Hailey realized such a formal occasion required a gown she neither owned nor brought with her. She went to a dress shop and selected a beautiful wine colored, form fitting, strapless gown, with matching shoes, stockings, and the proper undergarments, and asked Rick to be her escort. He told her he was honored to join her.
On the day of the ball, Hailey treated herself to a day in the spa getting pampered and styled. It was the first time since she arrived that she wasn’t with Rick. He was off playing golf because it was the one thing she really had no interest in doing with him and he didn’t feel the need to visit the spa. While she was at the salon getting her hair and nails done, she overheard a couple of women talking.
“Where’s Bill?” asked the first woman.
“He’s putting in eighteen with senior and junior,” said the second woman.
“Junior’s here?”
“Yeah. I guess he chose to come here for a vacation this year. He picks different resorts every year to monitor the staff and make sure they’re doing their job. Kind of an undercover boss thing.”
“Don’t they know it’s him?”
“A few do, but they are told to treat him like any other guest so the others don’t know or catch on and act differently.”
“Huh. Isn’t junior single?”
“Divorced. From what I hear, he and his ex-wife had a nasty divorce. That’s why he’s never remarried.”
“That’s so sad. I hear he’s very handsome and quite the catch.”
“Oh he is. I met him once years ago when he was still married. His ex-wife seemed so nice that it was hard for me to believe she did what she did.”
“You mean the nasty divorce?”
“That and how she never allows him to see his daughter.”
“Now that’s a crime.”
“No, the real crime was how she demanded such an outrageous alimony payment. She took the house, the car, and his manhood. What’s worse, she was the one cheating on him.”
“Oh that is terrible. That poor young man.”
Hailey couldn’t help but feel sorry for this young man, and how glad she was they weren’t talking about Rick. She wondered if Rick saw the men the two women were gossiping about, and thought about asking him when she’d see him tonight. She decided to have her hair styled down over her shoulders, and have the salon do her make-up. She returned to her bungalow and got dressed. As she slipped on her shoes, a knock came from the door. She opened the door and saw Rick standing there in a black tuxedo. His black hair was combed neatly, and his green eyes seemed to sparkle and shine.
“Wow!” he exclaimed. “You look amazing!”
“Thanks. You look great too!”
“Thanks. But I think you’re missing something.”
Hailey looked down. “And what would that be? I didn’t think the Eagle pendant would work tonight.”
“Maybe something in this box will,” he said and handed her a black velvet box.
Hailey took the box, opened it, and gasped. Inside was simple four-carat black diamond pendant in a gold setting with matching one-carat black diamond stud earrings. “Oh Rick!”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it! But I can’t take it.”
“And just why not?”
“It’s too much. I mean, I must have cost a fortune.”
“Not as much as you’d think and I really want you to have it. Please Hailey. I bought for you to wear especially for tonight. I went with this because it fits your personality, simple elegance, and stunning beauty. Plus, I think it will complement your dress.”
Hailey smiled and fought back the tears welling up in her eyes. “Okay Rick. But you’ll need to help me with the necklace.”
“I’d be honored to.”
Hailey carefully removed the necklace and earrings from the box and went into the bedroom. She stood in front of the mirror over her dresser so she could see her reflection as she put the earrings in. Rick stepped up behind her and put the necklace around her neck. The pendant stopped at the top of her cleavage, the black diamonds seemed to shine and sparkle against her lightly tanned skin.
“Oh Rick, they’re perfect! I don’t know how to thank you!”
“Your wearing them is thanks enough.”
Hailey turned around and kissed Rick, slipping her tongue into his mouth. Her high heels meant she didn’t have to stretch as much to kiss him. Hailey felt her body light up, her nipples harden, and her sex dampen with desire. During the past week, they had enjoyed many a passionate kiss, a bit of touching though clothes, but nothing else. She had wanted more, but was afraid of scaring Rick off and being seen as a whore. Rick pulled back and said breathlessly, “We’d better get going. I hear Mr. Talbott hates tardiness.”
“I heard the same thing,” said Hailey, giggling.
Rick walked her out where a golf cart and Kelly was waiting. “Good evening. I was sent to provide Miss Davidson a lift. Good thing there’s room for three.”
“Sure is,” said Rick, smiling.
Hailey and Rick sat in the back of the cart as Kelly drove up to the main building. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to return Miss Davidson so you don’t have to walk.”
“That’s not really necessary,” said Hailey.
“Yes ma’am, it is. We take care of our guests.”
“Thanks,” said Hailey.
“Well,” said Rick holding out his arm. “Shall we?”
Hailey wrapped her arm around Rick’s and he escorted her into the building to the ballroom where the party was being held. Everyone was wearing evening gowns or tuxedos. The staff was in slacks or skirts with white starched shirts and black ties. There were tables covered in heavy white linen tablecloths, gold-rimmed plates, crystal wine glasses and water goblets, and more pieces of silverware than Hailey had ever seen before. A large area appeared to be a dance floor, and a band playing softly in the back on a small stage.
A young photographer had them stand before a beach sunset backdrop for a quick picture of the two of them. Rick put his arms around Hailey’s waist and the two smiled. The maître d’ told them they could sit where they wanted, so they joined a young couple on their honeymoon. They were served a lobster dinner that was cooked beyond perfection and enjoyed pleasant conversation. Once dinner was over, Rick and the newlywed husband excused themselves leaving Hailey with the others at the table.
“So how long have you two been together?” asked the woman.
“About a week.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yeah. We met on the flight here.”
“Kismet! It must be kismet!”
“Maybe. I do know he’s made my time here unforgettable.”
A tall, grey haired man stepped up and asked, “Excuse me, is one of you Hailey Davidson?”
“I’m Hailey.”
“I’m R. J. Talbott. I understand you’re my charity winner.”
R. J. Talbot was tall like Rick with brown eyes. “Um… yeah… I guess I am.”
Mr. Talbott extended his hand and said, “I wanted to thank you for your support. I understand you only bought twenty-dollars worth of tickets.”
Hailey took his hand and said, “Yeah, I’m sorry to say that’s true. See, I’m a single mother and my son’s in college so I don’t have a lot of spare money. I used my drinking money to buy the tickets. Not that I drink a lot, but the money I had brought for that, I used for your charity function instead.”
The band began to play. “Might we continue this discussion on the dance floor?”
“You want to dance with me?”
“I assure you my wife won’t object.”
“Go, I’ll let your gentleman friend know what happened when he gets back,” said the woman Hailey was sitting with.
“Okay, sure,” said Hailey as she stood up.
Mr. Talbott escorted Hailey to the dance floor and the couple began to slowly dance. Soon, others joined them. “So have you been enjoying your visit here?”
“Very much so sir,” said Hailey. “This is the first vacation I’ve had that didn’t include a group of boy scouts.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. My son was a boy scout.”
“Did he quit?”
“No, he aged out. He’s in college now.”
“Right, you mentioned that before. How far did he get?”
“Eagle. Usually I’m wearing my pendant but Rick gave me this beautiful necklace with the matching earrings and asked I wear them tonight.”
Mr. Talbott looked down and smiled. “They are as beautiful as the woman who wears them.”
Hailey blushed. “Thank you sir.”
“So what brought you to my charity event?”
“Friends from work. I guess they go every year, and now that my son is all grown up, they insisted I come along. They put my name on their tickets so I might have a chance to win. I don’t think they thought this was the prize I’d get though.”
“Well, you do have very generous friends.”
“Yeah. Everyone was pretty excited for me. I wasn’t sure I was even going to come, but now I’m so glad I did.”
“Why is that?”
“Why didn’t I think I was going to come, or why am I glad I did.”
“Both if you don’t mind.”
“Well, as to why I didn’t think I’d come had to do with thinking I’d have to pay the taxes on the trip, until I learned you included that in the prize.”
“That was my son’s doing, not mine.”
“I see. Then it was getting my boss to approve my time off, which was much easier than I expected.”
“And what has made you so happy you came?”
“Well for one, I’m having a great time. Plus, I met Rick.”
“Yes, you mentioned him before. Who is he?”
“A divorced father and business man being groomed to take over his dad’s company. Someone who makes more in a month than I probably make in a year but doesn’t feel the need to flaunt his wealth. He seems so grounded. Even if this thing we are sharing ends when I go back to the real world, I have no regrets.”
“Why is that?”
Hailey sighed. “He’s made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, and went out of his way to make sure I had fun.”
Mr. Talbott smiled. “He sounds like a great guy.”
“Well, I think so.”
The music ended and Mr. Talbott kissed the back of her hand and said, “Thank you Miss Davidson. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your visit and come back again soon, and often.”
“Only if I win the lottery or marry a billionaire, and I doubt either will happen.”
“You never know,” said Mr. Talbott, as he winked at her, then walked away.
Hailey began to walk back to her table when another man stepped up and blocked her path. “You might be the last person on Earth I thought I’d ever see here.”
Hailey looked at the man and gasped. She would have recognized that tall, dark haired, brown-eyed man anywhere. “I could say the same thing about you.”
“You look amazing Hails.”
“Thanks. You haven’t changed much either, Alan.”
“What’s it been, fifteen years?”
“Yeah, about that. Not that it matters.”
“So, how have you been?”
“What the hell do you want Alan?”
“I was just making polite conversation.”
“Cut the crap. It’s nice to see where all my back child support went.”
“Are you still harping about that? Can’t we just let bygones be bygones?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” exclaimed Hailey a bit louder than she intended. “While you were off living the high life and seeing the world, I was working three jobs to provide for your son that you refuse to acknowledge, let alone take care of.”
“He’s not my son, Hailey.”
“The hell he’s not! You’d know that if you’d bother to fucking take that DNA test.”
An attractive, slender brunette with blue eyes stepped up and said, “Oh there you are dear. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Evelyn, this is Hailey. Hailey, my wife, Evelyn.”
“How do you two know each other?” asked Evelyn.
“You want to tell her or shall I?” asked Hailey angrily.
Alan shook his head and said, “Hailey has been trying to convince anyone who would listen that I’m the father of her son.”
“Because it’s the truth!” snapped Hailey.
“Oh come on Hailey, I know for a fact you fucked three of my frat brothers!”
“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!” cried Hailey. “That wasn’t me! That was whatshername, the gal that screwed the football team. You were the one not willing to wait for me to get on the pill. Remember? You said, ‘Come on baby, I’ll pull out and you won’t get pregnant. You know how much I love you.’ So I gave in and SURPRISE! I got pregnant and you hit the fucking road.”
“Well you seem to be doing pretty well now,” said Alan.
Hailey scoffed. “You have no idea how I’m doing! Or how much I had to give up to raise the child you didn’t give a shit about! I didn’t care that you didn’t want a relationship with me, but trying to explain to our son why Daddy doesn’t come to see him ever was a real bitch!”
Hailey felt a strong hand on her shoulder and smelt the familiar scent of Rick’s cologne.