It still took fifteen minutes just to stroll through all the rooms and take it in. The finishes and construction were superlative. Each bedroom had a large steam shower and sauna. There was a private pool in the rear garden. We had a pool table and grand piano. There were dozens of fresh floral displays. This was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. I didn't care what we had needed to do to secure it because this was the most worthy splurge I could have possibly dreamed up.

As was our habit at home, we gathered around the bar when we finished our gawking tour of the villa. The coke had...