Her Fake Billionaire Husband

1: Jackson ‘pretty boy’ Levi

*Ines*

I am looking around in the fancy and clearly brand new hotel lobby.It’s not that I haven’t been in a high class hotel before.. Hell, I live in one, just across the lake on the side away from the ocean, and that is why we are here, right now. Me, my father Castilo Vega, my step mother Ivelisse and my fiance Maceo Rojas, who is my fathers casino manager.

My father is a big man here in Havana, Well he is one of the richest men in all of Cuba and a personal friend of our President Batista. And he is very upset because he wanted to buy this property, which is on the small stretch of land between the lake and the ocean. But some American upstart got his hands on it, built a hotel, casino and beach club, which is now blocking our view of the ocean.

We are here now to check out the hotel and the owner.. or my father and Maceo are.. me and Ivelisse are just here to make it seem like a friendly visit.

“Seriously Mr Vega.. this is a bit tacky if you ask me”. Maceo looks around with a face like he is smelling something bad. “I can’t see how this can compete with a renowned and classic place like ‘Vega palms’. No one with real class would come here”.

“Rojas ! Don’t try to suck up to me, he is stealing our customers.. especially the beach club is a hard hit”. My father looks around. “We need to figure out how to take him down.. send him home to America”.

My stepmother, who at twenty-six is only six years older than me, but honestly acts rather immature sometimes, looks around with bulging eyes. “Oh I think it’s exciting. It’s so bright and glittery. Was the palm like this once too ?” When no one answers she continues. “Do you think anyone famous is staying here ?”

“Well I heard that Rock Hudson visited last week, but..”. My father says, but he is drowned out by my stepmother's excited squeals.

Maceo gives her a stern look. “Mrs Vega ! This is really not appropriate, you are a married woman, married women do not squeal about other men.. especially not in public”.

“But.. It's Rock Hudson, he is sooo hot. I wish I could meet him and.. Well, meet him”. She sighs deeply and fluffs up her already big hair.

“Well you will not, he left”. My father says. “Also this is bad for us, someone like that should stay at the palms. Actors give publicity and they are rich and spend money. People will come in hope of seeing them”.

Maceo shakes his head. “To be honest, most actors act like spoiled kids.. or they are thugs, glorified thugs. I am not sure they are worth it”.

“You might be right”. My father mumbles. “But I still don’t want them to come to.. this place”.

“Wyldwood”. I say. “This place is called The Wyldwood”.

My fiance makes a face. “What kinda name is that ? It must be American”.

“Well probably.. The owner is American right ? So it makes sense”. I shrug slightly.

Maceo puts an arm around my shoulder. “I have heard he is a real Chicago gangster and rich as sin, isn’t that exciting ?”

“So exciting”. I give him a tired smile. Most likely it is wildly exaggerated and also why would someone being a criminal be exciting ?

“A gangster ?! Castilo ! I am not sure I want to be here”. Ivelisse says rather high pitched.

My father sighs. “Honey pie, anyone who's anyone in this business is.. a bit rough around the edges. As long as we act respectful and pretend not to know, everything will be fine”.

“Everyone ? But you are in the business”. My stepmother says.

A door opens and it’s like a small collective gasp goes through the room as a man walks into the foyer. But he is not just a man, he is a very tall, very handsome man in a fitted and very expensive looking black suit and he carries himself with the confidence of someone who owns the room.. and well I believe he literally does.

“Well, Well… Castilo Vega ! What an absolute pleasure to have you here at my humble establishment, neighbour”. He steps forward, shaking my fathers hand, a big smile on his face, kinda like the cat that ate the canary and blamed it on the dog. “Let me introduce myself, Jackson Levi is the name, owner and manager of this place, at your service”.

“Well thank you Mr Levi. It is a.. fine place you have built here”. My father looks like he is unsure if he should be impressed by, scared of or just flat out hate the man. “We wanted to come.. welcome you”.

Damn he is imposing, he is possibly the tallest man I ever saw, standing at least 6’4 and his shoulders and chest are bulging and wide. He has a handsome, almost boyish looking face and something I normally don’t like, a beard. I mean most men here who have a beard are revolutionaries, and they have these long wild growing things, not a good look really. But his is short and looks clean and well kept and it kinda highlights his masculinity.

“Thank you.. neighbour. Oh and this must be your .. 2 beautiful daughters ?” He says, turning to me and Ivelisse with another big smile.

“This is my wife Ivelisse”. My father says in a slightly sharp tone.

Mr Levi grabs my step mothers hand, kissing it. “An honour Mrs Vega, the very young Mrs Vega”. He wink at her, making her giggle and blush. God she is impossible. I mean yes he is handsome, even if he must be like.. thirty, but she is a married woman and my father is right beside her.

Not wanting my dad to do my introduction I step forward and hold out my hand. “And I am Ines, his even younger daughter”.

“Welcome to the wyldwood miss Ines, the younger but not at all a kid, miss Ines”. His warm teasing eyes keep contact with mine, even as he lowers his head to press his warm lips to my hand.

“Thank you Mr Levi”. I try to keep calm, but those eyes seem to suck you in and he is still holding my hand in his much bigger hand.

Maceo kinda tries to step in front of me. “Mr Levi, I am Maceo Rojas.. Miss Vega’s fiance”.

Mr Levi gives me a rather amused look, lifting one eyebrow slightly, then he takes Maceo’s hand, shaking it. “Welcome Mac, Can I say Mac ?”

“Actually…”. Maceo is kinda rubbing his hand, like it hurts, looking slightly confused.

“Marvelous”. Mr Levi just ignores him and snaps his fingers, a small man in a suit pops up by his side. “This is my day manager Mr Woods. Mr Woods can you make sure our nice neighbours here, the Vega’s and Mac here, get a full tour of the place, and then serve them some lunch at the beach club”.

My stepmother gives him an alluring smile. “Well thank you Mr Levi, that’s very kind of you”.

“All my pleasure Mrs Vega”. He snaps his fingers again and a young bellhop appears. “Please make sure that a bottle of our best champagne is brought up from the basement and put on ice .. Thank you”.

“Sure Mr Levi, right away sir”. The Young man gives a quick bow and gets a nod and a friendly smile in return.

When he snaps his fingers a third time and a small friendly looking man shows up I start to wonder how the hell all these people know who he is snapping at.. I mean it’s not like it’s different sounds and still everyone seems to know exactly what he means.

“This is LZ or babyface as we like to call him. If you need anything.. anything at all.. tickets, reservations.. anything just come see him, he will get it for you, as a friendly gesture”.

“At your service”. The guy bows his head, sending us all a very friendly smile. There is just something very likeable about him.

“Well thank you for your hospitality.. I think we should leave you to.. your job now”. My father says.

Mr Levi bows slightly. “Just follow Mr Woods here, he will show you everything there is to see and then take you to the lunch area at the beach club.. we have the most stunning ocean view. Have a pleasant tour”.

We all kind of smile and nod as we follow Mr Woods to the elevator. Inside Maceo looks at me, he doesn’t seem happy at all. “Who does that guy even think he is ? Tour, lunch, the ‘if you need something’ and the Mac..such a..”.

“Oh son, he doesn’t think anything”. Mr Woods chuckles. “That is Jackson ‘pretty boy’ Levi.. and you better show some respect. He has more power than you can ever dream of getting”.

My stepmother opens her mouth but closes it again when my dad gives her a look that clearly tells her to.

Hmm ‘pretty boy’, it does sound like a ..like a Chicago mafia gangster. They have nicknames like that, don't they ? I mean they do in movies and such. Maybe that is taken from reality. But well.. It also fits him very well.

The elevator stops on the third floor and Mr Woods steps out. “If everyone will just follow me, then we can start our most interesting tour”.