by Rye Hart
“A customer wants to speak with you, Dad.”
My father looked up as if waking from a trance. When his eyes settled on me, he looked taken aback. Or maybe just put out.
“Can't you handle it?” he grumbled.
“He specifically asked for you,” I said. “I don't know what he wants.”
My dad wasn't the most pleasant man around. In fact, most days, he wasn't fit for human interaction. He sighed as he tossed his spatula down and wiped his hands on his apron. He followed me through the door into the dining room, not saying a word the entire time.
There was a reason I worked the front of the diner and he remained in the back. My father wasn't very good with people – which might have been the understatement of the century. He was grumpy and irritable on a good day. Now, thanks to all of the pressure and stress he was under, it had only gotten worse., much worse. But, he'd brought it all upon himself.
We were all being made to suffer for his poor decisions. So, if anybody had a right to be upset and angry, it was me, and yet here I was every day with a damn smile on my face.
“Yes?” he said without so much as a greeting, simply standing in front of Nico with a scowl on his face. “My daughter said you wanted to talk to me.”
“There is a rumor going around that you're losing the place,” Nico said.
A shot of fear lanced through my heart, along with a little bit of anger at Nico for betraying my confidence when he'd sworn not to. My dad looked over at me and I shrugged, trying to act innocent.
“I want to help,” Nico said.
My dad scoffed. “Help? How could you possibly help me? And, why would you?”
“I have a proposition for you,” he said.
Just then, another group of customers walked through the front door and I needed to run over and seat them. Grabbing a stack of menus from beneath the counter, I turned to walk away from Nico and my father, but he called me back.
“Sophia, you will need to listen to this as well,” he said.
I looked at my father who seemed as confused as I was. “I'll be right back,” I said. “I just need to seat this family.”
Nico nodded and off I went, curious as to what he wanted to offer us and how it would affect me. I knew Nico was a businessman, successful in whatever he did. But I had no idea what he did. Could he be interested in buying the diner. He didn't seem to be the diner-owner type; more like a banker or CEO.
“Hey there,” I said, greeting the new customers with a smile. “How are you doing today? Follow me and I'll get you seated.”
As I walked by them with my group, I could hear my dad and Nico talking in hushed whispers, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I got the customers seated, but wasn't really paying any attention to them. I was so focused on what Nico and my father were doing, that I didn't even hear what my customers were saying.
I handed them their menus – more like, tossed them on the table – and rushed back over to the counter.
“Yes, we will do it,” my father said.
“Well, I'd like to hear from Sophia first, if you don't mind –” Nico said.
“She will do whatever it takes for this family,” my father said. “Won't you, sweetheart?”
I looked over at Nico who smiled at me, but I still had no idea what I was agreeing to. I also couldn't let my family down, especially if it meant keeping the diner open and operating.
“Of course, I'll do anything for the family,” I said, watching both men carefully.
“Good,” my dad said, clapping his hands together happily. “Go home, Sophia, and pack, please. You're going to be leaving shortly.”
“Leaving?” I asked, fear shooting through me. “Where am I going?”
Nico turned around to face me and said, “If you are willing, I would like to take you on a vacation. No strings attached, I give you my word. It will be just you and me on a tropical island. We can have dinner, drinks, some adventures,” he said. “In exchange for your time, I will give your father the money he needs to keep the diner.”
My mouth fell open and practically landed on the floor. I looked from my father to Nico and back again, feeling the waves of shock rolling over me. How could my father so willingly sell me to this man? Even temporarily? He was basically pimping out his daughter to save the diner – and he didn't seem to give a damn about it.
He certainly didn't know the first thing about Nico. Yeah, he'd always been nice and kind, but for all we knew, he had a stack of bodies in his garage at home.
“But how? Why?” I asked. “Do you even have that kind of money?”
“I happen to have a lot of money, Sophia,” Nico said with a chuckle. “I'm a real estate developer in San Francisco, and let's just say I do okay for myself. I can help your family and give you the kind of vacation I bet you've never had all at the same time.”
“I have to sit down,” I said. My legs felt weak, so I took a seat beside Nico at the counter, still trying to process what was happening. “Will I have to, you know –”
“No, of course not,” Nico said, quickly. “You will not have to do anything but enjoy your time with me. I'm tired of traveling alone, and think you'd make for great company. I've certainly always enjoyed our conversations here at the diner and we seem to share a similar sense of humor and range of interests. I'm simply looking for a traveling companion. That's all, Sophia. I promise you. You're not a prostitute and I don't intend to treat you like one.”
It all sounded too good to be true, and I was concerned that maybe Nico wasn't telling me the entire truth. But my father was smiling, happy that he found a way to pay off his gambling debt and keep the diner open. But at what cost to me?
“Does that sound fair to you, Sophia?” Nico looked at me with a serious expression on his face. “Because if not, I can –”
“No, it's fine,” I muttered. “It sounds good. I will run home and get my things.”
I stood up, my legs trembling, still in shock, and then I remembered the family I'd just seated. They stared at me, clearly annoyed. Turning back to my father, I looked at him helplessly.
“I have to help them –”
“I got them, sweetheart,” my dad said, smiling more than I'd seen him smile in years. “Just go home and get ready for your trip.”
My heart sunk. My father was really doing this. He was selling me to a stranger to atone for his mistakes. What if Nico was a rapist or kidnapped me? What if he locked me in a dungeon somewhere and never brought me back home? Would my dad even care? From the look on his face, he seemed pleased, happy, even. The fact that he'd just sold me to a complete stranger didn't even seem to be a blip on his personal radar.
I couldn't wrap my head around any of this. Was it a dream? Or was it perhaps, a nightmare in the making?
No, it was happening, and I had to hurry and pack up my life, hoping that maybe I'd return one day. Hoping that maybe, I wouldn't end up dead in a ditch somewhere. Hoping that Nico was really the nice guy he seemed to be because I was literally putting my life in his hands.
CHAPTER TWO
The car ride over to the airport was awkward and mostly silent. I was still trying to wrap my head around what was happening, and Nico seemed to sense that I needed time to process. I could see him studying me out of the corner of my eye, but I refused to look at him just yet. .
I looked out the window and tried not to think about what was happening; of the way my father had so willingly let me go. There was no possible way that he could know that I’d be safe in Nico’s care, and yet he’d offered me up just the same. He was refusing to accept the consequences for his own actions yet again.
I kept the tears at bay, but it was hard to know my own dad thought so little of me that he'd send me away with a complete stranger. It felt pretty awful to know he thought I was so expendable to him, a commodity that could be sold on a whim.
“Have you ever flown on a private jet, Sophia?” Nico asked me, trying to make conversation.
“I'
ve never flown at all,” I said. “I've been to San Francisco and L.A a couple of times. But for the most part, I've never left the Central Valley.”
“Well then, you're going to be in for a surprise,” Nico said, trying to warm me up with a smile. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-one,” I said quietly. “Just turned twenty-one actually.”
“Happy belated birthday,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said, staring out the window.
If he truly had a private jet, then I guess he wasn't lying when he said he had a lot of money.
“So, you said you’re a real estate developer?” I asked.
“That’s right,” he said. “And I'm looking at developing a resort on a small, semi-private island in the South Pacific. That is where we're going. I think you'll really like it. It's beautiful.”
“So, we'll be alone then?” I asked, nervousness making my stomach turn flip-flops.
“Not completely, no,” he said. “And don't worry, Sophia. I promise to return you to your father safe and sound. And because I know it's crossed your mind, you are not obligated to sleep with me. That's not what this is about. So, if that's what you're worried about, please put your mind at ease.”
I was worried about that, quite honestly. It seemed an obvious conclusion to come to knowing that my father had sold me to this man to pay for his gambling debts. I was afraid that I would be his plaything, forced to do anything and everything he wanted. The mere thought of it made me feel nauseous.
“Good, because I'm a virgin,” I blurted out. “I've never even had a boyfriend.”
“Really?” Nico looked over at me and raised an eyebrow. “I find that hard to believe. You're a beautiful young woman. Intelligent, well spoken, witty; I would have assumed the boys would be lining up to date you.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling my cheeks flush with color. “I've just never had time to date. Not with practically running the diner and all. Even back in high school, my dad needed me to work most evenings and weekends, so it's not like I had a lot of time to have a social life. And besides, most of the guys back in school weren't really all that interesting to me. All they wanted to do was drink and have sex. It wasn't really my thing.”
Nico pulled into the airport parking lot, and in the distance, I saw a massive airplane that looked too big to be a private corporate jet. I figured it would be the smaller, sleeker kind of plane I'd seen on TV and in the movies, but it was the only one I could see on the runway.
“There she is,” Nico said, pointing to the plane. “My baby.”
I could hardly believe my eyes. I was going to be flying on a giant, luxury liner that was probably worth more money that I could ever hope to see in my entire life. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. To think that the first flight of my life was going to be in that thing nearly left me breathless.
Nico got out of the car and handed the keys to a valet, then came over and opened my door for me. I wasn't a girl who wanted or expected to be pampered, and I certainly never waited to have my door opened for me, but I'd been too afraid to step out. I knew that as soon as my feet hit the tarmac, this would all become real. I'd be leaving California and headed to some mystery island in the South Pacific with a strange man I knew next-to-nothing about.
It was terrifying, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some small part of me feeling the first tingles of excitement and adventure. It was a small part – a very small part – but it was there, lurking in the background all the same.
“Right this way, Sophia,” he said. “The crew will take care of your bags. You need not worry about a thing.”
I got out of the car and silently, walked toward the jet. The closer I got, the larger it got, and my heart was beginning to race. It was becoming more and more real with each step I took.
“Are you scared?” he asked me.
“Honestly? Yeah, a little,” I said.
It was a lie. I was actually very nervous; bordering on terrified about everything. From the actual flying to being swept away by a man I hardly knew. I tried to tell myself that it would all be ok, and that I was doing this to preserve my family legacy. In truth, I was more than a little angry at being put in this position in the first place. Raising an eyebrow, Nico asked, “Scared of the flight? Or scared of me?”
He could see right through me – which shouldn't have surprised me. He was proving capable of reading me like a book. I looked down at my feet and kept walking toward the jet, unable to answer him. We boarded and as soon as I did, my eyes grew wide as saucers.
“This is – wow,” I said, looking around at just how fancy the jet was.
It was nicer than most any home I'd ever set foot in, and was more spacious than some I'd lived in. As I walked down the aisle and settled into my seat, I had to admit, I could get used to this very quickly. With a pillow and a blanket, I could sleep the entire flight and be just fine. That was, if I could calm my nerves and shut my brain down enough to actually allow me to sleep.
Nico settled in across from me.
“You never did answer my question,” he said, a concerned look on his handsome face.
“I'm sorry, what question was that?”
“Are you afraid of flying?” he asked, and I could see a flash of worry in his eyes. “Or are you afraid of me?”
Ahh, yes. That question. I decided to answer honestly. He'd always been so kind to me that I felt he deserved that.
“A little of both, actually,” I said.
He nodded. “You might find it hard to believe, but I've never done anything like this before. So, I would have to imagine what you're feeling is normal,” he said. “But I swear to you, Sophia, I'm not a bad guy. I'm not trying to be inappropriate or make you do anything you don't want to do. My only intention is to take care of you and make sure you have a great time. Please believe me when I say that I would never hurt anyone – especially a young woman like yourself.”
His words sounded sincere and the look on his face seemed equally genuine, which put me at ease. After all, this was Nico, the kind man who came into the diner that I flirted with every few weeks. We chatted, made small talk, he'd sometimes flirt back with me – but never in a way that made me uncomfortable. He honestly seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and I had to admit, I usually smiled when he came in. He had a way of making me feel good about myself.
“And as far as the fear of flying, well, even I get a little nervous,” he said with a wink. “Which is why we have champagne. You're welcome to have some, if you'd like.”
I nodded and smiled at him.
“Yes, please,” I said. “Maybe that will help.”
Nico flagged down one of the crew members and whispered something to him. The man walked away and came back with a bottle of champagne on ice and two glasses. He poured us each a glass and handed one over to me.
Nico lifted his glass to mine. “Here's to having a fabulous vacation where I get to spoil you rotten.”
I had to admit, that did sound lovely. I'd never really been spoiled before by anyone. I took a drink of the sparkling champagne and the bubbly sensation tickled my tongue. I found myself enjoying it, and finished my drink rather quickly. It helped ease my nerves a bit and I was feeling better just in time for takeoff.
My heart skipped a beat or two when we lifted off, but once we were in the air, I found myself amazed at the view from the airplane window. Fluffy white clouds and the deep blue sea below – a view I never imagined I'd actually see.
Yet there I was, on a private jet with an attractive, rich man who swore he wanted nothing more than to enjoy my company and spoil me silly.
I had to admit, I was warming up to the idea of spending time with Nico. Maybe it was the champagne, or maybe it was his stunning, sexy eyes and the way they watched me as I stared out the window. He smiled, causing a dimple to form in his cheek.
He was enjoying this, and I couldn't deny that I was beginning enjoying it too.
CHAPTER THREE
�
�We're preparing to land, Sophia,” Nico said softly.
I was curled up in my seat, reclining back comfortably with a super soft blanket draped over me and fluffy pillow behind my head. I looked around and realized I had no idea how long I'd been asleep. I'd originally planned on a short nap, but according to Nico, we were almost at our destination, which meant I had to have been asleep for hours.
I stared back at him, blinking, confused and disoriented for a second. Then it hit me. I needed to put on my seatbelt and get seated properly.
“Oh, thank you,” I said, yawning as I moved back into a seated position. “That went by fast.”
“It tends to do that when we sleep,” he said.
Given his case of bedhead, it looked like he'd also taken a nap. His normally impeccably styled hair was a little more ruffled than usual, which I had to admit, was pretty cute.
“We should be on the ground in fifteen minutes.”
I stared out the window and still didn't see any sign of land whatsoever. All I saw was the bluest water I'd ever seen in my life and gauzy white clouds, which were slowly disappearing as we descended beneath them.
“For your first time flying, you're a pro,” Nico said as we landed. “Didn't seem nervous at all.”
“It wasn't as bad as I thought,” I said.
Partially because being with Nico made it less scary, and partially because of that delicious champagne.
“Good, I'm glad to hear that,” he said. “And I hope you find the rest of the trip isn't as scary either.”
I lived in California, so I was no stranger to palm trees and the beach. Though I hadn't been to the beach in years – thanks to not having the time or the money to get out to the coast. As the plane descended, I found myself excited at the prospect of landing and seeing what the South Pacific had to offer.
