I sigh, contemplating my morals, but I decide to go in. Peer pressure does things to you. I catch up to them and walk swiftly behind as we pass the famous gates on the outside. As I make my way into the lobby, I wonder whether we can go inside if we’re not guests.
Walking up to the receptionist, Miss Castillo proceeds to tell her that she just wants to look around, and the lady, as I suspected, proceeds to tell her that we have to be guests to enter.
Without even a fight, she retreats, a look of defeat on her features. I don’t like seeing that look on her face because she never goes down without a fight. Walking up behind Ale, I make my way to the front desk.
“Ma’am? Hi, I’m Luca Donatello, Elektra’s team principal, and these are the two drivers for the reigning Formula One World Championship team. Is there anything you can do?” Her face lights up in recognition.
“That’s why you guys look so familiar! I am so sorry I can’t do anything. Unless you’re a guest at the hotel, I can’t let you in. It’s protocol.” I grunt at the receptionist’s words.
“What if I book a room?” I quirk my eyebrow.
“I don’t think we have a room available. We’re often booked for months on end.” She looks down at the screen in front of her, looking for an available room.
“Actually, we just had an opening for the Empire Suite, but it’s one thousand six—” I cut her off.
“We’ll take it.” I reach for my card, dropping it on the marble counter.
She seems surprised as she reaches for the card and proceeds to run it.
“Okay, this is your key card for your accommodations. Thank you for choosing The Villa Casa Casuarina.” By the way she butchers the wordCasuarina, I’m guessing she’s Latin in some way, not Italian. I nod, grabbing the card and handing it to Miss Castillo.
The main restaurant is the first thing visible from the front desk. I look over at Xavier and Miss Castillo who seem to be in shock after that whole ordeal.
“So, where do you want to go first, Miss Castillo?” I ask.
“Um, can we go to the pool? I’ve always wanted to see the tile.”
“Lead the way.” I follow as she walks past me.
I see her whole stance change as we reach the piscina. She gasps, turning around to face me and Xavier. I can see that fire in her eyes again, just as I like it. Throwing her clothes off, like she did at the beach, she stumbles a bit before dropping her stuff on a pool chair.
She reaches for her phone and unlocks it before handing it to Xavier.
“Take pictures,” she says while giving him a stern look. I almost laugh.
Almost.
She dives into the pool, letting her wild curls straighten in the process. Standing in the pool, she begins to direct Xavier on how to take her pictures. I just watch as this all takes place in front of me.
After taking photos in every corner, we finally make it to the observatory, which is currently empty. It’s finally dark outside after spending hours outside of the hotel. Yet again, I watch as Miss Castillo walks in and gasps in awe. It tends to be recurring sound that comes out of her mouth, along with her famous scoff of disapproval. The ceiling is painted in a royal blue with gold eclectic pieces stuck to it.
The observatory is obviously open so that the stars can be seen. She’s looking up at them with such fascination.
“They are so beautiful. I’ve always thought the stars were lost souls that didn’t make it to the Earth. They look down on us when we go through our hardest times, but continue to shine. As a little girl, they were my saving grace, along with my mother’s gardens,” she says and, I follow, telling her my thoughts.
“There are about 100 billion stars in the sky. Every now and then, we can see the Milky Way galaxy that carries billions of those celestial bodies that are composed of hydrogen and helium. Stars are just luminous balls of gas; it’s that simple. Some people think the view of the stars means something spiritual or symbolic, like their loved ones. I see them for what they are. Just little, bright balls of gas in the sky.”
“You always like to ruin things, don’t you?”
I tsk at her.
“No, I just always give science the benefit of the doubt. I can’t deny it though, they are pretty to look at.” She frowns, turning towards Xavier for her bag, which he’s been holding this whole trip around the mansion.
She takes out a flowy piece of fabric that looks like a dress.
“Thank God I brought this.” She takes off her shirt, shorts, and sneakers before pulling the dress over her bathing suit. It isn’t a dress; it looks more like a sarong draping her body that is shaped like a dress. The shoulder straps have gold cuffs that only cover the middle of the strap, It’s completely backless and made of mesh. Xavier starts taking photo after photo, and each time she poses, she looks stunning.
Her delicate features meet her wild, curly hair like fire and ice.