Page 64 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

CARTER

Everyonewasawestruckasthe Balinese show ended with a dance performance that involved a dozen dancers in full costumes and headdresses, along with a well-trained elephant.

The audience cheered as the music ended and the performers took a bow.

I watched on in amazement, though a part of me was immersed in a bleak, desolate state.

It was the grand opening of Bali Villas. The festive mood should be contagious, and as the president and owner of The Croft Hotel Group, I should put on a more cheerful expression on my face. I should show greater enthusiasm.

But I wasn’t in a very good mood.

It’s been six months, and I had only seen Leigh once when I’d surprised her with a visit to Thailand. Even then, she had not seemed thrilled. She was always so busy and kept refusing my offer to visit and meet up. And so I had surprised her one time. We got to have dinner together, but that was it. She said she had an event to plan and a conference to attend that week, so she couldn’t give much time.

Perhaps we had grown apart. We hadn’t kept in touch as much as I would have liked to.

But my heart was still completely hers. She will always be my first love, and I will never ever forget her.

I’m not sure if she ever dated anyone else while staying in Thailand and moving around Asia. But as for me, I have never been with anyone else after her. I just wasn’t interested in dating anyone else--- even after all these months apart.

“Congratulations, Mr. Croft,” someone said, coming up to me and shaking my hand.

“Thank you,” I answered automatically. On the surface, I appeared to be my usual self. But deep inside, I was breaking very, very slowly.

This place was significant and special to us. I had been hoping that she would be able to come for the grand opening, which I’d informed her about a month ago.

If she doesn’t come, it only means that she has moved on, that she doesn’t hold this special anymore.

“Congratulations, Carter,” a familiar female voice said. I looked up to see Jillian, who had come along with some other social workers from the orphanage. “This place is amazing. Once again, you’ve outdone yourself.”

“Thanks so much,” I said, giving her a faint smile. I could tell she knew that something was bothering me, but I was glad she didn’t speak about it anymore. “Please do enjoy the refreshments. I hope you loved the show.”

“Oh, definitely!” Jillian exclaimed. “Thanks so much for having us.”

I smiled. Then she and her companions moved on, chatting about their favorite parts in the show.

The sun was shining brightly in the afternoon. I walked over to the swimming pool area and admired the way they incorporated it with the landscaping. It looked like a series of lagoons with small islands.

You would have loved this, Leigh,I said in silence.

As I went around the area, I tried to picture what Leigh was probably doing at that moment. She was in the opposite part of the world, perhaps just beginning to wake up. I imagined the way her eyes would open, the way the strands of her hair would frame her face as she stood up and stretched.

Oh, God, Leigh. I just miss you so very much.

When I checked out the dining area filled with people, I pictured her there wearing a lovely dress, just like when she had come here and eaten breakfast with me. I gently fingered the green napkins on the table, wrapped with elephant-shaped napkin holders in gold. She had been the one to pick these. Everyone had been raving about the linens.

I heard a ping from my cellphone. My heart skipped a beat. I was hoping it could be Leigh, telling me that she was actually going to come.

When I checked the message, I saw that it was from Drake, saying congratulations. He’d gone back to Ohio and tried his luck there again, working for his parents’ business. I heard he’s been doing much better, trying to change for real this time. For the better. It made me glad to know that, though I wasn’t sure if our friendship would ever go back to the way it was.

“Oh, Carter!” someone called, making me put my phone down and follow the sound of the voice. It was one of my old friends and business partners. “I can’t believe you included a chapel. That was a fantastic touch and definitely a good business move. Congratulations!”

“Oh, yes,” I answered. “Thank you.”

I checked my watch and then looked up at the sky. The sun was about to set, and I had made sure to position the tiny Balinese-inspired chapel in the perfect area to have the beautiful sunset as a background for weddings.

I chuckled as I remembered the architect saying that I was such a romantic for having thought of that idea. No one has ever described me as such.

I decided to take a walk toward the chapel. Even from afar, as I began to approach it, I felt in awe. There was a long walkway on top of a man-made lake leading to the A-shaped wooden chapel with full glass walls and windows. The outline of the structure had carvings that showed the famous island’s culture and history.

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