After a hike, a volcanic surfing sesh and two large glasses of wine, I wasn’t at my athletic best and I wasn’t a runner on a good day. I followed as fast as I could, speedwalking like an overzealous New Year’s Resolution-er but I didn’t feel hugely motivated, if I was being honest. I half wanted to miss the boat and have a break from Heidi’s scrutiny for a little while. We could catch them up tomorrow. By the time I got to the harbour Leo was tearing his hair out with no taxis to be seen.
‘Do your best, mate,’ he said into his phone and hung up. ‘Zach will try and buy us some time, and there’s a guy inside calling us a cab.’ He pointed into the coffee shop we’d been in that morning where the waiter was shrugging into his landline and shaking his head.
‘In twenty minute, taxi comes here?’ he called out as a question, lowering the handset to ask.
‘We need it quickly.Vamos?’ Leo pleaded.
The man shook his head. ‘Iz no possible. Iz twenty minute.’
Fourteen
Twenty minute was twenty minutes too long and by the time we arrived back at the port, there was nothing we could do but watch asEsmeraldaslowly chugged away. Heidi was easy to pick out on the top balcony, her hands on her hips, clearly seething. I did an exaggerated shrug then waved with both hands, as she glared at me.
‘We can catch them up in Madeira,’ I said, with a big cheesy smile while Leo squinted at his phone.
‘Already on it,’ he said, speed-scrolling, then stopping to read. ‘Here we go. The ten o’clock flight tomorrow morning will have us back with them for lunch.’
Wow, so soon.We’d be back before they even missed us. ‘In plenty of time for more aqua aerobics.’
Leo frowned, then continued scrolling. ‘Or we could get the midday flight?’ he suggested, a smile on his lips.
‘Hmm…’ I nodded slowly, pretending to think. ‘Yes, that sounds better. It wouldn’t hurt to give everyone some alone time – somethinking of a great pitchtime.’
‘Agreed. Send me your passport details then and I’ll book for both of us.’
He handed me his business card withLeo Kendricketched on the front in metallic blue ink. Clearly a man used to people doing exactly as they’re told.
‘Thanks, but I can book my own flight. There’s no chance Brooke will let us claim this one.’
‘Don’t worry – I’ll cover it,’ he said, with a shrug. I wasn’t enough of a big shot to write off the cost of a flight like that, but it didn’t feel cool to make a thing of it. He stopped tapping and looked up. ‘I insist. It’s entirely my fault we’re in this situation. I should have kept an eye on the time.’
‘You were being a Good Samaritan. It shouldn’t cost you money on top.’
‘Honestly, it’s fine.’
‘OK, but if we win the pitch, I’m paying you back.’
‘And if you don’t?’
‘If we don’t, then it’ll be the least of my problems, and I’ll accept your generous gift with grace and gratitude.’
‘Deal.’
I shuddered at the thought of cobbling together an updated CVfor whomever it may concernand trying to find another job. Working for a new – likely worse – version of Heidi. No, thanks. Losing this account wasnotan option. I texted Leo my passport details, relieved I’d brought it with me. He couldn’t scam me if he was paying, surely. My photo was nearly nine years old and I barely recognised myself: thick black eyeliner and a long blonde plait over one shoulder, with messy wisps around my face. Freckles and a fast-fading tan from a week in Devon. I’d realised far too late into the summer holidays that my passport wasout of date, so we’d postponed our sisters’ trip to Greece and gone to Torquay instead. We didn’t need a passport for the English Riviera, and we’d stayed right on the seafront in The Torquay Grand, with a three-course breakfast every morning. Orange juice, honeydew melon, a full English fry-up and toast and jam for dessert.
I’d renewed my passport while we were there and my eyes were full of smiles despite my straight face. The twins had grabbed my legs under the curtain as the final photo countdown had started and I’d been stuck with it.
‘I recognise that face,’ Leo said.
‘Yeah, that would have been the summer before we interned together. I haven’t changed that much have I?’
He stared at me as if to check. ‘Hmm, no. You’ve still got it.’
‘Erm… thanks. I think.’ I smoothed down my hair, feeling my face flush. ‘At least let me organise the hotel,’ I said, googling furiously. It was nearly four and we needed somewhere to stay.
‘Chris has already sorted it.’
‘Chris who?’
