Truths and Lies Duet

“We are,” Phoenix says, hitting her with his best smile that always has women turning into disgusting piles of goo at his feet. My guess is within an hour she’ll be in his room personally turning down his sheets. Gag!

“Great, we’ve been expecting you. Everything you will need, including clothes and toiletries, is in your rooms. If there is anything that isn’t to your liking, please call the front desk and we will get it for you. Breakfast will be served at ten, and it will take place on the first floor in the banquet hall.” She hands us each a card and explains how to get to our rooms. The way she holds on to Phoenix’s card for an extra second doesn’t go unnoticed. I seriously hope our rooms don’t share a wall. If I have to listen to him screwing her all night, I will lose it.

As we walk down the wooden pathway she told us to take, my head moves from left to right, taking everything in. The hotel is literally sitting on the side of a cliff overlooking Mirabello Bay. I’ve seen this area in pictures but never in person. It’s absolutely stunning.

As we continue to walk to our building, I notice the hotel is split into several areas—each having its own pool, restaurant, and pathway that looks to lead down to the water. I wonder if I’ll have a chance to check it all out while I’m here. I’m not happy about being here, but if I’m going to be forced to be somewhere, at least I can enjoy the sights. While Thessaloniki is on the water, it’s nothing like Crete. The water isn’t as pretty as it is here, and the entire area smells like fish because of the ships bringing in loads from the sea.

We arrive at our building, and Phoenix tells me to get some sleep before heading into his room. Using my card, I place it over the black circle on the door and a lock clicks open. I enter the room and am almost knocked on my ass by the sheer luxury of my suite…no, not a suite, it’s more like a home! The extravagant king-sized bed sits catty cornered with plush white sheets trimmed with gold and matching pillows fluffed on top. I open the large cherry wood armoire and spot several gorgeous dresses. The tags indicate they’re all my size and expensive brands. I open a drawer and find various bras and panties, all with tags on them—again in my size. The next drawer contains silky pajamas in several different colors. The material glides through my fingertips.

I step into the bathroom and find a huge egg-shaped freestanding spa tub and a shower that could probably fit ten people inside. The walls, floors, and counters are all various shades of onyx, gray, and white marble.

Walking past the bed, I step up to the large window that makes up the entire west wall. It’s too dark to see much of anything, but I can almost make out the water down below.

Sitting on the end of the bed, I lie backward onto the mattress and am swallowed up by the comfy down blanket. I’ve been raised in homes with wealth. When I was little, before my father began his descent, and then when my mom married Stefano, I grew up in expensive homes. Have been given all of the luxuries life has to offer. I attended one of the best private schools in Italy—my university tuition costs more than most make in ten years. But lying here in this bed, thinking about the plane I was brought here on, and glancing around at the furniture and décor and clothes that surround me, I realize I’ve never experienced this level of wealth.

None of this makes any sense. I’ve visited my father every summer for the past eleven years, and every time, his situation was worse. I expected to be taken to him in coach on a shitty plane and then driven in by cab to whatever apartment he’s living in now.

Knowing there’s no way I’ll be able to fall asleep right away, I decide to go for a walk. I should probably tell Phoenix, but then he’ll just tell me no or insist on tagging along. Plus, he’s probably already getting it on with that woman from the front desk.

After changing into a pair of shorts and a flowy top, I grab my phone and room key and put them in my back pocket. I take the wooden path down a little ways until I come to a bridge that forks. Under the bridge is flowing water and what appears to be different kinds of fish. I go left and it leads me to a courtyard that’s filled with beautiful outdoor daybeds with plush mattresses and pillows. I walk a little farther and find several mocha-colored wicker sectionals in the shape of half-moons. I imagine during the day people come out here and lounge out, reading a good book or even taking a peaceful afternoon nap.