Leaving Him: A New Adult International Romance Serial (Angelique's Greek Book 4) (4 page)
Read Leaving Him: A New Adult International Romance Serial (Angelique's Greek Book 4) Online
Authors: Kay Brody
Before long both Mr. and Mrs. Sands emerged and took up their seats next to him. The whole veranda was surrounded by flowers and shrubbery.
“So, what brings you to Cat Island?” Mrs. Sands asked.
“Angelique Felix,” Theo replied. “I met her in Dubai and have since traveled to Hawaii with her on a business venture. Now we find ourselves here. It is most beautiful.”
They both gave demure nods. “Thank you,” Mr. Sands said.
“Which leads me to my own question…” Theo shifted in his chair. He could feel the beating of his heart. “I was wondering if you’d consider selling, for the right price.”
Mr. and Mrs. Sands looked at each other, their expressions not giving away much.
Eventually Mr. Sands said, “We were thinking of retiring in another five to ten years, which is late by Bahamian standards. We enjoy working here but it is a lot of coordination and time to run such a place. It is over three hundred acres, you know. Are you sure you’d be ready to take on a project of such magnitude?”
“I think so,” Theo said. He already felt joy zipping through his body. “When Angelique told me this was her favorite place in the world, I wanted to buy it, so she could enjoy it as much as she wanted.”
Mrs. Sands laughed softly. “She can enjoy it as much as she wants now. In fact, she will enjoy it much more without owning it, probably. Nevertheless, you seem quite determined.”
“I am.”
“I will run it by her family first. The Felixes.”
“We have known them for many years,” Mr. Sands said. “Michael and I went to school together. I was an economist before we bought the land here.”
Theo grinned. “We’ll have to chat sometime then. I’m into hedge funds.”
“Oh,” said Mr. Sands, sitting forward in his chair. “Though it will be academic, I’m afraid. I’m finished with that world.”
Theo let out a long breath. “I know that feeling.” He sipped his water and looked around them. “This place is just… Angelique was telling me that when she’s here it seems like the problems of the world just fade away. I can see why she says that. I would love to tend a place like this.”
“We would certainly consider selling it,” said Mr. Sands. “Perhaps at the earliest in a year or two.”
“Perhaps three,” Mrs. Sands said.
“Perhaps,” Mr. Sands agreed. “We would have to have a valuation made on it first, but I expect it would be to the tune of a few million U.S. dollars.”
Theo smiled. “That works for me.” He felt he would pay almost all his money to be able to own such a magnificent place.
He walked all the way back to the Felix house with a spring in his step. He couldn’t wait to tell them all his plan, to see the joy and wonder in Angelique’s eyes. He could picture it, the way she’d jump up and squeal and squeeze him so tight until he couldn’t breathe. Maybe she’d be able to figure out her purpose while she was immersed in tending this beautiful place. Maybe she’d even find out that
was
her purpose. She’d told him about all the poetry she’d written in the gardens. Perhaps she might take that up again and be really good at it. She’d always struck him as having a beautiful, artistic, sensitive soul.
There were two reasons to feel glad, though, because that evening Angelique was cooking. The sun was already going down, meaning that by the time he reached the Felix house, dinner would probably be on the table. He’d made sure to take a run in the afternoon because, like Angelique, he was pretty sure he was going to lose his figure with the delicious food they served up at each meal.
And, sure enough, when he returned, a beautiful meal was laid out. Angelique had dimmed all the lights in the house and set candles upon the table, making the room flicker with a warm glow. The whole house smelled delicious.
“Wow,” he said as he walked in. She was still laboring in the kitchen, while her mother was running something up on the sewing machine. He smelled the rich, spicy aroma in the air. “What are you making?”
She smiled, and she looked more beautiful than ever in the candlelight. Her gold earrings shone. “Curry chicken, rice, avocado and vegetables. I hope you like spicy, my boy, because I’ve made it hot, hot, hot.”
“I love it hot, hot, hot,” he said. “You know that already.”
She winked. “I know.” She took a quick glance at her mother, then added. “I know you like your meals full of chili.”
Before long they were all sitting around the table, complimenting Angelique on her cooking skills.
“You’ve done well, my girl,” her father said, tucking in appreciatively, then nodded at his wife. “You taught her well, Anna.”
“I’m surprised the whole family isn’t like fat like hippos,” Claudine said with her mouth full.
“Don’t talk with—” Anna began to say but Claudine quickly interjected with, “The way Mummy cooks we all should be.” Anna could do nothing but smile and click her tongue, pretending she was annoyed.
Theo thought it was the best food he had ever tasted, and had told Angelique so. The whole room was filled with a glow, not just of the candles, but of happiness and family. As Theo judged it, it was the perfect time to tell them all about his plan for Mermaid Hole.
He cleared his throat. “I had a conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Sands today.”
Angelique looked up. “Oh?” He didn’t even look at the rest of the family; his focus was set on her. He was sure that it was the best thing to do. “What did they say?”
“Oh, not a lot,” he said. “Except… I mentioned to them that maybe … that in the next year or two, I could … buy the place for you, Angelique. Since you said how good it makes you feel and that it’s your favorite place, I thought maybe I should buy it for you.”
Everyone had stopped eating. Claudine looked at the ground and shifted in her chair. Mr. Felix sighed. Mrs. Felix, who usually was chatty and personable, stared at her plate. Angelique’s eyes clouded over with something negative, though he wasn’t sure what it was. Disappointment? Sadness? It appeared he’d done something dreadfully wrong. The silence in the room was deafening.
Eventually Angelique said, “Can I speak to you outside?”
Theo’s stomach sank. “Yes.”
When they got into the cool night air, Angelique strode up and down the path, agitated.
Theo felt like his guts had fallen out. “I don’t understand,” he said. “I thought you’d be happy.”
“Why would you think that?” she said. “For one thing, I’ve just told you that I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. Why would I want to make such a massive commitment? Why would I want
you
to make such a massive commitment on my behalf? Did you ever think how uncomfortable that might make me?”
It felt like a blow to the face, but he had to admit that no, he hadn’t considered that. He was about to open his mouth and defend himself, but she carried on.
“It’s all moving too fast,” she said. “And not only that, it’s too … like … flashy. It changes the tradition of everything. It would be a non-Bahamian owner, for a start.”
“You’re Bahamian,” he said. “I was buying it for you.”
“With
your
money,” she replied. “How am I supposed to accept a gift that huge? Without even asking me, as well. Just announcing it?”
“Well I know now you don’t want it.”
Angelique kept striding up and down, up and down, while Theo felt he was frozen to the spot.
“This is just … so much pressure,” Angelique said. “So much pressure—too much.”
Theo hadn’t felt so bad in years. It felt like his whole world was crashing down around him.
“Just forget I ever said anything,” he said. “Let’s go back in and eat the curry chicken and enjoy our night.”
But Angelique had tears in her eyes. “How am I supposed to enjoy the night now? After all of this? I just can’t do this, Theo, I can’t.”
Without warning, she turned and ran from the house and into the darkness. Theo took off after her, but she’d had a running start and he quickly lost her. There were no street lights and it was pitch dark.
“Angelique!” he hollered, but there was no reply.
He turned and ran back to the house to get his cell phone. As long as they were on the line, he could calm her down and get her to come back.
“Is everything okay?” Anna asked when he came back in.
“She’s run off and wouldn’t answer me.” He shook his head and picked up his cell phone, dialing her number. But soon they heard her ringtone tinkling in her bedroom and his heart sank. It was all his fault; she was out there all on her own in the dark.
Mr. Felix was already up out of his chair. “Let’s go look for her.”
Theo was already out the door. “Let’s go.”
The End
*****
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