bathroom, Cherise’s with a huge sunken tub in addition to a stand-alone shower. She rinsed the travel grime off, freshened up her makeup, and headed out to the patio. She was early for drinks but wanted to see the pool and the garden.
She could see down to the ocean far below, and she felt like they were on the top of the world. Eric came to attend to her. He stood a head taller than her, his skin so dark it was almost true black. He wore an expensive linen suit and carried himself with a careful posture. Under the suit, she was sure his muscles had muscles.
“Are you from South Africa, Miss Cherise?”
“I am.” She couldn’t tell anything about where he was from based on his accent, a generic American sound.
“How long have you lived in the states?”
“Five years. I did my undergraduate in New York, and now I’m working on my masters.”
They chatted a bit about her schooling, about his growing up in Ohio, and before she knew it, a frail man in a wheelchair rolled himself out onto the patio.
Cherise stood and introduced herself.
“You’re not the one he hopes to marry.” Ben didn’t state it as a question, but he said it kindly.
Cherise dropped her gaze and looked away from him. “No, sir.”
He waved a liver-spotted hand at her. “You don’t need to call me sir. You’ve been working with him?”
“For four months.”
“What do you think of this girl he’s brought here?”
The way Jenna looked at Ambrosia sprung instantly to Cherise’s mind. But really, everything else about the woman was lovely. Cherise forced a smile onto her face. “She’s wonderful. Warm and kind. Very beautiful.”
“Does he love her?” Ben’s tone suggested he knew what the answer would be. Cherise froze, unsure what to say. “Don’t bullshit a shitter.”
Cherise shook her head.
He sighed. “Ah, well. At least it should settle him down some. Can you keep a secret?”
“From Sterling?” Something about the way she said it caused him to narrow his eyes, and she looked away. “Of course I can.”
“He’ll get Bachmann Entertainment Group either way. I wouldn’t give it to anyone else, not even the board. I don’t care who he marries; I just want him to be happy. I thought it might push him to open himself up more. Ah, well. He’s got dogs for love. Ambrosia came with you?”
“She did.”
“And how is she?”
Cherise faltered. “She’s showing her age, sir. I’m worried about her.”
Ben chuckled. “We’re all showing our age. Every day, a little older than the last. It’s a damn shame. You’re young. You haven’t noticed how age wears you down yet.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, but thankfully, Sterling stepped onto the patio, one arm around Jenna’s slender waist, Ambrosia at his side. Sterling left Jenna to embrace his mentor. Cherise studied him. Such an odd, multi-faceted man. Cherise shrunk back while he introduced Jenna.
Pink and perfect, she behaved flawlessly. The perfect trophy. She liked Jenna, she did. There just wasn’t much to her. And not in a stupid, vapid way. She liked small boring things, and had a small, boring mind. Being a kept pet would suit her. Sterling had done well to find her.
Ben kept looking at Cherise, and a few times, he’d shoot her a companionable wink. She returned his gesture.
STERLING
Sterling woke early the next morning to go for a run. Once upon a time, Ambrosia would have been at his side, but nowadays, she only lifted her head when he went out. So he headed out into the mountains, wearing only a pair of shorts and his running sneakers. He’d asked Jenna if she wanted to join him, but she declined.
The morning was already hot, the sun pouring down through the tropical foliage. The beach would be like an oven. So much better to be here than New York in January. Ben seemed to like Jenna, though he really seemed to like Cherise—Sterling could tell. Well, good. It was best that they all got along.
The rhythm of his run
She could see down to the ocean far below, and she felt like they were on the top of the world. Eric came to attend to her. He stood a head taller than her, his skin so dark it was almost true black. He wore an expensive linen suit and carried himself with a careful posture. Under the suit, she was sure his muscles had muscles.
“Are you from South Africa, Miss Cherise?”
“I am.” She couldn’t tell anything about where he was from based on his accent, a generic American sound.
“How long have you lived in the states?”
“Five years. I did my undergraduate in New York, and now I’m working on my masters.”
They chatted a bit about her schooling, about his growing up in Ohio, and before she knew it, a frail man in a wheelchair rolled himself out onto the patio.
Cherise stood and introduced herself.
“You’re not the one he hopes to marry.” Ben didn’t state it as a question, but he said it kindly.
Cherise dropped her gaze and looked away from him. “No, sir.”
He waved a liver-spotted hand at her. “You don’t need to call me sir. You’ve been working with him?”
“For four months.”
“What do you think of this girl he’s brought here?”
The way Jenna looked at Ambrosia sprung instantly to Cherise’s mind. But really, everything else about the woman was lovely. Cherise forced a smile onto her face. “She’s wonderful. Warm and kind. Very beautiful.”
“Does he love her?” Ben’s tone suggested he knew what the answer would be. Cherise froze, unsure what to say. “Don’t bullshit a shitter.”
Cherise shook her head.
He sighed. “Ah, well. At least it should settle him down some. Can you keep a secret?”
“From Sterling?” Something about the way she said it caused him to narrow his eyes, and she looked away. “Of course I can.”
“He’ll get Bachmann Entertainment Group either way. I wouldn’t give it to anyone else, not even the board. I don’t care who he marries; I just want him to be happy. I thought it might push him to open himself up more. Ah, well. He’s got dogs for love. Ambrosia came with you?”
“She did.”
“And how is she?”
Cherise faltered. “She’s showing her age, sir. I’m worried about her.”
Ben chuckled. “We’re all showing our age. Every day, a little older than the last. It’s a damn shame. You’re young. You haven’t noticed how age wears you down yet.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, but thankfully, Sterling stepped onto the patio, one arm around Jenna’s slender waist, Ambrosia at his side. Sterling left Jenna to embrace his mentor. Cherise studied him. Such an odd, multi-faceted man. Cherise shrunk back while he introduced Jenna.
Pink and perfect, she behaved flawlessly. The perfect trophy. She liked Jenna, she did. There just wasn’t much to her. And not in a stupid, vapid way. She liked small boring things, and had a small, boring mind. Being a kept pet would suit her. Sterling had done well to find her.
Ben kept looking at Cherise, and a few times, he’d shoot her a companionable wink. She returned his gesture.
STERLING
Sterling woke early the next morning to go for a run. Once upon a time, Ambrosia would have been at his side, but nowadays, she only lifted her head when he went out. So he headed out into the mountains, wearing only a pair of shorts and his running sneakers. He’d asked Jenna if she wanted to join him, but she declined.
The morning was already hot, the sun pouring down through the tropical foliage. The beach would be like an oven. So much better to be here than New York in January. Ben seemed to like Jenna, though he really seemed to like Cherise—Sterling could tell. Well, good. It was best that they all got along.
The rhythm of his run
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