There was no point in dwelling on a woman he was never going to have a chance with. He forced himself to push Vanessa from his mind, determined to chalk up his reaction to her as simple infatuation.
Samuel spent the next several hours being pampered on the luxury jet, from having a deluxe massage to a gourmet meal in the dining area. He spent a few hours watching classic movies in its theater, then decided to relax with a glass of wine while listening to music for the remainder of the flight.
It wasn’t often that he got time alone, usually opting to surround himself with pleasure-seeking friends and beautiful women to keep himself from thinking too much. They were welcome distractions because, when he was left to his own musings, his thoughts often returned to Fiona.
She sure did a number on him, being the first and only woman he ever loved. He fell for her right after he made his first million as a celebrity chef. He thought she loved him for who he was. As it turned out, she was more attracted to the money and power, not to mention the fame, then the man behind the public image. When he found out she’d been selling personal details about him to the press in exchange for being featured on the cover of magazines, he’d broken up with her. He’d also vowed to never let another woman get close to him again.
There was a knock on the door of the private suite at the back of the Gulfstream jet.
“Yes, who is it?”
“It’s Simone, Mr. Butler. We’re about to arrive at our destination. You’ll find a custom Armani tuxedo in the closet, tailored to your measurements, along with platinum cufflinks and Gucci dress shoes. Please, change into the outfit and join me in the lounge.”
“Will do, Simone.” Samuel stood up from the chair he’d been sitting in and made his way over to the closet. Just as Simone described, there was a garment bag holding a high-end black suit. He slipped the clothes on as instructed, curious as to where they would be going next.
Simone was waiting in the lounge, no longer wearing the lavender business suit from earlier, but a designer black evening gown instead. Wherever they were headed next, formal attire was required. Could it be a private art gallery opening in Prague, or perhaps an exclusive opera performance in Paris? Possibilities continued to roll through his mind as he approached the concierge.
She reached out her hand, revealing a long piece of black satin cloth in her palm. “I need to put this on you.”
A blindfold? This was a new and unexpected addition to the experience. Nothing like this had happened on his last birthday at the club. Samuel wasn’t sure what to make of the request, but he also didn’t mind being out of control. He turned his back to her, bending down low enough so she could tie the satin material over his eyes. The blackness took over his senses, causing him to rely on Simone to guide him off the jet.
He had no idea where they were going, and charging into the unknown was tantalizing. With complete abandonment, he gave into the moment, ready for the ultimate birthday adventure that was most certainly just around the corner.
Chapter Four
Vanessa couldn’t believe that her sister had talked her into going along with her impulse decision. Heather lived her life jumping from one whim to another, but Vanessa was much more calculated in her choices. She didn’t like being out of control, and still couldn’t believe she’d let her sister badger her into coming along.
When the club invited them to attend another guest’s surprise celebration halfway around the world, Vanessa’s first instinct had been to decline the offer, especially when their concierge explained that he couldn’t divulge the guest’s identity until the guest of honor arrived at the destination. Heather insisted that she should go with her, telling Vanessa to live a little before going back to school. After Heather spent a good amount of time riddling her with guilt, Vanessa finally relented and agreed to come along. She had spent most of the flight reading her devotional and watching classic movies to avoid listening to her sister going on about the endless parties she planned on attending back in New York.
“Aren’t you excited, Nessa?” Heather squealed with delight as the jet landed and taxied on the tarmac. “Who would have thought that when we went to the club’s island for my birthday, we’d get invited to another billionaire’s celebration? We’re going to have so much fun.”
Vanessa knew there was no point in arguing with her sister. At least she was getting to visit Ireland because of Heather’s sudden impulse. She’d always been fascinated with the country and enjoyed visiting the romantic land whenever possible. Filled with rugged terrain, coastal mountains, and lush, green fields, it was justly nicknamed, “The Emerald Isle.”
“It’s time to head to our destination, ladies,” Luke, Heather’s club concierge, announced with a wide grin. “I’m glad to see you’re both happy with the dresses we provided.”
Vanessa glanced down at the Prada strapless, red chiffon evening gown that was perfectly tailored to her body. She had no idea how the club managed to get the outfit together so quickly, but here she was decked out in full glamour after the onboard hair stylist and makeup artist spent hours on her mid-flight. Gold, strappy Louis Vuitton stilettos and a matching necklace and set of diamond earrings finished the ensemble.
Her sister was wearing an equally beautiful silver Prada gown, completed by her own set of high-end accessories. Heather insisted that William come with them, and he’d also been outfitted with a designer tuxedo. She wasn’t sure where they were going or what they would be doing, but they looked like they were ready to hold their own at any society ball back in New York City.
A short half hour limo ride later, Vanessa, her sister, and William were climbing out of the limo to find themselves at a train depot.
“What are we doing here?” Heather whined in an accusatory tone. “This doesn’t look like a place we would need to get all dressed up for. Are you sure we’re at the right location?”
Luke nodded. “Miss Lewis, trust me, you won’t want to miss this.”
Off in the distance, there was a light coming towards them. The faint sound of a train horn could be heard, and as the light came closer, the horn grew louder. The metal beast shuddered to a stop just in front of them, beckoning them to come closer.
“We’re going on a train?” Heather questioned in shocked disdain. “Isn’t that a little old school?”
“Yes, we are, but it’s anything but outdated.” Luke handed them each a mask that matched their outfits. “You’ll need to wear these.”
“A mask?” William asked with confusion as he looked at the black leather one in his hands. “Why on earth would we need to wear one?”
“You’ll have to put it on and follow me to find out.”
The trio complied and secured their masks in place. Vanessa’s gold one matched her jewelry and shoes, accenting the red dress perfectly.
Dozens of other people arrived, their identities equally obscured by masks that made them all strangers for the night. The guests were ushered onto the train and brought into an extra-large car that had been transformed into a breathtaking ballroom, complete with a long rectangular gold-leaf encrusted dance floor. On opposite ends of the room, there was an elegant table filled with decadent appetizers and desserts, as well as an opulent bar with gleaming bottles of top shelf liquor.