Right On Track

Chapter 49

Kiara got up in the morning earlier than expected.
Though,she didn't waste any time.She went straight for a shower and started to get ready for the day.Even after a night that wasn't filled with much sleep due to certain  reasons,she still got up and got ready.
She put on a shirt over the black bikini set she wore,putting on her sandals and walking out of her room to get breakfast.
Though,as soon as she left her room,she paused,realising that she wasn't the only one to have gotten ready early.
"All ready?"Esteban arched a brow,smiling as he looked at her.
"As you are."She said,motioning to him,as he already wore his shorts and a plain blue shirt,his cap backwards.
Kiara walked into the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee,then moved to sit down next to him at the kitchen island.
"I say we don't only go out on the water today."She suggested."I mean,there are plenty pools and-"
"Woah,what's gotten into you?"He chuckled."I thought you loved the sea."
"I do."She quickly said."But I just thought that maybe we could try other things too."
He arched a brow,looking at her for a long moment."Kiara...Daniel kind of hired the boat already."
Kiara sighed,leaning against the kitchen island.
"What's wrong?"He asked.
"Nothing."She shook her head.
"You're acting wierd."He said.
She frowned."How so?"
"I mean,you aren't usually this jumpy..."
She shrugged."I'm just excited."
He frowned,holding her gaze for a moment."Kiara..."
"What?"
"Is it because of who we saw yesterday?"
"What?No."She crossed her arms,even though he might have been right.
"You know,even if they're on a boat too,I doubt Daniel will keep ours near them."
Kiara sighed,then got up from her chair."I'm just going to be outside."
Esteban lifted his brows,watching her go along to stand outside on the terrace.

"I'm going to jump."Pierre said,standing at the edge of the boat.
"Wait!"Kika exclaimed.
Esteban started to count."One,two,three-"
Pierre jumped into the water and dragged Kika along with him,startling Daniel from where he stood nearby.
"What the-"Daniel whirled around from where he steered the boat."I haven't even stopped it yet!"
He immediately stopped the boat and Kiara laughed at him as he nearly dropped his drink.
She also glanced over as Kika splashed Pierre,saying."I wasn't ready!"
Kika had come along just in time in the morning,arriving at the villa just before they had left.And nobody failed to notice how Pierre lightened up.
"I'm next."Esteban said,getting into the water.
"You going in,Ki?"Daniel asked.
She shook her head,taking a sip of the drink in her hands."In a few minutes."
She stood up from where she sat and moved over to the control console.
"Show me how this thing works."She said to Daniel.
"Well..."He started to show her some of the controls,the steering.It wasn't really hard.Kiara had done it before on a speed-boat.
"And that's it."He said,finishing his explanation.
"Can I try when we're going back?"She asked.
"Sure,"He said."As long as you don't hit someone else."
She smiled at that,then moved over to take off her button-up shirt.
She approached the edge of the boat,ready to get into the water.Though,she stopped as Esteban did too,looking up at her as he swam in the water nearby.
She got into the water,hiding her blush at that.This was probably the first time he's seen her in a bikini.
Swimming over to Pierre,Kika and  Esteban,she said."Why is the water warmer than I expected?"
"Oh,Pierre!"Esteban started to splash water."That's disgusting!"
"What?"Pierre frowned,splashing him back."I didn't do anything!"
Kika and Kiara laughed at them as it broke into a splashing contest.Well,they got dragged into it too as Pierre splashed water at them.
Eventually,they stopped and joked about it.
"You idiot."Kika told Pierre as he just chanced another splash of water at her.
He chuckled,then they both swam a little further away together.
Now with them gone nearby,it was Esteban left with Kiara.
"So,"He said."How's the weather?"
She laughed."Is that your attempt for some small-talk?"
He shrugged."It was worth a shot."
"Whatever."She shook her head,swimming a little closer to him."But seriously,though..."
"What?"He arched a brow.
She waited a moment,then splashed him in the face.
"Hey!"He laughed,doing it back."You're on!"
She actually laughed again,splashed more water at him.It was a little contest,but he seemed to get bored really quickly,trying to grab her hands to make her stop.
She made it harder for him,swimming back.
But it wasn't really hard for him and he got a hold of one wrist as she tried to splash him again.
"I win."She said,pleased with herself as he was the one to have stopped first.
He smiled,now really close as he held her hand in the water."If that's how you want to put it,sure."
She held his gaze for a second,then started."Esteban-"
"Hey,guys."Daniel called,waving them over.
Kiara turned around to looked at him.
"The boat won't start."He said.
"Were you trying to start the boat while we were in the water?!"Pierre demanded from nearby.
"I kind of had a plan to ditch you all here and go for a ride."He winked.
"Daniel!"Kiara snapped,shaking her head and swimming back over to the boat.Everyone went back,boarding again.
Kiara ran a hand through her now drenched hair.She loosed a sigh and moved over to the console,having a look at it with Daniel.
"Did you-"
"I tried everything,Ki."Daniel sighed,shaking his head."It just won't start."
Kiara frowned,glancing over at the fuel monitor.It seemed fine.
Her frown deepened as she started to look around at what could be wrong.
After some time,she and Daniel still couldn't figure it out.They tried random things too.And nothing worked at all.
"What do we do now?"Kika asked.
Pierre glanced around."Yeah,actually.We're not even that close to the shore."
"Let's try to ask someone close by for help."Esteban suggested.
"Oh,god."Kiara sighed,moving to sit down next to Kika as Esteban and Daniel tried to wave over some of the nearest people.There were a few boats.But they barely even took notice.
Daniel shouted something in Italian and called one of the other boats over.Surprisingly,it worked this time.
The person brought their boat closer.
And that's when Kiara buried her face into her hands for a second.
Out of all people...
"Mate,we're stuck."Daniel chuckled.
"What happened?"Carlos asked,stopping his boat beside theirs.
"Don't know."Daniel said."You think you could have a look?"
Carlos nodded and looked at Amber,who sat down on his boat,using her phone."I'll be back in a second."
"Okay."Amber nodded,suddenly putting on a smile as she looked up from her phone.
Kiara turned away as Carlos got into their boat and approached the console.Esteban seemed to do the same.
Kika also knew what was happening.She looked at Kiara and gave a reassuring smile,indicating that she shouldn't stress about it.
Kiara gave her a look that showed her appreciation for the gesture.
But she still ended up looking in that direction after a moment.
She watched as Carlos showed Daniel something on the console,already at work on it.She had almost forgotten that Carlos knew how to work this type of thing.After all,he had one or two boats of his own.
Carlos opened up something,then gripped whatever was inside.Kiara just watched as his muscles worked while he pulled on whatever it was.
She couldn't help but watch.And as much as it hurt to still watch,she couldn't help herself.All this time,she kept assuring herself that she didn't need it.But in reality,she actually missed it.
The boat started and Pierre almost jumped back as he was startled.Kika laughed at him and a red tint came to his cheeks.
"Oh,thanks man."Daniel loosed a sigh of relief.
"Well,now you're not stranded at sea anymore."Carlos chuckled.He turned to go back to his boat,but Daniel stopped him,saying."Hey,why don't you stick around?You know,you kind of just helped a lot here."
Carlos was about to nod,but he stopped and looked back at Amber on their boat.She gave him a nod and he said to Daniel."Sure thing."
So,he has to ask permission for things now? Kiara almost scoffed to herself.Controlling much...
Carlos showed Daniel a few more things on the console,then put the boat to idle.
And then Pierre and Kika went straight into the water again.Esteban did too.
Kiara was about to join.But she paused as Amber moved onto their boat,a frown on her face.
"I saw that."Amber said in a low tone as she came closer to Kiara.
"What?"Kiara rolled her eyes.
"Stop staring at him.He's not even with you anymore."She scoffed.
"As you've been saying."Kiara said."Listen,I don't care about you two.Now,leave me alone."
Amber's frown deepened and Kiara just turned away from her going towards the edge of the boat.
Just as she was about to get into the water,Amber started again."Look at you,attempting to look good."
Kiara snapped her attention back to her."Excuse me?"
Amber shrugged,tugging on the sleeve of her shirt."You're forgetting that I was once your trainer,Kiara."
Kiara rolled her eyes.Amber just added."Don't think that I'm unaware of you trying to act as if you're so confident wearing that."
"What?"
She gave a bitter laugh,motioning to her bikini."Remember how you once told me that you didn't feel comfortable wearing these things?Are you that desperate for attention now that you-"
Kiara just cut her off,grabbing her by the arms and shoving her off the boat and into the water.
"Oops."Kiara said as Amber yelped,everyone turning to see what had happened.
Kiara looked at Amber in the water,then moved over to sit down,pleased with herself.
"Carlos!"Amber called,reaching for the edge of the boat as she splashed.
Carlos met Kiara's gaze for a second.She could have sworn that she saw some sort of humour and amusement for a moment before he moved over to help Amber as she called him again.
He helped her out of the water,handing her one of the nearby towels as her shirt was fully drenched now.
Amber clutched the towel close to herself,leaning against Carlos' bare chest  as they stood nearby.
Seeing that,Kiara just got up from her seat,trying to ignore them as she got into the water.
As she got in,Esteban came closer.
"Thanks."Kiara heard Amber tell Carlos.
She glanced back for a second,then saw Amber pull him into a kiss,knowing that Kiara was right there watching.
Kiara turned back to Esteban as he swam over to her.
Something came to mind.Something that she could do to show Amber that she was not the superior one here.
Kiara didn't even think through what she was about to do next...
Esteban stopped right in front of her.
"Hey,what happened-"
She cut him off and pulled him closer,not thinking correctly as she kissed him.
Esteban froze at first,totally taken aback.But he soon went along and kissed her back,his eyes closed as he put a hand on her arm.
Kiara had her eyes open the whole time,though.And when she let her gaze drag to Carlos,his eyes were on her too,as much as Amber's lips were on him.
And they stayed like that,holding each other's gaze as they held onto a completely different person.

At the villa,later that night,Kiara sat in her room and checked her notifications on her phone.
She scrolled through her messages,dms and all,also checking up on the situation with the FIA one time.
She opened up some messages from Lydia,ready to hear what was the final decision made.

Lydia: Sorry to bother you on your break,but you know what I'm sending this for.
The FIA have not made a final decision as yet in terms of their suspicion on the stunt.Things are safe,for now.Caco and I have pointed out some factors and they are considering just dropping it all as we could be right.
As for who tipped them off the other day,we still don't know yet.

Kiara: Oh,okay.Thanks a lot for the effort.Hopefully,things will get sorted.Keep me updated.

Kiara exhaled,setting her phone aside after that.She sat there in her thoughts for a moment.Thankfully,things weren't going bad with the FIA.
She stood up and left her room,going over to the kitchen for a glass of water.
Though on her way,she stopped outside Daniel's room as she heard her name being said.
She frowned,looking down both ways of the hallway.Everyone else was asleep already.Well,everyone beside her and Daniel.
She felt some regret for a second.But she eventually pushed it aside and pressed an ear to the door as she heard her name in his discussion once again.
He seemed to be on a phone call with someone.
"No,listen here."Daniel said."I don't want you causing more damage,okay?So,please...Tell me you know what you're doing."
Kiara arched a brow,listening as Daniel sarcastically said."Wow,that's totally normal."
"No,"Daniel carried on."You either prove  your point to her or not."
Kiara crossed her arms as she listened.Were they referring to her?Who was he even talking to?
"I'm trusting you here."Daniel sighed."You better know what you're doing."
Kiara heard his footsteps near the door and she quickly moved away,going back into her room and quicker closing the door.
What was that about? She thought to herself.

In the morning,Kiara woke up more curious.She wanted to ask Daniel about what had happened.But then he would obviously know that she had been  eavesdropping on his conversation.
But who could blame her?She heard her name more than once in the process.
Kiara sat in the lounge,a coffee cup in her hands as she watched Daniel in the kitchen.She couldn't help but narrow her eyes,becoming sceptical.
"Want some more?"Daniel asked,gesturing to the extra coffee he had made.
She shook her head,then looked out the window nearby.
"Why on earth is everyone still sleeping?"He frowned.
Kiara shrugged."I don't know about Esteban...And I don't even want to ask about Kika and Pierre."
Daniel chuckled at the last part,saying."Hopefully they won't pull out the "I'm not feeling well" card."
The doorbell of the villa rang.
"I'll get it."Daniel said,walking off.
After a second,Kiara heard him call her name."Kiara,it's for you."
Kiara stood up from the couch and walked over to the front door.
She stopped beside Daniel,arching a brow.
The man by the door seemed to be some delivery man.He greeted her in Italian and she nodded,asking about the bouquet of flowers he brought.
He replied in Italian,Kiara clueless as to what he said.
"He said that these were requested to be sent to you."Daniel said,since he knew Italian.
Kiara frowned."By who?Who sent these?"
The delivery man shrugged,replying in Italian again.
"An anonymous request."Daniel told her.
Kiara arched a brow as the bouquet was handed to her.
She looked down at it in her hands,the blue shades of the flowers mixing with the pink.
The delivery man soon left and Daniel  asked."Any idea who they're from?
Kiara shrugged,sniffing the flowers."I don't know..."
Daniel wriggled his eyebrows and she lightly hit his arm,turning to go back inside.
"You know,I think I heard somewhere that blue flowers could be apologetic.And pink-"
"Wow,you're a florist now."Kiara said,shaking her head.
She didn't really think of that.She just needed to know who sent this bouquet.
She took it to her room and put in on the desk,admitting it for a second.The first thing she thought about with these colours was a certain theme...The pink and blue could give her an idea of who it was.
Then,it came to mind.Alpine...Did Esteban request it to be delivered?It kind of made sense,in a way.But something told her that she was wrong.
She stepped back and looked at the bouquet again after running a hand along one of the petals.She got a warm feeling inside,feeling a little happy about this all.The only thing that bothered her was that she didn't know who it was from.