Paradise Found (9 page)

Chapter 11

Victoria thought of the ancient Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” She had traveled well over a thousand miles to return to the Seychelles. That was one first step. The next was to meet the son she had left behind.

Jovanna Payette had arranged a meeting for Victoria to observe and later greet her son. The boy was participating in a “football,” soccer, tournament in the
Stade Populaire
in Victoria. His team, the under-23 national team, was up for an inter-island school championship.

Victoria sat with Jovanna in the stands observing the fast-paced action. Flashes of yellow, the boy’s team, whizzed across the grass. Chasing a white blur of a ball, they used shins and heads to forward it toward a far net. Screams of encouragement erupted from observers in the stands.

“Which one is my son?” Victoria asked, a tremor in her voice and throughout her body.

“He’s the team’s keeper, goalie.”

“Goalie? Isn’t that the most dangerous position to play?” Concern wrinkled her brow.

“And the most important.” Jovanna smiled. “Your son is the team’s star player.”

“Really?” Victoria didn’t know if that was good or bad. Pride mixed with concern. Though soccer wasn’t as violent as hockey or American football, being a goalie was front and center in play. His was a very physical position.

Victoria kept her eyes peeled on the goalie’s net. The boy was protected with a long sleeve psychedelic jersey with padded elbows, long soccer socks with shin guards, and padded gloves. As the opposing team trampled his way, he was on alert. He played defensively, keeping the ball from hitting its target and scoring in the net. The frustration of the other team could be felt all the way in the stands as play became more hurried and aggressive. You’d think the boy had eyes on all sides of his head, the way he saw and deflected the incoming ball. Long arms reached up to catch it. Muscular legs kicked the ball away from its intended target and sent it sailing across the field. The boy had boundless energy and determination. Victoria realized he had inherited some of her traits.

Cheers and whistles erupted when the scoreboard revealed the opposing team had not scored one point. As the game ended, teammates swarmed around the boy. In their yellow shirts, they reminded her of bumblebees. Victoria followed Jovanna’s lead in rising and descending the stairs toward the field.

“It’s time you meet Justin,” Jovanna said, stopping and turning to face her. “You must refrain from showing emotion and not reveal your relationship. This is just an introduction and nothing more. I will direct the conversation.”

Victoria nodded, her heart skipping. She was to meet her son.
Her son.
It would take all of her strength not to become emotional.

Down on the field, the boys in yellow were raising soft drink bottles in a toast of victory. Victoria felt like an intruder. At the sight of Jovanna, several of the boys raced toward her and embraced her in a loving group hug.

“
Ma Mere,”
the boys said in greeting. Justin reached up and planted a kiss on Jovanna’s cheek and a broad smile erupted on her face.

Victoria stood nearby, fidgeting, yet trying to act composed. The boy treated Jovanna as his mother. She began to hate herself for intruding into his life. He
already had a mother who had raised him and loved him. How difficult it had to be for Jovanna to talk to her, yet alone discuss him.

“I want you to meet a special friend of mine.” Jovanna’s enthusiastic voice startled Victoria from her thoughts.

Victoria found herself standing face to face with her son. He was taller in person than in the photograph and towered over her by several inches. His hair was lighter, bleached out by the sun and his skin tanned. His dark eyes danced as they met hers and he smiled, a perfect smile with rows of ivory teeth. The planes and angles of his face made his an arresting and handsome face. He would be quite a hit with the girls, if he weren’t already.

She found herself trembling in his presence, as love flowed through her. How could she feel such love for someone she just met? He wasn’t a stranger. He was her son
.

“Justin, this is Miss Montcherry,” Jovanna introduced.

“She’s newly returned to the Islands and I thought I’d treat her to a football game. She wanted to meet the star player.”

Justin extended his hand. Victoria accepted it, observing his long fingers and strong grip. His touch was electric and tremors permeated her being. She was touching her son, her son Justin!

It took all of her resistance to keep from drawing him into her arms, into an intimate embrace, to feel his warmth, run her fingers through his hair, to smell him, to lavish him with kisses, to look him in the eye and tell him that she was his mother.

As he released her hand, he laughed. “I am not a star player, just merely part of a talented team.”

His voice was a deep tenor and his manner modest. Though his face was as smooth as an angel’s, he had a man’s voice. Victoria knew she couldn’t have been more proud of him. He had been raised well and had turned out to be a charming young man. A mother couldn’t ask for anything more. Even an absentee mother.

“Your team is a joy to watch.”

Just as Victoria said the words, she caught a man approaching from the corner of her eye. He sauntered toward them with an easy confident stride. She would have recognized that walk anywhere.
What the hell was Daemon doing on the soccer field?

She didn’t need to wait very long for an answer.

”Ah, Mr. Wells. I was just telling my friend how your team is the best in the Islands. I just introduced her to your top player,” Jovanna said.

Victoria met Daemon’s startled gaze. No one was more startled than she. The connection hit her. The soccer players were all wearing polo shirts matching Daemon’s, the same hue as his helicopters. Though Justin’s shirt was multi-colored it bore the same insignia. All were embroidered with the name “Paradise.” The “Paradise Team”, as in Paradise Helicopters.

Without a word, Daemon approached Victoria and greeted her with a full mouth kiss. “My dear, what brings you here? What a wonderful surprise.”

As he drew away, Victoria took a deep breath for composure. His spicy scent was about to make her lose it.

“You know each other?” Jovanna asked, startled.

“Yes,” they answered in unison.

Daemon chuckled.

Victoria glanced over at Justin, who chuckled as well, a blush of red on his cheeks. My son!

Daemon casually draped an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Justin is the best player in the Seychelles Football Federation and, one day, the world. Scouts are already observing him with an eye toward the future.”

“Awe,” Justin said, hanging his head.

“Talented and modest.” Removing his arm, he ruffled the boy’s fine hair. “Better run along and join your teammates before they eat all the food and leave you without.”

“I won’t let that happen, Mr. Wells,” Justin said, turning. “I’ll see you later
Ma Mere.
Great meeting you, Miss …”

“Montcherry,” Victoria helped, watching her son disappear into a crowd of boys. “He’s such a good kid. The best. I couldn’t love him more if her were my own son,” Daemon said, a mist settling in his eyes. “He’s an orphan. I even thought of adopting him but it would have been unfair to Jovanna. She’s the only mother the boy’s known and he loves her so. The boy needs his mother.”

His mother!

Victoria’s eyes grew moist and she felt faint. This couldn’t be happening. Her lover loved her son. Not only that, her son loved Jovanna. What Pandora’s Box did Victoria open by returning to the Islands?

She knew at that moment that she couldn’t reveal her identity to Justin. Not now. Not ever. The boy had a wonderful life full of love and promise. She would just muck things up. She had to be grateful for having met him, for having known that he turned out to be healthy, handsome and talented. That had to be enough. She swallowed hard, a bittersweet taste rising in her throat.

“What’d you think of the game and of Justin’s performance?” Daemon asked, pride evident in the joyous tone of his voice.

“Just wonderful,” was all she could manage to say.

“You know, Mr. Wells was a professional soccer player in America before fighting in Afghanistan and coming to the Seychelles?” Jovanna explained. “A goalie.”

“I wasn’t aware,” Victoria mumbled. What wasn’t Daemon good at?

“That’s why Justin idolizes him. Mr. Wells has also been teaching Justin to fly. He’s truly the father the boy never had.”

Jovanna’s words made Victoria shudder. This couldn’t be happening.

“Any man would be proud to be Justin’s dad. Well, I’d better go see what the boys are up to. As sponsor and coach, I do have an obligation,” Daemon said. “By the way, Victoria, don’t forget about Saturday.”

He waved and she waved back mechanically as he left to join his team. She had promised to sail with Daemon to Fregate Island on Saturday. A promise she now had to break. It was evident that he loved her son to the point of wanting to adopt him. Just looking at Daemon now would only remind her of her son. She could see that being with Daemon would also mean spending time with Justin. The two seemed close. How much could she take before she broke down and ruined everything for everyone? Justin had a mother in Jovanna and a father in Daemon. Jovanna loved the boy. Daemon loved the boy. Justin loved them. Justin had everything he needed in Jovanna and Daemon and it was evident that they loved him as well. He was a teenager, a vulnerable age when
adapting to change was difficult, especially when so many biological changes were taking place. Her sudden appearance would disrupt his life and possibly even wreck it. The lives of Jovanna and Daemon would also be changed forever. There was no room in their lives for Victoria.

She had to get out of their lives, the sooner the better.

Chapter 12

The telephone call from Singapore had been unexpected and shocking. Victoria wondered why Alexander Wells wanted to schedule an appointment to meet with her. Did it concern her land purchases or her relationship with Daemon?

As she sat at the linen clothed reserved table at the Shangri La, she surmised she would soon have her answer. In five minutes Wells was scheduled for their “get acquainted” luncheon meeting.

She pulled at the hem of her skirt. The cream silk suit had seemed appropriate until she sat and realized the narrow skirt had hiked up her thighs. Not quite the business impression she had hoped to make. With the tablecloth she hoped he wouldn’t notice.

Part of her wondered why his impression counted. After all, she had business acumen to match his own. Mr. Wells may have owned worldwide resorts but she owned prime land and had enough personal income so as to not be intimidated by his. Yet, she found herself fidgeting. Somehow, his being Daemon’s father made her nervous, even though she was breaking off her relationship with his son.

“Miss Montcherry?” The voice startled her from her thoughts.

Victoria looked up to be met by a familiar gaze on an unfamiliar face. Alexander Wells had the same penetrating look as Daemon, though his face had sharper planes and angles and his hair was pure silver. He had that sophisticated refined look characterized by men of distinction. The devious twinkle in his eyes was like a caution signal. Victoria knew to tread carefully.

She stood, extending her hand. “Mr. Wells?”

He took her fingers in his firm grip and she held her hand firm as well. His face registered the surprise of her assertive stance.

“Please, sit.” He motioned her to a chair before taking a seat across the table.

“What a pleasure it is to finally meet you,” Wells said with forced sincerity. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“I’m sure you have.”

“How good of you to agree to lunch.”

“Curiosity got the best of me,” she said with a light chuckle. She was telling the truth. She had wondered what Daemon’s father, the powerful hotel executive, was like.

He seemed like the typical well-conditioned middle-aged man, self-assured and confident of his good looks and polished manner. His white shirt was heavily starched, his necktie precisely tied and his gray pinstripe suit freshly pressed. Even his fingernails had the shimmer of a recent manicure and his wristwatch was a heavy Rolex.

The way he was perusing her, she guessed he was as curious about her.

“I must admit that you’re younger and more beautiful than I had expected,” he said.

“On the phone, you mentioned we had important matters to discuss. That’s why I agreed to this meeting,” Victoria said. “Perhaps we should cut the small talk and get down to business. I’m sure your time is as valuable as mine.”

To emphasize the point, she glanced at her own Rolex. As if time really mattered in the Seychelles. To match a man like Wells, she figured she’d have to play his game. Having been in the business world, she knew the game all too well. It was one she thought she left behind in the States.

He waved a waiter over. “Let’s have a drink first, shall we?”

She ordered a scotch and water, a drink she rarely had but was the typical male power drink that she was sure he’d order and he did. Leveling the playing field was always a good start, she had learned.

He arched his brows as he clasped his hands on the table. “I have to admit that I was surprised to hear of your recent land acquisitions on the Islands. No one has ever purchased so much land, especially in such a short time with personal funds.”

“I’m a native returned home and what I do is my concern.” She kept her tone steady to avoid appearing flippant.

“I’m afraid when one purchases prime plots of land, it’s everyone’s concern.”

She smiled. “Everyone? Or just a resort owner who has been eyeing land for development?”

“These islands are a precious resource not to be exploited,” he said.

“Not be exploited by a native? Has Daemon convinced you otherwise? I can’t see a resort owner as a conservationist. Unless, of course, he’s trying to conserve land for himself.”

His contrived smile turned into a scowl.

“Let’s face it, Mr. Wells, I purchased prime real estate right from under your nose and you don’t like it. As an outsider you’ve been unable to procure land for future investment. I beat you at your own game.”

The drinks arrived and Wells immediately took a long sip from his glass. Victoria could see the vein beginning to throb on his forehead. She was winning round one.

“What use do you have for the land anyway?” Wells set down his glass.

“The land is my future security.”

He scoffed. “What kind of security do such holdings have for you? A woman like you will tire of the Islands soon enough.”

“A woman like me? The Islands are my home. I’ve returned home to stay.” She lifted her glass as if in a toast and drank, watching his expression soften. She could almost hear the gears turning in his head. She sat back, waiting for his next move.

“So, what plans do you have for all that property?”

She set down her glass. “Perhaps, I’ll build a chain of resorts. That is, when the government becomes more friendly toward development.”

“What do you know about building and operating resorts?”

“You’d be surprised.”

He took another sip of his drink, his gaze glittering her way.

“You know, I get the feeling we have the same goals and can reach an understanding. With your land and business savvy and my expertise in the resort industry, we could form an amicable partnership.”

“I’m not into partnerships. I’m a sole proprietor.”

“I might convince you to change your mind.” He was leering. “I have a proposition for you.”

She gripped her glass tighter.

“With your education and business experience, the Islands will bore you soon enough. I can’t see you as the type of woman to sit on the beach sipping tea,” Wells continued, his expression serious. “How would you like to partner with Eden Resorts as Vice President of Development? It’s a duty I’ve wanted to relinquish … to the right person. You could remain in the Seychelles, continuing your efforts to develop new resorts here on the land
you’ve secured. In addition, you would be working on broadening Eden’s interests worldwide. You would have Eden and its vast experience and resources at your disposal. The compensation and perks would make it worth your while.”

The way Wells smiled made Victoria hesitate. She hadn’t left the States with the intention of re-entering the corporate world. The offer, though, was tempting.

She had the land but had to admit that she hadn’t the expertise to do much with it. Working with Eden would make up for that deficiency. An alliance with them would give her the control and power necessary to make development happen
.

“Think about it, Victoria,” Wells said.

“I’ll give it some consideration.” She stood, smoothing her skirt. “If you’ll excuse
me …”

“What about lunch?”

“I’ll have to decline. Thank you for the drink and the food for thought.”

Wells stood and stepped aside to face her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he leaned into her and whispered,

“Victoria, in business or in pleasure, I can make it worth your while.”