Jasmine looked out the window and turned back to Mark with a smile on her face. "Welcome to Guadeloupe, Mark."He looked out the window, seeing the jet about to touch down on a runway. To the right he could see a small housing estate and beyond that the blue waters of the Caribbean sea. The sun was just starting to come up and it cast everything on the ground in amazing shadows."Wow.""Exactly," She replied.With a gentle bump the jet touched down and after a couple of minutes it pulled up at a small building where a black four by four waited with a couple of serious men in suits outside it. A local official waited to one side, probably to check their passports."That's our ride," Jasmine told him. "They'll take us to the boat.""Boat?""Yeah, it'll take us to the Island," She explained. "It's very cool."Mark shook hands with Captain Grey and thanked him for the flight, then followed Jasmine acro

The Island came into view and Mark stood up at the windows for a better look. It was gorgeous, a tropical paradise of palm trees and beautiful white sandy beaches. The cliffs that rose up out of the water to the east and west were natural and rugged and the structures he could see seemed to enhance the natural beauty rather than detract from it."It's better than I imagined," Mark admitted."I know," Jasmine said, standing beside him. "I love it here."Mark could feel the nerves building in his stomach again as the boat approached the pier and all too soon it was alongside it, the crew tying the Betsy against it. He could see several people waiting at the end of the pier and he took a deep breath, then let it out slowly."What's the Island Manager guy's name again?" He asked."Henry," Jasmine replied. "It's the guy there with the white hair and the black shirt. He always wears black shirts.""Why?" Mark asked, m

"Do you know what's in it? The will, I mean."Jasmine paused, then nodded. "Yes, but I can't tell you what it says, Mark. I'm not allowed, and anyway, it's only a few hours away."Mark frowned but nodded. "So what else?""Well, there's lunch and dinner too, and some time for you to chat with Myra and Maddy. I can tell you that Mister Moore was keen for the three of you to get to know each other, so over the next few days you'll be doing a lot together.""A lot of what?""Briefings, meetings, activities, meals." Jasmine shrugged. "Nothings firmed up yet for times and dates, but I'll be managing your schedule carefully to make sure you're not snowed under, okay?""And don't accept any meetings myself," Mark stated, remembering her advice."Correct."As Mark stubbed out his cigarette he caught sight of Henry on the balcony, beckoning him up."Looks like your suite's ready," Jasmine&nb

"I suppose," Mark shrugged. "Hey, what did you mean earlier when you said someone more my status?""Oh, that." Jasmine said, taking a seat. "I mean that you can't just turn up at a black-tie event with some girl who works in the local Walmart and lives with her parents.""Why not? Lots of good people work in Walmart," Mark said, frowning."Because it's not what's expected of you. Because it's not someone you'll have much in common with, and because there would be this enormous gulf between you. You wouldn't be equals, or even in the same social circles.""Different can be good though.""Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking down on people or being elitist when I say this, Mark," Jasmine explained. "Imagine a year from now what you'd have to talk about. She's just had a shit day at work because a customers kid peed in one of the aisles and she had to clean it up. You just flew into town from Hong Kong on a priva

Then they were off to meet the Islands resident physician, Doctor Kerr. The doctor was in her late thirties, with short and tidy red hair, but her cheeks were flushed, as if she was having trouble with the heat.While she gave Mark a physical examination, he asked her about the injections that Jayden had recommended. To his surprise she seemed perfectly fine with it, as long as he agreed that they lasted no more than two weeks. She also informed him that he needed a Tetanus booster, and he should probably have a contraceptive injection."A what?" Mark asked."It's a hormonal contraceptive injection for men," She had shrugged. "Short term, only lasts for a month or so and then things are back to normal a few weeks later, but it stops the production of sperm. Given the injections you're already getting, the enhanced endorphins from the exercise and a sudden boost in confidence that you're likely to receive, it's almost certain that