Fortune: The Original Snogbuster

‘So how did your mother afford that?’

Sapphire opened and then shut her mouth, realising she had no answer. It had never occurred to her before – how had her mum been able to send her to the best girls’ school in the area when some months in the winter they’d had the electricity cut off?

The door to the dining-room swung open and through it came Tito, the young man who had served their ravioli.

‘Ladies, excuse me to interrupt.’ Tito had big eyes and slightly goofy front teeth, which gave him the look of a startled rabbit. ‘Signor Masters has just phoned from Monaco. He says he’s sorry he can’t be there, but hopes this will please you in his absence. Please, follow me.’

Even Madison and Simonetta let curiosity get the better of them. As Simonetta unfolded herself elegantly and stood up, Sapphire realised how tall she was. Even without the black stilettos, the dark-haired girl must be six foot. Sapphire felt like a midget in comparison. Sighing loudly, Madison got up and shoved past her. Sapphire watched as the American girl tottered out the room in stupidly high wedge heels. Sapphire looked down at her own New Look thong sandals. She’d break her ankle if she tried to walk in Madison’s shoes. The three followed Tito out on to the veranda, where an inky sky hung over the evening sea. He stood there, gazing intently at the view.

‘Like, it’s the sea at night-time. Whatever,’ complained Madison. ‘You can’t even see that many stars.’

All of a sudden there was a loud whoosh! and the sky was lit up by a huge, screaming rocket. It soared up higher and higher before exploding, a cascade of stars falling on to the waters below. Another went up, and then another, until a circus of light danced before their enraptured faces. On and on it went, the display getting more and more dazzling. It was the most incredible thing Sapphire had ever seen.

Some minutes later, when Sapphire thought her eyes couldn’t take any more, there was one final burst of colour. They all stood silent, watching the final sparkles fade away into the horizon.

Tito turned to them and smiled. ‘Signor Masters’ way of welcoming you to his home. Pretty good, huh?’

‘It was OK, I guess,’ said Madison, recovering her normal obnoxious manner.

‘It was brilliant, Tito!’ Sapphire told him.

He grinned. ‘Signor Masters will not be returning until tomorrow night. Until then, he has said you must use Casa Eleganza as if it is your own home.’

They stared over the balcony at the tennis courts, swimming pool and manicured gardens. A helipad stood some way off in the distance, its location marked by a big ‘X’.

‘I suppose it will have to do,’ sniffed Madison.

Chapter six (#ulink_6853c7b9-9c9d-5b14-9cd2-0e18040d3b4d)

Sapphire woke up a start. Where was she? The soft silk sheets certainly didn’t feel like the ones on her narrow single bed at home. She opened one eye and realisation hit. She was at Brad Masters’ house in Capri! Instantly awake, she sat up. She picked up her mobile; it read 8:10am. Bright sunlight streamed in through muslin curtains that fluttered in the breeze. Sapphire threw the silk covers aside and got out of bed, bare feet padding on the marble floor. She walked over to the balcony, pulled the curtains aside and stepped out.

It was a stunning day, the sun already high in the cloudless sky. Below her, the grounds of Casa Eleganza stretched out like a kingdom. Sprinklers on the lawns whirred round and round, drenching the lush green grass. Sapphire saw a maid scurry from an outbuilding, her arms full of washing. To her right, the infinity pool glittered enticingly, overlooking the sea. Sapphire had only ever seen such things in the magazines her mum sometimes got.

A surge of excitement coursed through her – she had to get up and explore this beautiful place! Throwing on a vest, shorts and her old Havaiana flip-flops, she brushed her teeth and slipped out.

Downstairs the house was coming alive. Sapphire could hear women’s laughter and the clatter of plates from the kitchen. Turning left, she walked towards the huge front door and, with some difficulty, pulled it open. The view stretched before her like a painting. With a little hop and a skip, Saffron ran down the steps into her own private paradise.

From his bedroom window, the half-naked young man watched the brown-haired girl run off towards the swimming pool. His stomach churned with a mixture of rage and shock, just as it had when he had first laid eyes on the spoiled British girl yesterday. As far as he was concerned, inviting their new house guest was the worst mistake Brad had ever made. Not that he would ever tell Brad that. With a dismissive shake, the boy turned away and started to get dressed.

By mid-morning, Sapphire had pretty much covered every square foot of Casa Eleganza’s grounds. The more she explored, the more amazing it seemed to get, from the olive groves to the vineyard to the huge garages at the back of the house, which housed a fleet of Ferraris, Aston Martins and Lamborghinis. Brad Masters obviously liked his cars. Sapphire started to make her way back towards the house. She was feeling hungry now and wondered what would be for breakfast.

As she walked up the winding path, Sapphire noticed a building that sat back in a shady corner of its own, surrounded by trees. She frowned. Would it be rude to go and have a look inside? Brad Masters had said to treat the house as their own, after all.

Quietly, Sapphire pulled open the door. Inside it was cool and dark. ‘Hello?’ she called out. Hearing nothing, she ventured inside. She was standing in what seemed to be the corridor of a little flat. In front of her was a small living-room, practically empty apart from a sofa and a guitar leaning against one wall. Embarrassed that she had walked into someone’s home Sapphire turned to walk out, but bumped into a young guy standing behind her.

‘Sorry!’ she exclaimed, embarrassed. ‘I—’

All she could take in was a mop of black hair and luminous green eyes before the boy rounded on her furiously. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ he shouted, his English strongly accented. ‘You have no right to be in here!’

He was much taller than her, and Sapphire shrank back as he stared down at her angrily.

‘I’m really sorry,’ she stammered. ‘I didn’t realise—’

He didn’t give her time to finish. He gestured at the door. ‘Get out.’

Cheeks burning with humiliation, Sapphire started to walk out. Then a wave of anger suddenly swept through her. ‘There’s no need to be so rude,’ she said swinging round. ‘I said I was sorry. It was a mistake to come—’

Her words fell away as she realised he was right behind her. They collided and, as she fell against his chest, Sapphire felt the lean, hard muscle underneath and caught the waft of fresh aftershave.

‘Oh!’

She stumbled back as the dark-haired boy almost shoved her away from him. He looked at her, his pale face disdainful.

‘You kind of girls spend your whole life being rude, what can you expect in return?’

‘What?’ exclaimed Sapphire. ‘What are you talking about? You don’t even know me!’

His eyes flashed. ‘Nor do I wish to.’ With that, he shut the door in Sapphire’s face.

It was late morning before Sapphire found Madison and Simonetta sunbathing beside the pool. Each was in the smallest of bikinis, showcasing their perfect bodies. Simonetta was wearing huge gold hoop earrings, a selection of gold chains draped round her neck. The Italians sure go big on accessorising, Sapphire thought. Simonetta made even lying by the pool into a major fashion shoot. Sapphire dumped her bag and sat on the nearest sunlounger.

‘Hi, guys.’

Madison lifted up her Gucci sunglasses and inspected Sapphire as though she was some kind of insect.

‘Oh, it’s you.’

Simonetta didn’t move a muscle, as if she couldn’t even be bothered to say hello. Sapphire decided to persevere. After all, she was stuck with these two for the time being.

‘What have you two been up to?’

‘This,’ said Madison, lying back on her lounger. After a few seconds, though, her head lifted back up again. ‘Where’s your bedroom anyway? Simonetta and I were wondering where they’d put you. The servants quarters, maybe…’

Sapphire gestured at her balcony. ‘Actually, I’m up there.’

Madison sat up. ‘There? You’ve got your own balcony?’

Sapphire nodded. ‘Where are you two then?’

Madison looked at Simonetta, who had inclined her head slightly. Her jewellery glowed expensively in the sunlight. ‘We’re at the back of the house,’ she said, sounding annoyed.

‘Ah, no balcony?’ Sapphire asked, trying to stop herself smiling. She could imagine the dirty look she was getting from behind Madison’s mirrored sunglasses.

Madison opened her mouth to say something, but just then Tito appeared with a tray of glasses and iced water. He set it down on a table between Simonetta and Madison’s sunbeds.

‘I thought you might like some refreshment, signorinas.’

‘Grazie, Tito,’ Sapphire replied.