Summer was a good time to escape Cancun, Finn felt, when the city swelled with throngs of tourists from around the world, many looking for a wild party vacation. Positano was a perfectly nice – and more pleasantly relaxed – alternative.
For several weeks Mariana had talked about her plans to take some time off and go back to Italy – a vacation, but also a chance to catch up with family. It was only a couple of weeks ago, though, that she’d asked Finn if he’d join her.
He hadn’t hesitated in agreeing.
With the Gonzalez issues put to bed and the operations in Mexico ramping up day by day, Finn and Mariana had spent even more time together, particularly outside of work, and he was flattered by the invitation. They were an official couple now, out in the open to all, including Victor. Strangely, surprisingly – particularly given Finn’s previous conversation with Alyssia – the billionaire had seemed overly enthused when they’d told him, like a father hearing that his daughter was pregnant or something.
Perhaps that described their close relationship rather than anything grubbier – Victor seeing himself as a father figure to Mariana, even though he had two young children of his own at home.
Although where was home for Victor? Not Cancun anymore. His wife had moved with the kids to their California pad as she wanted them settled there for the start of the new school year, and even if Victor had spent time in the US since, he was in Mexico or elsewhere far more often.
Right now Victor was in Italy.
Finn stepped out onto the deck of the Lady Nightshade to see Victor already up, dressed in baggy shorts and a loose cotton shirt, big aviators covering much of his face as he lay back on a lounger to take in the early morning rays.
‘You sleep well?’ Victor asked, cocking his head to Finn.
‘Surprisingly well, actually. I wouldn’t say I have strong sea legs, usually. Or a strong sea stomach.’
He took a seat on the leather wraparound sofa across the deck from the loungers.
‘This is the Med, Finn, not the North Atlantic,’ Victor said, with a certain disdain.
Fair point, and Finn wouldn’t even have known they were on a boat really, given the luxurious and spacious cabin, the sumptuous bed and the only ever so slightly perceptible bobbing of the craft on ultra-calm waters.
‘It’s a lovely boat,’ Finn said, patting the leather beneath him as though a connoisseur.
‘You should see my other ones,’ Victor said, no hint of humor in his tone. ‘This old thing’s just a runaround these days.’
A runaround that likely cost a few million euros. But yeah, Finn got the point. The six-berth yacht was apparently one of the smaller in the Travers fleet, and didn’t even have a full-time crew – shock, horror – and spent most of the year unused and moored not far from the playboy backyard of Positano. Which just so happened to be close to where Mariana had agreed to meet her sister and parents in a couple of days.
No crew on the Lady Nightshade. Just Victor and whoever he decided to invite along. Away from prying eyes. Perfect for Victor and a mistress, Finn thought.
Why did he go there?
‘I appreciate you inviting us,’ Finn said, trying to sound genuine.
Victor waved the comment away. ‘When I realized Mariana wanted to go home it was a no-brainer. May as well get some use out of this thing. Don’t think I’ve even been on it since last time Mariana came here.’
Last time. So Mariana had been on this boat before? She hadn’t mentioned that. And when Finn had first agreed – happily, eagerly – to go with her to Italy he’d no idea Victor would be hosting them. In fact, that had only been made clear a few days before the flight. A flight on Victor’s private jet, of course.
‘I know I’m probably cramping your style,’ Victor said. ‘You two lovebirds.’
‘Not at all…’
‘It’s fine. I get it. Been there, done that, if you know what I mean.’
He winked. Finn said nothing because he was caught in two minds. Been there, done that? Mariana? Or did he only mean being newly in love? ‘But I’ll be gone soon enough, don’t worry.’
‘You’ve got business here?’
‘You didn’t think I just came along to listen to your late-night aerobic exercises, did you?’
He pulled his sunglasses down over his nose to reveal a sly glint in his eye.
‘I know how athletic she is,’ he added. ‘Believe me.’
What the actual fuck? But Finn didn’t say anything, he just laughed feebly.
‘Sorry,’ Victor said, sounding anything but. ‘I didn’t mean to embarrass you.’
‘I’m not embarrassed.’
Victor laughed, looking pleased with himself.
‘So what work have you come here for?’ Finn asked, wanting to move the conversation on.
Victor pulled himself up before he answered. He took his sunglasses off and took a sip of the orange juice on the table next to him. Freshly squeezed, Finn thought, judging by the residue left around the edges of the glass. His mouth watered. They’d drunk quite a bit of wine and champagne, and beer and cognac last night and he was parched.
‘You know what?’ Victor said.
‘What?’
‘Before we get to that…’ He looked over toward the closed doors that led to the lower deck, as though checking the coast was clear. ‘How are you finding working for me?’
‘It’s been… one of the best experiences I’ve had.’
Victor’s face remained impassive as he stared. Finn wasn’t trying to suck up; he really did mean what he said, even if a large part of that feeling was because of Mariana rather than the job.
‘It goes without saying that you carried out your initial brief with aplomb,’ Victor said.
‘Thank you,’ Finn replied.
‘And you’ve been rewarded handsomely for it.’
Which was also true, as Victor had transferred twice the original fee to Finn several weeks ago now. Four hundred thousand dollars for that initial work – his single biggest paycheck yet – plus a weekly fee for his services since. And he was sure Victor had plenty more to give.
‘But now we’re at this point,’ Victor said.
‘This point?’
‘I don’t need you anymore. You’ve done the job I asked of you.’
The way he was talking… What was this?
‘So, the question is, what else can I use you for?’
He left that hanging. Finn made no attempt to answer, partly because he couldn’t read Victor’s mood.
‘I think—’
Finn flinched and stopped talking when the door behind him opened and Mariana stepped out. Her hair hung down messily but she looked fresh and bright, a white robe loosely draped over her to cover most but not all of her pink bikini underneath.
‘Morning,’ she said, with a sultry smile for Finn as she walked over, two cups of coffee in hand. She put one down next to him and kissed his cheek before handing the other drink to Victor.
No kiss for him.
Why did Finn even think about that?
‘How you both like it,’ she said.
And the coffee did smell damn good. From Victor’s ultra-sleek bean-to-cup machine, which meant Mariana had been up and pottering about for a while already. He wondered if she’d heard any of the conversation.
‘Anyone for an early morning swim?’ she asked.
‘Not today,’ Victor said.
Finn didn’t respond. In the next moment Mariana dropped the robe from around her shoulders and sauntered to the end of the deck. Finn was unable to take his eyes off her. She deftly dove into the lapping water and out of sight.
‘You’re a lucky man,’ Victor said, catching Finn’s eye.
‘It’s not always about luck,’ Finn said with a wink. He sounded a little snide. Victor laughed nonetheless.
‘Where were we?’ he asked.
‘Talking about work.’
‘Of course we were. I’ve thought a lot about you these last few weeks, and there’s one point my mind keeps getting stuck on.’
‘Yeah?’
‘How’d you persuade Gonzalez so easily?’
Finn held his boss’s eye as his mind scrambled for a response.
‘I’ve known that man a lot longer than you,’ Victor said. ‘And he’s taken pleasure in busting my balls until now. Then you show up and get the job done like that.’ He clicked his fingers for effect.
Finn saw no point in lying now. ‘I simply made it impossible for him to refuse our applications,’ he said.
‘You blackmailed him.’
A statement, rather than a question.
‘I preferred my words to yours.’
‘Affair?’
‘No. Not quite.’
‘So the rumors are true?’
‘Rumors?’
‘Gonzalez’s marriage of convenience. His liking of men. Young men. Very young, in some cases.’
‘That would be true, yes.’
There was a moment of silence before Victor burst out laughing.
‘You should see your face,’ he said. ‘You’re not in trouble with me, Finn. I’m not a clown. I know what I need to know about the people I have working for me. I didn’t ask you to come all the way to Cancun at a hefty price without first thoroughly checking your background, your history.’
Finn took a sip of the strong coffee rather than say anything in return.
‘We were stuck. I felt a different approach was needed. You were the difference.’
‘I’m flattered – I think.’
‘You should be. I like people who are resourceful, who think a little laterally and who are prepared to… move goalposts when needed, to achieve their aims.’
Again, Finn didn’t respond, even if his agitation was growing.
‘It’s why you’re sitting here now,’ Victor added. ‘Why I’m offering you further work with me.’
‘You are?’
‘If you want it?’
‘Yeah. I do.’
‘Good. But let me make one thing clear to you right now.’ Victor leaned forward toward Finn and his face contorted. Finn had never seen the look before. Not anger… it was something more unsettling than that. ‘If your methods ever come back to harm me… I’ll bury you.’
Finn said nothing. Held Victor’s eye.
‘No comeback?’ Victor asked.
‘No,’ Finn said.
‘I know about the questions you’ve been asking. About the ownership structures. About Guadalajara.’
‘Information I needed to help me prepare for Gonzalez. To make sure I was on top of everything to do with the business.’
‘You’re sure that’s all it is?’
‘What else are you suggesting?’ Finn asked, doing his best to not sound rattled. Truthfully, the more he dug into Victor, and the more he spoke to him face to face, the more that Victor, and what he was capable of, scared him.
This time Victor didn’t answer, and they only broke eye contact when Mariana pulled herself back onto the deck, water cascading over her silky skin.
‘What did I miss?’ she said, pausing a moment before grabbing her robe.
‘We were talking about work,’ Victor said.
‘Then leave me out of it. I didn’t come all this way for that.’ She sat down next to Finn. He put his hand onto her leg. ‘But I’d assumed you did,’ she said to Victor.
‘You know me too well.’
‘And let me guess – it’s something you want Finn to help you with?’
‘I hadn’t got to the point of asking him, but yes.’
She turned to look at Finn who shrugged.
‘And when does this business need doing?’ she asked.
‘Today,’ Victor said. ‘And maybe tomorrow. After that, I’ll be gone so you can enjoy your trip together without me cramping your style.’
‘Babe,’ Finn said, taking Mariana’s hand, ‘if you—’
‘It’s fine,’ she said, staring back at him. She didn’t seem angry, or even surprised. Which surprised him. ‘I’ll go shopping. I can amuse myself for a while. We’re not meeting Alyssia and my parents until Sunday.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘I’m sure.’
A small price to pay, Finn thought, given the so-far free vacation.
‘Good,’ Victor said, standing up. ‘We’ll head for shore in an hour.’
* * *
They left Mariana at the marina. Even when they’d been back in their cabin getting ready, she hadn’t seemed at all perturbed that Finn was off working with Victor. For some reason it unnerved him.
Perhaps she’d always assumed this would happen. Or perhaps for her, Travers and work came before their relationship.
Victor had a car waiting for him only yards from the marina entrance. No sign of who had brought it or from where. A bright green Lamborghini. Roof down, a thunderous engine.
‘Get a load of that noise!’ Victor shouted, as he throttled the engine, which growled and roared and propelled the machine forward at a thunderous pace along the twisting, hilly roads around Positano.
Just as quickly as he’d accelerated, Victor slammed on the brakes and the car came to an abrupt stop at the side of the road, a cloud of sandy dust billowing behind them. As it cleared Finn stared out at the rolling valley to their right.
‘Breathtaking,’ he said, a huge grin on his face from the excitement of the high-speed ride.
‘Some people get a bit nervous in this thing,’ Victor said.
‘Yeah? Not me.’
‘Where are my manners. Do you want to have a go?’
How could Finn say no to that?
He took it easy for a few miles, getting used to the steering, the throttle, the brakes, and the sheer width of the car which seemed to take up the whole road and more at times.
Before long, though, he had his foot to the floor, hair flapping against the blast of air, Victor holding on to the dashboard to keep himself from sliding about in his seat.
‘You’re not a novice!’ Victor shouted.
‘Always been a bit of thrill-seeker,’ Finn shouted in return.
‘You and me both.’
They came up to a sharp bend, a rocky rise to their left, a puny-looking railing on their right to prevent them tumbling downward. Finn tugged the steering wheel and the back end of the Lambo swung out. He swiveled the wheel the other way, hard, and the back wheels skidded as he drifted the car around the corner.
‘Yes!’ Victor shouted, apparently impressed.
But then a truck blasted into sight. Finn hadn’t seen it at all. He slammed the brakes and swung the wheel. The truck’s horn blared and the supercar skidded to a stop in a cloud of dust.
Finn’s heart thudded, his chest heaving. He looked at Victor.
‘Nicely done,’ he said. ‘But maybe that’s enough for now.’
He did look a little white.
‘If you say so.’
‘We’re taking the next left anyway.’
And a quarter mile later Finn had done so, taking them onto a dirt track that didn’t seem to lead anywhere in particular.
‘Probably best to keep it steady along here,’ Victor said. ‘This beauty wasn’t made for off-road.’
He wasn’t wrong. Even if the track looked smooth and flat enough, the rock-hard suspension of the Lamborghini meant that every divot sent a judder through Finn’s bones. At least the much lower-speed ride brought with it a relative calm inside the car, and the ability to actually hold a conversation.
‘You haven’t told me where we’re going yet,’ Finn said. ‘Or why.’
‘Because you haven’t asked.’
He hadn’t wanted to, with Mariana around. This was her vacation – their vacation.
‘Now I’m asking,’ Finn said. ‘I’m presuming this is nothing to do with the Mexican electronics business.’
‘No, it’s not. But you know that’s just my latest pet venture. There’s a lot more to Travers International than making cheap mobile phones.’
‘So what’s here, in Italy?’
‘A lot actually, but, technically, this isn’t to do with Italy. It just happens that this is where we’re meeting.’
‘Meeting who?’
‘You’ll see. But this is a project I think you can get your teeth stuck into. Ultimately, it’s a venture based out of Georgia.’
Finn turned to Victor. He looked smug. Didn’t he?
‘Georgia?’
‘Yeah. Home for you, right?’
‘Not for a long time.’
And really, he’d not intended to ever go back. Certainly not to live there.
Victor laughed. ‘Oh, Finn, you really are smitten by her, aren’t you?’
‘Mariana?’
‘Yes, Mariana, you idiot. You’re in love?’
Finn paused. ‘I think so.’ Why did he feel foolish admitting that?
‘You think so. Not a very convincing answer.’
‘I am,’ he said. ‘We are.’
‘And who would I be to get in the way of something good like that? So don’t worry – I’m not sending you away from Mexico for good. But this project will involve some travel for you, if you’re interested.’
Finn thought this over.
‘You want my advice?’ Victor said.
‘I feel like you’re about to give it anyway.’
Victor chuckled. ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder. You must have heard of that one?’
‘Yeah.’
‘And it’s true. Look at me and Amanda. Since she’s taken the kids to California, I’ve been missing them like crazy. Yet a few days all together and we’re tearing our hair out again. You and Mariana… you work together, you practically live together right now. A bit of separation will help you two grow stronger. It’ll reduce the tensions that are creeping in.’
Tensions? What did that mean?
‘So now you’re a relationship guru. You’re giving me this job to help me and Mariana?’ Finn shook his head as he spoke, a bitter taste on his tongue.
Victor chuckled again. Finn hated that sound. So patronizing.
‘No, Finn. I’m giving you this job because I think it’ll need a man like you. I’m only trying to explain how it’ll work for both your job and your home life in the long run.’
‘Thanks,’ Finn said.
‘Because I see how much you pine for her.’
Was Victor actually trying to get him angry? ‘I don’t pine for her.’
‘Yeah, you do. Puppy dog eyes and everything, like a pathetic soppy teenager.’
Finn hit the brake and the car juddered and skidded to a stop.
‘What’s your fucking problem?’ he said, holding Victor’s eye, but he just continued to smirk.
‘No problem here, amigo.’
‘You’re jealous? Of me being with Mariana?’
A raised eyebrow. ‘Wrong end of the stick entirely.’
‘Then what?’
‘I care for her, yes. But I know she’s happy with you. In fact, it’s you I’m more concerned with. I don’t want to lose the man I found in the Middle East. I want to make sure that fighter’s still in you.’
‘Yeah, well, here he is.’
‘All fired up and ready to go.’
Finn gripped the steering wheel as tightly as he could. He wanted to wipe the smug look off Victor’s face, but he had more restraint than that. Just.
‘Shall we go?’ Victor suggested.
Finn got the car moving.
‘Actually, we’re nearly there,’ Victor said. ‘Take this left here.’
Another dirt track that led up and up, snaking around a hill. Only when they neared the top did the building at the summit come into sight. A glorious-looking villa, whitewashed walls, terracotta tiled roof, arches and verandas and dripping flowers all over.
‘One of yours?’ Finn suggested.
‘It’s a restaurant,’ Victor said. ‘One of my favorites anywhere in the world. You’ll soon see why.’
They reached a turning circle at the front of the property complete with fountain adorned with water-spitting cherubs. Only three other cars were parked there, all worth well into six figures. A white-gloved attendant opened Victor’s door and the two of them spoke in a flurry of Italian. Finn hadn’t realized Victor knew the language.
Did that make him feel inadequate? A little.
‘Buongiorno,’ Finn said to the attendant, who just nodded at him like he was an imbecile.
Victor led them inside and over to a corner where the open, arched windows gave a stunning view of the olive groves rolling down into the valley below. A man sat at the table. Ultra-smart attire. Finn thought he recognized him but hadn’t connected the dots before Victor spoke.
‘How are you, old friend!’ he said, clasping the other man’s hands in his. ‘Finn, I’d like you to meet my very good friend.’ He paused and stood to attention, while his friend looked a little embarrassed by the gesture. ‘Senator for the great state of Georgia, Elliott Charlton.’