His Paradise Wife Read Free

wife died years
ago.”
    “ How old is he?”
    Emily grinned. “You do realize I told you
all of this like two months ago.”
    “ Girl, please. You tell me a
lot of things on our girl nights, but that doesn’t mean I remember
any of it.”
    “ Yeah, especially with all
that wine you drink.”
    “ If you had to deal with the
guests at this hotel, you’d drink too.”
    Emily grinned. “You better stop talking like
that before your boss hears you.”
    “ Girl, I am the boss around this
joint.”
    “ If you say so.” Emily
laughed, then looked up when she heard the bell on her door. Two
ladies came in, probably from a nearby office building on their
lunch breaks.
    “ Mel, I got customers...I
have to go, but stop by tonight so we can finish this
discussion.”
    “ Will do. Talk to you
later.”
     
     

Chapter 2
     
     
    “ So I trust your meeting
here has been pleasant, Mr. Champion,” Melanie said, putting on her
professional hat. Even though she knew Dante in passing, she still
wanted to maintain a level of professionalism that a man of his
caliber would expect, especially when conducting business.
Therefore she didn’t use his first name when interacting with
him.
    “ Yes it was. Thank
you.”
    He was looking fly as always, smelling good,
clean shaven and had a voice that demanded attention. Mercy.
    Quickly blinking and coming to her senses,
she said, “Um, you’re welcome.”
    He smiled briefly.
    That small act of him
smiling nearly took Melanie’s breath away. She thought he’d be on
his way by now, but he hadn’t moved. He remained standing at the
desk as if he needed something else? Did he need something else? Had she
forgotten to give him something? A receipt perhaps?
    Dante recalled the last conference they had
here two months ago, he’d caught his brother, Dimitrius, ogling
Melanie, staring her up and down but he noticed that Dimitrius
hadn’t said anything to her. Just from interacting with her on a
business level, Dante knew Melanie wasn’t one of those easy-to-get
women. She didn’t seem like the type to let a man use her and toss
her aside. She had morals and was looking for something deeper,
same as her friend Emily. And Melanie was professional,
well-dressed and courteous. He wondered what her career background
was. She would be a good fit at his corporation.
    “ Um...” Melanie swallowed
hard. “Is there anything else I can help you with Mr.
Champion?”
    Dante wanted to ask her about Emily, but
resisted the urge. Besides, if his plan worked, he’d have Emily
Mitchell in his life soon enough. “No, I’m good. Again, thank you
for your assistance. It was greatly appreciated.”
    “ You’re welcome.”
    Gripping the handle of his briefcase, Dante
walked away from the desk and out of the gold-trimmed revolving
glass doors.
    Melanie watched him get into the backseat of
a black Escalade and closed the door.
    Dante was a successful entrepreneur of
various internet companies, but his corporation’s most profitable
venture was, Grieving Hearts Connect, an online community dedicated
to helping and supporting men and women who’d lost their marital
spouses in death. As a part of it, he formed a five-star, resort on
Pleasure Island, North Carolina, where widows and widowers could
meet and talk with therapists, deal with their issues by comforting
each other and using their time in paradise as a springboard to
return to their real life in their home towns with a new
perspective and outlook on life.
    He formed the company after relocating to
Asheville, North Carolina from San Francisco seven years ago. He
made the move the same year his wife had passed, convinced his
brothers, Dimitrius and Desmond, to come on board with his idea for
starting a group of web companies and now, they’re all
millionaires.
    Helping other people who were suffering
helped Dante to deal with the loss of Anita – the only woman who
had every physical attribute as well as inner qualities that made
him want to