Chapter Six #2
“Yeah, he’s got a villa overlooking Little Palm Beach.” It’s a bay on the north side of the island, well known for the fact that it’s the only beach on the island where you can swim naked.
“Nudie Bay?” Ria giggles. “Wow. Yeah, that’s a great idea. Maybe he’s got staff! Imagine what that would be like. Being waited on hand and foot.”
“I don’t think he spends his days lying on chaise longues eating grapes,” I point out.
“I doubt he’s got staff.” As soon as I say that, though, I remember his parents’ home.
They have a gardener, a housekeeper, a chauffeur, and I believe a chef comes in sometimes to cook for them.
Who wouldn’t have all that, if they had a choice?
“Communication is key,” Lisa says. “If you decide to go ahead with it, you need to sit down with him and hash out the details. Explain how far you’re willing to go, and what your limits are.”
“Hard and soft,” Ria says, waggling her eyebrows.
I blow out a breath.
“It said in one of the articles that he’s six-four,” she adds. “Is that true?”
I nod. “He’s huge.” Her eyes widen, and I hastily say, “I mean big. I mean tall!”
They both giggle. “You know what they say,” Lisa teases. “Does he have big feet?”
I bite my lip. “Yes, he does, they’re enormous.”
We all collapse into laughter. Ohhh… it’s good to laugh after the day I’ve had.
“You never know,” Ria says mischievously, “maybe he’ll fall in love with you, and you’ll actually end up together.”
I shake my head sadly. “That’s definitely not on the cards. He likes models! And movie stars! Not gardeners. Not every Cinderella gets her prince.”
“Well,” Lisa says, “I don’t think—” She stops and cocks her head.
“What?” I ask.
She’s the closest to the front window, and she gets up and crosses the room to peer through the curtains. “Fuck,” she says, “I don’t believe it.”
Ria and I exchange a look, and my heart starts hammering. We both get up and run to the window. Sure enough, Tamati’s car is parked out the front, and he’s revving the engine.
“Shit.” Anger flares inside me. We’ve already had one neighbor complain that he woke up her baby daughter with his revving and yelling.
“I’ll deal with him,” Ria says, turning to leave.
But she has a tendency to flirt with him, and I don’t want him sitting outside thinking he’ll get attention every time he does this. “No.” I cross to the coffee table and put down my wine glass. “I’ll sort it.”
“Why don’t we just call the police?” Lisa’s angry. “This is harassment. He’s stalking you, and it’s against the law.”
“I will if I have to. I’m going to try one more time.”
I walk out to the front door, take my jacket off the hook, and put it on, covering my pajama top. I shove my feet in my Wellingtons and pocket my phone. Then I open the door and go out.
It’s nearly seven, so the sun has set, and the street lamps are on, casting pools of orange on the dark pavement. I walk down the short path, go out of the gate, and walk up to the car.
Tamati stops revving the engine as I approach him, and he lowers the window. “Hey,” he says, and smiles.
I’ve come out to talk to him several times before. I liked him a lot, and I was keen to part on good terms, but after the day I’ve had, my patience is paper thin.
“What are you doing?” I snap.
His smile fades. “I just wanted to see you. And I don’t seem to be able to get your attention any other way.”
“You’ve got to stop this.”
“Come and get in,” he says. “We’ll go for a drink and have a chat.”
“I’m in my pajamas!”
He just laughs. “This is New Zealand—no one cares about that.”
“I’m not going to a bar in my PJs. Tam… I’m serious now. We’re done. I’m not going out with you again.”
“Babe… come on.” His lips curve up. He knows his smile undoes me.
He’s incredibly good looking, and he has an irresistible charm I can’t resist. I found it so hard to break up with him, but every time I told myself I could put up with his faults, he’d do something that would leave me exasperated and unhappy.
He picked holes in the smallest things, and we were always arguing.
He seemed to thrive on that; I think it turned him on sometimes.
But I’m not like that. I take everything to heart.
And what with everything else that’s going on my life, I don’t need the stress. I want him to leave me alone.
And suddenly, I know how to stop him.
“I’ve met someone else,” I blurt out.
He stares at me for a moment. Then his expression turns wry. “Aw, come on…”
“It’s true,” I say calmly, relieved he’s forced my hand. “I’ve been seeing an old friend of mine. We met up for a chat, and he asked me out.”
“Who is it?” he demands.
“His name’s Kingi.”
“Kingi who?”
“Davis.”
His eyes widen. “Kingi Davis.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re dating Kingi Davis?”
“Yes.”
“The one who’s just broken up with Sabrina Pearce?”
“The very same.”
He laughs. “What the fuck does he see in you?”
I don’t reply, and after a second, he sobers and adds hastily, “I didn’t mean that, I mean obviously you’re worth ten of someone like her…”
“Yeah,” I say sarcastically, “nice attempt to backtrack.”
“Shit, Chess…”
“Fuck you,” I tell him heatedly. “He really likes me, and he won’t take kindly to you harassing his girl.
He’s fucking huge, and even if he doesn’t want to take you out himself, he’s rich enough to employ a whole fucking hit team, so stop fucking harassing me, and leave me alone!
” I end on a yell, turn on my heel, march back into the house, and slam the front door.
I stand there, trembling, both furious and upset as Lisa and Ria come running out.
“Are you okay?” Lisa’s brows draw together.
“I’m fine.” I kick off the wellies, take out my phone, then hang up my jacket. “I’ll be back in a second.” I march off to my bedroom and close the door behind me.
Once inside, I go over to the bed, sit down, and take out my phone. I bring up messages, pull up his name, type a text, and send it. I’m sure he’s at Midnight, partying the night away, so I don’t expect him to reply, but to my surprise he comes back in thirty seconds.
Me: The answer is yes.
Kingi: Hey! Really?
Me: Yeah.
Kingi: Shit! What convinced you?
Me: It was a variety of things, including Tamati turning up tonight. I told him we were dating to get him off my back. I’m really sorry about that.
I send it, feeling a tug of guilt. Maybe he’s already changed his mind about his offer, and outing him like that might make him cross.
But he comes back with Taku tau, that’s fine, I’m glad I could help. It means ‘my beloved’, and it’s a very romantic endearment. Kingi is so openhearted. It makes me smile.
Me: We should probably meet to talk about it, do you think?
Kingi: Definitely. I’d like to draw something up legally, actually. I’ll make an appointment with my lawyers and let you know the time
My eyebrows rise.
Me: Do we need to get lawyers involved?
Kingi: It’s always best to when money is involved. It’s to protect both of us, and we can discuss the finer details while we’re there
My heart races. Suddenly it feels very real.
This isn’t him giving me fifty bucks to go on a date at a family function to stop his grandmother nagging him about settling down.
We’re not eighteen anymore. Kingi is a hard-nosed businessman who lives in the limelight, and we’re talking a significant amount of money.
The full realization of what I’m doing hits me.
For a hundred thousand dollars, I’m going to have to pretend to be getting married to him in front of family, friends, and the rest of the country.
People are going to want to take my photograph.
Maybe even interview me. And the scariest thing of all is that I’m going to have to be close to him…
to pretend to be his… Will he want to touch me? Kiss me?
Kingi: You okay?
Me: You know I’m a terrible liar, right?
Kingi: LOL. You don’t have to lie
Me: Sorry, what? We’re going to pretend to be dating
Kingi: Look, we’re old friends. We’ll go on a few dates. Yeah, maybe the engagement will be a white lie, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that something like this could have happened
Me: I guess
Kingi: It’ll be fine, and I really appreciate you doing this for me
Me: You’re welcome. I appreciate the money
Kingi: Are you all right? Did Tamati shake you up?
Me: A bit
Kingi: Want me to go around and rearrange his teeth?
That makes me laugh.
Me: No, I’m hoping that’s done the trick. I don’t think he’ll be back
Kingi: He will
Me: What do you mean?
Kingi: You’re a catch, Chess, and he’s lost you. He’s going to be mad as hell. I’d be very surprised if he gave up now
I sigh.
Me: All right. So you’ll let me know about the lawyer?
Kingi: Yeah, I’ll make it late tomorrow
Most people would have to settle for whatever time the lawyer was free, but I’m guessing that for clients like Kingi, lawyers make time.
Me: Okay. I’ll see you then
Kingi: Sleep well, and don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine
Me: Night
I turn off my phone with an impending sense of doom. Something tells me Kingi’s talking out of his ass, and he has no idea that this has disaster written all over it.
But it’s too late now. I’ve made my decision.
And I have to stick to it, no matter what happens.
I won’t fall for him. I know he has this reputation for being a womanizer, and he comes across as a real Prince Charming, but I know the real Kingi.
The untidy, scruffy miscreant who likes to go a week without washing when he’s off on one of his adventures.
The one who can eat a sandwich in two mouthfuls, and who can burp the National Anthem after drinking a can of Coke.
His charisma is all a facade, put on to charm the Sabrinas of the world, and there’s no way I’d ever fall for someone like that.