Kento surveyed the view from the front porch of the second most deluxe cabin on the Locklear Lodge grounds. He’d reserved the largest for Christy and Lucas, his wedding gift to them. His was expansive and constructed in a rich red wood, the porch large enough to house a hammock and a sofa swing. He noted that the enclosed side deck offered complete privacy and was equipped with a sauna, hot tub and outdoor shower. It wistfully occurred to him what a romantic setting this would be for a couple in love.
The vistas were magnificent. Beyond the large stretch of lawn that the cabin opened onto, the dense grove of fir trees so plentiful in the Pacific Northwest stood proud and strong. Their bracing, earthy scent was like no other. It would do Kento some good
to take a walk in the forest there, the moist earth under his feet. He couldn’t have been farther from his ultramodern office suite in Tokyo.
He heard them before he saw them. Loud voices interrupting the hush of nature. Squishing sounds in the ground.
“Hi, Kento!”
“Hi, Kento! We didn’t see you in the lounge.”
It was Amber and MacKenzie trotting the footpath that crossed in front of his cabin en route from the lodge’s main buildings.
“Hi, Kento.” A third voice poked out from between the two. Kento’s stomach lunged at the possibility that it might be Erin, whom he hadn’t yet seen since he arrived. He’d skipped the revelry at the ferry dock and opted out of the afternoon tea. Was this the moment they’d lay eyes on each other again for the first time this weekend? Would she be happy to see him? He knew what hurt he still carried. What might she?
The clearing between the bridesmaids opened to reveal a short woman with large breasts. She was definitely not Erin. “I’m Divya Nadu, and I’ve been wanting to meet you.” All three of them giggled. Kento wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved that he wasn’t face-to-face with Erin yet. Although that would be coming soon enough, as everyone was expected at the welcome dinner.
“Prosperity Magazine named you one of the top five billionaires under thirty,” Divya squealed.
“Did they? What’s the criteria for that?” Kento snickered and folded his arms across his chest. “How did I get into the top five?”
“Oh, good question. I think it was that they predicted your fortunes would continue to grow.”
“Based on what?” How familiar this was. All of Kento’s life it seemed that within minutes of meeting someone, there was some inquisition as to his positioning and station. He was right to have left this toxicity behind him when he moved to Tokyo after earning his university degree. There were plenty of opportunists there, too, especially as he became more and more successful. But he’d learned how to better detect and fend them off.
It still nagged in his craw, though, how he’d left Erin, the only woman who saw him for who he was not what he had. Clearly she’d wanted him to go. After all, she had participated in his ousting. But he should have said goodbye. What they’d had together was important, and they’d owed each other a final farewell. All these years later and his business with her was still unfinished.
He’d met plenty of women in that time, Ayaka being the only one he’d gotten serious with. Which turned out no better than things did with Erin. The memory of Erin had never left him, though. In a way, it was holding him back. Maybe if he didn’t still have foggy dreams of her eyes sparkling in the moonlight, or remember her smiles in the sunshine, he could be free from desiring something he knew he’d never have.
Billionaire bachelor. Ha. Always would be.
“I guess they think your company will get bigger and bigger,” Divya continued. “I mean, it’s so huge already.”
“Huge.”
“Enormous.”
As these women babbled on, Kento figured it was going to be a long, long weekend.
MacKenzie said, “Let’s have a drink at the bar before dinner.”
“A little cocktail kickoff.”
“And sit with us at dinner, Kento.” Hadn’t one of them already asked him that earlier? These women didn’t know a thing about him other than what they’d read in a magazine. Yet they wanted him to sit with them. Was it any wonder he felt constantly measured?
“Sit with us.” Amber was beginning to sound like a pouty little girl. Which, in fact, she was. Divya’s smile was as forced and wide as a jack-o’-lantern’s. How could he get them to move on?
“If you’ll excuse me, ladies,” Kento said politely, “I’m going to go inside to get unpacked and dress for dinner. I’ll see you there.”
“Okay,” MacKenzie sang, “but you better at least dance with me.”
“Me, too.”
“Me, three.”
He bowed his head at each of them. Thankfully, they skirted off after a chorus of goodbyes.
Swiping his key card, he stepped into the cabin and took off his shoes. Inside, it was thankfully quiet. The living room contained large furniture that faced the view through the windows. A dining table and chairs could accommodate a private meal for eight should that be desired. The kitchen area was stocked with local brands of gourmet snacks and a basket of fresh fruit. Wines, sodas, waters and a coffee setup stood ready on the counter. A state-of-the-art media center allowed as much connectivity as a guest could want.