Pleasure Island Read Online Free Page A

hard to get the few breaks that come your way and are determined to make it to the top one day.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘The question is, do you have the most important commodity of all?’
    ‘Which is?’
    ‘Luck.’
    ‘I think you make your own in life,’ Nikki said.
    ‘Interesting,’ Roxanna replied, clearly intrigued. ‘How much are you prepared to gamble on getting this interview, then?’
    ‘You can’t even begin to guess how much I’ve gambled just to get this far.’
    ‘I probably can, actually, so I’m sure you won’t mind one last throw of the dice.’ Roxanna held out her right hand to reveal one of the Earl’s diamond- studded dice.
    ‘What are you suggesting – that I risk my whole career on one throw of the dice? Why should I?’
    The glint returned to Roxanna’s eyes. ‘Because it’s fun.’
    ‘It may be for you, but not for me,’ Nikki pointed out. ‘I stand to lose everything.’
    ‘So do I, in a way.’
    ‘How do you work that one out?’
    ‘Because that’s how highly I value my privacy,’ the princess said.
    Though she wasn’t overly happy with the situation, Nikki didn’t see that she had much choice. ‘What are your terms, then?’
    ‘That’s the spirit,’ Roxanna said. ‘Right, one roll of the dice. If it lands on an even number, I grant you a full exclusive.’
    ‘Including what you get up to on that island of yours?’
    ‘Absolutely.’
    ‘What if it’s an odd number?’ Nikki asked.
    Roxanna ran her eyes over her before replying. ‘You have to spend the night here, in this room, with me.’
    Nikki’s heart skipped a beat. ‘You can’t be serious?’
    ‘I assure you, I very much am.’ Roxanna held out the dice. ‘It’s decision time, Ms Foster. Do you feel lucky?’
    A sudden reckless urge coursed through Nikki’s veins. She sauntered over to Roxanna, took the dice out of the princess’ hand, and began to shake it.
    She cast it onto the bed; both girls held their breath. The dice landed right on the very edge of the covers. Though it was at a slight angle, it looked as if it had landed on a three. As Roxanna shifted her body weight to get a better look, she disturbed the dice. It trickled off the far side of the bed and fell onto the floor. Such was Nikki’s anxiety to see which number had come up, she dived onto the bed next to Roxanna. The two girls peered at the carpet and scanned the floor. Something glinted beneath the bedside cabinet. Roxanna reached out towards it. Carefully, she took hold of the dice and brought it out into view. Six sparkling diamonds shone brightly. Nikki sank back onto the bed and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
    Roxanna toyed with the dice between her right forefinger and thumb. ‘Lucky girl.’ She lay down next to Nikki, resting on her right elbow. Nikki reached for the Dictaphone once more. Roxanna stayed her hand. ‘How about one more throw?’
    ‘Double or quits? No thanks.’
    ‘No. Not so much double or quits. I was thinking more along the lines as to where the interview should take place.’
    Nikki was starting to get the distinct impression that the princess was something of a slippery customer and so she replied, ‘There’s no time like the present.’
    ‘Now, now, no need to be so hasty. How about I roll again and, this time, if it comes up odd I do your interview here and now, but if it comes up even, you come to my island for a long weekend and see for yourself what we get up to there?’
    Nikki’s mind raced. The offer seemed almost too good to be true. She tested the water to see if there was any catch. ‘I can’t afford to travel there.’
    ‘I’ll put my own private jet at your disposal. You’ll stay at my palace, so accommodation will be taken care of and, as you’re my guest, you won’t need to spend a single penny. Everything will be my treat. Apart from the poker chips on games night.’
    The more Nikki considered it, the more she warmed to the idea. ‘How soon were you thinking?’
    Roxanna