Читать книгу Accidental Eyewitness - Alice Zogg - Страница 5

Kurt Nobel, known as “The Real Estate King,” was ruthless in business yet generous with people in his personal life. For those who dared cross him, there was hell to pay. Physically, he was 54, six feet tall and in good shape, well-groomed, with brown hair graying at the temples and thinning on top.

At the moment, he watched his new young wife as she brushed her long, silky, blond hair in front of the vanity mirror. Absent minded, she had failed to notice him enter their bedroom. He stood, watching her composed movements.

Then he approached, addressing her image in the mirror and said, “What’s going on in that aloof head of yours?”

Barbie replied, “I read the guest list and have a question.”

“Feel free to add more of your friends.”

“No, Hope is the only one I care to invite.”

“What is it, then?”

She took a moment before voicing her objection. Finally, she asked, “Why do you want your former fiancée to come?”

“Oh, that’s what’s eating you! I want to show Alexa that there are no hard feelings, is all.”

Barbie put her brush down and turned away from the mirror. Facing him, she stated, “I believe that deep down you’re still in love with her, whether you know it or not.”

“Alexa and I were done years ago. Are you that insecure?”

“Insecurity has nothing to do with it. I think it is a mistake to invite the Wellers.”

“You’re too late, my gorgeous worrywart; I’ve already mailed out the invitations.” That said, he kissed her on the forehead and left her to finish getting dressed for their dinner engagement that evening.

In order to get her mind off Alexa, Barbie cheered herself up by imagining what fun it would be to spend a week in the company of Hope. They had been thick as thieves together in high school and she trusted that their relationship had not changed. She was a bit apprehensive about what Hope would think of her marriage to Kurt, knowing how opinionated her friend could be. Kurt’s sister was okay, and her little girl was as sweet as pie. As for the rest of the people on the guest list, she hardly knew any of them and would be perfectly happy if it stayed that way.

Kurt walked over to his own closet to change clothes and thought, I can’t wait to show off my new bride and island mansion to the guests. The conversion of the place had ended up being a success beyond his expectations. Turning the hotel, which had operated at a loss, into his own private getaway was a stroke of genius.

The formal invitations went out in February and were met with mixed feelings among the recipients. They read:

“You are cordially invited to Kurt and Barbie’s wedding celebration. The official wedding, which took place last month, was a private ceremony with only family and close friends. As the conversion of my hotel on the Isle of Ease into a vacation residence will be completed this spring, we would like to share the spot with you. It will be a week-long party, taking place from April 8 to April 14.

Here are the particulars: I will arrange for you to board a commercial return-flight to Honolulu, Hawaii, scheduled to get there before 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. A charter boat will take you to the island on that afternoon and will return you to Honolulu at the end of the week, Friday, April 14. During your stay, you can enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, or just relax on the beach and around the pool. We also have some indoor activities that may be of interest.

Please RSVP by March 5.”

It was signed:

“Looking forward to celebrate with you,

Kurt and Barbie Nobel”

There was a list of requested guests attached, which read:

“Kim Frederique with Evie Frederique

Hope De Luca

Neal Victor

Alexa and Max Weller

Sidney and Heather Ross

Rafi and Kate Simonian

Mike and Beatrice Triest.”