Hold on. Did he just asking me if I was a prostitute? “I beg your pardon?” I questioned, aghast.
“Kosta is only allowing us a maximum of two personal guests. A man in love tends to forget how it is to party all weekend long.” Luca’s Italian accent made that swoony singsong tone which distracted me to no end. “Since you aren’t one of my women, I was asking if you’re Bertrand’s? Franco’s? Kensington’s? But I believe Callum’s booked.”
Booked?
“You mean Callum’s with his guests? Right now?” Uh, what the heck did I get myself into? I could’ve just stayed in London. I knew I should have, but… a big part of me wanted to see him. Now I wondered how much this careless action would cost me.
“He is and I believe most of the guests on board are going to dine in Monaco. They’re bound to leave soon,” Luca informed me as we descended the stairs of the helipad towards the second floor of the yacht.
Guess this was the right opportunity to tell him, since he was acting friendly and all…
“Well,” I said, pausing for effect. “Callum’s really not expecting me. I’m here as a part of Eleanor’s rescue mission to save her boss from being a pauper.”
Luca stopped as he reached the second floor while I halted a step behind him. He now looked suspicious, eyes a little more focused on me and too sharp for my liking. “Eleanor. Right, of course.” He cocked his head my way, eyes pinched to the sides as he looked doubtful at me. “And who might you be? I forgot to get your name.”
That made me swallow nervously since my throat suddenly felt parched. “I’m Stella,” I whispered, smiling nervously. “Stella von Berg.”
Luca’s emerald eyes grew like saucers. Lips formed into a big O before he nodded his head as if he understood everything. “You’re the child.”
What child?
Confused, I looked at him in question. “Sorry, I don’t follow—”
“Callum calls you that. So we all call you with that cute pet name.” He grinned at me, now comfortable that he knew who I was.
Somehow, the last thing I wanted to do was smile.
The child.
That alone explained a lot as to how he saw me.
In his eyes, I would always be one. Best I accepted that now. Well, I suppose I should be grateful since I wasn’t planning on doing anything with the man. After this little jaunt, I was homeward bound. Away from Callum and his tootsies.
I hadn’t even seen him, but knowing that he was somewhere in this massive yacht had already had an intense effect on me. I was tense, skittish and furious at the same time.
For the entire journey here, I had coached myself to remain calm and act as if he didn’t matter to me because, at the end of the day, I was the one poised to get hurt, not him.
“Let’s get you in the salon while I figure out how to squeeze you in.”
Right.
Luca barely delivered me to the salon before he disappeared, but after a couple of minutes, I heard the choppy-slashing sound of a helicopter from upstairs.
A crewmember immediately sought for my needs, giving me refreshments and snacks while I waited for Luca’s return.
It was then that there were sounds of choppers flying in and out a few times as I snacked on some mini sandwich wraps.
“I’m afraid I just missed him. I’ve been calling him, but his phone is shut off.” He frowned, texting and then trying to call him again.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with your dates?” I eyed him, wondering.
“Let’s just say I’m good for the weekend.” His wicked grin was instantly back in its place.
When his phone shrilled, he excused himself. “Hold on, Jacques is calling.” Luca got up and went to the furthest side of the room. From here, I could see his contorted expression, which was not warming me at all. Then he expressed a melancholy sigh before he sat down, I knew this was about me. “That was Callum.”
“Yeah?”
He shrugged. “He told me to get you on a helicopter and into his awaiting jet in the mainland to fly you back to London.”
Fucking lovely. “I see. Did he say anything else?”
“He did, actually. In fact, he said and I quote ‘you better make sure she’s not there when I get back. Consider this as the favor you greatly owe me’.”
How embarrassing to be booted off before I had even warmed my feet.
Well, at least I had tried being reasonable. It wasn’t as if I had really wanted to seek him out. It was Eleanor’s idea, not mine. “It was great to meet you, Luca,” I said as I slowly stood up, handing out my hand.
Luca stared at my outstretched hand a bit before those amazing emerald eyes hooked me in. “He’d kill me for this, but why don’t you stay the night? You can stay in my room.”
“Why would you do that?” I was even more curious now. Favors… now this? Huh?
His eyes twinkled, disarming me for a second before he continued again, “Life’s been boring lately, so maybe it’s time to liven it up a little, and for Kensington to react this way… it really gets me curious.”
Luca di Medici was a wicked man. Everyone knew that. I’d give my right kidney if I was wrong in my hunch that he was seriously toying with his good friend. “Are you sure I’m not imposing?” I double-checked.
“Very sure.”
A whole weekend in a yacht full of testosterone junkies; hot, sexy playboys all around… I now saw the appeal as to why the gossip rags followed these men.
I had yet to meet the other three notorious bad boys, well, two now, since the Greek was now a newly reformed man.
This was going to be a weekend to remember, without a doubt.
~S~
The mega luxury yacht had three floors, not including the rooms below deck. It was designed with a lot of white leather, accents of azure blue, black and lots of dark wood. The color scheme was light with an edge. It wasn’t overtly ostentatious than the other yachts I had been on, but it was enough to make an impression of wealth without going haywire with gold tones and expensive art hung and placed everywhere. The white and the azure blend gave away how proud the owner was of his heritage. Just like a true Greek.
Luca and I shared dinner in the salon as we waited for their return. The man was an enchanting storyteller and it didn’t take a long time for me to guess how close he was with his friends. He even mentioned my brother, whom he has met on several occasions, and it touched me that he said great things about him.