The burly man who met her at the plank gazed at her impassively.
“Buon giorno. I would like to see Signor Argenti.” Her voice had an assured ring she was far from feeling. “Luca Argenti,” she specified.
“He’s not here, signorina,” the man said in perfect English.
Of course there had been a big possibility that Luca was not at the yacht. The launch was tomorrow.
“Signora Antonia?” She could leave the jewelry with her and get her carryall.
The security man shook his head.
Sabrina trudged back to the car. Damn it! Why hadn’t they exchanged numbers? Now she had to go to The Medeia where he’d most likely be.
Or she could wait until tomorrow. But how could she be sure he would be at the yacht unless she crashed the fundraising party tomorrow evening? Better today at The Medeia where she could be lost in a crowd. In the yacht, there’d be nowhere to hide if she found out that they weren’t exactly on the same page.
The façade of the hotel was ablaze with lights. The papparrazi was camped out several meters away from the entrance where beautifully dressed men and women were being disgorged by luxury cars like an assembly line.
The BMW took its place in the queue.
Sabrina glanced down at her simple linen shift dress and sandals. “They’ll never let me in dressed like this.”
‘It’s now what you’re wearing, Bree,” Chase drawled confidently. “It’s who you’re with.”
Sabrina eyed Chase’s frayed jeans and black shirt combo doubtfully. She inhaled a lungful of air. “Let’s hope so.”
Chase got off first, sunglasses on, and waved to the paps, making sure he got recognized.
Sabrina hissed, “Why do you have to go and do that?”
He poked his head in the car. He extended his hand and helped her climb out. “Just making a grand entrance.”
“Now everyone knows we’re here.”
“Exactly.”
Sabrina clung to Chase’s arm while security at the lobby waved them inside.
“See? We’re getting through by my star power alone,” Chase whispered into her ear. A camera caught his seemingly intimate action.
Sabrina tilted her head up. “You can add gate-crashing to your resume.”
“Remind me to tell LuLu later.”
LuLu had been instructed to wait in the getaway car. Hopefully no one called them out and demanded to see an invitation.
Arriving and getting inside the lobby was the easy part. Getting through registration was another ballgame.
The ladies at the reception desk were perusing the invitations and cross-checking them on a list.
Sabrina plastered a stiff smile on her face while women in designer gowns dripping with jewels gave her a surreptitious once over. When they saw who she was with, they blinked and pretended to be nonchalant at a Hollywood star’s presence.
“Chase Latimer.” The woman at the registration desk’s mouth dropped open, starstruck. She recovered beautifully, flashing Chase a nonplussed smile, then bent her head to the list.
Sabrina’s fingers dug into Chase’s arm deeper as the woman scrolled through the names, and scrolled…
The woman’s brow was marred with a frown. “I’m sorry, Mr. Latimer, I can’t seem to find your name on the list.”
“Are you sure? It must be a mix up. I called last minute to say I would be able to attend since filming for Fist of Blood 3 finished early.”
Sabrina barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes at Chase’s blatant name dropping.
“I’ll have to call the head coordinator to check, Mr. Latimer. I apologize, but it’s protocol.”
“Oh, but that won’t be necessary,” Sabrina rushed in, getting rather embarrassed at the attention they were garnering. They were holding up the queue. “If you can just get Mr. Luca Argenti for me, I’m sure he’ll be able to clear the matter up.”
“Miss Connelly can come with me,” a gruff, booming voice stated imperiously. Sabrina whirled around and saw a man in a wheelchair behind her.
“Hector Theodorou,” the old tycoon told the reception lady. He cocked his head to Chase. “I’ll steal her away from you, young man, and keep her company,” he winked at Sabrina slyly, “until they can clear you through.”
Chase leaned in. “You know this old fart?” At her nod, “I’m sure they’ll let me in eventually,” he said in a low voice. “It’s good publicity, but you can go on ahead. You can catch Argenti while the event hasn’t started yet.”
“It’s so kind of you, Mr. Theodorou. If you’re sure it’s alright-”
The old tycoon cut her off. “Miss Connelly is with me,” he addressed the confused receptionist.