Page 39 of Entwined

“Good. Here you go, I’ll see you later.”

I take the paperwork and keys from her.

“Leave me your cell number in case I need to text you. I might need help feeding and stalling the horses in tonight.”

“I’ll be here.”

I walk out into the chilly gray morning feeling as if the sun is out and shining only on me. God I’m happy. Finally, happy. If only Christos could share this with me. I wish I could have it all with him and my new life, but that will never happen.

I take the path back to my dorm and climb the stairs again.

Shit.

She’s still here.

I can hear her head-banging music from this side of the door.

I key in.

She’s riding the guy again.

But this time they aren’t in my chair.

She’s bent over my bed. Her hands are spread on my comforter. She bucks her hips back and he sees me as he moans, pulling out and spraying my bed.

They both smirk, as she straightens pulling him close for a wet kiss. I’ve seen this, all of this, on the yacht—at Alex’s party in Capri... in his house. She’s trying to shock me.

He pulls back smacks her ass and picks up his clothes as he enters our shared bathroom.

I don’t say one word as I grab fresh clothes and leave the room. I text Ben.

Me: SOS. I need help.

BEN:What’s up?

Me:Do you have a car? Can you pick me up? I need to shower somewhere safe.

Ben:I’ll be outside in ten.

Me:Thanks. Roommate is a she-devil.

I wait for him in the lobby. Using the time to Google Christos. My breath hitches at all the headlines.

“Billionaire Christos Devillo opens new charitable foundation.”

“From Devil to Savior. How one man plans to change the world.”

“Europe’s Most Eligible Bachelor has a heart of gold.”

My heart pounds as I start reading an article:

Greek-born billionaire Christos Devillo is turning over a new leaf. In talks to sell his billion-dollar financial empire, Devillo is changing course and devoting his time to bringing renewable energy and clean water to third world countries. “Every child deserves a safe place to sleep, clean water and heat. My foundation’s first order of business will be to assess infrastructure in Haiti, Uganda and the Philippine’s. After all the infrastructure has been assessed and replaced or repaired. My team and I will focus on education, food... the future,” Devillo is quoted as saying.

Devillo’s team is focusing first on areas around the globe hit hard by natural disasters. One mother in Haiti, dubbed him “El Salvador,” after he rescued her and her children from the cardboard box home they were living in.

After meeting Mr. Devillo at a charity gala in Venezuela last week, where he also visited an orphanage bringing toys and clothes, this reporter thinks the nickname will stick.

My hand trembles as pictures of Christos smiling next to beaming children fill my screen. There’s a light in his eyes, his face is lit up like the sun. He’s the golden one, not me.