by Ashley Woods
BILLIONAIRE
DEVILS
CLUB
PALM BEACH
ASHLEY
WOODS
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or any super-natural entities, is coincidental and not intended by the author. All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for websites or their contents that are not owned by the publisher.
BILLIONAIRE DEVILS CLUB
PALM BEACH
ASHLEY WOODS
© Copyright 2018
FOR SMASHWORDS DISTRIBUTION
ISBN-13: 9781370072286
DEDICATION
For All My Angels
And
All Those Palm Beach Devils…
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 SEASON FOR THE DEVILS
2 ENCHANTED EVENING
3 DARK GAMES
4 SHARK BEACH
5 SLOW DANCE
6 BOTTOM FEEDER
7 ART OF DECEPTION
8 FOR A NIGHT LIKE THIS
9 THE AMBASSADOR
10 THE WHITESTONE
11 ANTHONY FIORE
12 TESTING THE WATERS
13 PRELUDE
14 TURN TO RED
15 A.K.A. “TONY”
16 TURNED TO SALT
17 BLACK SUN
18 BÊTE NOIRE
19 OUT FROM THE SHADOWS
20 THE DARKEST HOUR
21 DEPARTURE
22 DREAM'S END
23 UNDER WATER
24 THE DEVIL’S INTENDED
1 SEASON FOR THE DEVILS
And on the eighth day God created Palm Beach…
Palm Beach was bustling with activity as the global elite toasted another new year and migrated back to its gilded shores via yacht and private jet. The shop windows reflected their polymer and spray-tanned faces, as they strolled down Worth Avenue on their way to Bice, Ta-boo, and the other exclusive restaurants. Their flawless diamonds sparkled under the quaint streetlights.
The town was open to all, but only the hand-picked few were truly allowed to enter and embrace the dream. They were deeded access to the private collections, reserved tables, and the invitation-only galas that were held inside the magnificent turreted estates.
Their net worth, secrets, and lies, remained securely locked behind those grand doors. It was surprising that the tiny island didn’t sink into the ocean, with the sudden shift of weight from the sizable egos that returned each winter to walk its pristine paths.
The "Season" had begun!
Everyone knew about the philanthropic side to Palm Beach and the generous charities, but very few were aware of its nefarious underworld, and the island’s covert societies.
Many of their affairs took place at the far north end of the island, inside the Whitestone Country Club. Even in the off-season, the members faithfully convened to attend these darker soirées.
Though no one was privy to the club’s register, it boasted the names of prominent men throughout the world. They were the leaders, the scholars, and the kings of business. They devoutly swore to uphold the club rules, and above all, they always knew when to give the Devil his due.
Only the island insiders were aware of what really went on at the Whitestone. And, deep within the club’s ranks, only a few of the regular members had ever heard about their founder’s top echelon, known as the Black Veil Society.
It was a rare treat to be invited to a Whitestone party, and the decadent frivolity could go on for days. An invitation to a Black Veil 33 ceremony was quite the opposite, and it was never a privilege to be the Guest of Honor.
One could only speculate what type of “sacrifices” these Illuminati made to attain their special powers. It seemed that nothing could hold them back in their quests.
It was a tight group, self-serving in nature, and Palm Beach was the perfect place to fine-tune their hidden agenda.
They dined only with the finest of company, while secretly sharing their own slant on the New World Order. And, with every move they made to influence the world’s decision-makers, it was all according to the Founder’s master plan.
Kristen Kenworth was the quintessential Palm Beach girl. Her mother was blue-blood WASP all the way, and never failed to let everyone know it. Arthur Kenworth was the CEO of a major aerospace company, belonged to all the right groups, and was very active in politics.
Of course, according to Mrs. Kenworth, since Kristen had won the baby lotto, it meant that she would be living the American dream with the perfect husband, Mercedes, and the majestic house in Chicago’s affluent suburbs on the north shore of Lake Michigan. It was also socially mandated that she wintered in Palm Beach in an equally luxurious ocean-front mansion.
Kristen had always been quite the romantic. She didn’t need a rich man or money to keep her happy and was only out to find true love.
Instead of trying to impress people, she cared more about helping them. It was obvious to her from an early age that High Society was an evil entity and it was difficult not to be sucked into its game.
But, as she grew older and began her ascent to the next tier, she became less sure of her footing. The men that she now encountered had more acquired tastes and a higher threshold for excitement. She either needed to conform to meet their demands or present a challenge in order to hold their interest. She hoped she would never become jaded.
And along the way, it was inevitable that she would eventually meet up with the Whitestone clan.
They
already
had her
in their sights…
2 ENCHANTED EVENING
Cabaret was dimly lit with red lights that reflected off the crushed velvet on its walls. It gave off the essence of a bordello, with a hint of sophistication, and surprisingly enough, it was one of the classiest restaurants in Chicago. It was well known for the executives and tourists that trickled in and congregated around its piano bar.
Kristen was looking forward to attending a formal gala tonight. William, her boyfriend for the last 3 months, had not revealed where it was, and he was very late meeting her.
He was “The” William Bensinger who played golf with U.S. Presidents, was the benefactor of many, and was always in the papers. Kristen learned right away that she was last on his list of priorities, and lately she was starting to just feel like arm candy. She now wondered if he would even show up.
In addition to being a Fortune 100 executive, William kept the Cabaret going for a hobby, and as a place for his married friends to hide out in the secluded backrooms.
Kristen was sitting at a table and was being extra careful not to crease her sequined evening gown. Her long blonde hair was styled in a low chignon, and tonight, she looked quite dignified and much older than her 21 years. She knew that William would like this new look.
She straightened up as she saw William walk in the front door. After stopping to kiss the door hostess and a few of his waitresses, he finally came up to her.
“You look marvelous! Are you ready to go?”
Kristen grinned, “Of course, I am ready. I’ve been waiting for a while.”
He replied coldly, “Sorry. I am having business problems. Let’s vamoose!”
Kristen perked up, “Well, don’t you look handsome in your tuxedo. This must be some special place we are going to.”
She took William’s arm, and they went outside to his waiting limousine. “So, come on! Where are we going? What’s the big mystery?”
<
br /> William chuckled at her, “My princess, you are going to meet royalty tonight!”
Kristen’s eyes grew wide, “Are you kidding? We’re going to that ball at the Field Museum?”
“That’s right. Are you excited?”
Kristen poked his shoulder, “Of course I am. That gala is one of the most happening events this year. Almost, better than the ones in Palm Beach. You are such a Schnook not to tell me.” She laughed “I would have worn a tiara.”
“I’m hoping to get a private dance with one of the royals that should be there. I am one of the biggest contributors to the charity, and our table is right by the main one.”
Kristen squeezed his hand, "This is going to be fantastic William! Thank you.”
When William and Kristen arrived at the party, there was a long line of limos dropping off their expensive cargo. Without hesitation, William’s driver drove past the others and pulled right up to a roped-off area to let them out.
The museum was all decked out for the occasion, and there were some very impressive evening gowns in attendance. Kristen looked over to where a crowd was standing, and she could see a few of the princesses who hailed from different countries. They all looked very lovely. William immediately dropped Kristen’s arm and headed right to them.
“William?” she called after him. He seemed to not hear her.
Deflated, Kristen walked into the ballroom by herself, and then stood shyly in a corner. A woman dressed in mint green chiffon soon came billowing up to her.
“I saw you walk in. So, how did William find you? Yellow Pages?” Kristen shrunk backward.
The aggressor continued, “I used to date William long ago. We almost got engaged, and with no warning, he dumped me. I still can’t figure out why?”
Kristen just looked at her blankly and did not comment. The woman was so abrupt and was acting a bit crazy. She started to speak again, when William walked up and took Kristen’s hand.
He looked unhappy, “I see you have met Mitzi, the Welcoming Committee.” He gave Mitzi a cold peck on the cheek, “I can only imagine what you two are discussing. Let’s go Kristen”, and he ushered her away.
As soon as they reached a safe distance from Mitzi, William smiled at her. “Kristen, wait here for me. I have to go talk to some business associates. Are you enjoying yourself?”
Kristen managed a slight smile. “Sure William, its wonderful here. Please hurry back so we can dance.”
He gave her a pat on the arm, and now proceeded to the other side of the room to join a bevy of socialites.
Kristen looked surprised that he did that to her again. It was all turning out so horribly, and this was not the type of setting that one should be left so obviously alone. She went to position herself next to the orchestra to sort out her feelings.
A waiter came walking toward her carrying a tray of champagne, and Kristen stood ready to receive him. She leaned down to lay her silver clutch on the table, and when she turned back, her flute was being handed to her by a tall stranger.
“What is an exquisite beauty doing here standing alone?” She was drawn in by the deep voice and looked up at him. His steel blue eyes met hers, and she stepped back as she felt overpowered and seduced by a strange coldness. An elegant creature was before her, and Kristen felt very small and insignificant in his presence.
She softly thanked him, and his hand wrapped around hers as she took the glass. Instead of the anticipated fire, she was surprised when she felt her fingers ice up. She gave a small shudder, and the man reached out and gently pulled her evening wrap tighter around her.
He moved in closer on Kristen and slowly isolated her further into a corner, “To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”
Kristen was charmed by his British accent, “My name is Kristen Kenworth”.
He tilted his head to one side, “I am Karl. Are you the daughter of Arthur Kenworth? We are both club members at the Whitestone in Palm Beach. He always says that he wants me to meet you. He told me you were special.”
They conversed for a short while, and then Karl took her glass and walked her over to the orchestra leader. He put his hand on the man’s shoulder and made a request. The music quickly changed from an upbeat tempo to a slow and romantic pace.
Karl led Kristen straight into the middle of the floor and held her at arm’s length, as they lightly waltzed. He didn’t say a word as he looked down at her. Kristen had a curious look planted on her face, as his remained indifferent, but his eyes never left hers.
Mr. Important was across the room dancing with someone’s wife. He worriedly viewed Kristen and Karl and turned his partner so that he faced toward them. He impatiently continued dancing, and as the song ended, William quickly headed the couple off as they walked.
Karl stiffened, and gave a brief smile as William reached for Kristen. He then extended his hand in a firm shake.
“Hello Bill. How are you this evening? I was just keeping your lovely granddaughter company. I hope you don’t mind.”
William emitted a short laugh at the insult and quipped,
“I thought you liked them even younger, and much more obedient Karl. This one is too much of a handful for your likes.”
He leaned in, “So, Karl what brings you all the way here from the UK? Or, did you just have an easy flight from your other place in New York?”
“Just in for the night to fork over my money like you. William, you must tell me. Just where did you find someone as lovely as Miss Kenworth?”
Kristen was enjoying being the center of attention and reached for her glass of champagne. She sipped it demurely as she watched them. The men continued to politely banter, but neither one cared for the other; nor were they interested in what was being said. Kristen took notice that Karl seemed to command the conversation.
After more uncomfortable small talk, William was the first to back off, and made his way to the head table to seek out his allies. He firmly held Kristen’s arm, keeping her close behind him.
He whispered in her ear “There is something off with that guy. I have never liked him.”
Kristen was even more intrigued. She dragged her heels and felt herself pulling back to stay with Karl. Without turning to look, she could feel Karl’s eyes follow her.
For the rest of the evening, Kristen thought about Karl, and wondered if he came by himself. She had been so distracted by his glacial charm, that she hadn’t even looked at his hand to notice if he was married or not. William continued to dance with everyone but her. But, he did not let Kristen out of his sight.
From a distance, Kristen strained to watch Karl and see who he was with. She wasn’t surprised that he had a never-ending stream of beautiful partners.
There was an abundance of bubbly flowing that evening and poor William never got his dance with a princess, or even a countess. They were too busy being whirled about by the celebrities that showed up. The event was a success and a lot of money was made that night.
Kristen was very tired after the gala, and William had an early flight in the morning to Houston. Her car was still parked at his restaurant. The limousine dropped her off in front, and the Cabaret valet retrieved her vehicle as soon as he saw them pulling up.
Kristen said, “Thank you for the evening William, but I am very disappointed with the lack of time that you spent with me. It was embarrassing.”
“You are imagining things. I am not going to talk about this. I’ll see you in a few days and call you when I get back to Chicago. Good-night Kristen.”
With this cold farewell from William, Kristen knew she was no longer in a comfortable place in her relationship with him. She could not understand what she did to make it sour, and it now felt like he had stamped an expiration date on her head when they first met.
While William was out of town, Kristen decided to hang out at Cabaret and enjoy her freedom. It was a hot Wednesday night and the air-conditioning could barely keep up. She was posed at a table with a tropical drink, displaying a tiny umb
rella, and an abundance of orange slices hanging off the sides. Since it was mid-week, there were mostly only small corporate gatherings and a few tourists present.
The businessmen in the room went back and forth from their tables and gave Kristen a grin as they walked by her. They were down to their shirt sleeves and dancing themselves into a sweaty lather with the few girls that were in there. Kristen chose to remain cool and turned down a few offers to whoop it up. She twiddled the ice cubes around with her straw.
A tall man with dark blonde hair strode past her, and Kristen gave him a smile. The man almost reached the table where his work companions sat, when he did a double-take and came back toward her.
“Kristen? Kristen Kenworth?”
“Yes, I am. Do I know you?”
He looked excited and sat next to her, “Sure, you do. It’s me. Michael Hansen, your childhood friend.” He laughingly groaned, “Are you having a senior moment? Come on, it hasn’t been that long.”
Kristen said happily, “Of course it is you. I was being spacey, and I didn’t recognize you in a suit. Michael, you look great! How are you?” She looked him over with admiration.
“I’m doing very well. I am here with some of my company’s executives for dinner.” He pointed over at them. He then pushed her drink slightly out of his way and kissed her on the cheek.
“Yum, Yum, you smell delicious. And you look gorgeous. Going out with your husband after this?”
“I’m not married. I am just enjoying myself. My boyfriend, owns this place.”
Michael looked confused, “William Bensinger is your boyfriend? Isn’t he kind of old for you? He looks like your father. Do you have some kind of Daddy complex going on?”
“He’s not that old. He’s a wonderful man.” Kristen was very annoyed by his comment.
She remarked sarcastically, “So, Michael, where’s your wife?”
“Never married, still can’t find the right woman.” He gave Kristen a sad look, like she should understand what he meant.
