Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Usually, I'd feel weird about calling my bestie's boyfriend, but Carl owes me. I was the one responsible for Kyla taking the admin job at Ink Factor. I was the one who encouraged the game they played with her that made them all fall in love. If I don't get a mention in the wedding speech, I'll lose my shit.
The dialing tone is that weird international one that sounds so foreign, but Carl is quick to answer. "Hello." His voice is gruff and abrupt, as though he's expecting me to be a cold call or one of those scammers who tries to get you to transfer money out of your account.
"Hey Carl, it's Dawn."
"DAWN," he shouts. "How's it going down under?"
"Awesome," I say. "I'm on Cloud 9."
"Kyla told us," he says. "Good for you. About time you got to have the kind of fun you coaxed your friend into."
"My thoughts exactly. Anyway, I'm not calling to discuss my sex life, as fascinating as it is. My friends here are having some issues with their business."
I spend the next five minutes pacing and outlining what's happening with Jeffrey Barrow, and Carl makes disgusted noises every time I pause for a breath.
After I've relayed the details, I perch on the edge of my mattress to hear his response.
"Bad businessmen are the worst," he says. "It sounds like your friends are in a bind. They need to play things very carefully. You gave them good advice about the attorney. They need to know their legal position and also keep records of every contact he makes and the details of what happened during that contact. Get the CCTV installed and be vigilant about who comes in and out of that place. I'd also recommend they contact their local political representative with concerns about the suit dude’s business operation. Record the meeting so they have it logged. They should also speak to other business owners in the area in case anyone has heard anything. What he's proposing is going to change the town significantly. Smaller hotels will get put out of business. With a network of supporters, they'll be more likely to be able to resist, and they'll have other people looking out for anything suspicious."
I breathe out a long, frustrated sigh. He’s absolutely right. Of course he is. But it sounds like so much work and we’re already working at capacity. "Okay. That's great, Carl. Thank you so much. I knew you'd be able to help."
"Anything for you, Dawn. I owe you a debt that I'll never hope to repay."
"You don't owe me a thing," I say, smiling. "As long as you look after Kyla like the queen she is, we'll always be even."
"That's a commitment I'm more than happy to make."
"Is my bestie there?," I ask.
"Err…not right now." Carl suddenly sounds a little hesitant.
"Is she okay?" I ask quickly.
"Yeah. She’s fine. She just can’t come to the phone right now."
His statement strikes me as weird. If she was in the shower or out somewhere, wouldn’t he be specific?"
"Okay. Can you tell her I called? Tell her I miss her."
"I'll tell her."
We say our goodbyes, but the pang for home doesn't leave me.
Later, as I slide between the sheets, I think about how happy I've been since arriving at Cloud 9 and wonder if this is how Kyla felt when she started working at Ink Factor. Happiness is great, but it won’t last for me the way it has for Kyla. I’ll get restless, searching for that thing beyond the horizon that I never seem to be able to grasp. And when I do, I’ll have to leave these men and this place behind.
I will let myself enjoy every minute, but all the while keeping in mind that there’s no point in getting too attached.
19
DAWN
I lie awake, the events of earlier churning in my mind. I picture Lachlan struggling to sleep too as he shoulders the burden of worry for this place.
They don’t deserve the stress Jeffrey Barrow is bringing into their lives.
They don’t deserve the stress you’re going to bring into their lives, my mind whispers.
At least with me, there’s pleasure involved. And maybe they won’t be that bothered when I move on. They were fine before me. They’ll be fine after.
My phone vibrates on the nightstand, and I reach for it, wondering if it’s Kyla. When a message from Dad flashes up, I drop the phone without reading it. I know what it’s going to say, and facing the words again gets my heart racing.
I can’t go back to the US, at least, not until I’m ready. Where can I go next?
New Zealand. Bali. Singapore. Maybe even on a tour of southeast Asia; Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia would rock. Kyla showed me some pictures taken by one of the other women in the reverse harem ladies' group. Natalie is a photographer, and she’s traveled the world documenting some of the amazing sights she’s seen.