Даниэла Стил - All That Glitters

“That should be up to me to decide when we’re talking about houses and amounts like this. I’m sure the boat is beautiful. I just don’t want to blow my inheritance like this. It’s supposed to last for my lifetime, and our children’s lifetimes. It won’t, if you keep spending it like this, and you can’t do it without talking to me about it. I don’t want a honeymoon with ten of your friends along for the ride.” She was growing up fast dealing with him.

“Why not? You go to their homes. Why can’t we take them with us?”

“I’m going to have a hard time explaining this to my trustee. He may put me on an allowance if you keep blowing money like this.” She could see Ed doing it, and she wouldn’t blame him. She had been extremely careful and reasonable before. Nigel was becoming a major money drain, and she was scared of where it could lead.

“Just tell him it’s our honeymoon. He’ll understand.”

“No, Nigel, he won’t. And neither do I.” But she was beginning to. Nigel had had a plan when he married her, and she was it. The question was what to do about it now. She had to figure it out. He hadn’t asked her to give him the houses, he was content to spend as much money as he could on a lavish lifestyle, which only he cared about. Coco didn’t. Nigel had seen an opportunity with her and seized it, and now he was running with it, as fast as he could.

Chapter 9

The trip on the boat Nigel had chartered was nothing less than fabulous. He organized it perfectly, with a night for them alone before the others joined them. They picked the boat up in Monaco, where it was docked next to several even bigger yachts, which dwarfed it. All of them belonged to famous yacht owners, but the Moonbeam was a spectacular boat, and only a year old. It had been built by a famous shipyard, and had every comfort imaginable. Marble bathrooms, a spa, a hair salon, a movie theater, exquisite furnishings, priceless contemporary art, two Cordon Bleu chefs, and an impeccable British crew. The cabins were enormous and supremely comfortable with beautiful sheets and cashmere blankets and exquisite décor. They were waited on hand and foot. The champagne flowed from the moment they set foot on the boat, and Nigel had ordered caviar for their guests every night. There was nothing Coco could do about any of it, so once she accepted that the expense was inevitable, she tried to enjoy it as best she could. They had Jet Skis, water toys, a small sailboat and a submarine on board, and a helipad for the owner’s helicopter. It had indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a fleet of masseuses, hairdressers, and manicurists in addition to the nineteen-person crew. It was the most luxurious experience Coco had ever had.

The meals were extraordinary, like a three-star restaurant every night. They made a detour to Saint Tropez to do some shopping, and after that they headed to Italy, with a night in Portofino, Corsica after that, and then on to Sardinia, where they met up with friends on other yachts. Nigel knew people everywhere, and whenever they were in port, they gave lunch parties every day, with heavily laden buffets and the finest French wines.

All their guests talked constantly about how perfect everything was, and Nigel relaxed with Coco again. She tried to do the same. They made love for the first time in a month. And in spite of what it was costing her, Coco had a fantastic time too. It would have been impossible not to. They all felt like Cinderella after the ball when they got deposited back on the dock in Monaco, after two of the most perfect weeks most of them had ever spent.

They were driven to the airport in a van after the crew said goodbye to them. The captain had been extremely efficient and very pleasant. They had work to do when the charter guests left. The owner and his family were coming on board the following day, and sailing to Greece, to spend a month there.

The group was silent on the way to the airport, as reality hit them after two weeks of sheer heaven.

“You have to admit, it was incredible, wasn’t it?” Nigel whispered to Coco in the van, looking pleased with himself. He had thoroughly enjoyed it, and told the captain they’d be back next year. Coco couldn’t believe how cavalier he was about what they had spent. It didn’t bother him at all. He hadn’t even thanked her, and acted like their benefactor for organizing it. The guests barely thanked Coco.

The flight to London seemed like an affront after the comforts of the boat, and it was raining when they arrived. Nigel had spoken to the contractor, and he had said everything was ready for them. Even the new furniture they had ordered was in place, where the decorator had told them to put it. They went straight to their new house from the airport, and she and Nigel were both thrilled when they saw it. It was beautiful, and even the art they had purchased had been hung. Coco had spent a fortune, and it showed, which was Nigel’s intention. But it was worth it. They would have the house for years, and as Nigel said, their children would grow up in it. This made a lot more sense to her than two weeks on someone else’s boat with nothing to show for it except memories, and with people who weren’t even her friends. They were his. Nigel was surrounding himself with people who took full advantage of the benefits he offered, at Coco’s expense.

They were planning to move out of her rented mews house the next day. They spent an hour walking around the new house with the architect and contractor, inspecting things before they went home. They were both in great spirits after seeing the house, and they had congratulated the contractor on his fine work, and for completing the job on time.

Their daily cleaning lady had left them some cheese and salad and a roast chicken in the fridge at Coco’s house. It was depressing serving themselves the haphazard meal after the opulence of the yacht. Everything was packed in cartons.

“I can’t wait to move in tomorrow.” Nigel looked at her lovingly and she smiled. She was admittedly more relaxed after the boat trip, they were on better terms, and excited to be moving into their new home, whatever the cost. The money was spent now and the house was exquisite.

She spent the next morning finishing packing a few last things and by noon they were moved in. Nigel had packed his clothes and nothing else. He had no other possessions. He had given up his apartment and thrown everything away. He had no family souvenirs and nothing of value.

They had a sandwich in their new kitchen, and then she drove over to Leslie’s house. They were meeting a new client at three o’clock. They had gotten several clients from a corporation where Leslie had connections, and two Americans who had heard about them from a friend. Their relocation business was taking off.

Leslie smiled when she saw Coco with her deep tan. She looked relaxed and said the move had gone well. They were all moved in, and were going to sleep there that night. To make up for being away for two weeks, Coco stayed to help Leslie until eight o’clock that night. Nigel was out when she got back, and hadn’t left her a note.

For the next two days, Nigel and Coco hardly saw each other, after having been constantly together on the boat. Leslie had set up a slew of appointments with new clients. Right before their noon meeting on Thursday, Coco realized she had left their color wheel at home.

“Damn, I’ll run home and get it. I’ll be back in ten minutes,” she said and sped out the door, as Leslie thanked her. She let herself into the house, looked in her office on the main floor, which Nigel had designed for her, couldn’t find the color wheel, and then remembered that she had left it in their bedroom and sped up the stairs. The door was open, and the cleaning staff they had hired to come in every day hadn’t started yet, so she flew through the door and found herself looking at her husband, with his head deep between a woman’s legs. The woman started to scream just as Coco saw them. She stood rooted to the floor, unable to believe what she was seeing, or run away. As soon as the woman came, Nigel entered her and they both came again as Coco stood there too horrified to move and whispered, “Oh my God.” From somewhere in the distance, Nigel heard her and glanced over his shoulder and the next thing she knew the woman was screaming again. Nigel leapt out of bed, and tried to take the sheet with him to cover his erect penis, while Coco looked him in the eye, shaking from head to foot.