When I came down the stairs I was directed to meet Adam in the conservatory by one of the staff. After receiving directions to the one room that was left off my tour, I discovered that conservatory was a fancy way of saying sun room. It was a very fancy sunroom. Except for the wall that connected to the main house the room was made entirely of glass including the roof. The glass was very heavy looking and cut in various sized panes that were set in a metal framework. The glass walls had stained glass scenes inset in them every couple of feet. The myriad of live plants made it seem that the island's vegetation was invading the house. Adam was standing at a wicker and rattan bar sipping a brown liquid from an expensive cut crystal tumbler.
The first thing I noticed was that he was barefoot. That realization was followed by the observation that his attire was far less formal than mine. He wore khaki shorts and what turned out to be a Ralph Lauren polo shirt. I pondered whether or not he was wearing underwear. I had never really looked at his legs before that day. They were lean and muscular and covered with a wispy coat of soft light fir. If I had seen only his legs I would have taken him to be a guy of near my own age.
"Ah John, there you are," He said happily when he noticed me standing in the doorway.
I was a bit embarrassed as I felt like I had been caught staring at him. If he realized that I had been he didn't let it show.
"Come, join me in a cocktail," He added as I stepped into the room.
When I reached the bar he kissed me lightly on the lips and told me to help myself to a drink. I stepped behind the bar and poured a rum and coke. Unlike Adam I had not learned to drink straight whisky. Even the expensive stuff he stocked I found difficult to swallow straight. Though he didn't make a comment about my choice of libation, I sensed that I would have to learn to 'drink like a man' soon.
He raised his glass in toast, "To your future!"
We each took a long sip of our drink. Then he reached over and took my free hand in his.
"John you are going to be a very great success and I am thrilled that I will be mentoring you."
"Adam, I am so grateful for everything. But I um ........"
"What is it John?"
"I have a concern that I want to ask about, but I do not want to offend you or have you think I am in anyway ungrateful," I replied nervously.
My fear of becoming his fuck toy was very real. It would have been an easy role for me to fall into. His world was captivating. Even if he wasn't so handsome and sexy and I wasn't bisexual I think I could have been lured into giving him my body in exchange for such luxury.
"John, I can see you are genuinely fearful of something. I likely can guess what it is. But if our association is to work out we must be open and honest with each other. You never need to fear asking me any question."
"Ok, Adam. My concern is that you are buying me, or more specifically buying my services."
"John, I am not trying to make you my whore or mistress. Hmmm I guess in this case my mister," He said and laughed at his own dumb joke. "Your working for me has no sexual strings attached. I think you will be an asset and I can help you with certain things. Sex-wise, I think you are hot and fucking is a bonus. If you do not want a personal relationship we can keep it all business."
"Oh god no, Adam! As great an opportunity as having you as my mentor and working for you is, I would take the personal relationship over it. I don't want you to think I am doing anything for the money nor do I want you to think that I would do those things for the money."
"Then we feel the same. Come on let's go eat. Oh I am sorry to say that Shelia will not be joining us this evening. She left the island, her father is ill. If you like I am sure we can find another to join us though."
"I am very happy to spend the night alone with you."
Dinner was served on an open patio adjacent to the conservatory. The staff left us alone once the food had been served. We talked and laughed as we ate enjoying the intimate setting. I felt like I was on a very nice date.
"So John, did you enjoy your exploring after seeing the guests off?" He asked after a bit.
"Yes, your island is beautiful."
"I hear you may have met one of the island's native beauties, Alicia," He added casually.
"Yes, I did, she is certainly a beauty. I hope that isn't a problem."
"Of course not."
"I do not understand something. How can she be a native? This is a private island that I assume was not inhabited before all this was built."
"Your assumption is mostly correct. She is a native because she like her mother was born here. Her father is a more recent immigrant."
He went on to briefly explain the history of the island. The island was first inhabited over two hundred years earlier when a wealthy Frenchman from Martinique purchased it with the intention of growing bananas for export to the Atlantic coast of America. As he was antislavery he engaged a couple dozen indentured servants to begin the process of clearing and planting as well as construction of the first buildings. After about five years he had developed a barely profitable enterprise and the island had a population of around a hundred consisting of the indentured workers and their families. That year the island took a direct hit from a major hurricane. Every structure on the island as well as the banana groves was destroyed. Worse nearly half the population was killed.