Free Who Wants to Marry a Billionaire? by Emily Stone Page B

“Poverty,
parasites, too much…curry.  It’s not a Bollywood movie Daniel!  It’s poor taste
to flaunt your wealth in a developing country.”  She paused, “Besides, I
thought I got to pick where we were going.”
           Their
argument was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat.  It was
Boris.  “Boss,” he said dryly, “the paparazzi scum are taking pictures through
the window of you two fighting.  Do you think you could cool it until we get in
the car?”
           Daniel
looked like he wanted to explode.  “Oooo.  We are going to India, and you’re
going to have fun.  No more arguments Nina.  Now put on a smile and get ready
for the photographers.”
           Nina
stared at Daniel and answered without any humor, “Yes, of course, Mister DeVere.”

 
    Chapter Thirteen
     
           Traveling
by Lear jet was, Nina acknowledged, a ridiculously comfortable way to fly. She
and Daniel had come to a truce as having witnesses made it uncomfortable to
fight.  Daniel insisted that Boris and Kennedy accompany them, and Nina was
sure it was some kind of safety net beyond just having a bodyguard and a
stylist.  Boris magically produced passports and visas for everyone in 48
hours, and then they took off.  In flight, Daniel kept the champagne going and
everyone tried to enjoy the time as they stuffed themselves with gourmet food.
           A couple
of bottles into the champagne, Daniel waved his glass in the air at Nina. 
“You’re enjoying this, right?  The canapés and the lamb chops and the smoked
herring salad?  Admit it Nina, this is fun, right?”  He hiccupped.  “You want
some chocolate mousse?”
           “It is fun, but it’s not how most people live.  You have to be aware of that.”
           “You
don’t think I care about people?”  Daniel splashed some more champagne in his
glass. 
           “I didn’t
say that you don’t care, I just think you’ve been living inside the palace
walls too long.  You need a taste of reality along with the beluga caviar.” 
           “Okay,
I’ll make a deal with you.  We’ll take in a few sights all together, then I get
to plan one day and you have to do whatever I want to do the way I want to do
it.  Then the next day, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.  How’s that?” 
           Nina
smiled to herself, she knew exactly what she wanted Daniel to do.  “Okay, it’s
a deal.” 
           They
agreed to start in Varanasi, the oldest city in India, and one of the oldest in
the entire world.  It was a messy, colorful and sacred city filled with amazing
and exotic sights and sounds.  At first, Boris was losing his mind, trying to
shelter the other three as they threaded their way through the narrow lanes of
the old city on their way to the ghats, the steps leading down to the Ganges
River.  But then he relaxed when he realized that despite the numbers of people
opening their stalls in the market, or heading to the ghats, most everyone
seemed pleasant and peaceful. 
           Somehow,
they had managed to drag Daniel from his bed for the 5:30am Varanasi tradition. 
At the bottom of the ghats, small wooden boats piloted by an oarsman awaited to
take pilgrims and tourists out onto the ancient and holy river to watch the
sunrise light up the city.  There was something about this ancient tradition
that made the group speak in hushed voices, and Nina and Kennedy had purchased
little floating votives of candles and fresh flowers that everyone who went out
on the boats released on the river.  They climbed aboard, and the oarsman
pulled them into the center of the river.  It was still dark, and little
floating candles lit up the water everywhere.
           Nina
handed one of the votives to Daniel and gestured to him to set it on the
water.  He looked at her, confused.  “Why am I doing this?”
           “You’re
paying your respect to the