Page 81 of The Last Resort
Yeah, Dad, you’ve done everything.
“I’m not going to ask Matthew Royal or anyone else from his family for such a ridiculous amount of money. That’s just plain offensive. Give me one good reason why I would even consider doing that?”
“If I can pay back my old clients, I can get my sentence reduced. But if you won’t do it for me, do if for your Mama. Think of all the years she’ll spend alone while I’m banged up in here.”
Bastard.He was playing the guilt card. If she didn’t help him get out of prison, her mother would suffer. Her mother had never held a real job, and Rachel doubted she’d know how to work and earn a wage. Patricia would be forced to spend the next five years relying on the charity of her brother, her life in a constant state of limbo.
This is so unfair.
Saying no to a man who had perfected the art of wrapping people around his little finger was harder than it sounded, especially when that man was her father.
“I have to go. I can’t. I …”
Rachel hung up. Between now and the next time her father called, she was going to have to find the strength to say no once and for all. Her future happiness depended on it.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The Royal private island
Saturday afternoon
Rachel tightened her grip on Matthew’s hand. Her heart was racing as they stepped off the boat which had brought them over from the island of Provo, in the small British overseas territory of Turks and Caicos. She’d been to social events in Atlanta, but none compared to the sheer number of immaculately dressed staff who crowded around them now.
Six hours after leaving the chills of New York and she was standing in the sunshine of the Caribbean. On the plane, she’d changed into one of the chocolate brown linen dresses she had purchased from Saks Fifth Avenue, along with a pair of brown and cream striped Jimmy Choo wedge sandals.
Vivian had been right. The confidence that wearing these new clothes gave her was palpable. It went a long way to calming her nerves.
“Welcome. Welcome. Mister Matthew. Come here.”
Matthew’s hand slipped from Rachel’s as a large Blackman with a Caribbean accent pulled him into his embrace. Her date disappeared into a hug comprised of strong arms and a billowing white linen shirt.
Rachel didn’t have time to enjoy the rest of the welcome as a grinning Bryce pressed a glass of champagne into her hands. “Don’t worry, you will be given an island welcome when you come here next time. The team tends to leave first time visitors alone, but you won’t be spared for future visits.”
Vivian came to stand by her side. “The hug is actually quite nice. Mister Alleyne is a lovely man, and he runs this island like clockwork. Anything you want or need, he and his team will arrange it.”
Matthew finally escaped his island embrace, stepping out of the way as Mister Alleyne made a beeline for Bryce. “You are next, Mister Bryce.”
“Let’s go find our room,” said Matthew, taking hold of Rachel’s free hand. Vivian waved them a fond farewell. No doubt lining up for her own island welcome hug.
The hard wood of the dockside ramps and gangways gave way to soft ivory colored sand. Above them, the palm trees swayed in the ocean breeze. The sky was perfectly blue, with not a cloud to be seen.
It looks like one of those commercials when the people win the lottery and buy their own island.
She stifled a laugh. These people really did own a spot of paradise.
As they moved further onto the island, she caught glimpses of boats bobbing up and down on the water just offshore. When she got closer, Rachel’s mouth dropped open. They weren’t just yachts, they were ocean-cruising yachts.Amazing.She’d seen ones like them while on a holiday to Monte Carlo a few years back, and at the time had wondered what sort of people owned such incredible boats.
Wonder no more, you are about to meet some of them.
“That’s the Italian and Greek side of the Royal family. There isn’t enough room for everyone to stay on the island, so they brought their own floating hotels with them,” explained Matthew. He pointed to the nearest of the yachts. “Uncle Mariano will be on board. His part of the family owns some of the most exclusive, bespoke suit makers in all of Italy. They preserve the old ways of the cloth guilds, but they also have over one-hundred and fifty main stream fashion stores throughout the country.”
“And the Greeks?”
“Cruise ships. Big ones, small ones. Lots of them.”
The path which lay ahead meandered through the trees, finally opening up onto a large marble paved courtyard, edged with pink and white flowering plants. Rachel hadn’t ever been one for flowers or trees, so she would have to guess that they were some variety of Bougainvillea. Their fragrant flowers filled the air with a rich, heady scent.
Rachel’s gaze shifted from the greenery to the enormous white stone estate villa with towers on either side, which sat behind the courtyard. Literal towers. The house rose over four floors. Each roof and tower was topped off with black and gray peaked tiles. She might not know her flowers all too well, but she understood clever design.
