Paradise Found (17 page)

Chapter 26

“Married? You’re getting married?” Alexander Wells’ voice blasted through the telephone line.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m marrying Victoria Montcherry.”

There was a long pause.

“I really don’t care what you think. I just called to inform you, that’s all,” Daemon added. He drummed the fingers of his free hand on his desktop at Paradise Helicopters.

“I just hired her for a very important position at Eden.”

“As an employee, what she does in her personal life should have no bearing on her professional life.” Daemon seethed at thoughts of Victoria in his father’s embrace.

Though he often wished she hadn’t accepted the position at Eden, Daemon could see the benefit of having Victoria on board. As she had stated, together they would make formidable opponents against Alexander. As the future heir and equal partner, Daemon had clout. He had always considered Eden an anchor around his neck. With Victoria’s help, he now saw an opportunity for altering the firm’s policies toward a more environmentally-friendly stance. He could help institute positive change, assuring a green future for his children and for his Islands.

“So Victoria is astute enough to be an executive at Eden but not good enough for your son?” Daemon spat.

“She’s still a mixed blood native.”

Daemon scoffed. “I’m as Seychellois as she. What’s important is that I love her and she loves me and we’re going to build a future together.”

“You have to consider Eden’s future.”“You’ve covered Eden’s future. Victoria is an asset to the firm and, contrary to what you think, I do keep up with Eden’s operations.”

Alexander sighed. “You’ve always had a mind of your own.”

“I wonder who I inherited that from?”

“Okay, live life on your own terms. I suppose since I never interfered when you were a child, I can’t do anything now.”

His father was backing off. That was a switch.

“I suppose if you’re going to get involved with an Island woman, at least the Montcherry woman has business sense and can be beneficial to Eden resorts.”

Always business.

“Father, I’m marrying for love, not business.”

“Son, I want you to know that I married your mother for love.” There was a short pause on the line. And, son, I’ve always loved you, too.”

Alexander Wells attended the wedding. The ceremony was held at Daemon’s hilltop home, on the teak deck overlooking the ocean. Victoria was resplendent in a white gauze and lace gown as she grasped her father’s arm. Jacques LeGrande led her down the expanse of flower-lined deck toward Daemon who stood next to the robed priest, the Vicor from Bessye’s parish.

Daemon brushed a hand through his hair as his gaze met Victoria’s. Justin stood beside him, attired in a similar dark tropical-weight suit. Doris stood across from the men, her floral bouquet bobbing from nerves at her first stint as a maid-of-honor.

Victoria gazed down the narrow aisle created on the deck, grasping her father’s hand. Her father. Never had she even dreamed that she would have a father escorting her at her wedding. She glanced at Jacques, whose eyes twinkled at her. If only her mother were present to witness the event. Bessye had always lamented, wondering if Victoria would ever marry. Tears puddled in Victoria’s eyes just thinking about her.

“Oh, Mamma,” she whispered.

“She’s here in spirit,” Jacques replied in a hushed tone, startling her from her thoughts. She met his soft gaze and he winked.

As they continued their walk, she looked toward the floral arbor where Daemon stood, tall and self-assured. She wanted to pinch herself. That handsome man with his radiant smile was going to marry her. She had to travel around the world, only to return home to the Seychelles to find a husband and father to her children.

Daemon would be the perfect husband and father. The way he cared for Justin was evident in their close stance and the glances the two men exchanged. Justin smiled and to Victoria the earth moved. She had made the right decisions for once in her life. Reconnecting with her father, becoming a part of Justin’s life and loving Daemon were perfect choices. She had finally trusted her heart.

How ironic fate was. Her life had come full circle. Home. She was home.
Home.

Author Biography

Purveyor of the written word, Nancy Loyan Schuemann has been writing ever since she began composing picture books for fellow students in elementary school.

After graduating with a BSBA degree in marketing from John Carroll University, she pursued a career in sales and marketing. During the past ten years she has incorporated those skills into a professional writing career. She is a freelance writer specializing in construction, design, architecture, histories, profiles, antique safes, dance, travel and special interest in local and national publications. She has taught writing at the prestigious Chautauqua Institution in New York State.

Nancy is a Cleveland, Ohio native who shares her knowledge of the city as author of

Cleveland, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait
and
On the Threshold of a New Century: The City of South Euclid, 1967-1999.
Her love, however, is writing women’s fiction. Her first novel, “Paradise Found,” a multicultural romance set in the exotic Seychelles Islands was published in 2011. She has since contracted with Crimson Romance (a division of Adam’s Media), her first release being “Lab Test,” a humorous paranormal romance
.
She is also the author of “Hearts of Steel,” a contemporary romance and “Wishes and Tears,” a time travel romance.

Travel has taken her around the world, including trips to Europe, Great Britain, South America, Egypt and the exotic Seychelles Islands. When she’s not writing, Nancy teaches and performs, Middle Eastern dance as “Nailah.” She shares her life with her husband and her Pointer/Labs, Amber and Topaz. Her web site is www.NLSScribe.com