Authors: Annalisa Simon
“None of this is any of your concern. I don’t see people coming up here telling you how to run your empire.
Whatever you think you’ve found out is none of your business. Anything that concerns the academy is up to my family, not you.”
“Not even if I have a proposal for you that could solve all your financial problems right now?”
“What are you talking about now?”
“Like I said I have a proposal but there are two conditions which you must comply with if it will work.”
“Okay, I’m listening!”
“I am willing
to cover the cost of your Academy’s program for two years until you are able to clear up your mess and secure another grant. I think that what you are doing is worthwhile but it is a shame that you are allowing greed to cloud the issues.”
“You do realize that it takes more than
two million dollars to run our program annually?” Nathan asked incredulously.
“I am aware of that already!”
“What is in this for you?” Nathan asked suspiciously.
“Nothing at all
, except seeing that these delegates and the others in your programs aren’t cheated.”
“And
your two conditions?”
“Tell the Samaroo’s to back off
from the deal and walk away from this relationship with Candasee. Love her enough to give her the fresh start she deserves.”
Nathan laughed. “So that’
s what’s in it for you! I walk away like some guilty party and you step in for Candasee looking like a knight in shining armour. This is blackmail!”
“I was hoping that you would be smart enough to see it otherwise Nathan. I am giving you the opportunity to save your Academy, to run a fair intensive and to leave here with your name and reputation intact.”
“And how long do I have before this
generous
offer expires?”
“I’ll give you twenty-four hours! I think that is more than enough time, don’t you? Either way you are going to lose Candasee, I am offering you a way to do it and still keep your business and family name out of trouble. I think I am being more than
generous
here!”
“I would love nothing more than to tell you to shove this proposal up your
arrogant ass. You are the most pompous, self-inflated dick I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. You sit there and you think you have all the chips, and all the moves and life is like a chess game to you. Do you ever consider that those pieces are people who actually have feelings too?”
“
Unfortunately I don’t play chess and
this
is all because of what you and your family are doing. My priority is in protecting those delegates and Candasee. She can’t afford to have her trust betrayed again. I don’t think she would recover from that. It is better this way that she still respects you after this is over. You can come up with several reasons why you’ve decided to step aside and allow her to move on with her life that will soften the blow of all of this for her. I can see that you love her so it should be obvious that you only have one option here. Let her go. Don’t let her get mixed up in this.”
“No deal Darius, I’
m not handing Candasee back to you just like that, never! She loves me. This isn’t some high school puppy love that I can just walk away from. We are getting married Darius! You need to get that through your thick skull. I don’t want your help,” said Nathan rising to his feet and walking toward the door. “I’m going to find a solution to the Academy’s problems that don’t involve the Samaroo’s or you.”
“You still have twenty-four hours and I’m confident that you will see reason.”
Nathan walked out and slammed the door behind him. As he walked away he’d already dialled Graeme’s number and his brother’s voice greeted him just as he stepped into the elevator. This time he would do the talking and Graeme would listen. Everything that mattered to him in his life depended on that.
“Graeme I’
m not going to go along with this scheme of yours anymore. Eve will have to take her chances with the rest of the delegates.”
“Nathan we’
ve already discussed this and you know that we can’t afford to turn down the kind of help her family is offering us right now.”
“Well we’
re going to, because your gambling debts and your kleptomaniac ways are going to cause me to lose Candasee and that is where I draw the line.”
“I don’t understand, has she found out?”
“Not yet but she suspects that something is wrong and now her ex-husband Darius Brogan has done some digging around and he knows everything Graeme. He’s blackmailing me and I’m tired of being everyone’s scapegoat. This time I’m not going to be the one that takes the fall.”
“What exactly did he say Nathan?” Graeme asked.
“He knows we are in financial trouble and that we are fixing the intensive results to secure funding. If Eve wins he will tell Candasee and all the staff all that he knows to discredit us. I will not lose her over this Graeme.”
“Is that all he said?”
Nathan was incensed this was his life and Graeme seemed not to be hearing him.
“No that’s not all, he offered to fund the full Academy program for the next two years by supplying the grant himself if we run this show above board, but in return I have to walk away from Candasee.”
“Did you accept it?”
“Of course not Graeme, haven’t you been listening to a word I’ve been saying?”
“Yes I have and I think it’s a good deal. If we can secure him as a donor then maybe we can tell the Samaroo’s to back off. That will definitely put us in the black!” Graeme replied thoughtfully, “I don’t trust them at all.”
“You think Graeme that you would have clued into that from the first time they suggested that you fix the results,” Nathan argued. “Quit gambling and pay them what you owe them!”
“I want to Nathan; I just got in over my head this last time. I promise I’m done! If we can get that money we can run a clean intensive and I can use some to pay back the Samaroo’s.
“Graeme, I’m not taking his money and I’m not fixing the intensive. Either way I’m the one that’s going to look guilty here.”
“How long will the offer be on the table?”
“He’s giving me twenty-four hours to reply
.”
“The full cost you say? Hmm, Candasee must be worth a lot to him to make an offer like this!”
“I can’t blame him there; she means the world to me Graeme.”
“
I will try to change the conditions we’ve agreed upon with the Samaroo’s. I think you should know that they’ve made certain threats to the family if we break the contract. The Samaroo’s do more than run the casino; they are involved in a whole lot more you don’t even want to know about.”
“Graeme you
should have thought about that before you got yourself into this mess. I think you should resign your position on the board. I’m not going to keep covering up your stealing, any more. Deal with the Samaroo’s on your own and leave the family and the academy out of it!”
“
Nate, I wish I could but they already deposited their first instalment into the foundation yesterday. Let’s just let them have the scholarship as planned and then we can deal with the rest quietly. Look brother, I’m sorry but Candasee is not the only woman in the world for Christ sakes. We can really turn around our finances here and still keep the Samaroo’s happy.”
“
You keep saying
we
as though I am with you on this! Do you think they will stop at just having you launder their money for them Graeme? This is Mom’s legacy that you are messing around with. You want to hear in the news that the Grace B. Carthswright Foundation was closed due to fraudulent activity? This is going to get out of hand and soon they will own you and you will have to lick their crusty little boots, and do them favours without question. Mom trusted you enough to give you leadership of our family’s monetary affairs and all you’ve done is to run them into the ground and blame me at every turn. I am not taking the blame this time around Graeme, I’m finished!”
“Nathan, think this through and don’t do anything that you will regret later!”
“The only thing I regret is that I allowed you to control me for so long. After the intensive, you can consider me out of the family business. You’ll have my resignation in writing by then!”
Nathan hung up in Graeme’s ear. He had to find Candasee and explain this to her before Darius did.
She would be busy for the rest of the day into the night with her classes and with getting preparations completed for the show that night. As he walked across the grounds, crews were already setting up the stage and the lighting, and chairs under a large high-domed tent.
“Mr. Carthswright, could we have a word with you,”
spoke an unfamiliar nasal voice. Nathan squinted against the sunlight and saw coming toward him a well-dressed couple of mixed African and Indian descent. The man’s shrewd eyes were trained directly on him and his accent was unmistakably Trinidadian.
Eve’s parents
.
He stopped and faced them and Mr. Samaroo held out a hand to him
in greeting. Nathan looked at his hand and hesitated for a moment before grasping it.
“I’m Neveen Sa
maroo and this is my wife Karla. We decided to fly in for a little holiday and also to make sure that our interests here are still shared,” he said with a sinister wink.
Nathan felt sick to his stomach as he considered the implications of this. Graeme’s mess was now squarely in his court and he was the one who had to deal with it. How did he protect his family’s legacy, his reputation, stay legit and still keep Darius at bay?
“Mr. Samaroo, I know you dealt mainly with Graeme on this issue but I must say that I cannot allow our interests to be shared. I’ve
said this to my brother already. I am not prepared to cheat the other delegates out of this once in a lifetime opportunity!
“The smile disappeared immediately from Mr. Samaroo’s
face as Nathan’s words sank in and it became a harsh mask so cold that Nathan shuddered involuntarily.
“I was made to understand that all were in agreement with
the scholarship arrangement. We have already begun the process of investing in your Academy.”
“I know and we need the help but I
cannot allow this intensive to become a part of that. If you have so much money why don’t you just pay to send Eve to a university of her choice? She does not need to win this competition to do that. This intensive was always meant for persons who could not afford a full tuition to have the chance at a full scholarship. Giving it to Eve would be unethical and unfair and I am not prepared to cheat our delegates out of their chances.”
“Is there somewhere more private where we could have this discussion,”
Neveen asked lowering his voice to a menacing whisper.
“No, there isn’t. I have a lot to put in place before this evening and anything wil
l have to wait until much later,” Nathan replied coldly.
“You can either come with me now, or have one of my men escort you later, you choose!”
Neveen replied looking over his shoulder meaningfully at the two large men that sat on the pavilion pretending to be enjoying tropical drinks. Nathan had almost not noticed them and they raised their glasses at him with a flourish.
Damn it Graeme
! Nathan thought. He could walk away now but that would ensure that he could be putting himself and Candasee in danger later.
What if they came to find him later in their room?
“Look be reasonable about this, neither of us are at home he
re and we can keep things civil,” said Nathan raising his hands defensively.
“That
is all we want as well,” said Neveen as a slick smile spread across his thin lips.
Nathan looked toward the conference area and his heart fell as he saw Candasee standing outside watching him. She was only about twenty feet away and she was sure to h
ave seen that this exchange wasn’t friendly.
“Okay, lead the way
Neveen, let’s have that talk.”
Nathan was walking away with Eve’s parents and two hulking men were now following them inside the hotel. She didn’t have a good feeling about it at all. When the Samaroo’s came in a few minutes ago she could immediately see where Eve’s superior attitude came from. They acted as though she was their employee and as though their interruption meant nothing. She’d continued for as long as she could before dismissing the students for lunch. They’d sat and watched the proceedings and then left with their daughter. What was Nathan hiding that he couldn’t tell her?
Candasee was never so glad to see the end of a day. Her eyes were sore and her feet hurt, but her heart was full because tonight the academy made such an impressive showing for the film crew. Nathan was smiling from ear to ear as he was interviewed by Sally Flanders about the academy and their efforts to reach out across the Caribbean to empower young people. She was glad that he could get this exposure because she knew his heart was really into his work. Julia in particular was a hit with her acoustic rendition of “
Who You Are
” by Jessie J with a reggae twist. She was accompanied by Dominic on guitar and he also supported her with a harmonic back up vocal. She and Dominic seemed to have struck up a close friendship over the past few days and they blended beautifully.
When
life tried to keep this girl down she sidestepped it and grew stronger. When she sang the words, it struck a deep chord within her own heart and she found herself in tears as she listened. She’d been good at the auditions but tonight she just released herself fully and her rendition was good enough for a professional recording.
“
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, why am I doing this to myself, losing my mind on a tiny error, I nearly left the real me on the shelf, Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the stars, seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing, it’s okay not to be okay, sometimes it’s hard to follow your heart, but tears don’t mean you’re losing everybody’s bruising just be true to who you are, who you are, who you are...”,
She’d received a standing ovation by the crowd and when she looked around many were wiping tears from their eyes. That girl was something special and Candasee wanted to see her go as far as she could with her talent.
She’d found herself looking through the crowds for any sign of Darius, but it seemed that he didn’t even attend his own event! His reserved seat on the front row with the other dignitaries who were in attendance was unmistakably unoccupied. There were many important dignitaries from Derrien Island and other important stakeholders in the tourism industry there that evening.
Figure
d, he’d never attended any other event when she performed, so why should he this time around, she thought bitterly. His apology was once again a load of hot air and insincerity. She knew she was being ridiculous but it didn’t make her feel any less disappointed that he wasn’t there. She wanted him to finally see why she was so passionate about what she did, especially in light of all he told her the night before.
Everyone was now mi
lling around and sipping cocktails, so she thought it would be a good time to slip away and get some much needed quiet time. The lack of sleep had caused her to feel clouded all day and the dull throbbing in her temples indicated that if she did not get some rest soon she would soon have a full blown headache. She’d managed to execute her own dance without incident but she wasn’t at her best and she knew it. Sure, the audience applauded wildly but she knew the difference! Besides, there was one person’s applause she craved and once again she didn’t get it.
T
he Derrien Islander’s who were selected to perform were now being interviewed briefly by the travel show team and they were all beaming with pride. Julia got a chance to pose with Sally Flander’s and she was all smiles. What she couldn’t understand is why Nathan had once again insisted that Eve be a part of the interviewee’s. She was the one performance that was not up to the standard and the applause had been polite at best.
She wanted to avoid cameras tonight at all costs
and just be alone with her thoughts right now. Nathan was busy with his interviews and the other instructors were also busy networking. She wouldn’t be missed if she slipped away for just a little while.
The sound of the surf p
ounding just beyond the pool beckoned to her and the thought of dipping her toes in the warm ocean seemed like heaven. Leaving the harsh glare of the stage lighting, she walked over to the beach and stood at the water’s edge allowing the waves to soak her feet as she burrowed them deeply into the sand. It was cool and refreshing and she closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel the smooth ebb and flow of the waves as they swirled around her ankles.
“You guys did an excellent job tonight! I’m sure you are
very proud!” said Darius as he came to stand a few feet behind her.
A slow smile crept across Candasee’s face concealed by the darkness and
by the fact that she faced away from him. But it did not diminish the immediate rush of happiness she felt knowing that he was there. The rich timbre of his voice was almost soothing to the throbbing in her head; after all she hardly slept and spent the entire day thinking about him and remembering his touch and every sensuous detail about last night. She also remembered how cold and distant he’d become at the end before he’d brought her back here.
“I almost thought you skipped
the performance tonight!” she replied without turning.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world
besides I do have an interest in all of it for business. It would’ve been improper for me to miss the final night’s filming altogether.”
Forget the damn filming
, he thought. He had one consuming reason for watching the show tonight and it was the same reason he was standing on this beach right now.
He had to see her.
Her solo piece was so well done that it brought tears to his eyes to see how skilfully she’d executed it. He wanted to tell her just how beautiful she looked but he didn’t trust his voice in that moment. He was still bruised after their encounter last night and to his annoyance he was the one putting up walls now. He’d stood near the back of the lawn area that had been set up near the palms instead of being seated up front where he knew his seat had been reserved.
“I see!”
she said with a tinge of disappointment in her voice that he didn’t say that he came to see her or her work. He still seemed just as distant as he did when they returned from Krispin this morning.
“Look
, I’m not going to disturb you for too long. I wanted to let you know that I am going to be out of the country on business tomorrow. I will be back in time for the final day of the intensive though. Perhaps we can see each other then for a short time before you leave the hotel, for old time’s sake. I won’t lie though; I’m hoping that maybe if I’m gone, you might miss me enough to think about all we talked about last night more deeply.”
Candasee
whirled around and was surprised at first to see that Darius was not wearing his usual designer suit but rather a pair of jeans and a close fitted knit shirt. He was so devastatingly handsome that it took her breath away. What was that pang in her chest? Surely she was not anticipating missing him already!
She was.
Candasee swallowed the lump that seemed to fill her throat at the thought of not seeing Darius for even one day.
This was ridiculous
.
“Well, I wish you a successful and safe trip then!” she found herself saying quickly lowering her eyes so he would not see the
torn expression she was sure was reflected there.
“Yes I hope so too!” he replied. “
I figured that asking you to dinner would be inappropriate considering your relationship with Nathan, so I’ll leave the format of our meeting up to you to decide.”
I
f she chose to meet him it would mean only one thing. It wouldn’t be for old time sakes but it would mean that she would be giving their marriage a second chance. She wanted to let him know that she already forgave him and tell him how she really felt about him still. She could see her rejection was practically ripping him to shreds and inside she felt the same tearing. She was hiding and somehow the cleft she’d chosen to occupy for the last two years was getting smaller and smaller and it was more difficult to pretend that not being with him didn’t really matter to her.
W
hen she woke up that morning and found herself cuddled intimately against Nathan she recognized again just how complicated this situation really was. Was she really in love with two different men?
Seeing the play of emotions across her face
, Darius waited for her response. When she didn’t respond he asked, “Should I just forget this notion of seeing you at all even just as friends?”
“
No, I was just thinking about how complicated this is for me. I want to do what is right for everyone involved! I didn’t plan on any of this happening!”
“I know
and the truth is that you had every right to move on with your life. I can also see that Nathan loves you a lot. Just saying that is hard for me because it introduces the possibility that I could be the loser here. I just want you to be happy, but I also want you to be sure about your choice as well.”
“Candasee, is that you?” called
out Nathan as he peered into the darkness. He swore she was out there with someone that looked like Darius. He’d almost thought that he didn’t attend the concert at all! He was about to call out to her again when one of Sally’s aides came up to him with a document to confirm the names of the performers.
“Darius, I’ve got to go, ha
ve a wonderful trip!” she said with a touch of sadness.
“Candasee
started to walk back up the beach to where Nathan was waiting when Darius caught her by the wrist causing her to whirl around.
He pulled her to him quickly and
hugged her tightly before releasing her again back on to unsteady feet.
Candasee
held her breath knowing Nathan stood several feet behind her in full view of what Darius just did.
“
You may be able to hide how you feel Candasee but I can’t! I wish you well with him.”
“Goodbye Darius and safe travels,” she added trying to swallow the huge lump which was now stuck in her throat. She wouldn’t cry. Was he giving up?
She turned slowly and made her way back up the beach. Was he still standing there watching her leave? God, she wanted to turn around and run back into his arms, but she couldn’t do that to Nathan. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest and she felt tears begin to prick her eyelids.
“
So, is that how you have been spending your time with Darius these past few days? No wonder he is overflowing with confidence,” Nathan managed to choke out when she reached him.
“I didn’t know he was going to do that just now. He was just saying goodbye. He’s leaving to go on a business trip
early tomorrow morning,” Candasee stuttered defensively.
“That didn’t look like goodbye from where I was standing Candasee,” he said shaking his head.
“You’re right and I’m not going to lie to you Nathan. We need to talk tonight. I can’t go on pretending that things are the same between us.” She hadn’t told him as yet about her trip to Krispin, saved by sleep and their busy day schedule but they had to talk. It was unavoidable! Obviously tonight did not seem like the best time but the urgency of it all niggled at the back of her mind.
“Can it wait till tomorrow morning,” asked Nathan needing to buy more time. Candasee looked as though she was on the verge of
breaking up with him, and he had nothing he could use to stop her. He needed time.
“I have several details to wrap up here before I come up and Sally has asked to have a meeting with me as well!”
“I can wait up for you,
replied Candasee sensing the tension of what she needed to say twisting in her gut.
“No, you get some rest tonight. You barely got any sleep this morning. It’s any wonder that we are both still standing. Let’s save this conversation for when we are both rested and thinking clearly, okay?”
Nathan said fighting his inner reaction to the sadness and finality he saw in Candasee’s eyes and voice.
Candasee
relented and began walking slowly into the hotel. He was right; this wasn’t the time or the place. Tomorrow she would be honest with him and with herself once and for all.
Once he
’d finished up ensuring that the academy participants returned the costumes they borrowed to the event management team, he would be spending the night in his room, 510. There was no way that he would risk going to 746 tonight. He had to find a solution to all the problems he was facing before he talked to Candasee.
“It took another twenty minutes before he was satisfied that
all of the academy’s equipment was secured for the night. He was also very aware of Samaroo’s bodyguards moving in the shadows beyond the concert area too. Samaroo was insistent on the first arrangement they made with Graeme simply because it was the only way his daughter could transfer her credits to the university in Barbados legitimately. She needed the recommendation. Carthswright’s scholars were recognized as talented, serious students and she needed that reference to gain entry considering her past drug-related activities. She was nothing but a spoiled brat and her parents encouraged her in that. They could have their scholarship but he was finished with the academy as soon as this was over. In a few days this would be Graeme’s problem and not his. Right now he was just as guilty because even though he was opposed to it he was still going along with the plan. What other options did he have? Certainly not the deal Darius offered him. Candasee would never ever know what really happened here this week. She would never have to look at what he did with disgust. Teaching these students and giving them the opportunity to learn meant everything to her. She could never know and he had to make sure Darius wouldn’t tell her either. He had till tomorrow to come up with some kind of plan to stop him.