Moments That Change Lives

Chapter 2

The fist-class cabin of the airplane was just every bit Henry Masters had expected from the best airline company in the world. The seats were as comfortable as leather seats go with a glass of champagne waiting for its occupant next to it. When he had entered the cabin all he could see were familiar faces and until he had found his seat, Henry had shared some great amount of greetings and nods and even a couple of ‘How’s your wife?’ ‘How are the kids?’ ‘The company doing great?’ ‘Martin’s party is next week, you coming?’

After he had sat (he had a window seat, because he always liked to see the sky and the clouds lying before him like a field of cotton), he fished his phone from the cream jacket. The background showed an African-American couple, in a great hug. The woman was the prettiest he had ever seen – with long hair and eyes that glistened with happiness. He noticed that the man was also happy. Too happy. Was.

The picture was shot in an exotic location, which Henry knew was Venice, by a random tourist that had been just passing near them in that moment. “Can you take a picture of us?” the man had said and the tourist had gladly accepted. “Seeing a couple in love… One cannot resist to turn you down,” he had said. The woman had smiled at her man, grabbing his hand for firm assurance and compassion. “I love you,” the woman had said to her loved one. “I, too,” he had replied.

And Henry knew their names – the man’s face was the one he looked at in the mirror. The man in love was Henry Masters and his woman was April Stone. Yes. That was his woman for three years. Thinking about it, it had been too much. If they had married in their first year, they would have probably had their child of two years up and running in kindergarten.

But their relationship was over now and Henry hated himself for torturing his mind with bitter memories and images depicting two ghosts. As he clicked the Photos icon on his screen, relief suddenly overwhelmed him. Image after image he sent them to the trash folder and off they went from his phone, from his memories, from his life.

Anyway he had had enough of that woman. Of that bore of a female. He had never given it much thought, but in fact Henry wasn’t made for long relationships. They reined him in like a rope around his neck suffocating him, filling in his daily life with dull routines he grew to despise after a short period. There had been a Rose once who had held him for two years, a Brenda for one and a half and all of them had been dumped for just a rather simple reason to him. A little bit of playing the field and a tasty, nasty rendezvous.

Just as that thought passed his mind, his eyes darted to the flight attendant serving some bottle to a couple in front of him. And, oh my, she was a beauty. Her skin was the color of those passionate Latinas on the telenovelas; her blonde hair was put into a bun, but what really made her hot in his mind was the great bottom.

“Anything for you, sir?” she spoke to him now, standing above him.

Henry licked his lips. “What’s your name, gorgeous young lady?”

“Michaela, sir,” she answered with a brilliant white smile.

“Well, Michaela, I’d like you to take a seat here next to me, because, you know, my order is pretty and, I mean, seriously big.” He chuckled wickedly.

Michaela laughed and sat next to him. He felt his heart increasing its pace while something shifted and changed in his body.

“And what would that seriously big order be, sir?”

“Sure you want to know?” He asked and put his hand on her shoulder as the other one went on her knee.

The rest of the flight went as if in a flash – he was flirting and joking with Michaela, the stewardess, who fell on his charm and his gorgeous model-like face. His high-school girlfriend had always told him to pursue a modeling career.

To his and her displeasure she had to go, because her manager would apparently be angry at her for staying with a client for so long and they parted, exchanging phone numbers and a couple of winks.

“All passengers, thank you for choosing to fly with us,” the voice from the pilot came to his ears. “And welcome to your destination.”

Henry was one of the first ones to come off the plane; with his black sunglasses and his duffel bag on his shoulder he headed for the black Rolls Royce waiting solely for him. The chauffeur in white gloves opened his door and he entered, sitting into another leather seat.

“Do you want me to take you immediately to the hotel, sir?” he asked.

“No. First I want to go to the travel agency in the rain forest. I have a meeting with their manager.”

“Right away, Mr. Masters,” the chauffeur spoke and in a second the car crawled on the road like a black bug on its way to the hideaway hole.

It had been awesome being the CEO of a billion-dollar company. And his awesome position brought with itself an even better life. Yes, his free time was short while his obligations were insane, requesting a part of his brain non-stop, 24/7, but the perks were over the moon. He saw places people could only dream of and the girls were running for a hot billionaire like crazy. He giggled to himself. There had been, indeed, no living woman who said no to his smile and his piercing eyes that promised a wild adventure.

Henry couldn’t hide the disappointment he felt when he saw the tiny compact offices of the travel agency.

“We’re here? This is it?”

The chauffeur looked at him through the rearview mirror. “Err… Yes, sir. This is where your meeting will take place.”

“Horrible,” he mumbled and exited the car. He was glad his motive for coming here was something different rather than just simple sightseeing and spending some extra cash.

What was interesting to him was the moment he stepped inside – everyone had stopped talking and directed their eyes to him. It was as if everyone had stopped breathing for a while too.

“Good day, ladies and gentlemen. Where can I find Oliver Walker?”

There was silence for awhile when a tiny voice from the back said, “In the meeting room, right down the corridor.”

“Thanks.” Henry flashed them a Prince-Charming smile and went to see the manager. The sooner he finished with this business, the better. The jet lag was killing him.

After they were introduced, Henry sat on the chair opposite of Oliver.

“So, how do you like the place?” Oliver tented his fingers and asked sincerely to fill in the time. Between sentences he looked at his watch, Henry noticed. It was obvious he was feeling rather anxious.

“Everything’s been terrific truly. But I guess I haven’t seen anything.” He chuckled and so did Oliver, but his was rather nervous.

“Amazing… Amazing… You’d like a private tour guide, correct?”

“Just about right. As I stated in the email, I need someone who is skilled and capable of showing me everything there is to be seen here. I want to experience the most of this wonderful place, if you get me. It holds a special place in my heart and you surely understand that I want only the best from your chosen person.” Henry’s tone was a perfect blend of seriousness and lightness, which he often used when he wanted to get a great deal out of his buyers.

“Perfectly understood. Well, she’s a bit late, but I guess she’ll come in any moment now.”

“She?”