by Rifi Strawn
After a few perfect sweet and tangy sips, she put the glass down. “Very good.”
The ebony beauty smiled. “My pleasure, my lady. Would you like to see the menu?”
“Yes, please.” She took a double-take at the waitress’s form-fitting uniform. The brown zebra stripe collar and cuffs of her tan dress were her design. Hand on her chest, she looked at the waitress again. “Who designed these uniforms for you?”
“I don’t know, miss,” she shrugged. “I was given this dress when I came to work here.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“I started working here two months ago.”
Stanley swallowed. “It looks very nice on you.” The waitress refilled her empty glass with lemonade, just as Tabo had.
“My lady, is this your first visit to Zambia?”
“Yes.”
The waitress gave her an activities brochure along with the menu. “You’ll love the morning and evening safari rides to see the animals. The picnics on the bluff are the best during sunrise and sunset. And don’t forget to try our special Amarula coffee.”
Stanley’s heart raced as she looked around. The familiar drink, menu, uniforms, and tours were just like the ones Jeremy had given her. “What time are the rides?”
“We have them at five in the morning and five in the evening.”
After a quick meal, she walked to the reception area and signed up for every tour the resort had to offer. It was as if she was back at the lodge except with luxury accommodations and no Jeremy to guide her.
When she finished dinner, she wrapped up in her shawl to watch the evening entertainment. The tribal dances and songs were similar to Lucky and Tabo’s. She hated herself for getting trapped in Jeremy’s beautiful illusion. She missed his smiling face and swaying hips to lure her into dancing with him.
His scheme to win her heart had to be convincing in his plan to scam millions from her. Impressed and infuriated by his ingenuity to deceive her, she was also discouraged from ever trusting a man again. He’d stolen her heart and emptied her bank account without a hint of remorse.
She smirked at the Elephant Charity Program. Was this another scam? Jeremy had taught her how to recognize fraudulent charities, and yet she didn’t see through his deceptive trades. He warned her that the bad guys changed a legitimate charity’s name by a word or letter to win an unsuspecting donor’s trust. He was right about one thing. Giving to a good cause did make the donor feel good about themselves. She’d never been happier in her life, helping to promote his worthy cause alongside him.
The next morning, she dressed for her ride in casual clothing. She brought her fedora hat to Zambia, but kept it tucked in her suitcase. It was her lucky charm and a quick tip-off to Jeremy to avoid her. Even though she hadn’t seen him, she could sense his presence everywhere. If that wasn’t annoying enough, she would miss him as her guide during this morning’s ride. She’d arrived at the lodge just in time for it.
She poured some Amarula in her coffee and looked toward Jeremy’s lodge. “What’s that old place?” she asked the guide.
“It’s a privately-owned property.”
She cleared her throat. “Does anyone live there?”
“No one has lived there for years,” the guide said. “At one time, it was an entertainment hub for the wealthy. A young vet and his wife took the guests on long safari rides to learn about the animals…”
Stanley swallowed hard. Was that Torrey and her husband the guide was talking about? “What happened to the couple who ran it?”
“The poachers killed the husband, and the wife shut the place down.”
All too familiar with Jeremy’s family history, she realized he’d given her bits of truth to earn her trust. Her eyes fixed on that desolate property where she’d spent three months. How could Lucky and Tabo’s music, dance, and the campfires go unnoticed? He must’ve planned his parties when the resort staff here was preoccupied with entertaining their guests.
She pulled up a photo of the deed for Aunt Zoie’s property in Zambia. She’d mistaken the timeshare for Jeremy’s lodge. She would’ve caught it in her initial meeting with Mr. Reed, but she was too anxious to receive her inheritance to think about anything else.
After the morning ride, she took the village tour in her search for Jeremy. Her curious questions about Tabo, Lucky, and the village chief got her confused looks. The people hadn’t heard of them. The familiar faces of the vendors she’d seen were missing in the market place. In the village square, she didn’t recognize a single child playing soccer.
She walked to the jewelry store in the enclosed market compound and asked the owner about Jeremy’s special bracelet. After a quick glance, the woman returned with a basket full of identical jewelry and enticed her with a discount to buy a dozen bracelets.
Jeremy’s grandmother’s unique beads were abundant in this region, the jewelry maker had a bucket full. Shoulders dropped, she walked back out to join the rest of the guests. In the late afternoon, she took the boat cruise.
Dying for a closeup of elephants playing in the water, Stanley borrowed a pair of binoculars. She zoomed in on the two baby elephants close to Luki’s and Tutu’s ages. One had scars on her trunk. Maybe that was her Tutu.
“The elephants of the Zambezi are special…” said the dark debonair captain, as he enjoyed the view with her.
His informative speech was similar to Jeremy’s nature talks. Instead of a white uniform, this man wore regular clothes. Jeremy must’ve paid an actor to play the part of a captain in a white uniform?
Everywhere she looked, there were reminders of him. Even the crocs seemed different than the ones she’d been afraid of. Jeremy was a genius in getting information from her. He’d given her chores to pass the time instead of locking her up in a dark room. Never did she think of the lodge where she’d lived, cleaned, and scrubbed floors as her prison.
“Do you have a rehab close-by to treat hurt elephants?” she asked.
“It’s about ten miles from here,” the captain said.
“How do you treat the animals that get hurt out here?”
“There are vets who travel in mobile clinics to treat minor injuries. For the more complicated cases, the animals are sedated and airlifted for treatment at the main rehab center.” He gave her the information for the volunteer program. “It seems you love helping animals. You might like the three-month educational program the rehab center offers. You should look into it.”
“I might,” she said with a smile.
At dinner, she attended a barbeque in the candle-lit dry creek bed. The menu was just like the one she’d recommended to Jeremy. The memory of him holding her hand and romancing her under the stars brought tears to her eyes. He’d swooned her into falling in love with him.
Her teary eyes lifted to the brilliant starry sky. Help me find Jeremy, Aunt Zoie. You brought me here for a reason, now show me the way to him.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
After two days of eye-opening reality in Zambia, Stanley flew to Cape Town, South Africa. The beautiful city shimmered in the night as her plane descended. The memory of Jeremy proudly showing off the scenery in the helicopter flashed through her mind. She could almost smell him sitting next to her.
She grabbed her carry-on and walked to the rental cars. If her life was a complicated puzzle before, it’d now turned into a Rubik’s Cube. Solving the mysteries of her three-month stay in Africa seemed impossible. The rental company gave her a replica of Jeremy’s black Mercedes SUV. Did he rent his car here, too?
It wouldn’t surprise her if Jeremy had hired actors to play the part of his mother and the relatives at that barbeque. If so, he’d found the perfect cast. The weird old uncle and Levi would win the academy award. Lynn was pretty good, too. Oh God, the vineyard where she’d spilled her aunt’s ashes…was it even theirs?
Stanley played it safe and checked into a decent hotel that accepted cash and didn’t require a passport. She, too, must cover her track
s to surprise Jeremy. In the morning, she’d drive to Torrey’s mansion.
Phone in hand, she lay in her hotel bed looking at Jeremy’s sexy photos in the speedo. Ready to release one of the snapshots on the internet, she paused before hitting the button. Maybe she’d wait another day to see if he showed up in Cape Town.
Tomorrow, she’d release his pictures one day at a time until the damn thief came out of hiding. When she exposed Jeremy’s fraudulent charity scam to the world, he’d have no choice but to come after her. Her plan wasn’t without risk. She was counting on his pictures going viral like her gold bikini ad.
She put the phone down, turned off the light, and closed her eyes to sleep. Her mind was on Jeremy’s scientific theories. Could she have fallen for him because of the threat of danger? She must admit the nail-biting thrills and terror of this romantic relationship excited her.
Her eyes narrowed at the ceiling. It’s all your fault, Aunt Zoie. You’ve turned me into an adrenaline-seeking junkie.
As a young girl, her aunt would send her out on long, challenging scavenger hunts on the farm. The obsessive child wouldn’t return home until every item on her list was marked off. Her quest for treasure hunting in adulthood could give her the advantage to find Jeremy.
Ready for the challenge of a lifetime, she compiled a mental list to find the man who’d stolen her heart. To face this daunting task, she must take small steps to uncover the truth. She’d better get ready to chase him all over Africa, if not the world.
~*~
In the morning, Stanley put on the black chiffon dress Jeremy had bought her for the fundraiser. She grabbed the turquoise ostrich skin purse he’d surprised her with from his mother’s boutique. This outfit should get both the mother’s and son’s attention. She, too, knew how to work on people’s emotions to soften their hearts.
She painted her lips red and added the smokey eye makeup to highlight her golden eyes. The dramatic effect of this seductive mask had lured millions of men to her ad. It was sure to attract Jeremy, especially if she prowled like a lioness before attacking him with her curious questions.
The short drive to Torrey’s house raced Stanley’s pulse. Anything could go wrong. What if the house wasn’t there at all? She drove to the familiar ivy-covered, walled-in compound. So far, everything seemed just as she’d left it. Before pressing the call button at the gate, she took a deep breath to calm her thumping heart.
Torrey’s voice blared on the speaker. “Who is it?”
She cleared her throat. “It’s…Stanley.”
After a long pause, the gate opened. She drove down the winding driveway to the impressive mansion’s entrance. Stomach in knots, she parked her rental next to Jeremy’s identical black Mercedes SUV.
Her heart stopped as Jeremy walked down the porch steps to meet her. After one look at his warm smile, she gripped the steering wheel with her shaking hands. Her plan to question him like a cocky detective melted faster than ice cream in a heatwave. Why did he have to be so damn handsome and charming?
All logic left her as he opened the door and looked at her with his dreamy eyes. That sweet smile and alluring gaze had charmed the panties off her many times. The granny panties she’d put on this morning better not come off no matter how tempting he was.
Hidden behind her sunglasses, she eyed his broad shoulders, firm chest, and slim waist in the black fitted collared shirt. His light pants hugged his long, muscular legs just right and had her wishing they’d pin her gently in bed for another romantic encounter.
Oh, God, she wanted him again.
The scent of his earthy cologne surrounded her as he held out his helping hand. She hesitated before taking it. Her heart skipped a beat as his warm fingers wrapped around her. Face-to-face with his mesmerizing tender gaze, she fought her mixed emotions. Against her will, she broke out in tears.
He held her close to his heart as she sobbed on his shoulder. “Why did you steal from me? I would’ve given you anything you wanted.”
“Honey, I can explain everything.”
She wiped her moist face and pushed away. Every inch of her body craved his touch, but she kept her distance.
“Thank God, you’re back,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you. I missed you so much.”
“I missed…No. Stay away from me,” she choked.
He gave her a sympathetic look. “Let’s go talk inside.”
Jeremy led her through the house to the breakfast table, where they’d brainstormed great ideas to get large donations. Mira poured coffee in her cup and added the Amarula just how she liked it. Torrey stood to greet her and kissed her cheek. Everything seemed back to normal, except for the missing money in her bank account.
Torrey gave her a sympathetic look. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Jeremy pulled a chair for Stanley and sat across in his usual spot at the pink linen-covered table. His good manners hadn’t vanished like her money. This family didn’t miss a trick to play up their sincerity.
She glared at the mother and son. “Who are you people?”
“We’re your guardian angels, love,” Torrey said.
She smirked. “More like my worst nightmare.”
Torrey dismissed Mira with a nod and stood up. “I’ll leave you two to talk.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
On her way out, Torrey closed the door. This part of the charade hadn’t changed. He still referred to Torrey as “Mum.”
Stanley put the purse flat in front of her, with the opening facing her on the table. She eyed the taser gun she’d purchased in Zambia as Jeremy leaned back in his chair. “I trusted you and gave you my heart,” she said. “While you stole from me like a thief.”
His voice was full of agony. “Nothing is as it seems, Stanley.”
“Yeah, no shit, asshole. You convinced me to rely only on you. You blinded me with your bullshit, and I bought it.”
“I had no choice but to divert your attention from reality.”
“Reality? I was new to Zambia. There is no other reality for me.”
He glanced over her. “How was your stay at the Rainbow Resort?”
She cleared her throat. “How did you find out I was there?”
He took a hot sip and put his coffee down. “I own that resort. A daily guest list is emailed to me. Your fake name caught my eye. Next time, don’t put down Canada as your home, it’s too close to America,” he winked. “And good job getting the fake passport. The counterfeit was quite impressive.”
Arms crossed, she just stared at him. “I saw that you signed up for all the activities at the resort,” he said. “They must’ve seemed very familiar to you.”
She smirked. “My rides and the trip to the village were a deja vu, except the faces had changed. I saw a herd of elephants but wasn’t sure if they were Makeda’s.”
“It all must be so hurtful and confusing to you.”
“You took advantage of my vulnerability. Flattered me. You made me feel as if I were the only woman in the world for you, and like a fool, I believed you. I would’ve preferred torture over the deception.” Her voice cracked. “You made sex slavery seem like an act of love.”
His gaze softened as tears flowed down her cheeks. Her plan to remain in control was slipping away. “I meant everything I said to you.” He leaned forward on the table and looked into her eyes. “You are still the only woman for me. There’s no one else. Honey, I didn’t take your money.”
“Stop calling me honey,” she snapped. “Are you even capable of telling the truth?”
He waited for her anger to calm. “I know you don’t believe me,” he said. “One look at you at the airport in Zambia and I fell for you. Three months ago, I vowed to protect you from all harm. You were so beautiful, vulnerable, and trusting. Your tough girl exterior only added to my attraction. I couldn’t stop looking at you and smiling at everything you said. I wanted to give you shelter and fight all your battles. I knew as long as you were with me, no one would harm you. So, I hi
d you at the lodge—the storage facility for my resort. I stayed there with you to make sure no one kidnapped you.”
“You’re a psychopath who has no empathy for his victims.” She looked at him in disgust. “You’re nothing but a preying crocodile.”
“Yell and scream at me. Do whatever it takes to make you feel better, but it doesn’t change the truth.” He sighed. “When you’re ready, I’ll tell you what’s really going on.”
“It’ll take me hours to describe everything I feel for you right now. I don’t have that kind of time.” She waved her hand at him. “Go on…you have my attention.”
He looked her in the eye. “I wish you would’ve listened to me and stayed another week before flying off to San Francisco. Lucky called me before taking you to the airport. I could’ve stopped you, but I allowed you to leave. I didn’t have the heart to tell you about what waited for you at home.” He cleared his throat. “I knew you’d come right back to me once you discovered the ugly truth.”
“I guess you didn’t want me to leave because you weren’t quite finished draining all my money?”
“You have to believe me when I say, ‘I love you.’” He looked into her teary eyes. “You know I’ll die for you if I have to.”
Her voice broke. “Are you even capable of real love?”
“Evidently, I am because I’m about to spill my guts to you.”
“Stop stalling.”
“I picked you up at the airport when you first arrived in Zambia before Levi or his men could,” he said.
“Your cousin Levi?”
“Levi has been stalking you since your Aunt Zoie’s visit to Zambia.” His tone turned harsh. “That scumbag has been stealing my guest roster from the resort for years, and I didn’t know it. He threatened to kill my manager’s children if he didn’t send him copies of the guests’ passport information. He’d preyed on my wealthy guests. Your Aunt Zoie, aka Daisy, piqued his interest when she paid cash for her timeshare at one of my properties here. He followed her paper trail to the farm and your cosmetics company.”
She cleared her throat. “Let’s say, I believe what you’re saying is true about Levi. How did he get personal information about me and Aunt Zoie? The passports don’t give a record of our daily activities.”
