"That sounds absolutely delightful. Oh, if only I were there, I would totally do that with you. How long is the ride?"
“Just over sixty km, but it's mainly downhill."
"Sixty?! Maybe it's better I'm not there," she says.
"You could totally handle it,” I say with a firm nod. But she’d hate it with every fibre of her being because this is one of the most terrifying rides on the planet.
"Well, I'm just glad you're not doing anything dangerous for once. I'll sleep easier."
"Hey, you know me, Belle—even when I'm doing something dangerous, I'm totally safe."
"Liar," she says with a small grin. She yawns again and then apologizes. "I suppose I should get some sleep. I have to be up early."
"Okay, sweetheart, I love you. Have a good week. We’ll be heading into the rain forest for a few days so I won't have reception, but I’ll be in touch as soon as we get back to town. I love you."
“I love you too. Stay safe."
"Always."
“Okay, Will, we’re ready for your intro,” Enid says as soon as I hang up the phone.
I nod, take a deep breath, and smile into the camera. "Today onThe Wild World, I'll be making a treacherous five-hour biking trek on a road so dangerous, it’s been dubbed The Death Road. Yungas Road, known around the world as the most dangerous road on the planet, is a 69 km switchback built by Paraguayan prisoners during the 1930s to connect Bolivia's capital, La Paz, to the town of Coroico, at the edge of the Amazon rainforest. Between dense fog, landslides, and steep cliffs that drop over 600 m, the road used to claim nearly 300 drivers here every year until 1994. Since that time the road has been widened, but even at that, one wrong slip and it’s game over. There are no guard rails, most of it is gravel, and if it rains, the road becomes extremely slick and visibility is basically zero.” Smiling, I give two thumbs up to the camera. “But I’ve had a big breakfast and I’ve updated my will, so I’m all set for another incredible adventure. Let’s go!”
Chapter 15
Nasty Nasty Nigel
Arabella
Email from Imogen Arbuckle
To: Princess Arabella, Dylan Sinclair, Phillip Crawford
Subject: Wedding Costs
Hello All,
The big day is fast-approaching and the wedding plans are going as smoothly as possible given the tight timeframe. We’ve run into a hiccup with the budget however, which is that we’re already at the top end of what ANN has agreed to pay. All services include a rush fee of up to 30% which has created an issue. I need to know who will be picking up the extra costs. There is a $2.4 million overage to account for. Please let me know as soon as you sort this out so I can continue to finalize the details.
Best,
Imogen Arbuckle
Event Planner, Intuitive Wedding Magic, Inc.
Email from Phillip Crawford
To: Dylan Sinclair, Imogen Arbuckle, Princess Arabella
Subject: RE: Wedding Costs
Ms. Arbuckle,
As the palace has already publicly announced that the wedding fees will be paid by ANN, we need to cut costs to make that statement true. Alternatively, ANN can pick up the overage themselves. I trust your team will manage to make this happen.
Regards,
Phillip Crawford, Senior Advisor to His Majesty King Winston of Avonia
