Chapter 3 III

With the humid, oppressive heat enveloping her like a thick, suffocating cloak, Elsa pushed a damp strand of hair away from her face and gazed upward at the towering trees, their straight lines impressive and awe-inspiring. In this far-off, exotic paradise, it was difficult to even remember the existence of cities like Cork and Galway. She couldn't help but wonder, "Living here, isn't he afraid?"

"Who, Walsh?" the pilot asked with a grim grin, chewing on a piece of gum. "He doesn't have any fear at all."

As Elsa stumbled out of the helicopter, her legs shook uncontrollably. She knew that if she heard any more about the man, she wouldn't have the courage to confront him or fight for her side. At that moment, she would have been hard-pressed to choose between Kyle Walsh and the jungle.

He refused to talk about himself, treating the idea of doing so with something close to contempt in a world obsessed with celebrity and image. He didn't need to speak, however, because everyone else did it for him. Curvaceous blondes had been paid handsomely to "tell all" in the newspapers. Thus, the entire world was aware of his prowess as a lover, his determination to avoid "happily ever after," and his relentless pursuit of his billions.

After completing that pursuit, news of his glamorous wife's departure from his life after less than three months of marriage had spawned stories that had lasted longer than the marriage itself. He had made life impossible for her, ending their relationship by email. He only cared about making money - and more money.

Elsa knew, even before she had to fight for her business, that Kyle Walsh was just the kind of man who would bring out the worst in her. Speculation had been endless, but if any of it was true, he was nothing more than a machine. She promised herself that she wouldn't glance at him or become tongue-tied. Instead, she would act as if she were in her small sitting room at home, talking to the mirror as she always did when memorizing an important presentation.

As the sickness in her stomach grew, Elsa realized that it had nothing to do with the helicopter and everything to do with her past. Memories rolled over her like a huge wave during important moments like these. But she considered this to be the ultimate test, and she wouldn't fail. There was too much at stake.

Stroking her straight, formal skirt with one hand, Elsa forced herself to move forward onto the wooden walkway suspended above the forest floor. There was no reason to fear Kyle Walsh. She didn't care about his personal life, no matter how dark it may be. This meeting was about business, and he was a businessman like her father. If she could show him how she planned to turn the business into a profit, he would be optimistic and reconsider returning the loan. She could save everyone's job and fly home with the jaguars, snakes, and the billionaire Irish businessman to their jungle hideout.

Suddenly, Elsa realized how woefully unprepared she was to meet this man, as the tropical heat made her suit stick to her body. Even in her clothes, she didn't feel at ease. She clutched the briefcase in her hand and stooped to free the spindly heel of her shoe from the careless bite of the wooden planks beneath her feet. She wished she had gone over the figures one more time in the helicopter.

However, what impact would that have had? She had retrieved them with her father's assistance and had already made her decision regarding the contents of her briefcase. After catching her shoe in the walkway's clutches and recovering her balance, she straightened up and scrutinized him. His body was motionless, and his eyes were attentive as he stood directly in front of her, as ominous and dangerous as anything that could have emerged from the jungle. He was also observing her.

Elsa's breath caught in her throat as she was wholly unprepared for the man's physical presence. She was only aware of him, the helicopter, the rainforest, and all of her concerns seemed to melt away into the background. Like countless other women before her, Elsa could do nothing but stare as her mind was flooded with physical images that were far removed from reality due to his tarnished reputation.

His eyes locked onto hers with the lethal precision of a deadly weapon, and her breath was taken away, and every thought was erased from her mind. For a moment, she was profoundly disconcerted and unable to remember anything about herself. Her body felt strangely sluggish, and a syrupy heat slowly spread through her limbs.

"Miss Smith?"