Page 2 of Claimed By the Possessive Mafia Prince
He shakes his head.
“Whohaveyou spoken to?” I practically grit out.
He looks down at my foot like he’s considering kicking it out of the way. I almost want him to try. “There is–uh–another booking on another island. We didn’t know. Double booked. So sorry, Miss Siena.”
He’s lying. I don’t know how I know. Call it instinct.
“Your foot is in the way,” he says.
“I’m aware my foot is in the way. I’ve done that on purpose because, honestly, slamming the door in my face seems absurdly rude and completely unprofessional. As does your unwillingness to give me an explanation. Have you spoken to my boss?”
“No, Miss Siena.”
“She won’t take this well.”
“I’m sorry.”
“This was arranged with more than enough time.”
For the third time, that look of panic. “I’m sorry,” he repeats.
“I’ll be back,” I tell him, turning away and taking out my cell. I call Veronica.
She answers, sounding tired. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”
“I didn’t want to wake you, but Ahmed with Fantasy Boat Rental seems to think he can cancel our boat tour. Apparently, he’s double-booked us. I’ve tried to explain that this is unacceptable, but he won’t listen. And…”
“And?” Veronica prompts.
I almost don’t say it. “He looked scared.”
Veronica’s slightly mocking tone makes me wish I’d kept it to myself. “Scared?”
“I don’t know. Like maybe there’s some funny business going on. Perhaps they aren’t double-booked. Maybe someone just offered them more money or something? Or there’s another reason for canceling?”
“Another reason.” Veronica sighs. “Siena, don’t let your imagination run away with you.”
“Okay, fine, you’re probably right. But what are we going to do about this?”
“We’renot going to do anything. You’re going to handle this yourself. What’s the point of me having a right-hand woman if you can’t deal with situations like this? I’m going back to sleep.”
When she hangs up, I snap, “Witch!” Then quickly check that the call has, in fact, ended. If she’d heard me, that would be a nightmare. But I mean it. Veronica and I usually get on well. I’ve never known her to be so blunt.
Marching back to the boat-rental hut, I slam my fist against the door until Ahmed answers again. “I don’t know what you and your company think you’re doing, Ahmed. I don’t know whether you’ve been offered more money or if this is some sick prank to ruin my day and my job, but if you don’t honor the original booking–a booking for which I have email confirmation–then I’m going to pursue legal action.”
His eyes widen, and I almost feel guilty, but I can’t afford that. “Lawyers?”
“An entire army of lawyers descending on this island like a plague of locusts, yep.”
He looks up and down the beach as though searching for help. “But?—”
“Nobuts. We had an agreement.”
Finally, he sighs. “Very well. No lawyers.”
“No lawyers,” I say, trying for a smile. From his reaction, it must have come across more like an unhinged grimace. “Now, are you ready to take the boat out?”
“The boat?”
