beautiful masterpiece

Prologue/chapter 1

Cactus flower

The sun beats my rough skin,

My heart shrivels under its untamed heat,

I am burning,

I'm reaching,

My survival is no easy feat.

I don't need much care

Just a little love and attention here and there,

And Ill strive without fear,

A bloom none could compare.

by Noe

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"Congratulations, Mr. Cross you're now the proud owner of my beautiful resort..." smiled Mr. Charles Bronas, a tall, heavy set, fifty year old man of African descent, his pearly white teeth spread across his aged sun-beaten face, he extended his hand to Derek Cross owner and CEO of Damien Group of Companies, Mr. Cross had just purchased Mr. Bronas's  five star beach resort. The resort was part of a chain of islands located in caribbean

Derek Cross accepts the hand offered by Mr. Bronas with a nod of his head and a solemn look on his face. He felt please, not that there was a any sigh marking his handsome face. He hadn't smiled  much in his life time, he didn't think he knew how to anymore, there was only one person in the world that could crack Derek's steel armor and that was his half-brother Damien, they shared the same mother and a past filled of poverty and tragedy . He sighed inwardly, taking a step back, he knew after so many years he had a lot to smile about and plenty to be grateful for, he and his brother did have a lot more than others at this point, but the difficulties and pains of the past left deep scars that were hard to forget. He still remembered those days, like it was yesterday,  a time when they had nothing but the rugged clothes on their small backs, hunger a constant and faithful companion to two little boys on the cold streets of the big city.

"We must celebrate soon, come over for lunch sometime, my wife cooks a good duck..." Bronas laughed all to pleased with himself, "you'll like it, she cooks it with lots of local herbs, plenty of curry and peppers, a change from your type my foods nah..." The older man stood up, ready to take his leave, his business with done here, his old knees protested greatly. It was time he finally retired from all this and enjoy what days he had left with his wife and grandkids.
They were on Derek's personal luxury jet in an airfield on the outskirts of the resort. Derek stood up pushing his chair back as he  followed Mr Bronas's lead. He walked the gentleman out of his private office, to the front entrance of the plane.

 "I'll be taking you up on that offer of lunch soon..." he promised, they shook hands once more, saying their final farewells. Derek watched as Charles got into his SUV and drove off. He turned and walked back to his office at the rear end of the jet, lying across his desk was the freshly signed papers that now made him Derek Cross the new owner of the beach Resort and Hotel Sunshine Cove, it would be renamed after his brother Damien, he thought with a smile as the image of his kid brother appeared in his minds eye, all the businesses Derek had purchased over the years was renamed after his brother, his inspiration.

He was always on the look out for new investments and ways to make money, so when one of his trusted investors and colleague told him about the resort being sold, he didn't want to let the opportunity to buy pass him, he had been there once, his firm  held a tech talk seminar some years ago and he was taken by the place and knew he shouldn't miss the opportunity to purchase the small five star resort, having had his lawyers draft up the appropriate paper works before he flew down to Barbados, where he met Mr. Bronas personally. Derek had gotten used to the fact that money could buy you anything you wanted and he was the man with the money, there was no doubt that the resort would be his before the day was done, he had paid twice the calling price, that was no big chunk out of his millions and his brand sold for twice what they were worth. Mr. Bronas was all too pleased to sign the papers giving Derek ownership of his tropical paradise beach resort and who wouldn't be with the price he paid.