Searching for Love and Treasure

By G. Alan Brooks

This is a story of love, betrayal, adventure, and the search for a meaningful life. Billy, a young development manager at a global software company leads a carefree life until a love affair causes him to reevaluate the meaning of success. In addition to a focus on climbing the corporate ladder, Billy, and his Marine friend dedicate themselves to a challenging and dangerous undertaking. They resolve to find a vast treasure, hidden for five hundred years, while also searching for themselves. Can their advanced technical and survival skills enable them to succeed where others have failed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669819561

G. Alan Brooks

George “Alan” Brooks was born in central Florida in 1940 into a Florida pioneer family. The Brooks families settled in central Florida around 1815 and were sustenance farmers for at least 150 years.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

GettyImages-187161233.jpg

The July sun was shining brightly on the caravan as it moved south from the ancient city of Quito, Ecuador, toward the city of Cajamarca, where the Inca King Atahualpa was held prisoner.

Cajamarca is in the northern Andes of Peru, and the Spaniards had captured and imprisoned King Atahualpa after a surprise attack, which killed thousands of Inca warriors. The Spanish had guns, horses, and artillery, while the Incas had only bows, spears, and handheld weapons.

It was 1533, and the caravan consisted of a thousand camels and llamas loaded with the largest amount of gold and silver in the history of the world. It is believed that the caravan was carrying over fifteen tons of the precious metals. The caravan contained an unbelievable fortune that would cause the king of Spain to reward the conquistador Francisco Pizarro with great honor and wealth.

They were traveling on the Inca stone road, and their leader, General Rumiñawi, was in a hurry. He needed to deliver this incredible treasure to Pizarro, who held the Inca king prisoner, under heavy guard in Cajamarca. The trip had been filled with danger and stress to cover the treacherous eight hundred miles from Quito to Cajamarca in record time to save their king.

It had been a logistical nightmare because there were over six thousand Inca warriors to feed and house in addition to the animals, and General Rumiñawi was pushing both men and animals beyond their breaking points.

Pizarro had promised not to kill the Inca king if the gold and silver were delivered in two months, but it had taken over thirty days to locate the animals and load them with the gold and silver from the storehouses in Quito and other smaller cities. Now, the caravan was about one hundred miles from Cajamarca and already two days past the deadline given by Pizarro.

General Rumiñawi was at the front of the caravan when he saw a warrior running as fast as possible from the direction of Cajamarca. The warrior looked exhausted, and when he stopped near the general, he lowered his head in respect and waited for permission to speak.

Tell me what news you bring in such a hurry, ordered Rumiñawi.

They have killed the king! They strangled him and burned him. They got tired of waiting for the gold and silver, cried the warrior.

They promised not to kill the king if we brought them this treasure. If they could have waited only a few more days, they would possess the massive gold and silver they demanded! yelled Rumiñawi to the brilliant sky in total frustration.

What shall we do now? asked the warrior.

We must hide this treasure so that the Spaniards will never get their filthy hands on our precious gold and silver. I will take this caravan to the mountains and hide the treasure so well, it will never be found. Then I will return to Cajamarca and kill every Spaniard that has invaded our country, vowed General Rumiñawi.

The caravan went to the mountains, the animals were unloaded, and the gold and silver were hidden so well that it has never been found.

After he hid the treasure, General Rumiñawi did as promised and took his warriors to fight the Spaniards. After numerous brave battles, he, too, was captured, tortured, and killed, but he never revealed where the treasure was hidden.

By 1572, the Spaniards had, through warfare and disease, destroyed the Inca people, and one of the greatest societies in history ceased to exist.

CHAPTER 1

Billy Hartwell gazed through his office window, which overlooked the waters of Biscayne Bay and out to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a sunny day in July, and he was thinking of fishing for mahi-mahi after work today.

Devon, I think we can leave the office at five o’clock and still have three hours of fishing before dark. The weather is perfect, and we should be able to catch a few fish to feed you, me, and the two charming women I invited to join us, said Billy with his infectious laugh.

Sounds good to me, said Devon, who loved to fish as much as Billy.

Before he and Devon could leave for the day, they had to make a few overseas calls to assist a customer with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore. This multinational enterprise was implementing a new Microcorp financial management system, and Billy was the global manager for the product.

Microcorp was the world’s largest application software company, and Billy was a rising star. He managed an office in Miami with two hundred employees that specialized in a wide array of cloud-based solutions. Devon Williams was second-in-command of the Miami office.

Billy and Devon made the business calls, and then they turned to the window again to look at the shimmering water of the bay and the ocean. To Billy, fishing and nature were endlessly enjoyable: the calming motion of the water, the serenity when alone far from shore or people, the amazing variety of birds and marine life, the challenge of finding fish, the thrill of the catch, and the delight in eating them.

Billy, do you think that fishing has any parallels to our business life? asked Devon in a playful manner as he saw Billy’s expression.

I sure do! Remember what Einstein once said, ‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.’ I think our love of nature helps us clear our heads to be outstanding software developers and better people. Billy smiled.

OK, let’s go clear our heads and catch some fish, said Devon as he got up to leave the office.

They were soon fishing on the edge of the Atlantic Gulfstream for mahi-mahi with two young women in tiny bikinis. Billy and Devon were searching the sky for frigate birds and scanning the water for any floating debris when not looking at the girls who were sunbathing in the bow of the boat. Frigate birds often follow the mahi-mahi that are looking for small baitfish to devour, and the birds want the leftover morsels for themselves.

These beautiful game fish have several names that keep them from being confused with the dolphin mammals that we love and that nobody would ever try to catch. In addition to mahi-mahi, they are commonly called dolphinfish, dorado, or simply dolphin. In the waters off the coast of Miami, they are most often called dolphin by the anglers. They are among the fastest-growing and most beautiful fish in the sea.

They have amazing colors of yellow, green, and blue, and when excited, they light-up their colors even more brilliantly. Of course, they are excited when caught, and their colors are sensational to see.

Billy pointed to some frigate birds about one thousand yards to the left of the boat’s current direction, and Devon turned the boat on a heading to reach the birds. They were still on the way to the birds when Billy pointed to a heavy floating weed line of sargassum grass just a short distance to their right. It looked like a perfect spot for dolphin, so Devon slowed the boat to reduce the noise and moved carefully to the weed line, forgetting the birds.

Billy had his fishing rod already baited with a live pilchard, which is a small sardine-like baitfish. There is no better bait for mahi-mahi than a live, active small fish that they are accustomed to eating.

Billy, look to your right, you can see a big school of dolphin right under the edge of the grass at three o’clock! Devon yelled excitedly.

I see them, said Billy as he tossed his small live fish just three feet from the dolphin school. As soon as the baitfish hit the water, it was instantly eaten by one of the fast-moving hungry fish. The line immediately peeled off the light tackle reel, and a good fight ensued for ten minutes.

Billy brought the excited, beautifully colored fish to within ten yards of the boat and put his rod in a rod holder with a tight drag to hold the fish in that position. Several other dolphin came over to see what was happening.

I don’t know why they hang around like that, but I am glad they do! yelled Devon happily.

Next, Devon tossed his bait into the water and immediately hooked up. Billy grabbed a new rod, and he quickly caught another dolphin that was still near the boat. They landed all three fish and decided to stop for the day.

The young women were shouting excitedly and pointing at the fish in the boat and in the water.

I think we have enough fish for tonight. Let’s leave the rest of the school for another day, said Billy as he put away their fishing equipment.

Devon turned the boat west toward Miami. They kept the boat at the Coconut Grove Marina, which gave them fast access to the ocean and was only a couple of miles from their apartment.

The two roommates gave a high five and thanked the fish gods for a successful day. The ladies joined them in their high five. There would be mahi-mahi on the grill tonight and clear heads for work tomorrow.

These two men were proud of their life’s balance between work and play, and they loved their quality of life. Neither was driven to achieve the wealth or fame of the high-profile technology innovators, but they were pleased with their well-paid salaries. They thought they had all they needed to live the life they enjoyed.

Billy tossed the three dolphin onto the cleaning table and laughed out loud to himself as he thought about his wonderful life. I love my work, I love to fish, I love girls, and I really love girls who love to fish.

CHAPTER 2

Billy Hartwell had unusually bright-blue eyes and long blond hair tied in a ponytail. He was a fit twenty-six-year-old program manager who worked for Microcorp. His team specialized in designing and implementing complex cloud-based platforms with supply chain and financial management functionality.

He had been with the company for five years, and Billy’s corporate personnel folder identified him as a high-potential employee expected to achieve a critical executive leadership position during his career. Billy made some of the highest aptitude scores ever recorded during his interview testing and selection process. He did not know that he was flagged for rapid advancement, but he knew he had been promoted to manager faster than his peers.

He was easygoing, calm, funny, and witty, but a serious worker and manager who was well-liked and respected by his team and his customers.

Billy had been raised by a single mom who was a nurse, and money was always tight. He needed to help with the bills as soon as he was old enough to be employed. His father had been an enlisted man in the Marines and was killed in Afghanistan when Billy was nine years old.

His parents both grew up in Miami, and when his father joined the Marines, they decided to stay in Miami no matter where his dad was assigned. As a result, his father was away from home for lengthy periods, but when he came home, he took Billy fishing, hunting, and camping.

After many of their excursions, his dad would take out his metal detector, and they would search for treasure, never knowing what they might discover. Billy developed a love for treasure hunting that would last all his life. He had loved and respected his father immensely. It was truly a sad home for several years after his father’s death, and it required Billy to help his mother with the household chores and to earn any money he could to help with the bills.

The family was Methodist but rarely went to church. They went for a few months after his father died, but religion was never important to Billy or his mother. They never had the money to travel, and until he joined the software company, he had never been outside the United States.

Billy was a handsome young man, and the high school girls had always given him a second look. He loved to flirt, but he had little time to party because he worked part time with the Geek Squad as soon as school was over for the day. He also earned money fixing computers and software glitches for neighbors and word-of-mouth referrals.

Upon graduation from high school, Billy got a full-time job at an Apple store and began attending Dade Community College at night. After two years, he transferred to Florida International University (FIU), left his job at Apple, and attended college full time. He took the heaviest class load permitted and caught up with his needed college credits and graduated in two years. He majored in math and computer science and was considered exceptional by both his teachers and classmates. He joined Microcorp immediately upon graduation.

Billy loved his work and had no plans to leave Miami. His mother was here, his friends were here, the fishing and hunting were here, and now that he had time, there were plenty of girls to date right here in Miami. He did not need to go anywhere else to enjoy his life.

Billy was proud of his $100,000 per year salary, and he rented a two-bedroom apartment in a high-rise condominium in the heart of downtown Miami. He was within walking distance of his office, and his location was surrounded by restaurants, bars, shops, and plenty of women.

He bought a used Range Rover to pull his twenty-five-foot Contender boat, which he mainly kept in dry storage at the Coconut Grove Marina. Coconut Grove was just a couple of miles south of downtown Miami and was a popular community filled with boat lovers. He could easily fish the Atlantic Ocean from the marina or pull his boat to fabulous fishing spots in the Florida Keys, the west coast of Florida, or anywhere else the fish were biting.

Last year, Devon Williams joined his team, and he and Billy became fast friends. Devon needed a place to stay, and Billy offered to let him take one of the condo bedrooms and split expenses. Now Billy had a fishing buddy and even more money than ever to spend on fun.

Devon was an African American male with dark skin, black hair, brown eyes, and an athletic six-foot frame. He had a military posture with a straight back, chin up, and a flat tummy tucked in. He learned how to present himself while in the Marines, and when he entered a room, people took note of his presence.

Devon had attended subpar public schools in Miami with enormous disciplinary problems and frequent classroom disruptions. It was challenging to learn in that environment, because the kids who were determined to learn and achieve good grades were frequently bullied and ostracized. Despite the classroom troubles, Devon kept his head down, and his muscular frame kept the bullies away. He was a good student, and he was outstanding in math and science.

He graduated high school in the top 2 percent of his class and immediately joined the Marines for four years. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and became an expert in survival skills. Devon spent his last two years as an instructor, assigned to the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) facility in Okinawa. The facility teaches survival techniques in the jungles of Northern Okinawa during an intensive twelve-day program. The students are trained to survive in the jungles with only a knife, a canteen, and the uniform on their back.

While in Okinawa, Devon made several treasure-hunting trips into the jungles with his fellow instructors to search for money and objects that were left behind from the horrific Battle of Okinawa between the US and Japanese armies during the spring of 1945. Over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians lost their lives during this fierce conflict, and the materials left behind were enormous. Devon’s treasure-hunting success created a lingering desire to again search for treasure once he had established his career.

Devon returned to Miami, and with the GI Bill college benefits and a part-time job at the Port of Miami, he financed four years at Florida International University (FIU). He graduated with a degree in computer science and math. Upon graduation, he was hired immediately by Billy.

Billy Hartwell was content with his life! He had all the money he and his mother needed, he had a responsible secure job, and he had the ocean, friends, and women.

CHAPTER 3

One of Billy’s favorite bars was in an upscale hotel located in Brickell City Center. Miami’s Brickell City Center is a large multipurpose project with hotels, restaurants, bars, and luxury shops from all over the world. Its primary appeal is to the thousands of young professionals who live in the countless high-rise buildings within a short walk. In addition to the locals, young people from all over the greater Miami area flock to City Center because of the many exciting venues. It was a fabulous place to meet women, and Billy loved the scene.

It was 6:30 p.m. on a Friday, and the vibe was lively, loud, and youthful. It was filled with young people from the many law firms, banks, insurance companies, and global headquarters of the Fortune 500 companies located along Brickell Avenue and the nearby streets.

Some of the women sitting at the bar were administrative assistants, some were executives, some were lawyers, and others were working women from as far away as Homestead. Billy never knew whom he was going to meet, what they did, or where they lived. Part of the fun was to guess before approaching one of his targets and make his guess a part of his approach.

Billy was not looking for any serious hookups, so it did not matter to him what they did or where they lived. He just wanted them to be cute and reasonably intelligent. He loved to meet date, romance, and move on. He was living footloose, fancy-free, and planned to keep it that way. As soon as he entered the bar, Billy saw a blonde with a ponytail talking to an older woman.

Hi, my name is Billy, and I bet you are a model, he said as he squeezed in near her.

Well, you lose your bet. I bet you are a plumber, she laughed.

Why do you say that? asked a surprised Billy.

Because you plunged right in without an invitation, she answered while turning away.

Well said! But I must now ask, How can I get an invitation? he asked behind her turned head.

Look for it in the mail, she said, ignoring Billy, and resumed talking to the woman next to her.

Well, then, let me give you my email address, and I will anxiously wait for it, he said as he gave her his business card with his contact information.

It might be a while, like maybe the twelfth of never. She smiled as she tossed it in her purse and looked away.

Billy moved on to the next cute woman and forgot about the one that was not interested in him. There were simply too many women who were willing to meet a stranger and have a fun time for him to fret over a failed meeting. He was a confident single man who was adept at picking up girls from a bar scene, and this bar was one of his favorite hunting grounds.

He found a pretty law firm executive assistant with long black hair who welcomed an opportunity to have a few drinks with Billy. His routine was usually to buy a few drinks and then take her to dinner and either go back to his place or arrange another date if she was special.

He was having his second drink with the secretary when his email pinged twice. He checked his phone and looked startled but kept talking to his new bar partner. He bought her one more drink, enjoyed their conversation, and then exchanged phone numbers. He said good night and left politely with an explanation that he had a business call.

Billy walked out of the hotel bar and found himself at a much quieter venue near the top of the hotel. The vibe here was much more subdued, and palm trees and blooming potted plants surrounded the dining area out by the pool. It was a romantic setting, and the blonde with the long ponytail was sitting by herself at the most remote table.

I was surprised to receive your invitation so soon. I guess personal email is much faster and safer than snail mail, laughed Billy.

I looked over your business card after you left. I have just joined a local law firm, and one of my specialties is international finance and information technology. I saw that you work for Microcorp as a cloud platform manager. I thought that it would be fun to talk to you about what might be happening in the technology world to support these complex platforms, she said.

Oh, I see. You want my customer list. He smiled.

Maybe it was a mistake. I thought you might be a jerk, but I was not sure. Now I know, so let’s forget about it, she said as she began to leave.

Not so fast! You spoiled my date with that pretty secretary. The least you can do is have a drink with a lonely jerk, he said as he gestured for her to sit.

Touché, she said as she sat back down.

I have been working in the Miami area for five years, and there has been a huge increase in the use of cloud-based technology and implementation. That is the biggest change I have seen with international company IT departments, and one that seems to be expanding daily, he offered.

Well, thanks for that informative information. I want to make a good impression on my new law firm, but I have been away at school for six years, and I am not up to speed on the local companies. I know you are William Hartwell, and my name is Leslie Hill, she said as she offered her hand.

It is nice to meet you, Leslie. I go by Billy, he said.

They talked for a while and then ordered some drinks and then dinner. It was ten o’clock when they finished with dessert. During the evening, Billy had mentioned he liked to fish. To his surprise, Leslie had responded with a big smile and said she also liked the ocean and fishing.

Billy had enjoyed the time with Leslie, and he decided to be bold and take a chance. After a few drinks, Billy often felt as bold as a tiger on a hunt.

My roommate and I are going dolphin fishing tomorrow. He is bringing his girlfriend, but I do not have a date. Would you like to join us for a half day on the water? We usually leave from the Coconut Grove Marina at 6:30 a.m. We want to be the first boat to find a school of fish before some other group has hammered them. We are usually back by noon, and if we are successful, we clean the fish at the dock. Then we take them back to the apartment and have freshly grilled fish for lunch, suggested Billy.

I haven’t been fishing in a few years, but I fished with my dad and mom growing up. We have a home in the Keys, and we did all kinds of fishing when I was a child. I love to catch dolphin, and it could be fun. I will meet you at the marina at six thirty, Leslie agreed while secretly betting she was more skilled than Billy and his friend at dolphin fishing.

Leslie was ready to be a little more reckless and carefree with her life.

CHAPTER 4

Leslie Hill was an outgoing, confident, almost arrogant twenty-six-year-old woman with blond hair, blue eyes, and a trim five-foot-seven-inch figure. She was attractive, always popular, and created an excellent first impression. Her speech had perfect diction, her eye contact was steady but not offensive, and she had a pleasant smile when making her points.

Leslie was just starting her job at a prestigious law firm in Miami, Florida. She was fresh out of the University of Virginia Law School after first receiving her undergraduate degree from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. She was anxious to start work and to show her superb analytical skills at arguing complex issues that she had learned during high school debate and law school training.

Her parents owned the largest insurance agency in South Florida that her father had inherited from his father. Her brother, who was two years older, was now in the family business after getting his MBA from Harvard. The Hills were a prosperous family, involved in many community activities and charities. They belonged to a prestigious country club in Coral Gables and spent many hours at the club playing tennis, golf, dining, and socializing. The country club had been a major networking channel for the business, starting with her grandfather.

The family was Catholic, and they regularly attended Sunday services. They gave generously to their church and were highly regarded members of the congregation.

Leslie grew up in a gated community in Coral Gables, Florida. The waterfront lots were on an acre of land, and the Mediterranean design of the homes created a feeling of always being on vacation. The boats docked behind the homes were often luxurious yachts used for cruising the local waters and occasional long-distance trips to exotic locations. Some of the homeowners had magnificent boats created for fishing that were locally referred to as fishing machines. It was a special place that many considered to be the most beautiful community in the South Miami area.

Leslie went to private Catholic schools until she entered middle school, when she transferred to the most highly rated college preparatory school in Miami. She was an outstanding student in all subjects and, in her high school years, was a national Lincoln-Douglas debate champion, where she learned to take both sides of complex issues.

She traveled extensively with her parents both on private vacations and with upscale tour companies to Europe, Australia, Africa, China, and the Caribbean. Her parents also had a home in the Florida Keys, where they kept many toys like boats, kayaks, canoes, jet skis, paddleboards, and other fun things. She loved water sports, including fishing in the ocean for big game fish and in Florida Bay for shallow fish like snook and redfish.

When she went to Goizueta Business School as an undergraduate to study international finance, she quickly joined a sorority and was the president in both her junior and senior years. She was always a pretty girl with a ready smile and remarkable confidence. She was popular with the fraternity boys and invited to attend most parties and balls held by the various Greek organizations. She had two steady boyfriends in her four years at Emory and one serious love affair.

It was during law school that she made a potentially big mistake that only her brother knew about. She mixed alcohol and cocaine one night, got superhigh, had sex, got pregnant, quickly had an abortion, and promised herself never to do drugs or drink heavily again. No one, not even her best friends, had any idea about her mistake.

She was normally a disciplined person, and she locked away this episode in a hidden part of her mind, and she quickly resumed her proper behavior and appearance. Occasionally, the recollection of that night would come to her conscience thought, and she would shudder at the memory of her abortion and the violation of her Catholic teaching. She was also ashamed that her parents would be so disappointed if they ever found out what she had done. She hoped she could forget that incident, but she knew she never would.

She had tried her entire life to please her parents. They were strict and kept a close watch on her during her teenage years to be sure she did not do drugs, run with the wrong crowd, get pregnant, get a drunk-driving ticket, or have any other negative mark on her record.

They gave her tutors to make sure her grades were the best they could be and to prepare her for high scores on her SAT and ACT exams. In short, they required that she be responsible all the time. They continued to push her to excel throughout her entire college experience.

Despite her one big mistake, Leslie was now ready to openly rebel against those strict and serious concerns. She was prepared to cut loose and have some fun. She had an excellent position at a prestigious law firm, and she was sure she would do an excellent job and work hard. However, she wanted a more carefree after-hours existence.

She leased an apartment for one year on Brickell Key, which is part of downtown Miami, right near her office. It was a furnished apartment because she did not want to spend any time worried about buying everything her mother would want her to have. There was plenty of room for her to run her five miles each day and to keep her figure trim.

When she met Billy, she had recently returned to Miami and was not romantically involved with anyone. Although, her parents had recently introduced her to a wealthy young executive, Don Whalon. She had not yet had a date with him and was only mildly interested, despite the insistence of her parents.

When he was at Yale, many of his classmates considered Don Whalon to be a snob. He was the son of a wealthy Atlanta real estate developer and loved to let everyone know that it was his father who had donated the money for the Humanities Building that carried his name. Other classmates thought he was brilliant and a legitimate brain when it came to accounting, finance, and statistics. He was a controversial student who was liked by some and dismissed by others. This would remain his situation for the rest of his life, appreciated by some and scorned by others.

He graduated from Yale with honors and worked with his father in the Atlanta office for two years before attending Harvard Business School to obtain an MBA degree in finance and international commerce. Upon graduation, his father suggested that Don work for family friends in Miami who also owned a real estate development company.

Don liked the idea of Miami, and he accepted a position in the large public firm owned primarily by his father’s friend. Don held several mid-level jobs before his promotion to the chief financial officer (CFO) position two years ago. He had recently exercised a generous portion of his stock options and was sitting on a hefty sum of cash. He could afford to live well, dress well, and do anything else he wanted.

When he moved to Miami, he decided to live in the Coral Gables area and bought a home near the country club of his choice. Don was a top-flight golfer with a low handicap, and many members wanted to play with him because of his superior game.

Don dressed with excellent taste and élan. His clothes were made-to-order from top to bottom, and he had a professional clothing consultant to keep him properly attired for any occasion. His casual clothing was as perfectly coordinated and in fashion as his business suits and accessories.

Don had met Leslie’s parents, Jack and Linda Hill, shortly after joining the club. Jack was also a good golfer and a well-respected member of the club. Linda was a golfer and a champion tennis player. Both Jack and Linda took an instant liking to Don. Jack and Don played golf together every Friday at 1:00 p.m. After golf, they would have a few drinks with Linda joining them, and often it would lead to a dinner between the three of them.

The Hills were longtime members of the club, and they introduced Don to many of their friends and fellow members. Over the past two years, Don and Jack had become exceptionally good friends. Don had not met Leslie until a few months ago.

On several recent occasions, Leslie had joined her parents for dinner with Don as a guest. Don was instantly obsessed with her. She was precisely the kind of woman he wanted to marry. She was pretty, smart, well educated, well-spoken, world-traveled, sophisticated, and an exciting conversationalist. He wanted to marry her after their second meeting.

Leslie had been polite when speaking with Don, but she had not indicated any interest in dating him or spending time with him on the golf course. Her total lack of interest and rejection of Don had made Don even more determined, and he vowed to himself that he would get her to marry him. Making her his wife became his number-one goal in life.

Leslie knew her parents wanted her to start dating Don, but she was more interested in some casual, nonserious fun. She was not ready to settle down!

CHAPTER 5

They met at the marina at 6:30 a.m. on the dot. There were four of them: Billy, Leslie, Devon, and his date, Tiffany. The sun was just beginning its morning rise in the east as they eased the boat out of the marina and headed for the blue Atlantic Ocean.

Leslie was dressed in a pair of short white shorts, with a light-blue open-neck cotton blouse highlighting her ample breasts. She wore a pair of white boat shoes, and her blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail while the sun was glistening off the suntan oil on her tanned face, arms, and legs. To Billy, she looked like the vision of an angel.

If she only knew how to fish, thought Billy as he left Biscayne Bay for the waiting ocean.

Can I drive the boat? Leslie asked as they cleared Biscayne Channel.

Sure, but don’t turn us over, laughed Billy as he gave the wheel to Leslie.

Billy had no reason to worry, because it was Leslie that drove the boat to a large clump of floating sargassum grass and was the first to bait her own hook with a live pilchard, cast it to a school of dolphin, put the rod in a rod holder, and then sit back and watch the others try to duplicate her success.

Now, let’s see if you guys know how to catch a fish, she laughed as she smiled happily and took a seat in the captain’s chair.

I don’t know if I can catch a fish, but I sure hope I can catch you, laughed Billy with his infectious laugh and a wide grin.

Billy and Leslie hit it off immediately.

The fishing trip was not only successful but also the beginning of a fun-filled year. They did everything together: fishing, boating, traveling, camping, dining, socializing, and plenty of intimate romance. They were together night and day. Their friends shared their joy, and they were considered a committed couple almost immediately.

Leslie’s parents, Jack and Linda, were pleased in the beginning because Billy seemed so charming and polite. He certainly was handsome with clean-cut features, and he was always appropriately dressed. Leslie was so excited to spend time with Billy that it made her parents happy.

Occasionally, Billy and Leslie spent time with her parents at the country club, playing tennis and golf. They also had dinner with them in the club’s fine-dining restaurant on a few special nights. Don Whalon stopped by the table on two different nights to say hello and chatted with the family for ten minutes each time. Billy thought Don overstayed his visits, but Jack and Linda seemed to enjoy the time with Don.

Billy and Leslie each kept their own apartments but often spent the night together in either one depending upon the action happening at Billy’s place. Billy’s roommate, Devon, was popular with several celebrity women who brought an eclectic group of people into their lives and the apartment. It was fun to be with famous singers, dancers, and the occasional actress. Devon had been introduced to these showbiz personalities by his childhood friend who had become a famous rap star.

The fun was endless, and all their jobs were progressing nicely. Life was hitting on all cylinders for Billy, Leslie, and Devon. Don Whalon was miserable because he was utterly obsessed with the idea of marrying Leslie, who did not respond to any of his advances.

Don had stopped at their table with the hope of getting Leslie’s attention. But although she was polite to Don, Leslie did not give him any attention. Discouraged to see her with Billy, Don decided to do some research and find out all he could about Billy.

He found that Billy came from modest means, had a mediocre education, and had a low-level management job at a big software company. He figured Billy might be making $85,000 per year, and with a promotion or two, he might even get about $100,000. Trying to live and support a wife and family on this paltry sum of money was a joke to Don.

Don was earning over $2 million each year and already had a net worth of $6 million. This was without counting his trust funds. Don decided to discredit Billy in the eyes of Leslie’s parents. The next time Don played golf with Leslie’s father, he began his campaign to ruin Billy as a potential son-in-law.

Jack, how is Leslie enjoying her job these days? asked Don.

She seems to be very happy with the work they are giving her and the compliments from her bosses and associates, answered Jack.

Is she still seeing that fellow she was with the other night in the dining room? Don asked.

Yes, she and Billy are having a grand old time. They are incredibly happy together, which makes me happy, said Jack.

Leslie seems very sophisticated and elegant to me. I was extremely impressed by her when you introduced me to her a few months ago. If she is ever available for dating, please let me know, said Don with a small chuckle.

Thanks, I will tell her of your observations. Jack smiled.

Don stopped the discussion about Leslie, and they resumed their golf game. But Don was burning inside to say more and to insult the idea of Leslie dating such a poor boy. How in the hell would Billy ever provide for her in the manner to which she was accustomed and that Don believed she was expecting for her married life?

Don knew that Billy had plenty of money to pay for the things he and Leslie were doing to have their fun time. Billy was splitting the cost of the apartment with Devon, his boat and Range Rover were paid off, and Leslie probably contributed to some of the activities they did together. Don guessed that neither Billy nor Leslie had given any thought to marriage, and they had likely never discussed the need for money to do anything. In short, money was not yet an issue in their