Page 41 of Rio
“And the resort?How’s it coming along?”he asks.
I tell him that it looks great.It’s exactly what the brochures said it would be.Low, airy, buildings with thatched roofs, and timber walkways raised over golden sand.Villas dotted around, far enough apart for privacy.Lush, native plants lining the paths, while the rooftops glitter with solar panels.The reception area is open-sided, catching the sea breeze.Even the furniture is made from reclaimed wood and dyed fabrics.
It looks inviting and full of promise.The perfect vacation for people who want to save the planet and have a good time.
“I might go and check out the coastline tomorrow,” I tell him.“I need to see if for myself.”
“What for”?he snaps.Then, without giving me a chance to reply, “Stick to what I told you.”
I run a hand over my beard.“I need to be seen looking at their complaints.Just paying lip-duty.”
“If you’re after environmental data, we’ve got some, up to date, from the consultants.Want me to send it to you?”
“Sure.Anything that helps.”
I hang up.
Today was a full-on day at the construction site.That was enough for one day.I saw the layout.Talked to the site team.Met with some local officials.Assessed timelines, took notes.Nothing stood out—on the surface.
But the biggest fucking deal of the day?
Seeingher.
It knocked my concentration.Made my heartrate rocket.It was like a kick in the stomach.And a stroke of my cock.
Raquel has that effect on me.It riled me up, because of how she left me last weekend, and it also sent my pulse soaring.My heart does that soft, stupid flutter whenever I see her.And she leaves me hard and aching, but it’s not just lust and desire.It goes way deeper.It’s more than familiarity.It’s like we have a connection that transcends time and space.It sounds crazy, and it’s not something I’d tell Dex, but this is what it is.
She wasn’t wearing that red lipstick that’s imprinted on my mind forever.Today she was fresh faced, and still as beautiful as ever.Still as feisty as ever.I like that more about her each time I see her.
The woman is fire.The way she and I play off one another, the way we hate and loathe each other, it’s impossible to get her out of my mind.
Coming out here was meant to be a break for me.It was supposed to help me forget her.Now, she’s not only here, she’s working for the NGO.Now, I not only remember how we kissed outside that restaurant in Miami, but I’m also remembering that night in São Paulo.My cock is so hard, I’ll have to fist myself to release later.The way I’ve had to do a lot of times.Getting off to a visual of Raquel in my head.
Wait until I tell Dex who I ran into here.
Then it hits me, I can’t tell Dex, because if I do, word will get back to the old man, somehow.I don’t want anything personal getting back to him.
About Raquel.
Or me.
As if anything is going to happen.
This is the stuff of my dreams, right?Me and Raquel, on an exotic island.It’s work related, granted, and neither of us knew the other would be here, but it feels like destiny.Feels like this what meant to be.I knew it wouldn’t be easy to walk away from her, but when the old man sent me to Belize it seemed like the perfect distraction.
But she’s here.And somehow, it feels like divine intervention.Fate or not, she’s in front of me again and I’m losing my ability to focus.
I’ll check out the coastline tomorrow since Tomas keeps bugging me about it.When I asked him why, he said, “Because you need to see.You need to know more than what you’re being told.”
He sounds cagey.Careful with his words.I asked him whose side he was on, ours or the NGO’s?
He said he wants me to see both sides.It gets me thinking as something gnaws in the pit of my stomach.Do I believe my old man?Or do I believe Tomas?
I know what type of man Paul Knight is.He’s not known for speaking truth, or for his philanthropic ways.Hell, he’ll easily lie to us.He lied to my mom, and to Dex’s mom, his wife.There is no bottom when it comes to him.
But now some things are starting to get under my skin.Suspicion rears its ugly head, and I can’t shake it away.The old man is shady, but do I trust Tomas?And what about Orlando, the foreman?Tomas told me that he only joined last month, around the time EcoGuardians started to make noise.
Who do I trust?Who do I believe?
