Page 110 of Never Tell Secrets

I snorted and shook my head, the ease with which Alfie made jokes these days wasn’t lost on me. On the main deck, Alfie led us port side and through a door into the cockpit. Elliot slid into the driver's seat and a few moments later, we were moving.

“Do you get sea sick, Miss?” Elliot asked.

“I don’t know, I’ve never been on a boat before.”

“Well, I’ll take it easy.” It was strange seeing Elliot out of his stiff suit. He’d traded it today for light trousers and a loose white shirt. He looked relaxed here, like Alfie.

“Thanks, Elliot.” Alfie clapped a hand on his shoulder before pulling me away. Leaving the cockpit behind we stepped into an indoor and outdoor facing bar.

“Holy crap,” I gasped. This was surreal. I gripped Alfie’s hand tight. When he’d said today was going to involve an obscene display of wealth, he hadn’t been joking. Alfie, in his cool grey suit and Ray Bans, looked perfectly at home here. I, however, was feeling vastly out of my depth.

“You said you could handle it.” Alfie was smirking at me but I didn’t miss the uncertainty in his voice.

“I can.” I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Where are we going?”

“Out into the ocean. We need space and privacy. Well, as much privacy as we can get with a team of staff on board.”

“There are staff here?” I looked around, waiting for a maid to pop up any minute. I’d have to be careful not to leave any mess lying around.

“Of course, you probably won’t see them until dinner. Would you like a tour first?”

“First?” I stammered as I scrambled to keep up. “First before what?”

Alfie smiled. “You’ll see. Come on.”

Twenty minutes later, I stood on the sun deck, gazing out at the passing ocean, Corfu reduced to a blip in the distance.The Isabellawas a floating playground and the sun deck, boasting a dining area, sunbathing space and infinity pool, was the cherry on top of a very decadent cake.

“What do you think?” Alfie asked, his Ray Bans concealing the uncertainty I knew would be showing in those cool greys.

What did I think?

The tour had blown me away. Alfie’s life had always been alien to me, his mansions, clubs, cars…it wasn’t my world. This was something else.

The lower deck contained eight cabin pods, a cinema, gym and games room complete with a snooker table that invoked memories that gave me goosebumps. The main deck consisted of a vast lounge, a dining room containing a twelve seater marble and steel dining table, kitchen and an owners cabin which Alfie said he would show me later.

Unlike his mansion, this space was warm and welcoming, full height windows soothing the monochrome colours. The upper deck bathed me in sunlight, a stunning level made for sunbathing and al fresco dining.

So, what did I think?

“I love it, Alfie.” It wasn’t a lie. I truly did.

“It’s not too much?”

“It’swaytoo much,” I laughed. “This is the part of your world that you like?”

“This is the fun part, yes.” As he spoke, the yacht slowed to a stop, the engine humming below as we stood a calm statue in the ocean. “Come, we need to get you out of those clothes.”

“Excuse me?” I arched a brow at him but he just grinned and led me back to the main deck. We entered a lobby with a large central staircase that led to the owner suite he hadn’t shown me earlier. Once again I was left speechless by the luxury in front of me. This ‘suite’ was bigger than my entire apartment.

“This is your space today…and tonight if you want to stay.”

I looked around, finding a walk-in closet, an office and a stunning bedroom with an ensuite. The spaces were filled with natural lighting, the planking covered in dove grey carpet. “Shouldn’t the Owners Suite be your space?”

“It usually is. Today it’s yours. I’ll use one of the guest cabins if we stay the night.” Alfie leaned against the door frame as I hovered by the bed, nerves gathering in the pit of my stomach.

“And if I don’t want to stay the night?”

“Keira’s parents live on the coastline, we’ll sail there and drop you off.”