For a moment, he seemed confused, then, looking down at the phone as if trying to puzzle a great mystery, he handed it to her.
She wasted no time and, unlocking the phone, she opened the map app in order to find out her location and the nearest police station. But the phone was frustratingly without signal. She paced this way and that, holding the phone up towards the window, but it was no use. Not one bar.
"Could I use your Wi-Fi?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Your Wi-Fi. To connect to the internet. My phone has no signal. Is that common around here?"
He simply shook his head. A pensive frown formed between his eyebrows.
"I'm not sure what you mean." he prevaricated.
She groaned inside. He was acting weird again, and this situation was getting creepier by the minute.
"Well, my phone is no use. I can't call an Uber. Besides, I don't even know where my car is. I wonder if you would be so kind as to take me to where you found me last night?"
“But of course. It will be my pleasure, Miss Mirabal. But before, would you care to join me for breakfast?”
Breakfast sounded divine. Now that he mentioned it, she realized she was famished. The last meal she remembered had been on the plane eons ago. But no. She had to get out of here. There were a ton of things to do and there was something weird going on. Even if she couldn’t put her finger on it, she felt uneasy.
She shook her head. “I don’t want to impose. You have done more than enough for me already and probably have plans for today. I’ll grab something to eat on the road. If you could just drop me off or call me an Uber, I’ll get going.”
“Nonsense. I have nothing so urgent that it could not wait until after breakfast. Besides, I don’t know about you, but I am good for nothing until I have been properly fed.”
She bit her bottom lip. Was she overreacting? Maybe she could grab a quick bite. Despite his weirdness, the guy had been nothing but kind to her.
He continued. “Why risk the chance of poor quality food on the road when my cook has prepared a fantastic meal for us?” Extending his arm, he smiled. “Come, it will be my pleasure to have your company.”
If he was handsome before, when he smiled, he could dazzle the sense out of her. Forgetting her previous discomfort in the face of that charming invitation, she took his proffered arm. “If you insist.”
CHAPTER 8 - The year is what?
ASTRANGE SENSATIONof unreality settled over Olivia as they walked towards the dining room. Why was that? She tried to analyze it. The whole situation was odd, to be sure. Get into a car accident and wake up in a beautiful palace that seems straight out of a fairytale? Unlikely. And it’s inhabited by a glorious Prince Charming. A fairy tale. Except fairytales were not real, and the guy walking beside her was very real indeed. As was the effect he had on her without even trying.
Were all English guys this chivalrous? She suspected not. Who was this man? Drop-dead gorgeous, gentlemanly, dignified. And obviously rich, considering this opulent palace he lived in and the servants shuffling around every corner. He looked to be in his late thirties, not much older than she, but he carried himself with such gravity and radiated such authority that he gave the impression of being older.
