2018
Lunchtime. Zoe and Sofia are relaxing in wicker chairs on the wooden balcony of a junior suite in the Mill Hotel in Kakopetria. The two of them wear matching white cotton robes and are sipping on glasses of cold, crisp Cypriot white wine.
From her seat, Zoe has a stunning view of the mountains and pine forests in the distance and the village of Kakopetria below. A maze of narrow streets flanked with traditional stone cottages, all with terracotta tiled roofs and wooden balconies. The Mill Hotel, a large, timbered building dating from the seventeenth century, is raised up above the village and Zoe can also see what passes as the centre of town, a cluster of modern buildings and the main road winding past them.
The town is busy today. Day trippers negotiate the narrow, cobbled streets, snapping pictures of the houses. A steady stream of cars passes through the town and drivers compete for parking spaces in the centre.
Dmitri slides open the doors to the balcony. ‘They will bring lunch in half an hour.’
‘Thanks,’ Sofia says.
Zoe feels Dmitri’s eyes travel over her before he closes the balcony door again and sits on one of the suite’s armchairs. What would happen if Sofia were to leave the two of them alone? She imagines herself walking up to Dmitri’s chair, slipping off her robe and lowering herself onto him.
Sofia stretches out her long, tanned legs. ‘It’s so good to get away.’
‘Yes.’ Zoe takes another sip of wine. The alcohol is a welcome antidote to their recent stresses. In fact, sitting here, out in the ‘real’ world, it seems absurd to think that three days ago she was chasing Quinn up a mountain trail. Absurd to think Sofia spiked the community’s leader with mushrooms and definitely absurd to think Sofia wants Quinn dead.
She inhales the clean mountain air. After the intensity of the past few days, she feels like a prisoner released. This morning, Sofia asked Zoe to accompany her on a trip out. She needed a pamper day and didn’t want to go alone. Purely pleasure, Sofia assured her, nothing to do with what was going on in the community. Zoe doesn’t believe that. Sofia always has an agenda.
Mel disapproved of the excursion. No surprise there. Carl, Joe and Holly thought it would be a good opportunity for Zoe to see where Sofia’s head is at. Joe was keen for Zoe to find out if Sofia will really go ahead with demolishing the monastery tomorrow.
When they arrived at the Mill Hotel, Zoe found two beauticians from a five-star hotel in Limassol waiting for them. Sofia had them driven in for the morning and insisted Zoe join her for a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure.
Zoe can’t help admiring her glossy red fingernails and toenails. Her shiny face feels clean and polished. Her body is still absorbing the fragrant massage oils. The whole morning reminded her of the preparation she had to do for TV appearances or music video shoots. So much fuss for just a few minutes of film. So much pressure to be flawless.
That was a lifetime ago. She’s a different person now.
While Sofia flicks through a copy of Vogue she found in the hotel lobby, Zoe stares at the view before her. So many cars in town. She sees a Land Rover with tinted windows pull up near the bank and wonders for a moment if Grigor has come to fetch them. A man emerges from the front passenger side, dressed in a black suit. He is tall with bleached white hair and looks familiar. Zoe realises she saw him at Dionysus by the Sea that night. He was the bodyguard of the old Russian guy who talked to Sofia. Roman Timchenko. Perhaps he and his wife have taken a drive into the mountains to escape the August heat.
‘So busy here.’ Sofia lowers her magazine and peers into the crowded street below. ‘A spiritual retreat in this area could attract a lot of people. The air, the connection to nature.’
‘I thought today was just pleasure?’
‘Everything is always business.’ Sofia drains the last of her wine. ‘Property prices in this area are going up again. More people want to spend time here.’
Sofia is right. The mountain villages have regained some of their former popularity in recent years.
‘The renovations wouldn’t need to be excessive,’ Sofia says. ‘A new swimming pool, maybe. Some daybeds in the orchard and the olive grove. There are so many chill places for people to hang out.’
Zoe pictures herself reclining on a daybed in the orchard during cherry blossom month.
#newideasblossoming #pureheart
‘You’ll need to get the accommodation sorted first,’ Sofia says. ‘Obviously, you’ll have some rooms in the main building, but you’ll need to put up some yurts or glamping pods. Once I’ve got rid of the monastery you could even build accommodation there.’
That answers Joe’s question, Zoe thinks. Once Sofia makes her mind up about something, she follows through. ‘You really think the retreat idea could work?’
‘The cult of wellness is big business.’ Sofia’s fingertips touch her smooth, glowing cheeks. ‘Bigger than religion these days. Everyone is desperate to be their best self and live the longest, healthiest life possible.’
‘What’s wrong with that?’
‘It’s an obsession and obsessions can be dangerous.’ Sofia shrugs. ‘But they can also be exploited.’ She examines her pink, manicured nails. ‘The super-rich won’t come to you, Pure Heart’s not sophisticated enough, but with the right advertising you could get rich people keen to experience simplicity and you’ll definitely get lonely, stressed career types looking for somewhere to belong for a week or two.’
‘You talk as though the retreat is inevitable?’
‘As Quinn would say, believe and it will happen.’ Sofia’s lips press together in a tight smile. ‘I suppose she thinks that only applies to the miracles she wants.’
‘But we—’
‘Obviously you’ll have to get some proper qualifications,’ Sofia says. ‘Yoga, tantra, whatever, but that won’t take long and think how much fun it would be. You could travel abroad to do courses, meet new people.’
Zoe has seen Tantra teacher training courses advertised all over the world.
#reclaimingmyinnergoddess #meetingthebestpeople
‘I’m flattered you think I can do all this, but—’
‘With my money you could do it all.’
‘Your money isn’t free. What you’re asking us to do for it is… it’s a lot.’
Sofia looks down at her hands. In the silence, Zoe hears the river below the hotel gushing over the limestone boulders in its path. When Sofia looks up, Zoe is surprised to see real fragility on her exquisite face.
‘What am I doing?’ Sofia says. ‘Am I crazy?’
Zoe, confused, puts down her wine glass. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Maybe I am like my mother? It’s crazy, isn’t it? What I’m asking you to do?’
What the hell is happening? Is Sofia about to change her mind about everything? Zoe is reminded of Eva’s dramatic mood swings. Has this whole plan of Sofia’s just been a rich girl’s whim? Could she be about to leave Pure Heart and take her offer with her?
A hollow sensation unfurls in Zoe’s chest. She has reached the line, but does she dare cross it? ‘What about justice?’ she says eventually.
‘Is it justice?’ Sofia’s voice is strained.
Another silence stretches between them. Zoe senses the importance of any words she might say, and the pressure makes her throat constrict. She should really agree with Sofia and persuade her to abandon her plan.
‘Is it?’ Sofia asks.
Zoe clears her throat. ‘I understand why you feel the way you do,’ she says. ‘I understand why you need to make things right.’
She feels like she’s in the grip of a strange, disturbing dream. One where she does scary and unsettling things but feels safe because she knows it is only a dream.
Sofia nods. ‘Eva would be proud of me, wouldn’t she?’
‘Yes, I think she would.’
‘Thank you.’ Sofia gives her a grateful look. ‘Yes. Money for justice. A fair transaction.’
If this was a dream, Zoe thinks, if this was a world without consequence, what would she say next? She shifts in her seat. ‘Not everyone feels able to give you that justice.’
‘You’re talking about Mel?’
‘She’s not open to a change of leadership.’
‘Still under Quinn’s spell, is she?’
‘Quinn believes in her. Trusts her.’
‘Quinn believes in everyone. That’s her superpower. She makes everyone feel special.’
Zoe can’t argue with that. She knows what it’s like to have Quinn look deep into your eyes and tell you how beautiful your soul is.
‘That’s why your retreat will be a success,’ Sofia says. ‘People say they want enlightenment but all they really want is for someone to tell them they’re special.’ She gets up from her chair. ‘You don’t have to worry about Mel. Trust me.’ She reaches out a long, slender arm and taps on the balcony doors. When Dmitri opens them, she speaks to him in Russian. He disappears and soon returns clutching a printed A4 document in a clear plastic folder.
‘For you.’ He hands it to Zoe. When she takes it, his fingers brush against hers.
‘Thank you.’ An intense surge of heat between her legs makes her press her thighs together. She glances at the cover page of the document.
Background Report: Melanie Harris
‘My investigator told me there’s still more to come,’ Sofia says. ‘He’s trying to trace Mel’s ex-boyfriends, but this will give you plenty of ammunition for now.’ She nods at the report. ‘I think you’ll find it an interesting read.’