Unknown (Unknown Identity #1) (5 page)

S
itting in first class, completely unknown and glammed out in everything expensive and beautiful that they had splurged on the other day, Leslie felt almost a little silly. She couldn’t lie: it felt incredible to be there. Yet it also felt unreal. All the money she had in her bank account and all the secrecy she had shrouded herself in felt tainted using it without Michael. She knew he would want her to have plenty of fun with it while enjoying the anonymity she had given herself.

Grant had called her just before she boarded the plane. “It’s all sorted, Leslie.” He laughed. “You wanted a holiday to remember. That’s what I booked.”

“Thanks so much, Grant. I… I guess it’s time.”

“Time? To start enjoying your money? Or living again?”

She chewed on her lip. “Both, I guess.”

“You’re bloody right it is.” He chuckled again. “I want to hear all about it when you get back.”

“It’ll be in my next MS.”

He burst out laughing. “I really hope so.”

The last boarding call had her saying good-bye and rushing with Amber and Josie to finish their wine and hurry to the plane.

Now she sat on a large tan leather seat, a glass of champagne in her hand and sunglasses that enveloped half of her face, and a hat that was large enough to be an umbrella. She relaxed in the luxurious and lavish aura of the first class compartment of the plane that was taking them to the destination of a lifetime. Her roomies, as they now were calling each other, were just as spectacular; completely serious, even though all of them discussed how they felt like complete divas and prima donnas when they were waiting to board the plane. With a dozen selfies, something that Leslie had just been introduced to, the girls were on their way to sunny beaches where the boys were beyond handsome and the drinks were never-ending.

The plane ride was longer than Leslie had anticipated, and, while it bothered her slightly to be leaving the home she had nested herself into for the past year, she was overjoyed to see the world. She stared out the window with a grin on her face, and couldn’t stop herself from wishing Michael was here with her. She knew she was going to feel that way for the rest of her life, but at least she’d gotten on a plane. It should have been something that was going to encourage her, not hinder her.

It was hard, incredibly painful, to let go, but as she wiped a tear sneaking down her cheek she knew she was saying good-bye to him in a way. She didn’t want to let go, but she couldn’t exactly scream at the pilot to turn the plane around. Moving forward was her only option. She’d drink the holiday away if she couldn’t handle it. Or take the next flight back.

She knew she wouldn’t do that, but it was an option.

The pilot came on the intercom and told them that they were coming in to their first destination. Leslie felt her nerves rising, a tingling that overtook her, and as she chatted with her new friends the anxiety began to build.

This Caribbean resort was completely new to her. She and Michael had never left the States, aside for a trip up to Vancouver, Canada one wild week. What if Amber and Josie found guys here or made other friends, and they completely abandoned her? What if the boat ride to the island they were destined for turned out to be attacked by pirates or something? It happened in her books, why not real life? What if there was a venomous snake in her room? Every stupid possibility that popped up in her mind was completely ridiculous, and she knew she was overreacting, but that was what she was now: A crazed, drama-brained, homebody.

The wheels of the plane touched down and they were officially in paradise – where all the worries and the troubles of the world should be washed away, forgotten, and no longer a concern while on holiday. Leslie swallowed hard and vowed to make an effort to do that. It was time for her to let her hair down, show some skin, and let the sun and alcohol remind her what all the good stuff in the world was about.

They debarked and the sun washed over her, bathing her in golden warmth that didn’t judge or hurt her. There was a sense of calm and excitement that hit her… a strange feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time, nothing that she had felt since San Francisco. It was powerful. It was beautiful. She wanted to soak up every last drop of sunlight that warmed her bones. Walking down the runway toward the little brightly painted airport, she couldn’t help but smile.

Palm trees. Tall emerald reeds and grass, and beautiful people were all ready to embrace the exciting and the daring side of life that the warm sunshine and the cloudless skies offered them. Leslie took a deep breath, smelling the salt off the ocean and listening to the gulls overhead. Not to mention, there was laughter all around her. She turned and grinned at Amber and Josie, laughing beside her. “I think this is going to be a fun holiday.”

“You bet your ass it is,” Amber said and raised her arms, spinning around. “I love you, mysterious island!” she yelled.

Josie rolled her eyes but didn’t stop Amber. Neither did Leslie.

It wasn’t long before the three of them found themselves in a cab, making their way down to the marina. Grant had sent Leslie an email explaining that they were going to be taking a luxury ferry out into the cerulean waters of the Caribbean while hunting down their exotic island, where they were going to be treated like princesses, living a lifestyle so royal and lush that it was going to make them feel like they were robbing the entire world of its happiness.

Leslie looked around at the beautiful town full of vibrant colors, beautiful people in bikinis and shorts, and realized everything looked happier here. It did seem like paradise living here.

She stared out the window, watching as they wound their around to the other side of the island where everything looked just as incredible, but this time the view was overlooking the ocean and the roll of the surf as it lazily lolled up toward the shore. It was the kind of hypnotic view that she stared at while the others were talking about how incredible their adventure was going to be when they finally reached the island that was calling their names.

At the marina, there were fishing boats mingling with the number of yachts that were full of people who were gladly and happily already starting their party, even though it was the middle of the day. Leslie watched them, smiling as the various forms of music that they were partying too mingled and mixed with the others around them. It was a nonstop party, and the people on those boats were having a good time, laughing and drinking their cocktails that were every kind of color as they smiled and waved to them.

The boat that was going to ferry them to the private island resort that Grant had hooked them up with was full of couples and people who weren’t looking for the kind of loud and raucous fiesta that was roiling on the boats around them. They were quietly sipping champagne as they talked among themselves, and whispered in each other’s ears about how excited they were and how interested they were in the other people around them. There were a few of them who would whisper and talk quietly with those around them, but mostly people kept to themselves.

The one thing Leslie noticed was that all of them were incredibly handsome and beautiful, all of them looking like they were the creation of some very generous artist who had perfectly captured the desires of man. As she looked at them, she didn’t recognize any of them, but she quickly realized she was in the minority. Josie and Amber were whispering as they recognized people, telling Leslie who they were and why she should actually care about them. Leslie pretended to be interested and couldn’t help but feel guilty for not having the same shocked-excited expression on her face as Josie and Amber. Big fame didn’t interest her. It never had.

Eventually, everyone was on the boat who was actually going to be going with them to their island destination. She watched as they pulled away. The luxury yacht carrying them was fully staffed with plenty of handsome men in sharp uniforms walking around, offering them snacks and cocktails with a charming smile to keep them warm inside. Amber was practically swooning at the sights of the various men who were more than eager to offer her their charming smiles.

“Down girl,” Josie laughed as they pulled away from their highly populated party island and headed out onto the Caribbean. It wasn’t a whole lot of time with them walking around the boat, talking quietly with a few of the men who were more ambitious about meeting the people around them. No doubt they were more than interested in getting to know the buxom platinum blonde and her lithe brunette friend. While the two of them were eager to engage with the men around them, Leslie was less inclined to talk. She would stand by, smiling and nodding her head as they talked about what it was they did and were more than eager to puff themselves up in front of the three beautiful women.

Within an hour, there was a call overhead that they were approaching their destination, and from the front of the ship Leslie could see the island on the horizon. She watched it drawing closer and closer to her.

The resort had to be easily seven stories high, a sprawling building that fanned out across the entirety of the island, surrounded by a foundation of bungalows, restaurants, bars, clubs, and of course the palm trees that were as thick as the grass around it. It was unlike anything that Leslie had ever seen and as she stood, leaning on the railing, she wondered how someone could ever leave this kind of place. How did they ever get people off of it? Wouldn’t they just want to stay here forever and just enjoy the paradise they had stumbled across?

The boat pulled up to a dock, where the most beautiful men that Leslie had ever seen were waiting with women who were equally as stunning, all of them dressed in revealing and alluring uniforms but who had a way of shrinking into the background. They were definitely there as eye candy; they accented the world but weren’t the main focus. People were here to mingle with the other guests and to chase down the other patrons, not try to hit on the staff. As they helped her down with Josie and Amber, she walked with a bewildered expression on her face, wondering at how someone had gotten all the supplies to this place to actually build it.

The writer inside of her mind was going wild.

All she could think about were the intricacies of the world behind all of this. There was so much she knew that she wasn’t seeing and had to force herself not to pay attention to the little writer inside of her that was running around like a mad cap, trying to find a story she couldn’t afford to write right now. She needed a mental camera to remember everything here. Inside her mind, all she could think about were the sordid scandals and the mysterious secrets that happened among the staff and the guests of such a lavish and exciting place.

There were no children allowed on the premises of the resort; it was strictly an adult place to stay, which made her kind of wonder what kind of sick and twisted things they did here, but that was the writer inside of her as well. Any writer would immediately assume there was something happening behind the scenes, regardless of whether it was happening or not.

She put her brain on pause. She knew she needed to lock up that little writer and just throw away the key for a wee while.
Memorize everything, kiddo. Save it all for later.

At the front desk, they were welcomed by a charming and beautiful woman who had the kind of smile that could slay an angel. She had a twinkle in her eyes that eluded mystery and secrets from this place. Like she knew the ticket to fun on the island.

“Hi, I’m Charlene,” she said with a bright, beaming smile and the cutest personality that Leslie had ever seen. She wanted to scoop her up and take her home with her. “Welcome to the Paradiso. We want to welcome you and offer you the entire experience that you’re looking for here. Whether it is adventure or relaxation, it’s going to be a great experience for you, I guarantee it. Are there any questions that you need to have answered before I give you your rooms and access to them? I’m more than willing to give you any advice or show you around.”

“I think we’re good,” Josie said, looking at Amber and then Leslie. “I believe exploring is going to be half the fun.”

“Absolutely,” Charlene answered with a laugh. “Remember, at any time, if you get lost on your adventures and exploration, you can always ask a member of the staff how to get to your destination or wherever it is that you’re looking to go. But feel free to walk the resort and see whatever sights you want to find. You’re going to have a blast.”

“Thanks,” Leslie said, taking the lead from Josie.

“What was your last name?” Charlene asked. “I’ll get you checked in and I’ll take you to your room.”

“Thompson,” Leslie answered, using the last name that Grant had given her to use while she was out on her little adventure. He had insisted that she would be better off if he dealt with everything on her behalf. She hadn’t argued.

Charlene checked the computer and then looked up immediately, glanced at the screen and then up at Leslie again. “You’re in our platinum suite,” she said with a bright, big smile on her face. “I’m
so
sorry; usually I’m briefed on celebrities joining us, but I never got a memo or dossier on you. I sincerely apologize. I didn’t recognize you.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Leslie smiled thinking fast. “Nobody knows me. I just have a crazy, rich boyfriend.”

“We didn’t know either,” Amber said with a shrug. “We’re his girlfriends, too.”

“Yeah, I didn’t know either. Not until like three days ago or something,” Josie added, pressing her lips tight to keep from smiling.