Page 17 of What Happens in Paradise

Naively, I thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime, so I agreed. I thought that he’d be there, working with me, side by side, that we’d do it together. But instead, he left me to do all the work.

I worked my arse off whilst he swanned in and out, going to business meetings. It was only when it started to really take off a few years later that he became interested. Especially when there was an opportunity for free travel.

When it eventually became a successful business and I started to hire staff, I thought that after a decade of slaving away, I’d finally be able to take my foot off the pedal a bit and start to enjoy the fruits of my labour, but then he betrayed me and I lost everything.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and took off my headphones. It was Alejandro. I was sure he hadn’t even gone to sleep and yet he still looked gorgeous.

‘Hi,’ I said, trying not to stare at him for too long.

‘Just checking you are good?’

‘Yeah, fine, thanks. You?’

‘I am good. What are you watching?’

‘A romcom.’

‘Which one?’

‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.’

The fact that I knew this film was about Bridget dating a younger man in no way influenced my decision to watch it.Honest.

‘I like those films.’ He smiled and my stomach flipped.

‘You’ve watched them?’ I frowned.

‘Sí. Why are you surprised? You are not one of these people who believes that a man cannot enjoy a romantic comedy, are you?’

Busted.

‘Truthfully? Maybe I am. My ex, he…’ I paused. It probably wasn’t a good idea to talk about my ex with a colleague.

‘Your ex did not like romcoms?’ He folded his arms, his face crumpled.

‘Not really,’ I said, thinking I couldn’t avoid answering the question.

‘Now I understand why he is your ex.’ He smiled. ‘How can anyone dislike a romantic movie?’

‘He said they were too predictable.’

‘Madre mía!’ He rolled his eyes. I liked when he said that. Sounded much sexier than just sayingoh my God, even though I think the literal translation wasmy mother. ‘Why? Because we know that the couple will be together at the end?’

‘I think so.’

‘But then all films are predictable! Does the superhero not always save the world? Does the good guy not always beat the bad guy in an action film? Knowing that two people will fall in love is notpredictable. It is something wonderful to look forward to.Howthey fall in love, their journey, their love story: that is the fun part.’

I stared at Alejandro, stunned into silence. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

‘Wow. You’re full of surprises.’

‘You have no idea. I think there is a lot about me that would surprise you.’ His eyes darkened.

I bit my lip as my mind thought about just how much I’d like to find out.

Then again, maybe the less I knew, the better.

So far, I’d discovered that Alejandro was sweet, very easy to talk to, ridiculously gorgeous, an amazing cook and to top off all of this, he loved romcoms.

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