Chapter Five

I felt the car ride taking a toll on me. As awareness began to slip from me, I could only imagine how good it would feel to finally get some good rest. However, I doubt those nervous jitters would allow me to. Tomorrow evening I was scheduled to meet with the CEO’s over a quiet dinner in one of the well-known restaurants in the area.

I was not sure what they were planning to discuss with me. Goals? Expectations? Financial growth for the company? I just knew whatever we had to discuss, I had to make sure everything was perfectly written in my mind. I had to assure them that their choice, their pick was the right one. I wanted them to know that Emilia was second rate compared to me.

“Apartment?”

“Huh?” I looked up to catch the eyes of my driver through the cracked partition.

“Apartment.” The car began to slow before it came to an abrupt stop outside of an establishment. Staring through the tinted window, I looked up at the grand palace. Apartment? That would be an understatement. It was a beautiful villa built for the wealthiest of all.

Everything about it was perfect.

The perfectly placed bricks that were resistant to ware and tare and the spotless glass windows with ocean blue boarding with the large double doors to match. Just the way the sun kissed it made it all seem twice as perfect. It was paradise inside of paradise.

“Apartment.” He said again with a thick accent, glancing down at the paper I had handed him at the beginning of the ride.

“Yes.” I searched through my bag retrieving the correct currency before I slipped it through the partition. Careless of change, I exited the car, admiring the home itself as the driver began to pull my luggage from the trunk.

It seemed to be a moment that assured me that everything in my life was piecing together. New career opportunity, a new stamp in my passport. I was turning pass chapter two in my life and was writing the words to chapter three.

Inside the envelope that was given to me was a key. Engraved in the key was the numeric address identical to the address plastered on the door. Climbing the three steps, I was overly excited and also nervous to enter the private luxury villa. I slipped the key into the key hole, turning my wrist until I heard the door unlock. The door cracked open, releasing the cool air from inside the establishment.

“Wow.” I pushed my luggage into the far corner for later attention. For now, I just needed to bask in the glory of this.

There new kitchen appliances to match the fresh painted walls and tile flooring. The living room had wall-to-wall carpeting to compliment the brownish tan sofa and love seat. In the middle of the living room was a glass coffee table, which allowed anyone to kick their feet up and enjoy the large window that overlooked the Sveti Stefan beach and the large flat screen television that hung on the wall.

This was a tease. A place that would help remind anyone how mediocre their original home was.

I dove in to my awaiting luggage, ripping through the cluttered material in search of the only thing I needed at the moment. The two piece bathing suit I spent hours at the sewing machine creating. A black with white polka dot top with high waist shorts to match. It seemed to be the only thing I could finish at the machine.

While the sun was still at its highest peak, I could think of only one thing to do.

The beach....

Aman Sveti Stefan beach. During off season while all were either returning to work or attending school, this beach becomes an oasis to the ones in search of a relaxing sanctuary. A place where a busy bee could slow down and ease into the crystal clear waters and dazzling sun kissed sand.

I slipped my sun glasses over my eyes and relaxed into my complimentary bathing chair and personal umbrella. I had to admire the beauty of this. The water. The sand.

Then there was the exceptionally built and handsome character that emerged from the waters. Like diamonds in the minds, water droplets radiated from his biceps, complimenting his assets.

My hands formed to a fist, straining not to excite myself more then I already was. He was foreign beauty. A sculpted peace of treasure. The beach was almost bare, which left his attention only on a selective few.

The smile that kissed his face graced me. He had definitely spotted me and he was definitely heading in to my direction. My hands began to tremble. Sweat formed on the back of my neck. Nervous, I acted as if I never even noticed him, pretending as if I did not see him heading into my direction.

It has been a long time since I had accepted a male's presence. With work and such a busy and active schedule, time for companionship has been scarce. I'm in Europe. I'm lying on a beach I thought I would never see. I'm being pampered and kissed by the sun. I'm staying in a luxury and private suite and I was just promoted. I deserved it. I deserved to relax and enjoy this. Be different. Do things differently. Ease up and ride the wave of change. Meet new people. I got this.

“Bonjour?” His voice carried a deep tone. It was one that would weaken any women who crossed his path. With hazel eyes and a flawless skin that seemed to be kissed by the gods, he surely was a sight for sore eyes.

“Hello?” I just hoped that he spoke my language.

“Ah American?”

“Yes.” I felt myself become taken over with restiveness.

“You are beautiful. May I sit?” He carried a heavy accent but his words were understandable when I paid enough attention. I gestured for him to take the empty seat beside me. “I'm sorry to disturb but I could not help but take notice of you. Are you here with someone?”

I could tell he was referring to me being here with a male presence. Sadly, I was not. Making love under the stars in the lavishing king sized bed would have been amazing if I did.

“No, I'm not.” I hid the embarrassment behind my large shades. Hell, I was lonely and I did not want him to see that.

“Good. I would love to spend the rest of my trip with a beautiful woman. May I ask your name?” He extended his hand for me to take.

“Karina.” I extended my own before he took it, allowing him to place a benevolent kiss on to the back of my hand.

“Marco.”

Marco. I mentally purred his named, wondering how lovely it would sound leaving my actual lips in different pitches and tones. They blessed him with charm and an accent that drove me insane. It was easy for him to catch my attention for some time...

We roamed the beach, conversing about all that we could think about. I informed him of my busy work life. He informed me of his life as a Realtor and also his investments in a few trades. He was a man with a good head on his shoulder. He knew what he wanted and was ready to pursue it. He was my sort of guy.

He treated me to lunch at a local restaurant. He showed me different foods and introduced me to things I never thought I would try. He pulled my chair. He opened doors. He made sure I was the high light of his night. Something I fancied in a gentleman. Something memorable.

I glanced down at my watch. My once joyful smile faded to a scowl once I noticed the passing time and the approaching evening. He noticed.

“Do you have to be somewhere?”

“Sadly yes. I have a business meeting this evening. It slipped my mind.” He took my hand from across the table, forcing a wave of jitters to spike up my arm. I bit my lip. “I wish I did not have to go.”

“I wish too.” He had a downed look. “But I will get you home and depending on the length of your stay, we can do this again.”

“I would love that.” I attempted to leave my chair. It was Marco who slipped from his chair and helped me. He took my hand, lifting me from my seat. “Thank you.”

“No problem at all. A woman such as you deserves to be catered to and pampered.” I wonder if he could see the flushed color from my face. I wonder if he could feel the shakiness in my hands. I wonder if he could notice how I ripped my eyes away from his in nervousness. “You are beautiful.”

“Thank you, Marco.” Saying his name felt how I thought it would feel. Amazing. Beautiful. Sexy.

“Shall we?” He gestured for me to take the lead before we took leave of the restaurant and hopped into a cab to take us back to our suites.....

I was dressed to impress. A simple olive colored dress with some shoes to match. My hair was tied up into a high bun and my makeup was done with the help of a few internet tutorials.

I looked over the papers again that I had received in my envelope along with my plane tickets and suite key. The time said 8:00pm sharp however time was not on my side. I had fifteen minutes to wait for my called cab and make it across the city that calculated would take me about thirty minutes.

I called the cab service again, wondering what the delay was. They stressed to me that my cab was in route but a part of me did not believe it. I ended the call with the dispatcher, fuming because of their services.

I knew they may not approve of my delay. Hell, it may even ruin my chances already but I had to bring to their attention my late arrival. Better safe than sorry. I placed a call to the restaurant listed on my papers.

“A la Cuvier.” A male employee answered the phone.

“Hello, um-my name Karina...” I ran my hand down my face, nearly ruining the perfected makeup that had taken me almost an hour to do. “I'm calling regarding the reservation I had with your establishment.”

“Are you calling to cancel?”

“No-No. I’m calling because I may be late.”

“Okay Ms. Karina. We can only hold your table thirty minutes pass reservation time.”

“Okay. I will be there by then. Are you able to tell my remaining party the change of plans?”

“If you wish Karina. I will need the name they list your reservation under and I will be happy to deliver the message.”

“Thank you so much.” Feeling sort of relieved, I glanced down at the paper, they listed the name under. “Philip Marshall.”

I could hear his fingers shift across his keyboard. Biting down on my lip, I waited for him to confirm my request. The phone went quiet.

“Hello?”

“Hello? I’m sorry for the delay Ms. Karina. I seem to have trouble finding your reservation. Can you spell the name for me to be sure?”

“Uh-sure.” I spelled the name of one of the CEO's who also was meeting with me this evening. Philip Marshall. I glanced down at the paper again to be sure as I listened to the host type in my information once again.

“I’m sorry Ms. Karina. There is no reservation by that name in our system.”

I was growing annoyed. Not with the gracious host who has taken the time to help me but with the people who obviously gave me the incorrect information. Was it under some else’s information?

“Is there any way I could give you another name?”

“If you like.” He seemed patient and polite despite the anger mixed in with my voice.

“Lilianna Post.”

I could hear him type in the information that I gave before he confirmed that there was no reservation under that name either. I gave him another. Again, I was denied. I even gave him my own. Instead, I was told again that there were no reservations on file for any of the names I offered.

“Okay thank you.”

I disconnected the call with the restaurant before I called the main office of the company. The only number that would connect me with either the CEO's themselves or their personal assistants. It was ridiculous that everything seemed unorganized. Now, I did not even care that I was late. I could care less about the long distance charges that may be put on the room when I called back to the United States.

“Hello?” I could hear her perfunctory attitude when Megan answered the call on the second ring. She always had that attitude. Eye rolling, gum popping, hair flipping attitude. I always wondered how she could keep her job for so long.

“Hello, Megan?”

I could hear her gum inflate then pop into the mouth of the phone.

“Yup.”

“Hi, this is Karina. I'm calling because I seem to have received some incorrect information regarding tonight's meeting place. Is there any way you could clarify it for me?”

Megan held the key to all of their personal files, trip planners, future agendas, and past information. I’m pretty certain she held that little black book that held all of the information to their 'other' spouses and side lovers.

“Um what meeting was supposed to be held tonight?” She seemed sort of clueless but I assumed she was playing a game with me.

“The meeting. The dinner at A la Cuvier.”

A la Cuvier? That restaurant is in Europe.”

“Yeah. I was supposed to be meeting the CEO's here to tonight.”

The phone went cold again. I could hear the faint breathing through the phone which in actuality was my own. It was as if the line had disconnected. As if she hung up on me. I looked at the phone before I brought it back to my ear, wondering what could have caused the abrupt silence.

“Hello?”

“Karina. The CEO's are not in Europe. They are here. I'm looking at them through the glass window. They are holding a meeting in the conference room with Emilia as we speak.”

What?