Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Ana?s
I stare at the phone, blinking.
What does he mean?
I place it back in its cradle and move towards the bedroom and sit on the foot of the bed, staring into the space. Glancing beside me at my phone, I swipe it up and find Rue’s number.
I’m not sure why I am calling her. I could call Nora, but I feel like she is too close to this situation.
“Ana?s? Everything okay?” I glance at the time and see it’s past nine.
“Yeah, fine, I just want to ask you something… I’m not sure what to do,” I mumble, nibbling on the skin around my nail bed of my thumb.
“Shoot,” she says, and I can hear her dragging a chair out as it skates across the floor.
“So, you know I am staying in my ex’s dad’s penthouse.”
“Yup.”
“Well, he has just told me that he is sending a car to collect me…”
“Right?”
“Bit weird, right? I didn’t get a chance to answer back as he cut the phone off.”
“It’s just drinks. He probably feels bad for gatecrashing and also that you’re home alone on a Friday night when you should be taking in the Monaco evenings.”
I drop my thumb from my lips.
“So, you think I should go?”
“I don’t think anything, I am just giving you my opinion.”
I nod.
“Is it not weird?”
“Probably, but it’s free drinks, right?”
“Right.” I twiddle the end of my hair.
“So, take him up on it. You never know, it might turn out to be a really fun evening.”
“Or a really stupid decision.” I pace.
“Nope, it’s just a drink.”
“Okay.” I swallow the nerves down.
“You still don’t sound convinced.”
“Because I’m not.” A small laugh escapes me.
“What else are you going to be doing?” she says, and I know she is judging me.
“Editing my vlog.”
“Boring, go out with Creed and have a couple of drinks.”
“But what about—”
“Just go, you’ll have great fun.”
I sigh, flopping down on my bed, eyes pinned to the ceiling. “Okay,” I say after a few moments of silence.
“Okay, you’re going?”
“Yes, I suppose.” I sit back up, staring at my feet.
“What you going to wear?”
“No idea. He is sending the car, I need to hurry up,” I whisper into the phone as I look back at the clock.
“Go for an LBD can’t go wrong with that.”
My lips curl into a smile.
“It’s just drinks remember. I’m not trying to seduce my ex’s dad.”
“I know… but doesn’t it sound good?” She laughs softly down the phone.
“Stop that.” I face palm myself before finally pushing up from the bed and rooting through my wardrobe.
“Have fun, text me when you’re home.”
“I will. Thanks, Rue.”
“Always, baby girl.”
We say our goodbyes, and I cut the phone off, placing it on the dressing table. I drag a black dress from its hanger and disappear into the bathroom to get myself ready in record time.
My hair is down, slightly wavy. I decided on minimal make-up, eyes, cheeks, lips. All very natural apart from a soft red lip. I landed on a black bodycon mini dress and wedged sandals for my attire for my last minute evening out with my ex boyfriend’s dad.
Spritzing myself with my perfume, I swipe my phone and a black clutch and make my way down.
The lift ride is short and nerves settle deep into my stomach with each step I take across the short lobby of the apartment. Alexandre greets me at the door and I don’t miss the way my cheeks turn pink when I see the blacked-out Mercedes sitting kerbside.
The driver steps out, all dressed smartly and I duck into the back of the car that he has opened for me. I thank him as he closes the door.
Tapping my fingers on my bare thigh, my stomach is in knots. I have no idea why I agreed to this.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
Maybe I shouldn’t have let Rue influence me.
Sighing, I avert my gaze out the window, the sparkling lights whizz past me and my stomach only tightens as we approach the marina.
We roll to a halt, and the driver is out the car and letting me step out.
“This way, miss.”
I step out onto the cobbled ground and try to not let my wedge slip. The driver gives me a cautious look, and I return it with a nod. He closes the door behind me and leads me onto the decked area where the extravagant yachts are moored up, my eyes widening as we pass them.
“Mr Lexington is just up here,” he says softly and I smile.
He is older, probably around the same age as Creed, maybe a few years difference. Blonde, grey eyes, pale skin, he’s suited and booted with a hat.
His steps falter as we approach a mega yacht that stands out from the rest. I glance at the name and then let my eyes wander to the boat in front of me.
This was bigger than my apartment back home.
I mean, it wasn’t hard. It wasn’t huge but the open plan layout helped it feel bigger than what it was.
This boat was fancy, and large. Very, very large.
“Miss?” The driver pulls me from my thoughts, and I blink a couple of times.
Following behind him, he leads me to the entrance of the boat, and I am greeted by Creed with a wide smile. He still looks as handsome as he did when he walked out the door.
“Glad you came.” He holds his hand out for me to take and I do, gladly.
My palm fits into his perfectly and the spark that courses through me has me pulling it away a little quicker than I would have liked.
“Thank you for inviting me,” I advert my gaze from his green eyes and drop them to the floor.
I watch as his feet step back and I simultaneously follow.
“Drink?” he asks as I move further onto the boat, and finally, I lift my eyes and look around.
“Please.” My voice is quiet and timid, and I know I am okay to be here but I also feel wrong for accepting.
“This yacht is…”
“It’s something, right?”
“Yup.” I sigh and follow him towards the seating area at the back of the boat.
An older lady walks over with a fresh glass of chilled champagne, and I thank her before pulling out my camera.
“Okay to get some content? My followers would love this,” I say with a small smile on my face and he nods, his eyes not lifted from mine for even a second.
“Of course, maybe just don’t get me in the shots, hm?” His brow raises, and my cheeks burn pink.
“Of course.” I place the camera on the table and then bring the champagne flute to my lips, taking a mouthful.
The golden liquid slips down my throat, the bubbles teasing my tastebuds before dissolving on my tongue.
I take another mouthful. “Why don’t you stay on the boat?
” My question escapes me and my eyes widen.
“I could.” He lifts a shoulder, eyes batting down to his own glass, his long finger tapping on the side of it. “But I prefer sleeping on land.” He gives me a wink and I nod, my throat tight.
“Makes sense.” I nod again.
Silence crackles around us and I find myself looking out towards the marina, the soft lights twinkling in the distance, the calmness of the ocean surrounding us.
“Did you get your editing done?” he asks as he shuffles forward.
“Not all of it, but I made a good dent.” I take a mouthful. “I will do the rest tomorrow. My posting has been a little quieter just because I am trying to make the most of the break whilst I have the chance.”
“I totally get that. I can’t stand social media. Of course, I have it. But that’s more a technicality than a want. My manager handles it. I do have a personal one, but I don’t really use it.”
“It takes up a lot of my time, but this is my full-time job, kind of have to like it.” My lips purse as I rest the stem of the glass on my lap and look back out at the boats.
“Did you know you always wanted to be an…” He pauses for a moment.
“Influencer?” I finish his sentence.
“Yes.”
“No, it wasn’t my dream. I didn’t want to do this at all, really.
I wanted to get into Public Relations, make my own business.
But things happened, courses change, paths get blocked and then I met Royce…
” My stomach twists and my heart thumps against my rib cage.
“I was already deep into social media by then, I scratched his back, he scratched mine in a sense and well… yeah.” I roll my lips and slowly turn my face to look at him.
“I’m sorry about you and Royce.”
“Don’t be,” I rush out, shaking my head. “It’s fine. He’s fine, I’m fine.”
“I know you’re fine.” He moves forward, and I watch as he hovers his glass over the table between us. “But I am just saying, I am sorry.”
I nod, licking my lips.
“But again, I am kind of not sorry because it brought you here, to Monaco, in my penthouse…” He pauses.
“How did your thing go,” I ask, trying to change the subject of this very slippery slope we both seem to be perched on the edge of.
“My thing?”
“Yeah, didn’t you have to meet someone?”
“Oh, yes.” He chuckles softly as he sits back into his set, nestling back. “It went very well.” His brows raise.
“Saint Onyx stuff?” I push my luck here to see if he will let anything fall from those full, pouty lips.
“Maybe.” The corner of his lips lift, and I find myself smiling at him.
“Oh, come on,” I push and a giggle slips past my lips.
“If I tell you…” He pauses and I find myself leaning forward. “I would have to kill you.” He lets out a heavy sigh and I scrunch my nose up. “And you’re too pretty to kill.”
Blinking, my lips part for a moment to speak but his lips just twitch into a devilishly handsome smile.
“Only joking…” His tone is deadpan before that smile is back and a small snicker leaves me.
“So, you can tell me?” I push the question but he does nothing, other than sit back into the sofa and let that smirk dig into his cheeks, causing dimples to appear.
I roll my eyes. “Spoil sport.” I turn my face back towards the marina, my eyes drifting and I feel my mind slipping.
“Look, when I can tell, you’ll be the first to know.” His soft voice pulls me to look at him, his green eyes sparkling as he focuses on me and only me.
“Okay.” I drop the conversation, I didn’t really feel like spending the evening speaking about Saint Onyx anyway. I accepted his invitation out of politeness.