returntobelletori_GEN

by Michelle Hoppe

  “Where are you going?” She asked as he headed out the door.

  Turning to look at her, Jason realized she did not have any idea about what was going on. “Sam has found Victoria in Nassau and I’m going to the Bahamas to bring her home… unless I decide to kill her first.”

  Seeming to ignore his threat, “This is so exciting.”

  “Sure it is. Tell Pierre to meet me in the residence, I need to grab some clothes and I want to leave in ten minutes.”

  “Pierre is in a meeting downstairs.”

  “Damn. Never mind then, just fill him in when he gets free. Now get the limo moving and call my pilot.” Jason headed down the hall to the residence, leaving Yvette to handle telling the rest of the staff.

  Jason packed with little care. Ten minutes after his conversation in the office, he climbed into the back seat of his limousine for the drive to McCarran field to board the plane.

  Chapter 8

  Staring down the young man demanding a private meeting with him, Pierre thought about what the next few minutes might reveal. Unable to avoid what he knew was coming; he glanced at Tony nodding his head to indicate he would grant his request for privacy. He waited while Tony pushed his chair back, “If you will excuse us, there is work to be done.” Tony held out his hand to Sophia, silently communicating she was to join him.

  Both Gregory and Pierre sat stone-faced as they waited for Tony and Sophia to exit the room. The quiet extended for several minutes after they were alone, until both men wondered if the other would ever speak. Finally, Pierre could take no more, “I am waiting,” he stated flatly.

  “Perhaps you did not understand my request Mr. DuMonte. I believe I said I wanted a private meeting with my father.”

  “Indeed you did, however you must first explain to me why you believe Jason Hunter is your father.” Pleased by the shocked look that filtered across his companion’s face, Pierre smiled.

  “You are French sir, why do you assume Jason Hunter is my father instead of you?”

  “Do not be impertinent son, I could not help but notice the family resemblance.”

  “Well you’ll forgive me if I am unaware of a family resemblance, since I’ve never seen the man who fathered me.”

  Pierre paused to consider this statement. If what the kid said was true, then it was possible Jason was unaware he had a son. “How about we drop the hostility and start at the beginning?”

  “First tell me why I have to explain this to you instead of my father.”

  “Because son, I have to make sure your story is true before I turn this place upside down by letting you make an announcement; an announcement I’m confident will come as a complete surprise to Mr. Hunter.” Pierre looked at the young man and continued, “It will be a surprise, will it not?”

  “Oui, Mr. Hunter does not know anything about me.”

  “Then you must understand I have to make sure.”

  “Actually, no, I am sure. You need nothing further.”

  Pierre considered this for a moment before replying, “Let’s just say you have to get past me to get to him.”

  Sounding unhappy at the delay, Gregory asked, “What is it you want to know?”

  “I’ve always believed it best to start at the beginning.”

  “All I can do is recount the story as my mother told it to me.”

  “A good place to begin,” Pierre agreed.

  *

  Taking a deep breath, still uncertain why he was about to tell his mother’s story to a complete stranger, Gregory decided if it would lead him to his father he would tell all he knew. Looking across the table at Pierre, he began his story where his mother started three years ago when she told it to him.

  “She was seventeen and her father consented to her spending the summer in Paris with friends. He rented an apartment for them on the Champs de la Rouge and they left right after school let out. She met him in the park one day while alone. She had taken a seat on a bench and was watching people walk by, when he sat down next to her.

  “According to mother, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen and when he started speaking to her, his voice was like music. He told her about his visit to Paris and the things he had seen and done. She was startled to have a complete stranger just strike up a conversation with her. He was bold, outgoing, and he captured her fancy from the moment he sat down.”

  “Sounds like the Jason I know,” Pierre commented.

  Ignoring this interruption, Gregory continued with his mother’s account of events. “Several hours into the afternoon, Mr. Hunter invited my mother to accompany him to dinner. She claimed to be completely comfortable with him and agreed to join him at a small café close by. After dinner he walked her home.”

  “I assume they met again.”

  “Yes, the very next day for breakfast. Mr. Hunter appeared on her doorstep bright and early the next morning, with baguettes and cheese in hand. They spent another day roaming the streets of Paris, talking and getting to know one another. My mother took great pains to make me understand she was fascinated by this man.”

  “Apparently, since you are sitting here today, it turned from fascination to something deeper.”

  “According to my mother she was not in love with Mr. Hunter. He excited her, made her feel beautiful, and filled her with desire. She was not looking for a lasting relationship and assured me she made her position very clear to him.”

  “Oui, a young French woman, alone in Paris for the first time, it can be quite overwhelming to the senses. I’m sure your mother was taken by the romance in the air, and as I’ve said, I know Jason.”

  “Exactement! They spent every day for two months together, and according to mother, ‘twas inevitable they should end up in bed. He was her first and by all accounts from her, already a very skilled lover.”

  “Your mother is not a shy woman then?”

  “Sir, my mother is many things; shy however, is not one of them.”

  Laughter greeted this statement. “So tell me why, when she discovered she was pregnant she did not contact him. Did she believe he would not care for or want a child?”

  “As I told you, my mother was not looking for a lasting relationship. She was not ready to be married, did not want to miss the fun of being eighteen. Her father and mother agreed if she wanted to have the baby without the father, they would honor her wishes.”

  “I am surprised. Most fathers would have taken a shotgun and gone after the young man.”

  “My grandfather is a unique man, Mr. DuMonte. My mother is his only daughter, last in line behind seven sons and he would give her the moon, were it possible.”

  “So Jason was never told. I must assume he’d left Paris by this time and was no longer in contact with your mother.”

  “True, he was never told. He returned to America and college, having said goodbye to her three days before she returned to her parent’s home in the country. It was not until a month later the pregnancy became known.”

  “So here we are many years later and you now want a father in your life.”

  “No sir! I have wanted a father in my life since I was five. It was my mother who refused to tell me his name. For some reason she believed Mr. Hunter would take me away from her. I will never understand her fear.”

  “Perhaps she felt the distance would make things difficult. He was after all in America, owned a very successful business here, although he has an office in Paris these days.”

  “Oui I know of the Paris office. I spent three weeks in the city last year trying to find a reason to go to his office and meet him. My promise to my mother was not to tell him of my existence until I reach twenty-one, however I never agreed not to accidentally meet him.”

  “As I said earlier son, it would have been clear the moment he laid eyes on you. The resemblance is remarkable, you look very much like your father. Speaking of Jason, perhaps it is time we went to introduce you to him.”

  “So you are convinced I’m his son?”

&
nbsp; “Oui.”

  Gregory stood. Quickly heading to the door, he stopped short allowing Pierre to join him. He after all did not know which way to go. Once Pierre was at his side, they walked across the lobby and climbed the staircase to the second floor.

  At the third door on the right, they paused while DuMonte stepped through the opening to address a young woman sitting at a desk. “Yvette my pet, where is Jason?”

  “I did not realize your meeting was going to take so long. Jason is not here.”

  “Where did he go and when?”

  “He left over an hour ago. He’s on his way to Nassau to bring Tori home.”

  “Baise! Why was I not told this?”

  “You were in a meeting. Jase said to fill you in when you got finished.”

  Gregory frowned, wondering who Tori was, why she would be in Nassau and why his father left to bring her home. All he knew for certain was his father was no longer in Las Vegas. “Damn it!”

  “Calm down son, you are welcome to stay here at the club until they return. I am sorry for the delay; I did not realize he’d left.”

  Gregory felt drained, to come so close to finally meeting his father, only to have him leave the building while he was a hostage downstairs explaining who he was. “Damn fucking right I’m staying here. I did not come all this way to leave before I’ve met my father.” Gregory noticed the shocked expression cloud the face of the young woman Pierre called Yvette. Shit he thought, were all the women in this place beautiful?

  He stood in silence as Pierre made the introductions. “Yvette, I’d like you to meet Gregory Parker, Jason’s son. He is visiting from France and will be staying in the guest room until Tori and Jase return. Please make arrangements to have his bags sent over from his hotel.”

  Turning to face Gregory, he continued. “Gregory, you will follow Yvette to the residence, give her the name of your hotel so she can arrange to have your bill paid and bags forwarded here. I need to make a phone call; if you will excuse me I will meet you in the residence in an hour.”

  Noticing DuMonte did not wait for a response before turning to walk in the opposite direction, Gregory raised his voice “I will not be sent away like some small child Pierre. I demand to know where my father has gone and why.”

  He waited as DuMonte stopped, his body still facing away from him, he could barely hear the words, spoken into the air. “Listen to me son. I cannot answer what I do not know. If you will give me an hour to make some calls, I will meet you in the residence so we can decide on a plan.”

  “One hour, DuMonte. Don’t make me come looking for you.”

  “Baise, you are as stubborn and demanding as your father; Yvette take Mr. Parker to the residence now. Perhaps you could explain to the young pup just who is in charge around here so he does not forget his place in the future.” Not waiting for either of them to respond, Pierre quickly moved to his office, entered the room, and with a resounding bang, slammed the door shut on the world.

  Gregory stood in the now vacant hallway, staring at the closed door. He may have made a mistake in upsetting DuMonte, but hell, he was damn mad himself. Shaking loose his anger, he pasted on his most charming smile, turned to Yvette and with a flash of his arm and a slight bow indicated she should lead the way to the residence.

  Chapter 9

  The eight-hour flight from McCarran Field to Nassau was uneventful. Jason spent the first part of the flight in the cockpit with the pilot. He and Mark had become friends over the years as they traveled around the world and it was natural for them to discuss the newest in private jets, which airports were easy to land at and which required more skill. After about two hours, they ran the gambit of topics they shared an interest in and Jason moved back to the cabin.

  Pouring himself a drink, he stretched out on the leather sofa and closed his eyes to rest. Sleep was impossible. It always was when his mind filled with thoughts of Victoria. He still wondered in amazement at the speed with which he'd lost his heart to the woman. He remembered the painful tightening in his chest when he'd returned to Belle Tori four months ago to find her gone.

  What a stupid thing to have done. Running away like a little girl who had misbehaved, rather than the strong, intelligent woman he knew her to be. It was her unreasonable fear, nothing to do with him or their future. Yet, she had decided for both of them it would be best if they parted.

  She never asked his opinion on the subject, never considered there might be another way to handle her fears. No, not Tori, she decided to play stupid and start this ridiculous game of hide-n-seek.

  His anger mounting again, he swung his legs to sit up, catching the forgotten glass just in time to keep it from spilling on the carpet. Setting it down hard on the side table, Jason leaned forward and dropped his head in his hands. “I hope you’re ready for me Victoria.” He said to the empty air. “How much longer is this flight going to take?”

  “We are still about five hours out, sir.”

  Jason had not noticed Mark’s entrance into the cabin and assumed the plane was on autopilot. Smiling slightly he said, “I wasn’t really looking for an answer Mark, just trying to keep from getting too angry before we arrive.”

  “She’s put you through hell Jason. I might add you’ve put us through hell in return.”

  “I know I’ve been unbearable. Someday when this is all over, I’ll make it up to you and the others.”

  “No need boss, we all understand.”

  Mark moved toward the back of the plane, “Just need to visit the john then I’m back to the controls. Don’t want to land on the wrong island.”

  For the first time all day Jason laughed. “Unless you want to be looking for a new job in the morning, landing on the wrong island would not be advisable.”

  “Not to worry, I have a map.”

  Laughing harder, Jason responded, “OK, I’ll leave it in your capable hands. I’m going to try to get some sleep, wake me fifteen minutes before we land.” Jason returned to a reclining position on the sofa and closed his eyes once again. Clearing his head of thought, he finally drifted off to sleep.

  * * * *

  Sitting side by side on the couch in his suite, Sam and Victoria were deep in conversation. She had asked so many questions Sam did not want to, or could not, answer; he spent many uncomfortable minutes sidestepping things. Victoria finally must have realized he would not give her the information she sought and stopped asking. Sam still did not have the nerve to ask if she had been playing it up while hiding out. He decided to leave the question for Jason. He was just damn happy to have her here and planned to keep close until Jason arrived. If Victoria was nervous about his pending arrival, she did not show signs of it.

  Deciding they were hungry, Sam placed an order with room service. Before he could return to the couch, the phone rang again. “Maybe they are out of strawberries?” Sam stated as he turned back toward the desk to answer the phone.

  “Or perhaps they cannot find your room,” Victoria laughed.

  Picking up the receiver, Sam said “hello.”

  “Damn it to hell Grimes, I cannot believe you did not call me and tell me you’d found her!”

  “I’m getting very tired of being yelled at about this, DuMonte. I’m on vacation for Christ sakes.”

  “Well, things are crazy here. You have no clue what has happened.”

  “I know everything Pierre.” Sam felt Victoria’s hand on his arm. Looking at her as she motioned for the phone, Sam stopped talking and gave her the handset.

  *

  “Hello handsome.”

  “Victoria mon amour, it has been too long for me to live without the sweet sound of your voice. Are you well?”

  “Oui, I am fine, merci beaucoup.”

  “I have missed you more then you will ever understand.”

  “I know darling and I’m sorry.”

  “Why Tori?”

  “It is too much to explain on the phone my friend. I really intended to call you in the morning to tell you I w
as coming home, little did I know Sam would arrive and take all the credit for finding me.”

  “It matters not who found you or gets credit, it only matters we now know where you are and that you’re safe.”

  “I did not mean to worry you handsome.”

  “You must tell me why you waited so long Tori, it has been hell.”

  “Later handsome, talk to Sam, I will see you very soon.” Victoria did not give Pierre time to say more as she handed the phone back to Sam and returned to sit on the couch.

  *

  “Damn it Victoria, I want to know where you have been all this time.”

  “As soon as I find out, I’ll let you know DuMonte,” Sam said.

  “Baise, will you two stop passing the phone back and forth.”

  “Sure.”

  “Sam, what is she doing at the moment?”

  “Sitting on the couch, waiting for room service to deliver our snack, why?”

  “Sam, this is serious, I need to tell you something and you must, and I mean must, not reveal anything to Tori. Do you understand?”

  “Sure.”

  “I swear Sam you must keep a straight face.”

  “OK, damn it what is so top secret?”

  “This morning, before Jason left, without telling me by the way, a young man demanded admittance to the club.”

  “What is so unusual about someone demanding entrance to the club, surely it has happened before?”

  “Just be quiet and listen. The kid had been told several times we were not accepting applications for membership, yet he arrived at the gate demanding he be let in. Tony and Sophia took it upon themselves to admit him and told him I would meet with him.”

  “So, fire Tony and Sophia for being stupid and for breaking the rules, this does not sound very important.”

  “Sam, listen carefully. It only took a moment after meeting this boy, to realize he looked very much like Jason. Very much like Jason in fact!”

  “So Jase has a double, big deal.”

  “Not a double, he told me he’d come from France to meet his father.”