by Jamie Knight
“I’m glad to know where you live, Valeria,” he whispered. “Perhaps I could drop by one of these days. I need to say hello to your father.”
I knew that we were not at any point close to that place in our relationship where Alex would tell my father that we were together. Having sex and sharing kisses meant a lot less than actual commitment, and I had to wait and see if he was all in or just loved my youthful figure.
My father would kill me. And his wrath was not something I was willing to endure for a passing fling. I had to know this was real, first.
“Where are we going?” I asked, carefully looking beyond his gaze to avoid the remark he had just made.
Alex had not turned the chopper around to go back to the office.
“It’s a surprise. I don’t want to ruin it for you,” he laughed.
Wherever we were going, my playlist was slowly keeping me relaxed as we flew along the skyline, taking in the beautiful sights.
I kept to my own thoughts for the rest of the flight, continuing to take it all in. The sights were amazing, as we passed over the little creek by the edge of the suburbs. The light was unforgiving, and so was the heat. We were flying farther and farther away from the city’s limits, and I couldn’t help but wonder even more now where we were going.
Alexander knew how to keep a secret, and he just silently hummed to the tunes of John Denver over the speakers.
Country roads, take me home…
He hummed so beautifully, and I couldn’t resist his whims. I had to join in as the chopper swayed against the wind currents and the rotor blades whirred in quick succession. We delighted in the scenery as we sang together.
…mountain momma, take me home, take me home.
As we quit our little karaoke session, and Michael Jackson’s “Bad” came on, we couldn’t help but smile at each other foolishly.
“Sir, we’re here,” the intercom buzzed.
“Aah, finally. The ranch,” Alexander announced.
He had a glint in his eye that seemed to mean that the place meant a lot to him. Truman lowered the helicopter slowly to the ground.
I looked outside; it was a huge open field that was surrounded by rolling hills of grass. We were at the famous Foster Ranch, and I was the esteemed guest of the owner.
Stepping out of the helicopter and into Alexander’s arms, I felt safe yet unfamiliar with myself. I was nervous. I had travelled via chopper to the Ranch, and I had no idea how to get back home in case things didn’t work out as Alexander or I had planned.
He walked me over the plain airfield with his hand in mine, and from a distance, a man in a white shirt and a stereotypical cowboy hat walked and half ran over towards us.
“Señor Alex! How unexpectedly delightful your visit is. Will you be staying long?” the short stout man asked.
He had an air of etiquette in him that you would not expect a man of his stature and accent to have.
“No, no, Pedro. Just a few hours. Is everything ready for my guest and me to use?” Alexander checked.
He had greeted the man fairly, like a friend. It seemed these two had history together.
“It is. Well then, Señor, Señorita, right this way, please.”
Pedro directed us towards a rectangular building that seemed recently repainted white and looked like a tooth on the outside.
“Come on, Valeria, your surprise awaits you,” Alexander said with a smirk.
He had a way of adding a sense of mystery to anything and everything. I loved it.
I grabbed his hand and entwined it in mine. We walked together towards the entrance to the white building. As soon as we stepped close to its doors, I smelled a wave of food odors. After flying for hours, I was very ready for lunch and something smelled perfect.
The building was a fucking palace. The lights were all natural, with the roof structured skillfully to let the sun lighten up the place with mirrors. The walls up on high were painted with murals I had never seen before, with beauty and awe that made me gawk.
It was like the Sistine Chapel. It seriously had an uncanny resemblance to it, but much more magical and modern.
The floors were tiled in Italian stone. I remembered it from a history lesson in 11th grade, and I just marveled at the masterpiece laid before me.
Three chefs adorned in full attire, including even the huge hats, were behind an open counter, similar to the one that Japanese sushi chefs use for their customers. They were all grilling something I could not place my finger on. It smelled sweet and sour, but with a hint of mint.
“It’s your first time at the Foster Ranch, so I can understand your reason to be wide-eyed,” laughed Alexander.
I had never seen him laugh this much, ever since I got to know him.
“Alexander, this is magnificent! How did… what is… when… I have so many questions to ask you!” I remarked. “I can’t even finish them all!”
He laughed, and so did I.
There was no way this place came cheap. The prices to have a meal here and to enjoy the facilities probably cost more than my dad’s car and believe me — I’d checked before. My crush on Alex had caused me to look up everything about him on the internet that I could possibly find.
“First, take a seat on the terrace, then we can talk,” he instructed.
What terrace was he talking about? I wondered.
Then I saw it.
Right below us, where there seemed to be a pool or fountain, was an entire ecosystem of green plants with waterfalls buzzing through. There was an entire artificial forest built under the California desert, and we were at the top of a cliff.
The whole place just took my breath away. I couldn’t stop staring as I found a table to sit at and wait for Alex.
This was the most fantastic date I could ever imagine.
Chapter Fifteen - Alexander
The look on Valeria’s face earlier had said it all. She had never been in a helicopter before; that much was for certain. She had a smile so gleeful on her pouty lips that just told tales of her awe and satisfaction the moment she got into the helicopter.
Cruising through the air as Valeria and I hummed to her amazing playlist, I couldn’t help but think that I had never felt this comfortable with a woman before. There was just something about Valeria that made me relax and want to have fun.
She was silent with shock when we touched down on the airfield at my ranch. I thought that there would have been nowhere as private as my ranch. Here we would be away from prying eyes and I wanted her to feel special.
Now, I was going to cook Valeria a meal. I had promised her a day of wonder, and I had only delivered a drop of it. She clearly had had no clue before why the Foster Ranch was so damn expensive to enjoy, and now she knew.
My company had privately acquired the land and decided to go all out in the creative department. I got a team of contractors to manually unearth 600 feet of dirt and create for me a masterpiece; a haven for anyone with enough money to come and enjoy the delights of a natural rainforest – for a fee, of course, since I was always a wise businessman.
Jonathan and Truman had their part in this. Truman ran the facility virtually and had all conditions under control 24/7, and Jonathan came here whenever he could to check in on things and provide direction to the staff. I was rarely ever needed or came here, though, unless I had a migraine on my bad days and needed to relax. It was nice to be enjoying it, not to mention with such a beautiful companion.
I sat Valeria down on a bench and asked her to survey and explore with her eyes before we set out to our private suite. We had to eat first, as I knew that the sex I planned to have with her would wear her out.
“Okay, Alexander. I’ll wait, but where are you headed off to?” she asked, curiosity beaming from her wide blue eyes.
“It’s another surprise,” I cooed. “Relax and I’ll be right back.”
I sped off to the kitchen, where Pedro was awaiting my orders.
> “Señor, she’s beautiful,” he said. “What would you like us to prepare for the two of you? The ‘House special’?”
“Not today, Pedro. Today, I’ll need Chef Baker’s attire and some room. I’ll be cooking,” I said firmly.
The look on his face was priceless, and I must say, it was unheard of for me to cook alone.
“Right away, Señor.”
Pedro knew better than to question me when I was at my best, or, as was more often the case, at my worst. He came clicking over with his cowboy boots and funny hat and handed me the material I had asked for.
“Leave me be, Pedro.”
I waved him away.
“I’ll be done in a while. In the meantime, make sure the young lady is not disturbed by any of the other guests or staff,” I ordered, as I washed my hands in preparation to cook.
“Will do, Señor.” He walked off briskly, but I stopped him in his tracks.
“And Pedro?”
“Yes, Señor,” he turned, eyeing me sharply.
“Lay off the Western look, alright?” I added with a chuckle.
He had a thing for John Wayne, but it never suited his salt and pepper beard, and neither did it fit with his Mexican accent.
“It doesn’t click at all.”
He frowned.
“Of course, Señor, but I would like to keep the boots… they’re really soft.”
“Okay then, off you go.”
I tuned out, and he left the open space in the kitchen to me and my devices.
I rubbed my hands together, ready to make what I had planned for Valeria. The Kobe beef simmered and sizzled on the flat bed grill before me, and the aroma from it just brought my senses alive.
I looked around the open space kitchen, taking in the sights of my customers. These were captains of industry who came here to breathe from the daily stresses of life, and some of them were world leaders, who casually came here to satisfy their fleshly desires.
On my right, sweeping past the oval layers of the roof, flew an ancient breed of spoonbill that spanned its wings in midflight and soared high in glory. The slow and happy chirps brought my ranch to life, and the cold fresh breeze that floated through the sprays of the manmade waterfall conspired with my lungs to bring utmost relaxation to my mind.
It was a perfect day to give Valeria a slice of my side of culture, and she was just a stone’s throw away from me. I could see her from a distance, smiling and looking around in awe.
The timer brought me back to the grill, and our meal was ready. Kobe beef, lined with a side of caviar, with rolled shawarma spiced in saffron, and for dessert, ice cream made in Dubai — the black diamond — and a bucket of truffles.
Looking beyond me, Pedro was not too far off. I signaled him.
“Yes, Señor?” he came over, slightly stumbling on his beloved cowboy boots. His mustache twitched like Jonathan’s, but not to the utmost haughtiness, like Jonathan’s did.
“Have someone take these to the table in my private suite, and tell Valeria I will join her shortly,” I explained, taking off my apron and washing my hands at the sink.
The warm rivulets were supple and calmed me more.
Looking at me with a smile, Pedro winked.
“Okay, Señor. This one must be extra special to you.”
“Ha-ha, mind your tongue, old friend. Do as I say and take note of the other guests in the Ranch. I don’t want any interruptions, clear?”
I wiped my hands off with the complimentary towel on the side of the grill.
“Right away, Señor,” he answered sharply, changing his tone from one of relaxation to one that signaled he knew that this was about work.
Pedro nodded slightly. He walked away for a few paces, looking around for his waiters.
Pedro was a loyal man, especially when it came to me. He had had a history in sex trafficking years ago, and when he was busted and taken down by the Mexican police, the cartel he was working for hired a mercenary to take him out.
I had been on vacation down in a small bar west of Acapulco (obviously under the guise of a different name — for security reasons), and was downing my favorite brand of tequila, when a scuffle ensued at the bar. A short stout man with a touch of fear in his pose was held over the bar with a knife to his throat. The situation didn’t seem right to me at all, and well, I diffused it.
It’s all history, so they say, and Pedro became my employee in secret, never to go back to Mexico again. Maybe that was why he loved the western culture so much.
Three men in highly tailored suits and Oxfords shining on their feet swooped into my kitchen and took the meal away. Pedro had a flair for the extreme when it came to official dressing, and at least he gave the waiters a chance to feel good about themselves.
The suits were classy, and the waiters looked good. They left and walked towards my private suite. Valeria was still on the terrace waiting for me. I needed to collect her and get to lunch.
I took off the apron, washed up, and took my steps carefully towards Valeria, avoiding the tables of other guests. No one ever wanted to be disturbed here, not even by the owner.
Striding towards Valeria, I could tell something was not right. Her hands were at her hips, and her brow had a bead of sweat that I could see from several feet away.
She was anxious and staring at something down below on the path through the trees. I got close to the railing and leaned over to look where she was looking. She did not even respond to that.
“Valeria, is everything alright?” I asked, touching her hand with a tone of care I never thought I had.
“Alexander… I have to go.”
That was all she said, but I was determined to find out what was troubling her.
Chapter Sixteen - Valeria
The view from the terrace was still surrealistic to me. From the outside, the building had looked somewhat small. There was no hint, no clue that it could hold this much. Yet, I was in a rectangular block that had an underground rainforest below it.
The trees and flowers were spectacular. Birds filtered through the trees and chirped to their young ones. The breeze inside the large structure echoed through the walls that were immaculately painted to give it a pristine look, but also favored the rainforest allure. It was magic.
I was dizzy a bit after admiring the beauty of it all. It was just so unreal.
Alexander.
The man I knew I had deep feelings for, had created this.
Alexander.
The man who spoke whispers to me in my dreams.
Alexander.
The hot hunk who filled my fantasies.
He took my virginity, and yet, I wanted him still. I wanted him always.
Alexander Foster.
The man who made this incredible day become a reality. I had a feeling there was more to him than met the eye.
As I surveyed the slow movement of the artificial waterfall that nested between the rocks that lay a few feet from me, I noticed a few guests that were walking through the trees. There was a man and a woman, and the man seemed familiar. Stout and muscular, with darker skin, he looked a bit like my father. And the woman resembled my mother, with a stern expression she held on her face.
I could not believe it. These strangers looked so similar to my parents and yet, it wasn’t them. There was no way it could have been. They could never afford to come to this place. My parents were much too poor. Plus, they would have looked with disapproval on all this extravagance.
The man who resembled my father but was not, looked up at me. He had a gentle smile on his face. It too was like my father’s.
Dad always was sweet and gentle and teasing with me. I knew he wanted me to advance in life and get married. He wanted me to start a family, but he wanted me to do it the right way, by getting married first.
Thoughts of Alexander came back to my mind.
What was I doing?
There was no way such a rich influential ma
n would marry one of his employees. Alex probably just wanted to keep using me for sex. And while part of me wanted that too, I had to be careful.
I had crushed on this older man for so long. He visited my dreams every night while I wished he would take me, not knowing that he actually would. Now that he was in my reality, he probably wouldn’t stay long, and the emotional force of my crush would come crashing down with his rejection.
Panic. Dread. Anger. Every negative emotion I had ever felt ran through my heart. When Alex had taken my virginity, he had hinted that he wanted me for a wife, but I couldn’t believe that.
Rich men like that didn’t marry girls like me. Hell, as far as I knew, Alex didn’t marry at all. He was a love them and then leave them kind of man.
I was a wet composition of sweat, my fears expressing themselves on my skin, and I did not know how to react to that. My armpits started to tickle, and the feeling got slightly painful.
Where is Alexander? Did he ditch me? Did he leave me here?
He had had an odd smirk to his face when we entered the building — said he was giving me a surprise, but I could not place his look. Maybe I was wrong, but perhaps this was all just a big joke to him.
Am I getting paranoid?
My mind was getting too messed up for my own good, and all my senses were dulled. I could not hear, for it all turned to echoes, my vision became blurry, and I could only see golden flitters of the sun filtering through the ceiling. My taste buds felt like metal, and my skin felt like an army of ants was crawling all over it and heading to my nether regions.
I could not stay.
I have to go. Now.
“Valeria, is everything alright?”
That voice. It was so familiar yet so far away. It was a voice I had yearned for all my adult life, and it was calling to me to come back to earth to look at the lips it came from.
Alexander’s hand was on mine. His voice was dripping with concern. His dark eyes looked deeply into mine, and I felt a pang in my heart when I said the words that flowed out of my mouth, but I had no control over them. I just had to say them.