The Accidental Mistress (31 page)

"Thank me when I return," he said.

"I will," she said, closing her eyes.

"I want to see more of you, Zuri. Come back
to New York with me, once this is over."

"Christophe
—
"

"For a visit. Then we'll go from there."

"You know I can't. I have to make sure my
father is well, and I have a life in Chicago that needs to be
resolved."

"Then I'll come to Chicago. I have an office
there as well."

"You do?" she laughed.

"I want to wake up with you. Tell me that
will happen and I'll try to be content."

"It will. Because I want it
too. I want you to meet my
père
and
mère.
They will love you."

"I will call you tomorrow. It may be late, I
have a lot of meetings."

"I understand. Just make sure you call
me."

"Good night."

"
À
bientôt"

Chapter
Sixteen

The day dragged on. Zuri
didn't mind. She spent the first half of the morning playing chess
with her father. His mind was sharp; she could sense his strength
returning. She then decided to take a stroll through banana and
sugarcane fields with her sister. Under the tropical sun and
through the tall sweet grass, they discussed everything. Zuri
gushed about Christophe. She couldn't help but share how wonderful
the day was she spent with him. Joi shared that she was torn
between two men. One from Brazil and the other a childhood love
she'd seen off and on. She hadn't slept with either and was
considering using sex as a tiebreaker. Zuri laughed so hard after
listening to her sister explain the logic in her plan.

Later that day when Jean
Pierre met with her father, she was summoned. It was quite a
responsibility and privilege to have her father's proxy. Zuri knew
this was the greatest show of trust. Still the matter of what
Detrick Chevalier had tried to do to her mother and father burned
quiet rage through her gut. She felt as if his actions would go
unpunished. As the day wore on, her taste for revenge didn't ease.
It ate slowly away at her elation.

"Why are you out here
alone?" Nanette asked. Her mother's hair blew wildly about her
face. She stopped several feet from Zuri, her eyes lifting to the
same sky that captured her daughter's gaze. "
Père
and Joi are watching
television. Join us."

Zuri lay stretched out on
the hammock with her ankles crossed and arms folded behind her
head. Her mother pulled a lawn chair closer to her. She joined her,
and together they enjoyed a tranquil silence. Glancing to her
mother, she felt the need to confide in her.

"
Mère,
I have something to tell
you."

"Okay."

"I'm in love."

Her mother’s reaction of
surprise, concern, and curiosity played over her face. But instead
of questions, she extended her hand and Zuri took it into her own.
"I'm in love with Christophe Montague."

"The man who's helping us?
The president of Montague?"

"Oui."

"How's that possible? You
just met him?"

Zuri was blissfully happy.
Never had she spoken of a man to her mother. Now she and Nanette
shared something they hadn't before. There was a deep awareness and
respect of each other. However, the story of how she met Christophe
was one she decided not to share. "Our path's crossed in Chicago.
We didn't know about each other until he came here. The time we
spent together, I felt him so deeply. I still do. How long did it
take you and
père
to know you were in love?"

Nanette laughed softly.
"Not long, and you're right. It happens before you know it. Does he
feel the same way?"

"He does. He says he does.
I believe him."

"Then this is wonderful
news. I want to meet him."

"You will soon. I
promise."

They sat in silence for a
long moment. She held her mother's hand as she did when she was a
girl. This time it was solidarity that bonded them. The night began
to drift in over the sky and so did a cool summer breeze. The
entire planet seemed to be at peace.

"Something else troubles
you?" Nanette observed.

"I'm not
bothered."

"Yes you are. I know my
children."

Zuri turn to look directly
at her mother. "He must pay for what he's done. He can't get away
with it."

"He won't. Let
père
and I deal with
him."

"He's not strong enough,
and I don't know when he will be. We do this merger and Detrick
thinks he's gotten away with it. I want him exposed for the fraud
he is."

"Zuri, let this
go."

"He hurt you! I know you
aren't defending him!"

"No, but you aren't here
to fight my battles or your father's. I don't want you consumed
this way. It's my issue, one I will address in time, in my way. My
promise to you is Detrick Chevalier will not be allowed into our
lives again. Focus on the blessings we have.
Père
is recovering. You’ve found
love and we will keep the Blue Oasis. There are many things for
which to be grateful."

"I just
—
"

"
S'il te plaît.
Let this
go."

"I will. I promise."

"Now, tell me all about this
Christophe."

Zuri blushed. "I don't know where to
begin."

***

The tension from the bridge of his nose to
the back of his skull was wound tighter than an overstressed rubber
band. He'd been in a nine-hour straight meeting with the board. He
gritted his teeth. They had another hour at least before they would
adjourn.

The last executive recommendation before the
board was the cleverly crafted Blue Oasis proposal. The only upside
of the day's meetings was his mother had declined to attend.
Christophe felt he could express the details without the stress.
When the Oasis portfolio was passed out amongst the board members,
he caught the edgy stares of certain board members. These few were
supporters of Stephanie Montague. Christophe ignored them and tried
to shake off his fatigue. He was beginning to wonder how he ever
found this exciting, his life in a suit behind a wall of corporate
bullshit. Nothing compared to hiking in the jungle and eating wild
raspberries or the sweet decadence of bathing in a hot spring and
making love under the tropical sun. He smiled as each memory
crashed over him and made him burn to return to Martinique.

“
Christophe?” Martin Bishop
said in his nasal drone. “We’re waiting.”

Christophe sighed. “Yes, yes, let’s
begin.”

***

His return to his place was so late in the
evening he didn't bother to eat. He thought of calling Zuri to wish
her a good night, but he felt mentally drained. Though his mother
hadn't attended the meetings she had planted her seed of doubt with
her supporters on the board. They grilled him relentlessly about
the Blue Oasis. Ultimately he stepped in as chairman and informed
them all it was a done deal. And with a seven to five vote in his
favor, it was. Now he needed sleep. Lot's of sleep.

***

Zuri slammed the book shut with a soft clap.
She waited all day for his call. He told her it would come late,
but she had hoped he would steal away to call her at least once.
Her cell phone remained tucked at her side and she checked it
frequently to make sure the battery wasn't dead or signal lost.
Finally she dialed him up. Immediately she got his voicemail.

"Hi, um it's me, Zuri. Was
hoping to talk to you tonight. Call me in the morning, okay? Hope
everything went okay today. Miss you.
Tu
me manques
."

Zuri tossed the phone. She turned off the
lamp and slipped under the covers. Slowly sleep crept in and her
desires for Christophe followed her into her dreams.

***

Zuri woke to her mother's voice. Breakfast
was ready, Nanette sang through her partially opened door. She
immediately rolled over and checked her phone. Christophe hadn't
called. She fell back on her pillow.

"Something wrong,
ma
chérie
?" her mother asked.

"Christophe hasn't called."

Nanette smiled. "He will. Now get dressed.
Join us for breakfast. Oh, JP is here. He's meeting with your
father."

"What?" Zuri sat up.

"
Oui
, they're in the parlor. Hurry."
Nanette left.

The news rocked her. She felt a nervous
uneasiness settle in her stomach. She hadn't seen Jean-Paul since
their conversation in the kitchen of The Oasis. What he implied and
she didn't deny could not be shared with her father. Jean-Paul
wouldn't dare. Would he?

Zuri hurried into the shower and groomed
herself. Choosing a strapless paisley dress that swept the floor
and shielded her feet when she walked, she pinned her locks to the
back of her head. Today, she decided to go without makeup. She
found the family dining out on the terrace. Joi's laughter echoed
through the lower level of the house.

"
Bonjour, Mademoiselle
Zuri."

"
Bonjour
." Zuri greeted some of the
staff she hadn't seen since she arrived with hugs and kisses. The
outside terrace gave a panoramic view of their land and the
tropical plants in bloom. Two large ceiling fans lazily swooped in
a cooling breeze over everyone. Jean-Paul rose when she approached.
She smiled at him. Maybe she was wrong. Things between them hadn't
changed for the worse. It was evident by the sweet smile he gave
her in return.

"You look beautiful. How are you?" Jean-Paul
asked. He kissed her cheek.

"
Je vais bien,
merci."
Zuri blushed.
She lowered into the chair he drew away for her.
Her father was looking at them both differently. So much so, Zuri
frowned. "How are you feeling today,
père
?"

"
Today is a good day.
" Her father
winked.

Nanette reached over and covered his hand
with hers.

"Have you heard the news, JP? We're going
through with the merger." Joi said.

He nodded. "Claude told me this morning." He
cast his eyes to Zuri. "You did it. Congratulations."

She tried not to read any additional meaning
in the tightness of his voice. But the underline tension was
there.

"She's quite the attorney.
She’s become a good businesswoman. To negotiate a deal with a
company like Montague is quite impressive,"
Père
said proudly. "I'm so proud of
you, Zuri."

Zuri nodded. She felt the way Jean-Paul
stared. "No more talk of business. What are you doing here, JP?"
Zuri asked, sipping her coffee.

"I came to see your father and you."

Zuri’s eyes switched to her father who was
grinning now. She looked back to Jean-Paul for an explanation.

Claude cleared his throat. "I have known for
quite some time that you two cared deeply for each other."

Everyone at the table fell silent.

"I think it's been my stubborn interference
that's kept you from admitting it to one another openly. Can you
blame a father for wanting to hold on to his little girl for as
long as he can?"

"Claude, dear, you're embarrassing her."
Nanette released a short uncomfortable laugh. "She and JP are just
friends."

"No. They're more than friends."

Zuri detected a hint of censure in her
father's tone.

"If I hadn't learned anything in the weeks
since my stroke, I've learned that life is too brief to deny the
truth. So I want you to know you have my blessing."

"Blessing for what?" Zuri chuckled.

"Claude
—
" Nanette whispered.

"What's going on?" Zuri asked in half
anticipation and half dead.

"Let me finish. JP admitted to me this
morning that he loves Zuri."

"What!" Joi gasped. Zuri’s eyes narrowed.
They captured Jean-Paul's. He stared at her sheepishly.

Her father's smile spread even wider across
his face. "Zuri, I know you've been so focused on your studies you
haven't entertained a personal life."

Joi giggled. "That's what you think."

Her father gave his youngest daughter a look
of disapproval, then his gaze returned to Zuri. "I want you to be
free to follow your heart."

Before she could speak,
Jean-Paul pushed back his chair. She thought he was rising, maybe
even leaving, but to her horror, Jean-Paul got down on one knee and
produced a ring.
"Veux-tu
m'epouser?"

"Marry you!" Zuri gasped.

Nanette sucked down an audible breath. Zuri
looked to her mother and sister for assistance. Joi's eyes were
stretched so wide they appeared as if they would pop out of her
skull. Jean-Paul smiled up at her. "I realized after we fought in
my kitchen that I loved you. I've always loved you. I couldn't go
on pretending that I didn't."

"So you ask her on a date, not to marry
you," Joi interjected.

"Joi!
Tais-toi!
"
Claude
snapped.

Jean-Paul ignored them both. He just stared
up at Zuri with his heart in his hand. "I came today to ask Claude
for his permission. Zuri, you know me. You know this isn't a
surprise. I can make you happy if you let me."