Neptune's Ring

by Ali Spooner

“It is nice to know some of my employees still show some respect for me,” Simone sneered.

  “Killian is just being polite,” Vanessa said. “Is there something we can do for you?”

  “You can quit filling Levi’s head with all your garbage against me,” Simone said.

  “Simone, no one has to tell Levi anything,” Vanessa said. “I think it is quite obvious that Levi has grown tired of your bullshit and has started moving on with her life. So I would suggest you do the same with your little sex toys over there.”

  “Oh, they are much more than toys,” Simone said.

  “Well whatever they are, go play with them and leave Levi alone,” Vanessa warned.

  “You should know better than that Vanessa, when I see something I want I go get it,” Simone said.

  “Well I sure hate to see you get disappointed this time,” Vanessa said with a sly grin.

  “I won’t be disappointed, you can be assured of that,” Simone said.

  Vanessa stood, quickly followed by Killian. Simone stepped back and smiled.

  “I guess I will see you two later,” Simone said as she walked back to her table.

  “Are you satisfied now?” Del asked with a sneer.

  “Very much so,” Simone said with a wicked smile.

  “She is such a bitch,” Killian said. “Remind me why we work for her again,” she said to Vanessa.

  “Because she has one of the best ships on the ocean,” Vanessa said with a grin.

  “No chance of her selling it to us either is there?” Killian teased.

  “No, not a one,” Vanessa said.

  Killian and Vanessa returned to their meal and finished dining without further interruption. Killian was relieved when she watched Simone, Del and Petra parade from the dining room. She was afraid that Vanessa’s contempt for Simone would encourage her to leave the ship and Killian silently swore that if that was the case, she would go wherever Vanessa went. She would not work for a woman who did not appreciate and respect a great Captain and she would have no part of it either.

  Simone left the dining room and they headed straight to the club. If she was going to have a chance to talk with Levi alone it would have to be now. She sent Del and Petra to find a booth while she went to the bar for drinks.

  Levi had seen them walk in together, but paid little attention to them. She was filling an order for Karen when Simone walked up to the bar and sat down.

  “I see you got your cast off today,” Simone said. “How is it feeling?”

  “Feels great, Simone, what can I get you?” Levi asked.

  “A few minutes of your time would be nice,” Simone said.

  “A few minutes for what,” Levi asked.

  “Just to catch up with and see how you are doing,” Simone said.

  “I am doing very well thank you, Simone,” Levi said.

  “I miss you,” Simone said sincerely.

  “I am sorry for that, Simone, but there is nothing left between us.”

  “We can’t even be friends,” Simone asked.

  “Maybe one day, Simone, but right now I don’t think so after the way you have treated me,” Levi said.

  Karen rolled up with another drink order. Levi turned away to fill it for her while Simone remained quiet. When Karen took off with the filled order, Simone looked into Levi’s eyes.

  “Is there anything I can do to win you back?” she asked.

  “Not a thing, Simone, you had two chances and blew both of them, so I am moving on with Vanessa.”

  The door opened and Levi looked up to find Vanessa and Killian walking into the club.

  Vanessa tensed up when she saw Simone sitting at the bar, but her worries were abated when she saw the smile Levi shot her. She and Killian walked up to the bar and sat on either side of Simone.

  “Hey Baby,” Levi said as she leaned across the bar to kiss Vanessa. “What may I get you two lovely ladies?” she asked.

  “How about a couple of Tropical E’s, and a sex on the beach for my Sweetie,” Killian said.

  “Coming right up then,” Levi said as she poured the drinks and placed them on the bar.

  “I will be back in a little while,” Killian said, then walked to the DJ booth.

  Del walked up behind Simone.

  “I thought you were getting our drinks, Simone,” Del said with a harsh tone in her voice.

  “I am,” Simone nearly growled.

  “Three Slow Grinds please Levi,” she said.

  “Don’t make it long,” Del said as she turned to walk back to Petra.

  “Testy little pet, isn’t she,” Levi asked Simone.

  Simone refused to answer Levi’s jibe and took the tray of drinks to the table and slid into the booth.

  “Remind me to never cross you,” Vanessa said with a smile.

  “Oh Baby, you could never be so arrogant,” Levi assured her.

  Vanessa reached across the bar and placed her hand on Levi’s. “I love you, baby.”

  “I love you too,” Levi said with a grin.

  Nat returned to the bar to give Levi a dinner break and Vanessa and Killian sat with them as they ate their cheeseburgers.

  “I swear I just finished dinner, but the smell of those is making me hungry again,” Killian said.

  “Do you want me to order you one?” Levi asked.

  “No, I don’t need to eat again so soon,” Killian said.

  “No worries love, I will work it off of you later,” NeNe said with a sheepish grin.

  “Split one with me Captain?” she asked Vanessa.

  “Sure, Killian,” Vanessa said. She walked over to the bar and asked Nat to order another cheeseburger and then returned to the table.

  After dinner, Nat returned to their suite as Levi took over the bar. Del returned to the bar for several rounds of drinks during the remainder of the evening. They dance provocatively out on the dance floor and near midnight Levi watched as Simone and Del had a heated exchange and Simone left the bar.

  “I wonder what that was all about,” Vanessa said.

  “I don’t know and could care less,” Levi said. “Simone has made her bed and now it’s time for her to sleep in it.”

  PART FIFTEEN

  Levi woke the next morning prior to the alarm clock sounding and she reached over to shut it off. Vanessa was lying on her back, a smile playing across her face as she slept peacefully. Levi traced Vanessa’s lips with her fingertips and then leaned down to softly kiss her awake.

  “It is time to wake, Darling.”

  Vanessa stretched her body and her eyes opened.

  “I could get so used to getting awakened like that,” she said. “Especially after being loved like last night,” she said with a grin.

  “That would make two of us,” Levi said, as she softly kissed her again.

  Vanessa and Levi showered and dressed to meet Liz, Nat and Cass for a pre-dawn breakfast. When they entered the dining room, the others were already waiting for them. Cass poured them a cup of coffee as they took their seats.

  “Did Nat sleep at all last night?” Levi asked Liz.

  “She slept very well, thank you,” Liz answered with a wicked smile.

  “Eat a big breakfast,” Nat said. “The kitchen has prepared us a couple of picnic baskets to take, of light finger foods, which should hold us over until we leave the island.”

  They each ordered a large breakfast, complimented by juice and fresh fruit, as they talked excitedly through the meal. When Cass finished at last, Nat nearly jumped out of her seat. She and Liz disappeared into the kitchen and returned carrying two large picnic baskets.

  They walked out of the resort to find a van already warmed up for them. Nat stored the picnic baskets while Liz climbed in behind the wheel. She drove the short distance to the airport and was guided to park in the private charter lot.

  The pilot was completing his pre-trip checklist when they arrived and he welcomed them aboard the air craft. Liz and Nat stowed the carryon bags then took seats in pre
paration for take-off.

  Vanessa reached over and took Levi’s hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze as the pilot began to taxi to the runway.

  “Relax My Sweet, we will be there in no time,” Levi said to calm her lover’s nerves.

  As they took off, Levi and Vanessa looked out the windows of the small jet. From the air, the island looked like it was surrounded by small underwater mountains. They watched in amazement as the reefs and smaller islands decreased in size as the jet climbed into the clouds.

  It seemed they had only just reached cruising altitude when the jet began to descend. The clouds slowly thinned and disappeared altogether as Nat checked her maps. Levi watched as a small island came into view in the distance and she looked at Nat.

  Nat smiled and nodded her head, yes.

  “Welcome to Neptune’s Ring,” she said.

  The pilot descended further as he approached the island and made a slow circuit around its circumference. Levi was in awe of the island and she immediately discovered how the island got its name. Ninety five percent of the island was ringed by colorful coral reefs. The only portion that was unprotected was the mouth of the harbor leading into the island. The coral had a horse shoe shaped appearance from the air and the water was an amazing sparkling blue green. They had a good view of the unfinished resort, the red Spanish tiles on the roof, glittering in the sun. The resort was much larger in scale than Levi had anticipated as she watched the island grow before her eyes.

  When the jet reached the northern tip of the island, Levi gasped in surprise as the owner’s house came into view. The house was enormous, crowned by a widow’s peak which encompassed the front of the house.

  “Would you look at that,” Levi said to Vanessa.

  “It looks gorgeous down there, doesn’t it?” she said.

  “Just the house alone is magnificent,” Levi said.

  “It appears that the majority of the island is still undeveloped too,” Vanessa said.

  “It leaves it wide open for an array of amenities,” Levi said. “We could build a few private cottages or add a small golf course.”

  Vanessa could see the sparkle of excitement in Levi’s eyes, as she grinned back at her. She looked across at Nat and saw the same look in Nat’s eyes as she began to fidget in her seat. She could no longer contain her excitement. Nat was chomping at the bit to land and take the boat over to the island.

  When the jet landed and taxied to the terminal, Nat was so excited she forgot the picnic baskets. Cass and Liz just shook their heads and retrieved the stored baskets as Levi and Vanessa took out the camera equipment.

  Nat clamored down the steps and waited for the rest to join her, grinning wildly as she realized she had forgotten about lunch in her excitement. When the group was assembled at the foot of the stairs, Liz told the pilot they would be back no later than five for the return flight to Venus Rising.

  As they turned to walk toward the terminal, a blonde haired woman started walking toward them.

  “Good morning, ladies, I am Cat Martin,” she said, as she reached the group.

  Nat took the lead and introduced the others. Everyone in the group noticed the lingering eye contact between Cat and Cass as they were introduced and the slight blush that colored their friend’s cheeks.

  “If you will follow me, I have a van waiting for us,” Cat said.

  They walked through the terminal into the bright sunlight. Just as they approached the curb, a dark blue van pulled up. A man jumped from the van and circled around from the driver’s side.

  “Ladies, this is Carlos Chavez,” Cat said. “Construction company owner and van slash boat driver for us today,” she said with a smile.

  “It is my pleasure to meet you ladies,” Carlos said, with a beautiful Latin accent as he opened the side door to the van.

  Cat took the front passenger seat as the rest of the women climbed into the back. Carlos closed the doors behind them and walked quickly back to the driver’s door and climbed behind the wheel.

  The harbor was a short drive of five minutes from the airport. The drive gave them a very brief glimpse of the small town. The streets were quiet, but there was a bustle of locals along the busy sidewalks. Levi looked at Vanessa and smiled.

  Once they arrived at the harbor, they were led onto a small pontoon boat and within minutes, were on their way to the island.

  “So are you the original contractor of the resort?” Nat asked.

  “Yes, I am,” he said. “I was so disappointed when Mr. Van Buren died and the construction was brought to a halt,” Carlos said. “The island holds so much potential,” he said with a concerned frown. “It is a shame to let so much beauty go to waste.”

  “Did you also build the owner’s house?” Liz asked.

  “Yes, that was the first building erected on the island,” he said. “The views from the house are breathtaking and the posh furnishings are amazing.”

  “I have to ask Carlos, since you are so familiar with the history of the island, do you believe it is haunted,” Cass asked.

  “We are a very superstitious people, Ms. Hilton, and while I have never witnessed anything ghostlike on the island, my laborers have.” He sighed briefly. “A construction crew without laborers is impossible to run, so we began work at sunrise and were off the island well before the sun went down.”

  “Would you have difficulty manning a crew to finish the work?” Nat asked.

  “Not at all, as long as we are off the island before nightfall, I could easily have a thirty man crew, or larger, depending on how quickly you want the project done.”

  “How long would it take to have the project complete with a thirty man crew?” Cass asked.

  “We could have you ready for a Grand Opening in two months,” Carlos said.

  “What are your estimated costs for completing the project,” Nat asked.

  “There is about a hundred thousand dollars worth of labor and materials left,” he estimated. “That is given you stay with the original blueprint,” He said. “Any significant changes would affect the cost, but I am certain we keep the total cost under a half million including furnishings.”

  Nat smiled after hearing that news. When they arrived at the island, they quickly moored the boat and walked toward the resort. Levi’s heart raced as they topped a small hill and the resort came into full view. The roof tiles still glittered in the sunlight as Cat took out a set of keys and opened a heavy oak door. The door led them into the front desk area of the resort. Marble floors led up to a solid mahogany front desk. The area was huge and would easily accommodate a group of twenty or more guests during the check in process. Bright light fixtures covered the area and when Cat flipped a few switches, the room came to life.

  Levi pulled out her camera and began taking digital images as Nat and Liz dressed the room with their imaginations. The group walked through another set of double doors and stepped into a tropical garden garnished with a large waterfall fountain. The courtyard was large enough to host small socials or wedding parties and was a welcomed surprise to the group.

  Cat noted the smiles on their faces.

  “Walk this way,” she said.

  They followed Cat and Carlos back inside then walked down an interior hallway. Carlos opened a room on both sides of the hallway and stepped back. The rooms were easily twice the size of the rooms at Venus.

  “All I would need to know is what type of flooring and what type of fixtures you would want,” Carlos said. “The rooms can be textured and painted in a matter of days.”

  “What did the original floor plan call for?” Liz asked.

  “More tile floors,” Carlos said, the disappointment written all over his face.

  “What would you recommend?” Liz asked.

  Carlos beamed when Liz asked his opinion. “I would go with a very high grade commercial carpet in the hallways and then lay Brazilian hardwood floors in the guest rooms, and granite in the bathrooms,” he said.

  Liz looked at Nat wit
h a look of surprise. “Are you sure you two aren’t related?” she teased.

  “I had the same thoughts, Carlos,” Nat said.

  “I can make that work and the labor costs would be so much less,” he said.

  “Enough to cover the costs of teakwood king sized beds?” Nat asked.

  “I have an Uncle who could build them as sleigh beds, four- post or a standard head and foot board,” Carlos said with a grin. “We could stop by his shop later to see his styles and he could get started right away.”

  Levi noticed that Cass and Cat seemed to lag behind the main group and were in steady conversation as Carlos led the tour.

  “How long have you lived in the area?” she heard Cass ask.

  “A little over ten years,” Cat said. “I moved down with my aging mother and when she passed I could not bear to leave.”

  “So you are all alone?” Cass boldly asked.

  “I have developed some great friendships, but yes, I live alone,” Cat said with a slight blush.

  “What a waste,” Cass teased.

  “So where do you call home?” Cat asked in return.

  “I have several flats, both in the States and in Europe, but nothing I really call home anymore,” Cass answered. “I am spending the next few weeks at Venus Rising, Nat and Liz’s resort,” she explained.

  “Are you primarily a financial backer then or will you be living on site?” Cat asked.

  “I really haven’t given it much thought,” Cass said. “Either way, you can bet I will be spending quite a bit of time here.”

  “That sounds very promising,” Cat said, as the flush returned to her cheeks.

  The group had moved from the main resort and Carlos was walking them toward the utility center.

  “Levi and I are going to assess the night club, pool, docks and boathouse,” Vanessa said.

  Cat handed Levi a set of keys and pointed out which worked on the club and boathouse.

  “We will meet you back here in no more than an hour,” Levi said as she handed Liz her camera.

  “We will see you soon then,” Liz said as they parted ways.

  Carlos gave them a thorough tour of the utility center, explaining the functions of each piece of equipment.