“We ought to introduce ourselves. I am Eric Kent.”“Carmen White,” I told him flatly.I smiled at him and observed him keenly just to make sure that he can be trusted. For I have to find someone who would help me to escape.He moved ahead and opened the door of the car, I climbed into it and he joined me. He started the car and we drove forward.“What are you doing in this estate?” I asked him curiously as I looked ahead.“I am botanist,” he said glancing at me.I was shocked. “Really!”A flicker of amusement crossed his face. “Why do people always respond like that I wonder? What's strange about the study of plants?”“Is that what you're doing here? Studying the vineyard?”“I am making a tour of the Italian suburbs observing plants, he said “It is actually a Ph.D. stuff. I am doing a thesis on different species of plants found here.”“It sounds fascinating,” I said. “It is,” He said, and his voice was eager, and it had a thread of excitement. "But some people think it's boring so I usually don't tell to anyone about it as I love what I do."“Where are you staying? I asked as I saw him driving straight towards the villa."“At the Villa,” he said startling me into staring at him.“What? But I haven't seen you there. ““Oh that's because I've been away doing my fieldwork.” he grinned. “ I went down to another vineyard, you know it's miles away from here but I had to visit the owner's son as he is a botanist himself. I had stayed there for a few days to get acquainted with his work. But his family is so welcoming that I outstayed my days and so I decided to return as I have so much work that needs to be finished."Ada had not mentioned any of this, I thought. “Does Marc know that you are in the villa?” I demanded and Eric Kent gave me a quick look. And I wondered if I was hallucinating. “I made this arrangement with him a year back. This is in fact his car. He said I could use it to get around. You are not thinking that I would walk into the house and treat this villa as a hotel without his permission or knowledge?”“I am sorry,” I apologized. “of course not, it’s just that nobody has mentioned you and I had no idea a Stanger was living in the villa that’s all. How long are you staying?” I asked him flatly. ‘one more day.” he said casually, and it was then that the idea came into my mind. I took control of my breath shortly, as it flashed into my mind that I can take his help and Kent looked at me questioningly.“How are you leaving?” I asked. He grimaced and said. “Well, Marc had told me to use this car and had also insisted that I can take the car back to the city and leave it there and hand over the keys to his guy but as I am going to many places I won’t be taking his car. I've drawn up my itinerary a long time back.”Very casually I asked him. “Are you going alone or you will be traveling with someone?”He shook his head and said. “A friend actually he's working in another vineyard. He is crazy about plants just like me, so he is picking me up and dropping me at my next destination than going on alone further ahead.”“Is he from your country?” I asked because that was important. If he was an Italian he would hesitate to offend Marc Garcia.“More or less,” Eric Kent said and he laughed. “What does that mean?” “Well he has an English passport, but he hasn't lived there for years. He is a wonderful man and I met him in Istanbul three years ago since then he's been living in America, Greece, India, Bhutan, and the list goes on. The list is endless. He works for a while until he is bored then he skips off to a different destination. As I said, he's bored quite easily and he's crazy when it comes to traveling it’s what he lives for.”I breathe softly. “Would he take a passenger? “Eric Kent turned around and looked at me very closely. “You mean, You?”“Yes, me” I noted watching the Villa from a distant view under the gleaning sunlight. “I want to get away from here.”“Does Marc know?" He asked me hesitantly.I said quickly “Don't tell him please he mustn't know but I have to get away.” And my desperation was in my voice making the point clear.He was surprised but said. “Oh, I get it I have heard he is very ruthless.” He frowned “Why on earth did you come here with him if you feel like that? ““ I must have been out of my mind,” I said. “But will you please help me? “He did not even hesitate. “of course. It will be wonderful to have you along with us or it might be very boring with the two of us chewing our brains.” I was light-headed with relief. “Thank you can't imagine how grateful I am to you. “He grinned at her. “Well, at least you have learned a lesson that Italian men can be very ruthless and you should not trust them .” I liked him he was a nice man. I sensed that I could trust him as his eyes were direct and all though he was aware of me as a woman he was not aggressive about it, he merely noted it and let it go. I wouldn't have any trouble with him I knew it. We had reached the Villa and he pulled up outside the main door. I climbed out stiffly brushing the dust from my clothes. The door swung open and Ada gave us a hostile look without expression. Eric Kent grinned at her slightly. “Back again like a bad penny,” he said. “I missed you Ada and your cooking," he said lovingly.Ada gave him a slight smile at that. Unbending just a fraction then her dark eyes moved back to me. “Where have you been? We have been worried about you. You have been gone for hours. Marc was asking about you! ““ I took a long walk,” I answered moving to the door with Eric Kent at my side.“It is very dangerous to walk in this terrible heat Mrs. Garcia,” Ada said. I noticed that she was using the name deliberately. I felt Eric Kent Stiffen and heard his intake of breath and anger swept over me.“I am not Mrs. Garcia,” I said icily staring at Ada with the cold challenge.Not wanting to create any misunderstanding.“You will give Mister Kent the wrong ideas Carmen.” said a cool mocking voice from behind me and my heart skipped a beat as I saw Marc standing there. “Don’t speak otherwise my love, I have our wedding photos to prove that you are my lawfully wedded wife."