“This company is controlled by a multinational listed enterprise. It has holdings in a number of industries, including hospitality. I believe they might be interested in acquiring the Zuri Hotel,” Charles says, “If you’re interested, you don’t even need to negotiate with them. I’ll make a deal for you.”
Leilani looks at the black and gold edged business card. She runs her finger over the edge and notes the rich texture of the paper and the smoothness of the embossed letters. She nods slightly.
“I trust your ability completely,” she says.
Charles becomes solemn.
“Are you sure you want to leave him?” he asks.
She hesitates. His question echoes in her head.
“Do I really have to leave him?” she thinks.
Suddenly, she recalls her wedding night: Waylen called a dozen bodyguards to insult her and threaten her. She recalls the dark closet, whippings, and every other humiliation she’s suffered in the Bamford household. Her eyes gradually darken and her expression becomes determined.
“Yes, I have to leave,” she thinks.
She lowers her voice and whispers across the table to Charles, “Waylen has some sort of an agreement with his grandfather. If I don’t get pregnant within the next six months, his grandfather will intervene and force us to get divorced. I just need half a year.”
She knows she has to hide for the next six months. Waylen has become quite insistent about getting her pregnant, and she’s scared she won’t be able to resist him. Ever since the hospital, she’s been forming an escape plan in the back of her mind. She knows this is her best chance to escape as Waylen has allowed her a great deal of freedom running the Zuri Hotel; even his bodyguards have become somewhat scarce.
Before she disappears she has to transfer her nanny to a new hospital and rent a secure and private house to live in. She’ll need a huge sum of money to accomplish it all. If she takes the money directly from the Bamford family or uses her credit card, Waylen will be able to trace her. Her best option is to sell the Zuri Hotel.
There is a sly gleam in Charles’ eyes. He knows that she needs the money but she’s too proud to take it from him. Selling the Zuri Hotel for her will allow him to help her escape from Waylen.
Leilani nods. The hotel was a gift from Waylen and she doesn’t want it to remind her of him. More importantly, she doesn’t want to have any contact with Waylen after the divorce; disposing of the hotel now will eliminate any complicated legal proceedings that might bring them together.
“I’ll help you. I just need a week,” Charles says.
“I’ll need to transfer Nanny, too,” Leilani says,
Leilani knows that Waylen will use her beloved nanny to threaten her if she doesn’t hide her away from him.
“Leave it all to me,” Charles says.
Leilani smiles, her eyes suddenly filled with hope.
“To our future plans,” she toasts.
The harmonious atmosphere is suddenly interrupted, and the hope dies in Leilani’s eyes. A tall, dignified figure is standing in the doorway, watching them. Leilani places her glass on the table without taking a sip.
Waylen stalks across the room to the table. Robert scurries behind him and pulls out the third chair at the table.
“Waylen?” Leilani asks, frowning slightly, “What are you doing here?”
“I have a reservation,” Waylen says casually.
“A reservation?”
The waiter turns to Leilani, “It’s true, Mrs. Bamford. Mr. Bamford reserved this table.”
“So why did you lead us to this table?” Leilani asks, frustrated.
“When Mr. Bamford made the reservation he said he was having lunch with you,” the waiter says, fl.u.s.tered, “I assumed you knew. I apologize if I’ve made a mistake.”
The waiter is embarrassed. He had no idea that Mrs. Bamford would bring another man to lunch. Leilani scowls at both the waiter and Waylen.
“When did I agree to have lunch with you?” Leilani asks her husband.
“It’s not too late to agree now,” Waylen replies.
Waylen possessively rests his arm on the back of Leilani’s chair. Then he glances at the bouquet on the table and makes eye contact with Robert. Robert immediately grabs the roses and deposits them in a trash can.
“My apologies Dr. Meyer, but my boss is allergic to pollen,” Robert says.
Leilani scoffs.
“Since when has he been allergic to pollen?” she thinks, “His so-called allergies certainly didn’t prevent him from having flowers on our table yesterday.”
Leilani slams her wineglass onto the table and stands up, “Charles, it appears that Mr. Bamford has reserved this table. Let’s go to another one. Mr. Bamford, enjoy your lunch.”
Charles immediately stands up and nods politely at Waylen.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Bamford. I hope we can have lunch with you another time,” he says.
“Sorry Mrs. Bamford, but Mr. Bamford has actually reserved all of the tables,” the waiter says.
“Ahh, well watching him flaunting his wealth like that has taken away my appetite,” Leilani says sourly, “Come on Charles, let’s go.”
“Wait a minute,” Waylen says, “Dr. Meyer is our guest. I could never allow a guest of mine to leave hungry. Could you?”
Waylen twirls a lighter in his hands, and then he raps on the surface of the table twice.
“If I recall correctly, Dr. Meyer really likes spaghetti,” Waylen continues, “I’ve heard this restaurant makes an especially good spaghetti dish. Please do me the honor of joining me, Dr. Meyer.”
Though Waylen speaks politely, his tone makes it clear that Charles shouldn’t refuse his invitation. Charles shrugs and sits down.
“It’d be a pleasure,” Charles says, “It’s so thoughtful of you to remember my favorite dish.”
Robert secretly observes Charles—many men would cower in front of Waylen, but Charles remains cool and poised. Though Charles appears to be modest and gentle, Robert sees that he has a great deal of forbearance and tenacity. He’s like a porcupine who hides his spines; he seems harmless enough, but when he decides to attack, the blow will be deadly.
Leilani follows Charles’ lead and sits down as well. Waylen is so terribly jealous that she’s scared to leave Charles alone with him. She worries he might do something awful to Charles if she’s not there to stop him.
Leilani crosses her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair, trapping Waylen’s arm between her back and the back of the chair. Waylen ignores her and remains calm, pretending to play the benevolent host. He smiles slightly and turns to Charles.
“Dr. Meyer, if someone was scratched or bitten by a dog, would it be effective to burn the dog’s hair and apply it to the wound?” he asks with amus.e.m.e.nt.
Leilani’s back stiffens. How does he know about that?
Charles also leans backward, “No, that’s just an old folk treatment. It has no scientific basis whatsoever. If someone is attacked by a dog, they must get a rabies vaccination.”
Waylen’s smile widens, “Ahh, a stupid woman I know used that folk treatment method.”
Waylen’s fingers trace tantalizing circles on Leilani’s back. Leilani leans forward to escape his touch.
“Why hasn’t the food been served yet?” Leilani asks, “A stupid man I know must be hungry after spending an entire night alone with his dog.”
“Oh, did you miss me last night?” Waylen smirks, “Are you jealous?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Leilani says.
Charles feels his chest tighten as he watches them. Though they bicker, they don’t seem like a couple on the verge of divorce. Instead, they look more like quarrelsome lovers, teasing each other. What’s more, Waylen’s possessiveness is truly concerning—Charles can sense that it goes quite deep.
Though Leilani claims that she has no affection for Waylen, Charles can see that there is some ambiguous but powerful feeling between them. The very air around them is charged with it. Charles knows that a man like Waylen can get everything he wants. No woman in the world—not even Leilani—can withstand him. He watches Waylen stroke her back, and his stomach turns as he imagines all the ways a man like Waylen can excite the affections of a woman like Leilani.
“I won’t wait any longer,” he vows silently, “I have to get Leilani away from him as quickly as possible.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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