The Island
Pleasure In Paradise
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Message From the Author
Excerpt from Led Astray
Copyright
© 2020 PJ Ellis. All Rights Reserved.
First published 2020
Chapter One
“You’re a lying, cheating, sack of shit!” I yelled at my boyfriend, now suddenly ex-boyfriend, “and you’re a fucking bitch” I cried at my best friend, now ex-friend. Grabbing my hastily-stuffed rucksack I stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind me. The thin walls of the hostel shook with the force of it and I stomped down the hall. I managed to hold it together at the desk to pay what I owed and retrieve my passport, then got the hell out of there.
I couldn’t believe it. How could they, how absolutely fucking could they? In the beginning it was supposed to be me going travelling with my boyfriend - I’ll call him Shit-bag. Then my friend, I’ll call her Shit-head, wanted to come too. She “didn’t want to stay at home alone and be bored.” And now, after three months, I found out they’d been screwing behind my back while I was working! They’d been covering their tracks, of course, but I became more and more suspicious and today I had confronted them. When I did it all tumbled out because they were terrible liars and, I suspected, the bitch was tired of sharing.
Now that I was outside the tears came, flooding down my cheeks and stinging my eyes. I felt such an idiot. How could the two people closest to me betray me like that? I sat down and let it out until my eyes were red and my face was a mess. But it wasn’t in my nature to feel sorry for myself. That’s not me. I was angry now, but I was tough always. Fuck them. I came travelling to see new countries, meet interesting people, and have memorable experiences. If I really thought about it they’d been holding me back. Two dead weights who complained all the time, weren’t much fun, and were lazy with it. Yes, that was it. I was better off without them.
I stood up and dried my eyes, feeling better for the outpouring, and set off to The Travellers Rest - a hostel that was far enough away from this one and next door to the Pineapple Tree where I worked nights behind the bar. Normally I’d catch the train and it would take about 10 minutes, today I felt like walking.
When I got there I recognised Lucy behind the front desk. Lucy was American and a traveller, someone I knew because she hung out at the Pineapple tree.
“Hi Hannah!” Lucy greeted me, and then frowned. “What’s wrong babe? You been crying?”
“Oh, nothing” I replied. “Just that people are shit. Look, can I get a room please?”
“Sure you can” Lucy said, finding a key from the set behind her. “You wanna talk about it?”
“Not right now” I said.
“Ok, no worries. Maybe later then?”
I shrugged but did not reply.
“Whenever, or not. Up to you doll.” Lucy said, smiling. “Here you go, room 12 is all yours” she said, and handed me the key.
“Thank you,” I took the key gratefully and went upstairs to be alone.
~ ~ ~
It was late morning when I’d come to the Traveller’s Rest so I had most of the day to stew before starting my evening shift at The Pineapple Tree. I used the time to look at travel options, deciding it was time for me to leave Bangkok - at least for now. I had wanted to stay longer, use the time to rebase and build up some funds, but that would have to wait. I needed to get the hell out of this place.
The hostel had free computers in the communal area and I was able to scan a wide variety of options and make some notes as a short-list. I wanted to head North, explore the coast, perhaps do some island-hopping. One thing I really wanted to try was scuba-diving and found a few companies advertising but I didn’t have enough money for that yet. Maybe I could take another casual bar job somewhere and save up the rest.
I glanced at my watch. Shit, was that the time? I logged off, grabbed my small bag, and headed over to the Pineapple Tree. It was quiet when I arrived, the evening crowd only starting to wander in. I waved hi to Somchai, the owner, stowed my bag under the bar as usual and made myself busy clearing glasses and wiping tables.
Chapter Two
“Just one more Tequila,” Amy said. “Then I’ll tell you. I promise.”
“You’ve been saying that for the last two hours!” I said in exasperation, triggering another insane grin from this crazy bitch. She didn’t care. The sparkle in her eyes said that she had all the time in the world.
Amy had walked into The Pineapple Tree for the first time that night and hit it off with me immediately. Attractive, ballsy and fun she’d been through the same British public school and university system as me and made the same choice to take a year off post studies to see the world. Sharing stories with her at the bar had made me forget about my recent misfortune and excited for the next adventure.
I poured another Tequila into her shot glass. “So go on, then. Tell me about Paradise” I said.
“You have to have one too, remember?” she said, grinning.
I sighed and poured another one for myself.
“One, two, three, go!” she said, and we both downed their shots. I grimaced less than before, having started to enjoy the effects of the last two.
“Paradise?” I prompted again.
She paused for dramatic effect, or maybe because she was a little drunk - I couldn’t tell.
“I loved it there” she said, beaming. “An exclusive island. Small, private, wealthy clientele. Beautiful sea, beautiful beaches. I just loved it.”
“Then why leave?” I asked.
“Oh, you know,” she shrugged. “Time for a change of scene. As beautiful as it was
