Tall, Dark & Distant (16 page)

At first she blamed Nik for keeping secrets, then she blamed herself for not giving him a chance. But after a bit more research into the Morozovs, she blamed Nik’s father for creating a spoilt brat. If anything, Nik had actually underplayed his family’s ridiculous wealth.

He’d also played down the extent of his social misadventures. Nik’s partying was regular tabloid fodder – wild nights all over Europe and the US, and a girlfriend for each day of the week, it seemed. One of them seemed to appear more often than others – an English girl with a double-barrel surname who looked suspiciously like the girl Georgia had seen in Nik’s Ferrari a week earlier, but then again, there did seem to be a
look
he went for. It wasn’t anything like Georgia.

She also found the Morozov name linked to a chemical spill in Siberia the year before that had killed 115 people. There seemed to be some doubt about who was to blame, but it made for sombre reading, whatever the specifics. So did a strategic alliance that the Morozov family had formed with a Latin American country with massive mineral reserves and an extremely dubious record on human rights.

Mei licked a dribble of white-chocolate ice-cream from the side of her cone. ‘I thought he was pretty vulgar – driving around in a Porsche one day and a Ferrari the next. You’re way too good for that. I think you should stay clear of billionaires – they clash with your ethics.’

Georgia laughed. ‘It’s so hard to find a billionaire that matches Médicins Sans Frontières scrubs.’

It was a pretentious thing to say, given her experience in the field of medicine (none) and the number of worthy things Georgia had done for humanity (none), but at least she hadn’t been involved in any purported crimes against humanity, either.

‘That’s the spirit,’ Ella said, licking her mango-and-macadamia ice-cream. ‘You’re better off without him.’

Georgia nodded. ‘You’re right. I wish I’d never met him.’ She wasn’t sure that she really meant that. She said it partly to keep her friends happy, and partly to convince herself. Discovering the truth about Nik had crushed Georgia, but she only realised that things were actually over when he failed to respond to any of her texts, even to tell her to stop sending them (and she’d sent forty-five in the end). ‘He can drive his stupid Ferrari into the ocean for all I care.’

Georgia definitely didn’t mean that, but she felt a tiny bit of hurt lift off her heart as she said it. And the girls both laughed, so Georgia continued with more ways to punish Nik for leaving her, even though at the back of her mind was the nagging knowledge that she’d told him to.

‘You know, I wouldn’t save Nik even if he was being mauled by a shark,’ Georgia scoffed. ‘I’d just stand up to get a better view.’

Ella and Mei laughed again.

‘Maybe he’ll get one of those burrowing fish in his wang,’ Ella joined in.

‘Those toothpick fish? I don’t think you get them in Australia,’ Georgia pointed out. ‘But maybe he’s in the Amazon – they have them there.’ She did an over-the-top mime of a guy peeing, then discovering a fish had swum up into his willy – hamming up the surprise, confusion and complete look of agony. Ella and Mei nearly fell over from giggling so much.

It was Mei’s turn. ‘I hope he falls into a woodchipper and gets minced into tiny little pieces so you can feed him to Mitzy the cat.’

Ella and Georgia laughed, but Mei’s joke was almost too gruesome to be funny. They sat in silence for a moment.

Georgia idly wondered what Mitzy would make of minced human flesh in his cat bowl. Mitzy was a pretty fussy eater. She was about to raise the subject with Mei when a voice broke in from behind.

‘Must be a pretty terrible guy, if you want to feed him to the cat.’

The statement hung in the salty air. Georgia froze – too terrified to turn and confirm what she already knew to be the truth. Mei and Ella spun around at his voice, but were too shocked to speak.

Nik waited a few seconds for a response and, when nothing came, he moved in front of the girls, so Georgia couldn’t escape. ‘You must really hate that guy.’

A tide of hot, prickly embarrassment surged across Georgia’s face. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She closed it again and tried to swallow, but a giant lump of guilt was stuck in her throat.

‘Nik,’ Georgia managed. ‘We were just talking about … terrible ways to die.’

Mei coughed nervously.

‘I know what you were talking about,’ Nik said, putting his hand in his pockets.

Another wave of embarrassment washed over Georgia.

Nik’s eyes flitted from her to Mei and Ella, and then back the other way. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was standing. And if he had overheard their conversation, it was surprising that he
was
still there. But regardless, Nik seemed committed to staying. ‘Can I talk with you … alone?’ he asked Georgia.

She looked at Mei and Ella. Their eyes shouted:
No, he’s no good. He’ll just hurt you all over again.
Georgia knew they were right, but Nik’s eyes were pleading with her to get to her feet, to walk with him, to hear what he had to say.

With great difficulty, she managed to overcome the urge and let her head rule, for once. ‘No,’ she said, as firmly as possible.

Nik looked down at a line of hairy caterpillars that had found their way onto the boardwalk. He studied them for what seemed like forever.

‘Well?’ Mei said.

Nik looked at Mei, then Ella, obviously uncomfortable that his private confession had become some sort of group therapy session.

Nik’s eyes settled on Georgia. ‘I just wanted you to know … I’m sorry. I’m really sorry I lied to you. I know how important honesty is to you and I know you can’t forgive me for what I did, but I wanted to tell you anyway. And also to give you your bracelet.’

Nik pulled a piece of jewellery from his pocket and held it out for Georgia. She took one end and let the chain dangle in the air. The bracelet caught the strong afternoon light, almost blinding her and causing Ella to gasp (quite loudly), while Mei made a choking sound. Was it embedded with diamonds? It was the most beautiful thing Georgia had ever held.

‘It’s not mine.’

Nik nodded. ‘It is. Sorry, I left the box in Aspen.’

‘Aspen?’

‘In Colorado. I went to the mountains to clear my head.’

‘Oh.’ Georgia looked at the bracelet again. ‘Well, I’ve never even seen it before.’

‘I know. I was going to give it to you for Christmas, but …’ he shrugged. ‘Anyway, it’s yours; it’s got your initials on it.’

Georgia studied the bracelet. So this was how Russian billionaires formally ended their relationships – with diamond-encrusted jewellery.

‘No strings attached,’ he said.

‘It’s so beautiful,’ she said. Georgia knew she couldn’t take a present from Nik – after all the heartache he’d caused her with the lies he’d told. She wanted to tell him to keep his stupid bracelet, but instead she watched, mesmerised, as Nik did it up around her wrist.

‘I love it,’ Georgia said.

Mei jumped to her feet, her eyes trained on her bracelet. ‘You’re not going to bribe your way into her heart that easily,’ she fired.

Georgia hid her arm behind her back in case Mei decided to rip off the bracelet to prove a point – she was easily capable of that.

Nik ignored Mei and pulled Georgia to her feet. ‘I’ve missed you, Georgia.’

His eyes dragged her in – as seductive as the sea on a hot day.
A girl could drown in there,
she thought in a daze.

‘I want to try again. I want to be … normal,’ Nik said.

Mei laughed, and Ella hit her. Maybe Ella had decided that Nik deserved another chance. But Georgia kind of agreed with Mei on this one. She knew what Nik was saying was totally insane. He couldn’t be normal if he tried. Most people went for a run to clear their heads; Nik went skiing on the other side of the world. Who was he trying to fool?

‘I’m going to give up everything I own,’ Nik said. ‘And then things will be different. Then I’ll be different.’

Georgia shook her head. ‘You can’t.’

‘I can.’

‘The skiing holidays?’

‘Sure.’

‘The designer clothes?’

‘Easy.’

‘Your personal resort … the championship tennis court?’

‘Yep.’

‘What about the helicopter?’ Ella chipped in.

Nik nodded.

‘I bet you couldn’t give up your Ferrari,’ Mei said.

‘Ferraris,’ he corrected.

‘How many do you have?’ she asked.

‘Twelve.’

Mei just laughed.

Nik shrugged. ‘I’ll give them all up.’

‘Prove it,’ Mei said.

Nik fished in his pocket, pulled out his car key and tossed it to Mei. ‘Your new Ferrari is in the car park behind the surf club.’

‘She can’t even drive,’ Ella protested.

‘I’ll learn,’ Mei snapped, clutching the key to her chest. Georgia rolled her eyes. It was typical of Mei’s morals to crumble as soon as there was something in it for her.

Next Nik took off his sunglasses and strolled down the beach to choose a beneficiary for his designer shades.

‘I think he’s serious,’ Mei mumbled as Nik stopped a ten-year-old and handed him the sunglasses.

‘What a waste,’ Ella said. ‘They’re Ferragamo.’

Then Nik took off his shoes and handed them to a toddler who was digging a hole nearby. The little guy used them for cymbals for a bit, but when they didn’t respond the way he wanted, he tossed them in his hole and started throwing sand on top. His mother rushed over to find out what was going on, and she was rewarded with Nik’s shirt, which she seemed surprisingly happy with (or maybe it was Nik’s bare chest that made her smile). Nik turned in Georgia’s direction and unzipped his shorts, revealing his Calvin Klein undies underneath.

‘I think he really
is
serious,’ Ella said.

Georgia marched down the beach towards Nik. He smiled and zipped up his shorts. He’d got what he wanted – the chance to talk to her alone.

‘I’d give everything up for you, Georgia. I want to change. I want you to help me.’

Georgia swallowed hard, trying to move her heart from her throat. She fought the urge to kiss him.

‘I’ll do whatever it takes,’ he whispered.

Nik took her hand, but she pulled it away, even though she was aching to hold him.

‘Nik, I don’t want you to give everything up.’

Nik stiffened. ‘You mean you
don’t care
what I do. And you wish you’d never met me.’

‘I didn’t say that.’

Nik just stared at her.

‘Okay, I did say that, but I didn’t mean it. I was angry. I’m
still
angry. But I don’t want you to change your life for me. We’re different. It’s never going to work.’

Nik’s eyes pleaded with her again. ‘Georgia, I want you in my life.’

‘That’s easy to say.’

‘I mean it.’

Georgia wanted to believe him. She wanted more than any-thing for Nik to tear down the barricades, to welcome her in. She wanted to forget about his tabloid reputation, his girlfriends, the Morozovs’ dodgy dealings. She was desperate to feel his arms around her, to kiss him and feel his skin against hers. But could it really work? She looked at the bracelet on her wrist. Was it a beautiful bribe or a token of his love? She wasn’t sure. Her heart was saying
yes
, but her head was still saying
walk away
. So that’s what she did.

‘Georgia, I want to change!’ Nik called after her. ‘How can I prove it?’

‘Get a tattoo,’ someone nearby replied unhelpfully. By then half the beach had taken an interest in developments.

Georgia didn’t actually know what Nik needed to do to prove himself. But this spectacle he was making of himself on the beach wasn’t it. She walked slowly back towards Ella and Mei, glancing over her shoulder to look at him one last time.

Nik was standing with his shorts around his ankles, his thumbs in the waistband of his underwear, poised to take it off. What was he doing? Did he think public nudity would make her reconsider? There were kids everywhere! It would get him arrested. It might even get him deported. It wasn’t going to make her trust him.

Georgia shook her head, unable to take her eyes off Nik’s undies. She wasn’t the only one. One woman had her camera out, filming him.

‘Enough! You’re not proving anything,’ Georgia called.

Nik pulled up his shorts and walked towards her. ‘Then let me show you I can change. Come sailing with me tomorrow. I’ve bought a new boat.’

‘What?’ Mei said. ‘How is that normal?’

‘Georgia, stay strong,’ Ella whispered.

But then Nik ruined everything. He turned to Ella and Mei. ‘We could all go sailing.’

‘What kind of boat?’ Mei said, eyes shining.

Nik shrugged. ‘Just a little yacht I picked up. It was very cheap. Plenty of space for a party, though. And we can get the jet skis out, too.’

‘Okay, fine. No point you partying on your own,’ Ella said, as if going sailing would be doing Nik a favour.

And so it was settled.

‘
Please
can I come, too?’ Alice moaned later that night when they were getting into bed. ‘I love boats, and jet skis, you know that. And I’m getting sick of my friends. All they do is bitch.’