Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess novel Chapter 375

Josefina wasn't exactly unwilling to answer the call. She was afraid to. She hadn't even reached Rose Bay Island, much less shed her disguise. How could she possibly pick up?

Tapping away on her phone, she sent a quick message: [Dining with a client. I'll call you back in a bit.]

[What are you having? Snap a pic for me.]

Josefina replied, [Client's still here, not cool to take pics. I'll get in touch soon.]

As Josefina lowered her head to text, Hayden quipped with a chuckle, "Rosa, chatting with your boyfriend, huh? Is he as dashing as Hellfire, though?"

Josefina glanced up, "You've seen what's under his mask?"

"Of course, but that was back when he was just a lad. Years have passed, but with his genes, he won’t have lost his charm. He's surely just as handsome as ever."

Josefina sat on the deck, gazing at the azure sea, "Handsome or not, he's not my type."

The boat sailed on, the sea breeze carrying the tang of salt, a familiar sensation that wrapped around her heart.

Hayden settled beside her, observing the grown girl. "Rosa, why not stay on the island? You'd be taken care of. You are free to fish and sail around the world. How great would that be?"

"I've got other things to do. I can't stay put for now. Why don't you come with me to Westwood? After all these years at sea, don't you yearn for land?"

Shaking his head, Hayden said, "I prefer my sea life. Land’s just noisy crowds and too many hassles. It tires me out. I'm not fond of that."

Josefina didn’t press him, respecting his choice. She probed further, "The masked island chief, who is he? I've never seen him before. How did he become the new chief?"

"Rosa, you have met him."

The more he thought, the more he regretted having said that.

"So you've seen him without the mask?"

"Yes, Alfie did too. After that, he disappeared from the Demon's Isle, supposedly taken back by his family. Until now, this is only the second time I've seen him."

Josefina nodded thoughtfully, surprised she'd forgotten such an incident. Seven years, and she couldn't recall a thing.

...

Back in her quarters, Josefina peeled off her disguise. She found a dimly lit corner and returned the video call.

Oliver picked up promptly, his surroundings just as shadowy.