The Billionaire's Island Romance(9)

“Yes, ma’am. Should I call him?”

“No. I will speak with him later. I’ll go to the kitchen myself.”

Louise smiled slightly and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, hello there. Christian, right?” Mr. Duponte turned to Christian, extending his hand.

“Yes, sir. We meet again.”

“Yes, we do. I’ve been asking Arianna here about you. Her mother and I have been asking about you actually. You didn’t even get a chance to meet my wife yet, did you?”

“Not yet, sir. No.” Christian looked uncomfortable for a moment. Arianna drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily before opening them again. Christian had seen her father on several occasions, briefly, but not her mother. In fact, her father had invited them to dinner but that was when Arianna decided it was time to call it quits. She just didn’t want Christian to know everything…yet.

“Why don’t you join us now? For lunch. It’s,” Mr. Duponte said, glancing at his watch, “quarter to twelve. We can have lunch early. We live on the second floor. We also have a cottage over by the west side. It’s all part of the hotel, you know.”

“I know,” Christian said with a warmth befalling his expression. It appeared that Christian understood that her father was…a bit moody at times, even forgetful. Christian seemed quite good about the situation. Arianna was ever so watchful, especially of her father. She’d always been protective in regards to her parents, but Christian seemed okay in dealing with her father’s severe mood swings. Her dad was in his sixties. Her parents had her in their forties after years of trying. Her mother had just turned forty when Arianna was born. It had been a miracle for her.

“Listen, Dad. We can all get together some other time. Not now.”

“Aren’t you going to come and see if your mother’s alright?”

“Yes. I’ll be there soon. Did she eat any of the fish?”

“No. Thank God I was there.” He shook his head, tears in his eyes.

Arianna had to always keep in mind that her father was elderly. He’d suffered with a bout of dementia at one point in his life, but things got better after that. Then…her parents went on a trip to Europe on some Mediterranean island. It all went down hill after that. Things were never the same again.

“Well, I’m going to go back to the room to make sure she’s okay,” her father said.

“Okay, Dad.”



“Your father’s looking a little lost these days. Everything okay, dear niece?” A tall, heavy-set man wearing a black shirt, black shorts, and shades walked up to her. She hadn’t noticed that he was sitting in the lobby when she went to see her dad. His face lacked empathy. His voice was cold and bitter.

Shivers ran down her spine and not the good kind, either.

“Uncle Ned,” she said in a low voice. “I didn’t see you there. When did you arrive?”

“Oh, I flew in this morning. You know me. I’m always here every month to ensure things are running smoothly. You know how upset I can get when things are not running well.”

Arianna said nothing. That was not the reason he was here.

“Is everything okay?” Christian turned to her, noticing her rigid body language.

“Oh, you have a handsome friend here,” he said, his lips curled in disgust. His voice was laced with sarcasm. “And you are?”

“Someone who’s concerned about the way you’re talking to Arianna.”

“Oh, dear. What have we here? A protective friend?” Uncle Ned arched a brow. He gave Christian the once-over, eyeing him up and down.

“It’s okay, Christian. Uncle Ned was just leaving.”

“Oh, but I just got here,” he said sarcastically. His speech was slightly slurred. Had he been drinking again at this time of the day? “I’m going to enjoy my stay for the next week or so. Who knows, I may hang around longer.” Ned then turned to look around the grand lobby. “You know, I’ve always thought this place could do with a new coat of paint.” His lips were turned up in disgust as he grabbed his jacket and bag and weaved his way towards the elevator.

“Trouble maker,” Arianna whispered under her breath. For as long as she could remember, her uncle had always been intoxicated, obnoxious and bitter. Bitter about anything and everything. She tried to warm up to him on many occasions, but to no avail. He had threatened her and lashed out at her in the past when she tried to defend her father in his presence. He had a personal vendetta against her dad, his younger brother. A sibling rivalry that ran so deep and dark it literally tore apart the family.