Chapter One
-Now-
We landed in Kamigu at an airport which was nothing more than an open field with a single, modest sized-building. Then we were quickly transferred into jeeps; our luggage following in a van. The ride turned out being nearly thirty minutes. Thirty minutes of my restlessness, wondering if this trip was the right decision. I could have interviewed Tori on U.S. soil and skipped her training for this fight. But no. The curious journalist in me had to gain a keener insight into this undisputed and awfully bizarre marvel.
The twenty-two hour flight was tense. I didn’t want to run into Tori, and it was clear she didn’t want to see me either. We managed just fine as I stayed at the front of the jet, using the same restroom as the pilots. Antsy Keyonna meandered toward the back a few times, just to stretch her legs. Other than swearing to having tempered eyes on her by a few in Tori’s entourage, she didn’t complain much about the energy. That was to be expected, I knew. So I didn’t trip.
Finally, we passed through opening gates. Armed guards were near large, black SUVs. Soon, a village-like setting with small homes came into view. They were huts of varying styles and colors. A few residents could be seen in their yards, some even grilling. There were two children walking a dog on my right, and an older woman airing out an area rug. Most waved, friendly and inviting as the sun set beautifully ahead. After another half a mile, the terrain turned into a resort-like setting.
The jeeps split with mine going right and a couple going left. We stopped in front of luxury bungalows.
“Mr. Spencer,” Taja, the driver, called out in a thick accent. “You and Ms. Lee are staying in this two-bedroom unit. Natalia there will show you around your quarters. Your luggage will be delivered to you momentarily.”
As I assisted Keyonna off the jeep, I nodded. “Thanks, Taja.”
“My pleasure, sir. Enjoy your stay!”
As he took off, having others to escort to their bungalows, a rhythmic sound hitting the sanded floor caught my attention. Just before taking off for the entrance of the villa, a lean, feminine body sprinted past us. Tori wore a hat with her hair in a ponytail, bouncing in the air. She was in full running gear with her face low and attention internal.
“We just got off a twenty-two hour flight, and she has the energy to run?” Keyonna trilled.
Before I could answer, someone else yelped, “That’s right, champ!” A short, Hispanic man I’d seen on the jet called behind her while scrabbling with a small camera and a phone. His stride was broken, telling of his unpreparedness. “Straight off the G550 and into warrior’s mode!” He tottered behind her.
Then there was a chocolate, short woman, heaving with a tight face after them. She stopped almost in front of the bungalow. Her hands slapped her kneecaps and clutched for dear life.
“Fuck that, man! After that long ass flight, I can’t fuck with Tori’s moody ass,” she swore, out of breath.
Then her eyes met Keyonna and me as we stood confused by this whole fiasco.
“Damn,” the woman hissed. “Y’all act like you ‘on’t know what we came all the way out here for.”
Keyonna looked at me and I her. Then, as though of one mind, we both turned for the villa. A gorgeous woman with olive skin, long silky hair down her back, and chiseled cheeks awaited us at the door. There was a twinkle of wicked lust in her eyes when our appreciative regards met.
“Welcome, Mr. Spencer and Ms. Lee.” She beamed while giving a slight curtsy. “My name is Natalia. Welcome to my home. I’d love to show you around your villa. It will be your home while you’re here.”
Keyonna gave her back to the stunning hostess and warned, “Peep the wedding band and act accordingly.”
I growled at her, pretending to attempt a bite of her index finger in my face. “Ms. Natalia,” I called out while peering into Keyonna’s tired eyes. “Please. Show away.”
“Just calling to check in before I get my day started.”
I glanced around, observing the calm sky’s orange, yellow, and purple hues, remembering we were twelve hours ahead of him. My heart rate had just stabilized after a long run on the peaceful beach of Kamigu.
“How’s New York?” I countered.
Thomas sighed deeply. “Nothing terribly exciting here. I have Lucinda with me, and she’s biting at the bit to get back home.”
“I guess that’s something we have in common.”
“What do you mean?”
I scratched my head, feeling guilt when gazing out at the setting sun dancing on the rippling water. This place was too majestic for me to feel so peeved.
“What I mean is I should not have come out here. I could have easily done the piece from home. I believe Tori lives on the East Coast like me. I should have worked around her schedule instead of opting to fly out to Kamigu.”
“You’re in Kamigu. I’ve flown in for a day to attend a birthday celebration there. How could you not be in your glory, son?”
I stopped, eyes closing to reel my temper in. “It’s been three days since we arrived and I haven’t been able to get one word in with her.”
“Is she refusing to cooperate?”
I nodded with too much enthusiasm. “I would think so.” Then I took a deep breath. “Listen. Apparently, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have taken this project on knowing the history I have with Tori.”
“I patently disagree, sir. I believe you’d be the one to have Tori McNabb reveal a degree of honesty most cannot.”
“When? On the plane ride home?”
Oh. I forgot. I’m not allowed outside of the first quarter of the cabin!
“No. When you harness the professional mien you have and demand to be respected as a journalist, I’m sure you’ll get what you need.”
As I approached my bungalow, a feminine figure sat on the step of the entryway.
“Yeah,” I sighed when seeing the woman wasn’t my Keyonna. “I’ll try that on for size and see how it works. I’ll be sure to keep you posted.”
“I look forward to it, Spencer.” There was a counsel in his tone.
I dropped the phone and gaped at the woman, my head to the side. She lazily smoked a cigarette, dark hair in her face, and lips a natural dark shade as she peered back at me. The rolls in her abdomen were thick and pronounced from her lazy posture. Her hair was voluminous and wild, almost as long as what I remembered Tori to have.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
“I’m sorry to say I do not.” The only recollection I had of this woman was her heaving when trying to catch up with Tori’s manic run the first day we’d arrived on the island. “How would I?”
“’Cause you came to my momma’s trailer to pick up Tori on Thanksgiving night back in the day.”
That stunned me. I’d forgotten all about that. Didn’t know how I could. It was my first time in a trailer park. I thought it was a euphemism for a low class of white people. Imagine my surprise to learn it was where the tomboy I’d been obsessing over had been born and raised.
“You’re…” I thought for a second or two. “Remada?”