Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
They brought Ilse to the Braille section, and Ilse happily browsed books for some minutes. Her progress in self-studying the language had been pretty amazing, and Erik had a feeling it was only a matter of time before Ilse could find herself a full-time job despite her handicap.
They enjoyed a late lunch at a nearby café afterwards, followed by an afternoon screening at The Movies on Harlemmerdjik. It was the city’s oldest cinema and when Ilse found out they had a private room all to themselves, she had asked in concern, “Aren’t we spending a bit too much?”
“We are,” Erik answered cheerfully. And it didn’t matter since it wasn’t his money they were spending.
Ilse frowned. “If you’re thinking of adding this to my tab later on—-”
Erik scowled. “Of course not! What kind of friend do you think I am?”
“A tight-fisted one. You’ve always been so, and we both know it.”
“Yes, well.” Erik sniffed. “People can change. This is my treat, so stop complaining and just enjoy it.”
It was already past five by the time they left the cinema, and the sun had set by the time they made it to their last activity for the day. Bright lights illuminated the canals, and there were also more boats than usual cruising its quiet waters, mostly occupied by couples.
When they stopped in front of a luxurious but compact yacht, Jan’s eyes widened. Standing at the helm of the luxurious 48-foot speedboat was none other than the billionaire himself, dressed in his usual fashion, with a scarf wrapped around his neck and a gray fleece coat over his shirt and vest.
Ilse’s brother started to speak, but then Jaak placed a finger on his lips, and Jan fell silent.
“I bet the canals look stunning right now,” Ilse murmured whimsically as she listened to the people around her gush over the sights.
“It does,” Erik agreed, “and that’s why you’re taking a canal cruise right now.”
Ilse’s eyebrows shot up. “But you hate boats.”
“I do.” Erik didn’t even deny it. “I also hate going to cafes, bookstores, cinemas—-”
Ilse couldn’t help laughing. “I know.” Her tone was rueful. “That’s why I knew today’s itinerary was probably prompted by pity.”
“Yes, well.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. Since he did hate most of the things Ilse enjoyed, Erik doubted he could have created the kind of itinerary they had enjoyed today, with every minute tailor-planned to meet Ilse’s needs. Even their exact route had been mapped out, ensuring that Ilse’s blindness wouldn’t cause her trouble.
This kind of trip could only have been planned by someone who loved Ilse with all his heart—-
And that wasn’t him.
Praying to God that he hadn’t just made his biggest mistake in entrusting Ilse to the billionaire, Erik said hurriedly, “The boat’s about to leave, so you should go.”
Ilse was startled. “Me? Do you mean it will just be Jan and me?”
“Jan’s coming with me.”
Ilse was even more worried now. “You want me to go on a cruise alone?”
“I made sure to let the captain know of your condition, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Erik began pushing Ilse, leaving her no choice but to move forward.
“Are you sure—-”
“You’re in good hands,” Erik assured her. Dear God, let that be true. “Captain Avery?”
“I’ll take good care of your friend, sir,” the female captain answered reassuringly. “Miss Muir? May I guide you aboard?”
When Ilse still hesitated, Erik stepped forward, and bending his head, he said quietly, “I thought it was time you tried going out alone.”
Ah.
“You wanted to be strong, don’t you?”
Ilse slowly nodded.
“So...you’re good with this?” Erik hated the fact that he was lying, but neither he nor the billionaire was willing to tell Ilse the truth and risk having her run away.
“You’ll look after Jan, promise?”
“You know you never have to ask.”
Ilse gave her friend a quick hug. “Thank you, Erik.”
And then she was off.
The female captain was perfunctory and friendly at the same time, and she offered Ilse assistance in an efficient manner that spoke of her experience in dealing with people with disabilities.
She gave Ilse a quick but comprehensive tour around the speedboat, which boasted of a stateroom, a master’s bedroom with an en-suite shower, and a custom-designed mahogany library that enjoyed wall-to-wall shelves and panoramic windows. The captain described each area with rich detail, making it easy for Ilse to visualize everything in her mind.
“One of the best things about this boat is that it comes with skyhook technology,” Captain Avery continued as she guided Ilse back to the U-shaped lounge above deck. “This means we don’t need to drop off an anchor to keep the boat stable. The rest of the boat’s system is state-of-the-art, too, making a co-captain unnecessary.”
“If I ever find a boyfriend...” Ilse’s tone was humorous. “I’ll make sure to recommend this boat to him.”
“Of course.” Captain Avery was unable to meet the gaze of the billionaire, the ex-boyfriend. “We’re about to start sailing any moment, Ms. Muir—-”