Chapter 63: Heading to Montenegro

By the time William returned to the Hilton Hotel, it was already noon. He sat in the living room, enjoying a lavish meal with Alexandra, who was still feeling a bit under the weather. William noticed that his appetite had significantly increased—he was now eating three times more than an average person.

Watching William devour his food, Alexandra couldn't help but feel envious. She dared not indulge so freely; being a model was not as easy as it looked.

After lunch, William and Alexandra took a nap together. By 2 PM, they were out and about, ready to explore the city.

Late February in Miami brought mild temperatures around 68°F (20°C). A light jacket was all one needed to stay comfortable.

William accompanied Alexandra as they shopped in Miami's luxury boutiques. Chanel, Dior, and LV—store after store, they shopped until 7 PM, with William's arms laden with shopping bags.

Passing by a coffee shop, William pulled the still-enthusiastic Alexandra inside. Despite his strength and stamina being several times that of an average person, he was exhausted. Women's love for shopping was truly relentless.

Holding onto William's arm, Alexandra sat down in a booth, chattering happily about how she used to want everything but couldn't afford it. Today, she finally fulfilled her dream of shopping without restraint.

Seeing William's fatigued face, Alexandra felt a bit guilty. She looked at him apologetically and continued to playfully tease and act cute. They had spent £40,000 in just a few hours—an amount she wouldn't have dared to spend before. Her annual savings were often less than that.

Alexandra Ambrosio felt she had made a wise choice. William was not only considerate but also talented, handsome, and generous.

However, to William, this amount was trivial. It was like having $10,000 and spending $4 for a girlfriend—he might even feel like he got a frugal one.

After resting for a while, William called the hotel to arrange for their purchases to be sent back to their room. He felt a bit guilty about having to leave Alexandra for his trip to Montenegro and wanted to make the most of their time together. They continued their outing until 10 PM when the shops closed.

Back at the hotel, Alexandra collapsed onto the couch, motionless. William had always thought women never got tired of shopping, but now he saw differently.

Sitting beside her, William gently massaged Alexandra's shoulders and legs. "Did you enjoy shopping today, my dear?"

"Mm, yes. William, you're wonderful. I love you so much. Today, you finally helped me fulfill my long-repressed shopping dream. Thank you, sweetheart. Here, a kiss for you as a reward," Alexandra said.

Over an hour later, their lovemaking came to a peaceful end. William held a sweat-drenched, exhausted Alexandra in his arms, breathing in the scent of her hair. "Darling, do you have any other plans after your fashion show tomorrow?" he asked.

Lying on the couch, Alexandra responded softly, "No, dear. I haven't received any other invitations for fashion shows yet. I don't even know if anyone will hire me for the spring shows this year. It's really frustrating. I don't have many gigs lined up," she pouted, snuggling closer to William.

William's thoughts drifted to more intimate activities.

Turning to Alexandra, he said, "Darling, let's go for another run. I have to catch a flight to Montenegro at 3 AM, and you'll be busy with your show for the next couple of days. I'll be away for two or three days."

At around 1 AM, after another round of passionate exercise, William spoke to a nearly asleep Alexandra, "Alright, love, I need to head to the airport. How about we meet in Switzerland after your show? I'll take you skiing."

"Mm, sounds good," Alexandra murmured, barely able to muster the energy to speak, still lying on the couch.

"Okay, I'm off."

"Mm, you go ahead. I need a break from you for a few days; otherwise, you'll wear me out completely."

William chuckled, "Take care of yourself. I'll be waiting for you in Switzerland. Call me once you've booked your flight, and I'll pick you up at the airport."

"Okay, dear. Be careful," Alexandra whispered, giving him a sleepy kiss before drifting off to sleep.

William boarded a private jet to Montenegro. Small jets were a hassle, requiring refueling stops in Iceland and WYN, taking a total of 13 hours to reach Montenegro.

As he exited the airport, he saw Bond approaching with a dark-haired woman.

After a handshake and brief greeting, Bond introduced the woman, "William, this is Miss Vesper Lynd, an accountant from the Treasury. Vesper, this is William Devonshire."

"Good afternoon, Miss Vesper Lynd," William said as they shook hands.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Devonshire," Vesper replied.

With introductions out of the way, Bond suggested, "William, let's get to the hotel first."

They escorted William to an old-style Rolls Royce taxi. Bond handed William a folder, which he opened to find two passports and a sheet of paper. It detailed William's new identity as Arlington Beale, a professional gambler. Vesper Lynd, under the alias Stephanie Broadchest, was to pose as his girlfriend.

Reading the documents, William quipped, "Bond, I'm quite a well-known figure now. Do you think people will buy these credentials? And Miss Vesper, we're supposed to be lovers. Shouldn't we be sharing a room? I wouldn't mind that at all," William said with a playful grin.

"No, Mr. Devonshire. I'm a devout Catholic. For my reputation and future marriage, I think we should get separate rooms," Vesper responded firmly.

"I dislike that religion creates barriers between us, preventing some enjoyable interactions," William joked.

Vesper looked a bit uncomfortable. "Religion is a protective barrier. Surely, you have no objections to that, Mr. Devonshire."

"Not at all. Don't worry. You're not my type," William replied, turning to look out the window.

"Because I'm intelligent? Does that make you feel less accomplished?" Vesper retorted.

"I have no interest in women who already have boyfriends or husbands," William shot back, noting the Algerian love knot necklace she wore—a symbol of eternal love. It was clear to him that she was spoken for, making her entirely unappealing to him. Pursuing someone already in a committed relationship was unethical.

"Bond, why did the Treasury send an accountant? What does this have to do with them?" William asked.

Bond chuckled. "I think it's best if you don't know. If you did, you might lose your mind," he said, laughing as he glanced at Vesper.

"To prevent you from evading taxes again, Mr. Devonshire. We believe you have a history in this area," Vesper stated.

William's mind raced with irritation. "When have I ever evaded taxes? That's slander. Be careful what you say, miss. I could sue you for that."

Damn tax evasion. If they had proof, they would have arrested me long ago.

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