William would never forget the next few moments. The boat cut through the water, passing between two jagged rocks. A mist began to sweep towards them, blurring the ocean and the sky, creating an illusion of nothingness. Then the island appeared, like a mirage. White turrets, boundary walls, white cliffs and sparkling latticed windows. As they drew closer, the mist parted, and William made out undergrowth, trees and shrubs in a blaze of different colours.
The quayside, jetty and pathways leading to the mansion were as white as the turrets. Large Chinese lanterns hung from ropes, swinging gently in the wind, and the tinkle of wind-chimes and bells echoed across the water. William half rose, his lips parted, as they cruised past man-made beaches and cascading waterfalls. The perfume from the lilies was so strong that the heady smell wafted over the water like incense. The boat passed hidden coves equipped with small jetties and lines of jet-skis, sailing dinghies and windsurfers. Sunbathing terraces, covered with brilliant white canopies, rows of polished sun-beds and picnic tables, jutted out from the rocks; diving boards reached out into the sea. As the boat curved inwards to the main landing, jetty-boys in white blazers and shorts stood like sentries waiting for their arrival. The boat-boy eased into the jetty alongside a sleek cruiser covered in white tarpaulins and a small, elegant launch. Five white golf carts were parked nearby.
Justin climbed up on to the jetty, speaking in French to the boys, who then assisted William from the boat, collected his luggage and stacked it on a golf cart. William stood still, taking it all in. ‘Stunning,’ he said, in awe.
Justin was delighted at the impact of his creation. But this was just the beginning and he was determined to milk every second. ‘I’ll show you the grounds first.’ He veered off the pathway into a shaded, narrow, rough lane where the ferns and the palms made it darker and more mysterious. They turned a corner on to a clearing with an Olympic-sized marble swimming-pool. The water, lit from beneath, was a vivid turquoise. Sun-loungers were covered in the same brilliant colour; parasols and tables were placed on different levels. A straw-covered gazebo accommodated a bar, where a man stood waiting to serve drinks. Crystal glasses glittered, and mountains of fruit in ceramic pots were dotted on the tables around the pool. Justin escorted William to a jacuzzi built on a higher level, and a large swirl pool with an elaborate mosaic floor.
The tour continued round the entire island, taking in secret pathways, or ‘lovers’ walks’, as Justin described them, until at last they headed around the rear of the mansion, past the servants’ quarters to a shady cobble-walled yard. ‘The servants live in the area away from the master rooms, but they’re connected by phone and intercom,’ Justin said, pointing out the hidden wires. Following his gaze, William looked upwards. ‘The cameras are for the security monitor in your master office. You can see what’s going on over the whole island with one flick of a switch.’
They returned to the cart and headed back towards the main mansion entrance. Justin had restructured the building, turning a warren of small rooms and corridors into vast open spaces. The doors leading into the main hall were thirty feet high and had come from an Indonesian monastery. They were carved with spectacular fretwork, and in the centre of each was a wooden lion’s head, its jaws wide open, holding a gleaming brass knocker. Justin had a flair for mixing the old with the new and the combination was perfect. The hallway was tiled in black and white marble. Above, a huge domed ceiling was vaulted with thick wooden beams, a minstrel’s gallery snaking its way around the hall. Overhead, fans whirred quietly, and carefully positioned lights cast beams on paintings the size of living-room walls. Tapestries, oil paintings and a full suit of armour gave the feeling of a medieval castle, yet the room was light and airy. The wide double staircase was made of polished Japanese pine and had a frail appearance that belied its strength and weight. The windows opened on to balconies and verandas. All the rooms seemed to be interconnected: one wall slid back to reveal a modern, open-plan drawing room with white cushioned sofas, low tables, paintings, china displays on plinths of polished wood, Japanese bowls, rough local pottery, and, dominating each room, a wide open fireplace. ‘I’ve installed the finest air-conditioning system. The engineers were here for months.’ Justin pointed around the room, to the floor and ceiling, but William could see no grids or outlets — they were all hidden from sight.
Besides a row of six small bungalow-type residences for staff and guests, there were eight suites, each with its own bathroom. There was also a drawing room and a dining room with a long monastery table and big carved chairs, plus a smaller table for more intimate dining. The breakfast room had no walls, and was designed so that guests could drink their morning coffee with spectacular views on every side. However, when it was windy or wet, the touch of a button would electronically activate glass panels to shield them.
Nothing in his wildest dreams had prepared William for this extravagance. Justin insisted on tours to the servants’ living-quarters, going into long descriptions about the kitchens and wine cellar, which he wanted William to see. Then he led William into a gargantuan study. It was a modern room, with a futuristic-looking desk, a hi-tech computer and printer, a huge television and a bank of security monitors. Although William was now aching with tiredness, Justin gestured for him to sit. He crossed to the desk, spread out the architect’s drawings of the mansion, and with a red pen indicated the areas they missed on the tour and the positions of the hidden cameras. He began to fiddle with an array of switches in the large panel at the side of the desk. The monitors fizzled into life, revealing every possible area of the island.
‘You can keep an eye on everything, William,’ Justin said, unable to hide his pride in his work.
‘Very impressive,’ William said, so exhausted he could hardly keep his eyes open.
‘We need to discuss the finances,’ Justin said, rolling up the drawings.
‘Not now. I need some sleep. Perhaps in the morning.’
Justin checked his watch. ‘Will you want to dine? Only you should really meet all your staff.’
William removed his jacket. His shirt was stained with sweat. ‘A light supper in my suite. Offer them my apologies. I’ll meet them tomorrow.’ He looked around, unsure where to go.
‘I’ll send the chef to your room,’ Justin said, opening a door in the corner of the study. ‘Tomorrow we’ll discuss the grand plan.’
William took a deep breath. ‘No, we won’t, I’m here for a holiday, nothing more. All that revenge stuff was nonsense, as stupid as my arrangement with Sylvina.’
Justin’s heart sank, but he kept a smile on his face. ‘You get a good night’s sleep. Maybe you’ll think differently in the morning.’
William glared. ‘No, I won’t. As I said, I’m here for a break, and God knows I certainly need one. All that silly stuff is best forgotten. I don’t even want to discuss it again. Goodnight.’
As William made to leave, Justin gave a small bow. ‘Welcome home,’ he said softly.
‘Thank you. You’ve done one hell of a job.’
Justin directed him to his suite, then closed the door and leaned against it. ‘You’ve done one hell of a job,’ he repeated sarcastically. ‘Fucking prick,’ he muttered, under his breath. The dumb bastard didn’t want to play! Well, so be it, he would play. He hadn’t spent eighteen months setting it up and half of his life waiting for this opportunity just to let it slip away. It might take a little longer, but he was sure he could persuade the buffoon to do exactly as he wanted. No one was going to stop him now.
William showered and changed into a pair of cotton pyjamas that had been laid out on his bed. His suite seemed bigger than the first floor of his London house. He padded to the balcony, opened the doors and walked out. Like a golden globe sinking into the sea, the sun’s last rays reached out like tentacles into the darkening sky before it disappeared. William gasped. It was the most extraordinary sight he’d ever seen. Soft lights came on automatically, and he rested his hands on the veranda rail. He breathed deeply. The air was cool and sweetly perfumed, the night caressing, almost like a naked woman reaching out to hold him. As emotion welled up inside him he felt close to tears and gasped to regain his composure. He felt as though he were caught in a dream. But it was reality. This was his paradise. It belonged to him and no one else.