Stone laughed. “What? With all the entertainment on the plane? You’ve got your choice of newspapers, magazines, music, movies and, my favorite, video games.”
“You’ve got video games? Point me to them.” Then she chuckled. “Just kidding. If you don’t mind,” her laughter softened to a smile, “I’d prefer talking to you. I mean, isn’t it weird that I’m working for you now and I don’t know that much about you?”
He shrugged. “Not weird at all. I have lots of employees I’ve never even met. But you’re right. It makes sense for us to get more acquainted. What do you want to know?”
“Well, for one, what made you get involved with an orphanage all the way in South Africa? Are you in some kind of competition with Oprah? She built a school for girls and you decide to take on the boys?"
Stone’s lips twitched with amusement. “Nothing like that. Oprah’s in a class by herself. For me, it all started two years ago when I visited the country to launch Hudson Broadcasting Corporation in Johannesburg. I met a little boy, Moekebi Okechuckwu, a bright and shining star on the South African landscape…” as his voice trailed off his face looked thoughtful, “…and he was dying of AIDS.”
“Oh, no.” A familiar pain gripped Indie’s heart. Since leaving university her whole life had been dedicated to working with children just like Moekebi. And no matter how many little ones you held in your arms while they made their finally journey to the next life, you never got used to it. Each case was a fresh, new heartache. She had a pretty good idea what Stone must be feeling right now.
“But that wasn’t the worst part,” Stone said, his eyes going back to her. “He was leaving behind a little brother who was only six years old and a sister who was only two. At twelve, he’d been both mother and father to these little ones.”
“Their parents?”
“Already dead from the disease.” Stone was silent for a moment then he spoke, and his voice was filled with the determination and hope now reflected on his face. “It seems like a daunting task, taking on the problems of a nation, but then I thought, no matter how small, doing a little is better than doing nothing at all.” He shifted slightly in his seat, turning toward her. “Before he died I promised Moekebi I would take care of his little brother and sister. He died whispering my promise. That means a lot to me.”
“And the children, they're at the orphanage now?”
“No, they live in a home just outside Johannesburg. I hired a home mother to care for them. She provides me with regular updates on their progress. Little Someleve just started kindergarten and Botuli is in the second grade.”
Indie cocked her head to one side. “So how does the orphanage fit into this picture?”
“Here’s the thing. Once I’d decided to help one family I felt I had to do more. Then, as if by some predetermined destiny, one of my South African employees mentioned the orphanage. It had fallen into severe disrepair. The orphans often had nothing to eat."
“But, how is that?” Indie frowned. “What about the social services?”
“This wasn’t a government institution. It had been run by missionaries who, for whatever reason, packed up and returned to their countries. My best guess is that it was due to lack of funding.”
Indie gave him a genuine smile of gratitude. She’d long since given up on any attempt at being flirtatious. In fact, she’d almost forgotten about that part of the plan. Rather than trying to tempt him, her smile meant she was truly interested in his story. “And that was when you stepped in.”
He nodded. “Correct. That gift fell into my lap and I snapped it right up. And never felt better.”
Indie shook her head in admiration. Who would have thought a Canadian billionaire would find so much joy in helping others so far away? “I can see that for you it's more than just giving money to a worthy cause. You’re actually involved in what goes on in those kids' lives, aren’t you?”
“I try to be, as much as I can. That’s why I didn’t mind the excuse to head back to South Africa to get you settled. I’ll introduce you to each one of them. We have sixty boys in the home.”
“A good number,” Indie said, nodding. She was going to have her hands full but she was up for the challenge. Then as she looked over at him her curiosity got the better of her. “You’ve done a great job in creating a surrogate family but what about a family of your own? Is that something…you want to do?”
Then, just in case he thought she was zany to ask such a personal question she leaned back and put up her hand. “Just curious.”
He gave her an unfathomable look then tightened his lips. “I was looking forward to having a family once. It didn’t work out.”
“I’m…sorry to hear that.” Now she was really curious but there was no way she could dig deeper without coming off as rude. She gazed over at him, hoping he would continue but, typical male, that was where he shut up. Just when things sounded interesting.
“Yeah, life.” He shrugged. “I learned my lesson. Walk cautiously in life, especially when making huge decisions. Some people are just not what they seem to be.” He gave a grunt of what must have been disgust because on his face was a pained expression.
Interesting-er and interesting-er. So he’d been hurt…or betrayed…by a woman. That much she could guess from what he’d said.
And here she was, trying to trap him into the very thing he seemed bent on avoiding.
But hers was for a worthy cause, she reasoned. And besides, there was no denying she was genuinely attracted to him. And the more she learned about him, the more she liked him.
But the man was obviously suffering from the emotional bruises of a past relationship. So how in the world was she going to get him to fall in love with her now?
CHAPTER SIX
Twenty-five days to the deadline and Indie still had a long way to go in getting Stone Hudson to fall in love with her.
After the longest airplane journey she’d ever undertaken they’d rested at one of the grandest hotels in the city then a chauffeur wearing khakis came to pick them up in a Jeep Wrangler that looked perfect for the rugged terrain.