Chapter 29

NICOLETTE

I flopped down onto the bed the instant I entered my suite. More like mini mansion.

I was a bit sad that Katrina had turned down my request for her to join me. But everyone needed alone time, so I could understand.

I had three hours to rest and freshen up for dinner, but I didn’t want to waste the luxury of this place by napping. First thing, though, I wanted to check my messages.

I rolled onto my back, switched my phone off airplane mode, and waited for it to catch the resort’s Wi-Fi.

I rolled my eyes and smiled when I saw Darien’s missed calls. But there were no voicemails or text messages, so he couldn’t have needed anything important.

I decided to let him sweat until I unpacked.

I sat up and got to my feet, reaching for one of my bags, when I heard a knock at the suite’s door.

I went and opened it to find no one there. Then I looked down and saw an envelope.

I picked it up and closed the door, turning the envelope in my hand and seeing no writing.

“Hmm,” I said as I sat on the edge of my bed. Another envelope. I bet I could guess who it was from. I tore it open and pulled out a card.

I read it out loud like the last one. “Do not forget. The ring. Never take it off.”

Did he know somehow that I wasn’t wearing it? I looked around the room as if there were cameras everywhere. Which wouldn’t surprise me when it came to either of these men.

Considering how Mr. Andretti made me feel, I decided I would take any magical protection help I could get.

I walked over to my smallest bag that held my personal belongings. I opened it and pulled out the ring, admiring it again. It really was an exquisite piece of jewelry.

I pushed it onto my thumb and went to unpack my clothes. But when I opened my bags to find them empty and opened the wall closet to find it full, I flopped back on the bed and decided to nap after all.

~I could get used to this.~

***

I entered the resort’s restaurant wearing a floor-length, black, silk dress. I left my hair loose, letting it fall in copper waves over my bare shoulders, and kept my makeup minimal.

A hostess greeted me with a welcoming smile and guided me to Mr. Andretti’s table.

He stood, and a waiter came by to pull out my chair. I sat awkwardly. I wasn’t used to someone pushing a chair in under me.

“Thank you,” I said to the waiter, then I asked to see the menu when it became clear he wasn’t going to voluntarily give it to me.

The young man glanced nervously at Mr. Andretti, and Mr. Andretti said, “I took the liberty of ordering food for you. I hope you don’t mind.” He nodded to the waiter, freeing him to leave the table.

“I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?” I again gave him my practiced smile. Then I asked, “Did you order for Katrina too?” I didn’t imagine she would like that.

“She won’t be joining us for dinner tonight.” He caught my angry look and was quick to explain. “She’s a bad flier, so she takes meds to get through it. You saw her on the plane.”

I still wasn’t happy and he could tell.

“I promise she will join us for the rest of the meals here in Brazil.” He grabbed the bottle of chilled champagne. “But the food is ordered, and I promise it won’t disappoint.”

He held the bottle above my glass and tilted his head. I sighed and nodded. He smiled and filled the glass halfway.

“I suppose it ~was~ really delicious last time.” I smiled and grabbed my glass.

It felt like the air was a bit more clear between us, like he knew he couldn’t woo me and had given up trying. It was a feeling I wanted to cultivate.

“A toast,” I said, raising my glass. “To finding old mirrors in the Amazon Rainforest.”

He gave me a broad smile. “To finding old mirrors.”

We drank, then I asked him again about his mirror collection.

“What would you like to know exactly?” he asked.

I asked him how it started.

He cleared his throat. “With a legend. With a folktale—more of a bedtime story, really.”

I asked him to tell me it.

He chuckled. “It’s rather long, but it’s about two special mirrors that were stolen from a castle long, long ago.” He sipped his champagne.

“It was a tale told in my mother’s village,” he said. “She said generations of families had searched for them, but they were never found. She said finding them would bring more than wealth.”

He looked into my eyes. “She said it would bring kingdoms. Worlds beyond your wildest dreams.” His face grew hard. “I’ll do everything in my power to find them, Nicolette, to finish what my people started.”

The change in tone made me uncomfortable and I swallowed hard. “And what makes you believe these mirrors are here?”

“Oh, just a hope and a prayer.” His tone changed again, back to cheery and light.

Then he smiled and rubbed his hands together as he saw the food coming. “Get ready for a treat,” he said and winked at me.

But I couldn’t shake the unease I felt. And I couldn’t not hear the threat in his tone. If those mirrors weren’t in the Amazon, what would a man of such power do?

And what would he do to me?