Hotel Megalodon: A Deep Sea Thriller Read Online Free PDF Page A

James walked down to greet them enthusiastically.
    “Mr. Rudd, Ms. Lincoln: Welcome to the Triton Undersea Resort! You’re our very first guests to arrive. Please, won’t you come with me to our reception bure for a little refreshment before we take you down to your suite?”
    The football player and his girlfriend headed up into the open-air, thatched roof structure where staff waited with drinks in cut coconuts, and a small musical ensemble played island music.
    As soon as the couple had walked inside, another cab drove up and deposited six more guests. Saudi head of state, Abdullah bin Antoun, emerged from the vehicle first, followed by his wife. Both of them wore traditional Arabic robes and headgear. They smiled, and looked around slowly at their new surroundings, while their nanny wrangled their three young children from the cab. A bevy of porters descended on them and took their things. Again, James White was there to personally extend a hand.
    So it went for the next hour or so, vehicles driving up, depositing well-heeled guests—an NBA franchise owner, an Internet company billionaire, a US senator, a supermodel...After they had been given a suitable amount of time to congregate in the reception bure with refreshments and to acclimate to their new environment, White stood at the entrance to the building and clapped his hands, ever conscious of the bevy of international reporters flitting about the property, shooting video, taking pictures and notes.
    They’d been instructed not to disturb the guests, but selected staff, including White himself, were available to answer questions. The reporters were a hassle, to be sure; it was like having to be on your absolute best behavior at all times in your own house, but he knew that the payoff for putting up with the inconvenience was big-time exposure—basically free advertising. Not to mention the fact that the entire staff should be on their best behavior, White reflected. This was it. Opening weekend. Go big or go home. He would not get another chance at this. Indeed, he thought, watching a rock star accept two Fiji Bitter beers from a passing server and hand one to his Japanese girlfriend, it was a miracle he’d gotten this far.
    So far at least, everyone seemed to be having a good time. The weather was cooperating, the brilliant South Pacific sun pouring into the open bure , no heavy rain forecasted, and light trade winds. It was perfect. The rest was up to him and his people. White consulted his Rolex Submariner, given to him as a token of appreciation for allowing the watchmaker to be the “official timekeeper for the world’s first underwater luxury hotel.” There would be more guests arriving today, but no more were due for at least a couple of hours. The baggage had been transported to the underwater rooms by now, and so it was time to deliver the guests to their suites. White moved to the center of the room, and addressed his guests.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, as lovely as our topside accommodations are here at Triton, I know you can’t wait to see your suites. So without further ado, if you’ll follow me, I’ll accompany you down to the hotel. Feel free to bring your food and beverages with you.”
    Excited chatter in multiple languages erupted as the guests followed White out of the reception bure onto a garden path that led toward the lagoon. White spoke quietly into a handheld two-way radio as he walked a little ahead of the guests. He put the hotel staff on alert that the first guests were coming down now.
    White led the group past a quaint wooden sign reading Tunnel Entrance, and emerged onto the lagoon’s beach in front of what was truly a marvel of marine engineering. What on first glance looked to be a dock of some sort, was actually an opening into a tunnel that led underwater. As the guests gathered on the beach in front of the opening, a voice issued from an unseen speaker.
    ATTENTION...TRAIN ARRIVING IN 3...2...1...
    Then a chime sounded,