Is a marriage of convenience ever a good idea? It doesn't seem like it to Mr Charles Leclerc and Miss Evangeline Ashby when they find themselves signing a contract that bids them for life.
Charles picks Chiara up into his arms, rocking along to the beat. He presses his head against Chiaras with a smile, whispering little things to her as the song played.
I can literally feel my heart melt.
He pulls away from the baby, the same smile wiped over their lips as Charles gestures for me to join their little dance. With a laugh I join their circle, all of us singing along to baby shark on the boat.
I smile from ear to ear like an idiot, as his gaze falls on mine. His dimples form, a little laugh escapes his mouth as he holds Chiara in one hand and grabs me with another.
I'm trying to tell myself to stop smiling and completely falling over from one little touch but how can I not? All whilst all of his friends watch us like we are a social experiment, well I suppose we kinda are.
Arranged marriage and what not.
Kika pulled me away from them and sat me down next to her and Marta inside the yacht where the table and chairs were, "So the sex is good?.." Kika burst out as she stared at me her hands over her mouth.
"What?" I cackled with laughter.
"I mean how else are you guys so loved up all of a sudden.. I mean you were completely different just days ago?" Marta asked as she watched the boys out of the corner of her eye
I couldn't stop my cheesy smile, "Well I don't know! It's just different now. In a good way too, I mean we've gotten a lot closer and yeah... I'm happy."
Kika grabbed my hand excitedly, "I'm so happy for you guys.. ugh it's cute. Disgustingly cute."
"You know what's not cute? My paleness at the moment," I sighed "I need to get out in the sun more."
"Can't relate." Kika replied sticking her tongue out at me, she was so funny that I often cry with laughter around her. And we're the same age too.
"Vitamin D is good," Marta agreed "The loungers on the top deck are great for tanning, maybe go up there?"
Martas words were law. Genuinely. Up I went and the sun was blaring, I'd never been on a yacht before let alone a super yacht. But apparently in Monaco it's not uncommon for residents to have boats.
Very very different to Paris in that respect.
"So on average how many rats would you spot?" Riccardo asked me, the boys had each been quizzing me about life in Paris as if they hadn't been there before.
"Like maybe once a week, I don't know. Depends where you're living I guess." I shrugged to him as I placed sunglasses on my face.
"Her dad's Ralph Ashby man, doubt she ever saw a rat." Pierre remarked, my dad only wanted the best of the best so he was kinda right.
"So how unimpressive is the Eiffel Tower? Thats my question." Joris asked as he grabbed the ball he and Hugo had been playing around with.
"My childhood bedroom is right opposite, so guess I could say I've seen it pretty much every day for the last twenty years," I chuckle "Pain in the ass when it sparkles at night and you're trying to sleep though."
"And you don't have any siblings?" Kika asked, she had multiple siblings. In fact I think she's the eldest.
I shook my head, "Nope, was just me and papa."
"So you inherit literally everything," Joris mutters "Wow you're giving Charles a run for his money."
"Hm don't know about that, he already has half of my dad's earnings," I pause "Well we."
Charles hadn't left baby Chiara alone since the moment we got here and I couldn't help but stare at them as he played with her, she calls him 'cha cha' and I'm 'ev ev' and my god it's the cutest.
We spent a long time playing what was basically twenty questions all for me before eating lunch which the chef prepared, yes Joris had a fucking chef for his super yacht, don't get me wrong I grew up with money but every single person in Monaco has money.
Monaco's gross domestic product per capita significantly exceeds that of other nations, making it the richest country worldwide, due to its lack of income tax, high concentration of millionaires, expensive real estate, and appeal to the ultra-wealthy.
Hence why Marta is in real estate out here.
Kika then asked, "Hey Ev, do you have any socials? I've been searching for you this week and I haven't found you on anything."
"Uh no, never have."
"Oh you haven't lived!," she exclaims "Pass me your phone!"
And I did without hesitation so of course she went setting up this that and the other whilst I walked over to Charles, "Hey mister, been competing for your attention all day and I think Chiara won." I smiled to him.
He laughed at me as Riccardo took her from him, "I mean can you blame me?" He asked knowing full well I couldn't.
And then out of nowhere, "Last one in is hosting the next game night!" Hugo shouted, which Jesus people really didn't want to host.
Charles pushed me in the water without a second thought jumping in also, instantly we were fully submerged in the clear Monaco water, trying to stay afloat as the boat anchor went down.
I instantly grabbed on to Charles just to make sure I didn't drown, I'm a confident pool swimmer but the sea is another ball game. If I so much as touch a seaweed I will sob and you won't hear the end of it.
"Kikas hosting!" I heard someone shout and a scowl followed which I presumed was from her. Aw bless she didn't mention not wanting to get in the water.
