Chapter 36
Daniel
“Welcome to the St. Regis, Mr. Jacobs. I am Reva,” said the woman in the crisp, white linen suit.
“Thank you,” I said as I looked behind her at the crystal-clear, teal-blue waters sprinkled with little huts with straw roofs.
I couldn’t believe I was here. Just over twenty-four hours ago, Brody was in my office convincing me that a vacation would be good for me.
Then we were booking a first-class flight from New York to Bora Bora that night. It was all too surreal.
“I hope your flight here didn’t feel too long,” said Reva.
“It wasn’t too bad.”
The eighteen-plus hours were spent drinking Bloody Marys and watching in-flight movies, or sleeping in my private compartment. I felt bad for anyone who wasn’t in first class. I didn’t know how anyone flew that long in economy. That would be hell on earth. Or hell in the sky.
“Please, enjoy some complimentary champagne as our welcome to you.” Reva waved over a server who quickly arrived, balancing a tray with a single glass of champagne and an array of tropical flowers.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the glass. I took a long sip, the bubbles dancing down my throat.
A bell attendant came around with a gold cart and began carefully putting my luggage on the red velvet surface.
“We will have your luggage taken to your suite, but in the meantime, I would like to give you a tour of the grounds,” said Reva.
“Thank you, Reva.” I nodded.
She walked me through the expansive lobby with its white walls and woven ceiling.
Bright tropical flowers were arranged in large vases.
She introduced me to the concierge where I could make reservations or schedule excursions and activities.
We walked to the open-air spa with views of the lush vegetation and the smooth ocean.
Reva and I continued making our way down the winding wooden paths until we arrived at my room, which was really a bungalow. It was the last one on the wooden path.
Reva opened the door with a keycard and pushed the door open.
“Welcome to the Royal Suite, Mr. Jacobs. I hope you find it to your liking. This is where I leave you. I hope you enjoy your stay with us. Please, don’t hesitate to ask for anything.”
“Thank you,” I said, slipping her a fifty-dollar bill.
I stepped past her into the room and heard the door click behind me.
I walked into the living room, which looked out over a large deck and a rectangular pool.
The doors were open and the ocean breeze met my face.
To my right was the master bedroom with a large king bed covered in crisp, white linen in the center of the room, facing an unobstructed view of the ocean.
I noticed the walk-in closet to my left was open and my luggage was already arranged neatly inside.
The master bathroom had a jacuzzi tub and his and her sinks.
I was surprised how deceivingly small this bungalow looked from the outside.
I stepped out onto the deck with my champagne and looked out over the ocean.
This was truly paradise. It was strange to be here by myself.
Lonely even. I wished Heart were with me.
This could have been our babymoon. I read that was a thing.
Along with a push present, which I had already been thinking about. I guess I didn’t have to anymore.
She was always on my mind. I wanted to reach out to her again after the mess I had made at her work, but the way she looked at me made me not even try. I had seen her angry before, but not like that. There were sharp edges behind her words, and they cut deep.
I think it’s best we never see each other again.
I downed the rest of my champagne and shook my head, trying to get the echo of those words out. Trying to forget the pained look on her face. I kept blaming myself, but we both made choices we couldn’t take back.
I realized now that I didn’t really know her that well at all.
It had only been a few months since we met on the terrace at my work.
Little did I know that our lives would change after that day.
In those months, nothing had ever been smooth.
The waters of this ocean were smoother than anything between us.
We spent our time either fighting or fucking.
There really wasn’t anything in between.
We never took the proper time to get to know each other, and maybe that was partly my fault.
It wasn’t what I did with women. I never spent enough time with one to get to know them.
Maybe Heart was always that moody, or maybe the pregnancy hormones made her that way.
Really, the whole time I had known her she had been pregnant. I never really knew her at all.
On top of everything, she had lost the baby. Whether naturally or planned, it was a lot for her. That would drive anyone into a pit. I just was sorry I wasn’t there to help her through it.
I was also sorry for us and what we could have had. The thought was almost too much to bear. I never even knew what we were going to have—A boy. A girl. There was no point in thinking about it now, and that was heart-wrenching.
I pushed my hands from the railing of the deck and walked back inside my room.
I took off my travel clothes and changed into swim trunks.
Then I called the front desk to have some appetizers and a cocktail delivered to the room.
After I hung up, I walked back to the deck and launched myself off, landing in the clear, blue waters below.
That afternoon, I ate fresh fruit and French fries from the deck and sipped on Mai Tais, as I floated in the warm waters.
It felt like I was on my own private island.
Brody had been right. This was a good idea.
A really good idea. I couldn’t remember the last time I had taken a vacation.
I had traveled for work, sure, but not for leisure in a very long time.
Maybe this was what I needed to forget everything.
I pulled myself onto the deck, water dripping off of me, and faced the sun. I heard my phone ring on the deck chair. I reached over and grabbed it. It was Brody. I accepted the video call.
“Hey, bro,” I said, grinning.
“Wow. Is this my brother actually smiling?” he asked.
He was in his office, and for a second I felt guilty for not being there, but he had been the one to insist on this trip.
“Yeah, yeah. You were right. This place is amazing.”
“Wait, wait. What was that?” He cupped his hand to his ear.
I rolled my eyes. “You were right,” I said.
He gave me that annoying triumphant smile of his.
“I told you it would be just what you needed to get out of whatever funk you’ve been in.”
“I’m already feeling better. Look at this place,” I beamed, as I turned my phone and showed him the view of my room and the ocean surrounding.
“Wow. Maybe I should have gone instead. It has been tiring doing all your work for you.”
“Ha ha,” I laughed sarcastically. “How is it going over there?”
“We’re moving forward on the design process with the London offices. Thank God. I never thought we would actually get anywhere with them. But enough talk of work. You are there to relax.”
“How do you do that again?” I asked with a smirk.
“You’ll learn,” he replied. “Now get back to paradise. I’m just about to go to lunch. Enjoy, bro.”
“Thank you, Brody.”
I hung up and pulled myself to stand, my body already dry from the sun. I padded into my suite and into the bathroom. I took a long shower and got dressed for an early dinner. The travel days had caught up to me and I was ready to eat and then crash until morning.
I walked down the winding path toward the lobby, passing other guests on the way.
It was mostly couples walking hand in hand, their hair wet from the ocean and a frozen drink in their other hands.
I smiled and nodded as I passed, trying to be happy for them when they were a reminder that I was alone here.
I found the restaurant just off the lobby. It was open air, much like everything here. I sat at a table on the patio that overlooked the white sand beach. I ordered a whiskey on ice and sipped on it slowly as I watched other guests enter the restaurant.
I did a double-take as I saw a woman with long, dark hair sit at the bar.
As if Heart would somehow be here. I laughed to myself, but couldn’t tear my eyes away at the possibility it could be.
When I saw her partner join her and she turned toward him, I saw the profile of her face and knew I was out of my head.
I took another sip of whiskey and began studying the menu. A moment later, a server came by.
She wore a purple floral halter dress that hugged tightly to her breasts before flowing down to the floor. Her bright blonde hair was pulled into a low bun and her tan skin contrasted against it perfectly. She was probably in her early twenties.
“Hello, Mr. Jacobs. We are so pleased you could join us tonight,” she greeted with a heavy French accent.
“Hello,”—my eyes fell to her name tag—“Collete.”
I let my eyes explore a little more without bothering to hide it. I noticed her cheeks turn a shade of pink as if she were sunburnt. She gave me a knowing smile. She was game to play along.
“Have you had a chance to look over the menu, Mr. Jacobs?” she asked.
“Please, call me Daniel.”
She let out a small giggle.
“I have, but I would love to hear your recommendations. It’s my first time in Bora Bora.”
“Well, how do you like it so far?”
“I like what I see so far.”
She batted her eyelashes and bit her lip as she tapped her pen against her pad of paper.“I’m happy to hear that. And I would be happy to share some of my favorites on the menu.”
She leaned in and pointed out her favorite items. She smelled like coconut and saltwater. I ordered her recommendations. Crunchy pork salad. Samosas. Chicken with coconut rice.
“I’ll get that right in. Let me know if you need anything at all.” She walked away, her hips swaying, holding my attention until the moment she disappeared into the kitchen.
She could be fun, I thought. A little vacation fling.
Waking up naked in the sheets to the ocean air drifting in the open doorway.
Taking a dip in the water to wake us up.
The saltwater on our tan skin as we drank too many fruity cocktails before we tumbled back into the king-size bed.
Having someone to fuck this pain away would make this trip even better. No strings attached.
The idea was tantalizing. When she came by and served my food, I almost asked her when she was off, but decided against it. I knew in the end, I only really wanted to be with Heart. Anyone else would just be a Band-Aid.
So instead, I ate my food, which was insanely delicious. And with a full stomach, I walked back to my room and passed out alone.