“Are you ready?” Gerrick interrupted her thoughts.
She nodded, picked up her bag and walked toward the private jet that’s parked near the runway.
“Gabriel’s inside, I won’t be coming with you today … I’ll fly over there when everything is done over here,” he added.
Gerrick had been Gabriel’s most trusted lawyer for 15 years. He was the one who was taking care of all his private dealings including Jamie’s divorce.
“Okay … I’ll see you then,” she said and climbed the stairs up to board the plane.
He waved at her from the bottom and got into a car right after.
Gabriel was sitting in his chair, reading a book. She hadn’t said anything to him about the pregnancy, she didn’t know how to. She was starting to have second thoughts again. Maybe she didn’t have to tell him after all, maybe she’ll just raise the baby with Perry and tell the world she was surrogating for her gay friend. That would save a lot of drama.
“Are you okay?” his deep voice seeped into her mind, he wasn’t even looking at her.
“Yeah … I’m fine,” she lied.
“You seemed nervous,” he said, still looking down at his book.
How could he have sensed it without even looking at her?
“I always get nervous when I’m flying,” she fidgeted in her seat.
“We’ve checked the engine twice, our pilot is the best in the field, I have engineers from Germany to do the maintenance on the plane regularly … it’s one of the safest places you can be … this plane,” he closed his book. “Champagne?” he offered.
“Oh no … thank you … I’m not drinking.”
He tilted his head one way, “Why not?”
Shit. “I’m just not feeling like it … maybe later, thanks anyway.”
His eyes pierced through her even though he was sitting across the aisle, he was studying her demeanor and she felt his suspicion just by the look on his face, that damn poker face.
“I heard your test result was good,” he started to bring up the topic.
She smiled nervously, “Yes … everything’s fine … I’m glad.”
He nodded, “I’m glad too … sit back and relax, Jamie, we’ll be there in no time,” and then he was back to his book.
It was a 4 hour flight to Bhorma. She fell asleep just after take off. All the anxiety that’s been building up for the past two weeks has taken its toll on her, or maybe it’s just early pregnancy fatigue.
She was sleeping the ugly sleep, her head fell over to the empty seat next to her. Her hair fell over her face and her mouth gaped open with a little bit of drool dripping from the corner of her lips. It was natural for the body to produce more saliva when a woman is pregnant. She woke up startled by her own recollection that she was in Gabriel’s private jet prior to her dreamless sleep.
Gabriel was still reading, she was relieved he didn’t notice her in a not very favorable state.
“Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?” his eyes were glued to his book.
She thought too soon. Of course he noticed, he was just pretending not to notice while he was smiling the whole time her mouth was half opened. Was she snoring? Shit.
“Yeah … I was doing last minute packing, you know, slept for two hours or so,” she lied.
She couldn’t figure out why she was tired all the time either, until she found out she was pregnant.
“Hmm … we’re almost there, we’ll go straight to the hotel and settle down for a bit … we can check out the location when you’re ready.”
**********
It’s always summer in Bhorma, sometimes it rains but hardly ever. It’s the number one destination island for anyone who wants to spend it on a beach, drinking cocktails at noon, drunk by sundown. Surrounded by white sand beaches, some perfect for surfers, some for sunbathing, some were private beaches used by high end resorts such as The Peninsula to accommodate their guests.
The Peninsula was one of four high end resorts Gabriel owned on the island, and 6 high end restaurants, along with at least a dozen luxurious villas. All of them were managed under his property management agency that handled the day to day rental and marketing operation.
Whenever he visits the island, they would hold a huge meeting to report their activities, revenues, issues they were facing and overcome.
His team was already informed of the latest development of what he was going to do with The Peninsula, and they had re-organized the staff to support the program.
There was a huge monitor at the entrance gate of The Peninsula, usually to promote events and their facilities, but it was now promoting how the resort will be the largest turtle conservation on the island. Jamie was enthralled by the effort.
They were welcomed like royalties, the staff lined up to greet them at the hotel. Everyone was overly friendly like they were too happy to see them, to see Gabriel especially, she was just there as a sidekick.
She wasn’t comfortable with the treatment, she looked at Gabriel with his poker face, couldn’t imagine he was enjoying the ceremony either.
The General Manager walked beside Gabriel and briefed him through some stuff, he was nodding along. The staff offered to bring her stuff, offered her drinks, took her to her room, washed her feet, combed her hair, anything, everything, she’d just say the word, they looked like they were willing to do it.
She smiled and waved, “I’m fine … thank you.”
Gabriel glanced at her and captured her discomfort.
“Peter, can somebody show Ms. Knox to her room? She must be tired from the long flight … and then you can put me up to speed at my office,” he said to the General Manager. “And please let the kitchen know that I will be having dinner here with Ms. Knox at 6, sounds good?” he said to both of them.
Jamie nodded, “Sure … I’ll be ready before then, maybe I’ll check out the location … just a quick look before dinner.”
They went their separate ways, one of the staff asked her to follow her lead to the private elevator. She immediately knew they were going to put her in one of the Presidential Suite.
“And where will Mr. Love be staying?” she asked Anna, the staff.
“Mr. Love’s suite is right above yours, Ms. Knox, there’s another private elevator inside that connects both rooms.”
“Oh? You mean he can come and go to my room through that elevator?” she tried to sound calm.
Anna was amused, “Only if you allow him to.”
Jamie, “Oh … okay … sorry, I thought …”
“Mr. Love did specifically ask that you should be accommodated in this suite for easier access … I’m sure it’s work related … Mr. Love doesn’t come out of his apartment unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“I see … does he do his surveillance from his suite too?” she was being cheeky.
But Anna responded with a polite smile.
“I’m sure he asked you to sign confidentiality agreements too,” Jamie mumbled.
Anna showed her the way to the suite, double wooden door, just the way he liked it. “We are all under confidentiality agreements here, Ms. Knox, and just a friendly reminder … Mr. Love knows everything.” They looked at each other in the eyes. “Everything,” Anna repeated.
“Thank you for the heads up,” she replied.
“You’re welcome, enjoy your stay, let us know if you need anything,” then Anna excused herself.
The Presidential Suite was vast, top-of-the-class interior, fully facilitated. When she entered, she was welcomed by the living room with a set of leather sofa and 50 inch TV, a small bar beside it and the dining area on the left. Other than a private elevator inside, there was a double door to a walk-in closet on the left side. When she opened it, it was another room in itself, floor-to-ceiling wardrobe on the right with an island in the middle of it, to the left was a huge mirror with a vanity completed with make-up artists lights around it.
There was another door at the other end of that room leading to the presidential suite bathroom. A personal sauna room inside it, a jacuzzi and a huge shower space in the corner. All the toiletries were designer brands from Etienne Aigner, Channel to Carolina Herrera, even the soap dish looked more expensive than her iPhone.
She googled The Peninsula in curiosity and found out she was living in a $5000 a night Presidential Suite, and she will spend a whole year in that room.
It resembled a luxurious apartment she used to share with Eduard in New York, but this suite was better, because she had it all to herself, no Eddie and it’s Bhorma where she was about to start the project of her passion with Gabriel Love sleeping right above her.