Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
I am awake early the following morning buzzing with excitement, wondering what Christos has in mind for our day out.
After showering, I change and take Lulu’s advice as I don a bright-green cotton dress and my white sparkly trainers.
‘Oh my gosh, it seems we are going swimming,’ I tell Lulu, who is sipping coffee outside on the balcony.
‘Really? Are you going to the beach then? Or maybe a private club with a pool?’ she suggests.
‘I’m not sure but he has told me to bring a swimsuit,’ I tell her as put a bikini on under my dress and stuff a towel into a beach bag. I’m feeling a bit rushed as he also said that he will meet me downstairs in five minutes.
‘Sounds like it might be fun.’ She grins. ‘But only do what you are comfortable with.’
‘I will,’ I tell her, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. What does he have planned? I wonder. Maybe it is a private beach club? Or perhaps we are going to his house? I imagine that would have a swimming pool.
I don’t have long to wait for the answer as downstairs, after Christos has greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, I am being whisked along the seafront in his Porsche.
‘Are we heading back to Fira?’ I ask as we pass the familiar landscape.
‘Yes, to the harbour.’ He turns to me and grins. ‘We are going to take my boat out.’
‘Your boat?’
‘Well, it belongs to my father really, but I like to think of it as the family yacht. And I guess it will be mine one day,’ he says.
Did he just say yacht?
I take glances at him as we drive, sunglasses perched on his head, dark hair blowing ever so slightly in the wind, loving every minute of his life.
Greek music is booming out from a car radio.
I am pretty sure this guy would disagree with the bloke from the shop, who seems to think that money cannot buy happiness.
A family yacht though! I don’t really know what I was expecting, but certainly not the sleek, long vessel that awaits us at the harbour. A waiter welcomes our arrival on board with a glass of chilled champagne.
‘Please.’ Christos gestures to the inside, panelled with walnut and decked out with cream leather seats.
‘This is amazing,’ I say, glancing around as I clutch my champagne. I almost feel as though I am in a scene of a James Bond movie.
‘I’m glad you like it.’ He moves closer to me. ‘I love it. But then, I like all beautiful things,’ he says, holding my gaze.
His cheesy line should have me rolling my eyes, yet something stirs in me.
‘Come, let me show you to the sunbathing deck.’ He takes me by the hand and my heart gives a little flutter.
He leads me to the top deck, where two sunbeds are waiting, along with the rest of the champagne bottle in an ice bucket and a bowl of strawberries.
‘So how are you enjoying being here in Santorini?’ he asks as the boat begins to move away from the marina and out into the open water.
‘It’s wonderful.’ I sigh. ‘Everything is just so picture perfect.’
‘I’m glad you are enjoying it. Holidays should be about relaxing and having fun.’ He smiles. ‘Did you bring your bikini?’ he asks. ‘I thought we might anchor in a little while and enjoy a swim.’
‘I have,’ I tell him as I peel off my short dress to reveal my white bikini, a flattering, lacy number I bought in a sale back home. I notice Christos’s eyes flick over my body as I place my dress down beside me.
He attempts to refill my glass, but I place my hand over it.
‘Maybe later, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go swimming after a couple of glasses of champagne.’
‘Sure.’ He shrugs. ‘Whatever you think.’
We chat as the yacht sails, and he tells me all about his work at the club. I tell him a little about my social media, although he never really asked, but rather is keen to tell me about his own life.
‘I spend a lot of time at the club,’ he informs me as he sips his drink. ‘And not just in the evening, I am involved in the staff recruitment, hiring DJs from around the world, arranging drinks promotions. Some might say I am a bit of a workaholic, but I love it.’
‘Do any of your siblings work at the club?’ I ask. I thought Spyros the barman bore a slight resemblance to him, but he tells me no.
‘They have no interest in it,’ he tells me. ‘Besides, I don’t think my siblings could do the job as well as I do.’
Modest then.
We sail across the striking blue waters, Christos spending some time on his phone I notice, only telling me about the surroundings when I ask him a particular question. When I enquire what the island is like in the winter, he pulls a face.
‘Quiet. Too quiet, for me at least,’ he reveals. ‘Many people like it that way, especially the old people who say they have reclaimed their home.’
‘Surely tourism is good for the economy though?’ I ask.
‘Undoubtedly. But the islanders don’t think they really benefit. Unless they are business owners, of course.’ He sips some water from a bottle of Evian.
Business owners like his own family, who must surely benefit?
‘I can’t imagine what it must be like to live here when the crowds leave,’ I say as I lean on a rail and feel the wind blowing through my hair. The striking shades of emerald and navy give way seamlessly to swathes of blue that match the sky above as we move through the water.
‘As I say, it suits those islanders who are glad to see the back of the tourists.’ He shrugs. ‘But I often take off for Ibiza when the season ends here,’ he reveals.
‘Ibiza?’ I’m a little surprised as surely the tourist season is similar to here.
‘Sometimes I spot up-and-coming DJs in the smaller clubs that still operate in the cooler months,’ he says, answering my question. ‘Then I might invite them here to work at the club the following summer.’
‘Oh, I see. Gosh, you truly never are off duty, are you?’
‘I told you the club is my life. I always make time for a little relaxation though. I believe the phrase is “work hard, play hard”.’
He gazes at me in such a way that I can feel those tingles again. ‘Are you ready for that swim now?’ he asks.
‘Sure,’ I say, thinking that cooling off in the water is exactly what I need to do.
He calls out in Greek to the captain on the upper deck, and a few minutes later we have anchored in the crystal-clear water. Christos pulls the white T-shirt he is wearing over his head, to reveal a most impressive six-pack.
He produces some goggles and snorkels from a storage trunk and hands me some.
‘It is the best way to see what lies beneath the water,’ he explains.
Lowering myself into the water from a ladder, I can feel his eyes on me. As I reach the water, I am surprised to find the water a little warmer than I anticipated, and enjoy the feeling as it washes over my skin.
Christos is standing on the deck of the boat, and he does a perfect dive into the water and soon appears at my side.
‘Impressive dive,’ I tell him. ‘Do you practise?’
‘Who wouldn’t living here?’ He glances around. ‘And yes, I practised a lot to perfect my dive. I like to strive for perfection in everything I do,’ he says proudly.
We explore the blue-green water, my breath taken away by the sight of the colourful sea life as I swim below the surface.
I’m thrilled to spot a baby octopus swim by and I tell Christos, who takes my hand in his and guides me to a spot where dozens of rainbow-coloured fish are crowded around a rock.
It’s all so magical. I could easily see myself living like this, spending days on the water and sipping champagne.
I’m not sure how anyone could ever tire of this lifestyle.
After exploring the nearby waters we remove our goggles and snorkels, and Christos throws them up onto the deck, before we swim and lounge around in the glorious sea. I dream of having this life and can hardly believe that I go home to continue my job search in a few days’ time.
I flip onto my back, and stare up at the warm sun, never wanting this afternoon to end, as Christos playfully flicks water over me.
He disappears from sight for a second and I squeal as he reappears and I am suddenly hoisted up onto his shoulders from beneath the water.
We laugh, and swim some more, before we find ourselves drying off in the sunshine back on the deck of the yacht.
‘That was wonderful.’ I sigh, stretching out on my sunlounger, feeling the heat of the sun massage me all over. ‘What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.’ I can hardly believe that someone like me could be experiencing this type of luxury. ‘Thank you for bringing me here today.’
‘It is my pleasure.’ He smiles. ‘Are you ready for that refill now?’ he says, reaching for the bottle, and I gratefully accept another glass. Just then a waiter appears with a mixed meze of dips and bread, along with a platter of melon and grapes.
‘This looks amazing,’ I say, hungrily, tucking into the tasty buffet.
I ask him some more questions about his life, but he seems more interested in topping up my glass.
When the yacht eventually docks back at the harbour, Christos dismisses the staff and I feel wonderfully relaxed. Especially when below deck, he wraps his arms around my waist and draws me to him. When he kisses me, it feels like a thousand fireworks are going off all around the harbour.
‘There is more to see on the yacht,’ he says breathlessly, before he takes me by the hand and leads me to a room and pushes the door open. I glimpse the room that has a huge bed at its centre.
I am captivated by Christos and the seductive surroundings, but something brings me to my senses.
‘Christos, I have had a wonderful day, but I really think I ought to be going,’ I say, realising the champagne has gone to my head slightly. Thank goodness I had no more than a couple of glasses.
‘Are you sure?’ He kisses me gently on the neck, and my resolve almost disappears.
‘Yes, I’m sure,’ I say, feeling in a quandary. Part of me thinks, where is the harm in spending the afternoon with him here?
‘Of course,’ he says, with a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. ‘Whatever you want.’