Fighting Destiny

by Annalisa Simon

  “Solange, thank you so much, I really appreciate how you have gone out of your way to make sure this event still succeeds,”

  “Now, before you thank me, there is another condition to this deal that you need to know about. The hotel is in need of an entertainment package on the fourth night of your intensive. So when I told him that you were a professional arts and media group he was very interested in learning more about you and in making this exchange. The group they booked cancelled last minute and now it is imperative that they get a professional arts company to provide entertainment. They would have preferred a local group but they aren’t very picky right now,” she said.

  “I see, so we will be working for our stay and our supper in other words!”

  “Something like that and it will help you absorb the differences in the cost for the delegate’s meals as you no longer have the all-inclusive arrangement we arranged. Darius has agreed that if you do the show, he will include the delegate’s meal costs in two of the restaurants, for the duration of the intensive. That is extremely generous of him and you would both be helping each other out!”

  “Why is he so willing to do this? Has he ever heard of my academy?” asked Nathan with surprise.

  “I emailed him a few videos of the performances company did and told him about the many awards you have received and both he and his events coordinator were quite impressed,” Solange replied. “Now this is the big part that I haven’t told you about yet! You are getting a steal because the entertainment is going to be featured on the Where in the World Is Sally Flanders? travel show this upcoming week, so you will be getting free global exposure and recognition for the work you do at your academy,” squealed Solange with elation.

  “No way!” exclaimed Nathan. Solange are you serious? This sounds too amazing for words! I don’t know how to thank you! When I see you remind me to give you a giant hug!” hooted Nathan excitedly.

  “Someone must really love you in heaven, Nathan!” said Solange smiling. “I am really happy for you; this couldn’t have been better arranged for your academy!”

  Nathan blinked rapidly as he fought to digest the implication of the news! The academy was going to be featured globally on one of the most popular shows on TV right now?

  “Solange this is too amazing for words, wow!” he said.

  “Okay, while that sinks in I have to go and sort out some other details so we will talk again soon!” she said before disconnecting the call.

  As Nathan hung up the phone and looked at Candasee to tell her the good news, he paused and studied the odd dazed expression on her face. She was staring at the bag where he had just placed his phone with utter dread and panic written all over her face!

  “Candasee, I have some good news,” he said slowly trying not to alarm her by touching her arm lightly. “Solange got us rooms and a new venue at the Derrien Island Grande Spa Resort, isn’t that wonderful? I knew this would work out wonderfully!” he continued while trying at the same time to comprehend the stricken expression on her face. “The owner agreed to allow us to pay similar rates with a few concessions on his part to ensure a smooth transition, as a favour to Solange! Aren’t you happy? We just got a major upgrade for the intensive!”

  “Nathan, I’m sorry, this was a big mistake. I can’t go to the intensive anymore, I am leaving on the next flight back to Barbados,” said Candasee leaping to her feet and looking around for her travel bags.

  Nathan, completely puzzled by her reaction reached out and held her wrist gently but firmly.

  “Wait Candasee, where are you going? I thought this news would’ve made you as happy as it made me!”

  “Nathan you don’t understand! I really can’t go anymore! I’m sorry to do this to you on short notice but there are some things I haven’t told you!” she replied still trying to pull away her hand.

  Nathan held on firmly now becoming alarmed at the sudden change in Candasee’s demeanour. All it took was mentioning the change in venue and she immediately became a different person. Her face had become a cool mask, devoid of emotion but her eyes reflected the truth. She was afraid of something, but what could it be?

  “Candee, please talk to me! You aren’t making much sense right now!”

  “Nathan, I haven’t been completely honest with you and there’s a lot about me that you simply don’t know!” replied Candasee shaking her head as she continued to pull her hand out of Nathan’s strong grip. But still he refused to let her go!

  “I’m not letting you go until you agree to talk to me!” he replied forcefully causing a few heads to turn in their direction. He whispered his next words, “Something is really bothering you and I would like to help you if I can.”

  Finally, deciding not to cause a scene she sat again and tried to take in several deep gulps of air to steady her shattered nerves! She hadn’t seen or spoken to Darius in just over a year and just the thought of being near him threw her into an immediate panic. She was engaged to be married now! When Nathan blurted out his name, a mixture of emotions immediately boiled up within her. The first one was pain, then hurt, then disgust, then anger, then the unbelievable knowledge that she still missed him was the strongest of them all. That was crazy!

  The faster she got to a ticket counter and made her way back to Barbados the better it would be for all concerned! She was losing her mind!

  “Candasee I don’t think there is anything that you could do or say to make me hate you or be disappointed in you! You are the most remarkable woman I have ever met and I know that you must have had your reasons for not saying whatever it is you haven’t said to me as yet,” replied Nathan softly moving a tendril of hair that had fallen over her eye. “Just talk to me, you can trust me!”

  Nathan’s presence always seemed to be able to calm her down and his controlled reaction to her irrational outburst was again testament to the character she knew he possessed.

  “Nathan, its statements just like that one that let me know that I really don’t deserve your trust sometimes,” said Candasee.

  “Let me be the judge of that! Now tell me why you reacted like that at the news?” Nathan asked her once more.

  Before answering, Candasee swallowed deeply and closed her eyes. The best way was to just get straight to the point.

  “Nathan, I think you should know that I was married to Darius Brogan when I lived on this island for four years! I was also once on the board of trustees for the hotel.”

  “Darius Brogan is your ex-husband?” exclaimed Nathan. as his eyes widened with surprise. Whatever she was about to say, he surely didn’t expect her to say that!

  “See, I knew that you wouldn’t take this news well!” began Candasee just wanting to run from this or any moment that forced her to see Nathan’s judgment of all she neglected to mention about her failed marriage.

  He knew she had her secrets but he never imagined that it would’ve been this one.

  “All this time, I’ve considered your ex-husband to be the craziest man alive to have divorced you. But now to hear that it was one of the savviest businessmen in the Caribbean leaves me totally shocked.”

  “I don’t follow you, Nathan!” replied Candasee puzzled.

  “I don’t know what happened between you two and I know your past isn’t any of my business but a man only becomes that wealthy when he can seize a good investment as soon as he recognizes one. So, I am left to wonder how come he is willingly missing out on the greatest of them all!” said Nathan sincerely touching the newly placed engagement ring she wore on her left hand, to convey the depth of what he was expressing to her.

  “That is a really sweet thing to say Nathan, but it does not change the fact that I don’t want to go within ten miles of that hotel right now!” said Candasee.

  “Is he such a terrible person, Candasee? Did he abuse you?” Nathan asked now concerned that Candasee was afraid for a deeper reason.

  “No, not in that sense but he hurt me more than anyone else has in my life and I can’t forgive
him for that! I just can’t!” she replied. This was the first time she’d ever let him see a glimpse of what she thought of her ex and it was very telling, thought Nathan! Her vehemence alone signalled that there were still unresolved feelings there and that thought put him on alert.

  “I love you Candasee, and I don’t care who you were married to before. All I care about now is that you are willing to take a chance with a man who loves you, values you and appreciates you. Me! I’ve never hurt you nor do I ever plan to. You can trust me to protect you! I know I can’t force you to come to the intensive with me, but I can say this. Give me a chance to help you heal all that he broke inside of you!”

  “Nathan, my relationship with Darius has been over for two years, we haven’t even been in contact for more than a year!” Candasee explained, wondering silently why mentioning his name was still setting off mini electrical storm waves all throughout her body. Wouldn’t she ever be able to forget him?” she fumed inwardly. God only knew how much she wanted to! Obviously he had successfully purged her out of his! Never once since she walked out did he ask her to come back or tried to convince her he’d made a mistake or even tried to apologize. Why didn’t he call her begging for her forgiveness? Why if he’d really loved her at all did he just sign the divorce papers without contest? She wanted a fight and she never even got one. Just thinking about it made her want to throw things around and to scream until her throat was raw.

  Any thought of this trip being neutral territory to convince Candasee to deepen their relationship was now pretty much over, thought Nathan as he saw how conflicted she was. Everything about taking this intensive regional was a risk from day one, but that was the only way to expand. Business was no longer a local thing but opportunities now crossed borders and even hemispheres.

  If the academy could establish more branches assisted by the exposure he would get from the travel show that too would be the fulfilment of one of his biggest dreams. A lot was now riding on the success of this trip for him and for his family. He envisioned himself returning home not just with another successfully completed arts and media intensive but also hopefully with a rock solid relationship with his fiancée.

  “Candasee, I know this is going to seem abrupt to you but the delegates are being asked to share rooms to cut down on expenses. I want us to share a room while we are at the Derrien Grande. It will give us a chance to be together in a way we’ve not been able to before and you won’t have to worry about being there alone,” he said.

  “Nathan, we can’t do that, not in that hotel and certainly not with all the Academy staff there with us! I don’t think I’m ready for that step as yet!” said Candasee feeling overwhelmed by the far-reaching implications of his suggestion.

  “Candee we are engaged now and they already know that we are dating. I just want to be close to you, besides it will be economical,” he explained hoping to convince her with the money angle.

  “Nathan, if it is a problem with money, I can pay for my own room, this does not have to come out of the academy’s funding!” said Candasee firmly, knowing that she was financially sound after the divorce settlement. Nathan didn’t know it and she had no need to brag about having millions of her ex-husband’s money in her own bank accounts. It was a scandalous amount which Darius insisted she receive and she didn’t even need to work at all. Her career existed purely because she loved to dance. Just the monthly interest payments from her account were more than her entire annual salary at the academy. She did not spend any of it though, preferring to live as independently as she could even if it meant living on less.

  “Candasee,” Nathan replied turning more to face Candasee so that he held both of her hands in his, “two years is a long time to be divorced. You are already making real steps to move on with your life with me and maybe this is a good way for you to finally prove to yourself that you aren’t living in the past still. It shouldn’t be a problem that we are staying there together surely?” he prodded.

  “Nathan, I just don’t think I am ready to face him yet and especially not like this! This whole arrangement is making me very uncomfortable.”

  All the excitement Nathan felt about moving to the Derrien Grande was draining away quickly with the realization that he would be entering a battle zone for Candasee. He didn’t know how Darius felt about his ex-wife but he knew that he’d also planned this time away with Candasee to seal their love. With all the flooding on the island he knew Solange would have selected the accommodations with a lot of thought and the Derrien Island Grande would be their home away from home for the next eight days. Changing that again would be almost impossible!

  He had to be optimistic here; after all he seriously doubted that Darius could erase the pain of a two year separation in a week. At any rate, where would Darius find the time even if he was interested in rekindling his relationship with Candasee. The intensive’s demanding schedule would ensure that Candasee spent most of her moments busy and with him anyway.

  Candasee looked into Nathan’s dark eyes set in his handsome, face. He had such kind, warm dark-brown eyes and chocolate brown skin and his full beard was always well trimmed and shaved low to the skin on his face. She could see the sincerity and love for her shining in his eyes and once again being with him made her feel calmer, like she could make it through this time if he was with her. He was a safe haven for her, while every thought of Darius was the very embodiment of chaos. It was time to fully commit to this new life with Nathan and let go of these maddening feelings she still felt for Darius. That was the key! She wasn’t trying hard enough to resist this madness and Nathan was right. Two years was a long time to still be pining over anyone and Darius didn’t deserve another second of her time!

  Chapter 3

  As Darius prepared to leave his room for the evening to get some dinner in the restaurant downstairs, his phone rang again! It was a long day and after the meeting and last minute negotiations, the last thing he wanted to do was talk to anyone else.

  Picking it up he looked at the screen hoping it wasn’t more bad news.

  “Hello?” he answered a little impatiently.

  “Good evening Mr. Brogan, its Eloise Graham here in reservations. I thought you would want to know this bit of information before you left for the evening! Ms. Hassell from the Meridian Hotel faxed over the list of the names of the delegates and...”

  “Eloise, you don’t need to tell me exactly who would be coming, just grant the concessions I discussed with Solange!” interrupted Darius tersely now hearing his stomach begin to growl.

  “But sir, you don’t understand, I am trying to tell you that Candasee is on the guest list!”

  “What did you say?” bellowed Darius with shock almost dropping the phone.

  “I said Candasee is on the guest list sir!” Eloise repeated. “So I wondered if you wanted her to have any special accommodations or should I just let her bunk with everyone else?” asked Eloise pointedly emphasizing the word bunk.

  Eloise had been a part of the hotel staff from the inception and she’d always loved both Candasee and Darius just like her own children. She hated the fact that their marriage had ended in divorce so quickly! Darius Brogan was a proud man but she always noted with interest, the total admiration which filled his eyes whenever he was with his wife in those days. Now that warmth had been replaced by a cool, impenetrable wall most of the time and she wanted to see his happiness return.

  “Uh, wow!” said Darius finally sinking into his desk chair completely taken aback by the news. Candasee was here on Derrien Island and would be here at the hotel for the next eight days? He wasn’t ready to see her yet! Every plan he’d thought of to rekindle their relationship seemed ridiculous and she would’ve seen through them all in an instant. Was he being handed a second chance by fate? Whatever it was, he couldn’t blow this opportunity. He needed a plan, and he needed one fast!

  “Darius, are you still there? Eloise asked using his first name after noting the long silence with interest.
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br />   “Uh yes, I am still here. Make sure she has a room on the seventh floor,” he said thoughtfully, remembering just how much she’d always loved the decorative Oriental theme on that floor. “Aside from that don’t do anything else, let me think about this for a little while, and thanks for calling Eloise, I really appreciate it,” finished Darius.

  “You are more than welcome, you know that!” replied Eloise with a smile before hanging up the phone.

  Eight days with Candasee staying right here at the hotel! This was too good to be true. Feeling suddenly spontaneous and unlike his usually stoic nature, he spun the chair in a circle as he rested his head back against it and allowed himself to laugh at his good fortune. As the chair completed the circle bringing him face to face with his desk he picked up one of the framed photographs he still had of her on his desk. In this one her hair was flying free in the breeze as she leaned back and smiled at him while he took her picture on their honeymoon in Bali.

  Becoming serious for a moment he allowed himself to feel just how much he missed her and how much he wished he could show her just how much she still, in fact always meant to him. He was never great at showing his vulnerabilities and that was great for business, but far too often he neglected to shut it off when he’d dealt with his wife over the years. He’d betrayed her and treated her like traded stocks and shares when all she’d ever wanted was his unconditional love!

  The past two years gave him time to think a lot through and he was sure now about what he really wanted. He wanted to show Candasee that he could be worthy of her again, that she could trust him to take care of her, not just financially but to take care of what mattered most, her heart!

  It was seven-thirty in the evening when Nathan and Candasee arrived by taxi at the Derrien Island Grande Spa Resort. The sun had already gone below the horizon and the stars were appearing in the sky now that many of the heavy dark rain clouds were gone. She almost expected to see Darius waiting for her in the lobby to tell her that she wasn’t welcome there, but from all appearances he was not even around at all. She felt an unexpected flash of annoyance at that!