Soul Mates. The Beginning.

by Christine Wood

  “Come in Christopher, the door has been opened.” I have been summoned by the great man himself!

  “Dad, hello and why the need for me here so urgently, that it warranted a phone call from the great man himself?” He gave me the do as you’re told and shut up now, and before I bust a gut, look.

  “I want you to attend Hugh Humphries ball for me. I can’t go as I’m on doctors’ orders to rest. I need you to remind people I am still on the top of the hotel chain game and besides I want his hotels, all of them. Those and those of the Eller Hotel group, he’s there too and desperate to sell, Damien is mortgaged to the hilt and because his third divorce is costing him a packet. Why he needs to marry these women he falls for is a fucking mystery? Most bitches give it up without a ring, that’s one dumb arsed motherfucker.”

  “Well you’d know all about that Dad. No new woman on the go then? Tell you what, why don’t you get washed up and changed and go yourself all this is for show, you do know they fixed your heart right?”

  “Why have a dog and bark yourself? I have been told to cut down on the strenuous exercise, so the fucking had to go and besides I ain’t getting any younger.” I laugh, his looks have gone and the gray hair is thinning and he is a mess, he has let himself go and he’s in a bad way, if I gave a damn I’d be getting the bastard looked at, but hell what’s it Gran says? ‘You sow what you reap.’ This is payback and then some.

  “I ain’t no dog, so go do your own fucking barking, as to Hugh’s hotels, put a decent offer in and he may accept this time?”

  “Fuck you, why should I pay your daddy, he was the one who screwed your mama you even look like him…”

  “Oh that old chestnut, you really wanna rehash this same old shit, that I’m his son time and time again? Why you’d even think that was the truth is a mystery. I bet you had me checked as soon as I was out of her, in fact I know you did and for the record I had myself checked out too, and what a surprise I am your fucking kid, mores the fucking pity. I have your damn blood running through my body, so fucking quit with the Hugh’s my dad crap, because old man I wish he fucking was, why you hate him is a mystery too? Why Dad because he happened to be nice to me growing up, when you paraded me out as your show piece? Could it be about the many times they stepped in to look after me, when you’d forgotten you’d taken me to a ball or a gala, after you got hammered and were between some hooker’s legs? Once and for all, the tests don’t lie. I am your fucking son and if that’s all you want, to rehash old crap? Then I have a business to run and as to Mum being his lover, I’m told she loved you, but I’m fucked as to know why? Oh and Gran sends her love by the way, and wishes you’d hurry up and die. Such an understanding bond you and she have.”

  “How is the old bitch? Looking after your critters on the farm, like the good old hired hand she is, Mexicans are good cheap labour Son. How are the sheep and pigs?”

  “Life on the ranch is just great, and Gran likes it there looking after me, she’s not Mexican, she just married one, you remember him my Papa, Joe Herrera, owner of some of the best hotels down Mexico way, of course you do, and as you damn well know, Gran comes from Sweden, that’s where my looks come from, her side, not yours. As to her being cheap, she’s far from it, she’s priceless to me, priceless. You’re the cheap bastard. It was the best thing I did buying my own place and getting her to live with me. You damn well know too that I raise prize cattle and breed thoroughbred race horses, and my other businesses are doing just fine Daddy Dearest.”

  “I hear your attitude boy, and I do not like the tone you’re taking with me. How is the world of mergers and acquisitions? Is it so bad you have to raise cattle and horses to make ends meet?”

  “My attitude is fine it’s you who’s the ass. My businesses are all good and extremely profitable and the ranch is a hobby, a hobby that just happens to be profitable too. So if that’s all, and you’re done insulting my family and me then I’ll be off. I look forward to seeing you again real soon… Not. Oh and I ain’t going to the ball, good day yawl.” I tipped my hat at him and put it back on my head, and headed out the damn door angry and damned tired.

  “Go to the damn ball, Isabella and her brother Luis will be there.” Oh? I knew they would be there, but he’d grabbed my attention by him knowing they would be.

  “Really, and this is how you hoped to get me to do your bidding? Do you really think I could be swayed into schmoozing them, to sell to you, by playing up to Hugh and his children, really you don’t know me at all?”

  “Maybe I did, so shoot me, but if you play nice with the girl, you may get them at a good price, or even better still get them as a wedding present.”

  “Fuck you, old man, Bella is a child and just sixteen and they are good people and unlike you that’s something I wouldn’t do, con my way into rich heiress’s bed just to get their wealth and hotels. What is it with you Dad, when is enough, enough? You’re on top of the list of hotel magnates, how many is enough. Gran says that’s all you married Mum for, her hotels, that’s how you landed my mum isn’t it? Pity you didn’t research well enough and that merger backfired, as they weren’t hers her father left them to his wife, and wad-ya-know, she’s leaving them to me. Then you tried with Candy, Catlin and Francesca, whose fathers all hated you and cut their daughters off rather than give you a red cent. Well tough, I ain’t your lackey, you man whore, go yourself.” I grab the door handle as he floors me with the next name from his lips…

  “Cameron Bayfield has been seeing dating her, and it seems they are the hot hotel couple to be watching?” I shoot him a look, of all the names to mention he mentions him. I hated that man as a boy and I doubt he has changed much over the years to make him more likeable? He was a spiteful boy and an ass as a teenager and a nightmare young man in college. I hardly think he’s with Bella for anything, but to be getting his hands on her daddies’ empire, but if I know Hugh, he’s still highly protective of his girl. That won’t stop Cameron though, he could be my father’s son, and he too is ruthless mean bastard. He attacked a girl in college, but it was hushed up and she was paid off. Anyway he’s too old and too nasty for sweet little Bella.

  “Right, I’m going home, being here with you has cost me millions and all you’ve done is rehash the same ole shit, I’m thinking of branching into hotels and casinos Daddy Dearest, I get my grandmothers later this year, so I’m adding to them, have you got any going cheap?”

  “Good luck, it isn’t in your blood, stick with sheep and pigs.”

  “Well I may just do that. Oh and your wires have come loose, the doctor may have sent the paramedics your flat lining, still can’t figure out how that man found your heart, perhaps he should start looking for lost relics? He found something none us thought you had. Oh and Mel sends her warmest regards and says do you need a photograph as she’s changed in the last two years? Why did you have us Dad, if you can’t stand us being around? Don’t bother answering because I don’t really care. I won’t be stopping here either, I think I will check in at Hugh Humphries hotel and see my real father.” I didn’t wait around for the fallout from my snide comment, because he was already ornerier than I have ever seen him and my bad mood hadn’t helped him one tiny bit. I pass Roger on my way out of the door.

  “Brother, how are you?” What’s the smarmy little shit want now? More money I bet, he hasn’t done a day’s work in his damned life? Dad will be giving him his pocket money, the suck arse little weasel, he’s so like our dad, he too is delusional, only he thinks Dad cares and he doesn’t! Eventually he will learn that our father only cares about Hoyt Holland and nobody else matters, I’ll tell you when Roger will realise this, when he is in trouble for doing something illegal for ole Daddy Hoyt and be left carrying the can?

  “I’m fine Roger. I see you’re here to do his bidding for him again? You do know he’s using you, and he has no real feelings for you because he’s incapable of them, you do, don’t you? You may have his name, but you’re still a bastard, those were his words not mine,
just watch your back Roger. Please be careful he’s losing it big time.” His eyes stare me down. He knows this, surely to god he does?

  “Well perhaps if you were around more you too could get to know him better?” Around him more, what the fuck? I am bloody twenty-five, and I have spent a collective time of about six months with him I did a rough count a few months ago. And that was time I will never get back, so why would I waste more time?

  “Don’t fool yourself, I know him well enough, he is just using you because he can’t use me. He will never change and breathing the same air as him chokes me, he’s poison, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. You will do all this for nothing, because he won’t leave you a bean, please tell me you do know that, don’t you? He’s made it very clear that only a legitimate heir inherits and I’m that, not you. Before you take that the wrong way too, I don’t want a bean of his money or one brick of his empire, I have my own empire that I worked for, so please bear that in mind, I have what I need in my life, and I don’t need him or his crap in my life.”

  “Things change big brother, all the time power shifts, his mind set on legitimate has changed too, I have his name, he gave me his name, remember that brother.” I snigger at my younger half-brother and wonder what he has him doing now, something nasty and illegal, if I know our father?

  “Well Roger, you were warned, when you need help with whatever he has you messed up in my doors open, you choose whether you want to step through it or not, bye Brother and please be careful.” He will ignore me, he always does and he always comes of the worst for ignoring me. The number of times he walked into Dad’s wing on his visits and was literally picked up and thrown into my wing beggars belief, and yet every time he would still try to see his father and every time it ended the same way, with rejection.

  I hit the strip with my bags, after saying my goodbyes to Jameson, I head to the hotel and book into a small suite, grabbing a drink I finally open the laptop. I search out tomorrow’s ball itinerary and take note that it’s a black tie formal ball, great dress up. All my suits are at home and damn it I need more clothes too. I need to hit the shops. I read a few more emails and reply then take a nap, and decide to kill the world for a while because I need sleep. My phone rings with Mel’s call ringtone… ‘They call me mellow yellow.’

  “Hi Sis, what’s the matter?”

  “Why nothing my big wonderful brother, I can ring you can’t I?” Argh my sister is after something.

  “What do you want darling little sister?”

  “I wouldn’t ask normally, but as you’re there for a couple of days, and your jet is sitting all lonely and doing nothing, can I use it to fly down to Mexico, I’m working on a case and I have to be there an hour ago?”

  “As if I would ever say no to you, how long will you need it?”

  “Two days’ tops, why?”

  “I will get Jim to stop over and fly you back, keep safe and I will see you soon, we need a holiday Sis.”

  “Your beach hut in St Bart’s?”

  “Yeah sounds good to me and it’s not a beach hut either. Oh, Dad’s being weirder than normal and Rogers running his errands for him like a good little lap dog, what do you know?”

  “Nope I have less to do with him than you. So, what was it the old man wanted, what was it that was so important you had to be there so quickly?”

  “He wants me to schmooze my other dad and Damien Eller into selling him their hotels and cheap too, I told him to go screw himself, we rehashed a few heated debates, then told him to screw himself again.” She snorted with laughter down the phone.

  “So you’re not going then? I’m pushing for time Chris can you phone it through to the plane to say it’s okay?”

  “Yes, I’m going to and you are already at the airport, I hear the planes, tell Jim I said hi and it’s fine, see you in a couple of days.” I’m texting Jim on my other phone as I talk to Mel on the other.

  “Well are you going to do his bidding or what?”

  “No, I’m actually here to go to a sweet sixteenth, for Hugh Humphries little girl Bella, do you remember her?”

  “I do, the shy girl in the bedroom with Lego bricks and a goofy smile. How is the son and heir, Luis? He never forgave me for shooting his tiny dick with my paint ball gun, the little perv wanted to make out and I wasn’t even thirteen, just cos he ‘da man,’ sure showed him he ‘not da man’ that day, oh hell hey ho happy days of my misspent youth.” Oh really, that was the reason for the bruises he never said why, I thought it was the other group of girls he titty shot and they were getting their revenge, obviously, Mel was a better shot.

  “He’s fine I think? It’s been a while, he is busy working and I have Australia so we don’t meet up much, didn’t you and him have a thing, you and that misspent youth was with him in the main was it not?”

  “No, we bloody well did not. He was a spotty faced idiot, who thought he was God’s gift to girls and I wasn’t the only girl who paint balled his balls that day either, the lad had all the charm of a snake and was just as slippery too and he still was years later, and he still is, or so I hear.” I laughed he’s still the player, poor ole Luis.

  “See you later, I have to go buy a suit, I may have ruined the last one, your Tequila slammers made me pass out in Sheila’s pen and what do you know your lil piglet likes silk. You owe me a tux Lil Sis.”

  “Take it out of my inheritance, unless you have your own kids, who else are you gonna leave your billions to, but me your fav’ Lil Sis?” I laugh.

  “I guess I will have to get working on it. Where do you meet a better class of girl Sis?”

  “Wal-Mart on Friday night, it’s when all the freaks and singles do their grocery shop, you’d fit in well brother of mine, wear the hat and take your whip, it will bring them girls to the fuck me aisle.” I roar with laughter. “I guess you just look in the wrong places big brother, besides your need to be looking, yer kinda getting old bro.” I agree I may be getting old.

  “See you later in the month, I have a suit and things to buy, oh what do you get a sixteen-year-old for a gift?”

  “Lord knows, you bought me a pony? Get her one.” I thank her for her totally useless help and hang up. I need to shop seeing as sleep is availing me, so I head for the mall at Caesars palace, they have a Yurman’s store there and I need a girly gift. I stop at Joe’s for a steak and a slice of key lime pie first, I need feeding. I find a seat and watch the world fly by and wonder why the hell my dad wanted me here so desperately?

  I ate my dinner and then hit the mall, the present for Bella first. I hit David Yurman’s and wonder what the hell do you get a teenager? I could stop to ask one I suppose, nope, I didn’t fancy being arrested for being a paedophile! I don’t think that’s the greatest of my ideas so I head towards the blonde assistant, who seems to be eyeing me up and then I notice the three young girls by a glass cabinet pointing and chattering loudly, so I guess that’s what girls like, whatever is in that case? They go on their merry way, with their bags in hand laughing and joking, it’s sweet, but so annoying. They were looking at bracelets, great I can choose one of these, wow that was easily enough, the blonde comes to show me the case.

  “Sir, may I be of assistance?” Yeah, first off close the top two buttons you undid on your way over, I’m shopping for a gift not for sex.

  “I would like to see that one there, the Renaissance Bracelet, the one with emeralds?” She passes me the rope bracelet and touches my hand as she does. I actually recoil and look at it.

  “The lucky lady would love that, it’s not emeralds Sir, but Peridot, with pink Tourmaline and set in Gold.” Bitch, like I buy stuff like this all the damn time.

  “The lucky lady will, as the Peridot matches her eye colour perfectly.” Young girl’s eyes don’t change colour, or do they? “Yes, I will take that, and could you please wrap it for me?” Then put the boobs away, they are highly distracting. I pay for my purchase, nine thousand is that too much, or not enough? What the hell do I know about thi
s crap, all I know about is horse trading, and how to buy and sell companies, not all this girl stuff? Damn it I need sleep. I tip my hat and bid her farewell.

  Then I head over to Gucci because I need a tux, and as I need it in a hurry, I’ll have to purchase something from their ready to wear collection. I also need some more jeans and tee shirts. I’m bypassing the flowered array they have on display, because why in the holy name of Moses, are those jeans covered in flowers? Men do not have flowered jeans, nor do they do matching tee shirts and shirts, have I stepped into ladies’ wear? No, I look around and there’s certainly men’s stuff in here. Damn this is weird arsed shopping, gimmie ‘Big Jim’s Emporium’ back home, the one stop for cattle food, horse crap and for my jeans, plaid shirts and boots, I can even order parts for the tractors and the plane from Jim.

  I plummet for both plain jeans and polo’s and plain v necked cotton tee shirts and of course the suit, which fits nicely and ain’t too bad for an off the peg number. A nice poplin evening shirt, now then do I go for bow or silk tie? I get both. With my purchases made I head back to my room. I fill in the card and slip it in the pretty ribbon of the box, with love from Chris Holland x. I catch up on my work and Glenda and then hit the shower. I need sleep it’s been sorely missed these past couple of days.

  CHAPTER TWO:

  Isabella Humphries: