Evian spelt backwards is Naïve – Part 2

So there I was, on the remote Greek island of Ikaria, at 4 o’clock in the morning. I had just stepped off a 12-hour ferry ride and was waiting for my host to arrive.

In case you missed Part 1, my host was an eccentric billionaire filmmaker/actor who had invited me to write a story on the film he was shooting in Ikaria. He had also offered me accommodation on his yacht for the weekend. He also had a girlfriend who I thought would be on the yacht with us. As you may have gathered, the point of this story was the express my extreme naiveté at the time.  

I stood on the harbor looking like a cross between a tourist and a refugee: flip-flops, three-quarter jeans, strappy top covered by a disheveled tracksuit top and indescribable hair, matted and aggravated by my attempts to sleep upright on the teeny tiny seat on the boat. So in defense of my extreme naiveté, you could understand why it never even crossed my mind that a man who mingled with the glossy, the rich and the famous would ever take any interest in me.

A fancy bike roared up to me; I was greeted warmly by Bob (the sophisticated pseudonym we’re using for our billionaire) and whisked off to an even fancier yacht. Bob pointed out the three cabins: his captain’s, his own and mine. I noticed that his was empty. “Where’s your girlfriend?” I asked. “Oh she didn’t come with,” he replied casually. Ding! First little alarm bell goes off, but I shush it away.

We then sat in his sleek living room and caught up. It’s always great talking to a fellow filmmaker and the time flew, despite the fact that we were nearing sunrise. He wasn’t shooting the next day, so he could introduce me to some of the cast and crew. My main interview would be with the Hollywood star of the film, who we’ll just call Matt. (No, not Damon).

So Bob describes some of his latest projects and offers to show me some footage. “I would love to see your stuff!” I gush. Our next alarm bell moment is coming up…the DVD player was in his bedroom, so we would have to watch there. Ding! Ding!

TO BE CONTINUED…