The Accidental Mistress (34 page)

"Edward Delmont, he's expecting us."

The young receptionist
smiled and nodded.
"
Oui,
follow me,
s'il vous plaît.
"

"I want to meet with him first. Go make some
calls and find your attorneys. If they arrive here with my mother,
delay them." He tossed back to Davis, who was on his cellular
trying to make the calls. Christophe finally reached someone at the
Oasis. They informed him that Zuri's father had another stroke.
That she was in Sainte Marie. Now he understood why she hadn't
answered his calls. He was foolish to doubt her and even more
desperate to find her.

The receptionist stopped and nodded to the
door. Christophe went inside. As he closed it, the office chair
turned to face him. His mother smiled.

"What are you doing here?"

"Saving you from yourself. A mother's work
is never done."

"I told you not to interfere. I warned you
that I wouldn't put up with it."

Stephanie rose. "I had to know Christophe.
You were so passionate about this place." He watched his mother
approach. She held out a document for him. "She's quite lovely. We
had a nice talk."

"You threatened her."

"I asked her for her motivation. You said it
was only business, and she agreed. So we came up with our own deal,
one more to her liking."

Christophe snatched the document. He flipped
through the pages and saw Zuri's signature on them all. "What's
this?"

"She's quite the negotiator. She wanted out
of your deal to merge her company with ours. She proposed a better
one. Her family's debt cleared. No ties to Montague."

"In exchange for what? Zuri would never take
a hand out. How did you get her to sign this?"

Stephanie smiled. "She promised not to
expose Elliot's scheme's and embarrass our family. This is what she
wanted for her silence. You don't believe me? Go see her. She told
me that she was fond of you. She said if you visited the island
again, to look her up."

"I've had it! Do you hear me! I'm done with
your manipulations!" he shouted at Stephanie. He threw the document
to the side. "I can't do this anymore with you, mother."

Stephanie crossed her arms. "I proved to you
that these women are only after your legacy. I've cleaned up your
mess since your first step. Show some respect! No one had to
threaten that girl. She was looking for a handout. She slept with
you to get it."

Christophe shook his head. "Why do you get
off on crushing my spirit? What is it mother that makes you such a
mean vicious bitch!"

For his insolence he was rewarded with a
slap. Christophe didn't feel it. He just pitied the woman that
could only love him by controlling him. "Father was right. There's
nothing in you but hate. I'm done with you and Montague. I
quit."

"What? You wouldn't dare! Over some native
tramp!"

"I quit. Not because of her, because I'm
done with you. When I think of you now all I can lust for is
murder. I hate you, and I will never, ever, see you after this
day." Christophe turned and walked out.

"Christophe! Come back here!
Christophe!"

***

"It's on the news!"

Zuri wiped at her cheeks with both hands and
turned her face. Swallowing the sob that had risen in her throat,
she glanced up. Joi was in front of the television surfing the
channels. She had returned from the bank to find her sister was at
the hospital with her mother. For a short while, the place was all
hers to sulk in. Joi must have returned at some time, but Zuri
wasn't aware. She felt bereft and desolate.

"Look! The gendarmerie just arrested
Detrick. They won't say why. But they're taking him."

Zuri dropped her head over to the right to
see the screen. Detrick was being led away by two gendarmerie
soldiers. She knew Stephanie Montague was a powerful woman. But to
have this done within hours of their meeting was jarring. It only
made Stephanie Montague threats more profound. Zuri knew she'd have
to keep her end of the bargain and never see or speak to Christophe
again. She closed her eyes, feeling utterly miserable.

"Zuri, do you see this?" Joi's head turned
as she pointed the remote at the television screen. "Zuri? What's
wrong?"

"How's
père
, any news?" Zuri
sniffed.

"Not yet.
Mère
said she would
call."

Zuri put her hand to her forehead.

"What's going on?"

"I ended things with
Christophe.
Père
has his company free and clear. It's over." She sighed and
gave a resigned shrug.

"You saw Christophe? Is that where you
were?"

"No, yes. I was at the bank. After
everything that happened I just wanted it done."

"To break up with him is extreme, Zuri.
Especially after everything you've been through. You told me just
the other day you were falling in love with him."

Zuri gave a bitter laugh. "That makes no
sense. I barely know him."

"Zuri
—
"

"Besides I didn't break up with him. We were
never a couple. His mother was right about that."

"Mother? Wait, you met his mother? I don't
understand?"

"Never mind it. There's one
good thing to come of this." Zuri pointed at the television screen.
"Detrick Chevalier will pay for what he's done to
père
."

"Did you do this?"

Zuri sighed. "I had to make him pay Joi.
That bastard is at the root of our family pain."

"What did you do?"

Zuri wept. Maybe Christophe wouldn't call.
Maybe she'd never have to face him and pretend he meant nothing.
Something told her that she wouldn't escape that easy. A cold wave
of dread tightened her stomach into knots. Joi sat at her side, and
stroked her back. But there was no relief. Her throat was raw with
the unuttered and shouted protests to God at how unfair it all
was.

"It's okay. "

"No, it's not. I don't know how or why, but
I really did fall for him, Joi. Now it's over. I can feel it."

Joi held her. "Tell me what happened. Start
from the beginning."

***

It took his driver three hours to deliver
him to the Baptiste plantation. Christophe could see it on the hill
as they drove up the narrow unpaved road. He imagined Zuri as a
little girl growing under the swaying tall palms so close to the
sea. Christophe loosened his tie. He pulled it from around his
neck. He told the driver to wait for him in French. He didn't care
why Zuri signed the contract; he didn't care about any of it
anymore. In a strange way, his mother freed him. He was a man who
faced the harsh realities of loneliness and finally he understood
his choices. Zuri was his second chance; he wasn't about to let her
go.

The car stopped. Christophe got out. He
jogged up the block steps to the doors of the estate. After two
knocks an older short woman, with dark skin and kind eyes appeared
in a white dress similar to the madras that Zuri wore when he first
visited Martinique. He assumed she was the staff by the way she
addressed him.

"
Puis-je t'aider, Monsieur?"

"I need to see Zuri please."

The older woman frowned. He asked again in
French and she nodded, stepping back. Christophe had to admit the
place was quite beautiful. The walls were painted a mango orange in
the foyer; the floors that lead through the three-story mansion
were covered in mosaic tiles of vibrant intricate designs. Windows
and doors were open, so the fresh sweetness from the banana and
sugar cane fields filled his nostrils. It was as if the place had
never been touched by time. His gaze lifted to the stairs. Should
he go up and find her? Had his mother scared her enough to believe
the worst in him? He smoothed back his hair and found himself
sweating nervously, breathing in deep breaths. He stepped toward
the stairs when she appeared. To his disappointment she didn't look
please to see him. She wore a turquoise mini dress; her hair was
blown out into a thick dark black cloud behind her pretty face and
pushed back by a matching band. He couldn't believe how beautiful
she was. It had only been a few days.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

He smiled. "We need to talk."

She shook her head no.

"Zuri, come down and talk to me. Or I'll
come up there. Don't make me have this conversation here."

"You need to leave."

"Why?" He stepped forward. His hand gripped
the smoothed wood of the banister. His foot stopped on the first
step. "You think I'm stupid? I saw mother. I know what she did.
She’s done it before. She threatened you, didn't she? Forced you to
sign that contract."

"Christophe, please go."

"Do you hear me? I said I know she's a liar.
Just come down here and let me explain."

She started down the stairs in bare feet,
her hand gliding over the mahogany wood banister. He felt his heart
beat skip the closer she came. Holding his breath, he tried not to
smile. He could do and be anything now. He cut a string he should
have long ago. How did he begin to explain to her stifled existence
under his mother's rule?

"You don't understand. She didn't force
me."

"She did. I do understand. Your father's
sick. I know he had another attack. It explains why you would do
this. I forgive you."

"She didn't threaten me, Christophe. And I
don't want or need your forgiveness! I did what I had to do, what I
planned to do from the beginning. Leave my home. Now."

Her words were barbed and hurtful beyond
tears. Christophe's hand dropped from the banister. He wasn't sure
he heard her right. He stood there observing her, trying to decide
on the truth. Zuri’s breasts rose and fell under labored breathing,
but her eyes remained hard and defiant. Then she spoke and pushed
the dagger deeper into his heart. "We had a good time. I think
you're a good guy, but that's all. I don't want to see you
again."

"You don't mean that."

"I used you, okay! You knew it. Just like
you used me in Chicago. We're even."

Christophe blew out a deep breath. The scene
was senselessly and sickeningly familiar. When he confronted
Gabriella about the new man in her life, she said the exact same
words. "So it's over. You got your father's company back and you're
done with me?"

Zuri crossed her arms in front of her. She
towered over him from the middle of the stair. If she were closer
he wasn't sure if he'd grab her throat and choke her or throw her
over his shoulder and carry her away until she convinced him that
what happened between them had no meaning. He couldn't bear the
sight of her anymore. It actually hurt to look at her. He dropped
his eyes from her unblinking stare.

"I'm such a fucking idiot," he mumbled to
himself. "I thought we had something."

"Why? Because we had sex?"

"No. Because we had each other. I guess you
don't know the difference, sweetheart. Thanks for the lay." He
turned and walked to the door. He stood before it unable to
breathe. He looked back, hoping to see her suffering. She was
already climbing the stairs with her head bowed. Christophe punched
the door so hard he nearly drove his fist through the wood. He
snatched it open before she could respond and stormed out of the
Baptiste home.

***

"Why did you do it, Zuri?" Joi asked.

Her mouth felt like old paper, dry and
dusty. She opened it to explain, but nothing came out. Her back
dropped against the door and she sighed sadly. She took deep
breaths until she was strong enough to raise her head and face her
sister's accusing glare. "I had to do it. I told you the bargain I
struck."

"Nothing is worth crushing the person you
love. Don't you know that?"

"I don't love him!" she shouted through her
tears. Drops trembled on her eyelids and slowly trekked down her
cheeks.

"Then why are you crying?" Joi snapped.

Zuri looked away. "He used me. I used him.
It’s done."

Joi walked over to her. She stiffened when
offending hands gripped the tops of her arms but found herself
going into her sister's loving embrace. With tears blinding her
vision and choking her voice, she clung to Zuri, praying she did
the right thing. Zuri knew better. The look he gave her would haunt
her always. Putting her face on her sister’s shoulder, she
cried.

Chapter
Seventeen

Two Weeks Later -

The road to recovery was a silent one.
Claude Baptiste had said barely a few words since his release from
the hospital. He was now forced to spend his days in a wheelchair.
The doctors said he would need patience, but could recover, if he
chose too. Her father had no desire to do anything but sit and
stare. Their days were filled with making sure Claude Baptiste’s
diet was right, his medicine was taken, and his needs were met
before he could verbalize them. Zuri, in particular, went above and
beyond. From his physical therapy to his entertainment, old
American western's she kept on rotation in his DVD player, she was
always there to do whatever she could. It gave her mother a
much-needed break.

Her father's silence was torture. It got so
bad that her mother took pity on her and sent her to the Oasis to
make sure things were running smoothly under the management she and
Joi appointed. She couldn't stay there long. Everything reminded
her of Christophe.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?"

Zuri looked up at her sister. "I think I'm
going back to Chicago."

"When?" Joi asked.

"After I talk with
père
. I'm not sure I'm
helping here. The Oasis is up and running as it should. Without
Detrick's interference, it should be okay. You've got Jean Pierre
helping manage the legal affairs. Detrick Chevalier is under
investigation for the theft he's done to all of his clients.
Père
won't be audited.
Things are as they should be."