right?” she asked.
“Yes. Are you worried about him? I assure you my housekeeper will take care of all his meals. Beyond that, he’s well able to look after himself.”
“I’m not worried, but I do want to check in with him. He is only seventeen. Besides, he’ll have a million questions about today. I wish he had been able to go in my place.”
“Suggest that to your boss. Do you mother Jose a lot? In another year he will be going off to university. Are you planning to accompany him?”
“Don’t be absurd. Of course not.” Intellectually she knew she had to let her brother go. He was almost a man, had his own way in life to make. But it had been just the two of them for so long. Was this how parents felt when their children left the home? “Didn’t your parents worry about you and your brother when you left home?” she asked.
“I doubt it. We were sent to a boarding school from the age of eight. Neither seemed particularly concerned.”
“I gather you aren’t close.”
He looked at her and slowly shook his head. “Not close at all. I’ve only met my mother’s current husband once. I avoid my father’s woman of the week. He changes them too frequently to keep track.”
“That’s sad,” she murmured.
“It’s reality. Not that you have such a great life in comparison. No parents, no other family apart from your brother, and you’re obviously struggling with money issues.”
“I make a good living and support us just fine. There’s money for Jose’s university fees and he can also work.” She was insulted he thought her unable to provide.
“I only meant it must have been hard when your parents died and everything fell on you.”
She hated to talk about that time. It still could cause nightmares. She’d been so scared of the future, so worried she’d not be able to take proper care of her younger brother.
“I managed,” was all she said.
CHAPTER FIVE
SAN Paolo was designed as a full-service resort catering to the wealthy from all over Europe. It was a short trip by car from Barcelona. It had taken the entire day by lighter-than-air balloon. There were spas, swimming pools, golf courses, equestrian centers, a soccer field and a plethora of fine restaurants.
The chase team was on-site waiting for the balloon when Rafael gently set it down. Moving with well-rehearsed efficiency, the team tethered the basket, and began aiding in the collapsing of the balloon. They folded it lengthwise several times then rolled it toward the basket. Throwing a tarp over it to keep off the evening dew, they were done in record time.
“Who got the short straw?” Rafael asked as he watched the activity.
“Julio,” Maria said. She was already disconnecting the onboard propane tanks, handing the empty ones to Paolo, who stored them in the back of the truck to be refilled.
“Which means?” Amalia asked.
“He’ll stay with the balloon tonight—just to keep gawkers away. We can expect a crowd in the morning to watch us lift off.”
“So he has to sleep on the ground, but we get the hotel?”
Rafael laughed. “Indeed we do—unless you want to stay out here to keep him company.”
She shook her head, to the laughter of the others.
Thirty minutes later Amalia closed the door to the suite Rafael had assigned her. It was beautiful beyond belief. The sitting room was done in lovely shades of rose and lavender. The sofa was huge and comfortable, she realized when she sat on it. Bouncing once, she jumped up and headed for the bedroom. It was complete luxury. A white-on-white monochromatic theme had gauzy curtains flanking the floor-to-ceiling windows. A mock canopy over the head of the bed with matching gauzy material gave it a fairy-tale feeling. The duvet was white with a brocade motif. There had to be a dozen large decorative pillows. It was spectacular.
She went to the bathroom and stared in amazement. It was larger than her living room. There was a spa tub and a separate shower with six shower heads at various levels. The glittering glass tiles sparkled in the light. Thick, fluffy towels filled a bin and were also stacked in rolls on the wide counter. A thick terry robe was artfully draped over the wide bench in the center of the room.
Amalia kicked off her shoes and was unbuttoning her shirt when her phone rang. There was a receiver in the bathroom. She lifted it slowly. “This is Amalia,” she said.
“I told you we wouldn’t sleep on the ground.” Rafael’s voice came through loud and clear.
“So you did.” She clutched the opened shirt together.
“Is your room okay?”
“It’s lovely, thank you.” She was glad he was footing the bill; it would have set her back two weeks’ pay to stay one night in this place.
“We’re getting together for dinner in an hour. We’ll discuss tomorrow’s ride and get an early night. Join us. Main lounge, one hour.”
“Okay,” she said. Before she could say anything else, he rang off.
An hour gave her plenty of time to shower and see what she had to wear to dinner. Nothing suitable, she was sure. She’d crammed in clothes every which way when she’d had less than five minutes to dress and pack that morning.
Entering the lobby a short time later, Amalia saw the rest of the crew assembled near the entry to one of the restaurants. She walked over, relieved to see everyone was dressed casually in clothes more suitable to outdoor activities than a luxury resort restaurant.
At least she wasn’t odd man out.
“There will be a table for us in just a few moments,” Maria said, when Amalia joined the group.
While they waited, Stefano Vicente and his crew came from the elevators. Amalia hadn’t known her boss was staying there, as well.
“Did we beat their distance?” she asked.
“Hard to say. Still, it’s close enough to make it exciting—they came down not far from us. This is the nearest place to stay,” Manuel said.
Paolo excused himself and went to talk to Stefano.
In a moment Helena left that group and walked to her boss.
“How are things going?” Rafael asked his PA after she greeted everyone.
“Fine. I think I would enjoy it more in your balloon. Stefano insists on doing everything, and he’s obsessed with winning,” Helena said.
Rafael shrugged. “So am I. He won’t, you know.”
“He thinks Amalia will hold you up.” Helena looked at Amalia. “But it doesn’t seem like you are trailing.”
Amalia frowned. “Why would I hold Rafael up?”
Helena glanced at Rafael then said in a soft voice, “Stefano’s counting on your fear of heights to delay you. In fact, he said he was surprised you hadn’t already bailed.”
Amalia felt a flare of anger at her boss. Was that the reason Stefano had proposed her—not for her lack of experience but her fear of heights? Did he expect her to refuse to fly and force a win by Rafael’s forfeiture?
A warm hand gently took her arm. Startled, she looked at Rafael.
“No need to tear his head off. The best revenge is to win and show him he misjudged you.”
“I’ve worked for him for years and I’m annoyed he’d use me like that,” she admitted.
“He wants to win.”
“Are you afraid of heights?” she asked Helena. She wasn’t sure she cared either way,