‘Are you supposed to talk to guests like that?’ I asked, faking a chastising side-eye.
‘God no, but doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Here,’ he said, getting out of the cart and offering me his hand.
I took it and gingerly stepped onto the path (Iwaswearing five-inch heels). Christos led me around the cart and helped me into it, lifting the hem of my dress and tucking it neatly inside. He grinned at me, then jogged around the cart and got in the driver’s seat.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ I replied, even though that worrying question was now playing on repeat inside my head.
Am I in danger?
Somewhere between the villa and the helipad, I settled onabsolutely not. I would be surrounded by people I knew and while Kovalec may have had questionable political affiliations, he was a tech billionaire, not an evil mastermind.Right?
‘Ally!’ Julian strode over, looking very dapper in a dark suit, white shirt, and pocket square – no tie. ‘May I?’ He offered his hand and helped me out of the golf cart, then Christos drove off at speed.
‘You look nice, Mr Cushing,’ I said, studying him for signs of nerves. He’d seemed perfectly at ease yesterday, but now I knew more about what was going on, there had to besometrace of apprehension?
‘And you lookincredible, Former Mrs Cushing.’ He took a step back to eye me up and down. If Julianwasnervous, he was doing an excellent job of hiding it.
I did a little curtsey, masking my own nerves. ‘Why thank you, kind sir.’ We exchanged warm smiles. ‘Where are the others?’ I asked, looking about.
‘Well, Christos is collecting Dale and Trudy, so they’ll be here momentarily.’
‘And what about Ivan Kovalec?’
‘Oh, he’ll meet us onAlly’sOdyssey,’ Julian replied, emphasising the name of the yacht.
‘Jules,’ I chided.
‘Couldn’t resist. However, Iwillchange the name, I promise. Any suggestions?’
‘How aboutMidlife Crisis?’ I teased.
‘A brutal slur,’ he replied, clutching his chest.
‘Jules, joking aside, tonight is a big deal for you, isn’t it?’
He sobered instantly, a fissure appearing in his otherwise calm exterior. ‘Ah, yes, yes it is.’
‘Well, I promise to do everything in my power to charm the pants off Kovalec,’ I assured him.
‘I don’t imagine that would take much coaxing – they’ll probably fall off the instant he claps eyes on you,’ he said cheekily.
I tutted, pretending to be appalled, right as the golf cart pulled up with Trudy and Dale.
Thank goodness – having Trudy by my side tonight helped shave off some of my mounting nerves. She was walking sunshine.
‘Ally, what a lovely surprise,’ she said, and I shot a look at Julian. I would have thought he’d tell her I was coming but never mind.
I stepped closer for a cheek kiss. ‘You look gorgeous,’ I told her. And she did in an apple-green swing dress with billowing sleeves. Her hair was up, with curly tendrils falling around her face, and her coral lipstick added a striking pop of colour.
‘Oh,’ she said, batting away the compliment modestly.
Julian and Dale shook hands, and Dale gave me a friendly smile.
‘So, where’s this helicopter then?’ asked Dale, sending his eyes skyward.
Right on cue, the sounds of a rotor filled the dusk air and a moment later it was hovering above us.
