4 - ANYSSA
4
ANYSSA
“I don’t see it.”
“It’s usually that way when a person has a doppelg?nger,” Paisley, one of Aarlin’s friends, says.
“Yep, happened to me,” Aarlin agrees. “There was this one time when I was working for a communications company, and I saw this man every day. I never thought twice about him, but people kept telling me that I had someone who looked like he could be my brother. I had no idea who they were talking about, even with the flowery descriptions they gave. One day, one of my colleagues pointed him out, and it was the guy I’d seen all along. Nothing. I could find absolutely nothing about him that looked like me. We took pictures together because he’d been getting the same responses as me. I showed my mom and pop, and they agreed. Said he could be my twin.”
I stare at the cinnamon-colored woman across the table with the chin-length bob, nut-brown eyes, and a slight overbite. She’s beautiful, but I still don’t see it.
“Nope,” I say, shaking my head.
Camila Martinez smiles goofily at me and says in a slightly accented voice, “Don’t think that just because I’m Dominican, we can’t look alike. I see the similarities in your rounded face, pouty lips, and wide-set, down-turned eyes. Even our coloring is similar.”
“Don’t see it,” I mumble, returning to the seafood pasta.
“Pass the wine, Lena,” the elderly gentleman across from Aarlin says to the middle-aged woman to his right.
“You’re going to drink the entire bottle,” Lena complains, moving the bottle out of his reach.
“It’s okay. There’s more where that one came from. This,” Camila says with a flourish, brandishing another bottle of wine, “is a bottle of our vintage two-thousand-two Vino de Lujo. It’s rare, the only one produced of its kind. Anyssa, you’re the wine connoisseur. Tell me what you think.”
I wait until she’s opened the bottle of wine before passing my glass. She carefully pours my glass half-full before she pulls the bottle away and sits back in anticipation of my reaction. I swish the wine in my mouth, savoring the coffee, tobacco, blackberry, toasted oak, and plum flavors.
“It has a polished style, very lush. It has harmony and is firm, but it’s also fluid. There’s a long finish, but the fine-grained tannins give grace to that. This is nice,” I say, holding my glass up for a refill, though I have yet to finish the first pour.
She smiles happily at me, eager to give me more as everyone else holds up their glasses, and the older gentleman, Jacob, I think is his name, greedily eyes the entire bottle.
“I think you and I could become great friends and business partners, Ms. Kelley. I need someone with a delicate palate on our marketing team.”
I smirk, knowing I may never see her again. Or I just might. Not for business, though. I have enough on my plate as it stands. But I could end up visiting her vineyard and taking on a lover. I bite back the giggle that wants to usurp the seriousness of the conversation.
“What’s so funny?” Aarlin asks, leaning into me and nuzzling my neck before nipping my earlobe.
“Nothing. Just thinking about how delicious this wine tastes.”
We tune the others out as they continue chatting. “I know something that tastes better than this wine. Something very lush and fine, whose fluids are the perfect harmony my mouth is searching for,” he says.
I’m squirming in my seat, trying my damndest to behave, but barely. Turning to him and kissing his lips sweetly, I reply, “After dessert.”
“You’re the only dessert that I need.”
I bite my bottom lip and look up to meet Camila’s gaze. She’s observing me, and I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking.
“You need to behave. You’re being rude to your guests,” I tell Aarlin, who sits up, clearing his throat.
“That’s a shame,” I hear Lena say, clucking her tongue.
Turning away from Aarlin, I look up to see Camila’s gaze on her phone. Her lovely features are marred by a scowl and a pinched look around her eyes.
“What’s a shame?” I ask, reaching for the rare bottle of wine again.
“Camila has to turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Lena explains.
As if pulled back into the conversation at the mention of her name, she jerks her attention away from the phone and says, “I have to cancel my next trip.”
“Which is where?” Aarlin asks in a bored tone.
“Mauritius. A beautiful island nation in East Africa. I was supposed to tour the Belle Baie resort and their rum distillery.”
“Isn’t that an exclusive resort?” Aarlin asks, seemingly more interested.
“Yes. One can visit by invitation only, and the resort owner has to invite you,” Lena explains.
“Rich people,” I say drily.
“Not exclusively, but yes, the guests are predominantly wealthy. The owner is after anonymity more than anything and wants his guests to uphold discretion, honoring his privacy but enjoying the land and the fruits of his hard work,” Camila says.
“This would have been the perfect opportunity to expand my vineyard. I’ve been traveling to various resorts that offer similar experiences to those I’d like to offer, such as wine tastings, horseback riding, and touring and learning about the land, the culture, and the history of our area and my family.”
“Though this was just one of her destinations on that journey, it was the best opportunity for her to expand her knowledge,” Courtland, another of Aarlin’s friends and the man who’s been paying close attention to Camila all night, says.
Until now, he’s been quiet for most of the evening, carefully studying her instead.
“What’s worse is that if I don’t make it, he won’t honor it later.”
“Why can’t you make it?” I ask, pouring myself yet another glass of wine.
Camila holds up her phone and explains. “My father is having surgery in a couple of months. I can’t miss it. I’m his only child, and there’s no one closer to him than I am. I’d hate to disappoint him or for him to go through this alone. My mom will be there, but she’s a worrier, and they’ll both drive each other crazy.”
“Maybe you could tell the resort owner that, and he’ll honor it,” I suggest.
Camila shakes her head. “He won’t. I’ve already mentioned it to my friend, who referred me. Usually, if people visit the resort and have a wonderful experience with him and a great time, they’re invited back for future visits. Any cancellations, rule-breaking, photography, or video leakage will get you banned and potentially sued. You have to sign an NDA before entering the property,” she laments.
“From everything that I’ve heard, the resort is beautiful,” Jacob slurs, reaching for the second bottle of wine. At this point, Lena smacks his hand and pulls the bottle to the other side of her.
She earns a scowl for her efforts. “Mauritius is beautiful. A resort created to take advantage of the simplistic beauty and natural landscaping would be stunning,” Lena says.
“What’s the name of the resort again?” I ask, pulling out my phone with one hand and holding up my glass for another refill with the other.
This delicious and powerful wine gives me more courage than usual. There’s a plan brewing in my mind, and I know it’s foolish, but I can’t stop its tendrils of power and persuasion from putting its hooks in me.
Camila waves her hand as Aarlin chuckles. “Chica, you may as well put that away. There are no pictures of the resort online. Haven’t you just heard a word of what we’ve said? The owner doesn’t allow photography or videos.”
“Damn. Sounds a little cultish to me,” I say.
“Not really. It’s beautiful and romantic, and how the owner preserves its integrity and does not allow anyone to capture it on film lends a certain mystique to the place,” Camila says.
“People have offered to pay millions for a chance to visit,” Lena adds with a bemused expression.
“How can you know it’s all that engaging if you’ve never visited or seen pictures?” I ask.
“Easy. I’ve had wealthy friends who have visited and gone on and on about their wonderful time and how romantic it was. I know of at least three couples who visited for their honeymoon. One of those couples was the one who got me an invitation,” Camila explained.
“They always say it’s not what you know but who you know,” Lena expresses.
Courtland nods his agreement but remains silent on the subject.
“How much does a trip cost?” my intrigue now piqued at an all-time high.
“For three weeks, it’s roughly twenty-five thousand.”
“Damn!” I yelp as the others chuckle and giggle.
“Many a lover has found their soul mate on that island. Or so I’ve heard,” Lena says.
“You didn’t find me there,” Jacob states, gazing at Lena. I hadn’t realized they were together until now. She rolls her eyes and waves off his comment.
“I don’t have twenty-five K in my account, but I’d empty what I do have to make that happen if it’s everything that people say it is.”
The conversation eventually moves to talk about other travels the group has ventured on, and that’s when I learn that they usually vacation together, which is how they know one another. Only Aarlin is from Curacao. He met the others when they’d vacationed here about five years ago, and they’ve been traveling together ever since.
“So, where’s your next stop?” Courtland asks, eyeing me over a beer mug.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I usually allow my viewers to suggest where I should travel next, but so far, no one has come up with anything interesting,” I inform them, holding my phone aloft as evidence before letting it plop back onto my lap.
“Your website says you’re looking for love,” Lena says, holding up her phone.
“Among many other things,” I confirm, polishing off the bottle of wine.
“The woman is talking foolishly. I’ve told her she needs to look no further than me,” Aarlin says.
“Same game that you’ve been spitting at other women for far too long, my guy. It’s about time you settled down,” Courtland states.
He and Camilla are the only ones in the group with an American accent.
“I’m trying to, but she’s not working with me,” Aarlin says, nuzzling my neck again.
I shake my head and say, “It’ll come one day, and I’ll know when it’s right.”
“Sounds like you should get yourself an invitation to that mysterious resort. You might find just what you’re looking for,” Lena tells her.
“Problem is . . . I don’t have twenty-five K, and I don’t know anyone with those types of connections,” I explain.
I grab my wineglass and excuse myself from the table where Aarlin is engaged in playful banter with Jacob and Lena’s entertaining Courtland. I push my chair under the table and glance up when I feel someone staring at me, only to find that Camila’s gaze is on me.
“Hey,” I greet when Camila comes to stand beside me by the water’s edge.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she says, waving her glass toward the water.
“It is. I always find myself returning to Curacao, hoping one day to have someone to enjoy it with.”
“Maybe you will.”
I sigh and sip my wine.
“In the meantime, I might have a way for you to take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“What do you mean?”
“How much would you be willing to pay to go on that trip to Belle Baie?”
“To Belle Baie? What’s going on?”
“You said you’d be willing to empty your bank account to make that happen. How much can you come up with?”
“Uhhh . . . I do not have twenty-five grand.”
“How much do you have?”
“I mean, I can check to see what I can come up with, but why are you asking me this?” I ask, pulling my phone from my pocket.
“The reality is that I’ve already been referred, and been accepted and paid for the trip. There’s no way that I can make it, and I won’t get a refund. As I said, my father’s surgery is coming up, and I have to be there for him. It’s a risky surgery, and while we’re praying that all goes well, I honestly don’t know what will happen. I will never forgive myself if he doesn’t make it through and I wasn’t there.”
“I’m sorry, Camila.”
“Thank you. But listen, I have an idea that will help us both out.”
“What’s that?”
“You go to Belle Baie in my place as me.”
“How would I make that happen, Camila?”
“As much as you want to deny the resemblance between us, it’s more than just a passing resemblance. We could pass for twins to anyone who doesn’t know us.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, we look a little alike—”
“Anyssa,” she says patiently.
“Okay, okay. We look alike.”
“Thank you. We could make this a win-win situation for both of us. Although I won’t recoup the full amount of my twenty-five thousand dollars, I will salvage some of it. And I won’t ruin my friends’reputation by prohibiting them from being allowed to refer any future guests because I didn’t show up. I’ll still have the option to return someday, and I can gain some valuable knowledge for my business expansion if you’d be willing to help. Not to mention, you’ll have the perfect destination for your next vacation, and you just might find the love of a lifetime,” she says, ticking off each point on her finger.
“Well, damn. When you put it like that, it sounds like an offer I can’t refuse. I can come up with ten grand if that works for you.”
“That’s better than a total loss. But there’s one thing that I ask.”
“What’s that?”
“I need information on the distillery and vineyard to help expand. That’s why I was going there more than just vacationing. So, I’ll need you to complete the research I was going to do.”
“Tell me what you need, and I’m your girl!”
“I’ll put a packet together with my questions, concerns, ideas, and suggestions. We can set up a few Zoom calls to discuss the packet and teach you about my business and personal things about me, but don’t go too deep, and we’ll go over any questions you might have.”
“Sounds great. Hey, is there anyone that might be able to identify you when I arrive?”
“No, I’ve never been there before. My friends who have been there are vacationing in Greece for that month, and I don’t know anyone else there. Besides, I’m not on social media or famous, and it’s not like my photo is splashed all around the internet.”
“What about your vineyard?”
“No photos of the family. Just visitors to the vineyard and the actual property. Eventually, that may change as my business operations expand.”
“Are we seriously about to make this happen?” I ask excitedly.
A wide smile blossoms on her face as well. “I think so! It would be a beautiful partnership, and as I stated before, maybe this will lead to getting you on my marketing team.”
Laughing, I say, “I don’t know. I love to travel too much.”
“We can incorporate that as well.”
“Maybe,” I say.
“I’ve got some bright ideas, Anyssa, if you’re open.”
“Let’s see how this trip pans out, and we’ll go from there.”
She extends her hand. “Deal.”
“Deal!” I say, shaking her hand.
“Now we have to figure out the IDs.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a guy who can take care of that,” I say, thinking about my friend Logan.
“Three things. No pictures or videos can be taken there, or I will be banned forever.”
“Agreed.”
“I’ll have you sign an NDA because this has to be kept between you and me, no one else. No best friends, parents—nobody.”
“Agreed.”
“And finally, no questions about the owner’s wife.”
I hear the group’s laughter behind us and turn slightly to look over my shoulder. Everyone’s still engaged in deep conversations, but Aarlin’s eyes are on me. I know I don’t have much longer before he joins us; his attention is already drawing further away from the group’s conversation.
“Who is his wife?”
“Actress Bella Fouché. Everyone is constantly speculating about how she really died.”
“I’ve heard of her. Haven’t really seen her movies, but I know who she is.”
“Stay clear of that topic, no videos, no photos, stick to the terms of the NDA, and you should be okay.”
“This will be easy peasy,” I assure her.
“I knew we’d be great friends,” she says, smiling as Aarlin approaches my side.
Later, I will lie in bed, long after the fun with companions, long after sex with Aarlin, and my heart will yearn for something more. Someone to hold me through the night, kissing my temples, telling me he loves me. My heart will yearn for someone who makes me his sole focus.
And I will wonder if I’ll find everything my heart dreams of at Belle Baie.