Then she asked, “How long have you worked at this resort, Daniel?”
“Since it opened.” He gave her a quizzical look.
That was the answer Jayme had expected. She was a watcher, and she had seen a sense of pride in Daniel concerning the resort and his duties, which extended beyond the dive boats. She pressed on.
“How much financial interest do you have in the place?” Jayme knew it was a highly personal question, and she was counting on surprise for an honest answer. She figured he owned at least ten percent.
“Fifteen percent.”
Jayme smiled sweetly while weighing her next words carefully. “You would probably do anything–legal, of course–to see the resort a success.”
He eyed her but said nothing. Jayme was about to take a monumental risk, a major career risk, but she was counting on the integrity and honor she had seen in Daniel’s personality. She went on, capturing his eyes with her own.
“Listen carefully, Daniel, and keep in mind that this is strictly between you and me. Nothing, absolutely nothing , must change while I’m here.” Jayme took a breath. “The Thomases have become dear to me, for reasons I’m not even sure about. I’d like to video their entire dive experience and present them with the footage before they go home. The final scene of that video will be a sunset,” she paused, lowering her already throaty voice, ready to tip her hand, waiting for his reaction, “ Because the sunset in Holm Cay, there’s none like it anywhere else in the world, ” Jayme finished in her best Reef Roamer voice, hoping Daniel knew the voice and what it meant.
Daniel’s blue eyes widened. “You’re—”
“Someone who wants to see the Thomases dive,” she cut him off. Daniel’s eyes were locked to hers. “I can also manage the same spectacular sunset shot from Holm Cay at the end of my next video.” Jayme knew that the closing sunset location was major advertisement for the resort chosen.
Daniel straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin defensively. “That sounds like blackmail, Jayme, a prime spot on a Reef Roamer video in exchange for a resort dive for a couple I find questionable.”
Jayme had been defeated. She’d lost to the integrity she’d counted on to win. “You’re right, Daniel. I’m sorry. It does sound like blackmail, and that isn’t my style.” She was staring at the sand between her toes, feeling embarrassed and dejected. She looked up to him. “And don’t worry; Holm Cay will be given as much consideration as the other Abaco Islands I’ve been to. Your decision will have no bearing on that. Grudges aren’t my style, either. But please, keep my secret anyway, okay? If word got out I’m here, I’ll leave, and there’ll be no Abaco tape at all. That’s not a threat, Daniel; that’s just the way it has to be. I hope you understand.”
Her face took on an unreadable quality to it. There was an aged, sad look in her beautiful green eyes that confused the young islander.
Daniel hesitated, weighing what she’d said. His expression changed as he made a decision.
“When do you want to get started?” he asked with a boyish grin.
“9:00.” She grinned back, letting out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “One more thing, Daniel. Do you know a dive master named Miguel?”
***
Jayme headed back to her room, mentally preparing a list of things to do with only an hour in which to do them. She took her land camera, fitted it with a fresh memory card and newly charged battery, and went back to the dock. Remembering the sight she had had of the hotel when she first arrived, she felt it would make a suitable beginning to the DVD for the Thomases. She made a leisurely sweep of the beach area and then turned her attention to the resort itself.
After walking through the lobby, Jayme approached the main desk. The employees on duty recognized her, smiled, and waved at the camera. After a week of her around always filming something, no
“Since it opened.” He gave her a quizzical look.
That was the answer Jayme had expected. She was a watcher, and she had seen a sense of pride in Daniel concerning the resort and his duties, which extended beyond the dive boats. She pressed on.
“How much financial interest do you have in the place?” Jayme knew it was a highly personal question, and she was counting on surprise for an honest answer. She figured he owned at least ten percent.
“Fifteen percent.”
Jayme smiled sweetly while weighing her next words carefully. “You would probably do anything–legal, of course–to see the resort a success.”
He eyed her but said nothing. Jayme was about to take a monumental risk, a major career risk, but she was counting on the integrity and honor she had seen in Daniel’s personality. She went on, capturing his eyes with her own.
“Listen carefully, Daniel, and keep in mind that this is strictly between you and me. Nothing, absolutely nothing , must change while I’m here.” Jayme took a breath. “The Thomases have become dear to me, for reasons I’m not even sure about. I’d like to video their entire dive experience and present them with the footage before they go home. The final scene of that video will be a sunset,” she paused, lowering her already throaty voice, ready to tip her hand, waiting for his reaction, “ Because the sunset in Holm Cay, there’s none like it anywhere else in the world, ” Jayme finished in her best Reef Roamer voice, hoping Daniel knew the voice and what it meant.
Daniel’s blue eyes widened. “You’re—”
“Someone who wants to see the Thomases dive,” she cut him off. Daniel’s eyes were locked to hers. “I can also manage the same spectacular sunset shot from Holm Cay at the end of my next video.” Jayme knew that the closing sunset location was major advertisement for the resort chosen.
Daniel straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin defensively. “That sounds like blackmail, Jayme, a prime spot on a Reef Roamer video in exchange for a resort dive for a couple I find questionable.”
Jayme had been defeated. She’d lost to the integrity she’d counted on to win. “You’re right, Daniel. I’m sorry. It does sound like blackmail, and that isn’t my style.” She was staring at the sand between her toes, feeling embarrassed and dejected. She looked up to him. “And don’t worry; Holm Cay will be given as much consideration as the other Abaco Islands I’ve been to. Your decision will have no bearing on that. Grudges aren’t my style, either. But please, keep my secret anyway, okay? If word got out I’m here, I’ll leave, and there’ll be no Abaco tape at all. That’s not a threat, Daniel; that’s just the way it has to be. I hope you understand.”
Her face took on an unreadable quality to it. There was an aged, sad look in her beautiful green eyes that confused the young islander.
Daniel hesitated, weighing what she’d said. His expression changed as he made a decision.
“When do you want to get started?” he asked with a boyish grin.
“9:00.” She grinned back, letting out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “One more thing, Daniel. Do you know a dive master named Miguel?”
***
Jayme headed back to her room, mentally preparing a list of things to do with only an hour in which to do them. She took her land camera, fitted it with a fresh memory card and newly charged battery, and went back to the dock. Remembering the sight she had had of the hotel when she first arrived, she felt it would make a suitable beginning to the DVD for the Thomases. She made a leisurely sweep of the beach area and then turned her attention to the resort itself.
After walking through the lobby, Jayme approached the main desk. The employees on duty recognized her, smiled, and waved at the camera. After a week of her around always filming something, no
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