by Pamela Ann
Of all the people to see me, I would never have guessed Eleanor. Could it be about Callum? I hoped it wasn’t too serious.
Standing up, I skimmed over my skirt and strode forwards, opening the door to greet the older woman.
I kissed both of her cheeks and gave her a tight hug. “Eleanor, lovely to see you, but I’m a little apprehensive about this surprise visit. I hope it’s nothing serious?” My paranoia and my over-active imagination were running overtime and I just had to ask, manners be damned.
When her eyes immediately turned serious, I stilled, waiting.
“I came to speak to you about something personal and I hope you don’t mind me interfering, but I came about Callum.” The distress in her voice was evident.
Callum. Hearing his name alone resuscitated me. “How is Callum, Eleanor?”
She shook her head as I guided her towards the sofa to sit. “He’s alive.”
I frowned at her response. He’s alive? I didn’t follow…
When she saw that I was taken aback with her answer, she filled me in. “He got into an accident last night. Have you not heard? It was all over the news. He was speedboat racing with that Greek actor and that Italian guy.” She fanned herself. “They even have footage for it. Thank goodness they’re all okay.”
Accident. Speedboat. Racing, again!
“Goodness,” I shakily whispered. My greatest fear had almost gotten him. He’d had a close call with death. It had been my only wish when I had asked him to keep away from racing, but he was doing a splendid job of proving he didn’t have to listen to it now.
My entire body froze, suddenly numb as I pictured what would have happened had he not managed to survive the accident. “Callum’s in a hospital, I take it?” I tried to sound unaffected, but failed to do so.
“He was for a bit.” Eleanor sighed, worried. “This is why I came here. He’s back to his old recklessness and I’m afraid for what this will do to him.” She reached for my hand, seeking my eyes. “You see, he had always had this streak, but it spiraled out of control after Zara. His grandfather died with worry. He’d already had a mild heart attack the day before, but when he heard of news that his grandson and only heir had smashed into a boutique window in Monaco and that Callum was being taken into emergency, the second attack wasn’t as kind as the first,” she continued with that shocking news. “He’s officially on leave. Indefinitely.”
“On a leave? Why? Is he hurt? Does he need therapy? A shrink? What?” Okay I sounded like a mad woman, but for the life of me, I couldn’t grasp how Callum—who was a workaholic—would easily give up work for no valid reason. Not only was it mind-boggling, but truly disconcerting.
I was beyond worried of what would happen if he continued on this path. What if he had a hard time harnessing this wild streak of his and decided to live life as a truly reckless, privileged heir like a lot of the people born with money?
“He’s chosen me as the person in charge while he’s on vacation. At my age, I want to think about traveling and Sunday luncheons and dinners, not the stock market, videoconferences and bloody meetings. I’m not prepped for these things and he knows it.
“You’re the only one I can think of that could get through to him, love. You have to help him,” she pleaded, beseeching. “He holds you in a high regard, Miss Stella.”
What if he laughed in my face? After all, I hadn’t spoken or seen him in a month. A lot could happen in a month. For all I knew, he probably hated my guts. “Where is he exactly?”
She shook her head again, disappointed. “He’s on that Greek’s yacht, partying. If you check the gossip sites as much as I have for the last couple of hours, it’ll update you on everything. It’s mooring off the coast of France. The French Riviera, I believe.”
Yacht parties. Oh, bloody joy! “How do I get to him?”
“Don’t worry about any of that. All I need to know is when then I will take care of the rest,” she assured me.
“You’re quite the woman in charge. I’m glad Callum chose you.” I tried to sound optimistic, knowing quite well that Callum was going to be a stubborn one to reel back to England. If he was having a ball with his speed racing and streaking naked around the Mediterranean, he would hate me for trying to intervene with his party life.
Eleanor finally stood up, giving me a hug before looking me in the eye. “He’s like a son. I love him like one… I worry, is all.”
“I’m going to try and get him back to tamer pastures,” I murmured, somehow grinning at the thought of me trying to bring him to tamer pastures.
Oh boy.
Time to see my kryptonite. I could only hope I fared well this time around.
Chapter 123
Stella
“Welcome aboard. Who might you be and whose intimate room party should I escort you to?” A tall, tanned, emerald green-eyed man with careless sexiness and a potent dose of eight-pack abs glistened before me, curious to the newcomer. “Luca di Medici at your service,” he introduced himself.
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, black and lots of dark wood. The color scheme was light with an edge. It wasn’t overtly ostentatious compared to 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 had met on several occasions, and it touched me that he said great things about him.
Amidst all the tough exterior held a man who was sharp and business-oriented, even though he pretended he didn’t care about it. What I liked about Luca di Medici was the very fact that he didn’t ask anything about Callum, knowing quite well that was the reason I was here in the first place. I was sure he was curious—piqued—but he was respectful of me, so he didn’t charter towards the blatantly obvious.
It was an hour after we shared our dessert and coffee when we heard the choppy sound of an arriving helicopter. From a distance, I could hear women’s laughter.
Splendid. “They’re here.” I stated the obvious.
He nodded, hand stretched out to me. “I believe it’s time to make your entrance, Bella Donna.”
If I was nervous, I dared not show it.
This boat was the last place I wanted to be in, however this was my obligation—as a friend, amongst the other reasons—to try and convince him to stop horsing around.
Luca and I strode, side by side, towards the rear of the boat. I suppose that was where the fun was taking place.
On the other side, if you were to go on a few steps, a jacuzzi large enough to accommodate a dozen people, sat surrounded with candles with the water covered in rose petals. A line of loungers were situated on the side and across it. The other wall was lined with white leather seating. There was a black marbled pool table at the end, a large screen hung on the other wall that played the men’s racing tournaments and a black marbled bar ensconced on the side. The floor had a hidden lining of LED blue and white lighting that made the whole ambiance more intimate, posh and upbeat.
The first person I saw was the former actor, Dimitris, coming towards us. I became so nervous that I didn’t notice the woman beside him.
“Luca.” Dimitris eyed me with interest. “I’m Dimitris Kosta.” He held out his large, tanned hand. I stared at it for a bit longer than necessary before I shook it with my own.
“Stella von Berg. It’s nice to meet you.”
Dimitris didn’t show any reaction to my name, so I didn’t know what to make of it. It was then that he introduced the woman who was standing next to him. “This is Lindsey, my wife.” Before I could express anything, Dimitris was addressing Luca and they had to excuse themselves to talk privately, leaving me with his wife.
I didn’t know he was married…
“Sorry, my boyfriend was being rude. He’s just worried because I don’t think Callum is expecting you to be here still.” Lindsey’s dark eyes glittered with amusement.
I frowned. “I’m sorry, but I thought he said wife? Or is my hearing quite bad?”
“Oh, he’s both.” She guided me towards the bar before handing me a champagne flute without even asking me if I wanted one. “Down two of these. I’m sure Callum will be a little pissy when he sees you, so these nice bubbles will help you calm down.”
I took the two she handed me and stared at her, bewildered. “How did you know about me?” I had a feeling that Dimitris might’ve mentioned something about my complicated relationship with Callum because she seemed to know something.
“Oh, you know, let’s just say that I have a beef to pick with him after he sort of handed me to Callum when the guy was pissed off. So I want to return the favor.”
Lindsey certainly was different. The woman had spunk.
“I think I like you already.” I grinned as I annihilated the first flute.
It didn’t take that much to notice why Dimitris liked her because this woman was gorgeous, but not only that, she didn’t follow the usual niceties and protocol that typically followed.
“Hey, we women have to stick together when dealing with these hard-headed men.” She smiled as she took hold of a drink and toasted it with mine.
Yeah, she was my kind of girlfriend. “Cheers.” We both sipped at the same time and when I saw the opportunity, I made a beeline for it. “So, while we wait for Callum’s return, mind explaining how your Dimitris is your husband and boyfriend?”
s
Callum didn’t arrive until thirty minutes later, along with Andres and Jacques as well as their cohorts.
“Relax. I won’t let him near you if he tries anything crazy.” Luca winked at me.
Even Dimitris, who was one of Callum’s confidante’s, had my back. “If he tries to tell you to leave, I’ll gladly kick him out myself,” he spoke as he nodded towards the approaching two men who I had yet to meet. “Someone needs to warn the Brit that his wife is still here.”
Jacques, who had a cherry stem twirling between his lips, saluted me. “You should go
change into your bikini; we’re going in the tub. We have an hour until a couple yachts will moor to come and join us to party.”
There seemed to be a problem about that… “I forgot to bring anything.” I licked my lips, rushing to add to that sentence, blushing, “To swim with, I mean.” Why was I acting all idiotic? Umm, maybe because the attention was all on me…
Andrès beamed at me before one of the blonde women hugged him from behind and pulled him towards the pool table.
“I have a lot of new pairs. Come on! Let’s get you into a suit before your hubby catches you.” Lindsey pulled me towards her, walking as she asked what type I wanted. She didn’t even give me a chance to speak before we got to the lower level and went inside the master bedroom.
She then immediately went into a drawer and went through pairs with tags, sifting through them. “Aha! Red is sinful. Totally what you need to punish him a little,” she wickedly suggested as she shoved the items at my chest. “Make that man suffer a little. I think he needs a good spanking, don’t you think?”
Me… spanking Callum? Goodness. “I’m not sure he’s into that bit.”
It was just then that her phone shrilled and she instantly took it. “Can you make it or what?” Lindsey checked her reflection as she listened into the phone. “Dude, did you tell Bass where you are? ‘Cause I don’t want him on my ass, you know. Uh, yeah… duh? Okay. Okay. God! See you in half an hour.”
Lindsey made me change in the bathroom as she explained to me that Emma, her best friend and an actress, was coming to visit for a day. Apparently, she was best friends with Jacques and Dimitris.
It was odd how they were all connected. I couldn’t help feeling that pang of jealousy at all of their closeness… it was like a little family.
When I came out of the bathroom, Lindsey was jumping up and down with wicked excitement. “Perfect. All you gotta do now is make him suffer. Don’t give the nookie until he’s all done for, got it? That man’s been naughty, so he needs a good lesson.”