Page 54 of A Sixpence For Your Shoe

She has her face pressed against the window as she wiggles into her dress. “Is that the house we’re staying in?” She squeals in delight, peering at the property near the runway.

I snort. “No, absolutely not. That is the servant’s property. The pilot and cleaning staff stay there. Our villa is on the other side of the island.”

“Oh wow, but that one looks amazing. It’s right on the beach.” She exclaims.

“Trust me, you’ll know our villa when you see it.”

There is an open top Land Rover waiting for us when we step onto the private runway. Our bags are already loaded into the back.

“Is the house ready?” I snap at the man standing alongside it.

“Yes, sir. It’s ready and anything you need you just call us.”

I huff and turn away from him. “Come little pet, let’s get going.”

I’m about to pull open the driver’s door when Misha scrunches her nose, looking at me with hopeful eyes. A low chuckle of amusement runs through me. “Do you want to drive?” I ask.

She nods wildly. “Yes.” She shouts, jumping right over the unopened door and into the driver’s seat. I prefer to drive, but I’d do anything to see her smile.

She drives like a maniac. Not sticking to the roads, taking us through some overgrown bushes and over a rocky patch that makes me grip the door tightly. I’m not worried about her rolling the car. I don’t give a shit about the car, but I’d like to arrive at the beach villa alive.

Misha is laughing and her eyes glitter with adrenaline when we pull up outside the villa.

“Wow.” She whispers in awe.

“I told you, you’d know it when you see it.” I laugh.

We’ve arrived just as the sunset has begun, exactly how I planned for it to happen and as we drive the sky is already starting to glow beautiful colors.

I make sure she parks at the back of the property because I’ve had them set up something special in the front.

Misha climbs out of the car without opening the door again. I grab our bags and carry them inside.

“So, what is so special about the island? You said you’d tell me. Is it a nature reserve? Or do pirates bury treasure here or something?” she grins at me.

I set our things down near the back door. Reaching out I take her hand and gesture for her to walk with me.

We walk through the living room, built entirely from glass so that views spill in from every side.

Out on the patio, at the edge of the ocean sand, Misha can see the decor. White roses, thousands of them, threaded into the roof of the patio, setting sun rays filtering through them, and making them glow orange and pink. Lights intertwined between them glitter in the late afternoon light.

“What is this?” She asks, glancing towards me with an expression of pure curiosity.

“This is for you, little raven.” I tug her towards a table, centered beneath the roses, and push her into the chair.

Reaching out, I drag the white leather folder towards her so that it is in front of her. Standing behind her I lean with my arms wrapped either side of her and I open the folder.

“A contract?” She asks tightly, not understanding yet.

Behind her, I stand and explain as I point out certain clauses in the contract.

“If a man wants something he has to present a deal to the other person in order to have them agree to the thing he wants. Correct?” I ask.

“A business deal, yes, I understand—” She says tentatively.

“There is something I want very badly, and therefore I am offering certain things to make sure I get it.” I point to a list of assets in the contract.

She leans forward and reads, speaking out loud. “This island, several properties in Boston and a property in Miami?” she says, glancing over her shoulder at me. Her brows knot.

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