10. BELLA
10
BELLA
L ayla Talbot was everything I wasn’t—a leggy blonde with puffy lips and a more-than-healthy self-esteem. I felt intimidated by her. Not because of anything other than the fact that she thought she was God’s gift to mankind, and because of it, everyone else seemed to think so, too.
After I picked her up from the airfield, where a private jet had touched down right on time, I took her to the yacht. She didn’t seem impressed with Chris’s design, even though it was the best thing I’d ever seen. Her suite wasn’t big enough, the amenities weren’t quite what she had expected , and I wasn’t very happy with the way she addressed my team.
As soon as she was settled, I left the yacht, taking my morning off. I needed to get away after that. I tried not to think about the fact that she would be Chris’s date to the event, and that he might spend the night with her.
The idea made me feel sick.
I had planned on spending my day off lounging by the beach, maybe indulging in a cocktail or three while pretending I didn’t have to deal with the mess that was Chris Blackwood. But, as luck would have it, I ran into Eli Moretti on my way through the marina instead. And by “ran into,” I mean I may have gone out of my way to find him. Purely out of curiosity, of course.
And maybe a little bit of spite since Layla Perfection Talbot was here.
The marina was bustling, the sun glinting off the polished hulls of yachts that looked like they cost more than a small country. The air was thick with salt and money, the kind of place where everyone was showing off—their wealth, their success, their tan lines. And then there was Eli, leaning against a post like he owned the place. Which, from what I’d heard about him, wasn’t far from the truth.
“Isabella,” he said, his smile stretching into something that could only be described as charmingly dangerous. He had that look—like the cat that got the cream. And I hated it. But a part of me was drawn to it, too. But it was like that, wasn’t it? The dangerous things in nature could also be the attractive ones, drawing in their prey with their beauty only to chew on their guts when they were done.
I shivered.
“Eli,” I greeted, my voice sweet as honey. I plastered on my best tourist grin, even as my insides twisted. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Isn’t it, though?” He pushed off the post and sauntered over to me, his eyes skimming over my face as if he were trying to read me. “I thought you were just here for the show, but it seems like we’re destined to keep bumping into each other.”
“Destiny’s a funny thing,” I said, giving him a coy smile. “Besides, who could resist a place like this? The boats, the view, the…” I let my eyes slide up and down his body and felt dirty for it. “Company.”
He chuckled, a low sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re not wrong. It’s a beautiful day, made even better by some unexpected company. Care to join me for lunch?”
I hesitated for just a moment, enough to make it seem like I had other plans—like I hadn’t been hoping he’d ask. “Well, since you twisted my arm… Why not?”
Eli led me to Ciel Bleu, one of those fancy places that had a view of the marina and a menu without prices. The kind of place where you knew if you had to ask, you couldn’t afford it. The hostess greeted him with a bright smile, and I couldn’t help but wonder how many times Eli had brought someone here before. Probably more times than I wanted to know.
We were seated at a table with an impeccable view of the water, the yachts bobbing gently in the distance. Eli ordered a bottle of white wine without even glancing at the menu, and I let him take the lead, my smile never wavering. He might have been charming, but I wasn’t going to let myself be swept away. Not by him, and certainly not when I had an ulterior motive, too.
He wasn’t the only one who could be cunning and charming at the same time.
“So, Isabella, what brings you to Monaco? Besides the obvious, of course,” Eli asked, leaning back in his chair, his eyes fixed on mine. There was something about the way he said my name, with a slight Italian lilt, that made it sound exotic in his mouth. He had this way of looking at me like I was the most interesting thing in the world, and he was just dying to know more.
“Oh, you know,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “Just here for a little vacation. Enjoying the show, soaking in the sun, trying not to think about work. You know how it is.”
“Ah, yes, the elusive vacation,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk. “I can’t remember the last time I took one of those.”
“Really? I figured someone like you would be jet-setting around the world, taking every chance to enjoy the high life.” I kept my tone light, playful, even as I tried to steer the conversation toward what I really wanted to know.
“Oh, I enjoy it,” he said, his eyes glinting. “But you know, there’s always business to attend to. And this yacht show is a prime opportunity for someone like me.”
“Business, huh?” I raised an eyebrow, swirling the wine in my glass before taking a sip. “And what exactly is that business? I mean, you always seem to have something up your sleeve.”
He leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine, and I could feel the tension between us—the push and pull, the unspoken challenge. “What makes you think I’m up to something?”
I gave him a sly smile. “Because you always are. Come on, you can’t fool me. I’ve seen the way you operate. I’ve heard the stories. You’re not just here to admire the boats.”
Eli chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got me all figured out, don’t you?”
“I like to think so.” I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs. “So, what’s the plan this time? Buying out another shipyard? Making some moves to outdo the Blackwoods?”
He raised his glass in a mock toast. “Now, now, Isabella. You’re making me sound like a villain.”
“Are you not?” I quipped, arching an eyebrow and letting a smile play around my lips.
“Only when necessary,” he said, his grin widening. “But really, I’m just here to see what opportunities present themselves. You never know what you might find—or who you might run into.”
I laughed, the sound light and airy, even as I felt my stomach twist. I was playing a dangerous game here, trying to charm information out of him. But damn it, he was good. Too good. And there was something about the way he looked at me—like he saw more than just the surface. It was unsettling, and yet…
“So mysterious,” I said, my tone teasing. “But you know, I’m not that easily impressed. You’ll have to do better than that if you want to bowl me over.”
Eli smiled, his gaze never wavering. “Who says I’m trying to impress you?”
“Oh, please,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You’re always trying to impress someone. It’s in your nature.”
He leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “So, you’ve done your homework on who I am.”
I shrugged. “Homework? No. But the stories do the rounds and I like to stay in the know.”
“It’s always good to know who your contenders are,” Eli said, nodding. “But with you, Isabella, it’s different. I can’t quite put my finger on who you are… I think I’d rather just get to know you. You’re not like the others.”
I forced a smile, even as my heart skipped a beat. I had to remind myself why I was here—why I was talking to him at all. It wasn’t because I wanted to be charmed by Eli Moretti. It was because I wanted to know what he was up to, what he had planned, and how it might affect Chris.
And why did I care so much? Chris had made it clear where we stood. He didn’t want me—at least, not in any way that mattered.
But I couldn’t just stand by and watch him get screwed over by Eli. No matter how much I told myself that I shouldn’t care, that I should just let him deal with his own mess… I couldn’t.
“Well, if you’re really just here for the opportunities,” I said, tilting my head slightly, “maybe you’ll consider working with the Blackwoods? They have quite a name, you know.”
Eli clenched his jaw, and I watched the smile drain from his eyes.
“I don’t play well with others,” he said tightly.
This was going the wrong way.
“Really? I thought you looked like someone who could play really well with others.” I let the seduction drip off my words, hoping to steer him away from shutting down on me.
He laughed, the sound rich and warm, and I could feel myself getting pulled in, even though I knew better. “Oh, you’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“And you’re full of secrets.”
He offered me a sly smile and it made me shiver. Every now and then, with something Eli said, I was drawn into his charm. But then he added something that crawled up my skin, cold and slithering, and I couldn’t stand being close to him.
I took another sip of wine, my eyes locking on Eli’s over the rim of the glass.
It would be so easy to let someone else draw me in. To forget about Chris completely. I could walk away the way he had, not looking back.
But the truth was… I couldn’t.
It made me a fool but damn it, Chris Blackwood was my weakness and as long as I was in his orbit I would stay.
We continued our banter, the sun shining down on us, the yachts swaying gently in the marina, and I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Eli was charming—more charming than I had expected. But beneath it all, I knew what I was doing. I was playing him, trying to get information, trying to protect Chris. And maybe trying to protect myself, too.