The Ceo's Contracted Mistress
The Ceo’s Contracted Mistress Chapter 42

Bobbie marvelled at the energy of her children. It was nearing eleven local time and yet as they sat on the “bridge” as Olivier had called it watching him pilot the ship to his island, the number of questions they had in the dark night made her mind want to melt. She was convinced they weren’t human but little robots running on the energy of the life-source they sapped from their parents.

She was exhausted. Three hours on the plane with the kid with incessant questions, Max had nearly driven the captains nuts, the flight attendant insane and Bobbie had drunk two more glasses of bourbon and left sober Olivier to deal with him once his questions had turned to whether aliens like in the Marvel movies were going to make the airplane crash. Now it was Ollie’s turn, demanding to know what every single dial, knob, and switch on the command center of the ship.

The man had the patience of a saint because at this point, Bobbie was ready to jump into the darkness overboard and let the sharks have her. She found herself wondering if one of those sensory deprivation tanks would work on making her feel less tense.

“Dad, dad,” Ollie questioned, “if aliens were under the water and a giant squid attacked their ship and they asked you for help, would you help?”

“Oh, oh,” Max chimed in, “or would you help the squid because the alien ship might have been polluting the water where the squid lives?”

She moved to stand beside Olivier wondering how he could figure out where they were going in the pitch black of the night, “ooh, ooh,” she whispered, “if a giant squid appears, just throw me to him and let him eat me.”

“Chérie, I believe you might be hangry. Dinner is waiting for us at the villa. It won’t be long.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and drew her close, kissing her temple.

“Dad,” Ollie whined loudly, “you didn’t answer. Would you help the alien or the squid?”

“Neither” he shook his head, “not until I heard the full story on who needs my help more.”

“What if one of them is the bad guy?”

“Sometimes bad guys need help too.” Olivier grinned as Bobbie pinched his arm.

“What if one of them were photographers?” Max asked curiously.

Evidently photographers were bad guys now, not that Bobbie disagreed after the day they’d had.

“Does the squid have eight cameras or just one?” he wriggled his fingers at them. “One for each tentacle or does he hold the camera in his beak?”

“His beak?” Ollie blinked. “Squids have beaks. Like birds?”

“Yes, they do. Squid are delicious.” Olivier said suddenly. “I could go for calamari.”

“Jesus,” Bobbie blinked at his words as the twins cackled with glee at his comment. She then had a thought, “if there is nobody at the island, how is dinner waiting for us?”

“A local couple are employed by me to maintain the property. When we arrive, they’ll help me dock the yacht and tie off and then they will head home.”

“Isn’t it dangerous to be on the water at night?”

“My love, people spend months at sea. They don’t have to replace land every night.”

“I just mean, around here there are reefs and smaller islands.”

“My ship has the most up to date technology for radar and sonar. I have been piloting this route since I bought the island when I was in my mid twenties. I could do it blindfolded. Marie and Connell live in Freeport and it’s about twenty minutes from the house.” He pointed in the distance. “We are almost there. Do you see the lights?”

The kids immediately raced to him at his words and squinted in the darkness.

Max complained, “I can’t see anything.” He pulled his glasses off his face and then shoved them back on.

“Keep watching, the lights will get brighter.”

Sure enough, in the far distance, Bobbie could make out the flickering of lights growing closer as Olivier adjusted the speed of the ship. “Can you get the ship so close to the shore?” She had a memory of seeing ships all docked out in the deeper water on a trip she had taken with the kids in the past.

“Depends on the island or where we are docking but, in this case, yes, we can get right up to the dock. There is a boat lift. There will be places I’ll take you where we’ll need to take the dingy from ship to shore but here, on my island, we just need to tie up and walk down the dock. At the end of the dock there is a flight of stairs straight into the house.”

“Is it a big house?” Max asked. “As big as our house in Dallas?”

Olivier shifted uncomfortably, “it’s a good size.”

“What’s a good size?” Bobbie questioned him, her eyes narrowing on him as he fidgeted with his controls.

“In hindsight when I told Lark I didn’t have a mansion, I might have forgotten about the island.”

“You have a mansion on an island in the middle of the Atlantic?”

“I have a villa, but Lark would probably consider it a mansion,” he chuckled as he thought of the exuberant little girl.

“How many bedrooms?”

“Twelve,” he fiddled with switches as they drew nearer to the island.

“Twelve bedrooms?”

“It’s not uncommon for my entire family to descend here.”

“How many bathrooms?”

“Eight.”

“Oh my god.” Bobbie was laughing loudly now. “Olivier, how did you forget this place when Lark asked about your houses?”

“I was thinking of places I live and work out of. I hadn’t been thinking of vacation homes.”

His response had her reeling and she stared open mouth, “How many vacation homes do you have?”

“This one,” he paused, “and one on Lake Cuomo.”

“In Italy?”

“Yes.” He made face, “it’s not as private as this but it’s beautiful.”

“Like where George Clooney is rumored to have a house?”

“Does he? I wouldn’t know,” Olivier shrugged. “Chérie, I’ve said it before I tend to keep to myself. I don’t attract a lot of attention because I stay in and work. I could walk down any street in London, Paris or LA and ninety percent of the time, I wouldn’t be recognized. People know my name because I own banks and I make waves in the markets from time to time and I’ve been on a few covers, which,” he gave a shudder, “is appalling but when Time or Forbes is asking and your head of PR is threatening to quit if you refuse, a man has to do what a man has to do.”

“You’ve been on the cover of Time?”

“Twice,” he laughed at her surprised expression. “You really have kept your google searches away from my name, huh?”

“Yeah,” she saw the well-lit dock coming into view and noted two people standing at the edge. “They must be exhausted.”

“Possibly but I make it worth their while. They would never complain.”

Ollie was standing on a bench seat and watching the boat get closer and closer to the dock and she let out a little squeal, “what if we crash?”

“We’re not going to crash,” Max made a face though as if he weren’t trusting of his own bravado.

“But it would be really cool,” Ollie said weirdly. “It would be neat to see it go boom!”

“She’s tired and I think her concussion is coming through,” Bobbie whispered to Olivier whose shoulders shook with silent laughter. Bobbie watched him expertly manoeuvre the boat alongside the dock as the man and woman both started throwing ropes to tie them to the dock. His confidence and ease of movements was sexy as hell as he parked the boat better than she could park her car. She considered she had to be exhausted to think his actions sexy but as his muscles in his t-shirt stretched, she felt a sudden longing to take his shirt off. She pursed her lips in annoyance at herself. She needed to get laid.

He caught her expression and frowned, “what’s wrong?”

“Overtired I think,” she stepped away from him before she lunged at him koala style with both kids and a pair of strangers looking on.

He moved to scoop both kids up in his arms and laughed as they squealed, “we’re here. Come on. Papa needs food and a damn cold beer.”

“I want beer,” Ollie said blinking with a huge grin at her father’s raised eyebrow.

“Root beer is the only beer you’re having until you’re forty.” He snubbed her nose with his, “or ginger beer but I think you would not like ginger beer.”

Bobbie laughed as he flung them over his shoulders like sacks of potatoes and raced through the cockpit onto the deck of the boat.

“Should I just throw them into the water and make them swim to shore?” he teased as he stepped closer to the dock. They squealed with mock terror at his words and then screamed for real when he pretended to throw them. He raced them down a gangplank to the dock and set them on their feet. He held his hand out to Bobbie to help her walk down

She couldn’t help the smile on her face when he moved to hug the couple on the deck. The long pier was lit up with lights all the way up the stairs. It was bright enough she could see clearly the people waiting for them. Even in the dark though, she would have been able to tell these were people who cared for Olivier.

“Connell, Marie, it is so good to see you, my friends. I want you to meet my family. This is Max and Ollie, my son, and my daughter and this is their maman, Bobbie.”

“It is so nice to meet you,” the woman stepped close to Bobbie and squeezed her hands and then gripped the chins of the kids. “You look like you were cloned in a laboratory like in the movies. You are just like your father.”

Ollie giggled at her words. “Were we made in a laboratory mom, or did you have s*x?” She saw the woman cover her mouth in surprise, “a laboratory would be cooler. We saw monkeys at the zoo, and it was weird.”

“Oh my god,” Bobbie g*****d in embarrassment. “The monkey thing is never going away.”

Olivier chuckled at her blush, “Marie, has six grandchildren, Bobbie. She knows what’s up.”

Bobbie blinked at the woman who didn’t have a single wrinkle on her skin and even in the dim light of the pier, she was stunning and youthful, “you don’t look older than I am. How do you have six grandchildren?”

Marie winked with a wide smile, “the same way the monkeys do I suppose.”

Bobbie roared with laughter immediately liking the woman. “I suppose so.” She looked up in the direction of the house, “we should get you two in and ready for bed. It’s already nearing midnight.”

“Mom,” Max pulled her hand excitedly, “listen, do you hear the sounds?”

“I do,” she wrapped an arm over his shoulder. “Tell me what you hear?”

“I hear the water against the boat and on the shore,” he was listening attentively, “and wind moving trees.”

“Very clever,” Connell chucked his chin with a closed fist, “you are a smart boy.”

“I like maths and sciences,” Max nodded, “you need to use your senses for science like listening and smelling.”

“Yes, you do,” Olivier agreed, “but even the biggest brains need rest and fuel. Let’s go eat and let Marie and Connell get home.” He shook Connell’s hand, “please call the house phone and let me know you’ve arrived safely.”

“Of course,” Connell nodded and made his way to a small boat on the opposite side of the pier.

Bobbie waved goodbye and then looked over her shoulder, “what about our luggage?”

“I’ll bring it. You three go on up. I’ll be along in a few minutes. You should be able to replace the kitchen and dining area relatively quickly. Marie usually makes sandwiches and fruit bowls when I come in late.”

“Sandwiches!” Ollie started running down the pier in the direction of the stairs. “I’m hungry.”

“Me too!” Max tore after her.

Bobbie followed at a more leisurely pace and considered the flight of stairs to be daunting. There had to be fifty of them. She turned and wondered whether Olivier would need help carrying their luggage. He’d told her to pack light because there were laundry services on the island and really the kids would mostly just need swim and beach wear, but she’d been unsure. She didn’t see him any longer on the dock and presumed he was back on the boat. She began climbing the stairs and then was amazed at the view in front of her when she reached the top.

Both her kids were standing still as if transfixed by what they were seeing. The area was well-lit and bright even in the dead of night. The stairs from the dock were the back of the house and the house was built overlooking the beach on the other end. The house extended as far as they could see. A main house where the stairs reached, and then long breezeways connected two other areas. The patio doors were opened, and breezy curtains billowed in the gentle wind. It was tranquil and reminded Bobbie very much of the soundtrack to a meditation app she used.

“Mom,” Ollie asked curiously, “can we go in?”

“Your dad said to go in and replace the kitchen and food so let’s go explore,” she grinned as the kids gave a yell and tore excitedly across the patio into the house. She followed and laughed as they had made a beeline right through the house towards the other side and were frowning over their shoulders.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was hoping we could see the beach.” Max made a face.

“It’s late. We’ll see the beach in the morning. Food and bed.”

“I’m not tired,” Ollie protested but stalked off in search of the kitchen. She pulled a door open, “it’s a bathroom.”

Bobbie frowned at the child unsure if she was playing or serious. She pointed in the direction of the well-lit, open concept kitchen, dining and living space, “uh, right there.”

“Do you think Papa likes to come here to be alone? It’s a big house to be alone in.”

“He said he does but I imagine sometimes he has family here with him too.”

“We’re his family now.” Ollie said proudly as she pulled a dining chair table back and lifted a lid off a dish on the table. “He told those people we’re his son and daughter.”

She chuckled, “you are his son and daughter.” She patted her head gently, “how’s your head Ollie? Not hurting?”

“A little bit but I’m mostly hungry.” She took a sandwich and sniffed it. “Smells like chicken.” She took a bite, “it’s chicken.”

Max reached for a sandwich and then lifted the lid off another bowl, “what is this?”

“I don’t know,” Bobbie leaned over and looked curiously into the dish. She jumped when Olivier’s hand snaked past her and he spoke in her ear while taking a brown fried ball.

“Conch fritters. Marie knows they’re my favorite when I’m here. Bless her heart,” he said with a laugh as he took in Bobbie’s started expression. “Did I frighten you?”

“A bit,” she nodded. “I didn’t hear you come back in.”

“I left the luggage by the door for now. We’ll tuck it away later. I’m hungry.” He pressed a k**s to her cheek before popping the ball into his mouth and moving to the refrigerator. “Chicken sandwiches, conch fritters and if I know Marie, there’s a johnny cake there too.” He pulled out two beer and two bottles of water. He passed Bobbie a beer and put the water in front of the kids.

“You’re sweating,” she waved at him.

“You’re sweating,” she waved at him.

“I didn’t want to make two trips so carried everything in one go,” he shrugged. “It was heavier than I anticipated.”

“It is warm,” she agreed and sat down in a chair and lifted what he’d called a conch fritter and sniffed it. “Conch as in the giant snail things?”

“Snails?” Ollie’s teeth bared in disgust as she watched her mother sink her teeth into the deep-fried food. “You’re eating snails?”

“I’ll try it,” Max said with a grin

Ollie grabbed one as Olivier pulled two more off the pile and shoved a whole one in his mouth. “Dad, you really like eating snails?”

“It’s no different than a mussel or clam,” he chewed happily. “All part of the mollusk family.”

She took a tiny nibble on the edge of one and then made a face, “kind of tastes like the shrimp things mamaw put in our sandwiches today but spicier and with other stuff.”

“It tastes nothing like fried shrimp apart from the fact it’s fishy and fried.” Olivier laughed but encouraged her to take a bigger bite. “Eat up and I’ll show you where we will sleep.”

“I’m not tired,” Ollie repeated her earlier statement but this time it was punctuated with a yawn.

“Well, I am,” Bobbie stretched as she watched Olivier use a spoon to take a chunk of what looked like cornbread from a cast iron onto a small dish. “Is Johnny cake cornbread?”

Max’s eyes bugged, “I love cornbread.”

“You love everything,” Olivier teased him as he watched his son shovel the second half of a sandwich into his mouth, had three fritters on his plate and was now reaching for the spoon tucked into the dark pan. “Just like your papa.”

Bobbie shook her head at their antics as Olivier nuzzled Max’s neck, lifting him clear out of his seat to sit where Max had been seated and then settling him on his lap.

“When I first came to the Bahamas as a little boy with my family, I was nervous to try all the new foods. Conch,” he held up the fritters, “is very popular here. You can even eat it raw when prepared right. Guava is another staple here and it’s a delicious fruit. There are also things we have back home like grits,” he saw Ollie’s frown intensify. “You are from the south and do not like grits?”

“No.” she shook her head with ferocity, “it’s like eating glue.”

“Your maman is making them wrong if they’re like glue.”

Bobbie lifted an eyebrow at him, “I don’t make them at all. I don’t like them either. The texture is weird.”

“Max, tell me you like grits? I cannot be the only one.”

“I love grits. Sometimes Nana Prue makes them for me.”

“Gross,” Bobbie and Ollie said at the same time.

“Boys against the girls,” Max said cheerfully. “What other foods did you try here?”

“Crabs, rock lobster, rice and peas.” He sighed, “the best are the sweets though. Coconut cakes and guava duff. Mm.” He picked at the crusts Max had pulled off his bread and shoved them in his mouth. “So good.”

Bobbie laughed at the faraway expression on his face, “now I know where Max gets it.”

Ollie yawned again, louder this time and Bobbie smiled, “it’s really late. I know we’re on summer vacation but your sleep schedules the last few weeks have been really messed up. We should get you two to bed.”

“Mom,” Max whined, “can’t we stay up later?”

“Not tonight. Finish what is on your plate. You can bring your water bottles with you to bed but it’s bedtime.”

“Tomorrow we can explore the island and go fishing if you like.” Olivier offered, “but you must get rest tonight to have energy for all the things we’re going to do.”

A thought occurred to her, “when Riggs’ mentioned taking Grady fishing, is this where you go fishing?”

“Sometimes,” he shrugged, “although we were planning on fishing in Louisiana. Henri’s family are fishermen on his mother’s side, but his dad considers himself a tech innovator in fishing. Henri’s father was a huge influence in developing technology equipment used for locating fish in water.” He cleared the table and putting leftovers neatly covered into the fridge. His empty beer bottle was placed in a recycling bin on the counter. He looked to Bobbie’s half-empty bottle, “can’t finish it?”

“No.” she passed him the bottle and the kids giggled when he said it shouldn’t go to waste and guzzled it. “Thirsty?”

“Yes.” He grabbed a bottle of water, “I’ll stick to this for the rest of the night though.” He gave the counter a wipe down. “Come on, time for bed.”

Bobbie followed him down a hall, making the kids pull their bags behind them.

He stopped in front of a couple of doors, “this room has two twin beds, the other has one double bed. You can sleep in the same room if you want. You can sleep with each other or sleep in your own beds or you can each take a room. What will it be?”

“Can’t we sleep with you?” Max asked curiously.

“Not tonight,” Olivier denied him before Bobbie could respond. “Maman and I are tired. We’re going to be snoring and I don’t need your feet in my face.” He teased the boy without giving in.

“But papa,” Max argued, “we’ll be scared in a new room.”

“There’s nobody else on this island. Nobody can get on or off without my security system being alerted and it’s just the four of us here. There is nowhere safer in the world. Are you two sleeping together or apart?”

Bobbie had to force the bubble of laughter down as Max, and Olivier stared off at each other. Ollie grumbled she was too tired and moved into the room with two beds and flopped onto the bed. Bobbie followed her in, ignoring the debate going on in the hall and pulled her daughter’s pyjamas from the suitcase and helped her into it and then helped her slide between the sheets.

“Max, you have five seconds to come in here and I will help you get ready or I’m leaving your suitcase on your bed and I’m going to bed and you’re on your own.” She called into the quiet of the night, “One, two, three, four,” she paused, and Max stomped in angrily.

“It’s not fair. I want to sleep with my papa.”

“Not tonight.”

“How come you get to?”

“Max!” Ollie sat up in her bed and shouted at him, “shut up. I’m tired. It’s just like Grady and Everly. Lark doesn’t sleep with them every night. Stop being a baby and go to bed and stop talking!” she shrieked the last two words and the flopped back into the bed and pulled her pillow over her head.

He was grumbling about Ollie being cranky as Bobbie held out his pyjamas, helped him into them and then crawled into the bed.

“Bathroom,” Olivier flicked a switch in an adjoining room. “I’ll leave the light on. We will be just down the hall. It’s the very last door straight ahead.

“Fine,” Max glowered as his parents each bent and kissed his brow. His eyes were already closed before they reached the door and even though he was mumbling, as he shifted in his bed, he was succumbing to sleep quickly.

Bobbie watched Olivier close the door gently and then turn to look at her.

“Remember what I said at the house?” He stared at her intently.

Memories of his dirty words at the bottom of the stairs flitted to her brain and she shivered, “yes.”

“Bedroom,” he pointed at the door at the far end of the hall, “now.”