MARRYING MR. RIGHT (The Brides of Hilton Head Island Book 3) (7 page)

Chapter Seven

Paris, France

             
T
en years later, Taylor sat on an elegant golden chaise beside the open window inside her luxurious apartment, holding a hot mug and peering down at the breathtaking scenery below. White sailboats cruised along the glistening river. People walked to and fro along the bustling sidewalk. Athletic cyclists sped through the city, riding their bicycles. Never in a million years did she think she’d end up in Paris. The way she ended up there still blew her mind to this very day.

              Many weeks after an angel by the name of Scott Beringer had found her dying in the woods, she’d returned home to Hilton Head Island, only to find out that Zeke had moved on with his life. According to Zeke’s stepmother, Katherine, Zeke had left the small town and moved to England. In hopes that she and Zeke would someday reunite, she’d left all her forwarding information for him with Katherine; unfortunately, she never heard from him.

              Taylor tried to keep the memories of her and Zeke pure and unsullied.
Guess he went on with his life. Probably met another girl while attending college.

              Bright sunrays streamed through the opened window, heating Taylor’s face. She released a heartfelt sigh. She’d waited weeks and weeks and weeks for Zeke to call her and come home, but he never did. She’d also waited weeks, months, and years for the police to find her son, and unfortunately that day never came either.

              Devastated, Taylor had become severely depressed. She’d lost so much weight, she’d turned bone thin. Looked like a bag of bones. While many people, including her, found her weight loss unattractive, someone had found it beautiful. Strikingly beautiful.

              While roaming the shopping mall in Hilton Head one day with her mother, a gentleman had come up to her and told her he was a talent scout looking for models. Because of what’d happened to Taylor, she didn’t in the least bit trust the supposed talent scout. And she definitely didn’t believe someone that looked like her could actually become a model back then. Oh, heck no.

              Well, to her surprise, the talent scout, Mr. Pierre de Givenchy, had invited her, along with her mother, to his top notch agency located in Paris. After showing Taylor and Veronica around and introducing them to some of the most elite people in the fashion industry, Pierre de Givenchy made Taylor an offer she couldn’t refuse. She’d signed with Pierre’s multimillion dollar talent agency right away.

              Like magic, modeling jobs by the dozens came Taylor’s way. One after the other, after the other. To her blessing, Taylor now lived the life of a well-respected, wealthy model. She made so much money, it was impossible to spend it all. But her mother, Veronica, on the other hand, tried to spend every single dime she gave her. Thinking about her mother’s wild spending excursions and her own blessings, Taylor smiled.

              Even at the age of twenty-seven, the people in the fashion industry here in Paris treated her like royalty. Like a Princess. Looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Gave her whatever she wanted, and things she didn’t need.

              Yet with all the money and success Taylor had, she still felt empty inside. Had a hole in her heart. Felt like something was missing from her life. Her emptiness had nothing to do with not having a man, because if she wanted one, she could definitely have one. With very few friends, from time to time she dated. But every time she got close to having sex with a man, she couldn’t go all the way. Before she knew it, all of her relationships ended because of her inability to give herself completely. Not just because of the sex, though; she struggled with giving in to her emotions as well.

              Zeke’s name echoed in the black stillness of Taylor’s mind.
The only man for me probably was Zeke. A girl only gets love like that once in her lifetime. What is your life like now, Zeke? I’m sure he’s happily married with three kids or more by now.

             
Reminiscing about Zeke, an image of what her ten-year-old son she’d named Zavier may look like came to Taylor’s mind’s eye.
Oh, Zavier, who has you? I’m sure my little Zavier looks just like his father, Zeke, only light brown-complexioned. Probably has Zeke’s hair texture, and my eye color.

             
Gazing out the window, Taylor brought the hot cup of peach tea to her mouth and sipped. Longing for the return of her son, she savored the warm beverage as it glided down her throat. A cool breezed rolled off the river across the street, sailed through the window, and prickled her scalp.

              Just as she rose from the chaise, her cell buzzed on the fancy dresser inside her bedroom. Sipping from the mug, she crossed the room to answer her phone. She glanced at herself in the mirror before lifting the phone to her ear. God, she could use a facial.  “Hello?”             

              “You’re up early, I see, honey. Good. Good. I have some great news for you.” Pierre’s chipper French accent immediately perked up Taylor’s spirit.

              Walking back toward the window, Taylor smiled. “I’m always up early, Pierre. You know that.”

              “True. True.” Pierre clucked his tongue. “I tell you, this darn dog I have is becoming a nuisance. Prissy, stop hunching on my leg! Horny dog. Anyway, what was I saying?”

              Giggling, Taylor flopped back down on the chaise lounge. Elbow perched on the window sill, she extended her legs in front of her, crossed them at the ankles.  “You had some—”

              “Oh yeah. Revlon called, and they want to book you for a hair commercial. There’s only one problem, though.”

              “Uh oh. What?”

              Pierre cleared his throat. “They want you to color your hair this God-awful red.”

              A picture of Zeke’s red-headed stepmother, Katherine, popped inside Taylor’s head. “Red? Not red, Pierre. No.”

              “Honey, what do you mean, no?”

              Having red hair would remind her every second of the day of Katherine. “I mean no, I’m not doing it. I’ve reached a point in my career where I’m only taking on jobs that make me happy, and coloring my hair bright red won’t make me happy. It’d only make me look like—”

              “A damn fool! I agree, honey. Okay. I’ll let them know. Tootles.” Without further speaking, Pierre clicked her off.

             
Coloring my hair red; like hell I’m doing that
. A few moments later, Pierre called her again. “Yes, Pierre?” she answered after spying the Caller ID.

              Pierre stated, “I spoke with the casting director at Revlon, and you’re not going to believe how much they offered to pay you if you agree to do the commercial shoot!”

              “How much?”

              “Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars,” Pierre’s voice pitched.

              “Umm. For that amount of money, I think the red will look great!”

              Pierre’s light chuckles came through the phone. “Me, too, honey. Me, too.”

Hilton Head Island

ZEKE PUSHED THROUGH
the glass door of Balfour Resort & Hotel, located on the ocean, with a huge frown on his face. Wondering why in the hell his father had called a mandatory meeting at the last minute so late in the evening, Zeke stalked past the concierge desk and headed for the elevator. While he loved working for his father at the hotel–and loved Colton with all his heart–he just wished his workaholic father hadn’t interrupted him this evening, he thought, pushing the button to the elevator.

              As Zeke waited for the elevator to arrive, his mind traveled back to what he’d been doing moments prior to his father calling him. He’d been at the group care facility with Braylon and Richmond, tutoring underprivileged boys. Giving back to his community meant so much to him, and there his father had to go and interrupt it. The gold elevator doors swished open, and Zeke stepped inside. “Interrupting my pastime; this better be good, Father.”

              A few seconds later, Zeke stepped off the elevator and headed toward the conference room at the end of the hallway. Photos of his ancestors clung to the wall to his left. To his right, expensive sculptures lined the walls. For their protection, only certain people had access to the twenty-fifth floor, where the executive offices and boardrooms were located. 

              Coming to the end of the hallway, Zeke stopped when he reached the closed door to the conference room. Colton held only important meetings in this room. Knowing this, and considering the urgency that’d been in his father’s voice a little while ago, curiosity piqued Zeke’s interest. Zeke turned the door knob to the big, spacious room and pressed the door wide open.

              Katherine, Bane, and Antonio were all present inside the conference room overlooking the ocean. Zeke’s father, Colton, sat at the head of the table, and Katherine sat beside him. Bane sat to his father’s left, while Antonio sat to his right. 

              Antonio brought his watch up to his face. “About time you got here,” he spat, giving Zeke an unjust look.

             
Ignore foolish Antonio
. “I got here as fast as I could,” Zeke remarked, feeling as if he shouldn’t have to explain himself.
Some of us have important things to do for our communities after work.

             
“Close the door,” Colton ordered. Zeke closed the door, then plopped down in the leather seat next to Bane. Colton’s serious eyes grazed over Katherine’s face first, then Antonio’s, then Banes, and lastly Zeke’s. Colton cleared his throat. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. As soon as—”

              The door flung open, and his father’s attorney, Gar Grainger, stormed in. “Got stuck in traffic. Sorry.” Gar plopped down in the vacant seat next to Zeke.

              Colton continued. “As I was saying before Gar came in, thank you all for coming this evening, especially on such short notice. The reason I called you here is because there’s something important I have to tell you. What I have to tell you will affect each and every one of you.”

              Katherine cupped Colton’s hands. “Why do I have the feeling I’m not going to like this, Colton?”

              Colton nodded. “You’re right, Katherine. You’re probably not going to like what I have to say. In fact, there may be several of you in this room that may not like what I have to say. But just know this…my decision has been made. And it’s final. There’s nothing anyone can do to get me to change my mind, so don’t even try.” His deep, firm tone made everyone sit up straight and take notice.

              Katherine caressed the back of Colton’s hand. “What’s going on, Colton?”

              Colton’s brown eyes grew darker, and sad. “I’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer.”

             
Jesus Christ.
Cancer?
Zeke felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart with a sharp blade. Keeping his emotions intact, he swallowed. He inwardly prayed for his father.

              Katherine’s jaw dropped, and a loud gasp flew out. “Cancer! You’re dying?!”

              Colton shook his head. “Calm down, Katherine. Don’t go overreacting on me.”

              Tears shot to Katherine’s eyes. “Oh my God, Colton. Are the doctors sure? What does this mean?”

              Colton explained, “It means I’ll be undergoing extensive medical care and will be unable to work for a while. As of tonight, I’m relinquishing my duties, and I have no idea when I’ll be returning to Balfour Enterprises.”

              Zeke looked across the table at his reddish-blonde-haired brother Antonio. A huge smirk displayed on Antonio’s face. His blue eyes were lit up.
It’s going to be hell working for Antonio,
Zeke thought, knowing Colton would probably put Antonio in charge. Antonio was the oldest, after all; however, working for Antonio’s arrogant ass would be downright hard. Almost impossible.

              Colton continued. “That being said, I need someone I can trust to take over Balfour Enterprises while I’m out. Someone reliable. Someone that works their ass off, just like me; therefore, I’ve decided to make Zeke the new CEO of Balfour Resort & Hotels.” Colton looked at Zeke. His lips turned upward into a smile.

              Astounded, Zeke’s eyes widened. “Whoa. Whoa.”

              “This is fucking absurd!” Obviously angry, Antonio jumped up from his seat. “I’m the oldest, and I should be in charge.”

              Colton glanced up at Antonio and shook his head. “Please don’t take this personal, Antonio. I think the best of all my children. But Zeke, he’s a lot like me. He’ll run the company the way I run it. And he—”

              Anger blazed Antonio’s blue eyes. “Zeke’s always been your favorite son! And I want to know why? Do you feel sorry for Zeke because his mother was murdered when he was just a kid? Or do you favor him because you feel guilty for cheating on Katherine and bringing a bastard into our home?!”

              Colton leapt to his feet and leaned into the table. He growled. “You watch your gotdamn mouth, Antonio! I don’t care how mad you are, Zeke is still your brother, and I’m still your father.” Colton’s jaw shook. “You will not speak to me in that nasty tone, son.” Colton pointed at Antonio’s chair. “Now, please. Sit back down so we can finish the meeting in a pleasant tone.”