The Resort

by M J Hardy

  Emma

  Ben’s boat is as impressive as the man. We take a short trip around the island and I am feeling hot for more reasons than the sun that is beating down and reflecting off the wake from the boat. Ben is attentive, kind and slightly intense, and I’m loving his company.

  He points out various landmarks and offers a potted history of the island. After a while, I decide to delve a little deeper into his life and smile at him with interest.

  “This must have cost a lot of money to develop. Is this your main business?”

  He nods and leans on the rail, looking out to sea, and sounds almost pensive. “No, it’s just another investment. I have several and as they say, money makes money, so if I’m careful, one investment funds the next and now I have a substantial portfolio.”

  It strikes me that Ben can’t be much older than me, and I guess he had wealthy parents to set him on the right path. I lean on the rail next to him and say with a husky edge to my voice, “Your parents must be very proud.”

  “They are.”

  He gives nothing away and I shift a little closer. “Tell me about them.”

  He says nothing and just gazes broodingly at the ocean and then half turns and stares into my eyes. “I would rather learn about Emma Stone. What’s her story?”

  I smile and bat my eyelashes because I am fast discovering more than just a passing interest in the enigmatic man beside me. “There’s not a lot to tell, really. I own a business making cakes.” I laugh self-consciously.

  “It’s only just starting up and is quite challenging, to put it mildly.”

  “In what way?”

  “In every way.”

  He looks interested and I shrug. “I can’t afford help and just spend most of my time making the stock without any idea of where it’s going. Then I run around trying to sell the product and end up giving most of it away just so they use me next time.”

  “Then you need to stop.”

  “What running around, or making cakes?”

  “Everything.”

  His words irritate me and I say, feeling slightly offended. “Why?”

  “Because you have no business plan. You have a product but no road to market. Take some time, research other companies in your field and work out best practice, otherwise you will fail, if you haven’t already.”

  His words are brutal, but I know he means well, so I sigh and nod my head. “You’re right, I know you are. I had thought this holiday would help me refocus.” I laugh, “And I was right.”

  He turns and looks back across the ocean, and I feel a little desperate. I like him – a lot, and I want him to notice me as a woman, a potential love interest perhaps but he is reserved and not giving me any signs, so I say brightly, “Do you have a family, children maybe, or are you still searching?” I cringe at the desperation in my voice and he smiles. “Still looking.” He turns and looks at me long and hard and it lights a heated trail through my body. “What about you?”

  “Still looking.” We share a smile, and then one of the stewards interrupts. “Mr Wheeler, we will dock in five minutes unless you wish to continue on somewhere else.”

  Praying for the latter, I’m disappointed when he says briskly, “No, we are done here.”

  He straightens up and stares at me, a faint smile ghosting his lips. “Have dinner with me, Emma, tonight, on my balcony.”

  “That sounds nice, thank you.”

  He nods and leans forward, his breath grazing my cheeks and whispers, “The pleasure will be all mine.”

  The boat shudders to a stop, making me fall against him and he reaches out to steady me and as soon as I feel his hands on me, it’s like an electric charge bringing my body to life again. He is so close we could kiss but he just sets me straight and pulls away, saying evenly, “I will look forward to our evening, I’m afraid I have work to do but hope you enjoy your day. I have taken the liberty of booking you a full body massage and facial in the spa at 3pm. Complimentary, of course.”

  He smiles and I stare at him in surprise, swooning inside like a lovesick maiden. “Thank you.”

  I’m not sure what else to say and he offers me his arm. “Shall we?”

  As I take it, I cling on tight because now I have met the man behind all this luxury, I have only one business plan in mind - make him mine and I have exactly six days to make that happen.

  Ben leaves me and heads off to his office, or wherever it is he goes to work and I head to my room to change into my bikini and grab my kindle. I feel quite upbeat and hopeful for the future, and as soon as I step foot inside my room, I gasp at the sheer number of beautiful bouquets that welcome me in. It’s like a florist shop in here, and as I dance around the room in delight, I feel my heart soaring as I inhale the intoxicating scent and admire their beauty. There is a handwritten card propped up against the largest one, and I seize it eagerly.

  Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady.

  Until tonight, Ben xx

  I actually hug myself and squeal with delight, feeling excited, exhilarated and as if I’m the luckiest girl alive. Things like this don’t happen to me. It’s like I’ve stepped into a romance novel in the starring role. Who needs a kindle when experience counts for so much more and I’m already planning my lingerie for later because I am going all the way on this? Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and I am seizing this one and hanging on tight.

  Chapter 22

  Kim

  As soon as Evelyn leaves us, Charles turns his attention to me. “What happened?”

  Swirling my finger around the rim of the glass, I say sadly, “Jack has ended it. Told me he wants us to separate. He doesn’t even want to try, and there’s not much I can do about that, is there?”

  To my surprise, he reaches out and takes my hand, stroking it lightly and says kindly, “Then he’s a fool.”

  “Thank you and yes, he is.”

  I smile at him but move my hand away because I am feeling a little uncomfortable with his attention. I know I’m attracted to him; I was the first time I saw him but he has a wife and a beautiful one at that. I’m not going to interfere with their happiness, so I smile and say firmly, “Anyway, you have been so kind and I really appreciate it but…”

  “No, Kim.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He smiles. “You were going to make your excuses and leave out of politeness. You feel as if you’re intruding on our day, you’re not. You think I am happy with my wife; I’m not. The reason I want to help you is that I see my own situation in yours. Evelyn has withdrawn from our marriage and is not the woman I thought she was. Like your husband, she is desperately searching for a way out and she thinks I don’t see that.”

  “I’m sorry.” I stare at him with compassion and he shrugs. “It’s not ideal, I’ll give you that, but surely it’s better to cut something loose that’s dragging you under. Better to remove any restraints so you gain your freedom to move on to pastures new. What do you say about that, Kim, are you ready to cut the cord to freedom?”

  “Not really.”

  He looks surprised and I say sadly, “I love my husband, Charles, regardless of how he treats me. It has always been Jack, and despite everything, I count loyalty as one of my strongest character traits. The fact he doesn’t want me is killing me inside, but I’m not prepared to give up on him after one day. So, I’m sorry for your situation, I understand what you must be going through but I need to work out my own path through this and only when I feel there is no hope left, will I accept this is happening at all.”

  He nods, but I can see I touched a nerve.

  “Promise me one thing then.”

  “What?”

  “When you reach that point, you will call me.”

  He removes a card from his jacket pocket and hands it to me. Looking down, I see his details and he says softly, “Look me up when you need a friend. I’ll always be that – your friend. More if you like.”

  He sighs. “I’m not one to ignore an opportu
nity when I see it. This trip has made me see where I’m heading with Evelyn, and then I met you. A woman that interests me more than I thought possible and yes, I admit the timing’s off, but I can’t ignore how I feel. When you left me last night, I felt happy and I haven’t done that for a long time. We enjoyed an evening doing something so simple, yet it was made exciting because it was with you. I thought of you when I woke up and it gave me a warm feeling inside and when I saw my wife, I felt disappointed she wasn’t you. Does that make me a monster, Kim, because I hope you feel the same?”

  Now I feel super awkward and don’t know what to say. Luckily, I am spared from answering when I hear a terse, “Kim.”

  Looking up, I see Jack standing behind me and he doesn’t look pleased.

  “Oh, um, Jack, this is Charles.” I turn to Charles and say timidly, “This is Jack, my husband.”

  There’s an atmosphere between them and it feels awkward. Jack is glaring at him and Charles looks mildly irritated but smiles briefly and extends his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Jack.”

  At the same moment Evelyn appears and looks a little shocked as she stares between us, and I suppose it’s because the mood is tense as the men look at one another coolly.

  Charles turns to Evelyn, “This is Jack, Kim’s husband, you may remember him from the resort.”

  Evelyn looks a little unsettled and Charles just stares at her with a strange expression in his eyes as she nods. “Yes, I’m pleased to meet you.”

  Charles waves to the seat with all the shopping bags and says to Jack, “Please join us for lunch.”

  Praying he refuses, I look at him with what I hope is a firm message in my eyes but Jack either doesn’t see, or ignores it and says, “Thank you, I could use a drink.”

  Charles barks, “Evelyn, move your bags.”

  She jumps as if she’s been shot and quickly moves the bags and Jack sits down and drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling my chair away from Charles and making it obvious he’s not happy finding me here at all. If anything, the gesture gives me hope and I stare at him in surprise as he orders a beer from the waiter who hovers hopefully nearby.

  Charles looks at Jack with a superior look and says loudly, “So, are you enjoying your stay, I understand you won it on Facebook?”

  “Kim did. I never bother with social media.”

  Charles nods. “Then we agree on something. Evelyn is on it more than she should be; it can’t be good for you.”

  He looks between us and says brightly, “Maybe you should send each other a friend request, isn’t that what people do when they meet a fellow user?”

  Evelyn smiles politely, “Of course, I’ll look you up.”

  As I stare at her, I feel a surge of pity for the woman I envied not that long ago. Seeing her with Charles is a strange experience because it’s as if something is seriously off about their relationship. She seems nervous around him and on edge, and it feels awkward and strange being in their company. Jack is also brooding about something and I expect it’s the state of our marriage and I wish I was anywhere other than here.

  The conversation is stilted and unnatural and after a while Jack says shortly, “Well, thanks for your company but we should leave, the boat will be waiting and there’s somewhere I want to show Kim first.”

  I look at him in surprise but don’t hesitate in jumping up because the sooner I’m away from this strange couple, the better.

  Charles smiles politely and Evelyn just looks relieved and as we walk away, Jack takes my hand and grips it hard.

  It’s not until we turn the corner that he drops it and says angrily, “What the hell are you playing at, Kim?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I saw you holding that man’s hand; what’s this, lining up your next victim before the last one’s even cold?”

  He looks so angry it throws me a little before I recover and hiss, “For your information, Charles was just being kind. He found me last night after you left me on the beach and saved me.”

  “Saved you from what?”

  Jack laughs bitterly and I snarl. “I thought someone was in the bushes and felt afraid. Charles was the first person I ran into, and he made sure I was safe. He checked the bushes, then arranged a drink at the bar to steady my nerves. He was kind and considerate, which I really needed when I discovered my husband wanted to call time on our marriage.”

  “So you were with him until the early hours, that’s some drink you had, or was it something else he gave you?”

  Jack looks so annoyed it shocks me a little and I reply angrily, “How dare you judge me after your behaviour. Charles was there for me when my husband wasn’t. It was the same again today. You left me in a strange town on my own because you just can’t deal with your decision. Well, for your information, I don’t need this and I’m increasingly realising I don’t need you. So back off and leave me alone because you are seriously deluded if you think any part of your behaviour is acceptable.”

  I turn away and Jack sighs. “I’m sorry, Kim.”

  His apologetic tone stops me in my tracks and he says sadly, “My mind’s all over the place, and I’m sorry. Listen, let’s draw a line under this and head back. I’m not sure I want to end this after all.”

  I stare at him in surprise and he smiles ruefully. “I suppose I’m at a crossroads and don’t know where to turn. Maybe I’m having a mid-life crisis, who knows, but seeing you with him, another man, it taught me something.”

  “What?”

  He steps closer and takes my hands, staring deeply into my eyes. “I don’t want to give up on us just yet.”

  He leans in and presses his lips to mine and pulls me hard against him, and I think I fall into a state of shock. What’s happening, my emotions are all over the place right now and I don’t know how I feel, or what I want anymore?

  Chapter 23

  Chloe

  I hold John’s hand tightly as we board the boat, desperately trying not to make eye contact with anyone in case it’s him. I know I should tell John; he has a right to know, but I can’t. The man would probably deny it, say he was just passing the time of day and I can’t revisit how I felt after I was attacked all those years ago. Nobody believed me at first. They thought I was drunk and covering my stupidity. It’s only when they found the traces of Rohypnol in my system that it became an investigation. The man was never caught, and I have had to live with the consequences of that ever since.

  It hurts just thinking about the repercussions, which is why I remain silent now. It’s just not worth the drama it would bring.

  John squeezes my hand tightly, “Is everything ok, love? You’ve gone quiet on me.”

  “It’s fine.” I flash him a bright smile, probably a little too bright because I see the questions in his eyes.

  “I think I’m still a little jet-lagged, if I’m honest.”

  He nods. “Yes, it’s been a full-on day, straight after another one. Maybe we can relax by the pool for a few hours’ rest before dinner.”

  I nod but feel my skin crawl as I picture that man opposite me ogling my body as I soak up the sun. Just the fact he was there yesterday tells me he will be again, and it has now ruined what was a dream holiday.

  I notice the other couples nearby and see the many bags the rich looking woman’s husband is carrying. John leans down and whispers, “The perks of having a first-class luggage allowance, she’s obviously shopped till she dropped, she looks as if she’s about to keel over.”

  I glance at the woman and admit he’s right. She looks worse than I feel and I wonder if she’s ok. Her husband appears a little angry too, and it’s obvious they’ve had an argument, just by the fact they can’t look at one another.

  The other couple seem happier than when we arrived, and he sits with his arm draped around her shoulders as he strokes her hair lovingly. She doesn’t seem that pleased about it though, and it looks as if he has some making up to do.

  The fact a shiver passes through me, tells me
the man is somewhere close. It’s as if I have a sixth sense, and I stare down at my hands rather than make eye contact with a monster. As the engine starts, I say quickly, “Shall we head to the front of the boat, we could watch out for dolphins or something.”

  John nods. “Sounds good to me, we have to make the most of all our opportunities because they don’t come around that often, after all.”

  We make our way to the front and it feels good to be away from the crowd. The fresh air and spray from the ocean cleanse my spirit and as I snuggle up beside my man, it’s difficult to think back to a time when my life was so dark. I was at rock bottom, the lowest a person can go and somehow, over time and perseverance, I stepped away from it all. I pushed the bad memories away and left them behind me, at least I thought I had. In one sentence that man has brought them all crashing back and once again, I wonder if I should confide in John.

  I suppose the reason I haven’t is that I have done my best to forget such a traumatic memory. It didn’t end at the hospital either. I endured interviews with the police, social workers, counsellors, and I suppose what happened after was even more devastating than the event itself.

  At least I wasn’t conscious during the attack, but I endured a living nightmare for years after. Just thinking of either of my daughters going through what I did, makes me super protective of them, which is why I keep them with me as much as possible.

  Until now.

  Now I have anxiety just thinking of Sasha going out with her friends. The fact she has a boyfriend is also making me feel sick inside. If anything ever happened to either one of them, it would destroy me, and I suppose that’s what makes my mind up for me. I must tell John. He needs to understand the reasons for my often strange behaviour and so I vow to tell him on this holiday and what better opener than what happened today.

  “Excuse me.”

  A woman’s voice interrupts my thoughts and we both turn around and see the lady with the shopping looking apologetic. “You dropped these.”