The Accidental Mistress (14 page)

"Surprise to see you again, Zuri."
Christophe said in a tight controlled voice, before he closed the
door.

"I'm sure you are. What has it been, four
years?" Zuri asked. She opted for distance. She tried to walk
around his imposing blockade to the desk and chair that would give
her dominance. This was her territory after all. Christophe,
however, countered her move by taking a step left. She was stopped
in her tracks. Face to face with him now she had no choice but to
look up. Even her dream didn't compare to standing so close. The
air in the room tasted thick with tension. She struggled to remain
poised, but she teetered between rage and shame. The man thought
she had been some whore who seduced him.

"What's with the lie out there?" he asked
and the question bulldozed her inner thoughts. Her mind snapped
aware.

“
I beg your pardon?” Zuri
bristled.

"Zuri Dumont? That’s a lie. I know who you
are. You think I wouldn't remember you?"

Zuri pressed her lips together. “I said
Dubois,” she mumbled. She was busted. Christophe is the head of a
billion dollar empire. Surely he couldn't be easily fooled. Her
mind failed her on a plausible excuse.

"Are you married?" he queried.

Zuri thought to say yes. It would put her on
better ground with him. But somehow another lie to cover a poorly
crafted one would just dig herself a deeper hole. She wasn't that
deceptive.

Christophe crossed his arms. He took a step
forward and Zuri took a step back. "Are you?"

"No"

"Then why are you playing games again with
me? Again."

"Again? I never played any
games with you. I
—
"

"I saw you. The morning after you spent the
night with me. Joi's your sister, isn't she? The sister whose room
number you forgot after a few drinks. For once be honest with
me."

"Oh, please. This isn't about manipulating
you. "

"Isn't it? You knew I was coming."

"Right?" She threw her hands up in defeat.
She dropped them to her hips. "I planned for my father to get sick
and you to come here to steal my company!"

"You knew who I was. I'm sure of it. You
didn't look the least bit surprised to see me. Smells like a set up
to me, sweetheart."

"Get over yourself," Zuri snapped.

"You set this little meeting up. Why pretend
that we don't know each other when we clearly do."

"Is that what you think I'm
doing?" Zuri crossed her arms. "Here's the truth
Monsieur
Montague. I
dropped my father's name for my mother's so I wouldn't bring any
shame to my family."

Christophe laughed. "Shame? Are you kidding
me?"

"Contrary to what you think, the women of my
family don't throw themselves at men. I'm disgusted by what I did
four years ago. Even more disgusted that I did it with you!"

That sly smile, spread over his handsome
face, soon faded. Ah? So now he wasn't so confident in his
superiority. Good. Zuri wanted him to know that he was no dream
after the way he treated her. He was more like her waking
nightmare. "I lowered myself with you because of alcohol."

"You weren't complaining," he sneered.

"Like I said, my lack of
judgment was because of the booze," she snapped back. "My sister
Joi and JP don't know who you are. I was hoping to find a way to
keep it as such. After all, my priority isn't this reunion. It’s
the Blue Oasis.
My
hotel."

Christophe stepped away from her. She
watched him pace a tight circle. Why was he so agitated? If she
meant nothing, this coincidence should mean even less. He was a
strange man with his nightly whiskey drinking and sad eyes. She
wished she could erase their history so she wouldn't be so curious
over his hot and cold manner.

Christophe stopped pacing. For a minute Zuri
feared he'd heard her thoughts. But the guarded look in his eyes
said differently. It was the same look he gave her the night he
chased her from his room. "I shouldn't have accused you of...
whatever. I was wrong to imply that you were dishonest."

Was that an
apology?
He really did suck at being a
decent guy. Zuri watched the color return to his cheeks. The
distrust still remained in his eyes. But at least he knew better
than to verbalize it. She was busted. Fine. She sure as hell
wouldn't allow the jackass to think she was trying to deceive him
out of some misguided need to be near him. Forget that.

"Okay, let's start again. You're Zuri
Baptiste."

"I am," she said, with the upward toss of
her chin. "Daughter of Claude and Nannette Baptiste and the owner
of the Blue Oasis."

"I'm
Christophe
—
"

"No. You're Stephan Christophe Montague and
you want to destroy the Oasis. If we're going to be truthful, then
let's start with you and your motives, not mine."

"That's a bit dramatic. I have no intention
of destroying anything." Christophe frowned.

"Really? Because I've heard
what your company does to small vacation resorts like ours. Hell
even the big boys can't keep Montague from draining them dry and
turning them into some commercial clone of your franchise.
Besides,
Monsieur
Montague, I know you're not here for the sunshine." Zuri was
sure that she came off a bit snide. Not on purpose. He just
inspired her to be a bitch.

"This is business, Zuri. How was I to know
that the Oasis would lead me to you?"

Zuri didn't believe in coincidence. There
was something cosmically wrong with the way she and Christophe were
connected. Either he was there to be her ally or enemy in her
crusade to save her father's pride and joy. There would be no in
between. And since experience taught her he wasn't one for
compassion or understanding, she was pretty sure he was the enemy.
"Even if you had no tie to me, it wouldn't change who you are and
what your company does. I'm trying to save a business my father
built with his bare hands. You're here to take it from him."

Christophe said nothing to her accusation.
No witty comeback. That made her heart sink. If he had said he
didn't want to take the Oasis, she would have felt better about her
chances to gain an alliance with Montague. His silence filled her
with dread.

Zuri had to regain control. What could she
possibly gain by antagonizing the man? She closed her eyes and let
go a slow breath. When they opened, she saw him watching her. His
lips parted as if he wanted to say something. Maybe an explanation
or better yet an apology for the way he treated her. But his mouth
closed as well. He wasn't worth the energy.

"I shouldn't have
misrepresented myself. For that I
—
" She almost let go an apology, but
her pride refused her permission. "The fact is
Monsieur
Montague, you are here to
buy my company, and I'm here to make sure you understand the resort
business in Martinique is unlike the ones Montague run."

"We own resorts in Dominica and Guadalupe,"
he snorted. "And your position isn't one of enlightenment, Zuri.
You want something else."

"Martinique is different
than Dominica and Guadalupe!" Zuri seethed. She bit down on the
inside of her jaw to keep from saying more. Again her anger was
inspired by his smugness. She really couldn't stand him. "You may
have heard of paradise, but
Madinina
is paradise personified. The
Blue Oasis isn't some cash cow."

"Evidently," Christophe chuckled.

Zuri clenched her small
hands into fists. "But make no mistake. Only the sophisticated and
top crust of society grace our doors.
La
crème de la crème.
Nous sommes les
mieux.
Which means we are different than
what you are used to,
Monsieur
. And if your motivation is
only profit, then it would be wise of you to recognize our
differences now. I think it only fair that you allow me the
opportunity to present my offer."

"What offer? You're bankrupt," Christophe
scoffed.

Zuri wanted to smack him. "We are not
bankrupt. We have some financial..."

"Bankrupt. I'm dealing with the Blue Oasis
collectors not you. If saving the resort is your heart’s desire,
then you have two weeks to pay off your debts and send me on my
way."

"You like this, don't you? Coming here and
acting all smug and superior," Zuri said, despite her vow not
too.

"Why would I? Do you really think so lowly
of me?"

"I don't think of you at all," she said.

Christophe blew out a deep breath. "This
isn't working. Let's talk about what happened between us. Clear the
air."

"Let's not talk, period.
You're dealing with my collectors, remember?
Monsieur
Montague, you are welcome to
explore the resort on your own. I'll speak with the bank as you
suggested. Enjoy your stay." She stepped around him and went to her
sister's desk. She sat down with ease, making sure to maintain
control. "Close the door on your way out."

Zuri didn't have to look up to see he hadn't
moved. She could feel the heat in his glare. But she wouldn't take
the bait. She'd already done and said enough. It would be best if
he just got out of her sight. Things had deteriorated to the point
of disaster. There was no way she could work with this man or
convince him to help her save her company. Finally, she did glance
up. "What? What do you want?"

"I was wrong to insult you, to talk to you
the way I did that night in Chicago. I've wanted to say that to you
for years."

"You can save it. I don't
care. And let's be honest,
Monsieur
Montague. Neither do you."

"Stop calling me that! You know my
name."

Zuri smirked.

Christophe wiped his hand down his face. He
dropped his hands into his trouser pockets. He stood there staring
at her. What else was there to say?

"Is there more?" she asked.

Christophe stormed out. Zuri sucked down a
deep breath. It was worse than she thought. There would be no way
to raise the money she would need in two weeks to stop the sale.
What was she going to do? She sat forward and placed her elbows on
the desk. She couldn't give up. There had to be better leverage to
use.

***

It was a disaster. Zuri provoked him and
he'd done the same. Their history fueled her contempt and put him
on the defense. If he had known she was here, he'd been better
prepared. Instead he fucked up, royally. Christophe walked through
the Oasis. The open lobby led to the outdoor bars and terrace. He
wasn't headed to any place in particular. But soon, he found
himself on the beach. The ocean with its vast majesty glistened as
far as his eye could see. In the distance was a cruise boat. Jet
skiers and parasailing tourists frolicked over the turquoise waves.
Bikini clad beauties bronzed their skin on beach blankets with
large hats and sunglasses to shield their faces. He stood on the
hot sand under a sun spawned from hell, taking in the serenity.
When he glanced back to the mountainous landscape, he had to admit
that Zuri was right about the Oasis. It truly was located on a
fertile spot of beauty on the island.

He smiled. She was different; she had a lot
more spunk than he remembered. Christophe couldn't deny how
beautiful he found her. In fact, she was far more striking than he
remembered. Finding her here again was the best stroke of luck he
had in a long time.

There was a big problem. She hated him.
Christophe had been use to being unpopular but not so much with the
ladies. He had once believed it was the Montague name that
explained why she ended up in his arms after a night of drinking.
How ironic that his name is one of the reasons she despised him
now. He heaved a heavy sigh, letting his eyes sweep the people
running in and out of the warm waves drifting along the shore. He
wanted to know more about her and why she haunted him all these
years. More importantly, why she shared the night with him and gave
him the most special part of her. She said it was booze, but it
sure as hell didn't feel like it. He chewed over an idea. He wasn't
quite done with Zuri Baptiste yet.

***

"Hello,
Mère
. How is he?"

"
Bonjour ma fille
. Don’t be upset, but
we had a setback last night." Her mother spoke in the delicate
manner that made Zuri's heart race. She felt her chest seize with
tightness.

"
Quoi? Père? Non
—
"

"Some numbness," Nannette
quickly added to calm Zuri. "He complained of losing feeling in his
side again. The doctors were here this morning.
Il fait bien.
He's okay. They are
monitoring him closely. He's resting, so, well he just needs time
to heal, Zuri. He's been pushing himself."

"Are you sure,
mère
? I'm so worried
about him."

"He's strong, Zuri. We know this. Don't be
worried. He will be okay."

"What brought it on? Do they know?"

Her mother was silent. Zuri knew the answer.
"He's worried about the Oasis, isn't he?"

"You know how he is. He doesn't like the
idea of business matters being out of his hands. He's stubborn. He
wants you to work with Detrick."

Zuri scoffed. "Detrick
Chevalier has no interest in saving
père’s
companies!" She closed her
eyes. This was the worst news ever. She had to do something drastic
to keep Christophe Montague and their collectors from pushing her
father into an early grave. "I'm making progress. Tell him when he
wakes that I have a plan and it will work. Tell him that all is not
lost."