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CHAPTER 154
As Jen and I attended to some pressing emails, in the back of my mind I was planning on how to surprise Michael, without him feeling like I was buying his affection. That was the least I was doing. But the Castillo was a project I would like to do. Deep down it was also something I would have loved to do with Jackson, and I guess a part of me was drawn to that aspect.
"Jen, can you please to talk to our legal team in New York and see if they have a recommendation here in Spain we can use for the purchase." I asked casually
"2 steps ahead of you Grant. I am waitig on a response now. I saw the look in your eye when they were talking and realised you may want a second opinion."
"Well, you are switched on. I like it." I responded before talking off my reading glasses and pondering my next question.
"So Jen, if you don't mind, may I ask you a personal question? Feel free to say no"
"How about you ask, and I will decide if I can respond" she laughed
"Good reply" I joked with her. "I noticed a slight look between you and Coby this morning. Anything I should know?"
As the colour in her cheeks turned beet red, I knew I had over stepped the mark.
"Sorry, I must apologize. It is none of my business, I just like to know what is going on with my close team, and as you are both new to my inner circle, it's difficult to know what is going on"
"And that is a fair comment. Short answer is `I don't know' and the longer answer is after dinner we grabbed a drink, he walked me to my room and kissed me good night, and wow, it was a kiss from the movies" she said as the look in her eyes changed as she relived the memory.
"Well, as long as no one gets hurt, I am fine with it." I said as my phone rang.
"James, how are you my friend. It feels like for ever since we spoke. What can I do for you. These calls are never good"
"I wanted to have a talk with you if I could. Whilst I love my role, and we love Sydney, we are thinking of settling down, marriage, kids, all those fun things, but we have one problem."
"Oh, what's that?" I said as I heard a noise in the background
"I have Sam here with me. We were hoping that I stay in my role and Sam leaves your team and moves to another division. Completely understand if you would prefer he resign, but we both appreciate everything you have done for us, and will except your decision. We just want to stay put for a change"
`James, Sam. You are like family to me. Do really think I would boot you out. James, I need you now more than ever as the world becomes fuller with idiots with hand guns. I trust you with my life. Sam, as for you, I actually have a solution. About 15 mins ago I rang Jane and amongst other things she casually mentioned that she wished she had an extra pair of hands with everything going on. Sam, feel like a gig in the airline industry working for the CEO as an Executive Assistant? You can also throw in my work there too. You know my business better than I do."
"Grant, you really are too good to us. One last thing, and this is completely up to you, would you be my best man at our wedding? It will be in the UK, date to be announced."
"I'd be honoured. James, you have been my lifesaver on more than one occasion. The wedding is on me. Plan whatever you want. I just don't want to be seen riding elephants down the Mall as a part of the ceremony"
We all laughed at this. "But seriously, knock yourself out, I am happy for you to get a wedding planner and just let them organise it"
"Oh Grant," Sam asked before I hung up, "did you want me to put feelers out for a replacement for me"
"Actually, no, sometimes the answer is staring you right in the face, I will fill you in later" I said as I hung up
"Sorry Jen, my team in Australia. Just a few things to discuss" I said as I turned back to her.
"Please, do as you must"
"So Jen. We haven't really gotten to know each other. I know you're a Harvard Gard, you're smart, you work hard, you have a crush on my detail, but who is Jen Azzapardi?" I asked.
"I am from the Texas, daughter of a teacher mom and Accountant dad. Middle class & modest. Studied hard and got great marks and was accepted in to Harvard on a full Scholarship before graduating top of my class. I am socially progressive, I may consider doing Human rights law at some stage, but for now I am enjoying what I do with you and the Bank."
"Any dark secrets in the closet I need to know about?"
"I once had a crush on Chris Evans with posters all over my room"
"Didn't we all honey, didn't we all" I laughed.
"Why all the questions?"
"Well, about 10 mins ago the role of my private principal assistant became available. Its not an easy job. You need to be across every aspect of my business, you are on call 24/7, travel is relentless, people will annoy you, and in most cases you will have a private bodyguard lurking around you making sure you are safe and well. It pays $250,000 a year, a wardrobe allowance, all travel, accommodation & perks. Down side is it can be lonely at times, and you work hard. And if you want it, it's yours. I just need to do a security check on you, well James does actually"
"Are you shitting me?"
"I don't joke about these types of things; plus the way you thought ahead about the lawyers. That's what I need. You need to be 2 steps ahead on everything"
As I finished speaking Jen jumped up and hugged and kissed me. She was young enough to be my daughter, but there was something about the spunk this girl had which made me want to offer her the role.
"I will bring Sam over here to train and handover everything. It will be intensive, demanding, but I am sure you can do it."
"What ever it takes, I am in" she finished off with as we made our way to the elevator.
Reaching my suite I noticed that Michael had not returned. Feeling tired, I stripped off and laid on the bed to unwind a little. Just a quiet bit of me time. It was seconds before I was out cold and in a deep sleep. It was some time later that I awoke to some whispering in our suite, and noticed it was dark outside. Feeling slightly disorientated I went to reach for the lamp when a familiar voice spoke to me.
"Shhh, don't move my darling man, no need to rush" It was Michael who placed his massive hand gently on the small of my back, rubbing me tenderly.
"I've organised us dinner. It's just arrived. It's in the sitting room" he instructed. "When you're ready, hop up, wash your face and join me" he said as he kissed my forehead before helping me up.
As I walked in to the sitting room the low lights that had been set, coupled with the roses around the room, blew me away. I wasn't used to this sort of romancing, but I was definitely not opposed to it either. As he pulled out the chair and poured me a glass of champagne I will admit to be a little lost to words. I sat staring into eyes as the waiter who was in the room served us caviar with all the trimmings and still as I ate, I just wanted the man sitting opposite me, more than the luxurious food before me. As we moved through courses of lobster, rare roast beef, salads, and dessert our conversation was natural, fluid even, as we spoke about Michaels gym workout, which always turns me on, to some business I was dealing with. Whilst he didn't always understand what I was explaining, he never once let on, but continued to nod appreciatively.
As the server cleared up and took everything away, Michael & I made our way to the couch. Sitting there, my legs across his, he looked at me.
"Something's weighing on your mind" he said
"No there's not. I am so content right now it's not funny"
"Hey Mr, newsflash, I was paid to protect you. I know every face, movement or signal you make, probably before you do."
I laughed at this comment. It was true, but what I couldn't tell him was the truth, so instead I settled for a little white lie.
"Well, truth time, I'm losing Sam today. He's kinda stepping back. He and James are getting married, settling down, he doesn't want the travel or to be on call, so I am handing him to Jane, reluctantly."
"Ah, that sucks. What are you going to."
"Well, that's some I wanted to discuss with you. I have offered the role to Jen. I think she will cope well. I like her. But, I also have Michelle, and well, and here's where I need to talk to you."
"This doesn't sound fun. Let me get us both a vodka" he said as he slid my legs off and walked over to the bar cabinet. "Go on" he said.
"Well, I have decided that you're not going anywhere, and I am stuck with you" I started as he threw an ice cube at me hitting me on the chest.
"Another smartarse comment and I will hit directly between your eyes" he smiled.
"Well, we need to have the conversation as to how much you want to be in my life, what you want in life, and how together we can be one"
"Is this a marriage proposal, because if it is, it's damn strange one at that" he laughed.
"Stop joking and come here bub, I need to be serious for a minute"
As Michael walked about to the couch he handed me my drink. The look of concern crossed his face.
"Well, I love you. You know that, and a part of that is everything I do, own and be on a daily basis. That includes charities, businesses, foundations, the works. And well, I want, or actually I need you there for me, and in some cases, I need you there instead of me"
Michael sat stony faced as he contemplated what I had just said. I didn't need to speak, I needed him to process.
"But I can't do that shit. I'd make an idiot of myself."
"Oh bullshit, with the right training you would do fine. You were a navy seal for Christ sake. What I am suggesting is that Michelle take over your day to day. Your correspondences, your diary, your investments, all the day to day stuff that Sam currently does for me."
"Last I looked I didn't have any `investments' or a diary"
"So I guess I need to be truthful then. Starting with your family home. You still own it. It is leased out, but you still own it. I needed to keep it so at a time you were ready, you coud make the decision if you want to part with it. Then there's your share portfolio, not much, $10 million that I set up a while ago. Think of it as a bonus and thank you after the incident at Bondi. Then there's a few other bit's and pieces, and I would have a guess and say all up you are worth about $20 million all up"
I stopped. I need again for reality to catch up to him. Did he not think this was not going to happen? Surely he wasn't this naïve I thought to myself. We sat in silence for a good 5 mins. I didn't know whether to hold him or leave him, so instead I sat twisting the ring on my finger.
And then it triggered. A single tear ran down his cheek. No words, nothing else. Just a single tear.
"Why?" was the only word he mentioned.
"Why not?"
"But, I don't get it" he continued
"So I have too much money. You are my partner, lover, my everything. That should be all I need to say, but if you need more I can waffle off about 200 other reasons."
"Don't. Just kiss me please"
And that was it. Sealed with a kiss. It was a very Michael moment. Tender gentle giant that very few saw the back side too.
CHAPTER 155
Days filled with exploring, nights filled with love making was how we spent the next three weeks travelling from Gibraltar in the south past Barcelona in the north. As we arrived in Barcelona, our first stop was the Marina where the Lady Lucia was docked. I could see her splendour sticking our above everything else. Whilst we hadn't used her in recent months, I had approved her to be used for short term charters so the crew could keep up the qualifications, and besides, she was too beautiful to be not be used. The only exception was the Master Suite was to be locked at all times.
Unannounced I walked up the gang way to a surprised crew member.
"Sorry Sir, this is a private vessel the young sun-drenched man said, obviously a. little nervous having Michael and Coby standing behind me.
"Well get me your captain!" I demanding playing it up a little more than I should have.
As he scurried away to find Tom, Michael lent in to my ear, "You're such an arsehole sometimes"
I laughed at his comment and as Tom rounded the corner his face turned from a stern grimace in to a warm smile, before walking up to me and giving me a kiss on the cheek and a warm embrace.
"Grant. So good to see you. Damn, I heard you were in our neck of the woods, and was hoping we'd see you."
"Hello my friend, how are you!"
Looking at the deck hand, who was still slightly confused, Tom decided to let him in on the secret.
"Patrick, this is Mr Von Garbner, as in the owner of the Lady Lucia"
"Ah shit, sorry Sir. Please, don't fire me. I love my job"
"Settle down, I was winding you up before. It is all good"
Walking on board for the first time without Jackson left me feeling a little flat. We had been through a lot on the yacht, both good and bad, and I know he always loved her. Now, I was going to have make new memories, without pushing aside the old.
We headed up to the deck and caught up on all things to do with the Lady, and Tom was loving doing small charters. Our yacht was popular and profitable, with those that could afford her, willing to pay to be on her. A recent trip undertaken by a European royal had netted $1m for a 4 day trip. After a few drinks, Tom had convinced us to stay for drinks, and then dinner, and then eventually to stay overnight. Whilst we were moored dockside, and wouldn't be leaving, it was still nice to be back on board.
As Michael and I entered the suite, we were both full and for me, slightly tipsy. Sleep was a very welcome reward after another blissfully wonderful day.
Over breakfast, Jen grabbed me for two minutes. "Everything is done" was all she said, with me knowing exactly what she meant. The Castillo was ours, or for me, more importantly, Michaels as I had insisted the property be placed in his name, and not mine. It was his passion and enjoyment that I was sharing. He was in charge of this project, he owned every last sod of dirty, every crumbling mud brick & and every terracotta tile needing replacing.
"Hey guys, I would like to push off shortly as I want to get back to Valencia, how about we follow you Coby, Michael gets lost too easily even with a GPS" I joked.
I had asked Jen to fill Coby in on what was happening so he could drive directly to the Castillo with out me giving Michael directions there.
It was a 2hr drive to Orpesa where the Castillo was, set high on the hills above a glistening ocean. I was all fidgety and nervous as we drew closer, and I would have to tell Michael what I had done. He wasn't used to my impulsive purchases. Well, he was used to them, just not with him being the intended receiver of such largesse.
"Hey babe, what's wrong, you seem on edge this morning." He queried as we drove along. "Have I upset you or done something wrong?"
"No? why would you think that?"
"You know how I get doing dumb shit all the time"
"Bub, you never have to apologize for the `dumb shit' you do. It's a part of what makes you who you are."
"Ok, if it's not me, then what? You keep doing the twitch thing with your eyebrow. You know that's a dead giveaway right?"
"Nothing to worry about. Was just thinking about a few operational issues coming up that we may need to work on. Once I have a bit more of a plan, I will share it with you. Until then, let me over think it whilst you drive" I joked trying to throw him off scent.
"I love you" he said
"I don't think you realise how much I love you"
"Yeah, I do."
As we sank in to our own thoughts, my head was swirling at 100mph. what happens if he doesn't want it?' what happens if he gets the shits I bought it?' you know, all the usual things you think when some spends $5m on a crumbling castle for you in a foreign country. But there were bigger issues at play. Was I really thinking about staying in Spain for a prolonged period whilst we did this? Where would we live? I'd need space for the security and team. Where would we get tradespeople from. The list went on and on, and as Coby turned his car off the road on to the entry of the Castillo, Michael became aware something wasn't right.
"What's he doing? Why's he turning off? Something must be wrong." He said out loud as his protective mind went into overdrive.
"Shall we find out before we jump to conclusions?" I suggested playing it down.
Eventually Coby stopped as we neared the wrought iron gates that marked the official entry to the property. As Coby & Jen hopped out, Michael reached in to the glove compartment to reach for his trusty gun that never left his side.
"Steady on big boy, you don't need that!" I instructed as I removed it from his hand.
"What the fuck is going on then"
"Well if you must know Coby has just pulled up outside your new house."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"After we were here and I saw your childlike excitement, and the dreams you had for the place, I decided to purchase it for you. I want this to be `our' home. I want us to set down our roots here. Our memories, start our lives here. What do you say"
"I'd say you are fucking crazy!"
"But is that a yes?"
"Fuck yes. I can't believe what you do for me Grant. Seriously, this is the best thing anyone has ever done for me. It's been a dream of mine to do this. Seriously. I fucking love you." He finished before getting a pensive look on his face. "Can we afford it?" he asked some what perplexed.
"Last time I looked it didn't even make a didn't in my bank balance, and unless the banking system crashes globally, I'd say we are ok. But the renovations, they may break me" I laughed.
"I'll do everything myself. I'll save money where we can"
"Michael. Stop. I am joking. I think you forget sometimes how wealthy I am. Besides, I don't own this place, you do. You sold some shares and purchased it, so the renovations are my contributions so we are even partners in it"
Pulling me over the seat in one foul swoop, his tongue parted my lips and darted it's way in with a kiss that was both romantic and erotic. The man could definitely kiss.
Taking his seat belt off he jumped out of the car and ran towards the gate which were chained shut.
"In the box to the right are the keys Michael," Jen yelled out to him.
Finding the box and about 100 keys it was 4th attempt when he found the padlock key. Removing the chain, the gates wouldn't budge.
"Coby, stop looking pretty. Come give a brother a hand here" He yelled out to a visibly amused Coby who was leaning against the car. At 6'6" and solid, Coby was certainly a clone of Michael.
As they both removed their shirts, I heard an audible gasp leave Jens lips.
"I guess you've not seen him shirtless yet" I laughed.
"Mind your own business" she shot back as she playfully squatted my shoulder
"He's a very good looking man" I replied
"I know, I am the one pushing him away at the moment. I just want to make sure it's right, now that I work for you, instead of the office back in New York"
"Good to know. Just take your time"
"Do you not think I don't want to climb that mountain!"
Her last comment left me laughing out loud. I guess at 5'2" it was probably a big mountain for Jen to climb.
"Hey, once I figure out what I am doing here, where we are living, and all that stuff, I will fly you back to New York, you can settle up what you need, pack, place anything in storage, which I will cover, and then spend a week with your folks in Texas before returning. That sound ok?"
"Seriously, are you always this generous?"
"Not really. But, I do appreciate the work my inner team does for me. You all contribute in your own way to our overall success. Trust me, when I am phoning you at 3am because I need some report, or minutes from a meeting, you may have a different take on me" I said with a grin.
As I finished speaking The guys had opened the gates enough to get the cars on.
"Lets drive up to the house" Michael suggested.
"Can I suggest you both keep your shirts off in case there's more heavy lifting" I commented.
This earned me a smack on the bum and a kiss on the cheek by Michael, whilst Coby just went red.
The trees that lined the drive were amazing. Their trunks thick and their leaves a deep green that looked to be an Elm of sorts and after passing several dozen, many which had over grown the drive, we came to a clearing where we could make out an olive grove, again, over grown and an orange grove. As we rounded a bend a tidy two story cottage was on our right, and a single story on our left. Were these workers cottages? We were not sure yet. A little further on we could see the roof of the main building as we topped a rise. From this point I could see the forest we had entered through and also the Entry to the courtyard we explored. Beyond that there was a perfect blank canvas of blue. Ocean blue. Sky blue. The line where the two joined.
The soil was red, reminding me of the Australian Outback, but not as dusty. The grasses coarse and tough, contrasting against the green of the wooded areas. It was like someone at some stage had tried to make it a lot like the European castles of the day, with ornate gardens, plantings, and trees to escape the heat.
Pulling up, it was exactly how we had left it, but this time, we had the keys.
"Michael. Promise me before you go anywhere, climb anything, pull anything, touch anything, you make sure it is safe and sturdy" I instructed.
"Yes dad" he replied, his dimples on display.
As we walked through the gates that lead to the courtyard I was astounded by the raw beauty and what we could make of it. The main doors to the house were massive with what appeared to be slabs of oak with a rustic, and rusted, key hole that needed a big skeleton key to open it.
"I'm guessing this it" Michael said as held the large key in his hand.
Surprisingly it turned easily as it appeared that someone had recently lubricated it and once pushed, it opened up in to a foyer, which went beyond to a massive sitting room, with views travelling right along the coast line. It was more than I had ever expected.
Room after room we surveyed the damage and also the positives of the place. The kitchen was a complete right off but has the main structure was all solid, it appeared only the timber work needed replacing and sheeting placed on the walls. Sounded easy as I said it out loud, but I knew it was a huge task ahead of us.
We spend nearly 3 hrs exploring the main building, 18 bedrooms last count, more bathrooms than we could imagine, the out houses and cottages and also driving around the grounds.
Pulling up at the tidy two story cottage on the way out, we opened the door. It was probably last touched in the 1970's, but clean and tidy. The single story across the drive, the same.
"My suggestion is we bring these up to scratch, move in, and work from there." I said
"I don't know Grant, are you sure. I mean, I want you to be comfortable."
"Michael, my love, before I had all this money I lead a pretty simple life. When Jackson and I bought our house it was far worse than this. Trust me. This is a palace by comparison."
"Well, if you are ok"
"Why don't we stay at the Westin until these are more liveable and then move in"
"Ok. You're the boss!"
"No. That's where you are wrong. We are the bosses. This place is ours"
"But its your money"
"No, it is our money. So, let's go buy you a pick up truck, some overalls and a hammer"
With that he kissed me, grabbed my hand and walked me back to the car for the drive in to Valencia.