“Isabel.”
“Oh…you.”
I smile.
“I’m going to have a driver come get you and your friends. Be ready by nine forty-five. There’s room for three.”
“We invited the guys, so there are going to be five of us. Will that be an issue?”
I roll out my neck. “It’s a small boat.”
“Oh, really?”
“Fine. Bring whoever you want, but be ready at nine forty-five.”
“You don’t need to come with us, you know. It’s not too late to back out. I’m sure you’re busy.”
It’s like she knows I just canceled my plans for her.
“It’s a Sunday,” I point out by way of a poor excuse.
“So you usually take weekends off?” she challenges.
“Do you have to test me at every turn? Let’s try this the simple way.Thank you, sir. I’m so grateful you’re going to take me out on your fancy yacht. How can I repay you?”
“You want me to say that?” I can hear her amusement.
“Sí, start there, and then I’ll see if I want you to throw in a few pleases and thank-yous. That one ‘sir’ might not be enough for me.”
“I already forgot it. Here, say it again and I’ll write it down.”
“Isabel.”
“Yes,sir?”
“I’ll see you at nine forty-five.”
“Your boat better bemassive.”
And then she hangs up, leaving me looking down at my phone completely mystified.
Joder.
Chapter Thirteen
Isabel
Party on a yachtis the tenth item on Winnie’s bucket list, and I’m about to cross it off. A laugh bubbles out of me when our driver parks near the dock and I get my first good look at Cristiano’s yacht. It’s a floating city. Long, sleek, four stories high, and accented in the same gunmetal gray as his SUV. It’s a superyacht fit for a supervillain.
Winnie, do you see this? I should get bonus points…
Felix and Ethan lose it as we walk down the dock. Apparently there are rumors at Aura about Cristiano and all his toys. There’s speculation on what this yacht cost, and when they repeat the staggering figure, even I stutter-step. I’m astounded he’s managed so much as a self-made man.
Mr. Yachty himself is waiting for us at the gangway that extends from the dock to the deck, and though the uniformed crew in their starched white shirts helps everyone else board,Cristiano steps forward to take my hand and help me down. His grip is ridiculously large, just like his boat.
“You said it was small.”
“Compared to other boats, it is.”
