Page 8 of Stay Awhile
I looked up from my phone with a smile and a nod. “Fiji it is.”
Jim pulled his phone from his back pocket, then looked back up at me.
“I have an amazing travel agent that can get you all the deals and include your flight. Let me at least do that for you. To be honest, he might be up now,” Jim said while calling whoever he was suggesting on speaker.
It was already late, so I highly doubted he would answer, but I was wrong as the sound of music blasting in the background came through and loud and clear. I didn’t need to guess that whoever was on the other line was at a nightclub and having the time of their lives.
“Jim, baby, tell me you’re calling me to give me another chance,” the man said in a sultry tone.
I lifted a brow and smirked in his direction.
“Harlet, you’re on speaker, and no, you know what you did. I’m here to fatten your pockets a little bit. I have someone who is trying to book a big trip to Fiji, and when I say big, I do mean big. Flights, cabanas, transportation, activities,” he told him.
I smiled as Jim boasted about a trip that we had just came up with a few minutes prior to the call. I could tell his friend Harlet had excused themselves into another space.
“Now, you have my undivided attention. Is this person you’re speaking of ready to seal the deal as we speak?” he asked in more of a professional tone.
I cleared my throat and stepped forward. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Now, when would you like to take this trip?” he asked.
The clacking of a keyboard could be heard clearly. I could tell he was no longer in whatever section of noise he had been in earlier.
“Uhm, I haven’t decided?—”
“ASAP,” Jim interrupted.
My eyes widened as I looked up at him, and I was certain my expression revealed everything. He placed his friend on mute for a moment.
“If you wait, you will talk yourself out of it, and you need the time to yourself, so take it.”
I huffed out a breath, then rolled my eyes. “Okay, if he can even set up an instant trip of luxury, I’ll do it. I’ll just have to find someone to fill in at my office and watch over everything while I’m gone.”
Jim waved me off, then turned the mute off. “Yes, so we’re solid on her taking this solo trip immediately. Also, we’re thinking top of the line. Luxury. Oh, and she is a single woman, so keep that in mind. She is trying to have a good time. Maybe a little one-night stand?—”
I slapped his shoulder, causing him to giggle.
“Please ignore him, but heavy on the single woman, so I would like some safety in place.”
“I gotcha, honey! I have the perfect resort. I’ve only heard good things about this place. They have all the activities you would need. If you’re down, I can get you booked for a flight and soon as two days from now.”
I looked at Jim and did the one thing I didn’t usually do. I let go.
“Book it.”
“Bula!”one of the staff members announced the moment I stepped off the bus that had picked a few of us up to bring to the resort. I had chosen to stay at a place called the Likuliku Lagoon Resort in Fiji. I chose to go all out, especially if I knew soon heat would be coming my way. I wanted to spend my last days in luxury. I deserved that shit.
I was done staying at the bottom of the fucking barrel when I could afford more. This thing with the agency had taken over my life, and I asked myself what I had to live for if I was forever in hiding? Hell, I wasn’t looking to build no family or no shit like that, but I at least wanted to experience a moment in my life where I was treated better than shit on the bottom of someone’s shoe.
I gave the attendant a nod and a tight smile. I immediately looked down, then remembered who the fuck I was. I was Knox muthafucking Bolden and hiding was no longer an option. Iwanted all the smoke, and I would forever stand behind my principles, so I lifted my chin high and continued walking as another attendant offered me a towel, then asked if I would like something to drink.
I respectfully declined, because although I was on new shit, something in me wouldn’t allow me to take anything from a stranger when I didn’t see with my own eyes how they handled the shit. Any of these people could be paid to kill my ass, so for now, I would pass.
I made my way inside of the resort that was adorned with nice woodworking archways and smiling faces. The lobby wasn’t extremely busy, but the majority of the people who walked by seemed to be couples. I continued toward the check-in desk and provided them with the credentials that VC’s ass had come up with. I almost called and cussed his ass out when I noticed the name he had placed on all of my forms. Brodrick Dick. He thought he was funny. He knew I didn’t have enough time to switch it up, so I just took the name in stride and kept it moving.
The attendant handed me my bungalow key and offered to show me where I was headed. I declined and asked her for a map. I wanted to map out the resort to see where all the open points were here. I knew there were quite a few being so close to the damn water. She smiled and obliged, pointing me in the direction I needed to go.
I glanced down at the map as I walked in the direction she pointed me in. Less than a few minutes later, I collided with a small frame. I cursed as I bent down to help her pick up her bags and the drink that had now spilled all over her white dress that clung to every curve of her body. She was still looking down, trying to pick up her things, but the curly brownish red mass that covered her face smelled of fresh vanilla with a hint of mint.
