Going to Paradise
Anne wanted nothing more than to relax – it was her first vacation since taking over the Collins-Merrill Foundation four years earlier. No one believed she’d leave her precious organization behind for an entire five days without cellphone or laptop – even if it was over the Thanksgiving holiday. Wednesday through Sunday Anne was going to be in Paradise.
“I don’t think you can do it,” Megan, her best friend had told her. “You’ll be checking your email every five minutes.” Megan had known Anne since college and knew how difficult it was for the president of the children’s foundation to leave her ‘baby’ alone.
It was true, Anne had been driven to prove herself since the board had grudgingly appointed her CEO with her grandfather’s recommendation. “You can do it, Annie,” he had told her when she had insisted she was too young. “It’s in your blood.”
She had been too young to grab the reins when her parents had died shortly after her twentieth birthday. So even though Granddad had retired, he had agreed to come back until his granddaughter was ready. She had only been twenty-three when she had agreed to head the organization, she had lived and breathed the company for seven years.
This was the first time in those seven years, she had decided to make time for herself. The laptop and cellphone were in her possession – in case she proved too weak. Mostly they were there to prove to herself she could go without a work fix.
Making her connecting flight from New York to the Caribbean, she had a brief layover in Orlando, Florida. She grabbed a magazine from a little airport gift shop and an iced-tea from a vendor and settled in to read. When had she read anything other than financial statements, grant proposals, or anything not directly related to running the Foundation? She couldn’t remember! She didn’t have a life, Anne mused sadly. Music, theater, movies, books – she didn’t have the faintest notion what was currently popular.
Indulge in mindless activities – that was what this vacation was all about. Stay up late – sleep in as long as she wanted to. Eat what she wanted, regardless of calories or fat content. What was that like? Anne Collins-Merrill was about to become Annie for five entire days!
“You sure about this, ‘C?” Justin asked his friend when his bag landed with a thud in the back seat. He was taking him to the airport for his mini-vacation.
JC Chasez had never been more certain in his life. At the moment, he was so close to burnout he could almost taste it. Even though Thanksgiving was usually spent with his family, everyone understood his need to take a mental break from his life. His mother had been supportive of his decision. When he had heard about the exclusive, little-known resort, he knew it was just the place for some serious R & R. Privacy was virtually guaranteed – and if a person had enough money to book a place there, they were too damned rich to care who you were. He could be just Joshua for five whole days. “I need it, J’. If I don’t get it, I’m gonna lose it soon.”
Justin nodded.
“I’ve been ‘on’ for nearly eleven years. The business has been good to me – damned good. But I need to regroup.”
“But I mean the place is almost nowhere. I heard they don’t have outside telephone connection. No television in the rooms—“
“That’s why it’s called ‘Paradise’,” JC mused.
“I don’t think that’s what I’d call it.”
“I’ll have a piano, if I feel like writing. I just need to be me for a few days. Just me.”
“You really sure?” Justin asked one more time as JC grabbed his bag at the airport and stepped o the curb.
JC shook his head with a smile. “I know it doesn’t sound like a dream vacation to you, but it is to me. I can sleep – and just be Josh. I can’t remember the last time I was that – except with my family.
Justin nodded. “Sleep.”
“Yep – as long as I want.”
“Only you would call comatose a vacation.”
Different strokes.” JC saluted. “Thanks, man. Later.”
“Enjoy sleeping!” Justin called after him.
JC strolled where he had to check his bag and ready to board. He didn’t expect anyone to understand what five days of uninterrupted “Josh” time would do for him. His batteries were running low. If he didn’t recharge, he was going to crash and burn. He had never considered the use of alcohol or drugs to escape. He didn’t believe in abusing his body that way. Everyone had his or her way of recharging – his was sleep.
Anne was not too surprised the jet taking her to her Caribbean destination was not terribly full. It was a pricey trip. Even she had hesitated spending that much money for a few days, but she had finally decided her sanity was worth the cost. It was Thanksgiving – and she was alone again. Oh, friends and distant relatives had made the half-hearted invitations. Without Granddad, Daddy or Mums, there just was no ‘family holiday’. There was no family. As long as she was alone, she might as well do it in style!
JC slumped into his seat, fastened his seatbelt, and closed his eyes. Give him about 60 seconds and he’d be blissfully asleep.
Anne passed the seat where a man in jeans was already taking advantage of the plush accommodations by snoozing. It must be wonderful to know how to relax and just let go, she decided. She could probably take lessons from the man. As she found an empty row of seats further on, she wondered if the man was a playboy, a gigolo or perhaps an island employee hitching a ride. She had to smile at her own thoughts. Who was she to even care?
“Sir.” The flight attendant shook Josh’s shoulder gently. “Sir.”
JC blinked open his eyes and gave the lovely redhead a sleepy smile.
“We’ve arrived. You need to go to baggage claim and then find which shuttle is going to your resort.”
”Paradise,” he murmured as he rose and stretched.
Her mouth formed an ‘o’. Paradise was said to be the most exclusive of all the destinations in the islands. “Enjoy your stay, sir.”
What sort of woman arrived in a tropical paradise dressed like that? JC wondered when he saw the dark-haired woman grab a large leather bag. She might be pretty enough behind the glasses, he supposed. Still she was dressed more for Wall Street than the Caribbean. Her hair was in a bun. Sensible pumps shod her feet. And a business suit? “Can we say anal-retentive, boys and girls,” he muttered to himself. She even had a laptop with her. Her type wouldn’t even come out of her suite the entire five days. Somebody had probably forced her take a vacation. She didn’t seem much like the R & R type.
Anne noticed the man who had slept the trip away. He had lovely blue eyes when they were open. He planned on not over-dressing if the duffle bag he claimed was any indication. As she moved passed him, she gave him a brief smile.
Damn! Scratch anal-retentive! She had a million kilowatt smile that could melt rock! Before JC could speak, she was gone.