Bernard might think he knows who Rose really is, but he doesn’t understand her.
The person on Instagram might think they can threaten her. But Rose has had to fight a lot of battles to keep Adriana safe and she’s not going to stop now.
On the gently curving drive up to Villa Artemis, Christos is tending the small pond where he’s been valiantly trying to grow water lilies.
They don’t seem to be thriving. His dream is to havekoi in the pond swimming happily under lily pads but he’s definitely doing something wrong.
He thinks fish will be calming, and God knows, they need calm right now.
Christos is worried.
He’s heard nothing from Marco, his old friend who now works for Europol and who he hopes can rein in this Instagram threat, although Marco has said nothing will be fast.
Adriana says that Rose briefly mentioned that Bernard also threatened to smear the villa’s reputation. Christos can’t bear the thought of their beloved business failing.
It’s not just about the money – although that’s nothing to be sniffed at. They’ll have to claim bankruptcy and will lose everything. The saddest thought is the sense of their dream failing: that’s what makes him feel sad. It had been such a lovely dream, too, the reason for the back-breaking hard work.
How can one Instagram troll and one dismal, short rich man destroy their dreams? It’s not right.
Christos pulls up a few weeds gloomily. He needs to let these fears go. He has to be strong for his beloved Adriana and for Rose.
He will never forget what Rose did for his wife. Never.
The hotel’s fluffy white cat, Hecate, pads down the drive and Christos reflects that if hehadkoi, Hecate would scoop them out with a fat paw and eat them before they had a chance to swell and become big, flashy, happy fish.
Maybe Adriana’s right: he should stick to a fish tank.
He looks up from inspecting the pond to see India and Keera.
‘How are you, ladies?’ he asks cheerfully.
‘Great. Relaxed. I can’t believe it’s the end of the week already,’ says India. ‘Time has flown.’
‘You’ve enjoyed it?’
‘Loved it,’ says Keera. ‘See you later, Christos.’
Keera’s phone has been silently buzzing all morning. She should have left it in her room as Rose expects.
As she and India walk back up from the beach after the morning session, having lingered to look for shells, she feels the vibration of the phone once again in her cotton trouser pocket.
She is not going to look at it. It’s probably her mother leaving more outraged voice notes about life, the universe and everything.
She is not dealing with her mother right now. There is no need.
As they wait to cross over to the villa’s gardens, a taxi whizzes past her and India.
‘I thought …?’ Keera squints through her sunglasses. ‘I must be imagining things,’ she says. ‘I thought – I thought I saw my mother in the back of that cab.’
‘Hardly,’ says India cheerfully. ‘What are the chances, right?’
‘Yeah.’
Keera and India walk on.
The beautiful path to Villa Artemis is steep at first, then flattens out.
Keera decides to ask India about Dan; last night’s phone call is on her mind.
