
“So I’ve been told,” she responded.
Harold checked his watch and then rose to his feet. “I appreciate you taking time to speak with me, Sage. I’ll have Meredith contact you.”
“I look forward to speaking to her.”
He paused at the door. “I do hope that one day we can really put the past behind us.”
“It starts with you, Harold.”
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Sage.”
“You do the same,” she responded.
They exchanged a polite, simultaneous smile and then Harold was gone.
Sage wasn’t sure what to think of her conversation with Harold. However, she decided to withhold judgment until she had a chance to meet with Meredith. A small part of her considered that this was a way for Harold to plant someone in her department, but he would soon find that she was not one to be reckoned with.
Her thoughts traveled to Ryan Manning. Franklin should have dropped off clothes and clean undergarments by now. She decided to give him more time to make himself presentable. Sage made a few phone calls to pass the time.
She was looking forward to seeing him again.
Five Star Temptation Page 4