don’t see the problem here? When I arrived in Nice last night and after I finished Mitch’s papers, you’d left a message for me, Gian-Carlos said. Saying you had a migraine and preferred to go back to the boat so you could see a doctor in the morning. He was really quite concerned about you Vanessa, and arranged to have you picked up. We had to eat something so we just went over to La Terrazza and had light dinner. Some friends happened to sit on the next table and invited us over. We stayed just for a short while before I left to go back here to see you.”
Vanessa didn’t know what to believe. It was all confusing to her.
“Well, first of all, I never called Gian-Carlo, I tried to call you but your phone was switched off when I couldn’t reach you I almost panicked by worry.”
“I’m sorry about that, it seemed as if I forgot my phone at the office but since you had already talked to Gian-Carlo who said you just went to sleep as soon as you came onboard, I didn’t see the point in waking you up.” Alex looked as confused as Vanessa did.
“I don’t understand why you would take Gian-Carlos word over mine,” Vanessa said her voice sounding all wobbly and she could feel tears in her eyes.
“What are you talking about, Vanessa? I just wanted you to rest because of your migraine.” Alex sounded as confused as he looked.
“I never had a migraine, that’s the whole point, don’t you get it?” Vanessa suddenly felt tired and she didn't have the strength to stand here arguing about something that had never occurred.
“I think I’ll go to Monte-Carlo for a while, do some shopping, and calm down. Why don’t you go back to sleep? You look awful. I’ll be back around noon” Vanessa was eager to get off the yacht and be alone with her thoughts and perhaps she could figure out what was going on. Because something was up, that she was sure off.
“Fine, if that’s what you want I’ll arrange for someone to take you,” Alex looked tired and even more hungover than a few minutes ago. “I’ll rest for a while and then I come in and meet you and we can go back to the village.”
“Fine.” Vanessa quickly turned around not giving him a chance to embrace her.
Without looking back Vanessa stormed out from the corridor and onto the deck, she found one of the boat-boys in the staff and asked him to take her to Monte-Carlo at once. She couldn't get of the yacht fast enough. She was angry and upset about all the confusion between her and Alex and she was sure Brunetti was the one behind it. Migraine? That was so low, he had obviously told Alex the lie so he could bring him along to the party.
When she sat on the smaller boats and waited for the driver to get the engine started, she looked up at the boat and caught a glimpse of someone moving on the deck. She squinted her eyes to see better in the bright sunlight. It was Brunetti. He stood leaning on the fence on the top deck looking down on her as she left the yacht. She looked away, she didn't want to give him the pleasure of him seeing her this upset, it would only fulfill his evil plan. As the boat turned in the direction of the harbor, her eyes couldn’t resist her but going up to the deck where Brunetti stood, still not moving, just watching her. Then she saw it, his face turned into a grimace, his normally angry expression now had changed into what looked like an evil smirk. Even if the sun was shining and the temperature high, Vanessa suddenly felt cold and she shivered in the sun.
Chapter 5
Vanessa wandered the streets of Monte-Carlo in a state, with Brunetti's smirk still clear in her mind. She sighed, this man was such a pain. But of course, nothing ever came easy to her. Alex was the man of her dreams and she was thankful she’d found him but it certainly came with a hitch. Nothing came for free in this world, she’d learned that the hard way. If you succeed in one area,