Chapter 13
Isabella
“. . . and the operational cost of this development may exceed recent estimates if we don’t budget for materials within this sector . . .” Maya said. I had yet to make eye contact with her. I couldn’t focus, and she was beginning to notice.
“Also, the giant penis in our rearview mirror is growing larger by the second.”
“What did you just say?” I asked, stunned.
“Oh, great, I have your attention now.” Maya chuckled.
“I’m sorry, Maya.” I uncrossed my legs and sat upright.
“I hope I’m not boring you.”
“No, Maya. It’s just—my mind is somewhere else right now.”
“It’s Nathan again, isn’t it? You finally caught him, didn’t you? I knew it, that cheating—”
“That’s not it. It’s—it’s something else.”
“What? Tell me.” Maya leaned in curiously.
“I’m not so sure I should.” I paused.
“Come on, Isabella. We tell each other everything, don’t we?”
“Well . . .” I said, hesitantly putting my head down to avoid the question.
“Spill it, woman!” Maya demanded with a grin.
I sighed. “Fine. For the last couple of months, I’ve been getting these letters from someone. They range from erotic to poetic at times. In the beginning, I wasn’t even sure they were meant for me. That was until the last two letters addressed me by name. I’ve always found them in front of our villa on the beachfront in little bottles. The last letter has my mind all over the place. I think I have a secret admirer.”
Maya leaned in farther and pushed the computer to the side. “You have a secret admirer?”
I tittered. “Yes. I suppose I do.”
“Letters in bottles . . . that sounds romantic. Do you know who it might be?”
“That’s the thing, Maya. I have no idea who it is. In his last letter, he said we’ve already met, and he’ll reveal his identity to me in due time.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” Maya’s eyes lit up.
“Well, at first I thought the whole thing was a joke, but as time progressed and the nature of the letters became more intimate, I—I think I started to develop feelings for whoever this guy is. His letters are so sensual and vivid; they have me questioning my marriage.”
“Yeah, well, something has to get you to start questioning your marriage to that thing you call a husband,” Maya scoffed. I smirked. Moments later, Dante returned with another bottle of wine. An attendant was following behind him with three glasses of water.
Maya stared at him with a smirk. Looking at Dante, I noticed he was trying to avoid eye contact with her. His gaze wandered between the floor and his seat.
“Maybe it’s him,” whispered Maya, nudging my arm.
“Don’t be silly,” I whispered back. Dante took his seat and finally looked up at Maya, who was holding in her laughter.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes, Mr. Alonso. We were just discussing Isabella’s secret adm—” Before she could utter another word, I kicked her in the shin.
“Ouch! What was that for?” Maya asked while rubbing her leg.
“Sorry. Muscle spasm,” I said. Dante laughed under his breath.
“So . . . you have a secret admirer, Isabella?” he said as the hostess poured us each a glass of Chateau d’Yquem.
“It’s nothing really. Maya just had a little too much sugar in her coffee this morning.” I gave her a side-eyed glance.
“Fair enough,” Dante said before taking a sip of his wine.
“Would you be quiet about that?” I whispered. Maya nodded and grinned deviously.
I noticed Dante smiling at us as we bickered like adolescent schoolgirls. I took my glass and leaned back to relax. This was embarrassing.
“Excuse me, Isabella, but you forgot to buckle up. We’re about to take off,” said Dante.
“Oh, sorry.” Just as I reached for the strap, Dante stretched his arms over my lap.
“Here, let me help.” He hovered over me as he connected the buckle on my seat. He was within inches of me. The warmth from his body and the scent of his cologne took me to an unconventional high. I unwittingly breathed it in. There was something quite familiar about his smell. Something that rang a bell within me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
“Thank you, Dante.”
He went back to his seat and buckled himself in. “Anytime.”
Maya noticed me staring at him and chose to break the silence. “Ready for the flight, Isabella?”
Snapped back into reality, I looked at her and grabbed my wineglass. Maya smiled and winked at me before stealing a glance at Dante. I gave her a wide-eyed gaze. I knew what Maya was thinking, but brushed it off and closed my eyes as the jet took off into the air. This was going to be a long flight.