Jacquelin Thomas - Five Star Attraction

“It’s the Cristal of bottled water,” Ari interjected, reading from the web browser on his iPhone. “It was created by a Hollywood producer. The water contained in the bottle comes from a Tennessee spring.”

“Mister Robert only allowed Bling H2O to be served at his hotels,” the butler contributed. “However, he kept King Island Cloud Juice stocked for select VIP guests.” He paused a moment before adding, “Will this be all, sir?”

“Yes. Thank you, Franklin.” Malcolm examined the bottle of water. “This is too pretty to drink. I’m going to have to take a bottle home to your mama. I can’t wait to see the expression on her face.”

Ari chuckled. His mother would never believe it without seeing the bottle of luxury water for herself.

Malcolm poured the chilled liquid into a glass and took a sip. “It tastes good,” he said. “Almost too good to be true.”

Ari followed suit. “I have to say that this is the best water I’ve ever tasted. I thought Le Bleu was expensive at twelve dollars a bottle.”

His father nodded in agreement. “We only carry Le Bleu Premium when a customer requests it, and even then, they pay for it. This is certainly a different lifestyle.”

“It would take some getting used to,” Ari said. “Don’t know about you, but I’m up to the challenge.”

Natasha strolled into the room. “I apologize for having to interrupt our meeting, but that call had been scheduled for months.”

“It’s quite all right,” Malcolm responded. “You haven’t missed much.”

Ari leaned forward in his chair. “So you and Robert were close.”

“Not in the way that you are implying,” she responded coldly. “Robert was my mentor when I was in college, and I worked for him before starting my own consulting company. I was just as close to his wife before she passed away.”

“Son, stop giving this little lady a hard time.”

Natasha smiled smoothly, betraying nothing of her annoyance.

Ari looked at his father. “Miss LeBlanc looks like she can take care of herself, Dad. She doesn’t need your protection.”

Ira strode back into the conference room with purpose. “I need to get back to my office for a meeting,” he announced. “Let’s table the rest for tomorrow.”

Malcolm gave a slight nod. “That’s fine.”

Natasha rose to her feet. “It has truly been a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Alexander.”

“What about me?” Ari asked.

“It was nice to meet you, too,” she responded. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”

“We’re not going anywhere.” Ari smiled when he caught the expression on Natasha’s face. The meaning behind his words hadn’t escaped her.

Chapter 3

Ari Alexander was infuriating, to say the least. What had she done to make him so distrustful of her? Natasha drove along the 405 freeway, trying to figure out the answer to that question.

“I’m doing the right thing,” she kept telling herself over and over again. Natasha thought about her last conversation with Robert. He had been clear about his final instructions—this much she knew. Robert DePaul died the very next day.

The last thing she wanted to do was betray the man who had been a mentor to her, but in some ways she could understand why Harold felt so slighted. He had worked alongside his uncle and been extremely loyal to Robert. Malcolm appeared to be a good man, but he had never had any type of relationship with his biological father.

Natasha didn’t want to insult Malcolm Alexander or his infuriating son, but she hoped that they would seriously consider her advice to sell, although she didn’t mention that the investment group interested consisted of members of Robert DePaul’s family.

Shortly after the will was read, Harold approached her with a way for his family to retain the hotel group. She didn’t see any reason not to help him—Harold and his relatives only wanted to protect what should have been theirs in the first place.

Despite Malcolm’s business acumen, Natasha still believed that he lacked the experience for running a hotel chain of this size. Once Malcolm decided to sell, Harold promised to pay her the balance of the money they offered. Medical bills would eat up the ten thousand Robert left her. He had also given her complete ownership of the building that housed her company. If Harold hadn’t approached her with his offer, she had planned to sell the building.

She put on her right signal as she switched lanes. Natasha was taking the next off-ramp. She was looking forward to slipping off her heels and relaxing. It had been a trying day, to say the least.

Ari and his father escorted Ira and his assistant to the door.

“I’m only a phone call away,” Ira told them. “Call if you have any questions.”

“There won’t be anything pressing that can’t wait until morning,” Malcolm responded.

Ari settled down in the living room and turned on the television. Malcolm was about to join him when Franklin appeared from another room.

“The master bedroom has been prepared for you, Mr. Alexander.” He turned to Ari and said, “You will be in the guest room across the hall.”

“Thank you,” they said in unison.

“Mr. Alexander, is there anything I can get for you before dinner?” Franklin inquired.

“We’re fine,” Malcolm said.

“Chef Ricardo will have dinner prepared promptly at 6:00 p.m.”

There was a thin smile on his lips as Malcolm gave a slight nod. “Thank you.”

Franklin disappeared as quietly as he had arrived.

“That dude bothers me,” Ari whispered. “I wonder if he even knows how to smile. Maybe it’s in the Butlers of America handbook or something that smiling is strictly forbidden.”

Laughing, Malcolm nodded in agreement. “I don’t know how Robert could have him lurking around all of the time. Ira told me that Franklin and Chef Ricardo actually live across the hall in accommodations for personal staff. However, he moved into the room near the kitchen when Robert got sick. He was very loyal to Robert.”

Ari gave his father a sidelong glance and said in a loud whisper, “Well, now he’s yours.”

Malcolm sighed softly. He got up and walked into the conference room. He returned a few minutes later carrying the letter from Robert. “I guess I should read this now.”

“You don’t have to do it until you’re ready,” Ari told him. “Maybe you should wait until you’re with Mom.”

“I thought about that, but I changed my mind,” Malcolm said. “I guess my curiosity is getting the better of me.”

They sat down at the table, side by side.

Malcolm opened the letter. He read the words aloud.

Malcolm,

I’m sure the news that you are my son has blindsided you and for that, I apologize. I have long wanted to come to you, but your mother made me promise never to disrupt your life.

I met Pearle Strickland in Wilmington, North Carolina, when she worked as a housekeeper for the DePaul DeSoto Hotel owned by my family. I want you to know that Pearle and I were very much in love, but we were both concerned with how our relationship would be viewed by the world and our families.

When Pearle found out that she was pregnant, she decided it was best to spare my family the scandal by leaving town. This was not what I wanted, but I’m sure you are aware of your mother’s stubborn streak—she would have it no other way.

Soon after, I received word that she was getting married and she urged me to forget about her. She told me that Theodore Alexander was a good man and would be a good father to you. She insisted that this was the way it had to be. I was to never have any contact with you.

Although this was what your mother wanted, I found it hard not to keep track of how you were progressing. My wife and I were never fortunate to have children. I have always believed God would not allow me another child because I had not honored the one he blessed me with. Malcolm, I want you to understand that this is not about my guilt in not publicly recognizing you as my son.