Elli’s private island retreat, Mount Ellothon Aegean Sea, Greece
The scene could not be more contrasting. One of the most powerful women in the world next to one of the most powerful men in Australia. They were sitting at a wooden table that wouldn’t have been out of place in a monastery with its Spartan air and what you would call minimalistic luxury.
They were luxuriating in the creature comforts of Elli’s compound in the paradise of Mount Ellothon, both pityingly oblivious to their impressive surroundings that were changing as their conversation was developing to show the images of what they were talking about. To the untrained eye it was a surreal roll of film.
Andrew barely gave it a glance, and yet it kept distracting him and irresistibly drawing him in. He tried to shut it out and concentrated on what Elli was talking about.
‘Anyway, it’s good to have you here. You made it at last. I’ll be honest with you. I had my reservations. I know you are a busy man, Andrew, and I didn’t really think that you would bother to make an appearance. You do understand why I wanted you here. I wanted us to have a few days alone before we launched you back into the family bosom.’
‘I agree with the wisdom of that decision.’ Andrew paused. When he continued the tone of his voice was soft and nostalgic. ‘Elli, there’s been so much history between us. Why don’t we give it another go and try to recapture the magic of our first years together?’
Elli was not amused by the wave of nostalgic sentiment that seemed to have overcome Andrew. His sudden show of emotion took her by surprise and, if it was a seductive technique, it was not working. ‘Andrew, there’s been too much water under the bridge for grudges or animosity and for anything more than friendship. I didn’t ask you here to revisit a romantic liaison.’
‘Liaison? Is that how you see it now? You could fool me. If my memory serves me right, it didn’t feel like that at the time. It was deeper and more special than a simple romantic affair.’
Andrew, you know as well as I do that the honeymoon did not last long before the problems and your drinking started. What’s surprising is how we held it together for as long as we did. In retrospect we shouldn’t have let it reach the stage that it did. Every room we were in together became a battleground. Being tired from the constant rows led us to end up hating each other for turning everything into a battle.’ Elli’s tone became gentler. ‘But that’s all in the past. Life is too short for regrets and ‘what ifs’ and journeys into the past. Now, though we are here alone, except for the staff of course, I’m sure we can behave as adults and find something other than a romantic liaison to amuse ourselves. Do you fancy a swim before lunch?’
‘I’d love to.’
‘Good. I’ve asked Marios to get the boat out.’
‘The boat? I was thinking of something simpler, here. What do you have in mind?’
‘We will be sailing to Ikaria and having lunch on board. It’s only about an hour to get there.’
‘That sounds like a fantastic idea. You never cease to surprise me even after all these years.’
‘Well, you haven’t seen me for quite a few, at least not properly. Distant glimpses at various events and meetings don’t count.’