The Ben Saga by Nigel Dean

I have been writing this story for more than a year - finally finished it. I do hope you enjoy reading Ben's adventures. If you care to drop me a line I would be so pleased to hear from you: david@guyzonline.com

CHAPTER ONE - THE INTERVIEW

"Do not lie to me Ben, I am not a fool."

His face widened as if to show incredulity, his mouth closed and his eyes stared deep into my own but I held his gaze. I knew he was not telling me the truth. I wanted to offer him the job but if he was going to be dishonest at this stage I would never be able to fully trust him.

"Ben ?"

We have here in England a peculiar and and completely ridiculous system of driving licences. Licences are issued from a government agency, the DVLA - Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency, in Swansea. Most drivers now have a plastic photo card licence which is a legal form of identity, something convenient to carry in a wallet along with credit and bank cards but this is not a legal document entitling you to drive a motor vehicle. There is also a paper licence on which any penalty endorsements and fines are recorded, this is the confirmation of legal entitlement to drive. Without the paper licence to support it the plastic photo licence is worthless. Crazy and a system which could only be dreamed up by a civil servant whose brain cells are not wired up in quite the same way as are yours or mine.

I held the small plastic card Ben had given to me and looked at it while I allowed him time to think. The period of silence extended before I asked my question again.

"How many penalty points have you got on your licence Ben ?" I let just a faint smile to appear on my face as I awaited his response.

"The truth Ben."

"Nine," he said softly and very quietly. His voice had lost all of its previous sparkle, I thought I could see a tear pricking his eye."

Nine penalty points ! I guessed from his earlier conversation that Ben certainly had some penalty points but NINE ! Points or endorsements on a licence are usually issued in multiples of three, sometimes for more serious offences six. Nobody ever gets just a single penalty point, three is always the minimum. The same brainless pen pusher who dreamed up the plastic and paper licence system came up with a counting system where the number three replaces the number one. Twelve penalty points means an automatic driving ban, one more speeding ticket and Ben would not be allowed to drive for a minimum of six months. Offering him the position was probably not a wise move but of all the candidates I had seen Ben was the only applicant I found myself comfortable with. Whoever I appointed would live in my home, I would have to spend extended periods of time in his company, Ben was the only one I had seen who I would be happy to share such an arrangement with.

Ben moved to stand up. "Sorry. Thank you for your time. Sorry." He held out his hand to shake mine.

"Where are you going?"

"Well you are not going to give me the job now are you ?"

Although the youngest by far of all the applicants I had almost decided to appoint Ben. "Sit down. One last question, how did you manage to collect so many penalty points when you have only held a licence for a year ?"

"Speeding."

"Three times ?"

"Yes."

"Speeding tickets are bad luck but three times ?"

"I know."

"You realise some of my cars are pretty powerful ?"

Ben nodded.

"Then I guess you will just have to be extra careful won't you ?" I grinned.

The smile and sparkle started to return to his face "You mean ........ ?"

"The job is yours if you want it Ben."

He said nothing but as our eyes met I could sense all that was in his mind, perhaps he knew a little of what was in my head. "Yes Ben, I think I would like to work with you so the job is yours if you want it."

"Oh my god ! Are you sure ? Oh ! I didn't think............." His voice was different again, not arrogant as it has once been and not openly exploding with enthusiasm and disbelief were holding back some of his emotions.

I had made the right choice. I smiled. "Yes Ben," I confirmed, "regard yourself as my official chauffeur. When do you want to start ?"

"I don't know what to say. Oh my god I didn't think I stood a chance. I can start today if you want."

My smile widened. "Well we need to arrange for you to move your stuff into your room, this is a live in job - you know that don't you ?" Of course he did.

"It won't take me long, once I get to my parents and pack up a few things I can get a taxi back and then be ready to start work. Three, four hours no more."

"There's no rush but sure you can move in today if you want. Tomorrow we can work out your schedule round my diary."

I knew Ben did not have to give notice to an employer. He was one of the unlucky ones who was made redundant when a major high street retailer went bust earlier in the year. Ben and two thousand others were thrown on the scrap heap. I was taking a bit of a gamble with Ben but he deserved some luck, after all it was luck that had changed my life.

But nine penalty points was I being a fool ?

"This is your part of the house," I explained opening the door. You have a bedroom, small sitting room, bathroom and kitchen but Mrs Peters, Mrs P as she is know, will sort meals for you if you let her know the day before what you need. When we are out on the road I will take care of your meals. Mrs P has her rooms next to yours, she'll be in the kitchen right now but I will introduce you to her later."

"OK, thanks."

"We have a firm of contract cleaners, Mrs P will tell you when they will want to get into your rooms."

"You have a nice view from here," I stepped towards the window and pulled back the curtain, "right across the farm. Over there on the right," I pointed, "is the garden centre and beyond that the fishing lake. There's a handyman at the garden centre who comes up to the house for anything we need, so if you have a light bulb that needs replacing or anything just tell Mrs P. She's a very special person, Mrs P, I don't know what I would do without her."

"So your business is the farm and the garden centre ?"

"And you are wondering why I need a chauffeur when I live here with everything around me ?"

"I was wondering yes."

"The estate, farm and garden centre are just a small part of it all. Perhaps I had better explain."

"Please."

"This is the old manor house. The farm has been here for hundreds of years, these days we rear pigs, sheep, beef cattle, chickens and run a dairy. There's a bit of arable but not a lot. I don't have a clue about farming myself, I have a farm manager and team of workers who simply get on with it all."

"The previous owners started the garden centre and I took it over when I bought the estate. I added a farm shop then bought the pub next door which I turned into a restaurant. Then I stocked the lake and set up the angling club. Do you fish Ben ?"

"No."

"OK no problem. At the back of the house there's a swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna. So you swim ?"

"Yeh."

"I don't use it much myself but I allow the estate staff and those from the garden centre to come you and use it at any time."

"I still don't see why you need a driver, will there be enough work to keep me busy ? I do not want to end up being made redundant again."

"That isn't going to happen. Let's go down to the garage, check the cars and I will explain. The estate is just one of my businesses, I have others - lots of them."

"Really ?"

"And that's why I need a driver."

As walked to the garage I explained. "I own a social networking website which has its offices in Birmingham, I tend to pop up there most weeks. It's called GayBuddy, you may have heard of it."

"Gaybuddy dot com ? Oh god that's amazing. You own GayBuddy ?"

"I most certainly do, lock stock and fire smoking barrel."

"Shit ! Sorry. I mean, I mean - WOW !"

"Then there's a webcam broadcasting network which is based in San Francisco which I have to visit every few weeks so I will need you to drive me to and from Heathrow. And I have ten sauna and health clubs in Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow," I counted them off on my fingers. Two in London, Brighton, Bristol, Sheffield, Cambridge and Ipswich."

"Are they, are they gay saunas ?" Ben asked.

"Yes they are."

"How ever did you manage to set up so much ?"

"I didn't set up any of them, I just bought them all. I don't run any of them any more than I run the farm and the estate, each has its own management team and I just visit them. That's why I need you as my driver."

"How did you..............."

"How did I manage to buy them ?"

"Yes."

"I am twenty- seven years old Ben, not a whole lot older than you. Two years ago I won some money on the Euro Lottery, I started a new hobby a hobby of buying and collecting businesses."

"Fuck ! How much ?"

"A lot Ben a lot."

"And these are all gay businesses ?"

I could not help but give a little laugh. "The farm, restaurant and garden centre are hardly gay Ben, we don't have any lesbian cows and the potted palms we sell are not cross-dressing. The webcam network has a gay element of course but most of the models are girls. Yep Gaybuddy and the ten saunas are completely gay."

"So are you gay ? Oh sorry, none of my business, I should not have asked you. Sorry."

"It's OK but no Ben I am completely straight."

I'm gay," he replied.

Having a number of gay centred organisations within my business interests it would be reasonable to expect me to recognise a gay guy when I saw one but the thought that Ben was gay never occurred to me. An in incredibly good looking lad, what a waste to the female population. Of course I knew the difference between gay, bi-sexual and those who would simply class themselves as curious. Most of the guys who visit my health clubs and saunas each day were within the curious category. Almost all of the money made within the webcam network from guyz watching other guyz came from those who are curious. many of them were married with their little secret world into which they escaped from their wives and reality.

NO - I was not in the least bit curious. I certainly was not gay, and not bi-sexual so why did Ben declaring himself to be gay make my heart pound ? It was the strangest sensation which sent through my mind thoughts I did not wish to consider then and would prefer not to elaborate at this early stage of my story and admit to you.

As we walked across to the converted barn where my cars were garaged I did everything I could to force the thoughts out of my head.

"Here we are," I said opening the side door and reaching for the light switch. The fluorescent tubes hummed as they flickered into life. I could see that Ben was impressed, that pleased me.

"I tend to use the Range Rover," I explained, "it's practical and comfortable. You'll like driving it."

Ben said nothing as he viewed the five motor vehicles lined up side by side along the length of the garage.

"The Aston is for when I want some fun," I said gently stroking the bonnet of my Aston Martin Vanquish.

"These are my hobby cars," I pointed to my Triumph TR7 and Ford Zodiac. "They're a bit before your time and mine but the classics have a special place with me. If I come across any others in such mint condition I will get them I'd love to have a Ford Capri." I don't think Ben knew what a Ford Capri was.

At the end of the line stood The Big Car. "I use this if ever I want to impress or show off, she's incredibly thirsty for petrol but who cares ?" I opened the driver's door of the Rolls Royce. "Look," I said flicking a small switch on the door side. "Rolls Royce think of everything, there's an umbrella stored in here so when you step out in the rain you do not get wet."

"Will I get to drive it ?"

I smiled. "Yes Ben I am hardly going to employ a chauffeur and drive myself am I ? And guess what you'll even be able to se the umbrella as well."

"Really ?"

I was showing off, something I had deliberately tried hard to avoid ever since I came into my money. I did all I could to underplay the voyage destiny has taken me on. I did not really need to impress Ben, he was awe struck enough as it was so why did I structure my next move in the way I did ?

"You'd best be off to get your gear if you want to move into your rooms today, take one of these." I waved my hand about the garage. "Then come back when you are ready. Which car would you like to take ?"

"Ben looked along the line then gave the sensible answer. "Can I take the Range Rover ?"

"No Ben, take the Big Car, take the Rolls Royce."

I probably do not need to tell you Ben's reaction, I am sure you can guess that for yourself. But you are no doubt having one or two thoughts about myself and the sense of what I did. I had just given the keys for a quarter of a million pound car to a nineteen year old lad I hardly knew, a nineteen year old lad with nine penalty points on his driving licence.

Do you think I was being a fool ? If you do please do not forget that I am King Midas, everything I touch turns to gold. Ben was pure sold gold, twenty-four carat gold.

I walked back to the house, the gravel path cracked beneath my feet. King Midas was on form.

Mrs P was in the kitchen, where else, her domain and the hub of the house. She was busily cutting up something or other for the freezer. "I have appointed the driver," I explained.

"I thought you had, I saw the big car going down the lane and it wasn't you driving."

"His name is Ben, I will introduce you to him when he gets back. He is moving in tonight."

"As you will."

Mrs P had come with the house and estate when I took it over. Without her nothing would work, there was not another equal to her and I dreaded the day she would retire. If I had a mother, mine died when I was too young to remember her, I would like her to be just like Mrs P. I never knew a mother, I did not know my father very much either and still do not know him. It's better that way.

"So will Mr Ben be wanting to eat when he gets back ? What would you like this evening ?"

"I thought I may take Ben out for a meal this evening, probably go to the pub."

"As you will."

"Then tomorrow I thought we may go and make a spot check on one of the health clubs."

"To see if the young man can actually drive ?"

I smiled. I dared not tell her the truth.

"So will you want anything at all tomorrow ?"

"Just breakfast then you do not need to worry about us. I am not certain which club we will be going to so do not know when we will be back home."

"As you will."

Ben was not long before he returned, the big car was parked up in its place. I decided we should take the Aston to the pub. A bit silly really as the restaurant was less than a mile from the house, we could have walked - the car barely made it into fourth gear. Perhaps he was being careful for my benefit but I thought he showed himself to be a good driver. Even over that short distance the Aston wanted to double her speed but Ben held her back.

With my steak cooked just the way I like it and a glass of the best red to help it on its was I explained to Ben my plan for the next day. "Which club would you like to visit ?" I asked raising my glass.

Ben lifted his glass of fruit juice. "You are the boss, I'll just drive. Which car will we be taking ?"

"You've driven two so far, the Aston and the Big Car, which would you prefer to take ?"

"Oh the Aston Martin if we can."

So that was decided. "Which health club shall we visit ?"

"I can't remember all of the places you said."

I listed them again. "Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, London - there are two on London, Brighton, Bristol, Sheffield, Cambridge and Ipswich."

Ben thought for a moment. "How about Manchester, it's a bit of a drive but not too far."

"Manchester it is then."

CHAPTER TWO- MANCS SAUNA

"Each sauna manager operates his own policy," I explained, "I do not interfere. The manager at Manchester has all of his staff work naked, they simply wear a a baseball cap to show they are staff and not customers."

"So are the customers all naked then ?"

"It is a gay sauna Ben."

"Will we have to be naked ?"

As we drove up the M6 towards Manchester the Aston complained that Ben was not taking her Northwards at the speed she wished to travel. Car after car delighted in overtaking us, the looks and the odd gesture from drivers as they sped past made me smile. It could have been that Ben was on his best behaviour for me on his first day or it could be a fear of those three last penalty points which would bring about a driving ban. A ban for Ben would mean that he lost his job and his home now that he had moved into the house. I liked Ben but I was not going to employ him if he lost his driving licence. Obviously !

"When we get there," Ben confirmed, "it is OK for me to see the sauna ?"

"Yeh that's fine."

"Will you be coming in ?"

"No, I'll have to be in the office working with the manager but there'll be nothing for you to do so why not relax."

"Thanks."

Mancs Spa is located a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly railway station on the edge of what I am told is the gay village. A *village *in the heart of a city is a bit of an anomaly to my way of thinking at least. In the heart of the city, unlike a *real *village, parking is difficult - with nowhere at Mancs Spa to leave the Aston we has to use an NCP car park and walk the last few hundred yards.

For anyone who did not know it was there or what it was Mancs Spa would not exist, just an anonymous blue door which was passed without notice by all other than those intending to turn the brass handle and enter. I turned the brass handle and we stepped into a small lobby. To the right was a reception where sat the only clothed member of staff. Normally his duty was to take the £5 entry charge then issue the customer with a locker key. This done a button released the lock on the inner door leading to the sauna and spa. We, of course, we not paying.

"Ben will need a locker key." I explained. "I'll just come round to the office, is Mick there ?"

"Yes Mr Dean."

"Can you find someone to show Ben round ?"

"Of course Mr Dean."

I was never all that much inspired by reports from any of my business managers, what turned me on was collecting business enterprises and the thrill of a new acquisition, the day to day running of anything never interested me that much. I tried to look interested as I scanned the accounts and listened to my manager tell me what had been going on since my last visit. When my phone rang I was quite relieved to answer it and stop concentrating on how many customers had passed through the doors of Mancs Spa and how many were projected for the coming month.

"Tomorrow ?..........."

"........is it that important I am there ?"

"Yeh I appreciate that and thanks for the invitation, a bit short notice.............."

"Oh I see."

"Well I suppose I can, assuming I can get a flight. Give me a couple of hours and I'll call you back."

"You sure it has to be tomorrow ?"

"Ok I'll call you back in an hour or so."

CHAPTER THREE - SAN FRANCISCO

Virgin Atlantic confirmed there was space on its flight VS019 leaving London Heathrow the next day for San Francisco. "Yes please a car would be good, you usually send one for me." I handed over my card details and confirmed my frequent flier number but cursed myself the moment I hung up, what did I need a car for now I had Ben. Virgin Atlantic include a limousine pick up for all first class passengers, my address was in the system and I did not think to tell them to change the standard arrangements. Too late now but what was Ben going to do while I was away ? I had planned to make a visit to Birmingham the next day and spend time with the social networking team but that would have to wait for a week. I did not see why it was so important for me to be physically present at the special webcam broadcast but I did not need too big an excuse to visit The City By The Bay. But what would Ben do when I was away ?

I called Virgin Atlantic, gave my frequent flier number again and asked," Any chance you can make that two seats ?"

I found Ben sitting in the coffee lounge, a towel wrapped round his waist. "I have such a lot to tell you," he bubbled.

"I've got something to tell you," I replied.

"Get yourself a locker key, you have got to come with me," Ben insisted, "I've got something to show you."

"What ? Where ?"

"Into the sauna and then to the internet room."

"Why ?"

Ben stood up and placed his hands on his hips. "I must show you, come on."

As he spoke his towel fell from his waist to leave him standing completely naked in front of me."

San Franciso faded from my mind. Stark bollock naked Ben walked to the counter, spoke to the staff member then returned to hand me a locker key.

"Come on."

I did as I was told.

Not since I was at school, in the showers after playing rugby have I been naked with other guys. I could not help looking at Ben and admiring his manhood which surpassed mine by a significant number of percentage points. Not being gay I did not regard the now naked Ben in a sexual way. I wondered what he was thinking about me.

"We'll start in the actual sauna," Ben said.

Inside the darkly lit cabin there were three wooden benches at different heights, an electric brazier stood on the floor adjacent to the door. There were two others in the sauna, both sitting on the lower bench. Ben indicated for us to sit on the top. He leaned to speak into my ear, as he did so his naked body touched mine.

"This is all wrong," he said. "A sauna is supposed to be hot and make you sweat, this is only just warm."

I did not comment, there is a sauna at home alongside the swimming pool but I have never used it.

"There is also supposed to be a bucket of water which you spoon onto the coals, when you do that the temperature rises and you sweat more. Then you take a shower, as cold as you can stand it, and come back."

I did not know how these things worked, he could have been right or he could have been wrong.

"It's all wrong," Ben repeated. "The sauna's not hot enough and the showers are not cold enough."

"All gay saunas are the same," one of the others in the cabin interrupted our conversation, "health and safety no doubt."

"No," the other explained, "you can't get a really stiff hard on if it's too hot. That's why they keep it cool."

"Well I am sure I could get a hard on no matter what the heat if I wanted to," Ben countered. "It's the cold that make your balls shrink, not the heat."

"So do you think it should be hotter ?" I asked.

"He owns the place you know," Ben added.

"Do you ?"

"Yeh but do you think it should be hotter ?"

"Probably yeh. Mancs Spa - the hottest sauna in town !"

"That's good Nigel, you should see that."

"If you do make sure you pay me a commission."

"Now let me show you the internet room."

I thanked the two as we left. "Mancs Spa - the hottest gay sauna in town ! I like that."

Ben did not bother to put his towel on as we made our way upstairs and into the room set out with four computers for customer use. We were the only ones in there which was fortunate given Ben's conversation.

"Each computer defaults to the Mancs Spa website when it is not in use," Ben explained.

"I suppose it does, I'd never thought about it."

"The website is utter crap ! Who wrote it for you ?"

"Some commercial web design company, they did all of the sauna websites and the restaurant and garden centre."

"And they are all crap." Ben said forcefully.

I frowned and bit my tongue. What kind of an employee had I just engaged ? His first full day and he was criticising areas of my business empire, areas that were nothing to do with him. But what he was saying did make a bit of sense.

"Gaybuddy and the webcam site are brilliant."

"They have their own in house development teams."

"It shows, I know Gaybuddy, but the other sites are crap. If the sauna sites were of the same standard you would have more customers and make more money."

I was not sure I liked Ben challenging the websites. I think had he been clothed and in the sauna office I would have slapped him down, I was the boss and he was only on his second day in my employment but strangely the two of us being naked together changed things. Don't ask me to explain or give a reason why but it did.

"I could write you websites ten times better than these."

"Could you ?"

"Of course. Can I try ?"

Ben turned to pick up his towel, turning his slender bottom towards me. The sensation this aroused within me was something I have never known before. I liked it but was not sure I wanted to like it.

Now with his towel back round his waist Ben turned to face me. "So can I ?"

"Let me think about it."

Changing the subject I explained about my needing to go the next day to San Francisco and I would be taking Ben with me.

All thoughts of websites left Ben's mind. Again his towel fell to the floor. He stepped towards me and threw his arms round me, pulling my body against his in a tight embrace. That earlier sensation returned and returned ten fold. I did not try to suppress it as my cock rose against Ben's naked torso.

Although every effort is made towards ensuring the passenger has a trouble and stress free flight security measures still demand checking in three hours ahead of take off, three hours of dead time leading to another eleven in the air required to reach the American West Coast.

The limousine dropped us off outside Terminal Three where a uniformed Virgin Atlantic porter took our luggage and guided us direct to the first class check in desk. By ten fifteen we were in the lounge enjoying a late breakfast. No amount of explaining to Mrs P that we did not need to eat before leaving home would convince her so this was the second meal of the day. Something similar happened every time I flew anywhere, these out of sync meals did not do a lot to calm the curse of jet lag. San Francisco is eight hours behind London so those we were going to meet were fast asleep in bed. My webcam site and business maintained staff 24/7 three hundred and sixty-five days of the year - Christmas and Easter included but the majority of the employees did not come into the office until nine in the morning. Of course a myriad of factors influenced just about everything, webcam broadcasting is not a precise science, but at any time of the day or night there were between 180 and 250 guys and girls playing live on their webcams broadcasting to a voyeur group usually ten times as many.

The engines began to roar as we sped down the runway, seated at the very front of the giant aircraft we were lifted high above those in economy at the rear as we climbed into the sky. I shut my eyes and allowed my head to rest back. There was not any real need for me to be making this journey and certainly no need at all for Ben to be accompanying me. I like San Francisco, The City By the Bay, but I doubt I would ever want to live there. The offices are located in San Mateo which strictly speaking is not part of San Francisco, it is South of the airport and downtown San Francisco so when, almost eleven hours later, we landed the journey to the guest flat in the offices would not take us by way of the city tourist sights.

My mind went back to the previous day. Ben had brought his laptop with him and was determined he would spend his time during the flight working on his plans for the sauna websites. He was in a booth a short way from me, seating in Virgin Atlantic's first class cabin is in small and very comfortable booths not cramped lines of seats with stiff backs and no legroom as are the norm in the economy class cabin. Ben looked across at me and smiled. In my eye and mind he was again naked as he had been in Mancs Spa. My heart thumped as I recalled our naked embrace, an innocent embrace which began with no sexual intent yet moved dangerously close to such before embarrassment made us both break away. As soon as we reached the aircraft's cruising altitude and seatbelts were no longer required I would move to take a seat at the bar, find out from Ben what his thoughts for the website were and try to make some kind of plan for the time we would be spending in San Francisco.

We would not be using the Virgin Atlantic car from the airport but would be met by someone from the office. There was a small VIP flat, or as the Americans would call it - an apartment, within the offices which was used by visitors of all sort, myself included. Ben and I would stay there while in San Francisco. I liked to do something special during my visits for those who had the task of working the night shift, pizza and champagne was my usual treat. An odd combination but something I enjoyed, something Mrs P would never approve of - she would never a allow pizza into her kitchen. Alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities, may produce all the effects of drunkenness.....Satirical words from the pen of Oscar Wilde, I do not drink that much at all, but have always found champagne is a antidote for jet-lag. Champagne, taken in sufficient quantities, may significantly reduce the effects of jet-lag.

Ben was furiously typing on his laptop. I had done well in appointing him to work with me. Although he had ever so slightly angered me when he started to criticise the sauna websites it was clear he knew what he was talking about. Ben would be more than a driver for me. This was going to be a good time in San Francisco, time I would be able to use to get to know him better.

I don't think I said the four letter word aloud, if I did my fellow passengers either did not hear it or were too polite to look up. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, I experienced a sensation of being both hot and cold at the same time. Where was Ben going to sleep ?

The VIP flat was very comfortable but it had just the one bed, I had never visited with anyone else before so had not thought about sleeping arrangements. I looked at my watch, eleven-thirty, half past three in the morning in San Francisco. Yes I could call the duty staff and instruct them to book rooms in a hotel but it was too early to do that, I would wait until the morning. I felt guilty at my negligent oversight then felt a double pang of guilt as the possibility of a subconscious and deliberate act was behind the failure, not an oversight at all. I cursed the four letter word again, under my breath this time but spoken aloud nonetheless - a curse but also a different expression describing the thought of sharing sleeping arrangements with Ben.

The moment the seatbelt light went out flight attendants began moving about the cabin offering drinks, I took two glasses of champagne and went to where Ben was sitting. I crouched down and looked at his laptop. "Looks good," I said opening the conversation.

"I'll have some things to show you and for you to approve by the time we land," Ben said.

"Excellent." I held out the glass of champagne. "Cheers."

"Cheers. When we get there I would like to pick the brains of the web development team, you said there was always someone on duty so I can use part of the evening when they don't have lots to do. Would that be OK ?"

"Yeh sure but I've made a bit of a mess up with our accommodation."

Ben took a sip from his drink and looked at me.

"I always stay in the VIP flat," I explained, "but in the past I have always been on my own. I just did not think, there's only one bed."

Ben sipped more of his drink and looked into my eyes.

"Once we get a bit nearer and staff are in the office I'll call and get someone to book hotel rooms for us. Sorry."

"This VIP flat, the bed is it a single or one of those big American beds ?"

"It's a double."

"Well I don't mind if you don't mind."

I am not gay - I am not gay - I am not gay ! The words pounded through my mind while my heart thumped in response to that Ben had said. Well I don't mind if you don't mind.

I forced myself to concentrate on Ben's laptop and expel all other considerations. My young friend explained how his ideas for the new Manc Spa website would work.

"Once I have the overall concept and corporate design in place we can roll everything out across the ten branches. It would be good if I could visit them all when we get back."

"We can do that."

"I would like," if I could, "to meet with your web developers at Gaybuddy as well."

I nodded.

"But first if I could spend some time with the developers in San Francisco that would be excellent."

We were due to land at four o'clock so the day would effectively be lost by the time we reached the office. There was a broadcast meeting scheduled for the morning, the afternoon was free and then we had the broadcast in the evening. The day after would be devoted to reviewing the broadcast and deciding how the project would go forward. I did not imagine I would be involved with it all and thought I would take Ben on a sightseeing tour of the famous City By The Bay. Then home the day after.

If truth be told my presence was not needed at all, the project would stand or fail no matter what my input. I knew nothing about gay webcam broadcasting and less than nothing about what was being called fun man2man spanking. But was going to be good to be a part of the project, even if as an observer, at the end of the day I owned the company.

I am not gay - I am not gay - I am not gay ! I forced the words through my mind but a new thought was forming. If you are not gay then why do you own so many gay businesses ?

How Virgin Atlantic manages to serve such a meal at forty thousand feet above sea level is a marvel. Even Mrs P would have been impressed. I remember how meals were served when I travelled in the economy section of an aircraft, plastic boxes, plastic knives and forks, all tasting of UPVC. Richard Branson and his airline certainly know how to look after those with money, at more than three thousand pounds a ticket the food served was top quality. China plates, real knives and forks, a la carte menu and more champagne. *Champagne, taken in sufficient quantities, may significantly reduce the effects of jet-lag. *

"Make the most of this," I thought to myself, "we are on American rations for the next few days."

Have you every considered just how weird the American diet and taste pallet is ? OK we have all learned to eat McDonald's burgers but as long as I live I will never comprehend the idea of sweet marshmallows served on the same plate as roast meat. Almost as peculiar as having incinerated cheap cuts of bacon alongside pancakes and of all things maple syrup ! Have you ever tried to eat American cheese ? Has nobody ever told them that cheese is made from milk and not the sap of an aging rubber tree ? Oh well !

I looked across to my friend who appeared in every way to be enjoying his in-flight meal as much as I was. Just think, a week ago Ben was only a name on a list of applicants for the job as my driver. Now he was..................... What was he ?

"Would you like some coffee Sir ?"

I was pleased to be interrupted and my mind prevented from the avenue of thought it was about to enter. I am not gay - I am not gay - I am not gay !

When I travelled in the economy cabin of an aircraft I would always try to obtain a window seat, not so I could look out at the nothingness of empty sky but to rest my head against the bulkhead and sleep away as much of the journey as possible. How anyone could manage, how ever I once managed, an eleven hour flight in such cramped conditions I do not know. I pressed the button which reclined my seat into a bed, pulled the cover over me and fell into a sleep infinitely more comfortable than achieved by resting my head against the aircraft bulkhead.

When we reached the office my colleagues suggested rescheduling the meeting from the morning to late afternoon then running straight into the broadcast. I liked the idea, it would mean Ben and I could go down to San Francisco immediately after breakfast, take the ferry to Alcatraz, ride the cable cars and relax after the long flight from England. I had not found alternative accommodation, I had not tried, so we were both staying in the VIP flat. The VIP flat with one bedroom and just one bed. When I said to Ben that I was going to turn in he said he would as well

"How do you sleep ?" He asked.

"What do you mean ?"

"You don't wear pyjamas do you ? My granddad wears pyjamas !"

"No."

"So do you sleep pants on or pants off ?"

I am not gay - I am not gay - I am not gay ! But I was about to have my first gay experience and I was suddenly curious. After all was it not time the owner of so many gay businesses obtained some inside information ?

"Shall we try pants off ?" I said in a nervous whisper.

"Sounds good to me," Ben smiled as he slowly began to undress.

My cock started to feel heavy. I forced it with all my might to remain soft and not spring to an erection. Fearful it would give away my most ultra secret thoughts I stripped naked as fast as I could, threw myself under the covers and waited for Ben to join me. My heart was pounding harder than it had ever done before. I lay back on my pillow and looked up to the ceiling then the room went dark as Ben switched off the light and slid into bed beside me.

"What now ?" I thought. "What now ?" I said.

"We could go to sleep," Ben sniggered.

"I have never done anything like this before."

"Like what ?"

"I don't know really."

"And you a millionaire owning gay mega businesses."

Ben slid a hand gently up my leg leaving it gently resting on my hip. I sighed and drew breath.

"How about I suck you off ?"

I closed my eyes and waited.

Ben moved, threw back the covers then positioned himself. "I'll make this good for you."

I felt a finger gently stroke under my chin then move slowly down tracing a line bisecting my chest, traversing my navel then with the other fingers of Ben's hand take hold of my cock. I felt the warm breath of his mouth as it lowered itself towards me. I waited. A very gentle kiss met the top of my rock solid cock, then another part way down the shaft, then another a little further before the kisses started to move up again. I swear my cock was bigger than it had ever been before, it throbbed and twitched with each kiss. Ben repeated this foreplay three times before he took my cock inside his mouth.

What a feeling. My cock was warm and comfortable in my friend's mouth, it was as if the space had been specially designed for it. Automatically my buttocks pinched together and pushed myself towards Ben whose tongue was exploring and teasing at the same time. I placed my hands on top of Ben's head, running my fingers through his thick hair then holding him in place. But Ben was going nowhere, the union of his mouth and my cock was not going to cease. Then a new sensation, one of even greater sensual perfection as Ben began to gently nibble my foreskin. Even with the hardest erection I had ever had my foreskin was not retracting.

I was being transported to a place I had not before known existed, a place I did not ever want to leave but leave I knew I would as the sap began to rise. I tried to hold back from cumming but knew I would not be able to hold out for much longer. As Ben began to suck on my cock, drawing breath from his moth and tightening his lips about my cock I knew I could not hold out for much longer. I would have been content to lay there all night while Ben's mouth did its work but I could control myself no longer, a volcanic explosion of hot manhood erupted into Ben's mouth.

Just as that was the hardest my cock had ever been so its ejaculation was the fiercest and longest I have ever experienced.

Then it was all over. We lay side by side in silence, a silence which lasted many minutes until Ben spoke. "So did you like that ?"

"Yes Ben. Thank You."

"That was your first time wasn't it ? Your first man-experience, the first time you have taken anything from another guy ?"

"Yes."

"Time now for you to reciprocate, time for you to explore the other side and to give. I am ready."

So was I. I was about to share with Ben something I had discovered more than ten years ago. All males from adolescence to old age wank. If anyone tells you he does not wank, he has never wanked then he is a liar. I wank, you wank, famous men wank, men next door wank. When you walk down the road and look at perfect strangers the one thing about them you can be sure of is that they wank.

But how do they wank ? What method do they use ? What method do you, my reader, use ? What was Ben's favourite wanking method ? I was the novice, I had just shared my very first man moment but I knew I had something Ben had never experienced before. I smiled as I prepared to give Ben something every bit as special as that he had just given to me.

I turned my friend onto his side and facing away from me. I moved my body tight against him and brought my arms round him, my left hand palm down on his stomach and right hand taking hold of his cock. My thumb and second finger I placed either side of his shaft to press and take a hold. My index finger bent to firmly press its tip into Ben's cock right where the head met the shaft.

I was about to give Ben the wank of his life !

I am going to claim that I personally invented this method, until that night with Ben no other man had experienced it.

Slowly but pressing firmly I moved my finger up and down, no more than half an inch but building up an excitement in my friend. Making a fist then jerking it up and down may be the most widely used method but far from the most exciting, it's over far too quickly. My method is slow, very slow but the end result - well try it for yourself and find out.

Ben lay in my arms, he pressed himself back into me and no doubt thought what I was doing to him was some form of foreplay. I continued the motion, every movement exactly the same as before - no variation in speed and no change of pressure. I could sense a change in Ben, things were beginning to take effect but I knew it would be a while yet.

I pressed my body closer to Ben, my cock had recovered from its first man experience and started to rise. It rested against Ben's cheeks. I started to wonder...................................

But before my thoughts could form into anything Ben let out a loud cry.

I continued with the activity, same pressure and same speed.

Another cry from Ben but this time it extended and transformed into a groan of delight, Ben became the second person to experience my unique method, what I call my super wank. I removed my hand, I stopped the movement but Ben's cock twitched on its own squirting forth with fire.

Ben twisted then rolled over to face me. "And you a novice ! Where ever did you learn that ?"

I smiled.

I don't think I dreamed what happened, jet-lag can do some strange things but as I slept Ben, and what we had done together, kept slipping in and out of my subconscious mind. To reassure myself I reached out across the giant bed and yes my friend was still there. Ben moved closer and snuggled against me. No it was not a dream. Confident of the fact I allowed myself to return to a contented slumber.

When I opened my eyes it was four-thirty and still dark outside. It was lunchtime at home and I was hungry, Ben was gone but I could hear him moving about in the next room.

"Coffee ?"

I turned on the light.

"Yes please."

"I am not Mrs P but I could try to fix us some breakfast of you like. You have not made me wear a chauffeur's uniform but I could find a chef's hat if you like."

"Oh I think I prefer you completely naked."

Mrs P, what ever would she say if she knew about last night ?

"There's a twenty-four hour diner just down the road," I suggested. "Americans have the strangest ideas about breakfast, no full English I am afraid, but we could try it."

"OK"

"And if we are going to head Downtown it would be good to make an early start, get ahead of the traffic. It's murder on the freeway."

I thought I noticed an expression of concern on Ben's face. "What car am I going to drive ?"

"Oh that's OK, we'll take a taxi. I'll have a shower and get dressed. I had better pop in to see the duty staff and say Hello then we'll have some breakfast and head off."

"I hope you do not mind," Ben said apologetically. "I went and introduced myself to the two guys while you were still sleeping. I chatted to them about my ideas for your websites. I hope you don't mind."

I was not sure if I minded or not but decided not to say anything about it. Instead I said, "Did you go down stark naked then ?"

"No silly, I got dressed of course but when I came back I took my clothes off again. It's better that way."

How could I answer that ? "Let me go and have a shower."

"Do you want me to scrub your back ?"

"If you like."

"So you enjoyed last night ?"

It had not been a dream.

"There is more I can teach you if you would like me to."

"So you are my driver, my web-developer and now my tutor ?"

"I promise you I am a good teacher. The best."

The hot water cascaded over our naked bodies. Ben lathered shower gell all over me, ALL over me, rubbing it into every square inch of my skin.

"How long do we have before we need to go out ?"

"How long do you want ?"

"I wondered if I could try to do to you what you did to me last night."

NO it had not been a dream.

We took an early ferry across to the island of Alcatraz. After the tourist trail we stood looking across the bay to the city of San Francisco. I could never live there but the place does hold a magical attraction.

"It's named after Saint Francis," Ben observed.

"Francis Drake sailed here," I smiled. "along the coast there's Drakes Bay perhaps it's named after him."

"But he's not a saint."

"Yeh I know but probably closer to becoming a saint than I ever will."

"Do you know who is the patron saint of gay people ?"

"Is that a question or are you trying to test my general knowledge ?"

"Just making conversation."

"Well go on then, do you know ?"

"I'm not gay."

"Did I say you were ?"

"It so happens Mr Clevercloggs that I know the answer to that."

I had been to an art exhibition in London and had come so close to buying a portrait of the saint. "Saint Sebastian," I said showing off my knowledge.

"And this is the gay capital of the world, perhaps it should be called San Sebastain."

I can not deny that I enjoyed my two encounters with Ben, I can not deny that I was looking forward to the third encounter but I was not comfortable with the gay conversation. I decided to change the topic. "Come on let's go and ride the cable cars."

I think that Ben sensed my mood.

I dragged Ben round the tourist attractions of San Francisco, we started at Pier 39 walked down to Fisherman's Wharf, rode the cable cars then took a helicopter flight over The Golden Gate Bridge. Some how I don't think Ben's mind was on all that we were doing, his sole topic of conversation was his working to redesign the sauna websites. I was happy to let him do the work, although I had not paid much attention to the sites before I have to admit they were in a bit of a mess so there wasn't going to be a lot of harm in his trying.

CHAPTER FOUR - MRS P - This is Ben now writing

I found these notes written in a spiral notebook, Nigel was writing in it after we travelled back to the office in the taxi. He must have been telling the story from the day of my interview. He isn't likely to continue writing but the story needs to be told so I have decided to write it for now. When the time is right I will give Nigel his notes, I am not sure if I will tell him or not that I have read them, I have typed all of the story so far into my laptop and will continue my writing there.

A week earlier the only thing about Nigel was his name in a job application, now I was on the other side of the world with him, Destiny had allowed us to share some mild sexual pleasures which I think Nigel enjoyed - I certainly did. I was attracted to Nigel, I liked him but he was my boss. I had landed an absolutely ace job and was not about to mess it up. I had a growing feeling within me that Destiny had more mapped out for us.

We rode back to the office in the taxi, ahead was the meeting - a meeting about what I did not know, all Nigel had said was it concerned a webcam broadcast that evening. Destiny was not going to allow me to find out what it was.

Arriving back at the office we were met by an anxious head of the webcam broadcast network who took Nigel by the arm and drew him away from me. "It's OK," he said, "Ben is working with me so he is included in what we are doing."

"It's not about work."

Nigel, I remember, looked a bit puzzled.

"It's your housekeeper back in England."

"Mrs P."

"Yes. Someone from your garden centre business called. She.............."

"What ?"

"There's no easy way to put this, she has had a heart attack."

Nigel's face drained of all colour. "Which hospital is she in ?"

"She did not make it I am afraid, she died before the paramedics could get to her."

Nigel let out a deafening cry, threw his arms around me and began to sob. I held him tight against me then looked over his shoulder. "Get on to the airline and see how quickly they can get us home."

A number of staff members had gathered round us, one nodded and left to enquire about flights. She returned soon after and handed a note to me.

My friends sobbed and sobbed, I led him away to the VIP flat. "We are going home, " I said, "leave it with me and I will make the arrangements."

"Thank you," he cried. "I want to get home as quickly as possible. What ever am I going to do without Mrs P ?"

Nigel was not capable of organising anything, I got on-line and looked at our options. There were flights available home that afternoon but we would have to travel business class as first class was full and there was very little time before we needed to be at the airport. My friend had stopped crying, he was strangely silent just staring ahead of him.

There was a knock at the door. I left my friend and went to open it. "Is he alright ?"

"No. We are going home, we need to be at the airport in two hours time can you arrange a car ?"

"Of course. "

"What about this meeting and broadcast tonight ? I asked."

"Don't worry about that, we can take care of everything."

I packed my things and as it was obvious Nigel would not be packing his own I did it for him. It was then I found the notebook.

Robbie, the head of the webcam network, drove us to the airport himself. As he opened the car door for Nigel to sit beside him, my friend opened the rear passenger door and got in.

"Ben sit with me please."

I looked apologetically as the guy held open the front passenger door then sat beside Nigel.

"Put your seat belt on," I said then as he either did not hear me or did not understand I reached over him and fastened it for him.

"Hold my hand Ben please."

At the airport I managed to explain to a check in clerk that my friend was very distressed, was returning home following news of a bereavement and could everyone on the flight please take care of him and be aware of his situation. The flight crew members were very good, they passed us by with the welcome drinks and boarded us ahead of all the other passengers. Once in our seats Nigel shut his eyes and did not open them again until we landed. Fortunately it had occurred to me that as we were flying business class there would be no car waiting for us at Heathrow. Nigel was obviously a valued customer of the airline, the captain radioed ahead then came back into the passenger cabin to tell me transport home had been arranged.

As soon as we were in the air and allowed to use a phone I called the office in San Francisco to apologise for our abrupt departure and to thank everyone for their understanding. Within the websites I had been looking at and planning to revise there was a telephone number for both the garden centre and the restaurant. I looked at my watch, 7pm Pacific Time so that would be 3am at home. I took a chance, called and hoped I may be able to wake somebody up. Luck was in, there was a night security team at the garden centre and one of them answered. A member of staff from the garden centre had gone to tend the lawns of the house and found Mrs P, he called an ambulance but she was already dead.

Mrs P, I am sure she did not approve of me but I knew she idolised Nigel and has the strongest affection for her.

I did not sleep at all during the overnight flight, I typed up Nigel's story into my laptop then tried to work on the websites but I could not concentrate. When Nigel reached out and took my hand I simply held it and did nothing for several hours.

When we landed at Heathrow I guided Nigel through passport control, baggage reclaim and out to find our transport home. The airline had everything arranged. "Mr Dean your car is waiting for you, I am so sorry to hear of your news."

"Speak to Ben will you, he is my personal assistant."

Although she had family of her own who were dealing with everything the moment we were home Nigel began making phone calls and throwing himself into helping with the funeral arrangements. I felt like a spare part so took myself off to my room and out of he way. I was tired but my mind was alive so I started to work on my plans for the sauna websites. I knew I could do a good job and had been determined to show Nigel what a quality website looked like but now I promised myself this would be extra special.

I had been working for a couple of hours when there came a knock at my door.

"You do not have to knock on a door in your own house," I said as Nigel responded to my invitation to come in.

He smiled. "I brought you a coffee."

"Thanks."

"And I thought these may help."

I took the file from him.

"It's the sales figures for the sauna chain, I thought they may help."

"Thanks." I did not see how they would have any influence on a website but would take a look.

"I have to go out for a few hours."

I started to get up but Nigel motioned me to sit down again. "I will drive myself."

"Are you sure ?"

"Yes." He paused, it was a pause not of hesitation but one considering what he was about to say. "I mean what I said at the airport."

I must have looked vague, what did he say at the airport ?

"About you," Nigel was reading my mind, "I want you to be my personal assistant. I want you to be my right hand man in running these businesses. All of them."

"Oh." I was surprised. "Of course I will do anything I can to help you. I've only worked for you for a few days , let me help you at this time, I want to but you employed me as a driver - there is no need to promote me."

"Ben I am going to appoint you a director of every company."

I moved again to stand up but Nigel motioned me to stay where I was. "Say nothing, we will talk later. I have to go now. I am so tired, when I get back I think I would like to sleep then we can talk but my mind is made up. I want you and I need you to work with me"

I nodded.

"Ben..."

"Yes."

"If you don't mind I would prefer not to sleep alone tonight."

My heart thumped, I was dreaming - of course I was.

Although I was seething with anger I decided not to show Nigel what I had found, he was tired when he left and this was not the right time. As I hesitated I made the decision that I would deal with this myself. Partly I did not want to bother my friend even even though this was so devious and partly, if Nigel was serious about my being his personal assistant and even perhaps a director within his companies, I determined I would show myself to be worthy of his trust.

I knew for certain I was not in some kind of fanciful dream even though all the indictors told me I would have to wake up sooner or later. I had applied for a job as a driver, a job I did not expect to get. I had messed up the interview as I feebly lied and tried to cover up my speeding tickets. I had been whisked half way round the world only to return home before the reason for the trip had become clear. My boss had in just a few short days become my friend, dare I say my lover, and now that friend and lover was offering me a position of senior management in his multi-million pound business enterprise. All of this in my nineteenth year. No it was not a dream, it was reality sure enough.

Nigel slid into bed beside me. The warmth of his body made my skin tingle, his scent was faintly intoxicating.

"You don't mind my sharing your bed do you ?"

"It's your bed," I said softly, "this is your home."

Nigel did not say anything but took my hand and squeezed it. We were both tired but I knew we were not about to sleep. I took my hand from his and formed it into a gentle fist. With my index finger not forming part of that fist I touched the under side of my friend's chin then drew is slowly to his neck to trace a line down his chest and on to his stomach. I felt his muscles tighten and sensed the warmth of his breath as he let out a sigh. My hand had reached the elastic waistband of his underpants where it ceased its downward progress.

"Don't stop."

My hand opened, was joined by my left and gently moved the waistband of his underpants. Nigel reached to assist then removed my own. Naked we embraced. A hand rested on the back of my head as Nigel brought his face close to mine then pecked a gentle kiss.

"Thank you Ben." I had no idea what I was being thanked for.

When my friend placed a second kiss on my lips I took things to a level where feelings which were starting to develop within me needed sharing with my friend. I kissed long and deep. Nigel groaned with pleasured approval. My cock had been hard since the moment I slipped under the sheets but was harder now than it had ever been in my life. It throbbed hot and twitched in anticipation of that to come. But what was to come ? I sensed that the simple sex games we had played before we no longer going to satisfy us but I did not want to cause offence to Nigel by moving forward too quickly yet at the same time I did not want reticence to delay the inevitable.

As if my thoughts had passed from my mind to my friend Nigel moved his face a little away from mine and whispered, "Yes Ben, I am ready. I want you to take my virginity away from me."

I responded with a deeper and more passionate kiss.

I was fourteen years old when I first had sex, I remember the occasion well, it was a significant rite of passage in my young but eventful life. I have never attempted to count how many more times there have been or who I have done what with. there have been far too many to list them all, some were good and some were not so good, most have gone from my memory.

This was different, it was not sex, I was falling in love with Nigel. NO - was - is the wrong word to use here. It implies along with the word falling that it was a movement towards an end. I was not falling, I had FALLEN headlong in love with Nigel.

"But Nigel is not gay." Five words of nagging doubt kept attacking me. "Nigel is not gay." Silent words spoken from somewhere inside my mind but words echoing with a thunderous volume. "Nigel is not gay."

I tried so hard to silence the words but they would not go away. "Nigel is not gay." I told myself that it did not matter what a person's sexuality was love was not bound by such things. Were our bodies not entwined in one beautiful act of love making ? Was I not physically inside my friend and emotionally our beings were as one ?

Then as if to confirm everything Nigel sighed. "I love you Ben."

• CHAPTER FIVE - TROUBLE AT THE SAUNA - Ben writing*

Who the fuck do you think you are ? How dare you come here and speak to us like that ?"

"I told you, my name is Ben and I am here representing the owner of your establishments, Nigel."

"How old are you ? What are you ? On some kind of work experience programme ?" He was getting increasingly angry but I had worked out very carefully how I would handle this, I had not told Nigel of the meeting but would hand him the finished result when it was over.

"To answer your questions, I am nineteen years of age and I am the operations director of the sauna chain so that makes me your boss."

He scoffed but I could see my announcing the promotion registered something in the eyes of the other managers.

"So shall we talk about you now ? Shall we discuss what you are ? You are a cheat, you have been systematically cheating Nigel for months."

"I don't have to listen to this from some silly little kid." He moved to get up and leave.

"No you are right, you don't," I confirmed, you can leave at any time but if you or anyone else walks out before we have resolved your fraud, " I held up a file and waved at at the assembled gathering, "this goes to the police. Every single one of you will be arrested, put on trial for theft by deception and serve a period of imprisonment. Do you still wish to leave or would you like to sit down and sort this out ?"

The manager of the Sheffield sauna sat down and, along with his nine colleagues, gave me his full attention.

When Nigel had given me the sales figures for his various business enterprises with the intention they may help me with the web design I had only flicked through them as I could not see how they would be of any assistance. Immediately the fraud jumped up and hit me squarely between the eyes, how ever Nigel had failed to see what was going on was a mystery. When he appointed me a director I determined to put a stop to what was going on.

"You know," I began my presentation to a now silent audience, "if you wanted to cheat Nigel you should have come up with a better system."

I opened the flip chart and began to explain, not that the ten managers need any explanation - they knew well enough how the system worked.

"Ten sauna branches, each open for seven days a week. On day one sauna one takes a dip in sales of 30% - a bad day perhaps, these things happen but on day two sales return to normal. It is then the turn on day two for sauna two to take its 30% dip in takings. Day three - sauna three and so on throughout the week. We have ten sauna branches but there are only seven days in the week so when Monday of the second week in the cycle comes round it is the turn of sauna eight to rip Nigel off by removing 30% of the takings."

I paused for effect and looked into the eyes of each manager, none of them met my gaze.

"So every day one of you puts 30% of his branch takings into his pocket. I have done my homework, on average you all have two hundred visitors a day. Two hundred times the fifteen pounds admission charge so your daily takings should average three thousand pounds. When you pocket thirty percent of those takings it means you are stealing from Nigel nine hundred pounds !" I flipped the next page on the chart. "In a year the ten of you are stealing - well you work it out ! Don't worry I have done the maths. I wonder what kind of prison term a judge would hand down for that."

"It isn't always quite that much," It was a now very calm and softly spoken Sheffield manager who spoke.

"No it isn't but then some times it is a lot more so it's a fair average. But do not worry nobody is going to go to prison, nobody is going to lose their jobs and Nigel is not going to find out what has been happening."

"Oh I see, you want us to cut you in - we could do that couldn't we ?" He turned to look at the other managers who nodded in approval.

"No, no no ! That is not going to happen. From this moment on nobody is cheating Nigel, your little scam stops right here. All of a sudden takings will go up by an average of three percent a day, the thirty percent you have been taking divided by the ten branches in the chain. You can keep the money you have stolen but there will be no more little fiddles OK ? Oh yes I am sure you all have other scams going on, they stop as well. Over and above the three percent I now want every one of you to increase his takings by another ten percent, can you do that ?"

"We can try."

"Excellent. Shall we adjourn to the pub for lunch ? I have a reserved a table for us, come and celebrate my promotion to Operations Director , come and get to know your new boss !"

CHAPTER SIX - BEN'S BIRTHDAY - Nigel Writing

When Mrs P passed away my life went into a strange trance, although I had known her for but a short time her loss was devastating. If it had not been for Ben I am not sure what would have become of me. During the time immediately following her death I spent a lot of time silently looking at my life and all it represented. Yes I was wealthy, a multi-millionaire, but all the money had failed to give me any purpose. That was until I met Ben. I spent money buying businesses but I was not a businessman, I collected businesses but I did not run any one of them. Even though he was only nineteen years of age appointing Ben as the operations director of them all suddenly saw takings all round increase.

"Ben....."

He stirred and turned towards me. "Yeh...."

"Do you know how much money I actually won ? Have you ever wondered about it ?"

Ben took hold of me, kissed me lightly and whispered, "I would not care if it were only fifty pence."

"No seriously, how much do you think it was ?"

"I don't care, I don't love you for your money."

"I know that silly but come on have a guess."

"Twenty million ?"

"More."

"Fifty million ?"

"More."

"Oh my god ! More than fifty million ?"

"Yes, it was actually one hundred and twenty-four million."

"Make love to me Nigel, make love to me one hundred and twenty-four million times."

I gently turned Ben round to prepare for the first time in his request. I floated the palm of my hand across his bottom then allowed my fingers to slide between his cheeks, they penetrated ever so slightly then rested with the tip of each digit held by my friend's tight buttocks. There was pleasure sending electrical pulses down each finger, shock waves which set my heart pounding and adrenalin pumping for what was to come. I parted those cheeks and prepared the way for my manhood to join Ben in an act of unity. I had been there before and now had an invitation to visit a further one hundred and twenty-four million times.

My cock slid inside Ben as once again we unified our bodies and souls. How ever I could have once considered myself not to be gay was difficult to comprehend but while this was the most beautiful experience possible I could not imagine it with anyone other than Ben.

As I pushed deeper into Ben so he pushed back to me, the contours of my groin took in the peaches of his bottom.

"I love you Ben." The words were silent and only within my mind yet I know he heard me.

When we made love time took on an entirely different dimension, is is unlikely that either Einstein or Hawking could could contain it within a mathematical formula. "One down one hundred and thirty-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety nine times to go," Ben confirmed.

"How old do you think we will be when we get there ?"

"Pretty old I guess."

"Zimmer frame sex, could be a whole new craze," he laughed before kissing me.

"Well one thing is certain, when we get there we will have to celebrate."

"A big party."

"Yes Ben, a big party. Let's bring it down to one hundred and thirty-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety eight."

I was planning a party for Ben, a party rather nearer in time, a party to celebrate his twentieth birthday.

I do not believe in a god or some supernatural being living somewhere up in the sky and condescendingly handing down little life morsels in the same way you would toss a scrap of meat to a hungry dog. No there's no such thing perfect being. However, as I sit back and reflect I am convinced there is a factor which orders our lives. Just as gravity keeps the stars and planets in place, just as nature orders the seasons so Destiny places a hand on our shoulder and keeps it there for all of our life.

Destiny had been kind to me, she had let me win all that money - when I think just how close I came to not buying the ticket it makes me shudder. Then she let me find Ben, how close I had come to not giving him that original job as my driver. If we had not had that particular taxi driver, if he had not had the radio on and tuned to that station, if the programme presenter had not played that song....... it does not bear thinking about.

I did not have a clue who Sam Lord was, never heard of him before. "Is he a real person or is this just a legend ?"

"He was real enough."

"So who was he ?"

"He was a white Barbadian," our driver explained. "He lived in a mansion on the other side of the island and made a fortune wrecking ships. He ended his life as a prisoner of the British and his treasure never was found."

We pulled up at our hotel and that would have been the end of Mr Samuel Hall Lord had destiny not had him firmly on our agenda.

I tipped the bell boy, closed the door and turned to Ben. I put my arms around him, pecked a kiss and wished him a very happy birthday. "Welcome to Barbados."

Before we took another number off our love-making score we started to unpack. The hotel had placed a copy of the Barbados Advocate on the bed, Ben picked it up and began to read the front page. "Isn't this the guy from the song ?"

SALE OF SAM LORD'S CASTLE FALLS THROUGH AGAIN.

I scanned the story then read it again. Sam Lord's Castle was a holiday resort which had been build around the notorious buccaneer's mansion home. The hotel complex had gone bankrupt some years ago, the original wooden house which was known as The Castle had been destroyed by fire. Attempts were constantly being made and failing to sell the holiday resort, the Barbados Advocate was reporting the latest aborted sale.

"What so you think ?" I said handing the paper to Ben. "How about we buy it ?"

"Are you crazy ?"

"Worth taking a look. What do you say ?"

"I think the jet lag is getting to you."

Ben was proving a great asset to my business collection, he was a great organiser. Takings at all of the sauna branches were up. The staff at Gaybuddy loved him. Our visit to San Francisco had been cut short but he maintained a close daily contact with the webcam team. He did not appear to be quite so interested in the garden centre, the farm or the pub but he made regular visits to their managers.

Ben needed a break, two weeks in Barbados to celebrate his birthday to forget the businesses, to relax in the sun and take of some more numbers in or love score.

"How about I call the newspaper, get a contact for who is handling the sale then go down to the beach."

"OK but let's make love before we go."

"Sounds good to me. who knows we may even find the treasure."

"One hundred and twenty-four million not enough for you ?"

The sale of bankrupt Sam Lord's Castle and estate was being handled by David Walton Page and Co, a firm of solicitors in Bridgetown. I called them and did my best to convince them we were not cranks, that I had the money to make the purchase if I decided I wanted to buy. I gave my name and enough details for them to check me out. An appointment was made for the following day.

Outside the Barbadian sun shone down on the Caribbean's most beautiful jewel, it reached out and invited us to the beach but first we would make love. After taking another number off our score we fell asleep. I awoke to Ben running his fingers through my hair.

"Nigel I have had a dream."

I kissed him. "Was I in it ?"

"Yes, and so was Samuel Hall Lord."

"Was he ? What happened ?"

"You bought the estate, we reopened it as the best resort in the entire Caribbean."

"Did we ? Now that may not be a bad idea. Not a bad idea at all."

It is a racial stereotype of the Barbadian population to say the inhabitants of this island are by nature polite. Of all the countries I have visited Barbados is the most friendly. When I called David Walton Page and Co to make an appointment to discuss the purchase of Sam Lord's estate it would never have occurred to the firm of solicitors to dismiss me as a time wasting crank. We were courteously given a time to see a junior clerk who would be able to hand over the information. By the time we arrived somebody had obviously checked up on us so it not some junior clerk who met us but the senior partner.

"Please sit down," he motioned to a leather chesterfield. I am sure he was confused looking at two young men, one of whom controlled a fortune.

"The government is distressed that the estate has been left to dilapidate for so long," he explained, "and public opinion was outraged when a fire destroyed the original wooden mansion."

"Sam Lord's Castle ?" Ben noted.

"Yes, it was always known as a castle but really it was a colonial plantation house."

We were handed folders of large photographs showing different aspects of the property.

"The house, the castle was part of our national heritage which has now been lost for ever." The file contained pictured of the house before and after the fire.

"The estate includes two swimming pools, three restaurants, two bars, five small shops which were rented out to independent traders and there are four hundred guest rooms in eight blocks within the gardens. The gardens are now heavily overgrown. And, of course, there's the private beach."

This was interesting, I flicked through the folder. "So what's the asking price ?"

The lawyer hesitated. "There is an element for negotiation."

"How much did the party in the recent failed negotiation offer ?" Ben asked.

The lawyer looked at me. "That's confidential."

"Well I shall need a ball-park figure."

Again the lawyer hesitated. "Negotiations could probably start somewhere round about fifty-seven million dollars."

"In real money ?"

Ben had already done the calculation on his phone, he handed it to me.

"I see, well I think we can explore things, what do you say Ben ?"

"It's your money." Ben said.

"I think I would like to visit the property, can we go now ?"

"Well we could but it may be more convenient to schedule something later in the week."

"We are on holiday," I explained, "this opportunity has presented itself rather unexpectedly, I am interested and if you have done your homework you will know I could be a cash buyer but I need to move quickly. I am still going to have my holiday, if I decide to proceed you will have my binding word and the purchase will go through."

"Well I could change my diary, let me have a word with my clerk."

While he was momentarily out of the office I smiled at Ben, "Watch King Midas at work by the end of the day we will own this resort."

Ben made to say something but the lawyer had returned. "Shall we go ?"

The estate was neglected on the outside, the gardens had been kept from becoming overgrown but lacked proper maintenance. I wondered what staff at the garden centre back home would make of it - STUPID ME - if I brought the place I could fly a team out and have it sorted within a week or two ! Everything needed a lick of paint but no major repairs appeared to be needed.

"I have the surveyor's report from the sale which did not go through but no doubt you would want to commission an update."

"Perhaps."

The lawyer looked a little confused at my response.

He led us down a path and onto a palm tree lined beach. "This is Pirate Beach," he explained, "it goes with the property."

Immediately I fell in love with it. The Atlantic waves crashed onto the beach in a majestic was so unlike the calm still waters of the Caribbean on the side of the island where we were staying.

"There weren't really any pirates were there ?" Ben asked.

"No but is is where Samuel Hall Lloyd wrecked the ships. Pirate Beach is a name the hotel used, they used to hold beach parties and barbecues for the guests."

"Tell me why did it all go bankrupt ?"

"Two reasons, the resort is on the wrong side of the island - tourists want the Caribbean."

"And..."

"The twin towers of 9/11."

I could not see what ever that could have had to do with it but an explanation was soon offered. "In the immediate aftermath the Americans stopped coming, two seasons with only visitors from Europe brought about financial problems from which it did not recover."

"Well," I commented. "I don't see either of those being a problem for us. Now let's see the old house, the castle."

Oh dear what a mess that was, the fire could have happened yesterday, very little had been done to clear the mess and it still had the smell of smoke about it.

My mind was made up. I looked at Ben, projected a thought and said, "Yes ?"

"It's your money."

King Midas was about to act.

"The asking price is ?"

"Fifty-seven million dollars US."

In case you have not noticed," I explained, "London is the capital of the world's finances not New York and last time I looked Barbados had Queen Elizabeth as its Head of State *not * Barak Obama ! Let's talk in REAL money shall we. Ben how much did you say fifty-seven million dollars comes to ?"

Ben did the calculation on his phone again. "Thirty-two million. two hundred and three thousand, three hundred and eighty-nine pounds."

"Right here's the deal I want you to find me a managing agent to completely renovate the property, no problem about the gardens I have my own people who can do that. Then I will need you to find an employment recruiting company who can find me all of the staff I would need to get the place up and running, I want good people who I can depend on so I will pay fifteen percent above the going rate for all jobs plus free board and lodgings. I want these two agencies in place within a week."

The lawyer made to speak but I held up my hand. "Wait. I will rebuild the castle and restore it its former glory."

His eyes widened.

"My offer is thirty million pounds. When we get back to your office I will call my people and lodge with you a three million pound holding deposit. We are here on holiday for two weeks, I want everything drawn up then sign, sealed and delivered before we leave and the balance of twenty-seven million pounds can be paid."

There was silence.

"So do we have a deal ?"

"I - I - I would have to speak to the administrators of the estate."

"I thought that was you."

"I need to think, take some advice."

"How many times has a sale fallen through ? Three times ?"

"Yes three."

"Well this sale will not fall through, the moment we get back to your office you will have three million on account then the balance as soon as you can be ready but you must be ready before we return home from our holiday. So do we have a deal ?"

The lawyer held out his hand and shook it firmly.

Back at our hotel I skipped up the stairs to our room. "He used to hang the lanterns on the coconut trees," I sang. "to lure the ships upon the reef....."

"You're crazy," Ben laughed then continued the song.... "He buried his treasure deep in the ground to this day it has never been found....."

" I hadn't thought about that," I said. "Come on we have some celebrating to do."

Back in our room my mind was taking stock, there were so many ideas chasing round in my head which I needed to organise into some form of order, to share with Ben and solicit his support. This was not the birthday holiday I had planned for Ben, indeed we had not started our holiday but perhaps I could give my friend something more for his birthday.

I stepped closer to Ben and placed my hands on his chest, Ben moved closer to kiss me. I lifted his shirt up and over his chest then reached down to unfasten the waist of my trousers.

"Ben I have done the right thing here." It was a statement, not a question, not even a rhetorical question.

Ben did not answer but slipped a hand inside my underpants before kissing me again. This time the kiss was deep and long. I wanted to make love but had to explain my thoughts to my friend first. I took him by the hand and lead him not to the bed but to sit facing one another on chairs at the side of the room.

"Let me get us something to drink."

We sat naked with a glass of red wine in our hands while I began to explain my ideas.

"I don't want to go back to England," I began, "I don't want to live in that house any longer. It isn't right without Mrs P, I can not run it without her and I could never find another person like her."

"I see."

"I am going to sell it then I want to live here."

"So are you sacking me as your driver ?" Ben smiled.

"As my driver yes."

"Oh dear, back to the job centre again."

"I want you to become my partner, equal partner with everything, I want you to have fifty percent of it all."

Ben did not say anything at first. He looked down into his glass then took a sip of his wine. "I see, that is generous but I have only worked for you for a very short space of time. I mean are you sure ?"

"Yes Ben. Will you come and live here with me in Barbados as my partner ?"

Ben filled his glass then moved to fill mine.

"To Sam Lord."

I raised my glass, "To Sam Lord."

I decided to keep the other matter until I had finished explaining my ideas for the estate.

"I am going to insist the deal is done before we leave, I will expect the lawyers to have a contracting agent in place to renovate all of the property and to rebuild the house in no more than six months."

"That soon."

"Yes that soon. I am going to move the webcam offices and Gaybuddy to Barbados, each will have its own suite off offices within the complex."

"What about the staff ?"

"If they come here we could offer them a pay rise, free board and lodgings here in Barbados. Forty people work in the cam operation and ten for Gaybuddy, having them living here with meals to be provided, rooms to be maintained and so on - that would give the hotel staff a soft opening ahead of bringing guests in."

"What if they do not want to come ?"

"Perhaps some won't but they are all single, if you worked for Gaybuddy in Birmingham wouldn't you give that up to come and live in an island paradise ?"

"I guess if I lived in Birmingham and was an Aston Villa supporter I'd be happy to get away but what about those in San Francisco, that's not a bad place to live and like you say there are forty of them ?"

I scratched the side of my head with the nail of my thumb. "I think we need to go to San Francisco and sell it to them. We are going to need these two websites to sell the resort and find our guests."

"So do you plan it to be a gay resort ?"

I had it in mind that we would set up an adult resort, no children, but while not gay focussed it would be gay friendly. I explained the concept to Ben.

"Clever, that would work."

"I think we could keep the garden centre and the pub back at home but I am not sure about the saunas. We could bring a landscape team out from the garden centre to sort the grounds out and probably from the team there we could find someone to come over permanently to manage the grounds."

"Sounds a good idea," Ben confirmed.

"With a bit of luck we could do something similar with the pub. The manager there is very good and could be a lot of help to us."

Ben nodded.

"But I think we should get rid of the saunas."

"Do you mind me asking why ?"

"I do not trust any of the managers and I doubt we could control them from this far away,"

I could see that Ben was not agreeing with me.

"I know you have put hours of work into writing the website, it's fantastic of course, but I do not see the saunas working properly so let's sell up."

"Can I suggest an alternative ?"

"Of course."

"Don't sell the saunas, open another branch here in the complex and make it the group head office. Appoint one of the UK managers as general manager of the chain and base him here in Barbados, through him we manager the UK operation. Once a month bring the manager who shows the most profit from his branch here for a weeks holiday, make it a major incentive."

"That sounds a good idea." But I was not convinced.

"We are going to use Gaybuddy and the webcams as a way to find guests for us, the saunas and the websites could do the same. You could have a loyalty card system where those going to the sauna could collect points for discounts on holidays. We could run competitions, both on-line and in the branches, with holidays as prizes. We could build up a massif following."

"That's brilliant, Ben brilliant." I paused. "But I am still not sure if I can trust those managers."

"Trust me, "Ben replied, "you can let me sort them out."

What was it he knew that I did not know ?

"We are going to need an average of six hundred guests a week," Ben said changing the subject. "That's a lot of people but I think we can generate them ourselves from the saunas, Gaybuddy and the webcams. We can run an affiliate programme to pay any site anywhere a commission for any guests they send our way."

"Yes."

"There are agencies we can use to help us find affiliate sites. We need to concentrate on England and the US, possible the East Coast US."

I nodded.

"So how do we get the guests here ?"

I did not have a clue.

"And how do we get the guests from the airport to the hotel ?"

"We'll have to work on that."

"We are going to have to find a coach company here on the island who can take care of it for us."

"Agreed."

"And you will need to sort some kind of a deal with one or two airlines."

"Ben.............."

"Yes."

"Sometimes you say WE but now and then you say YOU and exclude yourself. This is a partnership Ben, an equal partnership. As soon as the lawyers can sort it all you are going to own fifty percent of the whole operation."

"I know you said that but are you sure ? I mean driver to joint managing director is rather a big promotion. Are you sure you would not prefer me to stay looking after operations and to be your number two ?"

"No Ben I want you as my partner."

"Why ? I mean.................."

I held up my hand. "Because I love you."

A tear formed in the corner of Ben's right eye then spilled out on to his cheek. I watched its slow descent as I gathered my thoughts for what I wanted to say.

In a voice which was horse Ben replied, "I love you Nigel."

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, sucked in then did the same with my top lip. My stomach knotted tight. I knew what I wanted to say, what I was going to say. I wanted to reach out and take hold of him as if to prevent his escaping from my next words but I kept my hands firmly at my sides. I was nervous, more nervous than I had been at any time before in my life. I knew what the outcome was going to be but was terrified until I had it spoken and the step taken.

"Ben I want you to be more than my business partner, will you be my life partner ? Will you marry me Ben ? Will you spend the rest of your life with me ?"

That single tear turned into a flood as Ben rushed forward and wrapped his arms about me. Tears flooded from my eyes. We said very little as we took one another to the large bed and consummated our engagement.

I have said before in my story that Destiny is a strange but all powerful creature. Destiny gave its approval to our partnerships. There can be no reason why Ben should have reached out to the radio on his side of the bed, no reason at all - we had not had the radio on before. The radio was tuned to Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation. Of all the music it could have been playing the radio played Michael Jackson singing BEN. What was the chances of that happening ? Of Ben turning the radio on and turning it on when he did ? Of the radio being tuned to that particular station ? Of that song being played ? The odds have to be more than winning the lottery. But I had won the lottery hadn't I ? Thank You Destiny.

I was determined that our holiday would now start. I slept very soundly, my lover close by my side. Sam Lord, his legend and his treasure could step back for a time while we celebrated Ben's birthday and enjoyed our holiday.

The early morning sun powered its way between the slits in the curtains and danced on the bedroom walls. It was going to be a beautiful day.

We enjoyed a tasty breakfast, lots of fresh local fruit, It was going to so be wonderful living on this island.

"So what are we going to do today Ben ? Forget Samuel Hall Lord, this is *US *time and you have a birthday to celebrate."

"There's a boat," he explained, "I saw a poster in the lobby, that takes you out to snorkel and swim with the fish. How about that ?"

"That sounds marvellous."

But Destiny was eaves dropping. She heard what we were saying. My phone rang. I looked at my watch, eight-thirty, I recognised the number - what the heck ? I didn't think lawyers anywhere in the world started work at such an hour and certainly not lawyers working in Paradise.

"Hello."

I mouthed silently to Ben. "Don't worry I'll get rid of him."

"I see......"

"That's excellent news."

I gave a thumbs up sign to Ben and mouthed silently, "They've accepted."

"No we can't make this morning......"

"Four o'clock will be fine."

"We'll see you later then."

"We've done it !" I exclaimed excitedly to Ben. "It's ours, the Sam Lord estate is ours. He wanted to see us this morning but we are going snorkelling, I told him we would go over at four."

"We can go now if you like."

"No way, we are are going to swim with the fishes."

I called the number on the lobby poster and arranged to meet the boat owner. He was a larger than life character, we were in for some fun.

We swam out to his boat, a small wooden craft with an outboard motor and scrambled onboard. Our new friend pulled a cord, once - twice and the engine roared into life. "Hold on tight."

The outboard motor was way too powerful for the tiny craft, the bow lifted high into the air as we sped forward and I clung on for dear life. The momentum lifted me out of my seat before I slammed down hard again onto the wooden bench. We travelled for no more than a couple of hundred yards but I swear they were the most scary I have ever experience. I think fear was showing in my face, and expression which clearly amused Ben and made him laugh.

"Are you alright ?"

"I am not sure," I answered with truth in each of the four words.

But the white knuckle ride was brought into perspective the moment we entered the water, what beauty. I had never seen fish swimming in the lake at home, the only sight I ever had was of grey catches pulled out by anglers on the bank. Here was a rainbow on beauty, every colour imaginable gently moving to and fro before our eyes. I found it hard to keep the mouthpiece of my snorkel between my teeth and not to let it go as I exclaimed the wonder of all before me. The beautiful creatures must be familiar with we humans entering their world, they paid us no attention at all. I could have watched them for hours on end.

Ben toughed my arm, I lifted my head out of the water to bob alongside him and our guide.

"What do you think ?" Our guide asked.

"Unbelievable, absolutely out of this world."

"It's a beautiful island," he smiled.

"That's why we are coming to live here," I replied.

"Really, you are coming to live on Barbados ?"

"Yeh," Ben explained, "he has brought an estate on the other side of the island."

Our guide's eyes widened, "You are not .........................."

He could not possibly have known.

"You are not the two who have bought Sam Lord's Castle ?"

"That's us."

"If I had known I would not have charged you for this trip, you are heroes."

"But how could anyone know about it ?"

"This is a small island."

"Drums in the night," I laughed.

"No, Facebook and Twitter !"

Ben sniggered.

"Get back in the boat and I will take you round the island to where the turtles are ?"

"That would be great," Ben said.

"Just one thing, " I added, "could we go a little slower ?"

This time the outboard idled slowly pushing the little boat at a sedate pace.

"Is that better ?"

"Thanks."

"But when we round the headland I will have to speed up so hold on tight. We will be moving into some rougher water for a time until we reach the turtles."

If the fish were tame and ignored our presence then the turtles were completely at home with us and wanted to play. They swam up to us and nudged against our bodies. Our guide showed us how to hold on to them and let them pull us along, the turtles thought it was great fun. I could not tell you how long we played together, I lost all concept of time and could have remained there for ever. I had forgotten all about the appointment with the lawyer. Forgotten, that is, until our guide suggested another adventure.

"Would you like me to take you to the dolphins ?"

"What time is it ?"

"Just turned one."

I thought carefully, "We have to be in Bridgetown for a meeting at four."

"I'll get you back to the beach for three, you can take a taxi and be in Bridgetown with time to spare."

"Then let's do it."

We had paid this guide one hundred Barbadian Pounds which is about thirty pounds sterling, I protested to him that it was not enough for all of the places we had been to.

"Normally that would buy you half an hour snorkelling with the fish but you are special, you are heroes of the island."

"Well I am paying you more when we get back."

"You don't have to."

"Yes I do."

I gave him another thousand Barbadian pounds, he tried to refuse it but he had helped me give Ben an very special birthday gift. What a day we had, what a day.

"We could use him," Ben said, "let him take guests from Sam Lords out on incredible trips like that."

He was right.

The lawyer beamed with a smile that went right round his face. "It's yours and we can complete very quickly. The vendor has agreed your price."

I was excited but I was still swimming with fishes, the turtles and the dolphins.

"I can have contracts ready to exchange in ten days time, will that suit you ? Can you have the funds ready for then ?"

I nodded.

"Then you will be able to take possession two days later."

Thought after thought after thought raced through my mind, there were weeks of work to be done in just a few days. Yes I was pleased, yes I was excited, we were going to own a beautiful estate on a beautiful island but I was mentally still out in the waters swimming.

"I think we may have to divide our forces," Ben said.

I wanted to shout NO but Ben was right, there was going to be an amazing amount of work to do.

"Can I take you out to dinner to celebrate ?"

"Thank you, that is kind but we have a prior engagement."

Ben looked puzzled but I winked an eye.

"Start everything off and we will get back to you first thing in the morning."

The morning would be fine.

CHAPTER SEVEN - OUR HOLIDAY ENDS - Nigel writing

I had told the lawyer that for a deal to happen it had to happen quickly but I had never believed it would, lawyers make everything so complicated and drawn out. Yes, of course, I was excited and yes this was going to happen and so awesome but I knew this was going to spell the end of our holiday, we had managed less than one day. I also knew that the only way we could meet the time schedule I had forced forward and bring everything into place was if we divided our resources.

I would go back to England, arrange the finance, sort the businesses, ship our belongings to Barbados and put the house and estate up for sale. I would need to do all of this before I flew back to Barbados and sign the contracts. Ben would stay on the island. A small security team operated at Sam Lords to keep things safe and well. Telephone, internet and services have remained connected so it was arranged Ben could move into one of the larger rooms in the complex. One of the security team volunteered to be his driver and to take him everywhere he needed to go.

Ben laughed. " A few weeks ago I went for an interview job as a driver, now I am to have my own chauffeur !"

We agreed to e-mail one another every day and share what we had been doing, not just work but what life had been like. "Let's make it a bit of a blog," Ben suggested.

"I am going to miss you Ben" I was going to miss him more than I dared to think. As the Virgin Atlantic 747 climbed high into the sky and leaving the beautiful island of Barbados and Ben far behind, my heart ached.

• CHAPTER EIGHT - BEN'S BLOG WEDNESDAY - Ben writing*

I said a tearful goodbye to Nigel then took a taxi from Grantley Adams Airport in Bridgetown to Sam Lords.

"Are you sure you want to go to Sam Lords ?" The driver asked. "It's closed up you know."

"I am expected," I told him.

"You're not....... ? You are......aren't you ? One of the guys who has just bought the place ?"

"Does everyone know about that ?"

"Pretty much, you are famous you know, the whole island is talking about you. It was a national tragedy when the old house was destroyed, is it true you are going to rebuild it ?"

"Yeh, that's right."

"Well the whole island owes you a debt of gratitude."

He must have known I was gay, I mean it's not something I can easily hide within my overall deportment. The guy with the boat must have known, the lawyer would have known but nobody appeared to care.

I looked at my watch, Nigel had gone through to departures two hours ahead of his flight leaving and still had ninety minutes before take off. I was going to miss him so much but I promised myself I would work silly and achieve so much before he returned. He would be proud of me.

I picked up my phone and sent him a text, just three words: I love you.

He replied with four words: I love you too.

"I'm Kai," the uniformed security guard explained as he showed me to my room. "I put your bags in here when they sent them over from your hotel, I stocked up the fridge with some drinks and got you a few snacks from the store. What do you want to do about a meal later ?"

"I haven't thought about it."

"I can go out and get anything you want."

"Thank you."

"There are three of us on duty tonight, we are planning to go and get steak sandwiches from a restaurant that does take outs, probably round about seven, should I get something for you ?"

"That would be kind, thanks."

I put my hand into my pocket and felt for some money.

"No," Kai protested, "the lawyers have given us money to get anything you need."

"Really ?"

"Yes."

"Well make sure you take the money for your own food out of it."

"Thanks. Now if you need anything just dial zero on the phone, it will connect direct to our control room."

I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes but I was not going to sleep. Nigel would be in the aircraft by now but still on the ground. I wished I was with him but we just had to work independently.

Right enough feeling sorry for myself and longing for my lover. Time for work.

I took out a notepad and began to brainstorm. I began by listing the departments the hotel was going to need.

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE - probably security could be put into this area of management. I wondered if Kai and his friends would be staying on.

HOUSEKEEPING - obviously. With four hundred rooms needing to be looked after this was going to be a big department, perhaps we should have our own in house laundry - no perhaps about it - with sheets, table linen and towels to be changed every day we would need full time laundry staff.

I really did not know her but I wonder what Mrs P would have made of it all.

MAINTENANCE - that would need staff on duty 24/7. Light bulbs fuse at any time, a guest could not be made to wait until morning if their air conditioning unit packed up. Nigel had ideas about the gardens and bringing people from England, this could become part of the maintenance department.

CATERING - meals, table service, bars the lot.

What else ?

ENTERTAINMENT - that could be everything from barbecues on the beach to trips round the island and lifeguards at the pools. And, of course, swimming with the fish, turtles and dolphins. I would check out the guy with the boat and bring him on board.

I decided I would walk round and round the complex making notes from which to decide exactly how many staff each department would need. At the top of my To Do list I wrote recruiting. the lawyer had promised to find us a recruiting agent. he had also said he could find a contract manager to oversee everything needed to bring the complex back to an operating standard. I determined that both would be in place before Nigel signed anything. Before then I would have an extensive list of everything both needed to attend to.

What else ?

Yes - TRANSPORT - Transfers to and from the airport as well as trips out round the island. We could provide a daily bus service into Bridgetown. It occurred to me that if we could phase guests coming in and leaving every day instead of on a single day each week we could perhaps buy our own coaches and hire our own drivers so keeping everything in house.

Then I had a brilliant idea, sheer genius. What about the cars back in England ? The cars Nigel had employed me to drive ? If we shipped them over we could use them with the guest. Barbadians drive on the same side of the road as we do so no problem there. Trips round the island in a Rolls Royce ! It had an appeal.

I added another department - TRANSPORT. I sniggered as I wondered if we should hire drivers who have speeding offences on their licences ! I had never worn a chauffeur's livery, should we have them at Sam Lord's ?

Nigel was not really into running businesses, he liked collecting them but he did not have his thumb on any of their operations. If he had then the sauna managers would not have been able to do what they did. We were going to need an overall general manager and probably an assistant. Then Nigel was planning to bring the staff from Gaybuddy and the webcams, it was going to be quite an enterprise.

I am not sure if I fell asleep, if I dozed or simply closed my eyes. What ever, I stirred to a knock on the door and a voice calling my name. "Ben, Ben, we are going to get the sandwiches now. It's Kai, I was just checking you still wanted me to get you something.."

I crossed the room and opened the door. "Hi, yeh, sure, thanks. Look would you mind if I came with you ? I could do with going out."

We walked through a dark evening, Kai guiding the way with a torch. The whole air was filed with a strange chirping sound. "What's that noise ?" I asked him.

"It's the tree frogs, usually called whistling frogs, quite rare to see them but once it gets dark you hear them."

"They live wild here at Sam Lords ?"

"Yes and all over the island."

"Wow."

"And the monkeys of course."

"Monkeys ?"

"There's a troop of them live in the trees down towards the beach."

"No way."

"As true as I am speaking to you. Legend says Sam Lord had their ancestors as pets which escaped when he was arrested and they have been here ever since."

"Monkeys."

"They are a bit of a menace though, don't leave food about outside - they will steal it"

We drove a few miles to a small wooden restaurant by the side of the road, all the way I quizzed Kai about the island. On the way back my questions brought an answer which made me angry.

"So who employs you as guards ?"

"The legal people who are administering the property since it went bust."

"How many of you are there ?"

"Five of us."

"I presumed you worked for a contracted security company or something."

"Oh no, we were all here when this was a hotel but now we will all be leaving."

"What do you mean ? Leaving ?"

"Now the property is being sold we have been told we will not be wanted any longer."

"NO WAY !" I shouted, "Absolutely NOW WAY. How dare they do that ? We should have been asked first. I've got to find an army of staff so I don't need some idiot sacking the only people we have got. NO WAY ! Will you stay on when Nigel and I take over ?"

"Of course, thank you so much, you do not know what a relief that is."

"Will your fiends stay as well ? How many are there in the team ?"

"I am sure they will, there are five of us."

"You are sure we can stay ? I have been so worried for my family."

"Of course I am sure. You wait until I get a hold of that lawyer tomorrow."

• CHAPTER NINE - MAKING LOVE WITH NIGEL - Ben writing*

I ate my supper with Kai and his colleagues then spent the whole evening with them. We talked about their families, what it was like to live on the island, what Sam Lord's had been like when it was a thriving resort and how it went bankrupt. I told them about my family, my father the school teacher, my mother the hospital paediatrician, my three brothers and two sisters something I seldom chat with anyone about. I did not make a point of saying I was gay or that Nigel was my lover, it was just assumed, accepted and left aside.

When they made their rounds of inspection I went with them, in the dark it was difficult to comprehend exactly what was where but it was obvious the estate was big, very big. Kai told me that the unemployment rate on the island was high, if he lad lost his job as a security guard it would have meant hard times for his wife and two daughters. When I eventually returned to my room I made a Google search and found the unemployment rate on the island was thirteen percent, a second search told me in the UK it was seven point five percent. That was not good for Barbados but it was going to be good for us, we would have little difficulty finding the staff we needed.

It was a lovely evening, while I did not forget about Nigel my sense of loneliness at our being apart was held in check but back in my room and alone again I felt wretched. It was one o'clock in the morning, six in England and Nigel would be landing at the airport after his overnight flight. I would type up my blog, tell him about the good news of Kai and his friends, all about the whistling frogs and the monkeys then e-mail it all to him but first I would make love with him.

I pushed my mind out across the ocean to tell Nigel what was happening. The air-conditioning chilled the room so I snuggled under the duvet. My right hand slid down to the side of my hip then round to where it found my limp cock. It was my hand but loaned to Nigel, come on Nigel arouse me, let's make love.

The first time Nigel had done this to me it was the best wank I had ever had in my life. Do it again, I whispered.

Holding the head of my cock between my thumb and middle finger I moved the tip of my index finger to place it firmly where the head met the shaft. Very slowly but very firmly I began to move it, no more than quarter of an inch each time. When Nigel had first done this to me he had brought about an explosion which was now going to happen again.

Happen it did.

Just as I shot my phone rang. "Are you awake ?"

"Of course I am."

"What are you doing ?"

"Thinking of you."

"I've just landed, I'm in baggage reclaim."

"I've just landed as well," I sniggered.

"I wrote some of my blog while I was on the aircraft, I'll e-mail it to you as soon as I get home."

"I am about to finish mine then I'll e-mail it to you."

"I had to travel in business class, there were no seats in first."

"Oh you poor thing !"

"There's my bag, I'll call you again later. I love you Ben."

"I know you do and you know that I love you."

CHAPTER TEN - NIGEL'S BLOG THURSDAY - Nigel writing

On the long flight home I spent time reflecting on my life. Twenty-seven years of life which did not really amount to very much. I am the only son of Sir Peter Dean the high court judge. My mother died when I was tiny and I do not remember her. My father married again when I was a teenager, Lady Patricia Dean is an nonentity content to follow in the slip stream of Sir Peter the most arrogant, pompous and self important creature on the planet. He does not like me and I do not like him.

I worked hard enough at school, gained good A levels and headed to university. My father, he was a barrister then before he became a judge, naturally assumed I would join the legal profession, I probably would have had I not fallen in love with a girl when I was in the lower sixth. She was going to The University of Luton to follow a media studies course, I enrolled for business studies so we could be together.

"Luton !" My father fumed, "Luton ! No son of mine is going to university in Luton ! God what a hole that place is and business studies ! What the hell are you going to do with a degree in business studies from Luton, clean the toilets at Easyjet ? Luton of all places, it isn't even a proper university just a third rate polytechnic with delusions of grandeur. You are NOT going to Luton !"

But I did go to Luton and I did get a degree. My relationship broke up in the first term so that was that. I know my father was right but I would never admit it. He could not possibly let his friends know his son was attending university in Luton so our uneasy relationship and distance between us just widened. Since I left school and went to university I have probably seen him six times, no more. Six times in nine years.

I worked in a call centre as a customer service agent, I worked for a time at PC World on a management training scheme and I worked selling advertising for a local radio station. There was little meaning in anything I did, I was lonely, I was discontented, I felt ever sorry for myself and then I bought the lottery ticket.

Nobody knew I won the money, I elected for no publicity and this was respected. I started to buy the businesses, firstly the farm then the garden centre and the restaurant. My father knew I owned them but I let him put two and two together to make five, I let him think his disappointment of a son was a successful entrepreneur with the Midas touch. He was not interested anyway, he did not care.

I fell into thinking that by owning different businesses I was doing good with the money I had won, I was providing employment for lots of people and that had to be worthwhile. I had spent less than one third of my winnings and the various businesses had increased in value so in reality I had not spent any of my money, I was getting richer every day.

But there was no purpose to it, I may be worth tens of millions but my life was worthless. Then I met Ben. I met Ben and everything changed.

Ben may be younger than me, he may not have a university degree but he had shown far more business acumen than I have. I was confident leaving him behind to manage our affairs in Barbados, when I returned I would be happy for him to take the lead.

When I received the money I refused to allow it to be speculated on shares or tied up into bonds, I didn't know what I was going to do so despite my bank manager's protestations and offers of all kinds of opportunities I placed it on deposit and linked it to my current account. A click or two of the mouse on the computer meant I could move cash about when ever I wished. As I acquired the businesses each had its own banking and accounting arrangements and each paid quarterly sums of money into my account from the profits. Buying Sam Lords was not going to be that big a financial deal, the money was there and just had to be moved once contracts were sorted. I made a trip to the bank and told them what was happening, the manager tried to make something big of it, no doubt he did not want to see such a lot of money being taken away from his bank but he had learned not to argue with me, he knew if I did not like the way things worked there were hundred of other bank managers who would.

Back home I asked the farm manager, garden centre manager and restaurant manager to come over to see me. I explained my plan which did not affect their operations at all and told them I was going to sell the house. Over the next couple of days I would be asking for some advice and help from the garden centre and the restaurant.

That was sorted.

Two telephone calls and I arranged to meet the operating staff at Gaybuddy in Birmingham the next morning and the managers of all the saunas in the afternoon. If those meetings went well there were just a couple of other things to pull together before heading out to San Francisco to meet the team there and back to Barbados, Barbados and Ben.

I opened my laptop and went to YouTube where I surfed for music from Barbados, I found something and started to let it play.

Tears came to my eyes then flowed uncontrollably. "Oh god Ben I am coming back as soon as I possibly can."

When the phone rang I had difficulty speaking. Rapidly doing my best to pull myself together. It was my garden centre manager. "I know it's not long since we left but can we come back, we've a couple of ideas to run by you ?"

I cleared my throat. "Sure. When ?"

"Could we come back now ?"

"Yeh if you like."

I quickly slapped some water across my face and grabbed a quick drink.

"One big suggestion, the centre manager began, "and one very big suggestion."

"I see."

"We have been talking since we left you and would like to suggest some ideas to you, I think you will like what we have to say."

The other two silently nodded.

"So shall I start the smaller of the two ?"

"I am intrigued. Go on then."

"You and Ben are planning to run everything personally in Barbados ?"

"That's right."

"Now forgive me Nigel but your style of management is not hands on. I respect you for that, you trust us and leave us to get on with things; the farm, the bistro and the garden centre."

"Yes."

"I hope you think we do a good job."

That was true, I was very lucky with them.

"None of us know Ben all that well but even though he is young he has his head firmly screwed on."

"So what are you saying ?"

"Russell, my assistant manager, I am going to suggest you take him into your management in Barbados. I think we are going to lose him from the centre fairly soon, it would be better if you could keep his services. What he is doing now isn't big enough for his ambitions or for his abilities, it's not a big enough challenge for him. If he isn't already doing it he will soon be applying for jobs with bigger organisations."

He was good at his job, I knew that well enough.

"Take him to Barbados with you, make him your general manager answerable to you and Ben."

The idea had possibilities, I did not want Ben's and my life to be overtaken by the project, I wanted us to spend most of our time together without the day to day pressure taking away from the fun of life in Barbados.

"Would he go ?"

"I am sure he would if he could take his partner with him."

"What does she do ?"

"It's a he not a she. He's a paramedic. You'll need some kind of medical and first aid team."

I had not thought about that but he was right. I had not realised Russell was gay: It's a he not a she.

"Can you sound him out ?"

"As soon as I get back I will speak to him."

"So what's the other suggestion ?"

They looked to one another, this time it was Jimmy, the restaurant manager, who spoke. "Don't sell the house."

"We will need somewhere in England but it's far too big for occasional trips back."

"Let me explain. I know that, don't sell it but turn it into a country hotel."

"I really could not cope with setting up two hotels, I am going to have my hands full in Barbados."

"No need, we'll do it all for you."

"This is an nation of amateur gardeners, we could be the first garden centre to organise residential courses. We could bring in all kinds of experts, we would be full with a waiting list."

"And there's the fishing lake, we could have guests coming from all over to stay and fish."

"And we could run agricultural courses."

"How much would it cost to convert the house into a hotel ?"

"Off the top of my head half a million, no more."

"And you three could do it all, I would not need to be involved."

"Just to sign the cheques."

There was a wave of laughter of which I was a part.

CHAPTER ELEVEN - BEN'S BLOG FRIDAY - Ben writing

When I received Nigel's e-mail about Russell and his coming to work with us I responded by telling Nigel to get him on a plane out here as soon as he could. Things had started to move quickly, the more help I could gather round me the better. "When you speak to staff at Gaybuddy and Cam4U see if you can get someone from each of them to come out straight away." But more than anything the one person I wanted, the one person I needed, the one person for whom my whole body ached was Nigel. Daytimes were becoming very busy but when I was alone I was miserable. Oh Nigel hurry back please.

I was a bit cross that Kai and the rest of the security team had been told they were losing their jobs and I expressed my feelings to the lawyer who no doubt thought I was an arrogant young fool. I think he found it difficult enough to accept Nigel at the age of twenty-seven as a multi millionaire but myself seven years his junior and now equally as wealthy was something way beyond his comprehension and something he no doubt did not approve of. I did not argue with him about Kai, we needed him on side but the sale of the Sam Lord's Estate was probably the biggest contract he was going to manage for a long time.

"Everything will be ready in one weeks time, Friday 23rd, when we can sign contracts and the property will be yours.

"Nigel is in England, then he has to go to San Francisco but I will make sure he is back for then. Now what about the building contractor and the employment agent ?"

"I have good news on both. There's a building company on the island which can start straight away once the contracts are signed to refurbish the property and to begin rebuilding the old house. The plans exist so that is not going to be as big a task as it would perhaps appear."

"What about the costs ?"

He handed me a folder. "The estimate for the house are detailed in here together with a schedule where it can be completed in six months. The renovation of other areas would be on a manpower hourly rate plus materials so you can decide if you want two men or twenty on site."

"Excellent, we'll have fifty !"

"No doubt there will be times when you will need more than at others."

"And they can deliver ?"

"Certainly."

"And they can rebuild the original house in six months ?"

"Yes, this is a highly established firm on the island, you have my personal assurance they will not let you down."

"What about the employment agent ?"

"I have them ready as well but while they can recruit for you they suggest you appoint your own personnel manager to work with you and liaise with them."

There was some sense in that. "Do they have anyone in mind ?"

"Yes." He hesitated. "I have to tell you he is the son of the employment agency's owner but I have checked him out and I think he would be good for you."

"What's his name ?"

"Peter. He's twenty-nine years old, he has a law degree so knows all of the employment regulations and has experience in finding all manner of people for the tourist industry."

"When can he start ?"

"As soon as the property contracts are signed."

"I'd better meet him then. Could you ask him to meet me at Sam Lord's today, say at two o'clock."

"I am sure that could be arranged."

"Tell him I will meet him at the security office by the gate and can you see if the builders could send someone along at the same time."

Everything felt as if I was walking though a dream, so much was happening and so much coming together, I was skipping through the most amazing adventure - if only Nigel were there by my side. So we had Kai and his four friends, Russell and someone from GayBuddy soon to fly over from England. Then there would be another staff member from Cam4You in the near future as preparations were made for the network to relocate to Barbados. Nigel and I were building a family round us. Before the end of the day I was determined to add another member.

The moment the meeting was over I went in search of the man with the boat, he wasn't difficult to find.

"Hello, Good Morning, " he held out his hand. "Are you wanting another trip out ?"

I shook my head. "Sorry. I did not know if I would be able to find you, I wondered if you may be taking people out to swim with the fish."

"Sadly no."

"Do you not get many then ?"

"Enough to make a living but I'll never be rich."

I smiled, that was good news. "How would you like to join the team at Sam Lord's, take our guests out on tips like the one Nigel and I had such fun with. We would pay you well."

"Are you serious ?" His big eyes widened, his mouth displayed a wide smile with sparking white teeth between two chocolate brown lips.

"We'll have between three and four hundred guests so you'll be kept busy."

"That many ? That'll be a bit too many for my little boat."

"Then we'll buy a bigger one."

I knew his name was Ralph and so Captain Ralph became a member of the Sam Lord family.

"I suggest you get a ten seater motor boat, that would be better."

He thought for a moment before making another suggestion. "If you were to get a cabin cruiser you could take guests out into deeper water for fishing trips."

"Instead of the motor cruiser you mean ? I'd like to offer the kind of trips we went on to our guests."

"No as well as, if you can put up the money of course."

"Money's not an issue and I want the best for our guests but how can you captain both boats ?"

"There are plenty of good people we can find to help us."

"What about the boats ? Will we be able to buy them on the island ?"

"Oh yes of course. There is one thing though, perhaps."

"What's that ?"

"I presume you will want to run everything from Pirate Beach."

"Yes, of course."

"There's a reef two hundred yards off shore, that's where Sammy wrecked the ships, we would need to anchor beyond that. It would be better if you could build a jetty out beyond the reef so your guests could walk to the boats and not have to swim."

"Could that be done ?"

"Of course."

"I have the building contractor coming over this afternoon, I'll pay you for your time if you can come and explain to him what we need."

An idea suddenly flashed through my mind. "We could take guests from the jetty to dive and explore the reef, see where Sam Lord did his dirty deeds."

"We could. You are sure about this ? My coming to work for you I mean ? I can arrange the boats, the trips to swim with the fish, dolphins and turtles as well as the fishing trips but there is something else you may like to consider."

"Yes, tell me more." I liked Captain Ralph, he had given Nigel and I a most amazing time from his little boat and I was keen to have him so the same for our visitors."

"There's a man who owns a pirate galleon, not a real one of course, which he sails up and down the coast taking tourists out for trips. He wants to sell it, he asked me to buy it but I don't have that kind of money. If you could afford it and anchor it at the end of the jetty. You can use it as a base for snorkelling and scooper diving."

"Tell him we will buy it."

What an amazingly successful day I had ! Nigel when you read my blog you will only get a glimpse of all that is happening at this end but have no fear I will talk everything through with you just as soon as we are together again - well not quite as soon, we have to make love once, NO twice, for every day we have been apart and then I can tell you !

When Captain Ralph came back he had with him photographs of the three boats: the speedboat which actually seated twelve passengers not ten, the cabin cruiser set out for fishing and the pirate galleon. I told him to go ahead and arrange the purchases of them all. The contractor said there really was no problem building a jetty out to the reef, it would not be cheap as ot was so long but it certainly could be done.

Just as I had taken to Captain Ralph so I instantly bonded with Peter.

"I can draw up a provisional staffing requirement for you within three days. Then we can plan recruiting, you will need some staff ahead of others, and we can set up the necessary training programmes.

Yes, he was going to be good for us, my original plan to walk round the estate making notes and to draw up my own staffing list was redundant, Peter was now in charge and willing to start immediately even though we did not technically take ownership of the place until the end of next week.

Our building contractor was an American from Detroit who had moved to the island ten years ago and set up his construction business. He promised to oversee everything personally with a resident site manager taking day to day charge.

"Can you assure me everything will be finished in six months, we want to open in October ?"

"I can and I will have the main house rebuilt within the same time scale."

Nigel had spoken about King Midas, I guess the Midas Touch is infectious and he had passed it on to me.

He also spoke about Destiny as if it were some all powerful force holing the university together. I could feel the hand of Destiny on my shoulder.

What an exciting day.

Of course Nigel was never out of my mind but thoughts were always about what I had to tell him, the ideas which simply would not stop coming, how exciting it all was and how I could not wait to tell him everything. Alone in my room the mood changed and I ached as I needed to be by his side. There are not the words to explain properly how much I was missing him.

I ate my evening meal with Kai and his friends then called Nigel. "When are you going to San Francisco ?

"Tuesday, then I'll fly back to Barbados on Wednesday. I can not wait to see you. Let's spend Thursday just you and me then on Friday we can sign the contracts. Hell Ben I am missing you."

I could not wait to see him and I certainly was not going to wait until Wednesday. With Peter doing much of what I had planned for myself and the contractor ready to start once the contract was signed I would not be needed so I hatched a plan.

That plan made me feel a whole lot better but I knew once I lay down to sleep alone the ache and longing for Nigel would be unbearable so I decided to work.

I started off designing a logo but not before first running a Google search for some Caribbean steel drum music to listen to. In the morning I would go into Bridgetown, find a tourist shop that printed tee shirts and have one made for myself.

That gave way to an idea to put all of the staff into shirts, yellow shirts with yellow shorts. Brilliant idea but not so brilliant as printing up shirts, perhaps in a different colour - say white, for guests. If the guests were given them to wear on the flight out to Barbados it would be free advertising for us and also it would make it easy for us to pick them out when they landed at the airport.

My mind then raced on to how we would transport them from the airport, across the island to Sam Lord's. We were planning to try to phase guests in across the week rather than have a single check in and check out day. Our thinking was to manage transport in-house then to use the buses we would have to operate for day trips round the island. But a standard bus holds fifty passengers. not really big enough. Then an extra special brilliant ideas came to me.

I e-mailed Nigel. "Can you please buy two red London buses, have the logo painted on the side - you know where the advertising banners usually appear then have them shipped over. Before you ship the cars out have the logo discretely reproduced on the front driver and passenger doors."

I was about to click and send the e-mail but hesitated, perhaps I should re-word things so it came over more as a suggestion than sounding like an order. Sod it ! A click of the mouse and it sped at the speed of light to Nigel's smart phone.

Five minutes later I got the reply. "Brilliant ! I love you Ben."

Ideas were coming into my head faster than I could develop them. I decided to list them in a brainstorm then come back later:

Looking after guests at check in, on the flight and arrival at

Bridgetown.

Steel bands + teaching guests how to play

Limbo dancing

Fire eating

Yes it had been a marvellous day, I went to bed thinking of Nigel of course I did but I slept soundly dreaming of seeing my lover again. That was going to be sooner rather than later.

CHAPTER TWELVE - NIGEL'S BLOG SATURDAY - Nigel writing

I stood naked in front of a mirror and looked at myself. I wasn't bad looking but I certainly wasn't any god, I guess I could do with losing a pound or two but better still if those pounds were to turn into muscle. I tried to turn round for a rear view, not that easy to do, what did my bottom look like ? I placed my hands on my cheeks and they felt firm but just how attractive were they. I placed my hands over my cock and stuck up a pose, I adjusted my fingers so the top of my pubic hair was showing - sexy ? Was I ? Not sure. I removed my hands and looked at the manhood Mother Nature had blessed me with. It wasn't the biggest cock in the world, not by a long way but it did work, Ben had shown me that fact. I thought of how Ben had taken it into his mouth and created a sensation beyond anything I had experienced before. Until that thought my cock had been calm, soft and limp but now it started to rise and pretty soon was throbbing to play with Ben again but Ben was more than four thousand miles away.

I stopped admiring myself but still naked sat down to write my blog, there was a lot to tell.

Reading Ben's blog it was obvious things were not only going well on the island but also moving very quickly. Our interests were in safe hands, how lucky I was to have Ben - every day I thank destiny for the fortune of bringing us together.

Friday was a busy day for me as well and a good day, it left me feeling happy. I now planned to spend the week-end packing up belongings I would need back on the island and arranging to ship them out. I had to arrange for some UK people to relocate to Barbados, I had a huge pile of work to do for GayBuddy and Ben had given me a number of jobs to do. I decided to form the remaining UK enterprises, the sauna chain, the garden centre, farm, restaurant and the intended country hotel, into a single company B N Holdings Limited. With the week-end some would be closed until Monday but the internet does not respect days and time, I could put much in place for it to happen on Monday. I can then head off to San Francisco. I am confident staff at Cam4You will catch the vision and move to Barbados. Then I will be able to return to Barbados and be reunited with Ben.

I have to confess to feeling highly nervous as I opened the meeting at GayBuddy. This was a business that made a good profit, I did not want to mess it up. The site operates with five full-time staff: two web developers, two who looked after sales, marketing and customer service with a general manager who also doubled as the finance guy. It was important to bring all on side.

Destiny did her bit as she offered her support. It was a miserable day in Birmingham, raining steadily, grey skies making the day dark with no comprehension of the time of year. In Barbados the sun was shining.

"I will give you ten thousand pounds, increase your salary by ten percent, provide accommodation and meals free of charge and pay for two tickets home each year."

I crossed my fingers and waited for the response. It was not long coming.

"Where do we sign up ?"

"Bring it on."

"Birmingham versus Barbados ? No contest !"

The enthusiasm was unanimous.

"When do you want this to start ?"

"Soon. We take over the estate a week today so as soon after then as possible.." I looked to Michael, the site's general manager, what kind of time scale would you suggest ?"

"The Internet speeds are OK ?"

"Yes, I have checked that out and lines are already in place."

"So we need servers then to move data across from here, close down Birmingham and make Barbados live. Not a big deal at all."

I had anticipated a long and complex arrangements needing to be made.

"We have back up servers here so the moment you give the go ahead I suggest I come over and bring one of the developers with me, if we can ship a server on the same flight we can have it installed within twenty-four hours. The others can then shut up shop here, pack everything up and join us."

"So could you come out a week on Monday ?"

"I could." He looked to the two developers. "Tom could you come and Bill you take charge at this end."

They nodded.

That was easier than I had thought it would be. If things went as well in San Francisco then both operations could be relocated and making money from their new base in Barbados very soon.

The reaction I would find at the sauna meeting did not really matter that much to me, I would have been happy to sell the chain off if it were not for Ben dissuading me. I never felt easy about the guys who managed the branches, if they upset me or said the wrong thing then I would change Ben's mind and the chain would be history. I was prepared.

I began by explaining the Barbados project to what appeared an attentive audience. "All of my UK businesses are to be formed into one company with the present garden centre manager as Managing Director. I will be non-executive chairman with Ben as deputy chairman, once a month one of us will come over to chair a board meeting. One of you is going to be appointed Operations Director for the chain."

"I thought Ben was Operations Director."

"He was but now he is Deputy Chairman UK."

"One of you is going to become a director and one of you is coming to Barbados to set up a sauna in Sam Lord's, to manage it and to take charge of a new gym and fitness area as well as all the pools and spas."

They looked to one another. I outlined the same deal I was offering to GayBuddy staff to relocate to the island then explained how the Operations Director of the chain would have his salary directly linked to profits.

"So who do you have in mind ?"

"For the UK job nobody yet, that will be decided on your profits over the next three months with the best performing manager taking on the role."

"What about Barbados ?"

I smiled.

"There's not a fair way to decide this. I do not have time to hold interviews. We take possession of the estate one week today after which I want the successful candidate to fly out the following Monday."

I explained the relocation package I had devised for anyone moving from the UK.

"So how are you going to decide ?"

"First of all who is up for this and who wants to stay here at home ?"

After a few moments deliberation five said they wanted the Barbados job.

"You are all sure ?"

"Yes," each confirmed.

"I shall want one of you on a plane a week on Monday."

"Yes."

I produced a pack of playing cards from my pocket, shuffled and dealt five cards face down in front of me.

"Ace high, winner takes all and comes to Barbados."

I think my methodology took them by surprise, that amused me. I pushed the cards one by one in front of the five, one by one each turned over his fortune.

TWO for Bristol, he was a non starter.

SIX for Birmingham, not a likely winner but in with a chance.

KING for Manchester, I would not be sorry if he joined the team.

JACK for London

Finally...........

Sheffield turned over his card an ACE. So Jimmy from Sheffield was coming to Barbados.

"The ten grand will be in your bank one week today. You'll have your flight ticket by Wednesday. You need to appoint a new manager from within your team and let the MD know who it is. I'll expect you in Barbados a week on Monday, someone will meet you at the airport."

UK sorted, bring on San Francisco.

Staff were being appointed both in England and by Ben in Barbados. I tried to take stock of who was who.

Ben and Nigel - that's us !

Russell - GENERAL MANAGER - joining us from the UK garden centre.

Peter - STAFF MANAGER - signed up on the island by Ben

Lee - Russell's partner who would look after FIRST AID etc

Captain Ralph - BOATS

Kai - SECURITY + 4 others

Jimmy - SAUNA, GYM, SPA, POOLS - joining us from the UK sauna chain

Michael - GENERAL MANAGER GBud

Tom - WEB DEVELOPER Gb

BILL - WEB DEVELOPER Gb

Marcus - CUSTOMER SERVICES Gb

Mike - CUSTOMER SERVICES Gb

Including Ben and I that would be seventeen.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - BEN'S BLOG WEDNESDAY - Ben writing

Nigel's theory of how champagne can reduce the effects of jet lag was going to be put to the test.

As I understood the planning Nigel was going to now fly to San Francisco on Tuesday, meet with cam staff on Wednesday then fly to Barbados on Thursday to be on the island ready to sign the contracts on Friday. My secret plan was to be in San Francisco ahead of him.

When I started to look at flights I went first of all to Virgin Atlantic who wanted me to fly from Barbados to London Gatwick travel by road to London Heathrow and then fly on to San Francisco, Sod that ! Under the pretext of my meeting him at Bridgetown I asked Nigel which flight he was using to return from San Francisco to the island, he was using American Airlines.

For me to get to San Francisco ahead of Nigel I would need to leave Bridgetown at seven thirty in the morning, god that would be an early start. A flight just short of four hours would get me to Miami where I would have six hours to wait before another six hour flight to San Francisco. Bring on the champagne.

I booked the flights, arranged for cam staff to meet me and swore them to secrecy to preserve my surprise.

Nigel will only fly first class, I did not feel it was my place to be quite so extravagant so took business class tickets for the outbound journey then first class to come back with Nigel.

I had a lot of work to do so the long journey and stop over in Miami would give me the chance to catch up. My brainstorm list had grown and grown, I did want to be able to present everything to Nigel when I saw him again - I wanted him to be pleased with my efforts. Bring on the champagne.

At Cam4You I settled into the VIP flat.

"What time is Nigel's flight due in tomorrow ?" As if I did not know.

"Four o'clock so he will be here no later than six."

"He must not know I am here."

"Don't worry he will not, your secret is safe."

"Just send him up to the flat."

The time before when I had slept in the Cam4You VIP flat I was Nigel's chauffeur, a simple employee. I found myself again checking this was not a dream, a confirmation I had sought many times before, I assured myself I would not wake up again with nothing more than a set of car keys in my hand.

Barbados is five hours behind London and San Francisco is eight hours behind. I computed everything. Nigel's flight was due to leave London at 1pm, that's 8am in Barbados and I am here in San Francisco. He was due to land at 4pm which would be 1pm in Barbados where he would be thinking I was. e had to clear customs, immigration then get across town. Six o'clock in the evening would be about right.

I had my plan ready.

I had rehearsed and prepared my pose many times, both in my mind and actually acting it out. Now in San Francisco I nervously tested it out. I stripped off all of my clothes, held out my arms and allowed the cool breeze from the air conditioning unit to flow over my body. Since beginning a new life on the island of Barbados I had come to love the sunshine but I doubt I could enjoy it half so well were it not for air conditioning.

I moved to stand and look at myself in a mirror. Oh dear ! The sun had tanned parts of my body while that under clothing remained a much paler hue. Some naked sunbathing was called for. But that was for another time, back to my plan.

I lay face down on the bed, drew my left leg up slightly and allowed my right to hand over the edge of the mattress. Before placing may arms in position I carefully drew the sheet so it covered my left side and buttock while the edge lay along my bum crack to leave my right cheek on view. That was the pose I would adopt tomorrow as I awaited Nigel's arrival. I would pretend to be asleep and let him wake me up.

My body clock was all over the place, the champagne had not had the desired effect. A brief nap would have been nice but it did not come so I got off the bed and sat down with my laptop to continue my brainstorm notes for Nigel.

As a kid our family always took a holiday abroad, usually to some resort where everything was loudly English, Albert Square with sunshine. It was not until I was thirteen years old that I realised my father had renamed the place and Lanzagrotty was in truth Lanzarote. Trying to manage a large family for the journey with then perils of airports, cheap and nasty airlines and everything else tested the not inconsiderable organisational skills of my mother. Nigel had shown me that money could buy an acceptable flying experience but our guests were unlikely to be able to afford business class let alone first class tickets so it was our job to do all we could to make their journey a delight. I also though how fun it would be to make all others on the flight dead jealous of our guests and make them wish they were coming to Sam Lord's not to where ever they were destined.

At the home airport a small team of Sam Lord staff, all dressed in yellow tee shirts and shorts - well perhaps trousers may be better for a cold winter back home, would help guests at check in. Bags would be tagged with the room numbers, true each person would have to collect their baggage from reclaim and take it through customs but from there on more Sam Lord staff would take it away. Loaded on a truck ahead of leaving Bridgetown airport the baggage would then be put in each guest's room.

There would be a Sam Lord staff members airside who would give everyone a voucher towards the cost of a breakfast in one of the catering outlets. I guessed we could find one who would charge us only fifty percent of the retail price in return for such a high volume of trade. That staff member would then look after all guests up to the point where they boarded the aircraft.

Once on the aircraft we would have a Sam Lord staff member travelling with our guests. The airline had better give us a free ticket for that staff member. if they did not co-operate we would simply use a different carrier. We would have Sam, Lord magazines and goodie bags handed out during the flight, all designed to give our guests a little bit extra, to make their journey pleasant and to make those not staying with us green with envy.

At Bridgetown everyone would be met, their baggage taken ahead of them on a truck and as special welcome handed out. There would be a steel band playing, we probably needed an in-house Caribbean band as part of the estate's entertainment. Grantley Adams International Airport would be the gateway to paradise for our guests.

We would hand out ice cold drinks with staff offering trays of canapé before guests were taken to board London bus.

Everything would happen in front of those stressing their way to lesser holidays at inferior hotel resorts.

When the London bus pulled up at Sam Lords there would be more music, a fire eater and limbo dancer. No effort would be spared to welcome our friends just as no effort would be spared to give them as holiday of a lifetime.

We would have a photographer who would spend his day going round snapping pictures of guests, these could then be printed off as postcards and placed in the dining room each evening where guests could take them free of charge and send them home. Each we we would publish a souvenir Sam Lord Magazine with pictures, news and everything else. A copy of the previous week's edition would be given to guests on the outward flight then the edition covering their stay would be given to them as they boarded the flight home.

We would have a video camera roaming about every day from which we would run our own channel on Youtube and publish clips on our website. All of the rooms had television, we could pipe the video into a special channel on these.

I would have to do some costing but all of this would be an investment to bring people back year after year as well as make those who were foolish enough to go elsewhere come next time to Sam Lord's. It would not be long before our holiday resort was constantly oversubscribed with bookings.

Enough work. I took a shower and went to bed. Cuddling a pillow I whispered, "Tomorrow Nigel this will be you."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - TIME IN SAN FRANCISCO - Ben writing

I awoke quite early and made my way to the offices.

"Good morning, have you had breakfast ?"

"No, I need to get something I am quite hungry."

"Come and be my guest, there's a diner just down the road."

I accepted the kind invitation. My earlier visit to San Francisco had been to brief too get to know anyone and names did not stick with me.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember your name."

"Robbie, general manager of Cam4You. Now let me show you some San Francisco hospitality.

I ate well and enjoyed everything put before me. Drinking my third cup of coffee the reason for my being taken out to eat breakfast became apparent.

"We never got to know each other last time you were here."

"No - Mrs P. Nigel's still very upset about it, he thought of her as his mother."

"Doesn't he have a mother then ?"

"A step mother as far as I know, he doesn't have very much to do with his family."

"And now you are his family, your position has changed somewhat since you were last here."

"It has."

"And now you and Nigel are both back in San Francisco, at least you are here and Nigel will be arriving later. So what's the reason for the visit ?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"We know about Barbados."

"Do you ?"

"Oh yes."

I tried to look blank.

"So are you going to make the same offer to my staff as you gave to Gaybuddy ?"

"I don't know what Nigel offered, I was not there and I've not seen him since."

"Ben please do not make the mistake of thinking I am a fool."

"I am not," I retaliated.

"Do you know how much money I make for Nigel in a year ?"

I did of course but Robbie was going to tell me anyway.

"We turn over between quarter of a million and half a million dollars a day, this year we will show a profit of fifteen million dollars. That's more than three times what it was when Nigel bought us up. I am the one who is responsible for ths success and I have worked damn hard to do it."

"I know that, honestly I do."

"Nigel was lucky. Our founder and previous owner was killed in a car smash, while others were scrabbling round trying to raise the money to buy Cam4You Nigel stepped in with a cash offer."

"You have done very well for him."

"I have, in the short time he has owned this company repaid his original investment and increased profits month on month. So Ben what is going on ?"

"It does need to be Nigel who tells you, not me."

"Why ? Are you the junior partner ? Do you have to do as you are told ?"

"No but Nigel is really the boss not me."

"Is that because of your age ? I thought you owned half of everything now."

"I do but it has to be Nigel who explains it all."

I was conscious of my age and my amazing fortune, I often wondered what those who knew me thought of it all. Sometimes I worried that people may think I used Nigel but that was not the truth at all, I was the right person in the right place at the right time. I was not holding my own with Robbie and was very uncomfortable. I had thrashed the sauna managers back at home but I was not doing very well with Robbie.

"So what if we all refuse to relocate to Barbados ?"

I did not have an answer for that.

"It's all very well for GayBuddy, and yes I know all about the two free flights home each year but Barbadfos to England is easy, not so from here."

"Tell me about it, I had a hell of a day getting here."

"And you flew first class !"

"No I didn't actually."

"It's not going to be easy for your American guests or are you planning only to take in guests from England ?"

"No of course not !"

"So what are you going to do ?"

"That's up to Nigel."

"But you own fifty percent don't you ?"

"Yes."

"So how about I give you the solution for your problem ?"

This conversation needed to come to an end, I was out of my depth with this man.

"Charter your own aircraft."

"How ?"

"Don't look so worried."

"I'm not."

"Use Newark in New Jersey to service New York, then look at Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia and may be one other east coast city. Bring in Chicago and Detroit, forget anything further west. Rotate your days one hundred passengers for every flight, seven cities with one a day each week."

"That would be too many, we've only got four hundred rooms and there are the people from England."

"How many are double rooms ?"

"All of them."

"So there you go, nobody's going to travel on a holiday like you are planning alone, eight hundred beds. Rotate guests in and out each day, not just on a Saturday as most resorts round the world do."

"We are planning to do that with people from England."

"And so you'll be full every day, every week. What New Yorker would not be delighted to escape the winter for sun in the Caribbean ? Sunshine instead of being up to his arse in snow, it's an easy sell."

"But where could we charter the aircraft ?"

"This is America not England, I can find you several companies willing to tender for a contract ?"

"Could you ?"

"Of course I could and what's more from our client base and using some strategic advertising on the site I could fill every seat on every flight. If you were to make it worth my while of course !

"Oh I am sure that would be possible.

Robbie smiled. "An in return I will deliver Cam4You to Barbados."

I had been played like a fish on a line.

"I don't want Nigel to think I sorted this with you and excluded him."

"Don't worry, it can be our secret. When he gets here I'll let him have his say and then..... well......"

"That's two secrets then, he thinks I am in Barbados."

"Two secrets - agreed. More coffee ?"

I spent the morning with Robbie who showed me all of the cam operation. It was far, far more than a bunch of people dancing naked in front of their computer webcams. I was staggered when I found out just how much some people spend watching webcams.

"Most of our customers spend a couple of hundred dollars a month but our biggest spender last year topped the million. We have ten more who spend over half a million a year."

"Who on earth are these people ? Where do they get money like that from ?"

"Do you ever watch soccer at home ?"

"Not really."

"Shame, you may recognise some of your top flight players in our customer list. Do you ever download music to your cell phone ?"

"Of course."

"Chances are you have downloaded something from one of our customers."

"Does Nigel know this ?"

"Of course. If you are a webcam performer who picks up a big spender as a fan you could become rich, very rich."

Robbie giggled but it was stage managed, he knew what he was saying. "Oh I forgot you * are* very rich ! Hey, you aren't one of our customers are you ?"

When Robbie first tried - and succeeded - to put me on the spot I was not at all keen on him. I worried how he would fit in on the island but as the morning progressed I warmed to him. He was a clever businessman whose skills we needed but I did wonder how well Nigel and I would be able to keep him in check but then he had his independence now so just because he would be with us on the island did that mean anything would change ?

"What are your plans for the afternoon ?"

"Getting ready for Nigel I guess."

"He won't be here for hours yet, come on let's go out."

"Where to ?"

"Let's walk the Golden Gate Bridge. I'll take you to the vista point at the bottom of The Redwood Highway, you can look across the bay to the city. We can then walk the bridge, nobody should come to San Francisco without walking The Golden Gate Bridge. There's a diner at the city end, we can grab a burger and you'll be back in plenty of time to meet Nigel."

If Robbie thought because I was young I was naive enough for him to manipulate me he was mistaken but he had been successful so far ! I needed to be very careful.

The view across the bay was inspiring and the Golden Gate Bridge quite magnificent. It was very busy with others walking and jogging along its pathway.

"You are lucky, many days at this time of the year the Golden Gate is fog bound."

"Really."

"It's caused by the cold Pacific waters meeting the warmer bay."

"I see."

"So tell me is Sam Lord going to be a gay resort ?"

"Oh no," I explained, "certainly not. It's going to be an adult resort, no children, but while gay friendly not exclusively gay."

"Good. Cam4You is mainly women performers although the bigger spenders tend to be watching men."

"Do you get women watching men ?"

"Some but only a small proportion."

"How do you find customers and performers ?"

"Customers are not a problem, we have over two hundred affiliate websites sending us traffic. Once we sign up a customer they mostly stay but models come and models go. If I could find the models I could double, even triple, our turnover."

"Really ?"

"Oh yes and profits."

"I think I could help, we need to work on that then."

"Why do you think I am having this conversation with you ?"

I was being played like a fish on a line - AGAIN.

"When we get out to Barbados I think you and me need to put our heads together, I have never been able to get Nigel to see the wider picture." He paused. "But I think you do."

I looked at my watch and tried to calculate how far away Nigel was.

"Don't fret he'll be on his way."

I nodded.

"I want to use your Barbados enterprise to help me find new webcam, performers."

"How ?"

"Give me two places every week, one hundred and four in a year. I can use these to reward and encourage new performers."

"Right."

"Now let's get you back, I think you have a few things to talk over with Nigel."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - TOGETHER AGAIN - Nigel writing

Even with the benefits of fist class travel an eleven hour flight can be taxing, I could not wait to take a shower then sit down and empty my mind. The entire journey had been work, work, work - well that's not quite true but near enough to make me feel drained. Wasn't wealth supposed to give an easy life ? I could not wait to get the meeting over then head back to Barbados.

I turned the key in the door, a short stay here then back to Barbados and Ben.

The room was in semi-darkness with the sun blinds drawn. As I walked to open them I glanced through the open bedroom door, there was someone in there ! I assumed it to be a member of staff relaxing after or before a shift but team members had their own area, nobody should be in the VIP flat.

I put down my bags then went to wake who ever it was.

I was hallucinating, either that or still asleep on the aircraft. He started to move, faint spasmodic twitching of his back soon to be accompanied by stifled giggles.

"Ben ?"

He leapt from the bed, threw his arms round me then took my mouth into his. Ben was naked, I was still fully clothed and wearing everything I had travelled in from London. Together we fumbled to remove them. Neither of us said anything as one long kiss replaced the former in a succession of happiness.

Pushing me down on the bed Ben moved to sit by my side. "You are a naughty by leaving me alone all this time." He rolled me over onto my stomach and delivered six sharp but playful slaps to my bottom.

"You left me to go back to England on my own," I protested moving to sit upright and shuffling to the edge of the mattress. "You come here and bend over my knee."

"Oooh," Ben giggled, "are you going to spank me ?"

"Yes, you need to be punished you naughty boy."

One condition," Ben continued laughing.

"And what is that ?"

"You've got to kiss me better afterwards."

"You bad, bad boy."

Ben feigned pain with each slap.

"I promise I will never be a bad boy again."

I did indeed kiss Ben better.

"So tell me, how ever did you get here ? How did you get to San Francisco ?"

"I walked !"

"Really ? Which way did you come ?"

"First of all I swam to Florida, I had to dodge the sharks but I made it to Miami intact. Then I walked. It was a bit of a climb up the Rockies then sod me I had just got my breath back when I had to scramble over the Sierra Nevada but it was downhill from there. So here I am. I guess you came first class."

"No I came air freight in the hold."

"Great. Did you bring the cars and the two London buses in the freight with you ?"

"I thought you wanted them in Barbados ?"

"Oh yes - SILLY ME - we are in San Francisco aren't we !"

"Oh Ben."

I took my lover in my arms and began to make up for the days we had been apart. No longer was there any distance between us, you could not have brought our bodies closer if you had put them in a paper press and wound the screw right down.

After the second time of making love we lay back on the bed to look up at the rotating fan above us.

"You've been having quite an adventure on the island."

"What about you, was it raining in England ?"

"Damn well was."

"Did you get the London buses ?"

"Yes I did. Next thing you'll be asking me if I got you any Boris Bikes."

For those who do not know Boris Bikes are cycles people can use about London, named after the Mayor of London - Boris Johnson - Boris Bikes.

"Now that IS a good idea, we should get some so our guests can ride about the island."

"I suppose you would like me to ask Barmy Boris to deliver them personally."

"Do you think he would come ?"

"Oh no, we don't want him, he's a friend of my father !"

"Your dad moves in exalted circles."

"I'm sure he would say it was Boris who moves in exalted circles and my beloved father thinks he is at the epicentre."

"Make love to me again."

"Oh you are so demanding."

We made love then slept in each other's arms. I awoke and reached for my watch, two o'clock - it was only six at home. Trying not to wake Ben I slid out of bed.

"Make me one will you."

"Sorry I tried not to wake you."

"Black no sugar."

"I think I know how you like your coffee."

"Nigel he knows."

"Who ? What does he know ? Coffee ? What are you takling about ?"

"Robbie, he was pumping me for information all day yesterday. I didn't tell him anything but he knows all about the plan for Barbados."

"He's a bit of a fox, very cunning."

"I didn't tell him anything. Do you think it was somebody at Gaybuddy who told him ?"

"More likely one of the sauna people."

"Just so long as you know it was not me."

"Hey !" I sat by his side and scuffed his hair. "So what's his attitude ? Did he tell you ?"

"He's up for it, he'll be on the first flight you let him take."

"You sure ?"

"Yes he made it very clear although he expects something from it."

"Hardly surprising, like I say he's a fox."

"He did have some good ideas though."

"What more London buses ?"

"Oh you ! Do you want me to spank your bottom again ?"

"Only if I can spank yours as well."

I had been worried about Robbie but it looked as if Ben had already dealt with him.

"Let's try to sleep. Once we have tied everything up here we can go straight home to Barbados."

"I can't wait."

"Forget the flights we have both booked, I presume you have a flight back."

"Yes on the same aircraft as you."

"Forget them, as soon as we finish the meeting we'll find earlier flights somewhere. via anywhere and go straight home."

This is Ben writing:

Nigel was chairing the meeting but as I looked at him I was sure Robbie considered he was in charge. There were nine of us present: Nigel and myself, Robbie of course, Andrea head of customer services, Pauline the broadcast manager, Matt who was boss of sales, Richard who everyone called Tricky Dicky the accounts manager and the geekiest guy I had ever seen - Gordon who was the senior web developer. Each had team members in their departments ranging in numbers from one in accounts to ten in broadcasting where duty staff had to be maintained twenty four seven.

"So we are all going to Barbados," Robbie declared. "It's up to you as section heads to sell it to your staff. Any who do not come will take the severance package and it will be up to each section head to recruit replacements."

"Good," Nigel interrupted but before he could retake command of the meeting and say anything Robbie was holding forth again.

"I'll be going to Barbados myself next week and I'd like Gordon for you to come with me." Robbie saw me looking at him and guessed what I was thinking. Quickly he added, "Providing that's alright with you Nigel."

"Are there any questions or observations ?" Nigel said regaining control of the meeting.

"Servers," Gordon said. "We need to move our back up servers across as quickly as possible, then fire them up and test everything for a week - two would be better, before moving the entire system over."

"Gaybuddy staff want to do the same."

"It would be good if we could work together."

"Agreed." That was Robbie again.

"But we want to keep the two operations apart, isn't that right Nigel ?"

"Yes Ben, we do. So what's the next question ?" Nigel scanned the group.

"Could you use a helicopter pilot ?" It was Andrea from customer services who asked the question.

"What ever for ?" Robbie said slapping her down with a quick whip of his tongue.

"To fly a helicopter of course silly."

"They don't have a helicopter son why would they want a helicopter pilot ? Besides who are you talking about ? Helicopter pilot !"

We needed to put one over on Robbie, pull him into line and if that meant employing a pilot for a helicopter we did not have or at least developing a conversation to shut him up it was worth a few moments.

"Who's the pilot ?" I asked.

"Me. I've had a private licence for some time and have been training in my spare time to qualify for my commercial licence so I can take passengers."

Robbie glared at her but I encouraged here to explain more.

"I was hoping to get some casual work with a local company that does helicopter flights round the bay but if you need a pilot for trips round Barbados then I am your girl."

"We'd need more than one pilot," Nigel commented.

"Yes, you would have to have two and you would need a member of cabin crew in order to have passengers on board."

"How many passengers do the bay helicopters take up ?"

"Ten."

"So if we had four flights a day for seven days a week we could offer trips to two hundred and eighty guests a week."

"You could manage five flights a day but if you want to operate every day you would need two crews."

I could see that Nigel was interested. "And you would be up for being a part of it ?"

"Definitely I would. I mean YES I want to join you in Barbados but I have spent a lot of time and money getting my licence."

"You couldn't work as a pilot and manager customer services."

"NO she could not !" Robbie scoffed.

"OK this is a possibility but a big question, how much would a helicopter cost ?"

"About five million dollars but you could buy a good second hand aircraft for three million."

"What do you think ?" Nigel said looking at me.

"I think it sounds fun," I said looking directly at Robbie. "What about the other pilots and presumably cabin crew will need some form of qualifications ?"

"There are plenty of people looking for this kind of work."

"What about ground crew, servicing, maintenance and air traffic control ?"

"The island will have its own central air traffic system and there will be contractors at the airport who can service everything. It may be best to hangar the aircraft at the airport and have a helipad at the resort."

Nigel looked at me and I nodded. "Looks like you've got yourself a new career," he said.

"Not before she finds a new customer service manager," Robbie snapped.

Nigel and Ben - ONE Robbie NIL

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - AN AWKWARD ENCOUNTER - Nigel writing

Ben and I had quite a debate before deciding who should write this part of our story. I knew I would be bringing to the chapter far too many prejudices, prejudices I must point out that are founded on just causes, so I suggested Ben take over. But Ben said I had a better view of events and I think he felt my sitting to write this account would detract me from researching Voodoo on the island. So here I am, I will try to be objective.

If Ben were writing perhaps he would be kind in relating our journey home from San Francisco - our LONG journey home ! I will spare myself the embarrassment of explaining how my decision to change things and leave earlier ended up with our arriving home much later than our original flight schedule would have achieved.

The extended journey gave Ben and I a lot of time to talk, we had lots to talk about and a lot of our talking surrounded Robbie.

"Is he married ?"

"Divorced - twice."

"I see."

"His job, I suspect, is his life."

"He is very good at it."

"Very good, he makes us a lot of money."

"Do you think he feels threatened now ?"

"Why should he ?"

"Before you may have owned the company but it was his to run any way he liked. Now he will be losing some of his independence."

"He won't, just because everything is relocating to Barbados does not mean his management has to change."

"Perhaps he should be given more to do, make him feel more important."

"What do you mean ? Isn't he self-important enough ?"

"He told me that if he had more models he could make even more money, triple that he does now."

"Did he ? He's never said that to me."

"Give him anything and everything he wants, let me work with him and get those models."

"I thought you did not like him."

"I'm not sure about him, one moment he makes me feel uncomfortable and at other times he treats me as if I am his best friend."

"He's a fox, cunning."

"I think he feels insecure, you said his job is all he has and he thinks Cam4You is his even if he does not own it."

"I am sure he wishes he had the money to have bought it when I took over."

"Give him what ever he wants to recruit new webcam performers and then some. Put him on some form of bonus, make it generous."

"He's already on a bonus scheme."

"Make it bigger, the more money he makes for us the more he gets himself."

"With Robbie I think it's more about power than money."

"So give him more."

"He told me he could find enough guests from the US to fill Sam Lord's."

"How ?"

"Using his affiliate website network. He has hundreds of websites sending traffic to Cam4You, sites he could use for us. Put him in charge of finding guests from the US and UK, make it his responsibility to fill every room every week of the year."

"You could be right."

"Do you know how old he is ?"

"Yes, he's forty."

"Forty, double my age. Forty, single, divorced twice - he's lonely."

I used to be lonely. I though of my life before I met Ben, how I had money and was surrounded by people yet terribly alone. Then I met Ben.

"He's got his knickers in a knot over the helicopter."

"I had to laugh at that, I saw how you blindly supported Andrea and her idea just because he did not like it."

"Not only because he did not like it, a helicopter will be a fun thing to have."

"I agree but ever so expensive. The original purchase, maintaining the aircraft and six members of staff to pay."

"Have you changed your mind ?"

"No, no it was a joint decision and not mine alone but we are spending money like crazy."

"Are you worried ?"

"A bit. We have businesses back in England wanting to develop and spend money, turning the house into a hotel. In Barbados everything is draining money while we set the place up and no chance of any income until we open. We have staff to pay and will be recruiting new people every week."

"Are we going to run out of money."

"No I don't think so but I suggest we ring fence ten million, five million each, then under no circumstances spend it."

"But the businesses in England are making money and if Robbie is to be believed he is going to triple our webcam profits."

"Yeh, yeh we will be Ok but we are spending a lot."

"Can we still afford my London buses ?" Ben said with a frown and a feigned solemn tone in his voice ?"

I whispered my reply. "We may be thirty thousand feet up in the air but if you want to be a naughty boy I am quite prepared to pull down your pants and spank that cute naked bottom of yours."

"Oh yes please !"

Perhaps it should have been my bottom that needed to be spanked, spanked hard for rearranging our journey home. When the taxi finally dropped us off at Sam Lord we were both utterly exhausted. We slept soundly. Friday was going to be a big day.

At nine o'clock we were in the lawyer's office. By nine thirty the balance had been transferred by the bank, contracts had been signed and the Sam Lord Estate belonged to us both.

"Congratulations," our legal friend shook us both by the hand. "Now I am not taking NO for answer, I am taking you both out for a celebration meal tonight. My wife wants to meet you and I have invited the Governor General of Barbados to join us, you can not say no to him."

"Governor General ?" Ben did not appear to know who this person was. I had a bit of an idea but everything was made clear to us.

"Sir Charles Appleyard, The Governor General of Barbados, is the Queen's representative on the island. If you do not come you would be snubbing Her Majesty."

"Oh."

"Seven thirty for eight o'clock at the Bridgetown Country Club."

"We'll be there. What's the dress code ? We don't have dinner jackets here."

"Lounge suits and tie."

"Seven thirty then."

"I'll look forward to it. You two, myself and my wife, the Governor General and Lady Appleyard."

"Thank you."

When we returned to Sam Lords the staff we had there gathered to congratulate us and to celebrate with us. Our new staff manager, Peter, was ready and eager to start work. The contractors were on site promising everything would be completed in plenty of time for the grand opening.

"When is the grand opening."

"Ben used his phone to look up a calendar for October. "How about Saturday 11th ?"

Saturday 11th October it was.

We had a crazy but fun day, it was exciting now the estate belonged to us. Captain Ralph enthused about the boats he had found for us, the pirate galleon had been purchased and could be moored as soon as the new jetty was built.

Russell would be flying out early next week and would assume command as our new general manager, two staff from Gaybuddy would be on the same flight. Robbie and his web developer would not be far behind them and there was the new sauna manager.

I turned to Peter "We are going to need some domestic staff, meals will have to be cooked, rooms cleaned and so on."

"Leave it all with me."

The contractors wanted Ben and I to look with them at the burned out shell of the old house. "This is the main project, I don't think you realise just how important this place is to Barbados and the island history, rebuilding it makes you national heroes."

"How long to rebuild it ?"

"It should be done in four months."

"As early as that ?" I said

"We have the plans, all the material is local."

"The ground floor will be resort administration and guest reception, the upper floors will be Ben's and my private accommodation."

"I am sure Samuel Hall Lord would approve."

"I suppose we have to go to this dinner," I said to myself. "I could do without it."

"Did you say something ?" Ben asked.

"Speaking to myself."

"That's a sign of madness you know."

"I'm tired Ben, I'd like to relax with you but instead we have some damn dinner to go to."

"Not just some dinner, the Big Man of the island will be there."

"Yeh, yeh I know but I'd rather be here with my own big man."

When we arrived at the country club The Governor General himself came through to reception to meet us.

"I am so delighted to meet you both at last, come through and meet my wife. I have two friends from England staying with me at Government House so I brought them along to meet you and join our little celebration."

As we approached the small private dining room my jaw fell and my heart sank so low it rested on the soles of my feet. I saw them through the open door. I just could not believe it, I could not comprehend such a thing - NO it could not be possible. How many billion people inhabit this planet ? What were the odds of their being here ? I wanted to turn, run, walk away and scream to the sky the vilest obscenity. Destiny how could you have done this to me ?

"My Lord, Lady Patricia allow me to present Nigel and Ben two of the richest men in Barbados and two celebrated heroes of the island."

"Hello Father," I sighed.

If his presence had ruined my evening our presence now totally destroyed his. My stepmother gave me a kiss on the cheek before doing the same to Ben.

"Hello Step-mother, it's good to see you," I lied. "What are you doing here in Barbados ?"

"Your father and I are looking to buy a holiday home here. Did you know your father is now Lord Dean ? He is a Law Lord."

"I had not heard," I confessed. I wanted to say that Her Majesty must have taken leave of her senses to agree to such a promotion.

My father spoke, it must have taken every ounce of courage he had within him to be civil to me but he was not about to embarrass himself in front of The Governor General. "Richest man on the island, hero of Barbados ? How did you manage that with a degree from The University of Luton ? Is it a case of boy made good or did you have a win on the horses ?"

"Something like that father ?"

"Well congratulations any way." The words must have choked him. "Is this your business partner then ?" He looked at Ben who was even more taken back than an astonished Governor General and the rest of the assembled guests. "Is he the brains of your outfit ? He looks very young."

"I am very pleased to meet you Sir, I mean My Lord," Ben fumbled.

"I - I - I didn't realise you were related," The Governor General spluttered. What a surprise. The surname but I did not connect it."

"Our lawyer friend was smiling and trying not to laugh.

"Now Nigel you come and sit here next to me, Ben you come and sit on the other side of me. You don't mind me changing the seating plan do you ?"

I was about to endure the worst nightmare of my life. Destiny how could you play such a trick on me ?

My step-mother decided to take charge of the situation, she was good at that and thought it her right. Riding along in the slipstream of my father she was not going to have her social prestige in any way embarrassed, with Ben on one side and myself on the other she no doubt thought she could exercise control over us both. She shot a glance across the table at my father telling him to behave himself or else. I was not sure if I wanted to behave myself or not.

"So tell me father, now you are a member of the House of Lords will you be campaigning for the reintroduction of the death penalty ?"

"Only for those who hold degrees issued by the University of Luton."

"Oh you boys are so funny," my step-mother laughed. "Sir Charles aren't they funny ?"

"You never told me you were the son of a judge," our legal friend smiled at me. "I feel a bit of a fraud taking you through legal processes you probably heard as a child."

"You have been the best lawyer I have ever met," I replied with emphasis on the word ever. "We will certainly be needing your services again in the future."

"Thank you."

"Are you good at criminal work ? I am going to need a good lawyer if I am going to stand trial for my life on the charge of having a degree from The University of Luton."

Time for my father to use his skills in oratory and rescue the situation. "When I was a small boy," he began, "probably about seven or eight years old, my father - your grandfather - brought home someone from his Masonic lodge. I was told to be on my best behaviour. Sir Donald Fienstein was a high court judge, the death penalty was in force back then. My mother - your grandmother - frightened me into behaving myself by saying Sir Donald had sent many a criminal to meet his end on the gallows.

"So did you meet this man ?" Ben asked.

"When he came in I stood up, I knew it was expected for everyone in court to stand up when the judge enters. I don't mind telling you I was terrified."

Ben was fascinated. "That's quite an experience. You must have been very brave."

"I had to be my boy."

Waiters arrived with the first course.

"Pumpkin and Mango soup," the Governor General's wife spoke for the first time. A favourite of mine, I hope all like it."

"So where are you living on the island ?" My step-mother asked.

I explained about the Sam Lord Estate, our plans for the resort and how we were rebuilding the main house.

"So we are going to be neighbours."

"God forbid," I whispered under my breath.

"Hardly !" my father replied. "He's on the other side of the island."

"Oh is he ? We've put an offer in on a holiday home that's not far from where Cliff Richard has his mansion. Did you know that Tony Blair holidays there every year. And Prince Andrew has a property not far away."

Ben was busy telling the Governor General and his wife about our planned opening day and saying he hoped both would be able to come along. Hearing this my step-mother immediately switched her attention from me to Ben.

"Do we get an invitation ?"

"Of course you do," Ben smiled.

"I'll probably be in court then."

"I thought that now you are a law lord you would not have to work so hard."

"Yes, that's true enough but I am sure I will be in court then."

"In which case I shall come on my own."

My step-mother's interest was taken only by two phrases spoken when we were introduced, they had never left the front of her mind: *Two of the richest men in Barbados *and Two celebrated heroes of the island.

The next course was served - flying fish. I could not bring myself to eat it. I have never been keen on fish and the beautiful creatures that swim about the reef did not deserve to end up on a dinner plate. My beloved father did not appear to have much of an appetitive. What a nightmare of a celebration this was turning out to be.

I tried to be polite for the benefit of others so began a new conversation. "I have often wondered why you went into the law, that high court judge you spoke of, the one who you said had been a hanging judge - is he the reason you took up law ? I never knew why you did what you did ?"

"No," he responded, "You grandfather was responsible. He told me I had to enter a profession trade was not a profession so that meant being a doctor - I did not like the idea of that, a teacher - not on your life, dealing with spotty adolescents for two pence halfpenny a week I think not ! That just left the law."

"So why Barbados ?" Ben asked.

"It's the most beautiful island in the Caribbean," my step-mother answered for him.

"Is it ?" I questioned, I hear that Antigua is quite nice.

"Well now we are all here perhaps we can see more of each other, we never get to see you."

I caught my father's eye and the same thought flashed between us. "I hope not."

If I disliked the fish course I thoroughly enjoyed the main dish of lamb and rice. "I think we should make this part of our menu when we open in October."

"I think we should try to poach the chef from here to come and work for us."

"So how is the staffing coming along ?" Our legal friend re-entered the conversation.

"That chap Peter you found for us is going to be very good. Then Russell from one of my UK businesses is flying out on Monday to become our general manager."

"And Robbie will be coming from San Francisco as well ?" Ben added.

"San Francisco ?" My father interrupted. "That's a bit far out to be recruiting staff."

"I'm moving all of my San Francisco business to the island."

"Don't forget Captain Ralph," Ben added.

"You don't mean Ralph to takes people swimming with the fish ?"

"Yes, that's him"

"Oh I know him, everyone does. What a character he is. Is it true you have bought the pirate galleon ?"

"Yes and a helicopter," Ben said. "We have a girl coming from San Francisco to fly it for us."

"And the London buses," I said. "They will be on a freighter next week."

"London Buses," my father said as he attempted a joke, "does Boris Johnson know about this ?"

"Oh yes, he's bringing the bikes." He did not understand, probably never heard of a Boris Bike.

"Boris Johnson is coming," my step-mother said. "That will liven things up."

"It was a joke step-mother dear."

"Quite an enterprise you are building." The Governor General entered the conversation. "How fortunate you did not go to Antigua."

I wish he had, I could hear my father thinking but instead he just said, "Sounds a bit like Disneyland to me."

"So what do you know about Disneyland ? You've never been, you never took me there as a child. You never took me anywhere."

An awkward moment which the Governor General had to jump in to save. "So tell me what did bring you to our island and why Sam Lord's ?"

Over the final course I told everyone about Ben's birthday, the taxi ride from the airport, the Sam Lord song and the newspaper article. "The rest is history."

"So it was all down to Ben and his birthday ?"

"Yes step-mother."

"It will soon be your birthday Nigel, where are you going to go for that ?"

"Luton !"

Over coffee my step-mother started again to dominate the conversation. "And young Ben here," she tapped the back of his hand, "is your business partner."

"That's right, he is."

"Stuff it," I said to myself as I took a sip of coffee. "And he is soon to be my legal civil partner."

I waited for my father to choke on his coffee, sadly he did not know what a legal civil partnership was. This was something outside the knowledge of a law lord.

"You will come to the wedding won't you step-mother dear ? Have you ever been to a gay wedding before ?"

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - CRAZY TIMES - Ben writing

When we got home Nigel just sat and stared, he had said little in the car on the way back and was clearly distressed.

"Come on," I said, "it wasn't so bad."

"Why ?"

I sat beside Nigel and put my hand on top of his.

"Why does he despise me so much ?"

"Come on Nigel. it doesn't matter."

"I am his only son, I am his only blood relative. What is so bad about me ?"

"Nigel stop this. Do you know what made me fall in love with you ? Do you ?"

He looked at me, there was a tear in his eye.

"I'll tell you shall I ? It was your positive attitude to everything. Positive when you took me on even though I tried to hid my speeding tickets. Positive when we first went to San Francisco. How look at all this, do you think any of it could have happened without your being Mr Positive ?"

"Do you know what made me fall in love with you ?"

"Go on tell me."

"The way you cared for me when Mrs P passed away. She was a substitute mother to me, my mother died when I was a small child and my father's new wife was never more than a distant step-mother to me. When Mrs P died I would have gone crazy if you had not been there for me."

"You listen to me," I said, "I am here now and I am never going to go away. You and I are going to be together for the rest of our days. Now that we are living in Paradise life is a dream but if we had to live on the top floor of a council high-rise in Luton I would still be with you."

"Thank you."

"Now let's sleep. We have the week-end together before everything kicks off on Monday. I am going to spend the week-end making mad passionate love to you then in between our love making we have a wedding to plan. Any idea about where we should go for our honeymoon ?"

"Luton," Nigel giggled.

"That's more like my Nigel."

Jet lag had hurt us both, it's a weird phenomena twisting a body clock one way and then back in the opposite direction. We slept well for a few hours then were wide awake again.

I pressed my body had against Nigel, we contoured together.

"What would I do without you Ben ?"

I did not answer, I did not need to, but instead turned my lover on to his back. Gently I kissed his left nipple then used tongue to caress this way and that across his chest. My hand moved down to take his cock into a tight fist. His body tensed. I pushed upwards, pulling the skin and foreskin up the throbbing shaft. Holding everything tightly I moved my head to just an inch above his cock, I drew in a breath to taste and smell everything in front of me. A kiss on the cock-head then opening my mouth I took all inside.

I have no idea how many times I have commenced love making with Nigel in this way but every time was better than the time before. My mouth was occupied, I could not of course speak, so I sent thoughts from my mind to tell Nigel just how much he meant to me. Our love making was always part physical but more spiritual as our minds and bodies became one.

Only when the physical element of our love was ended did we speak, there were few words as only a few words were needed.

With Nigel now face down I placed a hand on each side of his hips, fingers in his groin as I lifted him up to meet me. We were then truly one, our bodies locked together.

"You are one amazing guy," I panted. "I am going to make love to you like this every day for the rest of our lives."

Our love-making over we lay side by side holding hands and telling each other little things with giant meanings. We talked like this for more than an hour before our conversation came to a more recognisable form and something I can here recount.

"So what are we going to do today ?"

"I'd like to see if I can find a Voodoo witch doctor."

"What ever for ?"

"Rattle some bones, make a doll of my father and stick pins in it."

"That sounds a bit dramatic."

"Perhaps. So let's be sensible, what would you like to do today ?"

"I think I would like to swim, do you think Captain Ralph would take us out to the fish again ?"

"I am sure he would."

"When I was a child my brother used to keep tropical fish in a tank in our bedroom but they were nothing compared to those swimming out there."

"It really is Paradise here: fish in the sea, funny little frogs in the trees, monkeys on the cliff and you beside me. I really love you so much Ben."

"I know. Let's make love again."

In fact we spent most of the week-end making love, strange how our physical exertions did not tire us but rather invigorated us to recover from that long journey from San Francisco. We did swim with the fish and with the turtles and with the dolphins on a trip out with Captain Ralph. He took us to see our pirate galleon which, along with the boats, would be moved to our beach as soon as the jetty was built.

We went to bed on Sunday night happy and excited to known that so much would be happening in the coming week. It was going to be a crazy time, we knew that, but we did not have the first idea just how crazy it would be.

Monday exploded with the force of high explosive, Tuesday there were bombs with twice the power than the day before, things just got more and more crazy with every hour. I am going to try to tell you everything that happened, forgive me for none of this is going to be in the right order.

Let me start with an e-mail I picked up first thing on Monday morning. It came from a young girl, actually she is two years older than me, named Yvette who was living in London.

She told me how she had just finished a media course at university, had not managed to find a job so while she looked round she wanted to write a book about the history of Barbados.

"Nobody will publish it of course," she wrote, "but it will be fun to research."

"My grandfather came to England from Barbados in 1954. He came to work on London Underground. My ancestors would have been slaves on the island and so I have always been in both their history and the history of Barbados."

"I saw on Facebook that you now own Sam Lord's and wondered if you have come across anything which may help me with my research."

The hairs on the back of my head tingled. "Nigel wake up, look at this."

"I don't see we have anything that could help her."

"Yes we do. Media graduate, no job of work, researching Barbados -"

"So ?"

"Bring her here. Let her edit our Sam Lord Magazine, let he take the daily photographs and video we discussed. Let her write her book then we can publish it for her as a Sam Lord title."

"That's a bit ambitious isn't it ? We don't know her, she may not be any good."

"I've got a feeling Nigel. Please."

"If you want to I suppose we could give her a try."

Nine in the morning Barbados time, two in the afternoon in London. I e-mailed her and asked for a number I could call her on. The reply was immediate. I called her then on Thursday she was on a flight to Barbados.

In the eyes of Captain Ralph his jetty was the most important construction project we had. To keep him quiet we all agreed to make it a priority. Rather than a fixed jetty we were advised to have a pontoon fixed at the beach and anchored beyond the reef. Work began on Tuesday morning to build it.

On Wednesday Angela said she had found a helicopter for us, she e-mailed over all of the specifications and the purchase price. She had found a second pilot, someone she poached from a company flying helicopters through the Grand Canyon. As soon as Nigel and I could pay for the aircraft and enough fuel to bring it out to the island the two of them would make a flight plan taking several easy day trips across America until they landed in Barbados.

A slightly nervous Nigel clicked the computer mouse and moved the money. Angela and her helicopter were on the way.

Kai set up a gatehouse at the estate entrance where he and his team checked everyone in and out - suppliers, builders, our own staff and official visitors.

Russell hit the ground running as General Manager, he and Staff Manager Peter worked well together leaving Nigel and myself as executive observers. All was good.

Nigel and I spent time driving to and from the airport picking different people up. Robbie and his web developer, Mr Geek, came in. Staff from GayBuddy arrived from London then with brilliant co-ordination Jimmy, our sauna manager, came in on a different flight from London.

"There are some staff appointments we really should make as soon as we can," Russell said. "We can't keep sending out for food three or more times a day, time to find some catering staff. And with so many coming to live here we could do with some domestic staff."

"Agreed."

"The next is very much your decision but I would advise you to take on one if not two members of accounting staff, it is getting very hard to keep track of everything."

"Most definitely agreed."

The catering and domestic staff were in place within days but we neglecting to find accounts personnel - the task passed by without notice.

All resident staff were accommodated in one block of hotel rooms. Until the main house could be rebuilt we used other rooms as offices. Work on reconstruction commenced immediately and by Wednesday the site had been cleared. Foundations would be in place by the end of the week with scaffolding to be delivered ready for construction to commence.

Russell had equipped us all with small radios a bit like those management teams use in supermarkets. It was Thursday morning when Nigel's radio squawked.

"There's a lady here who would like to see you." Kai was not on duty, Steve one of his colleagues was calling from the gatehouse."

"Lady ? I am not expecting anyone."

"Where about are you ? She has a rather large parcel with here, shall I bring her over ?"

"We're sitting under the trees by the side of Mango Pool." Nigel said. We had named it Mango Pool after the trees that grew alongside the swimming area..

"Oh no !" Nigel exclaimed. "What on earth is she doing here ?"

"What ever is she carrying and why isn't she letting Steve help her with it ?"

"Hello Stepmother dear, what are you doing here ?"

After the obligatory kisses on the cheeks she explained herself. "Do I need a reason to visit my favourite stepson, and you of course Ben. I have brought you a present."

Nigel I know was about to protest that years spanned her visits so she must always have been short of reasons to visit but Steve spoke before he could say anything. "Shall I bring you some drinks ?"

"Lemonade would be nice," I suggested. "Nice to see you again Lady Patricia."

"Does Father know you are here ?"

"No he is playing golf with a member of the government. He will lose of course and that will put him in a terrible mood."

She sat down. "Now let me show you what I have brought for you boys."

She began to unwrap the parcel. "It's not the original of course, that hangs in a private gallery in New York and it's value I would expect is beyond even the two richest men on the island but it is a good copy by a local artist.

The portrait was of a slave, originally painted by Rubens.

"I thought you may like to hang it in your hotel reception."

"Thank you step-mother, that's very generous of you."

"Nigel, my dear, stop calling me step-mother. If you can bring yourself to call me mother then try Patricia."

"It's a fine piece of art, thank you."

"Call it a peace offering."

"A peace offering ? Why ? Does father know you have given it to me ?"

"It's for you as well Ben."

"Thank you Lady Patricia. How long are you able to stay ? Are you in a hurry to get away ?"

"I should get back, I need to prepare myself to console Nigel's father after he has lost at golf."

"How do you know he will lose ?"

"He always does."

And with that she was gone.

"That was bizarre," Nigel said.

"Strange," I agreed but I do like it. "Why do you think she bought it ?"

"She's into arty things, I don't know how much she really knows but it's her world."

The following days two ideas came out of Lady Patricia's visit. The first I can not directly attribute to her or the painting but her visit unnerved Nigel and at least, I think, pushed him towards something quite out of character.

"I've had an idea," he said.

"Yeh ?"

"The lifeguards we need for the pools and the beach, how about we dress them as mermaids ?"

"You what ?"

"Mermaids, long hair, bare chests and fish tails."

"Nigel, for a guy who has his feet so firmly on the ground and one who always applies wisdom to every decision that is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard."

"Is it ?"

"Of course it is. It may work in Disneyland but here ? I don't think so."

"Oh - sorry."

I pecked a kiss.

"But I love you for it."

"Do you ?"

"Of course I do silly."

"I have had another idea."

"What's that ? Voodoo dancers on the beach after dark ?"

"Do you want me to spank your bottom again ?"

"Yes please but let me tell you my idea first."

"Go on."

"Remember you said before that we should make people who go to other hotels feel jealous so wishing they were coming here - your ideas about departure airports - the flights and the steel drums at Bridgetown airport."

"Don't forget the London buses."

"Ben I* am* going to spank your bottom but to explain - how about we have some areas here that we open to non residents."

"Sounds good."

"It was the painting that gave me this idea. We could set up a gallery here where local artists could exhibit and sell their work, not just paintings but sketches, pottery and sculpture. We don't charge any commission at all for sales. We allow non residents to come into the gallery. We also offer rent free studios for any artist who would like to base themselves here."

"I am following you so far but ...................."

"Wait, let me finish. In return all the artists have to run workshops where our guests and those from anywhere on the island can take part. No charge at all but we would charge for use of the bars and restaurants."

"Now that Nigel IS a good idea."

"We could also offer Barbadian cookery days."

"I like that. How about people coming to learn how to play steel drums ?"

"Brilliant ! So shall I ask Peter to find the people we need ?"

"Hang on a moment Nigel, we've already got the person to set up the art gallery."

"Who ?"

"Lady Patricia."

"No - No - No ! Absolutely NO !"

"Why did she buy us the painting Nigel ?"

"No idea."

"She said it was a peace offering. Why is it you don't like her ?"

"Because she is my father's wife, that's more than a good enough reason."

"I can see why you don't like your father but she appears nice enough"

"Not as bad as him I grant you but he is far worse than you think."

"Nigel that is a hard thing to say."

"He's not your father."

"So would you really stick pins in a Voodoo doll for him."

"Certainly I would."

"Sometimes I wish I was older," I started to move the conversation into a new direction but with the aim of getting to the same place if by a roundabout route. "I worry all the time that people hold my age against me, people like Robbie and those sauna managers back in England before I sorted them out."

"Sorted them out ? What do you mean ?"

"Have you ever asked yourself how their takings and profits went up after I saw them all ?"

"No."

"Nigel they were systematically cheating you, putting your money into their pockets until I put a stop to it."

"Never ! What were they doing ?"

"That's in the past now and trust me they will not do it again. I showed them even though I am a kid I do know what's what."

"You never told me about that."

"Leave it for now Nigel, it's sorted but trust me I can sort this as well if you will let me."

"No, not her."

"You don't believe in Voodoo do you ?"

"Don't know that much about it."

"Make the art gallery your Voodoo doll, let Lady Patricia set it up for us and that will be like sticking pins in it."

I paused while I let Nigel consider what I had said but not long enough for him to come back with a refusal.

"You do believe in Destiny though don't you ?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Perhaps the portrait is Destiny. Perhaps Destiny brought her into our lives on the island as part of a plan."

"If this goes wrong Ben !"

"It won't go wrong. Tell you what, let's test Destiny. Let me call her, if she is free and can come over today then that is part of Destiny's plan. If she can't come over then it's not and we forget it."

"Destiny can be fickle you know."

"Destiny has looked after us so far. the best thing that has ever happened to me is Destiny introducing you to me."

"The same for me."

"So can I put Destiny to the test ?"

"Go on then."

I called Government House and after convincing the telephone receptionist I was who I said I was and Lady Dean would want to speak to me she was brought to the phone."

"Ben how lovely to hear from you."

"Lady Patricia are you doing anything special today ?"

"No Ben, not at all, I never am. I have an empty day ahead of me, Nigel's father is playing golf again then he is going to a lodge meeting as guest of the Governor General."

I looked at Nigel and have him the thumbs up sign.

"Nigel and I feel we did not thank you properly for the Rubens."

"It's only a copy dear."

"We would like to thank you so if I sent a car for you, at say two o'clock, could you come over to Sam Lord's ?"

"Ben I would love that. Is Nigel happy with my coming ?"

"Of course he is. If you are on your own you could stay for the evening. I tell you what - let Nigel and I arrange something special for the evening."

Nigel was waving his hands and mouthing * NO*.

"Oh Ben that sounds lovely. You are sure Nigel won't mind."

"Of course not, it was his idea to ask you."

"I won't ask you why he did not telephone me himself then."

"He's had to go to the other side of the estate to see someone so he asked me to call."

"Are you sure ? It will be nice to see you both again."

"I will send a car for you at two."

"Thank you, I will look forward to it."

"What is all this about it being MY idea ? MY being called away and what is this something * special* for the evening ?"

I smiled and tapped the side of my nose.

Before Nigel could say any more I picked up my radio. "Russell I need you to do a few things for me. Can you send a taxi to Government House to pick up Lady Patricia at two o'clock then bring her back here."

"Sure."

"Can you send out for some steaks, drink and everything else we need for a barbecue."

"For you, Nigel and Lady Patricia ?"

"No enough for all the staff, let's have a big party on the beach say at six o'clock. It's a thank you for all the hard work everyone has put in and something to welcome all the new people."

"I had better get on to that straight away, it will take a bit of organising."

"Oh and Russell, one other thing."

"Yes."

"Probably totally impossible but I don't suppose you could try to find a steel band that could come and play for us."

"I couldn't, certainly but perhaps Peter may know some who could play. I will ask him."

THIS IS NIGEL NOW WRITING

Ben may be young but his mind is razor sharp. His brain has to be unique, it is as if he can call on wisdom obtained through years of life experience far beyond his age. her also has cunning and usually gets what he wants. What am I talking about ? I am only seven years older than he is.

When Ben switched off the radio I started at him. "I think we are about to go back to our room."

"How come ? I have a barbecue to organise now."

"Not before I have spanked your bottom."

"Ah, well I can always find time for that."

"Excellent, this is going to be a hard spanking and then if you are a good boy I might even let you spank my bottom."

The bottom spanking went of for some time then developed into foreplay ahead of extended love making. Time was moving on and we were in danger of losing track of it, my beloved step-mother would be with us before we knew where we were. Short of time Ben and I shared the shower, soaping and caressing one another then towelling and dressing to walk to the gatehouse in order to meet her.

"Let's walk down the path to the beach," I suggested, "we can talk along the way. I would like to see how work is progressing to build Captain Ralph's jetty and Ben had better check on the setting up for the party."

"Party ?"

"In your honour Lady Patricia."

"Really ? Why ?"

"Ben's idea," I said quickly.

"The party yes," Ben smiled, "but the other was your idea so you had better explain."

I began by thanking her for the portrait and trying to sound as grateful as I could before explaining the idea for the gallery. I then made a mistake, a BIG mistake. Instead of asking her to help set it up I said, "We would like you to set it up *and *run it for us." I must have taken leave of my senses. If mermaids as lifeguards was silly this was impractical and ridiculous.

The strangest thing then happened. She started to cry. Not a few gentle tears spilling from the corner of her eyes but huge sobs. Ben looked at me as if to ask what was wrong. As if I would have any idea.

"What's the matter ? What have I said wrong ?"

She just shook her head.

"I am sorry, I did not mean to upset you." I was confused, I had never seen her like this before. What could possibly be wrong ?

Still crying she waved her hands as if to dismiss what I was saying. She fought to control herself drawing in deep breaths and wiping her face with a handkerchief. It took time but eventually she spoke.

"Ben be a darling will you, leave me alone with Nigel for a moment. Give us ten minutes then come back. Ten minutes, no longer."

I looked to Ben and nodded. He made a diplomatic exit continuing along the path to the beach.

"We'll join you in a moment. Come and sit here." I took my step-mother's arm and guided her to a wooden bench by the side of the path.

"What is the matter ?" I asked again.

"Did you mean it, about me an the gallery ?"

"Of course but I am sorry if it offended you in any way."

She waved her hands again to silence me.

"Nigel do you know why I married your father ?"

"No not really, I was very young."

"Two reasons Nigel, two reasons. Your father had a brilliant career ahead of him, even then I could see that, so when he asked me I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be by his side, to support him. No I did not love him, I certainly cared about him but I did not love him. I am sure he had the same feelings towards me and nothing has changed in that respect across the years."

"But when you father asked me to marry him and told me about his young son who had been left without a mother I felt so sad. Your father wanted me to look after you. I never could have taken the place of your mother Nigel, I would never have tried to but I so much wanted to be there for you. I never did get to know you, your father sent you away to boarding school when you were eight years old. You never asked me to do anything for you, not even to tie your shoe lace. You never asked me for help. You never told me anything that was happening in your life. I failed you but I did so much want to be there for you. You have always insisted on calling me step-mother, that alone put distance between us. I have never been able to do anything for you."

I said nothing.

"I am not sorry I married your father, he has given me everything materially but I live an empty life and one without any purpose at all. I care for him, I look after him and I support his career. I was there when he became a judge, then a high court judge and now a law lord but what am I ? Nothing."

Although the sobbing was gone she wiped a single tear from the side of her cheek then adopted a clearer tone of voice.

"What would you say are the chances of us ending up on this tiny island at the same time ? What are the chances of our meeting at the country club the way we did ? Millions, billions against ? How long has it been since I last saw you ? two years ? A long time and here we are together for the third time in a week."

"Yes," I said softly.

"Then for no reason I can understand you ask me here and invite me to become involved in your life. how I wish I could have done something for you when you were little. If you will let me Nigel there is nothing more I would like better than to run your gallery."

"What about father ?"

"I know he is a difficult man Nigel, he lives in a world where he has no ideas at all of real life yet he and those around him think it is they who life in the real world. Buying a house here on Barbados is for me, yes he will spend time here and I will be in London when he needs me but that house is somewhere for me to get away from your father's world."

"So you will run the gallery ?"

"Nothing, and I mean nothing, would make me more happy. It has taken you twenty years to ask me to do something for you so do you suppose I would say *no *?"

"Thank you."

"I presume you mean more than a gallery of paintings. Water colours, oils, sketches, pottery sculpture."

"Yes."

"There is one condition though."

"What's that ?"

She smiled. "You NEVER call me step-mother again ! I did not want to replace your mother when you were a child and I do not want to replace her now but I would like to become your big sister. So I want you to call me Pat. I am known in society as Lady Patricia, the few friends I have call me Patricia but nobody ever calls me Pat so that can be your special name, just for you and for Ben of course."

"You know that Ben and I are -"

"Gay lovers ? Yes."

"Isn't that exciting. Now perhaps we should go and find Ben."

"Yes, yes - Pat."

It was now my turn to shed a tear.

As we walked along the beach Ben ran towards us. "Guess what, Captain Ralph knows a five piece steel band. They work their way round the hotels on the island but do not have an engagement tonight so they are coming here. If they are any good we could take them on full time."

"Well done Captain Ralph."

"My pleasure Mr Nigel. Ben tells me you may be able to use a fire eater and a limbo dancer. Would you like me to find some who could come along and audition at the party later ?"

"Come here you." A finger beckoned him towards her before my step-mother, I mean Pat, kissed him on the cheek."

"Madam I don't think I have had the pleasure."

Before I could explain all was made clear. "I am Patricia, I am going to run Barbados Art here at Sam Lord's"

"Pleased to meet you."

Ben although confused smiled.

"Destiny has passed your test," I said to him.

"Come here you gorgeous boy." She engulfed him in a hug that would have made a champion wrestler proud before whispering in his ear. "Thank you Ben."

THIS IS BEN NOW WRITING

What a party we had. It was great to bring the developing staff team together in one place. Robbie and his geeky web developer from Cam4You, Michael and Tom from Gaybuddy, Jimmy our sauna guy, Yvette our photographer and magazine editor, Kai and his team, Russell, Peter, Captain Ralph - they were all having a good time. Robbie, I think, wondered just what he had come to.

The steel band was marvellous, obviously hoping they could find work with us a local trio of singers had tagged along. Everyone was offered contracts to join our team.

I think there has to be something in the Caribbean air that brings one idea after another.

"I would love a CD of that music," Pat said.

So we decided we would have our own record label, make CD and downloads of all then give these to guests to take home at the end of their stay.

"You are going to have music days with guests learning to play steel drums ?"

"Yes Pat, that's part of the plan."

"Why not set up a small recording studio, nothing to elaborate to record the gusts playing. Then burn CDs, give them away and have them as downloads on your website."

Everyone pitched in to help our tiny catering team prepare and cook the food. the smell of the steaks wafted into the air with a delicious smell. the limbo dancers entertained then challenged us all to try it out. I fell flat on my back. The fire eater fascinated me but that was something I did not want to try.

"I have been to many society events," I heard Pat saying to Captain Ralph. "I have been to garden parties at Buckingham Palace and dined at Ten Downing Street but nothing compares to the time I have had here tonight."

"Nigel, Ben come over here I have an idea."

"It comes with the Caribbean air," I said. "Ideas."

"Does it. Now listen. I am going to have to return to England in three days time. I will plan my time so your father still has my time when he needs it then I will come back to Barbados. I am not now going to be a career video stuck away in a little holiday home but will have some purpose running the gallery."

"You sure will."

"But when I am in England I will become that career widow again so I suggest, and I can put money into this if you would like me to, I set up a London gallery - Hampstead Village would be ideal. We can sell art from the island but, and this is important. it could fins artists, potters and sculptors to come here for a holiday and to work.

"That sounds a very good idea, " Nigel said.

"I can put up the money."

"No need for that Pat, we can finance it."

"I am not the only career widow you know. From your father's circle I know people who would do the same for Barbados Art and set up galleries in Paris, New York and san Francisco. Selling art and bringing artists here. I would suggest that all of the galleries, including here, charged a commission. Most galleries charge between thirty and sixty percent but I would propose we only take twenty."

"Go for it ! Set it all up."

Pat kissed us both. "My dear, dear boys you do not know how good this is for me. It has been worth the twenty year wait."

Crazy, crazy times. We both had the Midas touch, everything was coming together so very well. But there was a cloud building on the horizon, we just had not seen it yet.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - PROBLEMS - Nigel writing

There was no question that the building and renovation work would be completed well in time for our planned grand opening. But before we could have a grand opening we needed guests.

"We must get all of the businesses working," I said. "Cam4You and Gaybuddy are fine now they are located with us on the island but we need to go back to England and sort out things with everyone on a personal basis."

"Both of us ?"

"Of course, I do not want us to be apart like before, Russell and Peter can manage everything here while we are away." "So how long will we be gone ?"

"The garden centre, hotel, pub and ten saunas - I think it would be good to see each one on an individual basis."

"I agree with you there."

"And Pat will want us to look over her plans."

"So we'll need a couple of weeks."

"Probably," I confirmed.

"I'd quite like to see my family while we are back in England," Ben explained, "and I'd rather like them to meet you."

"That would be nice Ben, after all we will be related once we are married."

Married - but when ? Everything had got in the way of our union, we had no plans, no dates, nothing.

"Once this England trip is over Ben nothing is going to get in the way of our wedding."

When we announced that we would be returning to England for a time Russell insisted that he and Peter meet with Ben and I. "I think we should talk straight away," he said.

"In an hour's time ?"

"That will be fine."

"Peter and I are worried," Russell began. "It's your money right enough but every time you guys have an idea money is committed and more money will have to be made within the resort to cover it. Helicopter, art-galleries, recording studio, resident bands, pirate galleons..... All this and we do not have a single guest booked yet."

"That's why we are going back to England."

"We are worried in case the money runs out. Everything is accounted for but nobody has done any costing or proper financial projections."

"The UK businesses are all making profits," I defended.

"But you are spending on a hotel development there."

"Nothing like on the scale here, no major expenditure and both Cam4You and Gaybuddy are bringing in money every day."

"They are and they are covering our staffing costs but with new staff being taken on ahead of the opening they won't for much longer."

"I can cover that."

"Can we make a suggestion ?" Peter added. "Two suggestions actually."

"Go on."

"No more capital projects, don't come back saying you are opening a Barbados gallery in Rome or buying a submarine."

"No submarine I promise you."

"Yes it's you money, I have said that but if Sam Lord's fails we are all in a mess. We need caution," Russell urged.

"We must have a finance manager and a team working with him."

"We have already agreed to that."

"I know and it's not your fault it has not happened but it must happen now - immediately."

"Do you know someone ?"

"I do," Peter said, "that is if you do not mind the fact that he is my brother."

"Well if he is half as good as you are," Ben said, "he will be brilliant !"

"When can he start ?"

"As soon as you give me permission to call him."

"Call him."

"Honestly it's not as bad as they are making out," I said to be later trying to reassure him.

"It it is then it's my fault," he replied. "I should have been doing all the projections. I started but then got carried away with everything else and just let it all slide."

"It's my fault," I said, "not yours."

"We need to make sure Robbie delivers the guests he promised to me," Ben said. "And he must increase the number of models on Cam4You."

"It will be fine Ben, don't worry. So tell me about your family, you've met mine so what are your people like ? No law lords or frustrated socialites lurking in the background ?"

"Not exactly. We are a big family, I am one of six. My Dad's attitude is the same as your father described your grandfather having - the only proper employment is a profession. The only profession that remotely interested me was medicine and I am just not clever enough for that. Business and sales has been what I wanted to do for as long as I can remember so I disappointed Dad when I took up a job as a retail management trainee."

"And the chain went bust."

"I got a lecture from Dad saying it would not happen in a profession so it was my own fault. I was still determined to follow a career in sales and business but large chains like Morrissons or Sainsbury's want their management trainees to have degrees. Jobs with cheap and nasty stores where the chavs shop are easy to come by but I needed a degree."

"I have never told you this," Ben continued, "when I saw your advert for a driver I thought that would suit me well while I considered going to university at the start of the next academic year."

"So I was only a temporary stop off for you ?"

"Not any more though, you are my life's fixture now."

"We have got to sort this wedding," I said.

What should have been the more important priority in our lives was constantly being pushed back, that was worrying me more with each day.

As a concession to Russell and Peter we flew back to England in business class rather than first class. The overnight flight left us tired but we had a board meeting of the UK companies planned for the afternoon so after checking into a hotel, taking a shower - together of course - and grabbing a quick lunch we drove to the garden centre and the meeting. When I say drove I mean we were driven in a taxi, perhaps we should have left at least one car behind in England. It felt weird checking into a hotel, our old home was now in an advance stage of renovation, we had no home in England.

"First item on the agenda: Landscape gardeners for Barbados. Any takers ?"

" You are going to rob me of all my staff ! I have two who would like to join you, not just to sort things out for now but to work there long-term,"

"Excellent."

"Not that I really know what I am talking about," Ben began, "but the gardens do not look to be in too much of a state."

"Let's get them out as quickly as possible."

"Shall I make arrangements with Russell ?"

"Please, go ahead. Item two: Signing up guests. We need to find eight hundred guests a week, we have four hundred rooms - all doubles."

"This is not a gay resort ?" The question came from the member representing the sauna chain.

"No, it is an *adult *resort meaning no children. It is gay friendly with both sexes and all sexualities welcome."

"So how many guests do you expect us to find ? Us meaning the sauna chain."

"Ten saunas with each finding ten guests a week, is that a fair target ?"

"Quite a tall order, ten a week."

"Perhaps we could have a bonus system," Ben suggested. "For the manager who sends us the most."

"Absolutely we will ! Ten thousand pounds for the sauna manager who sends the most guests in our first year."

Ben looked at me and silently formed a single work with his lips. "RUSSELL."

"And five thousand pounds for the sauna manager who sends us the most guests for our opening week. Don't worry we will have something special for all the other businesses. Ben explain about your ideas for staff at the airports and on the flights."

Ben presented his plan for UK flights leaving Gatwick, his ideas for staff to be at the airport, on the flight and welcoming guests at Bridgetown. "Just an idea," he said, "the Brighton sauna is very near to Gatwick so ideally positioned to co-ordinate everything but I think every branch could be involved."

I then explained how I thought the garden centre could concentrate on finding guests for the art, music and cookery courses.

"I think we could do that from the restaurant and hotel as well. What about fishing ?"

"Captain Ralph," Ben smiled, "he would welcome fishermen."

"Item three on the agenda: Can we have a report on the house conversion and hotel opening."

I listened attentively but each phase of the development was explained my heart and mind were back in Barbados.

I then gave a schedule of our own visits to all areas of the UK company operations before winding up the meeting and returning to our hotel.

There was an e-mail waiting for us, it had been sent from Russell to both Ben and myself.

Do you want the good news or the bad news first ? Let's start with the good news shall we.

Captain Ralph knows of a scuba diving business called ISLAND DIVERS. The owner was involved in a car smash last year since when his wife has tried to run the business but it is not working, she wants to sell up. Three diving instructors and all the equipment which you could pick up and move here for a song.

Yes I know what I said about projects and spending money but this is something I think you should not turn down.

Now for the bad news -

ROBBIE ! He is causing unbelievable problems here and upsetting everyone. It's as if he thinks he is in charge while you are away. Can you call me when you are free - any time convenient to yourselves. THANKS. R.

"Oh dear," Ben said, "That does not sound very good does it ?"

"I guess I had better call him," I said taking the phone from my pocket.

"It's your decision Nigel," Russell began, "but I would so strongly suggest you get rid of him."

"What's he done ?"

I listened while a normally calm Russell hit me with one thing after another. I said little in reply, just listened. Ben went to his laptop and rattled the keys. I was on the phone for almost half an hour, when I had finished and before I could tell Ben what Russell had said he spun the laptop round.

"Read that."

Arrogant - Poor Support - No respect - words which stood out time after time.

"Oh dear."

"Looks like Cam4You is not what we think it is."

We were looking at a forum where webcam models from many different sites posted comments.

"So what did Russell have to say ?"

"Basically he said his attitude will upset everyone and put in danger what we are trying to do. I don't understand it though, webcams make us a lot of money - money we need until everything else starts to turn in a profit."

"With someone different in charge the cams would make a lot more."

"But if Robbie goes who takes over ?"

"I do," Ben said, "at least for now."

"Could you ?"

"I'm damn sure I could. I need to find out a bit more about the actual broadcasting side of things, as a model I mean. We could move the financial management into the new accounting department."

"What about his plans to bring USA gusts to the island ?"

"We need to find out if that is bullshit or not."

"If it is we have a problem."

"Let me think it over for a few hours then talk again ? One of us is going to have to go back to Barbados and go back tomorrow."

"Oh NO Ben."

"You had better book me a ticket for tomorrow. I'll go back, you arte needed here in England."

"What about visiting your parents ?"

"That's not going to happen now."

"Oh Ben I am so sorry."

The thought of our being apart was too much to bear but somebody had to go back. It should have been me but if anyone was going it would be Ben.

"Call your parents," I said, "See if you can get them to come out and visit us on the island."

"What's the situation with the property in San Francisco ? Who owns it ?"

"It's on lease, we are still paying rent for it. Call your parents Ben."

"I will shortly. So san Francisco is ours ?"

"Yes. Why ?"

"Just let me run it wound in my head. You said Robbie is divorced ?"

"Yes, twice I think. Call your parents."

"Book me a flight for tomorrow. I'll call them then there is something I want you to check. Better send out for some pizza - we are about to have a busy evening."

"Leave it with me." I managed to get Ben a seat on the Virgin Atlantic flight to Bridgeton for the next day.

When Ben came off the phone he was pleased that his Mum and Dad were going to be able to come over for our grand opening.

"So we have two guests," he smiled. "Now get those pixxas sent over while I finish this.

"What are you doing ?"

"All will be revealed in good time."

"Good time was considerable time. Ben showed me a broadcasting profile he had set up for us both on Cam4You. We were: 2boyz4spanking !

"What - ?"

"It will be a bit of fun," my lover giggled, "But more than that it will give me an insight into cam broadcasting."

"But..."

"I have been into the customer forum to find someone who will write a report on the broadcasting."

"You have been a busy boy."

"We go live in ninety minutes so get those pizzas sorted."

Voyeur Report

When Ben approached me via the Cam4You forum I thought it was a bit of a joke. I initially did not believe him when he said he was the joint owner of the site but when he added five hundred dollars of customer credits to my account I realised this was not a bullshitter. I sat up and started to take notice.

Ben asked me to voyeur in on his broadcast then write this report, easy work for five hundred dollars - not to mention the fun.

Ben was going to broadcast with another lad, Nigel, who he said was the other owner of the site. I checked out their profile - 2noys4spanking - and was surprised to see the website is owned by such young people, I had always imagined it was owned by someone far older.

So Ben here is my report, thank you for asking me to write it.

When 2boys4spanking came on-line they were at the top of the new faces list which meant many, many of the customers who were logged into the system went to check them out. The fact that this particular new face was a duo increased the interest.

• I watched as the customers came into the room. Immediately there were ten, within thirty seconds another thirty, then fifty then far too many for me to count, at least one hundred. All no doubt considered they were witnessing the birth of two webcam superstars.*

Ben appeared to be in charge, Nigel initially looked to be nervous but that added to his appeal. Ben introduced them both saying they had been naughty boys who needed to have their bottoms smacked.

Both were wearing tight fitting underwear so the actual bottoms could not be seen although as each turned round their cute bubble arses could be seen clearly outlined beneath the thin fabric.

"Who would like to see Nigel's bare arse ?" Ben asked.

The screen filled with people typing messages asking to view Nigel's bottom.

"Drop us a tip and I'll pull his pants down for you all to get a closer look."

Immediately someone chipped in $10, then someone else gave the pair $25 after which something happened I have never seen before on Cam4You - a $100 tip ! These boys really were going to be cam stars - $135 for a flash of an arse !

*True to his word Ben turned Nigel round so his back was to the camera then gently gripping the elastic waistband on each side seductively teased down his friend's pants. Slowly he revealed his buttocks before the line delineating two delicious peaches set the pulses of all watching racing. Slowly all the way down - WOW. *

Ben left the pants in the lowered position and said, "Shall I give his arse a slap ?"

The screen flooded with people saying "YES". In the middle of the enthusiasm came another $50 tip.

2boys4spanking had been on-line for no more than ten minutes and had earned $185 in customer tips. I have been a member of Cam4You for two years and have never seen tipping like that.

Returning Nigel's pants to the upright position Ben Teased, "I suppose you would all like to see my arse now."

The customer who had chipped in the $100 tip threw in another $200, this time for a flash of Ben's youthful bottom.

I have seen many webcam models perform on Cam4You, I can not calculate how many hours I have spent chatting and watching but never have I seen money made at a rate like this. I could report that this duo had found some extra generous customers but when Ben slid his pants down to bare his arse he gave the guy who tipped $200 value for money far greater than the sum spent.

Ben did not hurry things, only when we had all been given time to study his bottom did he change things to offer a one hour spanking show.

"This will be a full hour, Nigel and I will be stark bollock naked throughout. We will spank each other, we have been such naughty boys, we will spank hard and long. I tell you we won't be able to sit down for a week. Why don't you drop your pants then slap your arse as we spank ours ?"

Messages of approval from those in the room came in so fast it was impossible to read them all.

"It's going to cost just $40 to watch the full hour long show and as many as want can tune un for this private session. The show will start in five minutes so click your mouse and book your seat for this spanking extravaganza."

Usually when a model offers a group show like this something like ten customers will opt in but here one hundred and twenty-three committed $40 each to watch. One hundred and twenty-three at $40 each comes to $4,920. Add the earlier tips and 2boys4spanking had earnings of $5,255 ! $5,255 from a single webcam broadcast. That has to be a record. I doubt anyone, anywhere has made that kind of money on their first webcam outing. So congratulations Ben and Nigel aka 2boys4spanking, I am sure I speak for everyone when I say GET THOSE CUTE ARSES BACK ON CAM AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

"Pretty good eh ? " Ben said with a smile. "Perhaps we should forget everything else and simply become webcam stars."

"It was fun," I had to agree.

"Cam4You charge us 25% of earnings to broadcast so that means we pocket almost four thousand dollars. So how about I now tell you about my plan for Robbie ?"

CHAPTER NINETEEN - APART AGAIN - Ben writing

"After all I have done I'd have thought the big boss himself would have come to dismiss me and not send his little bum boy. "

I fought to control my temper, I have to say it was not easy. "Who said anything about dismissing you ? That's not why I am here but if you want to leave it could be arranged."

Robbie showed confusion, for someone who liked to move people about like pieces on a chessboard he was not playing a good gale - I had just put his king in check with my first move.

"What's a bum boy ?" I asked innocently.

"I am sorry," he said. "I should not have said that but I am very worried."

"No you shouldn't," I was moving my pieces on the chessboard, "but I will accept your apology."

"Cam4You means such a lot to me, I thought you were going to take it away from me. helkl I wish I was in your position and owned it."

I smiled but said nothing.

"I see that you and Nigel have been trying out webcam broadcasting."

"We did OK didn't we ?"

"You did. Is that why you are here ? To talk about cam broadcasting ?"

Again I smiled but said nothing.

"The was Russell and Peter have been with me these past few days I thought you were here to finish me."

"Robbie I want you to so something which you will find hard, I want you to shut up and listen."

He moved to speak but I raised a hand.

"When I have finished, and only when I have finished, you can speak. OK ?"

"Ok." he didn't like it, Robbie was not going to find it easy to sit and say nothing.

"It's true we do not want you to run Cam4You any longer."

Before he could speak I held up a warning hand again and looked him in the eye.

"We want you to set up and head something completely new. It will be back in San Francisco and we are going to make you a partner."

Again I help up a hand.

"We are going to give you forty percent of the equity while Nigel and I will hold thirty percent each. You become the major shareholder while Nigel and I together will have the controlling interest."

"Really ?" I let him slip that interjection into the conversation.

In the internet gay market what is the biggest under-developed area ?"

"Spanking," Robbie replied.

"Is it the same with women ?"

"Not really although the dominatrix genre has much scope for development."

"Which is the biggest male spanking site on the Net ?" I knew the answer but wanted to see if Robbie knew.

"SpankThis run by Helix Studios," Robbie replied.

"Based in San Diego," I added to let him know that I was also aware of their dominance.

"We want to set up GuyzSpank with you in charge and in twelve months for it to be bigger that SpankThis. Do you think you can do this ?"

"Without a doubt I can. You just watch me."

"Using the old Cam4You base in san Francisco you'll need to set up the physical studio, buy cameras, lights. editing equipment. Find cameramen, editors, models. Write a new website. Find staff."

"And I will own forty percent of it ?"

"Yes. Nigel and I will fund the set up and you just turn in a profit as quickly as possible."

"I don't know what to say."

"Robbie lost for words, that must be a first. Let me tell you what NOT to say," I laughed. "Don't ever call me a bum boy again."

"Ooops, sorry Ben."

"You'll be setting up affiliate sites ?"

"Of course."

"I want you to begin working on that immediately, Can you use affiliate sites to deliver the American guets you promised us for Sam Lord's ?"

"You bet I can."

"You're sure ?"

"Yes."

"We will be counting on you Robbie. Yes Russell and Peter wanted you gone, Nigel would have gone along with that but I came up with this proposal so you owe me."

CHECKMATE.

I knew I was now going to have to make regular visits to San Francisco and with everything else that was happening it mean Nigel and I would be apart all too often. Life was so hard without him.

Nigel was never out of my mind and I would not want it to be any other way. While we were apart I did not want to forget him and made no effort ever to put him out of my mind even though the longing generated such pain. I kept busy and filled every moment of the day but this could not stop the sadness. I adopted a state of mind that by working I was doing it all for my lover, doing it to please him.

Time to call the Cam4You staff together. This was going to be interesting. All of the team was now on the island so a full staff meeting was possible. I began by explaining that Robbie was going back to San Francisco and I would now be taking charge. Other than Mr Geeky, the web developer, I did not know the staff members well, some faces I recognised but names and personalities did not mean a lot to me.

One of the broadcasting staff congratulated me on our show. "You set some records," he said.

"Did we ?"

There were nods and murmurs of agreement.

"So tell me, if we were so good how come nobody sent an e-mail of congratulations ? How come nobody has been trying to encourage us to get back on line ?"

There were vacant looks as if I was suggesting something quite extraordinary.

"Well ?"

Continued confused looks.

"Two things. One our network has a reputation among performers that stinks ! Two we have more customers than the performers can satisfy so if we do not find one hell of a lot more models pretty damn quick we are going to lose those customers."

"I don't think we will lose them."

"Don't you ? I do. You Mr Sales - how many affiliate websites do you have that send you traffic ?"

"Four hundred and thirty-two."

"Excellent, I am pleased you have the numbers at your finger tips. Tell me how many have you e-mailed on a personal basis over the last month ?"

"None. Why ?"

"That's a pathetic answer," I snapped. "You Miss Broadcasting - you did not bother to e-mail me with any congratulations, how many webcam performers has your team e-mailed on a personal basis this month ?"

"We don't work that way."

"Don't we. So how would you describe your role ?"

She hesitated for a moment then said, "To monitor, to observe and to co-ordinate."

"Bollocks ! What you mean is sitting on your arses doing bugger all !"

I could see anger in most faces, anger which I was about to slap down. "If you think I have brought you tom live in Paradise with all your meals and accommodation paid for then to give you a salary for sitting on your arses monitoring, observing and co-ordinating which translated means doing bugger all then you are wrong."

I turned to Mr Geeky. "I am not including you in this, god knows how your achieve all you do, you are working your bollocks off. I am going to get you some help, when my plans come into action you are going to need it."

I then explained how accounting would be combining with the Sam lord team. "And the accounts people from GayBuddy will be joining you to work under one management structure."

I was on a roll, sales and broadcasting did not know what was about to hit them. "Right you have a week - one week only - to contact all affiliate sites. I want incentives for them all - more sales and more money. Immediately, that means today, I want all models contacted and told we are reducing the fee we charge them to broadcast by two and a half percent. Then you have another week to contact every model on a personal basis. I don't care what you do but I want every single one of them to feel wanted, valued and respected. Once we are open here as a resort I want a different competition every week with the winner receiving a free holiday here in Barbados. Sort how these prizes will work. Then you have six weeks in which to double our model numbers then another six weeks to double that number again."

"But -"

"No butas ! J.F.D.I !"

"What does J.F.D.I. mean ?" Someone asked nervously.

"Just - Fucking - Do - It !"

Was I proud of myself ? Yes I was. No longer self-conscious about my youth I had handled the day like a star. Robbie sorted and actually happy with the outcome. Webcam staff having received a kick up their arses also sorted. Nigel you will be so proud of me but I am missing you my lover.

In the hurly burly of the day I continued keeping myself busy. After the meeting with the cam team I went round the estate poking my nose into every area, speaking with everyone I could find asking what was happening and thanking them for their efforts.

Lady Patricia arrived, I do find it hard to call Nigel's mother Pat, and enthused about the galleries.

Captain Ralph wanted to show me how the renovations on the pirate ship were going along.

I retreated to my friend Kai's office at the gatehouse and spent an hour relaxing and chatting. When I had first met Kai this was s sad empty place and now it was smiling and alive, every week more staff members were coming to work with us and it would not be long before the whole estate was packed with holiday guests. Packed that is if each area of our developing empire could sell the places. At least Mum and Dad would be with us for the grand opening. I made a note in my mind to tell Mum that she was not allowed to call me Benjamin in front of anyone. God how I hate that name.

I asked after Kai's family. "Why don't you bring your children over ? let them swim in one of the pools."

"I thought Sam lords was an adult only resort."

"It will be when we are open but you'd be welcome to bring them over any time now."

"Thank you."

"I'm sure Captain Ralph would love to let them play on the pirate galleon and Angela is now making test flights with the helicopter so they could have a flight with her."

Yes, the helicopter was there, and the London buses and the Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and the other cars shipped over from England. All have our Sam Lord logo on them although I am not sure it looks quite right on the Rolls Royce.

I had carefully planned my evening, I was going to keep busy right up to the time I fell asleep. I purchased ten thousand dollars of webcam credits and fully intended to spend them on the models who were broadcasting. With Nigel I had spent a successful time broadcasting, now I was going to put myself into the position of a customer.

Before I met Nigel I had played with so many other guys, I suppose it would have been fair to describe me as a bit of a slut. Slightly ashamed of it now I used to say: If all of the cocks I have known were place one on top of another they would rival the world's tallest building. Now sex was a thing of the past, Nigel had replaced it with love. His body belonged exclusively to mine and mine was his alone. I had no desires for anyone anymore, watching naked webcam performers was an academic exercise and would not bring me anything other than the satisfaction of supporting our new team members.

I asked broadcasting staff to give me a list of all new performers who had registered in the last twenty four hours. They were:

Robert Fox, Dougal Wolfan, a duo Kit & Eric and Leo Cub.

"Is that all ?" I demanded and expressing my disappointment. "You are going to have to do a lot better than that !"

"We are working on it."

"Well work harder ! Get hold of them all and do what every you can to see they are on line tonight. If they don't they will miss out on a big customer tip. Tell them !"

I was angered by the broadcasting team and in no frame of mind to log in to our site. It was probably too early anyway so I decided to go for a walk.

I had not gone far when I met up with Angela, our helicopter girl.

"I was just coming to find you," she said.

"Really ?"

"Absolutely. You've not been up for a flight with us yet and tomorrow we are going on a longer flight, we'll be away all day, as part of our test programme. Two pilots and the cabin crew member, it would be great to have a passenger. Please come."

"Why not. Where are we going ?"

"Trinidad."

"That sounds lovely, thanks for the invitation, who are the other passengers ?"

"Just you."

"Oh let's have some more, make it a party and worth your while."

"Who ?"

"I think Yvette should come and bring her cameras. Mr Geeky, he deserves a break - he works his bollocks off so it would be good for him. Captain Ralph, he deserves a trip. Kai of course. And Lady Patricia, she's on the island so let's take her. I could not bring myself to call Nigel's mother Pat."

"That's good. Nine o'clock at the helipad, will you tell them all."

"Yes, leave it with me."

"They'll need to bring their passports."

"Of course."

"When's Nigel coming back ? he has not been up for a flight yet."

"Another week I am afraid."

"You must be missing him terribly."

I nodded as a lump came into my throat.

"Well we will give you a special day tomorrow then you can send him a long e-mail and tell him all about it."

I asked Angela about her time working in Cam4You and told her of the problems I was having.

"Why do you think I wanted out ? It isn't just Cam4You it's the whole webcam industry, make as much as you can from the models then throw them away. Your problem is Robbie, or it was I hear you have moved him out, he tried to do everything himself so the staff got lazy and did nothing."

"Things are going to change from now on."

"Good for you, if you get the models on side and make them feel valued you could take performers away from all then other networks. Remember it is better to have one hundred models making one dollar each than one model making one hundred dollars."

"Oh I agree with that."

"Robbie didn't, he always chased after the big earners."

Nigel and I had been throwing money in all directions with little chance of anything coming back before the resort opened but if I threw money at webcams now money would come back now. I explained to Angela what I had in mind.

"That site need a refreshing person at its head, because Robbie insisted on doing everything himself it has been operating with the brakes on."

I thought about asking Angela to join me for my customer time on Cam4You but decided I would prefer to be on my own. I had the kitchen put me up a large plate of sandwiches and snacks, enough to last me into the night. How long would it take me to spend $10,000 ?

I decided to call myself CyberBuddy and set up a customer profile. I have to admit I was nervous as I logged in. There was a time when I would have found this to be a horny experience, one where my pants would have found it hard to contain my cock. Not so now. Oh god I was missing Nigel.

I logged in and found there were seventy male performers on-line. I scanned quickly to see who among the list of new performers was there. I found Leo Cub. I went into his room.

Immediately I liked the guy. he was not the usual type of webcam performer. To describe him as chubby would be a little on the side of inaccuracy. Fat but obviously comfortable with his body and I liked that. There is a demand right across the Internet for chubbies. From the number of people in his room I could see he was a demand we needed to do our level best to fill.

"Hi Leo," I typed.

He did not answer but so many were typing messages he could not answer them all.

"Hey Leo have you lost your webcam virginity yet ? Has anyone tipped you or taken you into a private show ?"

"No, not yet," he replied.

"Then please allow me to take it from you. I'll not take you into a show as there are lots of guys here waiting to do that but here's a welcome gift. Something to say we are pleased to have you in Cam4You."

With that I threw in one thousand dollars.

He could not believe his eyes and started to thank me.

A model can communicate with those in his room by typing text or speaking, the voyeur customers can only type. Leo spoke words to me.

"Hey mate," I replied, "it's cool. Tell you what, I'll come back in an hour and what ever these guys here have spent with you I'll quadruple."

He was lost for words.

"Forget me Leo, concentrate on giving these guys a good time and I'll be back in an hour."

I felt good. That was a warm welcome which would set the model's chat room on fire. Customers would pick up on what I had done and gossip it all over the forum. Eventually this would spread beyond our site and into the wider webcam community. But one tip was not going to be enough, I looked to see who else was on-line.

Dougal Wolfan - let's see what he is up to.

Dougal was actually in a money-making private show so I paid to voyeur on what was happening.

That was different ! Dougal was shaving his body. he had a busy room with lots of people paying to watch.

I am slightly more hairy than Nigel but not with the fur Dougal had. I don't think I would have the courage to take soap and a razor to shave my chest. When he moved down to take away his pubes that certainly deserved an award for bravery. Without saying anything to upset the show I threw in one thousand dollars and left.

Broadcasting appeared to have done its job, all of the new models were now on-line.

I went next to look at the duo of Kit and Eric. When Nigel and I had broadcast as a duo the fact that two lads were on-line together was a major draw for customers. Their room was packed and they too were in a private show.

If the model side of our operation was in need of attention the customer community was strong. It had only been a few minutes since I had given out my first tip to Leon and already when I went into Kit and Eric's room there was a buzz of excitement as people were telling Kit and Eric I was the big tipper.

Even though they were performing I decided to type a message, perhaps more for the customers to read than for the lads themselves.

"Hey I actually own this website," I typed. "Well with my friend Nigel. I've been checking out the new broadcasters and making some welcome gifts to those joining the network. There are two of you so I guess I had better give you double. What do you say ?"

"That would be kind of you," Kit said.

"Thanks," Eric added.

"Here's two thousand for you," I typed. "Use it to have some fun."

Again I left as soon as I had thrown the money in. I would have liked to stop and watch the stir it created among the customers but by pulling out I let them do all the marketing work for me.

Five new models joining the site today, how long before the rumours take over and spread to other cam sites ? How long before their models defect to us ?

One model left - Robert Fox and yes he was on-line as well.

Robert was broadcasting as a slaveboy which is not my thing, I have never properly understood it. I looked at his broadcast profile, he had done a damn good job setting it up.

We was working his room well, god what a smile he had on his face - obviously enjoying himself. he was asking the voyeurs who wanted to own him for the evening.

Barbados has, of course, grown and developed its wealth by the sweat of slaves. Sam Lord's had originally been a plantation with many slaves. My friend Kai was descended from slaves. Some how I could not get this out of my mind as I watched Robert being a slave on cam. But where my mind was failing what he was doing was working for those in his room. Good luck to him. I threw in the $1,000 tip.

So that was all of the new performers. I still had $5,000 left.

My original plan had been to surf my way round some of the more established models but decided not to. Instead I went back to Leo Cub's room as I had promised. He had done well since I had first been there.

What the heck - I threw in the remaining $5,000 for him.

Then I typed up a message which instructed broadcasting to send out to all models saying between now and the middle of September I would pick out one performer every week to invite them to the grand opening of Sam Lord's. They would come as my guests with all expenses paid.

The grand opening - life would change dramatically one we had guests here. Nigel and I had started something AND MORE with this project. I could not wait for the grand opening. I could not wait for Nigel to come back from England.

Beautiful, beautiful Barbados,

Gem of the Caribbean Sea.

Come back to my island Barbados -

Come back to my island and me.

Come back Nigel - come back soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - TRINIDAD - Ben writing

"We are planning weekly trips to Trinidad," Angela explained. "There are two islands which make up Trinidad and Tobago, we will be making a short flight to Trinidad. Shall we get on board."

Lady Patricia, Mr Geeky, Kai, Captain Ralph, Yvette and I gathered with Angela at the small helipad and prepared to board. The other pilot and cabin crew member were already onboard.

"It's only a very short flight, when we land we will be going on a short sight-seeing trip before time for shopping, lunch and taking off again. We will then circle the island and head home."

"Sounds like a good trip."

"I do want to find something to buy as a special gift for Nigel, perhaps I may find something today."

"Something for one multi-millionaire to give to another multi-millionaire."

I smiled.

"I did see something a bit special when I was there last week, I wonder if it is still there."

"What is it ?"

"Wait until we get to the shop, it may be gone by now and I would not want to disappoint you."

We boarded the aircraft and took our seats. None of us were likely to hijack the helicopter but to meet regulations the two pilots were locked away in the cockpit. the six of us occupied half of the passenger cabin.

This was my first time in a helicopter, I thought it would be very noisy so was quite surprised at how little sound the engine made when Angela started it up. Even more strange was the sensation of a vertical take off but soon we were flying straight and level away from Barbados and towards Trinidad.

"Ladies and gentlemen this is Angela one of your pilots for the flight to Trinidad today, beside me in the captain's seat is Alex. This will be a short flight so enjoy the ride. Do not unfasten your seatbelts as we expect to be cleared to land at Port of Spain Heliport as soon as we approach the island."

The one and only cabin crew member checked each passenger's seat belt and offered us a glass of champagne, rather early in the day and even if you subscribe to Nigel's theory about champagne preventing jet-lag there was not likely to be any on a fifty minute flight.

The heliport was small but busy, we passed through a very simple passport checkpoint then climbed aboard a waiting mini-'bus. For the next hour we sped round different parts of the island while Angela gave a commentary and pointed all manner of things to us. Unlike our own island this was quite industrial, not quite the paradise where we lived. Finally the mini-bus parked up at a market.

"We have one hour here for you to browse the stalls and pick up some bargains, meet back here at twelve then we can all head for lunch. Ben you come with me, I'll show you that gift for Nigel."

Bob Marley songs blared from many of the stalls, way before my time, he died before I was born, but I do know that he came from Jamaica and not Trinidad. Yvette, Mr geeky and Kai went their own ways but Pat and Captain Ralph followed Angela and I.

"This way."

She took us away from the main market and the bustle of the crowd, we headed down a side street lined with bric-a-brac and junk shops. At the far end was an antique shop that stood out like a prize rose in a nettle bed.

"Just look at this," pat exclaimed furiously pointing at the window.

"That is what we have some to see. Thank goodness it is still here."

A whit jacket was being modelled by a manikin.

"I would never have believed it," Pat was overtaken. "In Christies or Sotheby's perhaps but in a tiny shop like this !"

"It's a jacket," I said.

"Come here you silly boy." She tugged me by the arm. "Look."

Owned by Edward Duke of Windsor. Full provenance. The label declared.

"Nigel's father would die to own that."

"I told you it was special," Angela said.

"Would he like it ?" I asked.

"It's a piece of history. It was owned by Edward VIII who abdicated to marry Mrs Simpson."

"I know who The Duke of Windsor was," I replied making sure nobody thought I was ignorant, something I would later show and make a fool of myself."

"It's by Davies and Son of Saville Row, London," the shop owner explained. "It was part of his wardrobe when he was Governor of The Bahamas. When he left the Caribbean the duke gave a lot of his clothing to his servants and staff members. This item was given to his driver who later came to drive for a government official here in Trinidad. His daughter married a local man then settled here, the jacket has been in the family ever since."

"So why is it being sold now ?"

"Sadly the family needs the money, as simple as that."

Captain Ralph was on the other side of the gallery enthusiastically looking at something or other. Pat's eyes were rapidly scanning the entire shop contents.

"What is the price ?" I asked.

"Twenty-five thousand dollars US."

Angela let out a gasp of shock. Pat knew how to play a situation like that and kept her cool, she had a mind to but far more than a jacket. I had learned from Nigel and knew exactly how to respond.

"Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state in Trinidad and Tobago, not Barak Obama," I began. "America may think it rules the world but they do not rule my wallet so would you like to give me the price in real money ?"

"Actually young man Trinidad and Tobago may be part of the British Commonwealth of Nations but the queen is not head of state. That position is held by Anthony Carmona President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago."

"Ah..."

Pat came to my rescue. "Give me some of your little sold stickers will you, I am interested in a number of pieces you have here for my own gallery. Not my gallery, actually there are five of them, they belong to my son and Ben here I just run them. Give me twenty, no better make it thirty. I will put them on items that interest me then you can go round and calculate some prices. Keep everything in pounds. My husband is a member of the British House of Lords where there lordships are protective of tradition and in their minds America is nothing but a bunch of regenerate colonists."

"Ben, Ben, come here and look." Captain Ralph interrupted. "Could we have these ?"

"They are from a British warship from the time of King George II"

"So they will be priced in pounds," I tried to retrieve the situation.

"Angela could you fly these back to Sam Lords, they would look fantastic either side of the jetty ?"

Perhaps the penny dropped, or perhaps the owner thought this was some bizarre practical joke. I could see his mind working.

"We couldn't take them today even if Ben agrees to buy them," Angela said, "not will passengers on board. We could take the seats out and come back another day if they could be shipped to the heliport."

"And pack any Items I put stickers on," Pat smiled.

"If I decide on the jacket I will take it with me."

"You are the Barbados people," the owner of the shop said, you are from Sam Lords."

"I am Ben," I said trying to regain some control over my gaffe about who was head of state for Trinidad, "This is Lady Patricia who runs Barbados galleries, Angela here is my helicopter pilot and this gentleman is Captain Ralph the admiral of our fleet."

"So you have heard of us," Pat added.

"Who in the Caribbean has not heard of you !"

"Do these cannon actually work ?" Ralph eagerly enquired.

"I doubt they have been fired for several hundred years but there is no reason why not if you could find shot for them,"

"We could fire coconuts ! Come on Ben we have to get these. Imagine firing them out to sea. BOOM !"

"I hate to break up the party," Angela said, "but we have to meet the others for lunch soon."

"Let me run round with these stickers then we'll be back after lunch for your prices."

"You won't sell the jacket to anyone while we have gone will you ?"

"No I promise."

The table Angela had booked a table for us in the centre of town. From the menu I selected something the waiter told me was typical for Trinidad:

Curry Chicken skewer served with Eggplant Relish and Tomato chutney vinaigrette

"What is this ?" Pat asked.

"Ah madam Cascadu - that is a small fresh water fish. Legend says that if you eat it you will certainly come back to Trinidad again."

"That is good, I will have some."

It was lovely sitting down to eat with friends, if only Nigel had been there. God I was missing him. Another five days before he was due back.

"I think we should take that place over," Pat declared, "make it part of Barbados Art."

"But it is in Trinidad and we are * Barbados* Art."

"So ?"

"Besides Peter and Russell would have a fit if we spent more money."

"Spent your money ? Besides now I have eaten this cascadu I am destined to return."

"But -"

"But me no buts young Ben. Some people will tell you that is a quote from Shakespeare but it's only about two hundred years old, younger than your cannon Ralph, Scott used it in his novel The Antiquary."

What ever was she talking about ?

"You are going to be a dear Ben aren't you ? Let Ralph have his guns."

"If Angela can fly them back to Barbados you can have them." I gave in. "But if they explode when you fire them and you kill yourself please do not blame me !"

"So he can have his old guns, why can't I have my gallery ?"

I went to say something but before I could open my mouth to utter a word she pressed the matter home. "I have not lived all these years as the wife of Nigel's father without knowing how to get my own way. Ben you do not stand a chance !"

"Can I eat my lunch please ?" I pleaded.

So Captain Ralph got his cannon, Pat negotiated twenty-five purchases, Angela arranged to fly back in five days and bring everything back home. On the flight home I say next to Pat.

"That guy will never sell and even if he does look at all the stock, we could never find the money for that."

"It's the stock I am after. We need far more than we have and until the resort opens with people coming to the island to paint then ask us to sell their work I am, struggling to fill all of the galleries."

"Offer him a franchise deal," I suggested, "take as much stock as you can sell, put it in all of our galleries on a percentage basis. Get him to rename his shop if you can so it becomes Barbados Art but would Barbados work in Trinidad ?"

"When I have finished Barbados Art will be world famous. We could open a branch at the North Pole and it would work."

I enjoyed my day among friends but now I was heading back to my room, my lonely room without Nigel. As I turned the key in the lock I could hear water running, hell had I left a tap running ? No that was not a tap it was the shower, why was someone in my shower ?

"Hello Ben, how was your day in Trinidad ?"

"Nigel !"

As he stepped out of the shower I rushed forward to hug him tight.

"Careful I am all wet."

"I don't care. Come here, I have missed you so much."

We helf on to each other for an age. "Look my clothes are all wet, perhaps I should take them off."

Our naked embrace started to make up for the time we had been apart. The physical act of love making is just one part of a relationship, being together and enjoying one another's presence is another.

"I don't ever want us to be apart again," I said. "I can't stand it when you are not with me. I am going to have to go to San Francisco soon, Nigel please come with me. Please."

"Of course I will. I think we should plan things so we are never apart like this again."

"Hey I have a present for you."

"And I have brought you something from England."

"Perhaps we should dry off first," I suggested. Much of the water from Nigel had transferred itself to me even though I had taken my clothes off and, like Nigel, was completely naked."

"Good idea but don't let's put anything on after."

I gave Nigel the jacket. Carefully taking it from the box in which it had been packed I explained its royal heritage and all about the antique shop in Port of Spain. "I have all the provenance," I said. "Pat says it's very important."

"Oh Ben this is marvellous, it must have cost you a fortune." Nigel put it on, a perfect fit. He paraded about the room stark naked save for The Duke of Windsor's white jacket. What ever would the former king have thought ? What would the present royal family say if they could see him ?

"I adore it Ben, I shall wear it for our grand opening in October and I shall wear it for our wedding."

"Just like that ?" I smiled. "Or will you be putting some trousers on as well ?"

"Perhaps."

Nigel gave me a long passionate kiss then slapped my bottom just once. I do like it when he does that.

"Just one thing," I added. "Pat wants us to buy the antique shop in Trinidad and turn it into a branch of Barbados Art."

"Really ? She's something else isn't she !"

"I think I have persuaded her to work with the owner in a franchise deal rather than try to take it over."

"Clever you, as ever the brains of our business. Now let me give you what I have brought for you from England."

Carefully I started to unwrap the parcel, first removing the brown paper then layers of bubble plastic.

"What is it ?"

When I saw the painting I fell in love with it in an instant. "Nigel this is wonderful. Oh thank you."

"I thought you would like it."

"You and me on horseback riding though the waves. Let's hang this in our bedroom once the big house is finished."

"Yes then we can dream together of riding naked."

"Perfect. Everything is so perfect for us isn't it Nigel ?"

"From what I am told we will be moving into the big house much earlier than anticipated, in just a few weeks time, the builders are way ahead of schedule."

Nigel took my hand. "Come and sit beside me, I want to suggest something to you."

"What is it ?"

"Don't look so worried, good news. Let's talk about our wedding, I have been thinking."

"Yes."

"There care no civil ceremonies here on the island. we would have to go back to England for that and personally I would rather we had a ceremony here."

"Me too, our lives are in Barbados not England."

"A civil ceremony in England would only formalise what we already have so I suggest we write our own ceremony and hold it here on the island. It will have a much deeper meaning than any legal cold formality back ion England."

"Yes it would but how do you see it working ?"

"How about this ? We both write a declaration, a vow or a promise if you like to call it that, which we read aloud in a ceremony before witnesses. We bind those promises by exchanging rings. Then we can have a big party, and when I say big I mean a BIG party."

"I like the sound of that Nigel, I mean the ceremony. And the party of course. How soon can we do this ?"

"How does a week on Saturday sound ?"

"And I know exactly where we can buy the rings. The shop in Trinidad has a case full of antique rings."

"And I know where we can go for our honeymoon."

"Do you ?"

"Let's sort out San Francisco and the meeting you need there, keep it brief then drive north out of the city up The Redwood Highway and search for Bigfoot."

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Nigel writing

Our dynamic finance and management team of Russell and Peter came up with a very clever system which they had installed into every cash till, every on-line transaction and every card payment terminal right across all of our businesses. Business interests in England, here in Barbados and throughout the art gallery chain, when Guyzspank in San Francisco started to take in money it too would be included.

Brilliant.

At any money in time we could log in and view the money coming in, it was fun to watch the figures constantly rolling up and up and up faster than the eye could take them in. We could narrow things down to any one operation, compare figures hour by hour, day by day, week by week and eventually month and year by month and year.

Ben suggested it had been introduced to try and regular our spending but I think he was being just a little too cynical.

We decided to change the date for our wedding, putting it back by a week so we had more time to prepare for what was going to be the most important day in both of our lives. Peter and Russell insisted we extend our honeymoon holiday.

"We can manage perfectly well here without you both and the same goes for England. Pat is in control of all the galleries. You deserve time together, take three weeks."

"We could never be away for that long ?"

"Yes you could."

"Could we ?"

After looking at a map of California and adjoining states we decided on a grand tour starting in San Francisco and ending in Los Angeles. With Ben doing all of the driving we would take in the Giant Redwoods, Yosemite National Park, pan for God at Sutter's Creek right where the 1849 gold rush started, fly down The Grand Canyon, take in Tijuana in Mexico and of course spend a day in Disneyland.

"Have a great time," Russell said, "but please do not come back saying you have put in a bid to buy Mickey Mouse or taking a franchise in a silver mine."

"Funny -"

We agreed that Captain Ralph should host a small gathering on the galleon where we would exchange our promises. Yvette would be our official photographer throughout. Angela we chose to be the one who would conduct the ceremony. There would be two witnesses, one we would each select. After this small formal affair there would be a giant party on the beach to which everyone would be invited.

"Have you decided who you want as your witness ?" I asked Ben.

"Kai."

"I thought you would want him."

"When I first came here and you were back in England he looked after me, a lonely little boy in a strange place. He has been a good friend to me ever since. What about you ?"

"I think I have decided," I said. "It is almost certainly going to be Pat."

Ben smiled. "Why am I surprised about that ? You and she have something special going."

"She's not the wicked step mother I knew in my childhood, this is a quite different lady. She is my big sister now and yours of course."

"I like Pat," Ben agreed. "Any chance of a similar transformation of attitude towards your father ?"

"Never !" I exclaimed. "Not never, no way !"

"Better change the subject," Ben smiled. "What about names ? Do I become Ben Dean or what ?"

I had an idea on the subject and had been thinking something through. "This place is Sam Lord yeh, named after Samuel Hall-Lord. So why don't we legally change our names to Nigel Hall-Lord and Ben hall-Lord ?"

Ben thought for a moment then said. "Two things. My name is actually Benjamin, not Ben, but only my mother calls me Benjamin and I hate it. I suppose I would have to become Benjamin Hall-Lord."

"No, you could change it to Ben as part of the deed poll if you wanted to."

"That's good, then I am in favour of it. But the Hall-Lord bit, the Lord part. Does that mean on your father's death you become Lord Hall-Lord ? Sounds a bit silly."

I laughed kindly. "It's not an hereditary title so when he pops off the title dies with him."

Ben's eye twinkled, he knew that, this was a little joke. "So I would not have to become Lady Hall-Lord or even Lord Hall-Lady !"

Oh I love Ben.

Angela had arranged a day to return to Trinidad in order to pick up Captain Ralph's antique cannon. The shop owner had moved them together with Pat's purchases to the heliport. Pat wanted to make more purchases and there would be room for Ben and I to visit the store to select the rings we would give to one another as seals for our vows.

I chose a gold ring which scrolled to a single diamond set on a background of lapis lazuli. Ben's choice was a simple decorative ring also made of gold. There was no provenance with either, we had a little bit of fun speculating on their history. the history behind the two rings may be unknown but their future is certain.

"So what are you boys going to wear " Pat asked. "Any thoughts ?"

"I am obviously going to wear the jacket Ben gave to me."

"Only the jacket ? Nothing else ?" Ben sniggered. "You'd look good only wearing the jacket and nothing else !"

"I need some trousers to go with it !"

"No shirt, shoes or socks then and what about underpants ?"

"What about you Ben ?"

"I have been thinking about that," he said. "I would like to reflect the national colours of Barbados - blue, yellow and black. Perhaps a blue suit, yellow shirt and a black tie."

"Not a black tie," Pat suggested, "black ties are for funerals, better to have a black shirt and a yellow tie."

"You could wear a yellow suit, black shirt and a blue tie," I proposed. "With shoes, socks and underpants to match !"

"If I can be so bold, " the shop owner, whose name was George, interrupted. "A friend of mine runs a gentleman's outfitters just along the way, I am sure he could help you."

"We have to get back," I explained, "Angela will have filed a flight plan."

"I'll call her," Pat insisted. "I am sure she can file a new one."

And so it was, piece by piece arrangements were being made for our big day. Pat assumed control, Ben did not show any objection so I just let her get on with making the arrangements.

As each day passed I became more excited. This was going to be the most important day of my life.

It was arranged that guests would assemble on the beach to be served drinks and canapé. At ten-thirty in the morning Pat and Kai would escort Ben and I down the jetty to where Angela would be waiting to conduct the ceremony. After this we would return to the beach and the party.

"I do not want you seeing things as we set up," Pat said, "so you are coming to my house for the afternoon before and then stay the night. In separate rooms !"

I want to tell you about one part of that night at Pat's home then as the story of our special day is told Ben and I have worked together to record all of our happiness.

When we reached Pat's home I was horrified to find that my father was there. He smiled nervously when he saw Ben and I. "Patricia would you be so kind as to leave me alone with the boys."

He indicated for us to sit down. I bit my tongue and refrained from saying what was in my mind. I did not want anything to spoil things. Why was he there ?

"I have been trying hard to find a gift for you but it is not easy to buy something special for two people who have everything. So I want you to have these."

He handed us each a book.

"This is a hard copy of my first novel. Please open it to the first page, the dedication page."

It read: To the two most important young men in my life. To Nigel and Ben with all my love. Dad.

"That appears in every copy printed and every download version. I want you both to know I mean every word it says."

"Thank you My Lord," Ben said with a tear in his eye.

"Dad will do," he said. "How about you Nigel ? Do you think you will ever be able to call me Dad ?"

"Thank you," I said then added the word, "Dad."

"This is probably not how you expected to spend the day before your wedding but this evening some of your friends have arranged a stag night for you but now we have a little celebration lunch for you and to share it we have to rather special guests."

The door opened and Pat brought through two people into the room.

"Mum ! Dad !" Ben squealed. "What are you doing here ?"

"You did not think we would miss our son's special day did you ? Peter and Patricia arranged it all. And your brothers and sister are here, they are staying up at your place - Sam Lord's and will be with you tomorrow."

Ben was overjoyed, so much happiness at seeing his family after such a time apart. "Pat," he said, "there is no reason why I can't have more than one witness tomorrow is there ?"

"None at all."

"Mum, Dad - will you join my friend Kai and be witnesses for me tomorrow ?"

I looked at my own father, Lord Peter Dean, a man who a few moments ago I had called Dad for the first time in my life. "Dad, it would mean a lot to me if you would be one of my witnesses."

I swear I saw my father brush away a tear.

BEN AND NIGEL NOW WRITING TOGETHER

We gathered at the path leading down to the beach. Taking one another's hands we said "Let's do this."

As we started to walk down music played from loudspeakers hung high in the palm trees. A beautiful pan pipes melody of I Just Called To say I Love You.

The Pirate Beach was packed with people: all of the staff, those who had families on the island had brought them along, all of the construction team - builders, carpenters, painters they were all there, the lawyer who had acted when we purchased Sam Lord's. George from Trinidad, all of the sauna managers from England, the managers of our garden centre, restaurant and hotel. Everyone was dressed in clothing which even at that hour just had to be uncomfortably hot.

Bunting and flags, all in the Barbadian colours of yellow, black and blue, were everywhere. By the time we reached the jetty we were both crying with giant tears of happiness. As we stepped from the jetty to the galleon Captain Ralph's two cannon boomed as they fired two coconuts out towards the reef.

On the deck of the galleon everywhere was festooned with flowers. Captain Ralph, splendidly dressed in his version of a pirate captain's uniform saluted. Two of Kai's children stepped forward and placed a garland of flowers about our necks.

Angela threw her arms wide "Welcome, welcome to you all who have come here to share this special time in the lives of Ben and Nigel, two men who mean so very much to us all. I am going to start by asking the parents to say a few words."

Nigel's father took Pat's hand. "Nigel, Ben we want you to know how very proud we are of you both. We love you and wish you every possible happiness for your long future together."

"And now Ben's Mum and Dad."

"Nigel we only met you for the very first time yesterday but it is so clear why you mean so much to our son. We are proud to have you joining our family."

"And now it is time for our two friends to make their promises and exchange rings. We will start with Nigel."

Nigel took a deep breath and fought back his overwhelming emotions.

"My very special Ben - I want you to accept this ring from me to bind us together in body and in spirit. In front of our witnesses I promise to share my life and my love with you until the end of my days. Thank you for being a part of my life. Kai, Ben's mother and father, my own Mum and Dad please witness my promise."

"And now Ben will make his promise."

"I expected to have my good friend Kai as my witness to the promise I am about to make, I am so happy that he is being joined by my Mum and Dad. So I call on you all, together with Nigel's mother and father, to stand witness to my promise."

"Nigel I want you to take this ring from me. Into it I pour my love for you, as you wear it let that love flow out and cover you. The hand of Destiny brought us together and I know the hand of Destiny will be with us for ever."

There was a loot of clapping and more than a few tears.

"To confirm their union," Angela explained, "Ben and Nigel have changed their surnames. Allow me now to introduce you to Mr Nigel Hall-Lord and Mr Ben Hall-Lord. Time now to return to the beach and the rest of the guests."

As we stepped back on to the jetty the cannons fired again and two more coconuts few out to sea. Music started again, this time Ken Dodd singing Happiness, something from an era way before our time but something everyone knows. We have since thought that the words were a little incongruous saying success is not measured in a man's money but his happiness. We are both incredibly wealthy but our happiness is a million times greater than all the money we have.

Food was nearing completion, the smell of barbecue wafted everywhere. All of our guests had changed into more suitable attire for a beach party, no longer wearing suits and formal dress.

Pat took the microphone. "Some of us need to get changed then it will be carnival time but before we do, everyone does has a glass of champagne ? Yes. Please raise your glasses and toast Ben and Nigel."

"Ben and Nigel."

Returning to the beach no doubt many guests eyes turned to Lord Peter Dean in his shorts and colourful open shirt, trying to picture him in his wig and robes and a Law Lord. Some may have heard him whisper to Nigel, "Well done my boy." Then to Ben, "Proud to have you as a son."

Our own resident steel band was playing but the music changed as a parade of brightly coloured carnival costumed men and women danced among the guests. The party was raised to a new level."

"This is amazing," Nigel said to Pat. "Where did you find these wonderful people ?"

"Not down to me," Pat smiled. "Kai's wife and Captain Ralph put this together."

We had a perfect day, an extra perfect day which we were able to share with so many special and lovely friends. Not one moment of it could have been better.

With dusk a bright light shone up into the sky from the pirate galleon. A beautiful song played CANDLE ON THE WATER.

I'll be your candle on the water My love for you will always burn I know you're lost and drifting But the clouds are lifting Don't give up you have somewhere to turn

I'll be your candle on the water 'Till ev'ry wave is warm and bright My soul is there beside you Let this candle guide you Soon you'll see a golden stream of light

A cold and friendless tide has found you Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down I'll paint a ray of hope around you Circling in the air Lighted by a prayer

I'll be your candle on the water This flame inside of me will grow Keep holding on you'll make it Here's my hand so take it Look for me reaching out to show As sure as rivers flow I'll never let you go I'll never let you go I'll never let you go...

As things drew to a close Pat took the microphone again. "This is Sam Lord's and now Ben is Ben Hall-Lord with Nigel being Nigel Hall-Lord. There is one guest here in spirit who is looking down on us - the original Samuel Hall-Lord. Our musicians are now going to bring our party to an end with something just for him."

We went to our bed to relive in our dreams the whole day over and over. Ahead of us lay our holiday in California. The management team instructed us to forget all about Barbados, everything was going to be in safe hands. Indeed it was.

A holiday adventure lay ahead of us. But that is another story. Before we tell you all about it Ben wants to say a few words then to report on our visit to Robbie In San Francisco.

BEN WRITING

Destiny was smiling on Nigel and myself, everything we did was perfect. We were happy. All we touched worked like magic. *Problems *was not a word to be found in our dictionary of life.

Nigel was moving towards a reconciliation with his father and had built a strong relationship with his step-mother, Pat. My own mother had managed the day without once calling me Benjamin.

We had round us at Sam Lord's a team that consisted not only of employees but friends, special friends.

How fortunate I am, how lucky I want to an interview for that job as a driver. At that interview I met the love of my life. That love made me a full partner in our growing business empire. How perfect everything is.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO - Ben writing

In the very short time he had to put anything together Robbie had done a fantastic job. he had re-equipped the old Cam4You offices into the new Guyzspank studio. He had a small team of staff working round him, had a website built and ready to launch as soon as he had finished filming the needed content. He had converted space into accommodation rooms where models could stay during the time they were required for filming. He was bringing models in from right across the USA.

Well done Robbie !

Guyzspank was destined to be yet another exciting and profitable area of our business empire.

The journey from Barbados to San Francisco is not easy, far from it with no direct flight. We left the island in high spirits and full of joy generated by our special day. Although arduous the flight was a time of anticipation and looking forward to a three week holiday. Only as we lined up at immigration did we face the reality that we had business to transact before that holiday could begin.

Have you even been to the US ? If you have you will be only too familiar with the American idea of welcoming visitors to their country - IMMIGRATION !

To work as a US Immigration Officer the first basic requirement is to have a defective character, one where rudeness comes natural. Never appreciate the fact that guests to your country have just come off a long flight, one where they are tired and simply want to get away from the airport and head to their final destination. Do nothing, absolutely nothing, to make then feel at ease. Be as off-hand and unfriendly as you can.

Once past this unpleasant experience most of the time a visitor spends in the Us will be a happy experience but US Immigration is set up to make the visitor feel he is entering the world's most totalitarian state rather than one subscribing to the ideas of liberty. Believe me we had the very, very worst and evil immigration official of the lot. His attitude made us want to turn round and spend the next three weeks somewhere in a civil war zone of the world. remind me to check the CV of everyone applying to wok at Sam Lords to ensure they have never been employed by US Immigration.

The officious and unwelcoming entry to the USA was immediately reversed and thrown away from our minds when we met Robbie who was standing patiently in the arrivals area. His face beamed when he saw us, rushing forward he embraced us one by one.

"Guys I am so happy to see you, thank you for coming, it is really good of you to fit me in before your holiday. I am so sorry I could not be with you yesterday but when you see what we have here you will understand why I could not get away."

This was not the Robbie I knew. Wow !

"This way to the car. Pat told me to hire a car you could use for your holiday but as a little gift from me I want you to use mine. It's new - a British Range Rover. I only got it when I returned to San Francisco, it's ever so comfortable."

"Thank you, thank you very much."

When you have finished your trip I have arranged for you to leave it at the long stay car park in LAX, hand the keys to security and I'll go down to pick it up."

It was difficult to say anything as Robbie bubbled with excited conversation. Was this really the same man we had known before ?

"This way, here let me push your baggage cart. Now I have people waiting at base to meet you both: Jim - he's our web developer, Susan - our sales manager, damn she's good, Hugh - our cameraman and editor. Then we have four models staying over in the accommodation area while they make movies with us. Let me see if I can get their names right: Zak, Tyler, Billy and Donny. Yes. that's them. Everyone is simply dying to meet you both.

"You have done well Robbie."

"Thank you. I know this must be a pain for you, having to come here after your big day and before your holiday so the guys and I want to make your time with us a party. As soon as we get to Studio GS -"

"GS ?"

"Guyzspank - Studio Guyz Spank."

"Oh I see, of course."

"As soon as we get there you can unpack, settle in then we are going to take you out to start the party."

The entrance lobby of the old Cam4You offices, now StudioGS, was festooned with balloons and a giant banner declaring WELCOME NIGEL AND BEN. All of Robbie's team was there, including the four models, to greet us.

The VIP flat was much the same as we had known it. "What do you make of that ?" Nigel said to me as we closed the door behind us.

"Not quite the same guy is he ?"

"No, not at all. Looks like you changed him when you changed his job, you worked some magic on him. Well done Mr Hall Lord."

"Not at all Mr Hall-Lord. You up for going out with them all ? I have to admit I am rather tired."

"A shower will freshen you up."

"It would if I shared it with you !"

A shower may be invigorating but it is not as relaxing and wallowing in a hot bath, one with lots of frothy bubbles. A Jacuzzi is even better as the bubble push their way to the surface tickling round the body. I have not told Nigel but I have instructed the builders for our new home to install one. We are going to have some fun with that.

It was a tight fit putting two of us in the shower, so much the better. No room to soap ourselves meaning we had to don it to each other. A long, slow shower with plenty of lather, plenty of massage and deep kisses throughout. We emerged completely refreshed and no longer suffering from the fatigue of the journey.

"Let's go and join the others."

Robbie had booked a private room at a restaurant specialising in thick juicy steaks.

"I like mine well done." Nigel said.

"A bit like the way you prefer life to be."

"Absolutely. No point in having anything rare and underdone !"

"You two are younger than I imagined you would be." That was Billy, one of the spanking models.

"You were expecting two dirty old men then ?"

"He smiled.

"So how old are you ?"

"Twenty - three," Billy replied.

"Well that is older than me but he," I pointed to Nigel, " is older than you."

"And you own Guyzspank at such a young age," Zak added. "Wow ! Well done ! I wish I could be so lucky."

"Robbie owns a share in the studio," I explained. "It isn't all ours."

"But you also own other Internet companies."

"They do," Robbie explained before listing our enterprises.

"You guys must be billionaires !"

"Billionaires - no where close but millionaires - yes I would have to agree with that," Nigel said.

"I may be younger than you," I said, "but let me tell you something about life. It is not the money you have in your pocket that is important but what you do with it that counts."

"He is very profound," Nigel smiled. "That's why I have to spank his bottom now and then !"

"Thank you Nigel for giving away my secret ! So have you guys had your bottoms smacked on film yet ? Tell me what was it like ?"

"Filming starts tomorrow, today we have just been settling in."

"We'll be getting four or five movies from these lads," Robbie explained. "Tiger here will be kept very busy filming and editing."

"The real name is Hugh, Tiger is a nick name. We'll be getting some good footage from these lads."

"We all have nick names here," Susan explained, "He's Tiger and I am Pussy Cat but I tell you I am no pussy cat."

"Mine is Jolly Jim, the web developer. With the contributions from these lads we will have enough for the site to go live."

"Then it's down to me," Pussycat said. "Don't worry I will move you closer to becoming billionaires with the sales I shall generate. Trust me."

"You've built a good team here Robbie, well done."

"Thank you Ben, I should be thanking you for the opportunity."

"Just one thing. What's your nickname ?"

"That's for me to know and for you to find out !"

"Actually," Pussycat smiled, "It's* Dances With Wolves.*"

"Dances With Wolves ?"

"You know from the Kevin Costner movie."

I looked vague.

"Before your time," Robbie smiled. "Before your time."

"This evening we are having a bit of a run through of some ideas with the lads before filming tomorrow," Tiger Hugh explained. "Would you like to sit in on things ?"

"Is that OK with you lads ?" I looked at the four who all nodded in agreement.

"We want to get some general outdoor shots later in the evening. I want the lads jogging on the Golden Gate Bridge and riding the cable cars. I want to use these for background in the movies."

"Any skinny dipping in the bay ?" I suggested.

"There's sharks our there, "Zak exclaimed. "Don't want my manhood bitten off, besides I've already been circumcised."

"Oh Zak," Robbie giggled. "We are eating, spare us the details of your absent foreskin !"

"So Zak," Nigel said taking over the conversation, "let's forget about your cock for a moment, what made you want to be a spanking model ?"

"Well, I always like to have my arse cheeks slapped during sex so I thought I'd exploit it for some cash."

"And how did you find out about Guyzspank ?"

"Robbie's been all over social media so I checked out his recruiting website and here I am."

"And tomorrow your butt cheeks will become world famous !" Robbie added. "Now what does everyone want for desert ?"

"Peaches may be appropriate, " I suggested.

After we had eaten the team drove to the vista point on the North side of The Golden Gate Bridge. It was a weird sight, thick clods below the bridge.

"It's always like this in the summer," Robbie explained, "the cold air of the Pacific Ocean meeting the warmer waters of the Bay causes the fog."

It really did look strange.

For what felt like an age general background shots were taken looking across the Bay before two of the lads changed into shorts and trainers to be filmed jogging along the world's most famous bridge.

Then we moved to Fisherman's Wharf to film the other two climbing aboard the cable cars from where we road to China town and back.

"Don't let Pat find this place," I joked, "she'll want to open a branch of Barbados Art !"

"You know that San Francisco plays host to the world's biggest fetish even - Folsom Street Fair. You should come back for that, we are going to have a spanking booth there."

"When is it ?" Nigel asked.

"September twenty-first."

"That's so close to our grand opening at Sam Lord's, I doubt we will be able to get away."

"There's always next year. We'll be there."

"I thought Folsom was a prison," I said. "It's on our tour itinerary."

"This is FOLSOM STREET. Folsom Prison is not far from Sacramento. You should go there, it's a maximum security facility but at the same time it's a tourist attraction. You can buy crafts and paintings made by the inmates."

"Definitely don't tell Pat about that !"

"So will you be spanking us ?" Zak asked when we were back at Studio GS.

"Yeh go for it," Robbie added his approval.

Zak looked at the other three models who nodded their agreement.

I knew what my answer was going to be, as my eyes met Nigel's glance I had the confirmation I was seeking.

There was a time when I would have leaped at the opportunity but not any longer. I was quite comfortable with being a part of the production but not in front of the camera. I had no desire to touch any man but Nigel. Guyzspank was going to be a major success and I was happy to be a part of that. After all it had been my idea, I had put it together and I would give it my every support short of smacking a boy's bottom.

"Did you want to be in the filming ?" Nigel asked me later in the evening.

"No." I explained my feelings to my lover and with that put all thoughts of Guyzspank out of our heads while we made love.

The next day was destined to be hard and long with all the filming.

When it was all over the plan was for a post production party for the lads who would the next day be returning to their homes in different corners of the US ahead of other models coming in.

"If we make an early start," I said to Nigel, "we can be into the Redwoods and in search of Bigfoot before lunch time."

I had planned our route, from the Redwoods we would go to Sacramento where Angela told us there was the finest Chinese restaurant in the world. Sacramento is close to Folsom Prison which demanded a visit. We could then pan for gold, stop briefly at Lake Tahoe before climbing - well driving at least - up the Sierra Mountains and into Nevada. Time in Virginia City then cut across to Yosemite National Park. Via Death Valley to Las Vegas from where we could fly down the Grand Canyon. Next stop Los Angeles and Disneyland. I had planned we would be in Disneyland for Nigel's birthday. South to San Diego, cross the border into Mexico for a visit to Tijuana. Back up to Los Angeles and a flight home.

"That's some distance," Nigel said. "You OK for driving it all ?"

"Absolutely."

"I added everything up and it was a greater distance than flying home !"

"Is it, oh my god !"

"Good job you employed me as a driver ! Actually I have been thinking - It's a bit mean to dump Robbie's car in Los Angeles and make him come down to fetch it. Shouldn't we drive it back up to San Francisco then fly home from there ?

"If you are cool with all the driving."

"I'm cool. Just one condition."

"And that is ?"

"We make love every night."

"Oh I think we can manage that."

The website we were seeking to emulate was a fun production, the spanking was all mild and in no way violent. There was a sexual element which balanced perfectly the arse slapping which was what Robbie said the majority of customers wanted. There are sites where violence is the norm and while nothing illegal is taking place on these websites the line of reasonable content is overstepped by too much for our liking. Guyzspank was firmly in the FUN man2man spanking category.

Americans have some weird ideas about food, particularly what to eat for breakfast. In out honour Robbie had set normal early morning dining aside to serve up a full English breakfast with proper bacon, proper sausage and even friend bread. We sat down together to tuck in ahead of filming.

Zak appeared to be the self-appointed leader and spokesman for the models. "Do you have any jobs going in any of your other businesses ?" He asked.

"Such as ?" Nigel asked but before Zak could speak I added, "I believe we need a pig man on the farm back in England."

"I meant at your resort in Barbados."

"I know you do." Nigel smiled. "Don't mind Ben he has a strange sense of humour."

"Do I ?"

"We are recruiting people for the dining room as it happens, waiters and bar staff. I am not sure how many vacancies are left."

"You see we were talking last night," Zak waved his hand round the other three, "and if you have any jobs going we would all like to come and work for you."

I looked at each one in turn, four handsome yet cute young men. "I think Captain Ralph could use you four," I said.

"Who's Captain Ralph ?"

"He looks after our fishing launch, pirate galleon, motor speed boat and the diving school."

"Diving school ! Could we learn to dive ?"

"Skinny dipping ?" One of the others added.

"No. Willies have to be covered up at all times. And before you ask we do not have any sharks on our reef."

"Ralph isn't going to need four people," Nigel said. "He's already got a team round him."

"I know he has but at busy times he will still be stretched so could do with help assembling guests for the trips and we are still short of people for meeting and greeting at the airport, manning the buses for days out. We've only got the single cabin crew member for the helicopter, perhaps Angela could train them so they could help there as well."

"You've got a helicopter !"

"Oh yes. If you are a very good boy we may even let you clean the on-board toilets !"

Zak and Billy's video began with the footage we shot on the Golden Gate Bridge. Overnight Hugh had edited everything into the opening sequences. Back in the studio the two came in looking sweaty, thanks to a misting spray, and stripped down for a shower. A shower they took together. Initially they soaped and lathered themselves before beginning to play - sex play !

Billy was soon on his knees and taking Zak's cock into his mouth. Their sex play continued with Hugh unobtrusively moving the camera round with the action captured from all angles. the two lads were not acting, this was real.

Hugh let the action continue for a good ten minutes before his left hand moved behind his back to signal for Robbie to come on camera.

Robbie was playing the part of the spanker and did so most convincingly. Not just in the verbal telling off he gave the boys but the with the spanking that followed.

After ordering the naughty boys to towel themselves dry he began by putting Billy over his knee. Up to this point Hugh had let the camera roll non stop but now we were getting down to the real subject matter he stopped and started as he got close ups of both Billy face and his bottom. The camera cut to a nervous Zak waiting for his turn to be punished.

If the rest of our website's content was up to this standard we were on a winner.

The second film was a clever plot portraying everything as a dream. I have not watched hundreds of spanking videos but I doubt anyone, anywhere has produced anything as clever as this.

With a hard day of filming over Nigel suggested we go out to eat, the popular choice was - wait for it - McDonald's ! I am partial to a McDonald's burger but I do not go in for all the muck they slap over the meat to drown the taste. My burger of choice is a plain quarter pounder with cheese, served with a large portion of fries and an ice cold Coke.

"There's no branch of McDonald's on Barbados," Nigel explained. "Will you survive without it ? Barbados is only one of ten countries in the entire world where you will not find McDonald's."

"We can do our best," Zak replied.

"But we do have fluffy whipped ice cream, just like McFlurry," I added. "As much as you can eat from the free ice cream parlour within the resort."

"My father told me," Nigel said, "that former prime minister Margaret Thatcher was one of the chemists who helped develop whipped ice cream. So the ice cream in a Mc Flurry is a British invention and not American !"

"Who is Margaret Thatcher ?" Zak asked.

I have to confess I am not sure myself.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - SOME SPECIAL TIMES - Ben writing

If we were to try and record everything from our holiday that in itself would require a large book. Instead we have jotted down some notes covering some of the times which stick at the front of our minds. Everything, of course, was special but these are the extra special times. We forgot, with one or two exceptions, all about Barbados. We did not log into the app which allowed us to view the rolling sales figures indeed temptation did not ever seek to invite us to spy on what was happening.

We had presumed we would make love every day of our holiday but to do so while special was not beyond the ordinary. We, therefore, promised ourselves we would make love twice each day. Yes, we achieved that and some days exceeded it. There was one day when we hit a score of four.

We left our friends at Studio GS and headed north across The Golden Gate Bridge then up The Redwood Highway to the home of the world's tallest trees. One was so high we could drive along a path through the centre of it.

Sadly we did not spot Bigfoot.

Leaving The Giant Redwoods behind us we made it to Sacramento the capital city of California where we took time to visit Angela's favourite restaurant, California Fats. Fat has nothing to do with eating but is the name of the owner a Mr Fat. Only in America could an eating place be owned by a guy called Mr Fat.

We found that it was Sacramento where the Pony Express started but it was Sutter's Fort that pulled our attention.

Sutter's Fort was a trading post, one of many in its day which have now vanished without a trace. Sutter remains because of a water mill owned by the same John Sutter. When workers there found gold in the mill stream the 1849 gold rush started.

We paid our money at the visitors' centre to buy pans with which to seek our own gold. The shopkeeper showed us how to use the pans then said, "Good luck, find some gold and you may end up as millionaires !"

"Actually we are already millionaires," Nigel added.

The shop keeper smiled at the supposed joke then suggests. "Well become billionaires then."

"We are on our way," Nigel said.

"A way to go yet though," I added.

"We're closer than you think Ben. If all of our assets were liquidated we would probably have around three hundred million which even with a poor exchange rate makes us US dollar half billionaires."

"I guess you are right," I said. "I have not worked it out myself."

The shopkeeper, I suspect, thought this was a little joke from two wet behind the ears lads played out for his benefit then his eyes caught sight of Nigel's wrist and his Rolex. I watched him shoot a glance at my own time piece,

"Mine comes from Amazon," I giggled, "but my underpants are Haute couture. Want to see them ?"

He blushed then I could see his mind working. "You are not the two from Bar..."

"We are," Nigel stopped him in mid sentence. But how on earth did you know ? We are thousands of miles from home."

"I read a magazine article about you, or at least my wife did. She wants to book a holiday with you."

"Small world. Has our fame spread this far ? Oh god !"

"You've got an art gallery in Beverley Hills as well."

"We have."

It was a strange sensation, the hairs on the back of my neck started to prickle. How big were the odds against this happening ? Our finding someone whose wife had read an obscure magazine article about us ?"

"I tell you what," I said, "make a booking for you and your wife saying Ben gave you an offer code of 1849 and you can come for half price. If Nigel and I find any gold I'll come back and you can have a holiday for free."

I used my phone to send an e-mail explaining the offer code just in case he did make a booking. We didn't find any gold although we did have a lot of fun splashing about at the water's edge.

Driving on to South Lake Tahoe we checked into a hotel for the night. Hotel ? More a case of expensive rooms on top of a vast gambling casino. Hundreds, no thousands, of people were seated at row after row after row of video and slot machines. All had what looked like ice cream tubs, two of them. One was full of coins to play the machine while the other was jammed in the payout slot to collect the winnings. As one was emptied they were simply changed over until both were void of coins.

Each machine had two call buttons, one to ask for more change to pour into the machine and one to bring a waitress to serve you food and drinks without having to leave the machine.

The whole operation ran twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

"I know our fortune started with my winning the lottery," Nigel said, "but this place is obscene. Where is the pleasure in what they are doing ?"

Not being in the lease attracted to the casino we went upstairs, called room service then made love. We were both awake at three in the morning so went downstairs where the casino was still doing a roaring trade. We threw a few dollars at the machines, won a few then put it all back to come away empty handed. The machines were carefully calibrated to give you constant small wins but never bigger than what you were putting in, they teased the players to throw away more and more cash in the hope of winning a non existent jackpot. Could none of those playing the machines see they were being ripped off ? Back upstairs to bed and making love.

Until we started our tour of California my only experience of America was San Francisco, a nice enough place where eccentricity was the norm. The casino at South Lake Tahoe was weird and weird in a not very nice way. There was more weird to come.

As we crossed into Nevada State and headed towards Virginia City, in the middle of nowhere by the side of the road was a VW Beetle motor car, I know the Americans call them Bugs but they are actually VW Beetles, to which someone had lovingly welded legs to make it into a giant spider.

That was weird.

We stopped, along with dozens of others, to take photographs.

"For god's sake don't let Pat see that !" I exclaimed.

This was to become a common phrase along our tour but as we were to learn later Pat was seeing plenty on her own to develop Barbados Art.

Virginia City was in a time warp, something from the Wilde west. Nigel tried to show off his knowledge by telling me how a certain Samuel Langhorn Clemens had been a newspaper editor in the city before he found fame as the writer Mark Twain.

I was able to trump that by telling him Oscar Wilde had passed through on a lecture tour of the West. I only knew that from watching the video with Stephen Fry in the title role and Jude Law as Bosie Douglas.

"We studied his poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol at school," I said.

I supposed it was bigger when Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain knew it but today Virginia City is a single street tourist attraction. We spent the night in an old hotel dating back to the time of the silver mining boom then drove back into California and Yosemite National Park. The night there was spent in a wigwam Indian tent. Warnings that bears came out after dark, to leave no food they could find and to make certain the tent was tightly laced up meant we did not sleep well.

Death Valley is supposed to be the hottest place on earth, perhaps it is or perhaps not, but it was not the wisest thing to include it in our trip during the height of summer. We could not run the air conditioning for fear of the engine boiling over but even with the windows would right down our Range Rover was like a furnace.

As we approached Las Vegas we were tired and hungry. "There's certain to be a McDonald's along the was," Nigel observed, "let's pull up and take a break."

I was up for that but as the signs along the desert road counted don the distance to Las Vegas there was no McDonald's or anything else. Just mile after mile of nothing. When I say nothing a mobile phone signal was still able to get through !

As neither of us had been using our phones to call home it was a bit of a surprise when Nigel's started to scream out for attention. More of a surprise when the caller display announced it was Russell calling from Barbados. Having lectured us not to think of Sam Lord's there must have been a crisis for him to want to speak to us.

"Hello. What's the matter ?"

I pulled to the side of the road, a dozen and more worries offering suggestions as to what the problem was. Nigel had the phone on room speak so I could hear all that was about to be said. My heart thumped.

"What's wrong ?" Nigel repeated.

"Nothing's wrong, everything's fine, one hundred percent perfect. I just need your permission for something."

What a relief. Nigel looked at me as we exchanged thoughts.

"It's the BBC."

"BBC ?"

"Yes they want to come here and film."

"Really ?"

"Apparently they were all set to make a three part documentary on a resort in Jamaica which they were going to show over Christmas but something has gone wrong so they want to come here instead."

"When do they want to come ?"

"They suggested two weeks running up to our grand opening."

"This sounds exciting."

"It's going to be fronted by Ant and Dec."

"Blimey !"

"I thought I really needed your permission before I said YES."

"Go for it," we said together. "Just think of the free publicity ! Everything else OK ?"

"Yes fine don't worry."

"What has Pat been up to ?"

"You don't want to know, trust me, but nothing we can not handle and nothing that can not wait until you get back."

With that exciting news we continued towards Las Vegas and our search for something to eat. Nothing, just the desert road. Then we were there Las Vegas - Sin City. No suburbs, we never did find anything to eat so arrived at our hotel with rumbling stomachs.

"Don't know about you," Nigel suggested, "but I say we dump our bags then go straight out in search of something to eat."

"I agree."

"This has got to be the oddest place on the planet," Nigel said as we walked down The Strip, "look around you Ben we are the only young people here. This is a place for the middle aged and geriatric."

He was right. "Old but look at them, they all think they are still teenagers !"

The city was a mass of garish, brightly coloured monstrosities which appeared to attract people like flies round a dung heap.

"I couldn't live here, give me our island paradise any day."

"You know what you said about our being half billionaires, I doubt we have enough to pay the electricity bill for this lot, not even for one day !"

I was homesick, I was missing our island. Tomorrow was am extra special day, then our visit to Mexico and home. How I longed for Barbados. The song started to play in my head.

"We'll be back soon."

"What did you say ?" Nigel asked.

"Oh nothing."

Las Vegas was the point from where we flew down the Grand Canyon. We could see the airport from our hotel bedroom, it was only a fifteen minute walk - no more, yet it was insisted the courtesy bus pick us up.

Again we were the only people under fifty in the party. We checked in with the others for the flight and had to be weighed individually so a computer could calculate the balance of the aircraft with the seating plan.

"Imagine having to do this each time we took our helicopter up, " Nigel said.

"You guys own a helicopter ?" One of the party members said.

"Back home we do, yes."

"Do you fly it yourselves ?"

"No we have our own pilot, Angela."

"Wow you must be rich !"

"I'm afraid we are," I apologised.

The flight was quite spectacular but my mind was constantly jumping ahead to Los Angeles and the plan I had for Nigel's birthday. there were three parts to the celebration, three parts to my cunning plot and I crossed my fingers all would happen exactly as I had planned them.

Our day at The Grand Canyon passed as a bit of a blur as my mind was for most of the time concentrating on Nigel's birthday. I do remember saying to myself that the canyon was Mother Nature being over the top on the North American continent then balanced by the USA being hideously over the top with Las Vegas.

We spent time taking a relaxed drive to Los Angeles which I had organised to be at the centre of Nigel's birthday celebrations. I had help but I will tell you more of that later.

The day before his actual birthday started with a champagne breakfast. I was not going to drive so a stretched limo would be with us all day.

After visiting the Chinese Theatre at the junction of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street where stars had imprinted their hands in wet cement we walked along the boulevard to look at the walk of fame with stars celebrating various movie stars. There was one in particular that I just had to find, I must be a good boy and not tell you who it was for or why it was so important.

The limo then took us to Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills where I was going to buy something special for Nigel's birthday - Part One of my plan.

After visiting so many stores we settled on a chunky gold identity bracelet.

There was one other store we had to visit. I was curious, its presence on Rodeo Drive had enabled the second part of my plan to be formed.

Painted in vivid yellow the Los Angels, or Beverley Hills, branch of Barbados Art stood out and was impossible to miss.

We were, of course, expected and although the gallery was very busy - it was still very new and a novelty for the rich and famous, the young manager gave us his every attention. We were not going to buy anything but after all we were the owners and his bosses.

"We are about to begin work on the display for the new craft workshop," he explained. As soon as stock arrives there will not be a resident in all of Beverley Hills who will not want their own art sculpture from the craft house of Barbados Art."

"What craft house ?"

We learned that in the short time we had been away from the island Pat, as part of our Barbados Art enterprise, had acquired a small factory on the island where a team was turning out sculptures of birds, fish and animals from sheet metal.

Nigel was a little cross as we were shown pictures of the sculptures that Pat had taken such a major step without talking to us. things in our lives have a tendency to move quickly but surely she had this planned before we left, this had not all come together in three weeks. I could not be cross with Pat and Barbados Art for it was she who had made the second part of my plan possible. Without them both it could never have happened.

Pat knows so many people over which she can hold influence as Lady Patricia Dean and get exactly what she wants. I had to forgive her for her excesses.

The high gates swung open the instant the limousine approached them. At the end of a long driveway the mansion, the home of a Hollywood megastar awaited.

"Where's this ?" Nigel asked.

I smiled. "You'll find out in a moment, someone I know you would love to meet. We have been invited to have tea by the side of the pool."

"Who - ? What - ?"

I am not going to tell you here whose home we were visiting in order to protect her privacy but you may pick up a few hints as I tell you the story and perhaps a Google search of the picture may help.

Before the chauffeur could open the door she had run to the car, leaped inside and planted a big kiss on Nigel's cheek. Although I knew what was happening I was also taken aback in the presence of such a person.

"Nigel, I can not tell you how excited I am to have you here at my home. And you, of course Ben, the owners of my all time favourite art gallery. I will for ever be in lady Patricia's debt for letting you come here."

"You are...."

"Call me Bambi."

"I have all of your films on DVD."

"He has," I confirmed.

"Just call me Bambi, it's a special nick name my friends use. Come on, why are we sitting in your car ? Your birthday tea is waiting for you."

It was strange, so strange, we were in the presence of an icon whose face the whole world knew and yet we were made to feel the celebrities. Were there no limits to the powers of Pat's magic wand ? I can take little credit for this part of Nigel's celebration. Then even more strange, we had been there for such a short time before we forgot we were in the company of a global megastar and relaxed in the company of a good friend.

"I simply must get to Barbados some time soon, very soon. I would just love to see where all of my favourite art pieces have come from."

"You would, of course, be very welcome."

"Thank you. You know what I am going to make this happen, So Nigel your father is a real British lord ?"

"I am afraid he is."

"True blue blood ?"

"He's not an aristocratic lord, he was given his title in recognition of his service as a judge."

"Not that I am planning to get on the wrong side of the law but if I did it would have to be in a British court, all those wigs and gowns - such drama. Now before I serve tea I want to wish you Happy Birthday and I thought I would do it in the style of Marilyn Monroe"

I am sure Marilyn would have thoroughly approved of the interpretation, I had seen the original recording in a TV documentary but I wonder if Nigel was confused or if it was the awe of who was singing to him.

We ate cucumber sandwiches and drank English tea. "I wondered what to give to Englishmen to eat, then I remembered a play I was in very early in my career."

"The Importance of being earnest, " I said further displaying my knowledge of Oscar Wilde."

"I played Gwendolyn of course, I'm not quite ready for the role of Lady Bracknell. Wasn't it absolutely terrible what they did to Oscar Wilde ?"

"We studied Wilde's poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol when I was at school."

"Did you really ? I have a friend who collects rare books, when he's not flying the Starship Enterprise round the galaxy, and he has an original copy of the book in which it was published. Perhaps Lady Patricia should include books in your art galleries."

"Don't encourage her," Nigel smiled, "She needs no encouragement !"

"So I gather, quite a force to be reckoned with. She adores you Nigel, thinks the world of you."

Nigel blushed.

We needed to change the subject. "So there were cucumbers in the market for ready money today ?" I said showing off my knowledge of Wilde's play.

"Actually I grew them myself, horticulture is a hobby of mine. I'm quite proud of my little green fingers."

"Really ? What else do you grow ?"

"Tomatoes of course, oranges, lemons, olives, figs - the usual things. What do you grow on Barbados ?"

"Coconuts," we said together before Nigel added "Captain Ralph fires them from two antique cannon we have."

"I've heard about Captain Ralph from lady Patricia, I shall look forward to seeing him. What else ?"

"Mangoes, we have lots of mango trees around one of the pools so we names it Mango Pool."

"You are going to run cookery classes lady Patricia tells me, perhaps I can find some new recipes for my own mangoes. But you know what I really want to do when I come to Barbados is to learn to play a steel drum."

"We have our own resident steel band and will be giving lessons. We have our own recording studio where you can make your CD to bring home."

"I am definitely coming. When do you open ?"

"October."

"October ! How splendid I do not start working on my next project until the end of November so a holiday will be good. My friends I will be there. How do I book ?"

"Did that actually happen ?" Nigel said later.

"I think so."

"The word surreal does not truly go far enough."

"Do you think she will visit Sam Lords ?"

"I'd bet on it."

"How ever will we cope with the paparazzi ?"

Sam Lords - Barbados - it had been nearly three weeks since we had been there, it felt now so very far away. I was homesick.

"I think Kai will be able to cope with the paparazzi and if not Captain Ralph will make them walk the plank."

The day of Nigel's birthday dawned and with it the final part of my plan was ready to be enacted. I have said in this account of our holiday that we saw some pretty weird things but none was so weird as I looked standing over my sleeping lover.

I had sneaked out of bed and changed into costume, I was trying to look like the fairy godmother from Cinderella but I think I resembled more a twink cross-dressing drag queen. I sprinkled rose confetti on to Nigel's face which in slumber he tried and failed to brush away.

"Don't brush away the fairy magic," I whispered before kissing him. "Happy Birthday lover."

"What ever....."

I flicked the switch and the music began to play.

"Wake up Cinderella, you are going to the ball."

I danced round the bedroom singing Bippety Bobberty Boo, waving my magic wand and sprinkling fairy dust everywhere.

the Magic Kingdom opened its gates at eight o-clock, more suitably dressed we were at the front of the queue to go in. Disneyland boasts itself to be The Happiest Place On Earth, we were the two happiest people that day in the happiest place on earth. Like to excited little children we moved from ride to ride. from Pirates of the Caribbean set us thinking again of home as we tried to pick out the pirate who most resembled our own Captain Ralph.

There was a statue of Walt Disney himself, I wondered if in years to come they would erect a statue of Nigel and myself in our own magic kingdom of Sam Lords.

As the time approached my hear began to thump, I hoped Nigel would approve of what I had done. For this part of his birthday celebration I had called upon the assistance of his father. Nigel and his father were just ever so slightly reconciled but still treated one another nervously so Nigel may not be happy if he found out exactly how this birthday gift had been set up. Lord Dean used his contacts to persuade the American Ambassador to London to put pressure on the head of the Disney Corporation to give an order to the head of Disneyland California.

"Where are we going ?" Nigel said. "It says cast members only, we're not members of the cast."

I typed the code I had been given and the lock clicked open.

"What's happening ? Ben ?"

"Another part of your birthday gift."

"What ?"

"You are going to be in the parade."

"Welcome Birthday Boy !" I'm Max the parade co-ordinator.

Nigel was looking very confused.

"We thought you could be Donald Duck, would that be Ok with you ?"

"Yes I suppose so," Nigel replied but I am sure he had no real idea at all what he was saying YES to.

After a briefing session, being welcomed by other cast members and putting on the costume he was ready. I left him to take up my position on Main Street to watch the parade and Disney's latest cartoon character.

Nigel was a very good Donald Duck.

"You know what," he said later, "I have done some amazing things since I met you but my birthday has been so special. than you."

"I was worried you may not like being Donald Duck."

"I loved it and when we have Carnival Night at Sam Lords I will be in the parade and so will you but not as a transvestite fairy !"

Sam Lords - Carnival Parade - Barbados. HOME. How I was missing our island.

We spent the afternoon going from ride to ride, many of them several times over. Nigel was not in the evening parade which he was able to watch alongside myself before we watched the firework spectacular.

"We are definitely going to have lots of fireworks at Sam Lords," Nigel giggled. "Lots and lots and lots."

When we returned to our hotel room we would make love then enjoy a long night's sleep to dream of all we had done in the day but Destiny, never forget Destiny, was playing a cruel card.

We had not taken our phones with us to the magic Kingdom. On our return mine was flashing to indicate an e-mail. It was from Pat: Ben please call me as soon as you get this message, it does not matter what time of day or night PLEASE CALL ME.

"What's that all about ?"

"Best call her."

"It's Kai's wife," Pat began. "It's serious but she is out of danger and will not die from her injuries."

"What injuries."

"She has been in a serious accident and badly hurt."

"Oh God - no !"

"Two broken legs, her right shoulder has been dislocated and there were some internal injuries. She will get better the doctors say."

"Are you sure about that ?"

"Yes, absolutely. I know Kai is a special friend so I thought you should know."

"How's Kai ?"

"Shaken but he is fine, he is at the hospital with her."

"What about the children ?"

"They are staying at my home until the grandparents can get here. Nigel's father is here so he is looking after them,"

Nigel looked at me and nodded as we exchanged thoughts and agreed what we would do.

"We'll come back."

"There's no need Ben, I just thought you would want to know about the accident."

"That you, I appreciate it but we are coming as quickly as we can. Please tell Kai and ask him to give his wife all our love."

"She'll be fine Ben, it will be a long job but she will be fine."

"Kai was a good friend to me when I first came to Barbados so I want to be there for him/ We'll be on the first flight we can book tomorrow."

"I'll get on the laptop and see what there is from LAX first thing tomorrow," Nigel said.

"No, we should fly from San Francisco. We really should give Robbie his car back and not make him come all the way here to collect it."

"That's fine but it will add a day."

"No, we'll drive to San Francisco now. You book the flight and I'll pack the bags into the car."

"Ben you can't drive now it's four hundred miles !"

"I am not going to sleep am I so why not ? You stay awake with me, talk to me and we'll be fine. Now find the flights."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - OUR NEW HOME - Ben writing

I was not happy with Ben having to drive so far after an absolutely packed day and to do so without any sleep at all. I wish I could have helped out but for me driving is now not a part of my life. We had to get back, it was important for Ben to be with Kai and I wanted to add my support, of course I did. It made far better sense to fly out of Los Angeles but we both would have had a sense of guilt leaving Robbie's car in Southern California even if it had originally been part of the plan.

We set off shortly after midnight, once out of the city we were the only vehicle on a lonely dark road. Americans do not have lights on their motorways so the darkness and an empty road were dangerous factors. It was down to me to keep Ben awake.

"I love you so much Ben, you have completely changed my life. That was a wonderful birthday, thank you."

"I enjoyed organising it for you, pity about Mexico another time perhaps."

"It's a long life," I giggled, "and I look forward to spending every moment of it with you."

"Ah sweet."

"It has been a wonderful holiday but it will be good to get home again. I have missed our little island. You know she is going to be alright ?"

"Yes, of course I just want to be there for Kai."

"You must stop driving and take a break if you feel the need."

"I will but it's not the drive that worries me, it's the long flights home. Pity there's no direct flights."

"Yeh, nothing."

"When we are rich enough we can have our own private jet."

"I'd like that."

"One day," Ben added.

"Who knows, the way we are going. You could be a billionaire by your twenty-first birthday."

"Richard Branson watch out !"

"No, seriously Ben you could. When I won the money I did not know what to do, I started buying businesses thinking I would run them and develop each enterprise but all I did was to collect them like stamps or rate coins. It was only when you walked into my life that things began to happen. Look at what you have done and what we now have. A farm - a garden centre - country hotel - pub and restaurant - ten saunas - Cam4You - GayBuddy - Guyzspank - Barbados Art - Sam Lords with a helicopter - pirate galleon - diving school - steel band - recording studio. To top it all one of the biggest stars in all of Hollywood is coming to our grand opening !"

"We've done well haven't we ?"

"If it had not been for you Ben I would still be collecting businesses, none of them really going anywhere or making much money."

"We did it together."

"Yes Ben, my lottery winnings to start it all off then your talent to make more than double the money. In truth the bulk of our current fortune is down to you."

I was making small talk, a conversation to keep Ben awake but simultaneously I was moving things towards something fundamental I had been worried about.

"When we get home it will be flat out to the grand opening."

"That's going to be exciting."

"But what then Ben ?"

"What do you mean ?"

"The management teams back in England run everything effectively, thanks to you even the saunas work properly and make sound profits. We have to be at the monthly board meetings but beyond that we are not really involved."

"True."

"With Sam Lords our role has been driving everything forward to create a top class holiday resort. The management team there will then run everything without us."

"Probably."

"So what do we do ? Are we going to spend our time jetting round the world visiting business after business ?"

"We need that private jet. Perhaps I could learn to fly."

"Are we going to spend the next fifty years jetting from one board meeting to the next ? Without new challenges where's the fun?"

We had made our home on the most beautiful island in the Caribbean, we had everything we could possibly want in life but we needed more. Soon we would need a new challenge."

"We could always write best selling novels like your father, learn to paint in one of Pat's classes or like our new Hollywood friend train to play the steel drums."

Pat was no longer my wicket step-mother who I despised throughout my childhood, she wasn't even the big sister she suggested she become but a dear and special friend. It was Ben who had brought about that change in our relationship.

There had been a thaw in my relationship with my father but I knew we would never be completely comfortable with one another.

The night rolled into morning and the miles fell away. "Do you need a break Ben ?"

"No let's keep going, soon be half way there."

I had managed to book us seats on a mid-day flight to Miami and a connection to Barbados getting us home for early evening. Smart phones are marvellous inventions but it had been good during our holiday not to have made a lot of use of them. We had not once used the app to check up on sales and did not have a clue what bookings for the grand opening were looking like.

"With the BBC programme and Bambi I expect we will be full," Ben suggested. "Give him his due Robbie has delivered the US guests just as he promised."

Another triumph for Ben, turning Robbie from a liability to an asset. His Guyzspank website was already a success and while Ben was still technically heading up the webcam operation it was running well enough on its own.

No doubt destiny had everything planned out but I wondered constantly how best to keep Destiny onside.

"So what do you think you would have done," Ben asked, "if you had not won the lottery ?"

"Continued to be a disappointment to my father I guess."

"No seriously."

"I am a bit too old for most options now, the law - police - army - I suppose I could have become a teacher."

"Scary !"

"What do you mean ? Scary ?"

"You'd be a scary teacher. You scared me the first time we met. DON'T LIE TO ME BEN !" He wagged his finger.

We both laughed.

"And you Ben had ideas about going to university."

"Yes, the job with you was meant to save up enough money so I could get a degree and get properly into retail management."

"If we get bored with Barbados perhaps we could set up a chain of retail outlets."

"We'll never be bored with our island."

"We only own a tiny part of it," I laughed then added. "I hope you are right."

The dawn broke and I felt far happier with Ben driving in daylight.

"Less than one hundred miles to go now Ben, you have been amazing."

"I am not such a bad driver am I ? Did not even break the speed limit."

"Not once."

"They still have the death penalty in California."

"Not for speeding."

"I don't know, these Americans are funny people. The only western nation to retain the death penalty, the last to adopt civil rights, the last to abolish slavery and the wiping out if the Indian tribes was the biggest ethnic cleansing in history. The land of the free ? Who are they kidding ?"

"For someone so young Ben you are vey deep with your thinking."

"Nothing deep about that, my social science teacher at school was anti-American and always stating those facts. Perhaps we should change the subject."

"Yes, these people have spy drones and if they've got one looking down on us we'll be opening a branch of Barbados Art in Guantanamo Bay !"

We arrived at the studio in time for breakfast where Robbie again served Full English. While Ben had been alert all the way up from Los Angeles the long drive had taken its toll. We would both sleep on the aircraft, two aircraft, such a pity there were no direct flights from the West Coast to Bridgetown Barbados. Perhaps there is something to be said for having our own private jet.

We arrived home marginally refreshed but excited. Excited but worried about Kai and his family. He was there in the office with s number of staff friends, we both hugged Kai.

"I can't believe you cut your holiday short for me."

"Of course we did, there was no discussion or hesitation, when we heard the news we came straight back. So how is she ?"

"Gaining strength, once the bones have mended there will be a lot of physiotherapy but in the end she will be fine."

"And the children ?"

"Missing their Mum. Lord and Lady Dean have Ben so kind. Hey what's all this about a Hollywood Star coming here for the grand opening ?"

"The BBC documentary crew have been wetting themselves," Russell smiled. "Kicked their little series into orbit. Well be fully booked for months."

"So what are the bookings ?"

"Fully booked with a waiting list for the opening. A few of the weeks up to Christmas have vacancies but not many. Filling up for Spring."

"Excellent."

"I'll have something more to say on bookings tomorrow," Russell said. "And we need to think about the BBC and their documentary."

"What's all this about an art factory ?" I asked.

"A craft workshop NOT a factory," Pat protested entering the room. "How lovely to see my two boys back home. Kai are you ready to go to the hospital ?

"Can we come ?" Ben asked.

"It's only two to a bed in the hospital but I am sure we can stretch a point."

Pat drove with Kai sitting beside her, Ben and I sat in the back.

"Have the children been to see their Mum ?"

"Yes, they are being very brave. My parents were going to look after them but they have settled with Pat and his Lordship so we thought they could stay where they are for the moment. we think she will be in hospital for about six weeks."

"We are taking everything day at a time," Pat explained. "The children have been fine with your father Nigel and it's doing him a power of good to have to take responsibility for them."

"Do you know what they call him ?" Kai turned round in his seat to look at Ben and I. "Grandpa Judge. What do you make of that ?"

Ben squeezed my knee very firmly, perhaps to comfort me and perhaps then telling me not to say anything.

When we reached the hospital Pat told Ben and Kai to go in first. "I'll get permission for four of us then join you in a moment."

"I have already got permission," she continued when the other two had gone, " for four of us to have four visitors I just wanted a word with you alone. That Grandpa Judge thing, did it upset you ?"

"Not particularly."

"It would have upset me had I been in your position. He was a pretty lousy father to you Nigel, I know that and he knows it. He'll never have grandchildren will he ?"

I did not answer.

"Do you know why your father suddenly resigned as a judge ?"

"No."

"We came to Barbados so I would have somewhere to escape from London, the law and society. We had no idea that you were here."

"Destiny," I said.

"Absolutely right. Do you remember I once told you that while I was devoted to your father I did not love him ?"

"Yes I do."

"After all these years you father and I have finally fallen in love with one another. I know you smile at Barbados Art Nigel but your father has given up everything to be by my side and support me in working for you."

"Oh."

"We are madly in love Nigel, like two silly teenagers we are in love. I guess you know well enough yourself what true love feels like."

"I do."

"And I will tell you something else. As you know he was a very successful member of the legal profession but he is going to be an even more successful novelist. You wait and see."

We did not stay too long at the hospital, Grandpa Judge was bringing the children to see their mother. Kai remained while Pat, Ben and I went back to Sam Lords.

"There's a heads of department meeting scheduled for nine o'clock tomorrow," Pat explained. "It's going to be the big day of our opening before you know it so there's lots to work out. There's some exciting news waiting to be shared with you both but all that will wait until tomorrow. What can not wait and what nobody has told you yet is the work on the old house is finished, tomorrow all the administration moves into the ground floor. Boys you will love the way the upstairs has been rebuilt into your new home. When we get back I suggest you gather your belongings and move in.

Our love making that night was special, the first time in our new home. Nigel Hall-Lord and Ben Hall-Lord were now kings in their own castle. I am sure old pirate Sam lord was looking on with an approving eye.

"If I go round everyone with introductions that would be a good start to the meeting," Russell began. "Most people know most people but not everyone knows everyone, myself excluded."

"Let's start with Nigel and Ben, good to have you both back and I hope you will like what has been happening while you have been away."

"Kai. Kai we are all so pleased your wife will be Ok, you can count on us all for anything you need."

There was a gentle round of applause and a resounding "Here Here."

"Kai is head of security, maintenance and estate management. There are some other areas which fit best into your department."

"Sounds like you have been promoted while we have been away," Ben smiled.

"Pat is in charge of Barbados Art, the international chain of galleries, the workshop here on the island and the daily art classes we will be running once the guests arrive. She also has oversight of our musical entertainment, resident steel band, classes and the recording studio."

"I've asked Pat's husband, Lord Peter, to join us if I can briefly hand over to him."

"Thank you. First of all can we drop the lord bit - call me Peter will you. Too many lords about here - Sam Lord - Nigel Hall-Lord - Ben Hall-Lord, we don't need me as well."

Was this really my father speaking ? What kind of nightmare was this ?

"You may know that if you go on a cruise these days part of the entertainment is a celebrity giving a series of lectures. I would not call myself a celebrity but when it was suggested I could give some poolside seminars about my life ion the law I was pleased to agree. Then I was pressed to find some other speakers to balance the boredom of my lectures. I can tell you that a certain Hollywood film star will be giving four short talks during her stay here. I have others I am working on."

"Thank you My Lord - I mean Peter."

"Sod it man, call me Pete."

No that was not my father.

"Yvette is our photographer. She will be taking guests about the island to capture the best views, the better prints will be sold in Barbados Art in a variety of formats. She runs our magazine and video channel. Yvette will be taking charge of the BBC team."

"They have already shot a lot of footage," she explained, "and will be coming back for two intense weeks of filming ahead of the opening. They will be here for the full week of our opening."

"How many in the team ?" I asked.

"Six plus the two presenters. Can I just run something else past you all while I have the floor so to speak ?"

Russell nodded.

"My original interest in Barbados was to trace my family's origins on the island, they were originally slaves on a plantation. I think a web feature attached to our site explaining my own research and encouraging others to look into their own Caribbean history may bring interest in our operation here at Sam Lords."

"Go for it," Ben said.

"Captain Ralph," Russell continued, "we all know - Admiral of the Sam Lord fleet: pirate galleon, fishing boat, speed boat, diving school..."

"And an ace shot firing coconuts from our authentic antique cannon !" Ben added.

"Angela, our helicopter pilot and with he new fiancé Jim now heading our transport."

"Jim ?"

"Something else happening while you were away."

"I'm Jim," a nervous fiancé stood up. "I hope you don't mind but we have had to order another double decker London bus as two will not be enough to bring all of the guests from the airport. I know the original plan was to phase guests in across the week but the bookings just are not working out that way."

"Bring it on," Ben was excited. "Are you sure you don't need two more ?

"One will be enough and we also have the cars."

"Don't forget the Boris Bikes ! Hey do you think I could learn to drive a bus ? I'd love that."

"You are the boss !"

Russell took back control of the meeting. "We have moved the management of the medical centre, lifeguards on the beach and by the pools into Kai's department. Housekeeping, cleaning, etcetera are not fully up to strength. Administration is in place including sales and booking team, liaison with Nigel and Ben's other business interests in America and England. This now brings me to the catering department and the proud announcement that Dwayne Reynolds is joining us as executive chef. He will be in overall charge of the bars, cafes and dining rooms, he will also oversee the Caribbean cookery classes for guests. Dwayne -"

A tall Barbadian guy stood up and smiled broadly. "I know some of you," he began, "but this is my first time meeting my new bosses, Nigel and Ben. Oh by the way Ben I've taken on those two lads you sent from San Francisco, they'll be waiting on tables in the main dining room."

"Those of you who are from England if I said to you TAKE AWAY FOOD what comes to mind as well as fish and chips ? Take away not fast food."

People looked to one another.

"Don't be shy, shout out your answers."

"Chinese."

"Indian."

"Kebabs. pizza."

"Angela you are from America, could you add a national food your countrymen think of as take away food ?"

"Mexican."

"Perfect. So we have Chinese, Indian, Mexican and kebabs which I bet none of you know the true origin - no it's not Turkish ! British fish and chips, American fast food but where in all of this is Caribbean cuisine ?"

I looked at Ben who shrugged his shoulders.

"Caribbean cuisine is simply unknown. It deserved the enigma it enjoys, there should be more to it than goat curry, fish soup and jerk chicken !"

In the short time I had lived on the island I knew he was right.

"Guests should not be coming here to eat and drink the same as they don at home. We are planning cookery classes but what are we going to teach them to make ? Fish soup !"

"I don't much like fish, " Ben smiled.

"I want to create a range of signature dishes so the Caribbean cuisine experience for our gusts is an integral part of their holiday. I want them to take away a longing for more."

I was not absolutely how this man had been recruited to head up our catering but we had something special in him.

"Name the national drink of the Caribbean," he pointed to Captain Ralph.

"Rum of course."

"What about a soft drink ?"

"Ginger beer I suppose, "Angela replied.

"Now name me the national drink of Ireland."

"Guinness," we all said together.

"Exactly !" He slammed his hand on the table and made us all jump. "Nobody goes into a bar anywhere in the world and asks for a pint of Irish stout, the ask for Guinness. We can do the same for Caribbean drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. I have taken the liberty of cancelling all Coca Cola orders and the staff can drink the stock we have before opening day, Sam Lords is to be a Coca Cola free zone !"

There were murmurs and I felt this was a wrong move. However Ben spoke up, "Brilliant ! Just think of the marketing potential there - Sam Lords a Coca Cola free zone ! I love it !"

I was not sure that I loved it.

Dwayne was on a roll and I did not feel I could interrupt him. He went to the door and called in two of his team members, the two lads we had met at Guyzspank in San Francisco. They handed round plates with some samples of Dwayne's food.

"Spicy Coconut," he explained. "My own unique recipe and only made from ingredients here on the island. The same taste but in three different forms and consistencies - cake, pudding and ice cream"

God it was good ! Flavours bursting. Three versions of the same thing yet totally different. Everyone applauded his creation.

"I need twenty more dishes like that, different things for different times of the day. Twenty to start with but ultimately more. Now try this."

The boys poured each one of us a glass of ice cold drink.

"Now tell me why you would ever want to drink Coca Cola again after that.2

"Dwayne you are a genius," Pat exclaimed. "Not that I ever drink Coca Cola."

"There are four different flavours," Dwayne explained.

"What is Coca Cola ?" My father said dryly trying to display some humour. "Can we try the rum ?"

We were served a second drink.

"This is something I have been working on for a few years but now I am bringing it to Sam Lords. Tell me what you think."

We sipped at the dark liquor. I am not qualified to judge but rather think my father is, at lease he assumed the authority.

"That is as different from ordinary rum as Guinness is from pale ale."

I doubt he had ever tasted Guinness let alone pale ale.

"It is called Lords Arawak Rum," Dwayne explained. "The Arawak were the original Indian inhabitants of Barbados before the Caribs forced them off hundreds of years before the Europeans colonised the island."

"There's a distillery on the island which put this together to my specifications and can produce all we will need for the resort."

"Will you get all of the dishes ready for the opening ?"

"Absolutely !"

I looked at Ben and could see his mind working. Post the grand opening of Sam Lords in six weeks time I could see we had our next business venture.

"Well done Dwayne," I said. "I am really pleased you are on the team."

"Trying to top that is not going to be easy," Russell smiled, "but we need to move on with the agenda. Six weeks to the opening, we are fully booked. All department heads have their staff training programmes fine tuned ?"

They had.

"I think we can leave the actual opening day and ceremony to another meeting but just to confirm we have the fireworks sorted ?"

"There's a specialist company from the US contracted for the display, it will be spectacular."

"And the carnival parade ?"

"I've picked this up," Pat said, "as Kai's good lady who was organising it is now indisposed. All being well she will be here to enjoy the spectacular."

"I have an idea," Angela said. "How about we drop some small boxes on parachutes from the helicopter with small gifts and prizes inside. Perhaps not on the fist day but as an attraction later in the opening week."

"We could get guests to write messages, put them in bottles and I could then take them out to sea, throw them overboard and see where they wash up," Captain Ralph suggested.

"I could make a really strong feature about this," Yvette added.

"This brings me to the next point on the agenda," Russell began to explain. "There is not another resort anywhere in the Caribbean offering what we are, we are going to be fully booked all year round We need eighty percent occupancy to break even, normally a high figure which originally worried me but not any more. What does worry me is we could taken in many more guests if we had somewhere to put them."

"What are you suggesting ?" I asked.

"Two things. At the far South of the estate there is enough room to build another accommodation block with fifty double rooms, one hundred additional guests. It's far enough away not to upset the resort while the builders work. I am reliably informed it could be up and ready by Easter."

"You said two things ?"

"Yes. The hillside to the North of Pirate Beach, the land belongs to the estate but there are six private houses, individually owned but paying us ground rent. The terms of their leases say the estate has to be given first refusal if the owner wishes to sell. One owner does want to sell and he owns two of the houses."

"We should buy them, " I said.

"They are both three bedroom properties and I thought they could be turned into premium accommodation for guests who want to come as a group."

"Excellent idea."

"I suggest there is plenty of room for up to three more properties, the builders say another six. They are actually surveying the area as we speak. So a total of eight chalet houses, twenty-four rooms and more guests."

"Would we get planning permission ?" I asked.

"We already have it. After what you have done for Sam Lords and the government connections we now have this is not a problem."

"How long do the builders want ?"

"If you say yes today they say they could have everything done in time for the opening."

"In six weeks !"

"So they say."

"What about costs ?"

"We are fully booked and in profit. We have deposits from all guests so cash flow is not a problem."]

"That is something I never thought I would hear you say."

Ben caught my eye. "Billionaires by your twenty-first birthday," I silently mouthed.

And so the meeting came to a close. Everyone was excited and enthused. I felt proud, very proud.

Kai headed off to the hospital, this time taking the children with him. he took everyone's love and best wishes with him. People moved off to their own departments, Ben wanted to go with Dwayne to the kitchen to talk about Caribbean Cuisine. I walked down to Pirate Beach then took the path up the hillside to where the new guest chalets would be built. Builders were marking areas out and surveying. I found a quiet spot away from any activity and sat alone with my thoughts.

My eyes filled with tears which slowly spilled out and on to my cheeks. They were not tears of sadness, not at all, and they were not tears of joy. I can best describe them as tears of uncertainty and a lack of self confidence.

This is Ben now writing

I have been a little bit worried about Nigel. We had a lovely holiday but now and then and on the drive back to San Francisco he said some odd things, then when we got back to the island there were moments when it appeared he was in a dream. No that's not the right word. One moment everything was fin, or appeared in every way to be fine then I fear my lover was looking at life through a cracked pane of glass. Then I found him sitting alone crying. What was happening ?

"Hey !"

"Oh I'm sorry, don't mind me."

"Of course I mind. What's the matter ?" I sat beside Nigel and put my arms about him.

"I'm just being silly, ignore me."

"How can I ignore the most important person in my life ?"

"Give me a kick up the arse and I'll be fine. How were things with Dwayne in the kitchen ?"

"Amazing. that guy is a genius."

"What are you going to do now Ben ?"

"I thought we could go up to the house, explore our new home. We need to christen the jacuzzi."

Nigel smiled. "I'd like that, come on."

I am not sure what the old pirate would have made of our new hot tub, it would be interesting to speculate.

As the bubbles caressed our bodies I decided to confront Nigel. "Please tell me what is bothering you."

"I am not completely sure."

"But you are unhappy about something ?"

"Something yes, unhappy no but I don't really know what it is."

I moved very close to my lover, placed my hands on either side of his face and said, "I am here you know. try to tell me about it."

Nigel turned, moved my hands aside then planted a long and deep kiss.

"This is real isn't it Ben, all of it I mean ?"

"Of course it is."

"Everything just keeps falling into place, perfectly I mean. Russell was saying earlier how we are in profit and we have not even opened our doors to the guests yet. When is something going to go wrong ? The bigger we get the more frightened I am that it will."

"No it won't. We have had problems, you know we have, but we always deal with them. The webcams, the saunas they could have been disasters but we dealt with them and turned them into successes."

"You did that. Do you think Destiny will be on our side for ever ?"

"I don't see why not."

"Then there's Pat, my former wicked stepmother, for most of my life I was a complete bastard to her. I do not deserve the friendship and kindness she gives do I ?"

"Well you've got it, deserved or not."

"And my father, I am still way short of being comfortable with him and I would not say I like him but look how hard he is trying to be nice to me."

"He dedicated his book to us, that's quite something."

"I am just confused Ben. What if none of this is real ? What if it all disappears ?"

I went to answer but before I could say anything Nigel spoke again. "Then if this is real Ben how long before we get bored with it all ? We have been given so much so quickly will we be content just running what we have ? We will always be wanting a new project to avoid being bored. Every new project brings a danger of it all going wrong."

"I have some ambitions," I explained. "As each one is ticked off I am going to add another one in. So long as I have three ambitions on the go I do not see there being any chance of my becoming bored. Why not make these joint ambitions ?"

"I am going to learn to drive one of those London buses."

"I don't drive, not any more."

"I know that but you can be my clippie and we'll go to the airport together to pick up guests."

"And the second ambition ?"

"We are going to get that private jet."

"Perhaps."

"No perhaps about it, we need it AND I am going to learn to fly it. There's no reason why you can not make that a joint ambition."

"And number three ?"

"That's easy, I am going to be a billionaire before my twenty-first birthday which means you will be a billionaire as well."

Nigel smiled. "I believe you."

"So are these joint ambitions ?"

Nigel nodded his head.

"Good, lets get out of here and dressed my skin is starting to wrinkle."

"Oh dear we can't have that."

When we first started to write this account a certain detail was put into recording our sexual activities, that first time naked together at the sauna, Nigel losing his virginity, that webcam show - but recently we have both kept this important part of our lives private. We do not have sex, we make love. I want to write something here about this most intimate area of our lives just to say something for Nigel. Of course only he and I ever read this journal, it is not going to be part of the BBC documentary !

Back in our bedroom, towelled but still completely naked I sat down on the edge of our four poster bed then slid beneath the covers.

"Come and join me Nigel."

"I love you Ben."

"Of course you do. Tell me something, when we make love what is one part of the physical act that is really special for you ?"

"I just love feeling your body next to mine," Nigel replied without any hesitation. "Your war, naked skin next to mine. I like waking up in the night and feeling you there. I like to feel my erect cock against your body and yours against me. I like to feel your pulse beating against me. I like to caress your body with my hands, to explore it more each time I touch you. You hands have in turn caressed me a thousand times but each time you still send shivers down my spine."

"Like this you mean ?"

"Exactly like this. Oh Ben this is real isn't it ?"

"Feels pretty real to me."

"So what's your favourite ?"

"I have an addiction," I explained. "An addiction I want to go on to become more addictive with each time."

"And your addiction is ?"

"Every time you take my cock into your mouth."

"You mean like this ?"

While I remained silent every fibre of my being screamed out with ecstasy and joy as Nigel's warm mouth caressed my manhood. Our bodies became as one.

"That felt real enough to me," I said as we lay back.

"And to me."

Although the hour was early we cradled each other to fall asleep, a deep sleep where real dreams were shared.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - THE GRAND OPENING - Nigel writing

"Mother will you please stop calling me by that name. I am Ben and NOT Benjamin !"

"And what's with all this Mother stuff ? Mum not good enough for you now you are successful ?"

"Mum I love you so much and you know I do but I hate being called Benjamin !"

I had hear my friend's mother call him that way before and knew it angered him, he detested the name. I dashed in to rescue the situation. "How wonderful to see you. Did you have a good flight ?"

Ben's ideas to welcome guests at the airport were working perfectly. The steel band was setting the atmosphere. Staff in Sam Lord uniforms were handing out welcome drinks and canapé as guests boarded our fleet of London buses. Others were loading baggage on to trucks which would speed away and have all safely deposited in the guest rooms by the time they arrived.

The one person, the one member of the team, not in uniform was Captain Ralph. He was resplendent in full pirate regalia as he waited for a private jet to bring in our Hollywood superstar and dare I say - friend.

As the time for our grand opening had got ever closer my strange melancholy had gone. Ben and I busied ourselves not with heavy management tasks or boring administration but getting stuck in with the million and one practical tasks about the estate. The BBC film crew loved this and recorded our painting doors, mowing lawns and servicing filters in the swimming pools.

We had tried to shoo off the monkeys but all appeared to have started new families to increase their population. Yvette edited and published our first souvenir magazine. Ben spent a lot of time in the kitchen, he had plans for Caribbean Cuisine which he said would make enough money to buy a private jet.

As each day went by my melancholy became just a little less pronounced until it was just a memory. Excited like a child I counted down the days to the opening. Finally, finally the big day arrived. I stood there at the airport full of pride. The team had everything so brilliantly organised, everything was going along like clockwork. I kept looking at those coming out of the arrivals area who were not coming to Sam Lords and pitied them. I hope they were looking at all we were putting on and feeling jealous. Those boarding our London buses were going to have holidays of their lives. No matter what others offered by the end of our first week we would be the undisputed number one resort on the island.

It is impossible for me to explain just how proud I was.

"Anyone else travelling to the finest report on the island ?" Ben called even though he knew everyone was on board. "Wagons roll."

The reception laid on at the airport for our guests was special but nothing compared to that at Sam Lords. The lawn in front of the house was a mass of colour and music as carnival greeted everyone. And there she was, still walking with a stick but refusing not to be a part of it all - Kai's good lady and our carnival co-ordinator.

Guests were personally escorted to their rooms where a basket of fruit, a bottle of champagne and our chef's menu for dinner were there to welcome them.

Dwayne we all knew to be a chef without equal but that dinner was beyond imagination. He moved round the guests in the dining room telling all bout his unique Caribbean Cuisine. How he managed to speak to all the guests during the time it took to eat I will never know.

Near the centre of the dining room was my father. I wondered if it was he or I who had changed. With him was Pat, the Governor General of the island and the Prime Minister of Barbados and their wives. Joining them was our very own Hollywood megastar.

A cameraman from the BBC discretely moved round.

Ben and I were not sitting down to eat but were wandering about the room, in and out of the kitchen making sure all was well. It was. Tears were never far from my eyes, tears not entirely of joy but tears of pride. I was overflowing with pride at what we had achieved.

A waiter came up to me, he was one of the lads we recruited from Guyzspank in San Francisco. "Nigel," he said, "I want to thank you for letting me be a part of all this. It's a family isn't it ? Thank you so much."

Two hands came round from behind me and covered my eyes. "Happy ?"

"Yes Pat I am."

"Well done my boy."

"Thank you Father." From him that was praise indeed.

"Now where is that partner of yours ? I need a word with him."

Ben was with his parents at the far side of the room, we went to join them.

"No I don't think so." I heard Ben say as we approached.

"Ah Ben I want to ask you something," my father said.

"Good evening My Lord," Ben's mother stood up and his father looked a little awkward.

"None of that My Lord stuff here," my father waved a hand. "That belongs back in England. I just need a word with your son."

"With Benjamin ?"

Ben looked daggers. "Mother please do not call me that, I thought I had broken the habit with you. BEN please."

"Help us and I promise never to call you by that name again."

"What's up ?"

"It can wait," Ben said before his mother could say another word. "I will explain later."

"Oh will you darling, do try to persuade him Nigel."

"Ben come with me for a moment, you too Nigel. Do excuse us for a moment."

My father took us out of the dining room to a seat on the lawn. "The prime minister has asked me st speak to you both," he began. "The prime minister of Barbados I mean, not that idiot in Downing Street."

"What's the matter ? Is he not happy with his meal ?"

"No, no, nothing like that. He wants to make a presentation to you both before he leaves."

"A presentation ?"

"Yes. I have only just found out about it, he rather sprung it on me and nasked me to make the arrangements."

"Arrangements ? What arrangements ? What for ?"

"He wants to keep it informal even though it is official. I wondered if it could be done on the beach before the firework display. Would that work for you ?"

"I am sure it would but what is he presenting ?"

"Didn't I say ? No I didn't did I, how silly. The government wants to make you both Freemen of the Island."

I wanted to say as opposed to being a slave but kept quiet.

"What does it mean ?" Ben asked.

"In practical terms not a whole lot, it's like an honour in the British GOM system although I think it means you can graze goats on any government land if you want to and to you can sit in the VIP box any time the Windies are playing cricket."

"We don't have any goats," Ben smiled, "perhaps we should get some."

"So do you agree to the presentation ?"

"Of course."

"I will go and tell him."

As my father left so Ben's mother arrived.

"There you both are. Have you spoken to him yet ?"

"We have been rather busy."

"It won't take a moment. I'll ask him now shall I ?"

Before Ben could further protest she began.

"Do you two boys want to buy a department store ?"

"No Mum we don't."

"What about you Nigel ?"

"No Mum he does NOT want to buy it !"

"Let me put it another way. Will you buy a department store ?"

"How much ?"

"Fifty-five million freehold."

"Where ?"

"Right in the centre of Birmingham."

"England ?"

"Yes Lewis's of Birmingham. I have a picture here."

She handed us a postcard size photograph.

"It's the building on the right but that's showing only about a quarter of it."

"My Uncle Harry works there," Ben explained. "He is the buyer in the soft furnishing department. the shop has gone into receivership and will close if a buyer can not be found. Mum thinks we can buy it. I have told her we can't."

"Tell me more."

"Look," Ben said grabbing my arm. "Your father is waving at us, he's beckoning us over."

"Sorry," we have to go." I excused us. "But when we come back you can tell us more."

"Friends," the Prime Minister began, his vouce sounding through the loudspeakers across the beach, "you are here tonight at the start of a wonderful holiday. You are staying in one of the most beautiful places on the most beautiful island in the Caribbean."

"Here here !" Captain Ralph shouted.

"You are here and able to enjoy your visit because of a vision brought to Barbados by Ben and Nigel Hasll-Lord. This estate is a historical jewel which sadly fell into ruin to become a source of embarrassment for every Barbadian. Now they have transformed in to become the island's premier resort and have given employment so so many people. Through Barbados Art they are taking the name and the culture of our island to all corners of the world. And yet their combined ages do not add up to that of my own !"

There was a ripple of laughter.

"I bless the day they came to our island and my government wishes to show its gratitude by bestowing on Mr Nigel Hall-Lord and Mr Ben Hall-Lord The Freedom of the Island of Barbados. Gentlemen will you please step forward."

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE - Nigel writing

"So what do you think about it ? Would you like to own a department store ?"

It had been a splendid day, our minds were alive with everything that had happened - Nigel and Ben Hall-Lord Freemen of The Island of Barbados. It would not be long before breakfast being served to our guests, we should have snatched some sleep but even without Ben's mother's suggestion running through my mind that would not have been easy.

"So ?"

"But it's in Birmingham, Birmingham England, and we live in Barbados," Ben protested.

"Obviously ! But we could commute."

"Every day ?"

I wanted us to buy the Lewis's Department Store. It would be a new challenge, the worries I had - worries about the direction of our future would count for nothing if we took it on.

"You are crazy my lover," Ben added.

"If we had our own private jet it could work," I said quietly.

Ben smiled, I knew he wanted to have our own jet.

"What we could do is to fly to Birmingham early each Monday morning, spend a few days at the store then fly back on Wednesday or Thursday night to spend the rest of the week here in Barbados."

"You are trying to bribe me my lover."

"Absolutely, of course I am." I giggled. "We will still have to make our monthly visits to San Francisco to see Robbie and check up on Guyzspank, If we had a base in England we would not need to make specific trips to see the garden centre and other businesses."

"Let's make love," Ben smiled.

"Don't change the subject ! So shall we go for it ?"

"A department store or making love ?"

I meant the former but we devoted energies at that point in time to the later. I was a little surprised that Ben was reticent, something new and a challenge like this would normally have sent him racing to get started. I wanted to take on the project so I guessed it was down to me to convince Ben. Without his energy and river of ideas it could never work.

The next day I asked David, our lawyer at David Walton, Page and Co in Bridgetown, to make initial contact with the receivers in England. I was not sure how long we had before either someone else put in an offer or the receiver shut up shop then set about selling off the assets. We had to take over a going concern.

Although Peter and Russell had insisted on caution as we developed Sam Lord's there was still plenty of money available. All areas were turning in profits, Sam Lord's was fully booked for weeks ahead so we had a guarantee of income and a healthy balance sheet. We could even afford the private jet.

While we had been incredibly busy in the run up to our grand opening there was now a flexibility, with guests at the centre of everything and our staff making it happen Ben and I were acting as hosts with little practical to do. The opening had been great but if we could find time to slip away for a couple of days so adding this department store to our collection of businesses that things would go on without us.

When David called me with the response from the administrators I knew that time would have to be found.

"The freehold on the store," he explained, "is set at fifty-five million. You may be able to negotiate on that, it is a listed building so a new owner can not make any major structural changes. There's a transport department and warehouse five miles outside the city centre for which they want another million. There's stock which is likely to come in at another twenty million. No goodwill obviously so you are looking at eighty-five million."

"How big are the creditors ?" I asked.

"I believe sixty million including redundancy for the two thousand staff."

"So if we offered seventy million we would be taken seriously ?"

"I would think so but the place is losing money at a frightening rate, it will take a lot to turn it round and you will need to keep paying out until you eventually show a profit. If you show a profit. Ever."

"Another twenty million to cover that," I said to myself. "So we need ninety million."

I had worked out what money we had, what money would be coming in. It would be tight. Perhaps no private jet.

"Tell them we will make an offer of forty-five million. I'll talk it over with Ben then if he agrees we can confirm it."

"Before you have even seen the place ?"

"Obviously we will fly over if they are interested in the offer."

"I can put it to them but it is way short of what the administrators are looking for."

"Everyone keeps their jobs, with the exception of the store's directors who orchestrated this mess. Trading continues and we take over immediately."

"If they accept you will be getting a bargain."

"Is it a bargain Ben ?" I kissed my lover.

"My mother and her big mouth !"

"So what do you say ?"

"I was hoping we could develop Caribbean Cuisine as our next enterprise."

"We could do that as well."

"This has come at the wrong time, right in the middle of the grand opening week."

"The biggest achievement we have here Ben is the amazing team we have built, Peter and Russell have everything under perfect control. It will run just as well without us if we pop over to England for a few days."

There was a knock at the door to our private apartment in the main house. It was David. "Fancy an early breakfast ? One with champagne."

The administrators accepted our offer but insisted we conclude everything straight away. "We need to go to England tomorrow," David explained. "If you want me I can come with you."

"Yes please."

"Are there any flights ?" Ben said. "I had better check."

"I have already done that and there aren't any," David said

"Then we can't be there."

"We can actually. There's an executive jet charter company in Fort Lauderdale. They can have an aircraft at Grantly Adams International for a ten o'clock departure tomorrow morning. It will cost but you can be at Birmingham International for nine in the evening. The administrators would then meet you at the store first thing the day after - Friday."

"I will come with you," Pat said when we told everyone of the possibility. "Somebody has got to look after you boys."

"You are sure you are not secretly thinking of opening a branch of Barbados Art in Birmingham ?" Ben smiled.

This is Ben writing

Flying first class, I had previously considered, was the ultimate way to travel but after that trip to Birmingham in our own private jet made it sink way down in my estimation to just a little more than economy.

"This is the life Nigel, we really must get one of our own."

I had reluctantly come round to Nigel's way of thinking, perhaps Lewis's of Birmingham may be a good idea after all. If we did take it on to make it part of The Hall Lord empire then there was no way my mother would ever call me Benjamin again.

"I can take flying lessons, " I suggested, "we could at least save on a pilot's salary !"

Checking in at Bridgetown was nothing more than presenting our passports before handing over our baggage to a uniformed member of the charter airline staff. He turned out to be the flight steward, perhaps Butler would be abetter way to describe him.

We had to fasten seat belts for take off but once in the air we were in a comfortable lounge.

"I am so glad I came, "Pat smiled, if you boys do buy an aircraft like this I could use it within Barbados Art."

She was serious.

"If we have a client say in Detroit who was interested in a piece in our Beverley Hills gallery we could fly him out to view it."

"There would have to be a minimum purchase value," I suggested.

"Of course. A quarter of a million perhaps"

"Dollars or pounds ?"

At first I was not sure if she was joking or not but soon realised she was serious.

"We are only getting one of these if I can learn to fly it." I was also serious.

"A day does not go by," David said changing the subject, "when I do not think about two young men walking into my office declaring they wanted to buy The Sam Lord Estate. You could not have made that up in a story book. Now I am flying to England while you embark on a similar adventure and project."

We took off from Barbados at seven in the morning, three hours earlier than the original flight plan. It was a seven hour flight to Birmingham so that would mean landing at two in the afternoon our time but with the time difference it would be seven in the evening. The store would close at six but David had arranged for the administrators to show us round while it was empty of staff and customers. We had asked my Uncle Harry to join us.

It took four hours to walk round that vast department store with a tour taken at a fast pace. There were eight trading floors including the basement and a sub basement containing plant and machinery, stock areas and more. Throughout the tour I was busy making notes. It was not easy to see why it went bust. I did not know my Uncle Harry that well but that evening I began to realise he was a rather special person.

"If Harry had been in charge, " Nigel said later back at the hotel, "I don't think such a place would have been allowed to go to the wall."

Harry had gone home while Pat, David, Nigel and I ate a late supper back at the hotel.

"Take my advice." Pat said, "and make him your general manager."

"Who is in charge right now ?" Nigel asked.

David explained there was a management team consisting of a general manager, two assistant general managers, a staff manager and a counting house manager.

"What's a counting house manager ?"

"He is in charge of the finances," David smiled. "I think you could let him go."

"Definitely and the others."

"I think you should change the name of the store," David suggested.

"To what ?"

"Hall Lord. Hall Lord of Birmingham England."

"Birmingham is hardly an iconic city," Pat said. "It may have been once but not any more."

"What about The National Exhibition Centre ? The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ?"

"And Aston Villa Football Club," Pat interrupted, "Nigel's father supports them. Aston Vanilla the team everyone licks !"

We politely laughed at the joke.

"Harry would have the store become an icon in its own right both in the region but with an on-line presence reaching out world-wide."

"I think you should put him in charge," Pat said, " and if he does make Hall Lord of Birmingham an icon then I will demand an outlet within it for Barbados Art,"

The store had eight trading floors, basement - ground floor and six more above that. A sub basement hosed plant, machinery and storage areas. It had once been two separate buildings which had been joined together from the first floor upwards. The ground floor had originally been a roadway but pedestrianised it became a simple walk through from one side to another.

"Everything is in the wrong place," I observed. "So many floors it's hard to find what's where."

"I guess we will see that in action tomorrow," Nigel added.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - HALL LORD DEPARTMENT STORE - Ben writing

I was still operating on Barbados time as was Nigel. Private jets and unlimited champagne do not resolve jet-lag. My mind was also so full of this department store, the realisation of a new project and the fears that it brought played havoc with my mind. If it all went wrong we could end up with nothing, losing all. My time in retail before I met Nigel, a bitter experience being made redundant when my employer went bust, taught me two things: The Lewis's department Store was a disaster but within it there was something which could be salvaged. Salvaged and turned to success.

I decided I wanted to view the store from a position I had been in when I previously was a retail management trainee. I would ask Uncle Harry to set me up as an intern working in the store to research a project for my degree.

The next day was planned for legal stuff, meetings and so on, before the deal was finalised. Nigel could look after that while I spent time on the shop floor. With that thought I finally fell asleep.

"John, this is my nephew Ben. He is going to spend the day with us researching something for his university project."

"Hey good to meet you. Which uni are you at ?"

Without thinking I said, "Luton." Oh dear !

"Look after him will you, show him how we work. I am going to be off the floor for most of the day. Introduce him to the Famous Five."

"You know about the Famous Five ?" John blushed.

"The whole store knows about the Famous Five."

"Who are the Famous Five ?" I asked.

"You'll get to meet them at coffee break."

Uncle Harry's department sold readymade curtains, curtains to order, fabric by the metre, rails, accessories, blinds and table linen. John showed me round the department from which I quickly spotted something that was not sold.

"Don't you sell reels of sewing cotton ?"

"No," John replied. "Harry wants us to as it's an obvious thing to go with fabric where customers are making their own curtains but we are not allowed to sell cotton as it is sold in haberdashery on the ground floor."

"Nobody is going to go down there to buy a reel of cotton," I observed.

"Precisely ! But that is the way things work here."

It was hardly a busy start to the morning but John did have a couple of customers. He showed me how to measure and cut fabric.

"Next customer is yours," he said.

A young couple approached. "Do you have four of these cushions ? There's only two on display."

I looked to John. "I am really sorry Sir," he said, "all we have is on display."

"I am ever so sorry," I said.

"Don't worry," the failed customer said with more understanding than I would have offered. "Nice watch," he added as he left.

Damn ! I was wearing my Rolex.

At coffee break I was introduced to John's friends, the Famous Five.

"This is David who works in the furniture department."

We smiled at one another.

"Peter from news and stationery. This is Mary from women's corsets and knickers."

"Ladies Lingerie." Mary reached out to slap John but missed.

"And this is Tony who is the supervisor in the music and CD department."

"Hi."

"What kind of music are you in to ?" Tony asked but before I could answer added, "Technology, of course, has destroyed popular music."

"Don't get him started on that," David said.

"If anyone had the money to invest and the balls to go with it," Tony continued ignoring David, "he could take over the global music industry and return the UK to the dominance it had in the 1960's and 70's."

"Tony is a bit fanatical," Mary explained, "his hobby is the history of pop music."

Coffee break was only for twenty minutes so we all returned to our departments. Breaks were organised into three time groups so as soon as we were back the next group left the floor.

"It's fish fingers for lunch," Peter said on the way back to our departments. "Trust me you will not want to eat them ! The only fish I know with arms and hence fingers is an octopus. The chips are OK but the peas are shrunken cannon balls from the Napoleonic War."

I thought of our own cannon at home and Captain Ralph firing coconuts out to sea. This department store adventure was all very well but I looked forward to going home.

"It's the pub for lunch then," Tony added.

"Definitely," the others agreed.

Back on the soft furnishing department John's face went pale. "Shit Hanson's on the floor !"

"Who ?"

"Who ?"

"Mr Hanson, the General Manager. He never comes down on to the floor. Oh god he is coming this way."

Mr Victor Hanson, General Manager of Lewis's Department Store took me to one side.

"Give me one minute," I said to him.

"My tutor has arrived," I lied to John, "so I have got to go with this gentleman to see him."

My signature was required on a ream of legal documents. I just scribbled where I was told, trusting Nigel to tell me everything was right and in order.

I was back on the third floor and the soft furnishing department in time to join my new friends for lunch. On the way to the pub John explained they usually ate chicken and chips in a basket.

"That will be fine for me."

"And they don't like us having the smell of alcohol on our breath when we serve customers so is Coke ok with you ?"

"Sure."

"Diet Coke ?"

"No the full fat variety," I smiled. "I don't often get to drink Coca Cola." Sam Lord is, of course, a Coke free zone.

"Let me get everything," I said when we were in the pub. "I am on expenses so please let me pay for everyone."

They were protests but I dismissed them all. "John you just come and help me carry the drinks from the bar."

With our drinks and meals in front of us Mary raised her glass. "Thanks Ben. Cheers."

"Cheers," the others echoed.

"My pleasure."

"Ben," John said in a soft voice, "can I ask you a question ?"

"Of course."

"Who are you ?"

"I'm Ben." I laughed.

"Harry's nephew ?"

"Yes, he is my mother's younger brother."

"And you are a university student ? How old are you ?"

"I am twenty, coming up on twenty-one." I tightened my lips, put on a frown and moved my head from side to side a couple of times. "I fibbed a bit, no I am not actually a student."

"But your name is Ben ?"

"Yeh ! Actually my name is Benjamin but only my mother calls me that."

"Benjamin, or Ben, with a Rolex watch ?"

"It was a present." That was not a lie, Nigel had given it to me.

"Ben who is twenty years old and yet I heard the general manager call you SIR. then if you are not a university student he did not come on to the floor to ask you to go and see your tutor did he ?

"What are you saying ?" Tony interrupted. "What are you accusing him of ? He's just paid for all our lunches."

I just shrugged my shoulders.

"Ben who has just paid for our drinks and lunch with an American Express Gold Card ! You need to be someone like Richard Branson to have one of those. Ben with a sun tan he did not get living in Birmingham or Luton for that matter, more like the Caribbean island of Barbados."

While everyone else looked confused John called up a web page on his phone before handing it over to me. "This is you isn't it ?"

"Yep, " I confirmed handing the phone back.

"Can the rest of us take a look ?" Tony asked.

"Oh my god," Mary exclaimed, "it says here that you are worth four hundred million !"

"Dollars perhaps, not pounds and even then probably not that much."

"So what are you doing in Lewis's department Store ?" John looked me in the eye. "And why did the general manager call you SIR ?"

"Ex general manager," I said smiling. "We've given him the sack but all of your jobs are safe. We have just bought the store !"

I went on to explain who I really was, to tell them about Nigel, our home in Barbados, our various business enterprises and so on. My friends listened in puzzled amazement. Then my phone rang.

"Nigel - yes - can I finish my lunch first ? OK, OK I will be quick but can I bring my friends with me, I think their ground floor input will be of help. Give me thirty minutes can you ? See you soon then."

"My Uncle Harry," I explained, " is going to take over as the new manager of the Hall Lor5d Department Store. I have got to go back to a meeting where he is to explain his ideas to us all. I want you to come with me. I will be going home tomorrow but I want you, The Famous Five, to be my eyes and ears here. I want you to work with Uncle Harry and send me regular reports. Not financial reports or sales stuff but tell me how things are looking from a staff point of view, what the morale is like. Can you do that for me ? I'll pay you of course."

There were smiles and all round nods.

In the board room I introduced my friends. "This is my mother-in-law, Lady Patricia Dean."

"Pat please," she smiled.

"Uncle Harry you all know."

"This is David, our solicitor from Barbados."

There were others, all of whom I knew and could have introduced them to the Famous Five but I had no idea why they were there. Nigel explained. "We own a garden centre and this is our manager. Quite apart from the department store take over I only found out about this an hour ago. There is a family firm with three garden centres which could be ours."

"It's a husband and wife firm, they want to sell up and retire. We have first refusal."

"I see," I said.

"We could rebrand the centres as Hall Lord Garden World and make them satellite businesses for the department store." Harry explained. "There are lots of things we could do from the store with small outlets."

"Really ?"

"There is a travel agency in the store, we could open high street branches of Hall Lord Travel. Sam Lords in Barbados and the country hotel could be a part."

"OK."

"We could franchise a chain of hairdressers and beauty parlours with the home salon in the Hall Lord Store."

I nodded.

"But the biggie would be Ben and Nigel's Pantry, a nationwide chain of delicatessens, come bakery, sandwich and coffee shops."

I have to say I was getting a bit lost with all of this !

"You could make Caribbean Cuisine a part of that," Nigel suggested.

"I want to make Hall Lord Department Store an international retail icon for fashion, clothing, home decor and food. You name it and we will lead the way. I want to turn the whole of the fifth floor into Wonderland, a toy theme park. Parents will bring their kinds from all over the country to buy from us. You will make a fortune."

"Billionaire by your twenty-first birthday," Nigel smiled

While I had been listening to all of this I had been looking at the three who had flown us over from Barbados. Why were they there ? I nodded in their direction and the pilot began to speak.

"Perhaps I should explain our position," he began nervously. "I am Christian, this is my brother Carl our co-pilot and Michael who everyone calls Mitch, our cabin crew member."

Each smiled.

"We lease the aircraft but are five months in arrears with payments. We have no money to pay Birmingham Airport for the landing fees and no money to refuel. We are about to go bust and goodness knows how we will get home to Fort Lauderdale."

"Nigel," I began.

"I am ahead of you Ben. I have chatted to Christian, Carl and Mitch so let's see if you agree."

"Only if I can learn to fly," I smiled

"We can base the aircraft in Barbados," Nigel explained. "Christian, Carl and Mitch move in to Sam Lords. We then have our own private airline which will make our travel so much easier."

"But do I get to learn to fly ?"

"It will be your aircraft," Christian said, "so why not ?"

"We need to go to San Francisco," Nigel continued. "We need to speak to Robbie about this, see how he can use the jet to bring in VIP guests from America to Sam Lords.

I think, I am certain, my friends John, David, Peter, Tony and Mary - the Famous Five - were a bit lost in the conversation. I brought them back into things by explaining the role I had devised for them

"You guys can be a great help to me as well," Harry said. "We'll close the Lewis's department Store at the end of the week then re-open two weeks later as Hall Lord. There is no way we can bring in contractors for a refit and overhaul in that time frame, every member of staff will have to pitch in so we do it all in house. Painting, cleaning, moving departments and stock, we will have to do it all ourselves. The Famous Five can be my liaison team working with the staff. hall Lord of Birmingham England is going to become an international retail icon.

Pat, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, said. "The BBC people making the documentary about Sam Lords could perhaps be persuaded to do something similar here."

"Do you think so ?"

"Leave it to me. Harry do you have a formal opening in mind ?"

"Of course."

"Any ideas who will perform the opening ?"

"The mayor perhaps."

"How about a real live pirate AND a certain Hollywood megastar we just happen to know ? Again leave it to me."

"So we head back to Barbados in the morning," Nigel started to wind up the meeting, "spend a few days on the island then we really MUST go to San Francisco."

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO AGAIN - Nigel writing

I am fond of San Francisco. Our home, of course, is Barbados and now I guess we will soon have to find somewhere in England, we don't need anything as grand as I had before I met Ben but we do need somewhere. In San Francisco the VIP flat is our home.

San Francisco and that VIP flat have some special memories for me, memories of times Ben and I treasure. As Christian called air traffic control for a landing spot I knew San Francisco was holding out its hand with the promise of some special times for this particular visit.

The approach to San Francisco Airport is across the Bay, coming in low over the water. In a giant 747 this is not particularly spectacular but in the Learjet of H L Airlines it was a great experience.

Ben, I could see, was longing to be at the controls. I guess he will sooner or later get his pilot's licence.

"HL192 you are clear to land - runway fourteen right."

"Runway fourteen right," Carl confirmed. "Thank you San Francisco."

"Taxi to stand B in the exec terminal."

"Confirmed."

Clearing US Immigration, even through the executive terminal, remains a daunting experience. The United States Government so obviously invests in training its border staff to be the most arrogant, officious and unwelcoming in the world.

Our crew were all American citizens so did not have the same problems. However, they had to park the aircraft and deal with formalities so would ne at least an hour behind us. We made our own way to the Guyzspank offices independently, Robbie was there to collect us while the crew would take a taxi when they were ready. There we only two models resident at the studio so there was plenty of room for the crew to stay. It would be good all being together but I am not sure what they made of things as Ben described our San Francisco operation.

"It's a bit cold in The Bay Area," Robbie explained as he drove us away from the airport. "Not quite what you are used to, perhaps we should have set up the studio in Los Angeles where the sun shines all year round."

"You've only got two models in at the moment," Ben began

"Yeh, bit of a quiet time. We had six last week and ten due in next week so this is a good time for you to be here, time for us to talk and not too many models about for you to nick and take back to Barbados to work as waiters !"

"Sorry about that," I smiled.

"I do have a few ideas to run by you both, " Robbie explained.

I had a germ of an idea as well, an idea that had only just come to me and one I had yet to share with Ben.

The sky over San Francisco was grey and uninviting. As we all sat down to share a pizza Robbie explained they would have to come up with an alternative for the two lads filming the next day.

"It's not going to look outside," Robbie explained. We were planning some opening shots on the Golden Gate Bridge before getting down to spanking in the studio. I wanted somewhere iconic.

"Where would you like to go ?" Ben asked. "We have an aircraft don't we ? How about The Grand Canyon ? Could we fly there Christian ?"

"I could file a flight plan, Grand Canyon is a small airport but I am sure we could get a slot."

"If you are up for it," Robbie said.

Ben was clearly keen, Christian and Carl liked the idea, the two models wondered if they were dreaming, who was I to object ? So that was agreed and arranged.

"Do you remember when you played your trick on me when we were in San Francisco before ?"

"Of course I do."

Ben and I were alone in the VIP flat.

"A lot has happened since then."

"There's even more waiting to happen."

"Including you becoming a billionaire by your twenty-first birthday."

"Perhaps."

"I shall never forget," I smiled, "walking into this room and seeking someone laying there on the sheets, partly uncovering his bottom."

"How many bottoms do you know ? Didn't you recognise it as mine ?" Ben's eyes twinkled as he spoke. "You aint got such a bad arse yourself !"

"There's no doubt about it Ben, Destiny has been very good to us both."

"But there is a problem with our constantly getting richer."

"Really ? What's that ?"

"For every pound in our fortune we have to make love, we are getting richer faster than we can - well you know......."

"Oh Ben you are funny and I do love you so much."

"I suppose we are now what people call the super rich."

I nodded my head.

"So perhaps we need to change our love making to super love."

"And perhaps the Midas Touch should become The Super Midas Touch. Meeting you Ben has brought me, my wicket stepmother is now my big sister and someone I actually am quite fond of. My father who I have despised all my life," I paused. "I hate to admit it Ben but I am actually starting to like him. Well a little bit.

"I'll swap you my mother for your father, her calling me Benjamin all the time and now steering us to buy a department store in of all places Birmingham !"

"Billionaire by the time you are twenty-one."

"Oh Mr Super Rich, let's make Super Love."

CHAPTER THIRTY - HL AIRLINES - Ben writing

We did indeed make super love.

At breakfast Christian and Carl said they had a 1pm slot to fly from Los Angeles to Grand Canyon Village and a 7pm slot to leave. "Will that be alright ?"

"Fine for filming," Robbie confirmed, "and it gives us time now to chat with Ben and Nigel to explain our ideas."

"Ideas ? What ideas ?"

My mother had skilfully moved Nigel and into buying a department store, I could feel a similar manipulation coming our way. Although it now appears to have been a good idea I was against the department store project. If they were about to suggest what I thought they were going to suggest my immediate reaction would be to lend it my support. My immediate reaction that is but I was open to dissuasion. I just did not want the department store and needed no caution to oppose it, with H L Airlines I forced myself to switch caution on and turn up its heat.

"You already own a private jet and a helicopter," Robbie said, "every week you are flying hundreds of people into the island and putting money into the airline's pockets. Bring them in on your own aircraft."

"I don't think we are rich enough to buy a 747," Nigel said.

I nodded in agreement.

"Lease the aircraft until the airline becomes established." Robbie had this all worked out.

"We would never get the slots. Would we ?" I asked.

"Not at Heathrow or Gatwick," Carl said, "but you would at London Luton. The runway is long enough to take a 747."

Nigel roared with laughter. "I can just hear what my father would say about that ! He hates Luton."

"Carl," I started to explain, "it may be called London Luton but Chav City is nowhere near London."

"It's closer than Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead. The motorway traffic is far less congested."

"It's not just long haul flights," Christian explained, "yes set that up but it will probably take a year to get the first aircraft operational, mo there's an immediate need for inter-island flights across the whole Caribbean which H L Airlines with a fleet of two or three Boeing 737 aircraft could command and make a lot of money.

"What would the accountants say ? What would Russell say ? What would your father say ?" I said looking at Nigel.

"If the figures stack up, and I suspect they will, then I can see them agreeing."

"And you would head the airline ?" I said looking at Robbie.

"No, no," he held up his hands. "my mission is to develop Guyzspank but as the one managing Stateside flights to Barbados I would like to have a role."

The prospect of owning an airline was appealing but it felt like we were caught up in an avalanche. With one new venture after another and all of them still to be working properly we were sweeping along in an ever increasing cascade.

"I thought you wanted to learn to fly/"

"I do."

I wanted H L Airlines but even if I did not it was obviously going to happen so why object.

With not a lot of time before we needed to head back to the airport Nigel suggested our aviation gteam put together a firm plan with detailed costing and time schedules for it to happen.

Nigel has written the next chapter telling of our time at Grand Canyon Village, I am now jumping ahead of that account as I try to explain my confused feelings, feelings I tried to share with Nigel on our return.

"I went for an interview to be a driver, a job I quite liked the idea of and a job I wanted. Next thing I know I am your PA and rapidly promoted to Operations Director of a sauna chain. Before I can draw breath I am your business partner. I've lost track of everything we are doing and what we own."

"You are not objecting are you ?"

"Of course not."

"I used to feel like that," Nigel said pulling me closer to him."

"It's not the wealth or the possessions that worry me - scare me," I tried to explain, "it's a fear that none of this is real and if it is not then you are not real - we are not real."

Nigel kissed me long and deep. "Was that real ?" he smiled.

"Of course it was."

"Ben, my dearest Ben, I know exactly what you are trying to say. I have these same worries myself, or had. It took me a long time to get a hold on things and to believe. When I won the money I started buying businesses for a hobby, a bit like collecting stamps or coins. then the responsibility of providing employment for people became important, the more we can employ the better."

"I do like the idea of H L Airlines," I said, "but just like the department store I feel we have been moved to a position where we have no choice."

"You want to learn to fly ?"

"Everyone keeps saying that and everyone knows the answer. Will an airline work ? Sooner or later we are going to have our first business failure."

Nigel smiled. Even in the semi-darkness of the room I knew he was grinning. "It's been a while since we spoke about it, at least ten minutes, but we do have the magic of the King Midas touch."

I smiled back.

"Five years from now H L Airlines will be the number one all across The Carribean. there is no end to how wealthy we will become."

"I hope so, for every pound in the bank we have to make love."

"Super love."

"Agreed."

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - SPANKING BOTTOMS - Nigel writing

"We need to go to San Francisco," I said to Ben.

"What again ?"

"I thought you like San Francisco."

"I do."

"Robbie has a major idea for promoting Guyzspank, I think we should support him."

"It's all go," he smiled. "Still when I get my pilot's licence............."

"Oh I love you Ben."

And that was an understatement !

As the Hall Lord empire has grown I have often thought about selling our, shall I call them adult entertainment, enterprises but have never advanced my thinking to a pint where I have suggested anything to Ben. The Guyzspank Studio and associated website quickly developed to become a highly profitable business and with it Robbie changed in attitude towards Ben and I, he was almost a friend. It was, of course, Ben who had won him over and so it is Ben who needs to take the credit for the money Guyzspank is making.

Ben explained to me what BDSM meant, Guyzspank certainly did not come anywhere near that, man2man spanking as Ben and Robbie alike put it was just a bit of fun. Fun that was making money. Robbie had come up with an idea for what he called SPANKATHON. This would be a monthly event open only to members of the website. One day a month the site would publish home made spanking videos submitted by site members.

"I am expecting we will get a hundred or so entries," Robbie explained when we were sitting in his office and listening to is presentation.

"Spanking models we have in the studio," he continued, "will form a jury to pick out the best."

"Will there e prizes ?" Ben asked.

"Of course. Each month we will have a series of prizes then at the end of the year the month winners will be entered into a grand final with a significant prize."

"And that will be ?

"I thought about a car," Robbie said, " a BMW mini."

"But you will need two BMW mini cars," Ben observed. "Spanking needs to people."

"I thought they could share. I don't think the increase in profits would be big enough to buy two."

I looked at Ben and our minds quickly exchanged the thoughts we were both thinking. "We'll sponsor the prizes," Ben said. Alone and in the VIP flat I decided I did need to speak to Ben about our owning adult entertainment businesses. "The Hall Lord brand is so strong now and gaining strength all the time, do you think it is time we sold off our gay activities."

"They are not doing us any harm and are making us money," Ben replied. "Didn't Richard Branson once own a gay nightclub ?"

"I don't know. Did he ?"

"Yes, it was called Heaven. Before my time mind you."

"And mine," I smiled.

"How about you and I make a spanking video and enter it for Spankathon ?" I have no idea why I said that. The words came from my mouth without my thinking.

"Oh Nigel," Ben giggled, "I thought you would never ask,"

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - BEAUTIFUL BARBADOS - Nigel writing

We never did make that video but Robbie's Spankathon was a resounding success from Day One and brought many new people to the website.

Back home in Barbados one of the first things we did was to ask Captain Ralph to take us swimming with the fishes.

"Just like old time," Ralph said, "I'll never forget the first time I took you out on my boat, What a day that was."

"I love this island," Ben said.

"And it loved you back," Ralph smiled.

"Oh dear," I added, "should I be jealous."

"It's paradise here," Ben said, "but a tent pitched on a lonely moor in rainy old England would be paradise providing you were there."

"What a lucky person I was when I met you. What lucky people we are."

We splashed and played in the water, the warm sun stroked our backs. Ralph produced a ball from the boat and we threw it to one another always making sure it landed a few yards out of reach so we had to swim for it. One of Ralph's throws landed further than before so we had to swim for it. I turned to my right and prepared to dive after the ball when the nose of a dolphin broke the water and flipped the ball high into the air. Our new friend joined in our game for some time before the sound of Angela's approaching helicopter scared him off.

Angela brought the helicopter down low, the rota blades churned the water making it hard to control our swimming, Ralph's ball bounced off and away. We could see Yvette with her camera filming us. "That will be on YouTube before the end of the day," Ben shouted above the sound of the rota blades.

As she left the aircraft banked and everyone waved to us below.

"We need to head off in a moment," Ralph explained, "Kyle and his family are having a barbecue on Pirate Beach and have asked you to join them. They want you to meet someone."

"Who ?"

"I am sworn to secrecy," he smiled.

So many friends: Ralph, Angela, Yvette, Kyle - so many friends.

My father and Pat were also at the barbecue. Relations with my father had softened but I still was not completely at ease in the company of the mighty Lord Peter Dean. Pat, however, was a treasure. No more the wicket step mother, now my much loved older sister.

"Forgive our gate crashing," my father said, "but the children wanted their Grandpa Judge to be here."

"Come on both of you," Pat said before I could answer and gave Ben and I an enormous hug. "So lovely to have you back on the island."

"Can I give him to them now ?"

Kyle smiled at his son and nodded.

The young boy raced off excitedly then returned with a puppy on a lead. The puppy strained eagerly towards us.

He's for you, his name is Marley."

"We watched the film Marley and Me last week," my father explained. "You know the John Grogan story of the world's worst dog."

Ben scooped the puppy up into his arms. Marley licked his face. "And he is for us ?"

"Yes."

I stood by the side of Ben and stroked the dog's head.

"Don't worry," my father said, "we will look after him when you jet off to exciting places like San Francisco," he paused for effect, "and Birmingham ! I m only surprised there is not a branch of the Hall Lord Empire in exotic Luton."

"Peter !" Pat said sternly then smiling addressed herself to Ben and myself. "Of course we will take care of Marley when you are away but perhaps he will help keep you both here a little more."

It was not easy to sleep. Marley yelped when we settled him into his basket for the night.

"Perhaps he needs a pee," Ben said, "I'll take him."

"He's had six already !"

When Ben returned he had Marley with him. "Let him sleep on the floor," he said.

"Goodnight Marley"

Five minutes later he was asleep, fast asleep. On top of our bed ! Within the hour he was in bed with us !

"Marley is going to change our lives," I said to Ben at breakfast the next morning.

"Cute isn't he ?"

"Yes but he is only a puppy, wait until he is fully grown. Do you still want him sleeping in our bed ?

John Grogan's Marley may have been the world's worst dog but our Marley, by miles, is the world's smartest dog. This child of the canine world demonstrated abilities beyond his years. He padded round to my side of the table, sat on his bottom and begged.

"You have had your breakfast now let me have mine."

His brown eyes met mine saying, "Can you give me something off your plate please."

"You have had your breakfast," I said again.

"Which would you prefer," Ben asked, "Pedigree Chum or sausage, bacon and egg ?"

I gave in. That was just the first of countless times when Marley, the world's smartest dog, got the better of me."

In time he got he better of everyone on the estate. In canine years he was a baby but advanced for his age. In his teens he roamed free every day checking out certain key factors of the resort. He made sure the kitchens were operational by checking the menu and sampling the food. The ice cream cafe had to be checked to ensure the deserts were neither too hot nor too cold. He would say hello to as many guests each day as he could, particularly those with doggie treats. Yvette featured him on our website, the first things guests would say on arrival was Where's Marley ? He became almost, but not quite, as famous as John Grogan's Marley.

Barbados has pet passport system so he accompanied us when Ben and I went abroad. I have often wondered what the Sam Lord Estate was like when he was not there. I have also pondered what the old pirate Sam Lord himself would have made of Marley.

Yes, Marley continued to share our bedroom which at first was a problem when it came to love making. Neither Ben not I were comfortable sharing the physical side of our relationship with the world's smartest dog ! It was not such a problem, we simply changed our days to give US TIME while Marley was out on his rounds about the resort.

Everything in our lives was perfect. What more can I say.

"I think Marley should have his own website," Yvette said at one of our weekly planning meetings. "Marley of Barbados."

And so it happened.

My father the budding crime novelist decided to change the genre of his word processor and challenge John Grogan's novel with his story The Adventures of The World's Smartest Dog.

The staff on the Sam Lord Estate had grown from when we first opened but one position we had never felt the need to fill was Lost Property Officer. Anything lost or found made its way to Kyle's office where, as head of security, he did his best to return everything to its owner. Marley appointed himself our Property Manager.

Each day he would make his rounds, pick up anything he considered not to be with its rightful owner then trot over to Kyle and hand it over. It is quite amazing just what he found.

Do you remember from an earlier chapter The Ballad of Sam Lord ? How destiny played it on the radio ? How Ben and I learned of the Sam Lord Estate and how we came to buy it ?

Do you remember the legend of Sammy's treasure ?

He buried his treasure so deep in the ground until this day it has never been found.

Though people they search from time to time his fortune they never will find.

I was sitting by Mango Pool chatting to some guests when Kyle's voice came over the radio, "Nigel - Ben, where are you ? Get here quickly !"

"What's the problem ?" I replied. My heart was beating fast. What had happened ? Was there an emergency ? Why the urgency ?

"Not a problem," Kyle explained but get here NOW. Run both of you, come quickly."

I did run. So did Ben. We looked at one another and wondered what was going on. Kyle came outside, rushing to speak to us but before saying anything handed us a coin.

"What's this ?" Ben asked.

"Marley just brought it in ?"

"Where did he get it ?"

"No idea but look at what it is."

"What is it ? Looks old."

"It's part of Sam Lord's missing treasure."

"No way, I thought that was just a legend."

"It looks as if Marley has found it."

"Marley," I said, "where did you find this ?"

But Marley was not going to say.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE - CHRISTMAS - Ben writing

No, Marley did not find any more of Sammy's treasure. Neither did anyone else for that matter. That single coin was worth a small fortune but as Nigel and I already had our own fortune, and not a small one, the Marley Find was not valued in monitory terms.

It was Pat who arranged for the treasure to be mounted in a display case , tastefully on view but with similar security to that surrounding The Crown Jewels in The Tower of London. Its new home was in the estate dining room where all visitors could marvel at it but she also organised it touring the Hall Lord Empire spending a week in each of the Barbados Art branches and time in the Birmingham department store.

Lord Peter had another chapter for his book which was published in time for Christmas - The Adventures of The World's Smartest Dog.

CHRISTMAS - Nigel took charge and began planning in October. Quite frankly Christmas was going to be a chore. He decided we should visit each and every branch of our business to give staff presents and to thank them for their efforts. There was the Biimingham department store and its growing chain of satellite shops. Also in England were the garden centres, the hotel which was Nigel's former home, the pub, the farm and all the sauna branches. In San Francisco Robbie would most certainly be expecting us to celebrate with him and his team. There is a danger I may lose count of all the branches of Barbados Art but Pat is always there to remind us of its success. HL Airlines may still be in its infancy but small teams of staff are setting up offices in different places.

"I think it will take six weeks," Nigel explained, "to get round them all."

"You are joking."

"Shouldn't be so wealthy should we." Nigel smiled.

"Six weeks ?"

"We'll obviously take the Learjet but we can't expect Christian and Carl to be away from their planning for HL Airlines for so long. We'll have to take different pilots."

"What about Marley ?"

"I think it would actually be better if he stayed here on the island."

"Aw."

"Let Pat and my father look after him. I have a slight ulterior motive," Nigel smiled.

"Go on."

"We are going to need a tour manager, social secretary and all round co-ordinator."

I nodded.

"Pat is the obvious choice and she, no doubt, will put herself forward."

I nodded again.

"It's not that long," Nigel explained, "since she was my wicket stepmother and oh yes I love her to bits as my older sister but I do not think I can cope with having her quite so close for such a long period in time. She is a bit full on."

I had to agree with that. "Then who ?"

"I thought of Yvette," Nigel explained. "She has done marvels with the media angle here on the island. As well as her obvious organisational abilities she could do something to promote all of the businesses, perhaps publish a blog of the tour. Do you still get the reports from your friends in the department store ?"

"John, Mary, Tony and David you mean ? Yes I do, every week."

"Pick one of them and let's take him, or her, with us to help Yvette."

That was a strange thing for Nigel to say, it did not make sense to me but as we would eventually find out it was not Nigel who was speaking but Destiny putting the words into his mouth.

I decided to ask Tony to join the team. As things turned out that was Destiny replying.

We left home in late November with a carefully scheduled tour, Yvette had done a simply splendid job, which would end in Barbados the week before Christmas. It was a long, hard time but one I would not have missed for anything. The staff everywhere we went made us feel so welcome and proud, proud to be at the head of such a diverse business serving customers and providing employment for too many. As I lay down to sleep each night I thought I would wake up the next morning with reality staring me in the face but until it did I determined to enjoy to the full every moment of the dream.

I can not document every day and everything that happened but have here selected just a few extra special moments of our Christmas party.

The first happened before we even left. The HL Airlines Learjet was waiting for us at Grantley Adams Airport and Kyle was to drive us there. We waited with Yvette at the car but where was Kyle ?

"There's not a problem," Nigel said, "plenty of time."

"Not like Kyle though."

When Kyle did arrive he was carrying a red box in the shape of a briefcase. It had a brilliant gold crest on the site and resembled those used by British cabinet ministers.

"What on earth have you go there ?" I asked.

"It's for both of you," he explained. "I am so sorry to have kept you waiting. This is why I am late. A special messenger brought it from Government House."

"Really."

"I don't know why he could not have come and given it to you direct instead of all the palaver he put me through. I was told I had to hand it over and here is the key."

"Better open it," Nigel said.

"No, no !" Kyle replied. "The instructions were very clear, you are to be alone when you open it. The contents are for your two eyes only."

"Sounds suspicious," I said, "sounds like a bomb. Is it ticking ?"

"We've got to get to the airport," Nigel said, "whatever it is it will have to wait. What does he want ? Oh no ! Quick Kyle drive off."

Running towards us, waving his hands in the air gesticulating for us to wait was Lord Peter Dean - Nigel's Father.

"Wait, wait," he shouted. "Have you got it ?"

"You mean this ?" I held up the red box.

"Thank goodness. I'll drive them to the airport Kyle. I know what's in the box so they can open it on the way to the airport."

"How do you know ? Kyle is driving us."

"Kyle you take Yvette in another car, leave me alone with these two."

Relations between Nigel and his father may have mellowed but when Lord Peter said something was going to happen it generally did.

"You two sit in the back then once we are off the estate you can open the box."

"What does this mean ?" I said. "What is a Knight Commander of Saint Michael and Saint George ?"

"You will be if you accept the Queen's offer. Sir Benjamin Hall-Lord KCMG and Sir Nigel Hall-Lord," Lord Peter said.

"Only my mother calls me Benjamin," I protested.

"I think we may extend that to her Majesty don't you ?" Lord Peter suggested. "The two of you in the New Year Honours List. You are, of course, sworn to secrecy until the list is published."

"You are behind this," Nigel said.

"I may have nominated you both, the Honours Committee and the Prime Minister will have approved my nomination but I rather think Her Majesty is able to make up her own mind."

So right at the start of our Christmas tour we received a gift which could not be given a value in terms of money. As we arrived at the airport we tried to concoct an excuse to offer to Yvette. As the HL Airlines jet took off heading to London we did our best to put the rather strange experience behind us.

We were met at East Midlands Airport in England by Tony from the department store. Yvette had planned for him to be our driver for the UK part of our tour.

I want to tell you about something that happened on Day One when we visited one of our garden centres. "I had hoped you would bring Marley with you."

"Sorry," Nigel explained, "it really would have been too much for him."

"I bet you miss him."

"We do."

This was the second of three gatherings in the staff social area, each lasting forty-five minutes with one third of the staff on duty before all change and the next group would be ushered in to meet us. We had just been introduced to Susan, the oldest employee.

"I'm seventy-two," she smiled, "and young man I am old enough to remember Patti Page singing Doggie in the Window !"

The young man to whom she was addressing her comments was Tony. "He's a bit of an an expert on the history of popular music," I explained. Susan had just told us how she and her husband had re-homed a dog from a rescue centre. I wasn't sure how something from ancient pop history fitted in with that.

"But Patti Page re-released the song as Doggie In the Shelter," Tony smiled.

"I did not know that," Susan confessed.

"Nice one," I said under my breath.

Nigel was trying to draw us away to speak with other staff members.

"What are you all doing this evening ?" Sue asked.

"Eating in the hotel aren't we ?" I looked to Yvette.

"We can do better than that." She took a pen and a piece of paper from her pocket. "Come and have dinner with my husband and I, There's something I want to talk to you about. Say half past seven. This is the address and tell the young lady to bring that camera with her, she will be needing it."

"She's not your average old biddy you know. She's been planning this dinner party ever since she knew you were visiting the garden centre," the branch manager explained.

"But what if we had something else organised for tonight ?" Nigel said.

"I do not think that would have made any difference as far as she is concerned."

"So what is it all about ?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't have a clue. I am invited so I guess I will find out at the same time as you do."

"She's seventy-two and the oldest employee here," I said. "How long has she worked here ?"

"Coming up to seven years, since she retired. She used to be headmistress of a girls grammar school."

"And now she's a sales assistant in a garden centre ?"

"Got it in one. If you ask me Susan Carter will never stop working but her talents are perhaps wasted as a sales assistant. Not like her husband, he was something in the music industry but packed it up years before his wife did."

"Carter - her name is Carter ?"

"Yes."

"Not Dicky Carter," Tony joined the conversation.

"Richard, yes that's his name. I have met him lots of times, he is always here buying things for his garden."

"Oh - my - god !" Tony exclaimed. "The legendary Dicky Carter. Are you sure ?"

"His name is Richard but I do know he prefers to be called Dicky. He was a record producer or something like that."

Tony was pale. "And I am invited tonight ?"

"Yes, of course."

"And he will be there ?"

"She did say it was dinner with her and her husband."

"I can't believe it, I can't believe it. I am going to meet Dicky Carter. What an honour !"

I looked at Nigel, then to our centre manager, to Yvette all of who had blank faces showing hey had no idea who Dicky Carter was.

Richard Carter turned out to be a quiet, softly spoken and unassuming man. He had cooked the meal. "Cooking is a hobby of mine these days, along with gardening."

It was a large house so presumably had a large garden but it was dark and cold outside so we saw nothing. Tony was eager to spend the entire evening with Dicky but Susan was firmly in control. Taking on the role of a grammar school headmistress she told Nigel what she was planning for us both. She began by politely asking after Marley then telling us all about her own dog who was sleeping by the fire.

"His name is Jimmy but that is a silly name for a dog so we call him Jay Dee."

"Jay - Dee," I repeated.

"No, not Jay - Dee but J D," she explained emphasising the words. "J D is short for Jimmy Dog - JD, JD there's no one quite like JD."

"But if you don't like Jimmy as a name why call him that in the first place ?"

"Good question ! Shows you have been listening !" Susan's tone was not the same as earlier in the day. No longer a garden centre sales assistant, this was now a formidable headmistress.

"J D," she continued," is a rescue dog, we adopted him two years ago."

"I didn't know you could adopt an animal," Nigel said.

Susan shot him a fierce look. "For a multi-millionaire who employs thousands of people your education would appear to be incomplete."

"You'll have to forgive him," I smiled, "he went to The University of Luton." I couldn't resist saying that.

She said nothing but her eyes penetrated my own to say - AND WHICH UNIVERSITY DID YOU ATTEND ?

"The problem with animal rescue and adoption," Susan explained, "is not that the centres do a bad job but they do not do a good job because they have to spend most of their time raising money to fund their work. Time which need to be spent caring for the animals and finding homes for them."

"I see," Nigel said. I guessed he thought we were about to be asked for a donation.

"Do you ? I hope you do." She paused. "There's a small field athe back of the garden centre."

"Is there ?"

"Yes."

"I want you to let me turn it into an animal rescue centre."

Nigel looked at the centre manager but Susan kept speaking.

"This will not be a charity but a part of the garden centre business with paid staff and no expenses spared to care for and re-home animals. Dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens......"

I wanted to say we had some monkey inhabitants back at Sam Lords which could have but decided to keep quiet.

Our centre manager obviously wanted to say something but Susan answered his question before he could ask it.

"Three hundred thousand pounds will be enough to set it up. It will then need ten full time staff working in shifts. We will need someone on duty all day, every day. You can set everything off against tax so it will not cost you a penny."

"You know it could actually bring in new customers to the garden centre."

"Of course it will and it will do the same at all of the Hall Lord Garden Centres."

Nigel wanted to speak but The Headmistress was not ready for him yet. "I have checked all of the branches and found suitable areas fof the project within them all," she said.

"This sounds like a nice idea. And you will be in charge ?"

"Naturally."

"What do you say Nigel ?"

"The Man from Barbados he say YES."

"Dickie fetch the champagne," Susan said. Then to Yvette, "Young lady get your camera out and take some photographs."

After the foundation of what was to become the first Marley and Friends Animal Sanctuary had been duly celebrated Dickie announced he was going to have a cigar. "She makes me smoke outside, evening on a freezing November night," he smiled. "Anyone care to join me ?"

"I will, if I may," Tony said.

I didn't realise Tony smoked,

Back at our hotel, as much as I was missing him, it was good to be in bed without Marley playing gooseberry.

"Well Sir Nigel what do you say to all that ?"

"Nobody's supposed to know about the Knight Commander of Saint Michael and Saint George until January."

"But you know and I know," I smiled before kissing my lover. "Do you know what I think ?"

"Go on."

"This honour from the Queen is more than we deserve so I think we need to start earning it. Susan's animal rescue centres is a way to start."

"I love Sir Ben."

"I love you Sir Nigel."

Our Grand Christmas Tour has merged in my mind so events have combined in places making it difficult to remember what happened and in what order. I do, however, recall that following the visit to that particular branch of the garden centre operation we went to the Birmingham Hall Lord Department Store. I also remember my mother was there ! But more of that in a moment.

It was about an hour's drive to Birmingham, an hour in which Tony constantly dominated the conversation.

"I can not thank you two enough for allowing me to meet Dickie Carter," he said. "No matter what I do in the rest of my life last night was the highlight."

"Is he really that famous ?"

"Not now but he used to be. One day I will write a book on the history of popular music and explain how BBC Radio One destroyed it. Last night when Dickie and I were talking he said exactly the same thing - bring back the Pirate Radio Stations."

I knew what he was talking about but this was a generation and a half before my time so it was not really of much consequence.

"Now technology is completely ruining everything. You can have the worst voice ever, sing completely out of tune and a computer programme will turn everything into perfect harmony."

"Perhaps Nigel and I could reinvent ourselves as rock and roll singers."

"Why not ?" Tony said.

"I WAS joking," I explained.

"NO WAY !" Nigel added.

"Who do you say was the greatest influence in popular music since the end of World War Two ?"

"The Beatles," Yvette said.

"No."

"Elvis Presley," Nigel volunteered.

"No."

"Then who ?"

"The Everly Brothers ?"

"Who ? Never heard of them."

"Nor me."

Tony took a computer memory stick from his pocket and plugged it into the car's audio system. "Listen to this ?"

Oh my papa To me he was so wonderful Oh my papa To me he was so good No one could be So gentle and so lovable Oh my papa He always understood

Gone are the days When he would take me on his knee And with a smile He'd change my tears to laughter

Oh my papa To me he was so wonderful Deep in my heart I miss him so today Oh my papa Oh my papa Oh my papa

"That's rubbish," we all agreed.

Now listen to this. The same tune followed but without the words and played on a trumpet.

"This is the original played by Eddie Calvert," he explained.

"Sounds a bit better," Yvette confirmed, "but still something my great-great granddad would have listened to."

"That was a hit for British trumpet player Eddie Calvert in 1953."

"Like I said something my great-great granddad would have listened to."

"Don and Phil Everly were devoted to their father and sand this when he died as a tribute to him. It was never released as a single and was not intended for commercial distribution."

"Well I am not devoted to my father," Nigel said with a heavy note of sarcasm in his voice, "So do not expect me to sing it for him !"

"No, no. It's Dickie's unfulfilled ambition. When he was a producer he wanted to get together a group of children to sing it for their own fathers then release it as a Christmas single."

I wondered if we could let him use our recording studio back home on Barbados. We were nearing the department store and so the conversation changed.

Parking in Birmingham is no different to any other city in thee world, I was glad I was not driving, but the store had made room for our car in the goods inward bay. As a star in the sky Birmingham is hardly somewhere that shins brightly but The Hall Lord Department Store of Birmingham England is fast becoming the Pole Star in our business empire. Uncle Harry with a dedicated staff behind him quickly transformed the original store, set up satellite shops across the West Midlands and developed a vast on-line trading giant which had the likes of Amazon quaking. How he had achieved all of this so quickly is hard to comprehend.

Uncle Harry was there to welcome us. So was my mother ! "Hello Benjamin, how lovely to see you again." If Nigel has a thing with his father then I have one with my mother.

"I thought we had a deal, if Nigel and I bought this store you would stop calling me by that ridiculous name ! I am BEN spelt B - E - N !"

"Of course you are dear."

Tony wanted to check the music department was working in his absence, Yvette wanted photographs of the toy department even though the Christmas display was not yet set up and I wanted to go back to the soft furnishing department where I had pretended to be a university student researching a project. The staff had not changed but the sales floor had been transformed. What a difference.

We had a good day at the store. No geriatric sales assistant cornered us with a project to re home lost and unwanted crocodiles, The Queen was not sending us secret messages. As a city Birmingham's brightest days are probably in the past, my home is Barbados so I would never want to live there but The Hall Lord Department Sore is a special place.

Somewhere else I would not want to live is Beverley Hills. Rodeo Drive is like a movie set, an extravagant movie set. Tony could not believe he was there, it was a dream to him. At times the whole Hall Lord empire is like a dream to me. One corner of Rodeo Drive is the Hall Lord dream of Barbados Art where Pat was waiting to meet us. She had with her a group of A List movie stars who were eager to have their photographs taken with Nigel and I. Yvette's camera was in overtime. Tony immediately recognised one of the guests, seventy-nine year old Don Everly, the surviving brother from The Everly Brothers. Neither Nigel nor I, of course, recognised or even knew who he was.

Pat, bless her, had actually charged all of her celebrity guests an extortionate sum of money to attend. gathering everyone round Nigel and myself she presented us with a cheque for one million dollars. "This," she explained, "is a Christmas gift from us all. Please donate it to a charity of your choosing."

Nigel looked at me, his eyes saying NO NOT THE MARLEY AND FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY.

I looked back saying That is not a charity.

Another opportunity was presenting itself to Sir Nigel and Sir Ben Hall Lord to do something to justify our honours. "Thank you everyone," I said, "I would like this money to be used to help sick children and their families back at home in Barbados."

Nigel nodded. Yvette's camera clicked. I would so much love to tell you which celebrity it was but when he stepped forward and asked me for my autograph I knew I was dreaming. But I was not. What a Christmas this was turning out to be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR - TAKE OVER BID - Ben writing

"Harringtons ! Even when I was a humble management trainees it was known as The Empty Shelf Suermarket - HARRINGTON'S no matter what you have on your shopping list we guarantee we won't have everything in stock."

"Exactly," Uncle Harry smiled, "and what's all this even when I was a humble management trainee stuff ? That's less than a year ago. Harrington's is about to go bust, once the banks pull the plug that will be the end."

"When will that be ?" Nigel asked.

"Friday, that's what everyone is saying."

I thought back, OK it was less than a year ago, to when I lost my job and the chain I was working for disappeared from the High Street. Had Nigel and I not stepped in, had my mother not pushed us to buy the store our now mega successful department store would be an empty shell. "How many stores are there ?"

"Six hundred and twelve supermarkets and two hundred and forty local stores."

"All those people losing their jobs."

"Not if we took the company over. The creditors would probably let us have it for one pound providing we took on the debts."

"You mean providing Ben and I take on the debt," Nigel observed.

"As chairman of the board," Lord Peter smiled, "I would be in favour."

"As fifty percent shareholder," Nigel said, "I suggest we wait a bit."

"Wait !" Lord Peter exclaimed. "What for ? Wait and see if you can pick it all up for fifty pence instead of a pound ?"

My fifty percent share holding was in favour of the take over but I would never go against Nigel, he would have to say yes before I did. But I wanted those stores. With over eight hundred outlets my hopes for Caribbean Cuisine would move to a new and higher level. the same would apply for Ben and Nigel's Pantry. In all we would become one of Britain's biggest retailer. I would also become a billionaire before my twenty-first birthday. But more than anything I thought back to way I felt when the retail chain I was working for closed down. I was devastated, at such an early age I felt my life had been ruined. If I had not met Nigel what ever would have become of me ? What would become of the thousands of poor souls working at Harrington's Supermarkets if we did step in and save their jobs ?

That night in bed with the most important person in my life, the most important person in the world, I tried to explain my feelings.

"What would have happened to me if I had not applied for the job to work with you ?"

"Your Uncle Harry thinks it's a good idea," Nigel said. "I respect him."

"And your father thinks we should take it on."

"I am not sure I respect his advice. Even if I may have changed my opinion of him just a little."

"What do you think Pat's opinion will be ? Just look at what she has done with Barbados Art. You respect here don't you ?"

Even in the dark I sensed Nigel was smiling. "My former wicket step-mother, now my beloved big sister. YES, I would value her thoughts."

"She would be objective," I suggested. "She is hardly going to set up a branch of Barbados Art in a supermarket."

Nigel rolled over and kissed me. At the bottom of the bed Marley stirred in his sleep.

"What do you think Marley ?"

"What worries me Nigel is how big The Hall Lord empire is growing. Not only how big but how fast. Garden centres, dog and cat rescue, hotel, farm, department store with all its satellite operations, Caribbean Cuisine, Ben and Nigel's Pantry, travel shops, Barbados Art, H L Airlines and now all these supermarkets. Don't get me wrong, I want us to take them on but where will everything end ?"

"You are forgetting the webcams, sauna chain, Guyzspank, Gaybuddy."

I kissed him.

"Why did you start buying up businesses ?"

"It started as a hobby," Nigel replied, "you know that."

"Why now ? Why keep buying things ?"

"God knows. Force of habit perhaps. Many times I have wondered if it is all getting too big. That's why I am nervous about the supermarkets."

"Within the overall Hall Lord brand how many people do we employ ?"

"I do not have a clue."

"And everyone of them enjoying a secure life because of you and I. That's why the Queen gave us whatever it is she is giving us."

As Nigel turned to kiss me I felt a tear on his cheek. That tear sealed the deal and each branch of Harrington's Supermarkets became Harrington's a Hall Lord Store.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE HIGH LEVEL MUSIC - Nigel writing

It was the acquisition of the supermarkets that determined the next Hall Lord expansion. I think Ben and I should have seen it coming, Ben with and friendship with Tony from the Birmingham department store's music division most certainly should have. But I should not have dismissed Dicky Carter as just the husband of formidable Susan Carter. Just as she had manoeuvred us into a corner to start the Marley and Friends Animal Sanctuary so her husband was taking a leaf from her book to join forces with Tony for a venture which would become the most widely known area world-wide of the Hall Lord brand.

Ben continued to receive his weekly reports from his friends at the Birmingham department store. His little team of friends had taken it upon themselves to make spot visits to the supermarkets and report back on what they found. They did not ask for payment against this extra work, nor did they look for their expenses to be covered. We, of course, suitably rewarded them.

Susan Carter began sending me lengthy reports each week, reports which explained in minute detail how the Marley rehoming project was developing. Ben received his report by e-mail while those sent to me by Susan were all hand written and came by post. The garden centre management team said there had been a significant increase in foot traffic and with it an increase in sales. My father's book about Marley was in danger of becoming a bigger seller than John Grogan's original Marley.

Of course we received sales reports from all areas of the business but these personal reports were so much more informative. The Christmas tour had been an ordeal. Although Robbie was constantly trying to get us to spend time in San Francisco we made our excuses. England could manage without Ben and I so we remained on the island. We would, of course, have to return for the investiture but until then we would stay in our home on the Caribbean's most beautiful island.

We were able to spend many hours exploring Barbados. At time we would ride on the island's yellow buses and at other times Ben would drive. Ben never asked why I did not sit in the driver's seat, why he had first come to work with me as my chauffeur ? Why I had a collection of expensive cars I stopped driving myself ? I am pleased about that as I much preferred he did not know.

I had caused the accident but it had been my fault. It could well have been very serious, it was serious but the skills of the doctors ensured he recovered without lasting injury. My relief was so great. We had all been very lucky. I would never drive again.

As many times as we could we went out to sea with Captain Ralph. His armada continued to grow and would soon grow in a new direction.

Ben had not lost his ambitions to get a pilot's licence but as busy as Barbados air space is there is not any tuition for pilots.

Life was good.

"Did you know they were coming ?" I asked Ben.

"No."

Every week we were given a list of guests due to arrive. We did not always read it but this time I did, reading the names I showed the list to Ben. Susan's husband, Dicky Carter, and Ben's friend Tony from the department store had booked themselves to stay for a week.

"Probably needs a break from his headmistress wife," I suggested.

Ben smiled but we both knew there was far more to it than that.

"Can you tell me what was the number one Christmas single ?" It was the first thing Tony said said when he arrived at hall Lord's.

"No I couldn't."

Ben shook his head in agreement.

"In my time," Dicky said, "everyone from toddler to granny would hum the tune. These days more people know who their Member of the European Parliament is than what the Christmas Number One is."

"We don't have one of them," I explained. "a member of the European Parliament I mean, Barbados isn't in Europe."

"Neither is Australia but they enter the Eurovision Song Contest."

"Did they ? I am not a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, it's all a bit of a joke."

"Rather like the European Parliament," Dickie smiled.

"Next year," Tony started to explain, "Richard and I will produce a Christmas single with world-wide sales counted in the hundreds of millions."

Richard nodded. "We need your help," he said.

"You want to use our studio, " I said naively, "of course you can."

"Thank you but yes and no. Yes we would like to record in your studio but not the one here in the Sam Lord Estate, it's too small," Richard explained.

"The pop music industry is dead," Tony took back the conversation. "Technology took away all, originality so now every singer, every band and every song is a clone."

"Sad but true, that's why I got out of the business. It was file sharing that nailed down the lid of the coffin. However," his eyes sparkled and his mouth widened into a smile. "I paid a small team of scientists to write coding which will stop file sharing in any item where it is included."

"Really ?"

"Firstly the code will send back the IP address of anyone who attempts to steal a download. It also has a device which will destroy the download the moment it is played."

"Pop music is about to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. The question is," Richard smiled, "do you want to be a part of it ?"

I looked to Ben and he looked to me. The answer could be yes but what would that yes involve ?"

"Let's go to Mango Pool, have a drink and you can tell us all about your idea."

Idea - singular. What Tony and Richard were about to explain was not singular. Ideas - plural.

"When Richard Branson started Virgin Records," Richard said, "his studio was in an old manor house. There are several mansions on Barbados which are up for sale. Buy one and that becomes our studio and accommodation for visiting artists. Just imagine the talent stepping forward to come here."

"Everything is sold on CD," Tony continued, "singles and albums. No downloads."

"Management, administration and production of the records cal also be here on Barbados."

"You have over one thousand retail outlets in England where sales will begin. Place the records in a stand at every checkout till, how many will that be twenty-five thousand ?"

I didn't have a clue.

"Hall Lord Retail can distribute the records to every other outlet in the UK, we will need to set up offices in different parts of the world to organise sales. We will need to find the right person to be in charge of each."

Ben and I looked at one another, we knew who that would be in America.

"So what's going to be the Christmas number one if Nigel and I go along with this ?" Ben asked.

"We form a children's choir," Richard explained, "children from different parts of the world who will sing Oh My Papa for their fathers. there will not be a family anywhere that does not buy a copy for Dad's Christmas stocking."

Oh no, not that damn song again. I knew one family that would not be buying a copy for Dad's Christmas stocking. Right on cue I saw Lord Peter Dean making his way towards us.

"Sorry to interrupt you," he said, "Nigel, Ben I just need your permission for something."

Since when had my father bothered with the nicety of asking permission for anything ?

"There's a magazine which wants to run a feature on Marley, they want to send a photographer and a reporter. Before I get back to them I just thought I would ask if it would be OK with you."

How many times since my life changed, since I won the money, since I met Ben, at every stage of our business expansion, have I thought I was dreaming ? With those words of my father I knew I was. Yes he had changed, yes he had mellowed and yes I was beginning, only just beginning to look more kindly on him, but his nature surely had not changed so much as to import good manners to that degree.

I told him that would be fine and he left us alone again.

"I like what you are saying," Ben said, "but you will need far more than a Christmas single no matter how many copies it sells."

I smiled. Ben had come so far, was joint owner of a vast business empire and confident enough to be offering advice to someone who, in his day, had been a leader in his own field.

"That's the studio, production and sales sorted," Dicky explained, "but the main thing we have yet to explain."

"Go on then."

"Among we four," he continued, "I am the only one who is old enough to remember the pirate radio stations."

"I know all about them in fine detail," Tony protested.

"Of course you do."

I knew what pirate radio stations were but they were way before my time. I doubted Ben had a clue about them. However. Tony made sure in his enthusiastic way that our lack of knowledge was corrected.

"What better place anywhere in the world to have a pirate radio station than here anchored off Pirate Beach ?" Tony had done his homework and knew all about Sam Lord and buccaneer exploits from the nineteenth century. "Of course ours would not be strictly speaking a pirate radio station, we could broadcast into the Internet then have repeater stations in different parts of the world to put it out on medium wave radio."

"We would soon put radio one out of business in the UK and not before time." Dicke took up the conversation. "We become the world's top pop radio station. The HLM chart will be the only one with credibility. We produce the music, we broadcast it and we sell it."

"What do you think ?" Tony asked.

"I think Captain Ralph's armada just added another ship," Ben smiled.

"Ben any chance you can do me a favour ?" His radio crackled with Ka's voice.

"Sure what can I do for you ?"

"There's a parcel to be picked up from the DHL office in Bridgetown, it's for a guest and I don't have anyone to send to pick it up. Could you possibly....?"

"Sure no problem at all. I'll go now."

"I'll come with you," I said.

"No," Ben replied, "you stop and look after Tony and Dicky. Hey I think I'll take the Big Car, remember the Rolls Royce, the very first car I drove when I cam to work with you."

"That's a lifetime away," I smiled.

"Yep the Big Car it is."

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX - CANDLE ON THE WATER Ben writing

"Benjamin, Benjamin are you awake ?"

Only my mother insisted calling me by that name. What was she doing here ? I could hear her, of course I was able to recognise her voice but I could not see her. My eyes refused to open.

"Oh Benjamin thank god you are alright. I'll go and fetch the doctor."

Doctor ? What was she talking about ? I heard the door close behind her, I could hear he shouting as she moved away. Someone took my hand. I knew who it was. One of Nigel's hands was below while the other rested on top of mine. I tried to open my eyes but they refused to respond. I would sleep just a little more then wake up.

"I love you Nigel," I spoke softly.

My lover squeezed my hand.

I know I slept again, it wasn't for long but I did dream. My dream was confused and a little frightening. I knew it was a dream and I would have to open my eyes but where was I ?

"Benjamin darling wake up, open your eyes."

My mother again. What was she doing in our bedroom ?

There were others present, who were they ? Why were they there ? I need to open my eyes. But not yet.

"Im here Ben," I heard Nigel say. His voice was clear as was the shrill tone of my mother but others were about me. Their speaking was muffled, distant and impossible to understand. I would sleep just a little longer before forcing myself to open my eyes.

Supermarkets - department store - delicatessens - Caribbean ready meals - art galleries - aircraft - all were so distant now and far away. Some of our more recent exploits, I wondered if they really existed at all. HL Airlines - Marley, surely Marley was real.

"Everything is going to be fine Ben," I heard Nigel say, "you've not been hurt. As soon as you wake up everything will be fine. I am so sorry Ben, it was all my fault."

No it wasn't. It wasn't Nigel's fault at all.

"Just was up Ben when you are ready."

I was ready. I opened my eyes. Nigel was sitting on a chair holding my hand. I looked at him and smiled. My mother and my father were there.

"Oh Benjamin, thank goodness. How do you feel ?"

"My name is Ben, NOT Benjamin !"

"Welcome back Ben, I'm Doctor Kaiater but everyone calls me Kai."

The same name as my friend back home, I thought to myself.

"Where am I ?"

"You're in The Churchill Hospital in Oxford," Dr Kai explained.

"In England."

"Yes, In England."

A nurse was taking my blood pressure. I smiled at her.

"How long have I been asleep ?"

"Eight weeks," it was Doctor Kai who spoke.

"But you are awake now," the nurse said, "and before you know it you'll be back to normal."

What was normal ? I was confused. I recalled an accident. I was driving a car, Nigel's Big Car, yes that was right. I saw a lorry heading straight for me but I don't remember it hitting me.

"Nigel has been here every day," My mother explained. "Every day he has been sitting here with you. He has been speaking to you, playing music to you and keeping in contact while you were asleep."

I twisted my hand so it could squeeze his.

"The accident was my fault," Nigel said.

"No it wasn't Nigel." I knew that.

"The lorry came from my garden centre, it was going too fast, the driver was one of my employees so that makes me responsible.."

"No Nigel. Don't be silly."

"You probably need to rest now," Doctor Kai said. "In an hour or so it would be good if you tried to eat."

"Is it alright if I stay with him ?" Nigel asked.

Doctor Kai thought then nodded his head.

When we were alone I asked Nigel something. "They just said when I was unconscious you were speaking to me, what did you say ?"

Nigel had a tear in his eye, I did not understand why that was. "I told you about my various business interests," he said. I tried to explain how you could helpo me by becoming involved."

Things were starting to make sense.

"I shared all kinds of ideas I have, about adventures we can have together. While you were unconscious I tried to be a lighthouse shining out and giving you a light to steer by, a light to bring you back."

"A candle on the water," I said. "You played that song to me while I was asleep didn't you ?"

"Yes. Would you like me to play it again now ?"

"Please."

"There is no department store is there ? There are no supermarkets. No air line. No radio station."

"Not yet Ben but there will be."

"As soon as you are well enough Ben I am going to take you away on a holiday to help you fully recover."

"That's kind but there is no need. Once I am fit I need to get to work, I need to be your driver."

"No Ben, not as my driver, there are more important things for you to do. So for this holiday where would you like to go ?

"Barbados," I said nervously.

"I hoped that was what you would say."