Chapter 6 Lost And Found

• RAYNE
• True to his word, we were safely on the plane after breakfast as it headed to New York. We were sitting across the aisle from each other but I was tired of the silence. Javier was busy on his MacBook and not giving me much attention.
• “So…” I smiled and glanced at my travel companion. “Tell me about yourself?”
• “What do you want to know, mi amorcita?” He stretched out his long legs and sipped his whiskey. It was a bit too early if you ask me but it was five o’clock in the afternoon somewhere as they say.
• “Are your parents still alive?”
• “Yes.”
• “You get along?”
• He shrugged. “Sometimes.”
• “Are you close?”
• “Not really.”
• “Do-”
• “Your turn.” The corners of his full mouth turned up as he flashed a heart-stopping grin, his desire-filled eyes caressing my heated skin with his invisible touch. “How many have had the pleasure of tasting your sweet dew, querida?”
• “That’s a bit too personal,” I jerked back. “I’m not answering that.”
• “Will I be one of them?” He leaned closer and whispered. “Will I have the pleasure of giving you pleasure, my enchanting beauty?” His smile was pure alpha male. A confident smile of a man used to getting what he wanted on demand.
• Blood throbbed in my veins and my pulse quickened. “Ask me something else.”
• “Very well…” he chuckled, and fell back, crossing his legs at the ankle. “How long have you been separated from Skylar? How old is she?”
• “She will be five this year. She was almost two when our parents died and I was eighteen. I’ll be twenty-two this year.” My throat tightened and I fought back tears. “She probably doesn’t remember me, which hurts the most.”
• “I can see this is hard for you to talk about so let’s move on to more pleasant things, yes?” His lips curved into the wolfish smile I had grown to covet. “When we get back to Rio, I want to take you sightseeing and then I’d like you to fly with me to Spain, I have some business to take care of. We will be back the following day. You can bring your friends along, of course.”
• “I’d like that,” I smiled at him. “I’m sure they will too.”
• “I’ll get my driver to take you wherever you want to go and I will get you your own Visa card so you can get whatever you need. I think we need to move your friends to my villa-but then again…I love the thought of having you all to myself…”
• “You’ve done enough-”
• “I won’t take no for an answer,” he rapped. “So save your breath, Señorita Stevens.”
• My mouth moved, and then I clamped it shut. Why argue over this anyway? If my friends knew I had turned down a holiday of a lifetime they would skin me alive.
• “Okay.”
• Javier Gonzalez may be a lot of things but a liar was not one of them. Not yet anyway.
• He was a man of his word, I came to know as the day progressed.
• When we arrived in New York we drove straight to one of the most coveted and prestigious performing arts colleges; The Madeline Durand School of Dance.
• “What are we doing here?” I asked him as we waited in the admissions office. “I told you I want to go-”
• “Julliard,” he finished off. “I just want you to consider other options. Get a fresh start somewhere else. And someone told me this was your dream and Madeline is your idol. Give it a chance, yes?”
• “Javier!” Madeline Durand breezed in, kissing him on both cheeks. “And this must be Rayne?” She was there to personally welcome me and give me a tour of the school. He made the introductions and we set off.
• Just enrolling at this college was a guaranteed gateway to success for any dancer. Being a student here carried a lot of weight. It had so many success stories and it came as no surprise. Madeline’s foster family were world-famous stars and she followed in their footsteps. She was a former prima-ballerina and had to retire early after a knee injury- and went on to study law at Yale. After she graduated with flying colors she realized it wasn’t for her and started a dance academy instead.
• I was successfully enrolled at the college and was excited to be starting after spring break. After the tour, we went to view a couple of apartments in Brooklyn because it was closer to campus.
• The first condos we saw were not to my liking but when we walked through the third brownstone, I knew I had come home. It would be perfect for me and my sister- when I got her back, that is. I didn’t know Javier very well but somehow I believed he would find Skylar and we could finally be together. She belonged here, with me.
• It was a full-furnished, modern duplex townhouse with four bedrooms all ensuite. It had central air, two bars, a laundry room, and a spacious dining area. A state-of-the-art kitchen with quartzite counters and glossy built-in cupboards overlooked a neat tranquil garden and
• I could see myself sitting outside on the bench, reading a book or enjoying a meal. An elegant curved, staircase led to the upper-floor where the master suite and other bedrooms were. They were spacious with a sitting area and a balcony overlooking the landscaped yard. The terrace had a beautiful view of downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge and was close to the malls, restaurants and cafes.
• “So…” Javier leaned on the doorjamb of the living room. “Happy, mi pequeña? Or should we keep looking?”
• “I love it!” I spun around the room and clasped my hands. “But, it must be pricey. I don’t want you to go out-”
• “Shh…” He smiled. “We’ll take it,” he said to the realtor. “You can contact my lawyers for the signing of the paperwork.”
• “Javier, how much will it cost?” I inquired.
• “Don’t worry about that, my sweet. Money is not an object.” He motioned dismissively towards the door. “I think we’re done. Are you ready to go?”
• “So when can I move in?” I asked as we flew back to Brazil.
• “As soon as you sign the documents and send them back to my attorneys. Or is that too late?” He looked up at me. “We could wait and leave for Rio when the sale is concluded?”
• “Uhm-no. It’s perfect. I can wait.”
• “Any more questions before I kiss you, mi amor?” he took my hand and planted his soft lips on my fingers.
• “I-what-you..?”
• “I’ll take that as a yes?” He leaned forward and covered my mouth with his in a coaxingly sweet and tender kiss that made my head spin and had the whole animal kingdom doing a jig in my stomach.
• “Javier…” I breathed out, forgetting what I wanted to say.
• “Don’t.” He ran his finger along my lower lip. “Let’s just enjoy the moment, yes?”
• “I’ve never done this before and I..I hardly know you…”
• “Then that’s going to pose a problem after I ask you this,” he reached across and picked up a thick envelope from the side table.
• “What is it that you want to ask me?”
• “In my hands, is all the information you need on your sister Skylar.”
• “You found her?!” My heart leaped in my throat. “Where is she?!”
• “She’s in Denver.”
• “When can we go and see her?”
• “I wish it were that simple but there’s a lot of procedures-rules that need to be followed,” he held up his hand. “I am working on it. You will see her as soon as I can make it happen. You have my promise on that. But first…”
• “You have something to ask me?”
• “Yes,” he looked me dead in the eye before he said…
• “Marry me.”