Soul Mates. The Beginning.

by Christine Wood

  I know that too was a mistake but hell, hindsight’s a wonderful gift and unfortunately, one I don’t possess in my personal life. In business yes, I can see the diamond in the rough, and I thought I had found her in my life too, well I know I did, you were everything Bella and I fell back on that destructive path again for a brief, brief time. Unfortunately for me you saw the detour I made, I knew it was wrong, I knew that’s why I was being so distant to Alysia too, I knew what I’d done as soon as I did it.” He did too his eyes are full of sorrow.

  “I’m sorry but Jack said he needed my help with something, and we spent most of the night trying to sort out his damned cock up with the baby and shit. I was just getting him to admit to his responsibilities, trying to get him to send his baby money and in doing so I was looking out for my friend and her baby you remember the one you thought I was having?”

  “I did sort of mess up, I only heard snatched portions of the conversation Bella, between fuming that I’d lost you, to a man I knew was using you. I saw the aftermath of the talk you had with him though, and I had to wonder if it had anything to do with the very harsh looking red hand print he had on his cheek, or the swift kick to the lower regions you gave him. He seemed to be in pain as he left the little room you both spent time in?”

  “You saw all that? How, oh never mind don’t answer, of course you did, every time I do something out of the ordinary you seemed to be there.”

  “I’m sorry but, I overheard him tell Cameron, he was going to try the old ‘I’m gay routine and I don’t have the courage to come out, having well you know never kissed a girl before, and I don’t have any other girls I can ask to help thing’ and whad’ya know it was working on you. I supposed you being the good friend you offered to kiss him, but just as a friend of course?” I went red, and got a little antsy with him.

  “I didn’t believe for one minute he was gay, that’s why he was never allowed in the changing rooms or my bedroom alone, I just didn’t know how or why he was doing it? I found out that night though and much more, the damn fool wanted my damn money, because his father cut him off, only I didn’t know the reason why, until Dad told me that my best friend Susan had had his baby, then it sort of made me mad… He, err went for it, as we went into the room, you know with the kissing and the groping, and I put him in his place. I knew everything about his faux gay thing, and the baby, and you I presume, you don’t need a detailed run through of what happened next, given I know we have had the talk about what actually happened in the room, when you offered to raise the child with me?”

  “No, I presumed as much after, but at the time all I heard was the baby thing. Then him not waning you or the child, I wrongly thought you were having, I did the worst thing ever, and after I realised you weren’t too young for me, and that I wasn’t mature enough to be with you. I needed to sort out my shit, and I have done. I’m different, totally different now, now that it’s too damn late. I know this stuff with Rachel was a ruse by her now but you still ran, disappearing without a trace and I was broken hearted and alone. Parker by the way, is my personal assistant and is with me everywhere I go, she’s here and in a suite on a different floor, never have we had that sort of relationship.”

  “Oh I’m sorry but the articles I see only describe her as the girlfriend, so I presumed you’d moved on. It took me a long time to get you out of my head and grow up, and despite your promises and pleading for me to wait for you, I couldn’t. You did things that night, things I thought I could never forgive, the way you treated her was low and I thought you’d do that to me too and couldn’t risk being hurt like she was or how messed up Gina became, you were just too old for me, the meek little virgin teenager, who loved you so damn much. I still wanted to do that with you, and yes, I would have risked the broken heart, because I’d wanted you like that for years. Then finally, we did commit to each other, and I thought you’d used me again. Yes, you were more tender with me, more loving, but to hear Rachel say you thought I was useless and frigid in bed, and all the other crap she spewed, I was hurt, and wondered if I was a game, if a hurtful part of the old Christopher Holland had re-appeared.

  What I really needed though was some time to grow up too Chris and I have. There’s things that have happened in my life, that have meant I had to grow up, and getting over you was one of those things, I had to do it, you know, put away those childish thoughts of you and me? I never would have wanted it to end, and I may have become as needy as the others. I was totally into you, and doing that with you, just you. I was drunk yes, but that way you got the real Bella, had I been sober you would have got this stroppy Bella. She’d have been lecturing you, and knocking you back, but as soon as I saw you I knew, I knew I had to have you that way, and risk the fact that it was all part of a game, a game I knew could hurt me. At least the way it played out that night I had the illusion that I’d got what I wanted, I had you hooked and in love with me, you and I were even getting married for God sake, and then I had to walk away from my hopes and dreams when I saw Rachel in that damn bed. That’s old news, we seem to have both found what we were looking for eventually, because Parker looks at you, like the others do, but you just don’t see it.”

  “Parker is a nice woman, and good at her job and that’s it with me. Bella, you were the only one I wouldn’t have done that too. I was a mess for years, screwing around, and treating girls badly, but that all changed when a sassy sixteen year old brought me to my knees with a kiss, and well, just know I meant everything I said back then. I did want the extra with you, you, are the only girl I have ever allowed to kiss me, you Bella, you were always going to be the thorn in my side. I would for the record, have treated you like nobody else existed in the world, because you were my whole world.” He walked out and as the glass door thudded into place I cried, he was leaving me again. I phoned Luis, after I had cried more than a few sorry for myself tears…

  “Hi little sister, how’s things there?” I was in hot headed Spaniard mode, and about to blow a fuse or blood vessel in my head, the steam was coming out of my ears I was in a mad place, mad with rage. God damn it I am not a monkey either that man is still a bastard heartless man, arghhhh…

  “They are going fantastically nowhere, firstly how’s my little man, thanks for sending the mask and finally the reason for the call, Luis do you think Daddy will want to sell the European hotels too? We have been made a last minute offer for total takeover of our hotels?”

  “How did you pull that one off? Dad was just saying he wanted to sell the whole lot at dinner time, he was going to send you an email asking what you thought, what did they offer? As to Ethan, he’s sleeping with Dad at the minute, they are joined at the hip and he is missing you.” I oh-ed, I so wanted to hold my baby in my arms, another reason to end this sooner than later.

  “Oh, err, they offered us two billion pounds sterling.”

  “Wow and I thought I had the business brains and beauty of the family.”

  “It’s a good offer then yes, so do I accept it, what do I do?”

  “It means we don’t have to go through agents for here, so yeah we could be good with that offer how long do we have to consider the offer? I will run it by Dad when he gets up in the later, but yes accept it, it’s more than he expected and please hurry back, I’m missing my favourite sister and my nephew wants his mummy back.”

  “Slut Princess has pissed me off too today, stop her allowance Luis and her trust fund, I mean it all of it, I’m sorry the Slut Princess side tracked me, Cooper Hotels and Casinos want them.”

  “What Chris is there?”

  “He is, and we have spoken.”

  “Did you tell him about little Ethan? Did he explain the whole Rachel thing?” I cried, and told him what my devious sister had done, all of it. Also that Chris had proof with him, he had also found out that I would be holding the talks, for the hotel chain being sold, and had rushed to Las Vegas to see me, all very last minute, in hopes to catch up with me, and ask me to explain my reason for running
out on him.

  “So it was her all along, Mum always said it was, she still loves Chris, but because she has Ethan, she maybe a little worried about losing him, if Chris finds out about his son. Are you going to tell him? I think he has a right to know, especially when none of the crap with Rachel was his fault. I have stopped her payments as we speak and suspended her trust account too. Do you want me there?”

  “No, this has to play out it’s natural course, and I will find a way of telling Chris he has the son he wanted, but what if he tries to take him away from me Luis, I would die?”

  “He won’t, despite all this, he loves you, he wouldn’t fly thousands of miles and offer way more than the hotels are worth just to because he wants some petty revenge, he’s come back to claim you back.”

  “If you saw his face when we spoke you’d have your doubts Luis, he was so angry.”

  “I will tell Dad everything when he wakes up, keep a grip. You’re a great mum and Ethan loves his mummy too. Chris will know that too, he wouldn’t take him away from you, I can promise you.” I had my doubts.

  “Thanks for sending the mask, it may hide my tear stained eyes and my looking at Chris again, he’s still as handsome as ever.” My brother laughed, as he typed.

  “Oh and Rachel has just asked for the jet to get out of Australia and get her home to her poorly mummy, she must have chipped a nail or something? I have asked them to stop the flight plan and sent word at the hotel she is to get home herself and fly commercial, which should be fun. I’ve sent it to pick up both Marcus and Warner, to cover her arse. See you soon and seriously stop telling me how good looking your baby’s daddy is.” We both hung up after the count of three.

  I went to get my mask from reception and as I did, I watched Chris carry his bag to the lift. So he’s stopping here, well Mr Holland let the play commence.

  “Jeff can you make sure Mr Holland gets the best room in the hotel and comp his stay.”

  “He’s in the large penthouse management suite Miss Humphries, his assistant is in room 405, three floors beneath him, they didn’t want to share the suite? Unusual her being so good looking and into him, I thought they were a couple at first, sorry mind a drift today and I’m gossiping. No, I figured you would want to put the potential buyer for the whole chain of hotels up in the best suite?”

  I wanted him close, and he’s in the room next to mine, good I can ogle! I mean keep a watchful open eye, and he told the truth about Parker being just his assistant, all be it his googly eyed assistant, did he really not see what everyone else, including my new manager could?

  “You figured right, and thank you for stepping into Mateo’s shoes.”

  “Thank you for giving me the position Ma’am. I know a good whale watcher too, we could romance him from the Holland Hotel here, and he’s a friend of mine and says things at Hoyt Holland’s places are going downhill fast?” I nodded.

  “Yes do it, offer him a lucrative deal and any perks he wants within reason, thank you and when you say know?”

  “No, no, no he’s an old friend, who owes me one. I put him up when he first got here, he’s canny and keeps his nose to the grindstone, and has loads of big money men on his books. He’s fluent in Mandarin, Japanese and he speaks Arabic, he figured learn the languages of the money men, and he learnt their customs and he did so really well, and wooed them away from other casino hosts, and he’s straight as the day is long, is honest and prefers women.” I am impressed.

  “I will leave that with you it is part of your job to bring in the best staff after all. If anyone needs me I’m in the ballroom, and if they need me they can contact me through security or Miss Kent, Molly my new personal assistant.”

  “Good kid that girl, she is a scream, watch her potty mouth though its catching after a while. Thank you again Miss Humphries, and have a nice night.”

  I put on the very nice black half faced gold Venetian mask, which had been couriered from home, like I’d thought to pack it? It was my favourite though and one I always wore, the peacock and black feathered plumes, which adorned the side of it, accentuated my green eyes, well that’s what Dad said when he gave it to me for my first ever masked ball, my eighteenth, which Mum cleverly disguised as a benefit ball.

  I entered the room and the staff were seeing to the guests as they arrived and I made nice to the many bigwigs here tonight, including the Labyrinth Hotel Groups CEO, now to break the bad news and await the fall out. Damn, I hate letting people down and backing out of a deal, but needs must and all that.

  “Hello Mr Frisco, I’m sorry Gerry, can I please have a word with you, first thing in the morning in my offices, there’s been a complication and the sale, and it cannot go through, unless you can match the price offered for the entire chain of hotels?”

  “What do you mean we had a deal and little lady a deal is a deal.” Oh, I hate it when the patronising bastards call me that, like I don’t know what I’m doing! Gah.

  “A company has come forward and has made an offer my father wishes to accept, he wants the hotels to be, if possible, bought as whole and be an ongoing concern, something the other company have offered good money for. I’m sorry, but all your expenses and such will be met by the company of course.” I am man handled quite roughly, when suddenly an arm, slowly pulls me away and into his chest.

  “The lady is not to be touched by you again, and I think she clearly said she would talk in the morning. Now leave, before her security have you thrown out, and you don’t want to be messing with me today, I have had a bad, bad day and all with very little sleep. I have yet to hit the gym today too, to release some of the pent up pressure I find myself lumbered with, and you may become my punch bag Frisco.” He looked damn angry, luckily for me I was still nestled in Chris’s arms and feeling safe.

  “Holland, you bastard, take your hand off me, I see the apple didn’t fall far from either the Humphries or the Holland tree then. Damn it get off my arm, does Daddy know you fucked him over again Chris?”

  “I warned him I would ruin him, and I’m doing that one deal at a time, tell him nice try using Labyrinth as a get in with Miss Humphries. She wasn’t for selling to we Holland’s, so disguising his petty offer with his old company was a stupid trick, and tell him I’m coming for the rest. Say your goodbyes and leave please? I don’t know what you mean by apples, but I am proud to be like Hugh Humphries, who is a fantastic businessman and one who I will walk over coals for, you leave and leave now.” He stomped away closely followed by my security.

  “I think you can put me down now Chris, thank you but that wasn’t necessary, I presume you heard that my father is open to discussions with you. The trained monkey, phoned the organ grinder after you made your offer, and he is thinking about it. We will meet at breakfast tomorrow to go over things.” He let me loose from his arms and through the plain black mask, I saw his eyes, staring into my soul, with their blue pools and bright whites. Oh, okay wow, he’s still nice looking.

  “For the record Bella, I am now nothing like my father, and I am proud of that fact too. Had he any other legitimate heirs, I’m sure he would have sent them to do his bidding, as it was I said no and he sent his other minions to do it for him. I told him months ago to put a damn good offer in when we first found out your father was ill. I’m sorry for that too he’s a damn fine man your father, and one I always looked up to. I want the hotels Bella not my father, he wants to knock them all down, where as I want them to flourish and thrive.”

  “Thank you, please join me at the bar for a drink, I’m still a little shaky after that, Roberts get here and now.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  “Why was he allowed to grab me, and keep hold of me for so long, what the hell do we pay you a stupid amount of money for, if not to be four foot away? The first time I have needed you in years and you were fucking nowhere to be seen why?”

  “Ma’am, we had an altercation at the front of the hotel. Mr Jarret has thrown red paint all over the front window, and covered poor Mi
ss King in paint too.”

  “Is she alright? Is she a mess, of course she’s a mess, where is she?”

  “Oh I wouldn’t worry about Miss Molly she kicked his arse into next weekend and the poor fucker won’t be able to walk for a week.” I oh-ed quite loudly, what is it with my staff today and their language? But I too saw the funny side of this, a five foot and a bit, young girl kicking that hulk of an idiot was mildly amusing.

  “Where is she?”

  “Security office Ma’am and thank you Sir you can remove your arm now Miss Humphries is in safe hands now.” He smiled and did as he was asked.

  “Can I join you in a while, let me deal with this?”

  “Sure, see to business I will be waiting.”

  “Err yes I will get back to you as soon as I can.”

  “I’ll be waiting by the bar Bella.” I smiled and rushed with Roberts to see to the damage and to poor Molly. I had the sudden urge to throw up, I knew I had to tell Chris about Ethan, and I wondered what he would do? I should have told him when I found out, I should have gone to see him, but I was a very naïve and hurt by Chris Holland, and Rachel Humphries.

  The actual sex yeah was totally great, and because it was my first time too and memorable because three months later I found out I was pregnant with that strangers baby. I went back to Germany three days later, to finish my architectural degree in Munich. I was quite tired and feeling ill a couple of months later and it was more than simple exam stress too. I’d made an appointment at the doctors, and I was told the news in the doctor’s office that day, I was having a baby, the family we started that night, was here, and there was no going back, what the hell was I to do? I was alone, alone and frightened for a good reason, I had a Chris’s child invading my body, and I hated the man who had done this to me, hated him and loved him all in the same breath of air. I loved the child more, I had him there with his baby, but this baby wouldn’t hurt me as the father had.