“It was?” I interrupted her, was the AI that Henry had created, no longer a part of the boat anymore?
Ruth shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, long story, I might be able to tell you some other time but right now you need a killer outfit, literally, the best outfit that there is.”
“Yes, and I need to find it quickly, I’m kind of in a time crunch right now.”
“Okay, well if I were you, I would choose the gold cut out one-piece, that will make your hips and ass look so good. If you want something where you know he is not going to be able to take his hands off, you then that would be my choice. It’s in the middle drawer to the left.” I followed her directions, pulling it out and throwing it on. “Also, there’s a sarong in the drawer underneath it, gold white and navy-blue pattern. They go amazing with the broad white hat you’ll find on the top self in the far corner.”
Wow, she really did know this place inside out. I tied the sarong around my hips, reached for the hat, making a note to quickly brush my hair before I walked downstairs. I think Iwould have to opt for a no make-up day, not just because I felt like I didn’t have time, but it was probably the best thing when it came to going snorkeling anyway. However, I really did need to find some sunscreen.
“And there are some gorgeous white platform sandals in the front left shoe shelf,” she said leaning against the shelf in the middle of the wardrobe as she watched me run around. Holy shit, she wasn’t joking. The shoes were divine, I pulled them down from the shelf, feeling my heart flutter again as I noticed the Balenciaga symbol on top of the left shoe. As I stepped my foot into them, they really did feel like clouds. I caught a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror behind me. This outfit really was killer. How was this my life?
“Wow,” I sighed.
“I know right,” Ruth said with a large smile taking over her face, proud of her efforts. “Glasses are in the bottom drawer in here,” she said pointing to the exact spot. I opened the drawer to see nine different pairs on sunglasses as I opted for the large black ones. Did Henry really think that I needed nine pairs of sunglasses. I know it was nice. Beyond nice, it was absolutely incredible. I clipped the glasses to my swimmers, right in between my boobs, before taking another look at myself in the mirror.
“Are you okay, Molly? You seem a little on edge.” said Ruth.
Iwason edge, I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that Dylan. I needed to go and find him before I got on the boat. I needed to chat to him so that I could clear mymind. If the fact that an AI was reading into how on edge that I was, there was no doubt that Henry was going to feel it too and I was still unsure about how much I should tell him about last night. I hated the fact that any of this happened, I hated the fact that I felt like this. I should have been swooning in the magic that was last night and the very moments that I got to spend with Henry, a day out on his yacht, as official boyfriend and girlfriend. And somehow of all places, as isolated as I was, my fucking ex was here, screaming for me to go home and calling out about missing people. The more I let my thoughts wander, the angrier I felt. I had to find Dylan.
“I am a little on edge,” I sighed.
“Is there anything that I can help you with?” said Ruth, gazing at me intently.
“Ruth, do you know how to keep a secret?” I said, instantly regretting that I even asked that question. I had nothing to hide, and I certainly had nothing to hide from the very man that had been as vulnerable as he had been with me, and visa versa. I don’t know why I was worried to tell him about Dylan. It was more the worry that Dylan put into me, his crazy words running through my head.You can’t let anyone know that we know each other.
“You can talk to me about anything, Molly. That’s what I’m here for. We’re friends.”
Ruth looked back at me smiling, and just as I went to open my mouth, there was a knock at the door of the wardrobe. I spun around to see the doors opening and Jackie was standingin the middle of the doorway, wearing the same spotless silk suit as yesterday.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, her cheeks turning a little pink as she stepped back from the doors. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to be in here. Henry just asked me to organize some bags for the day out on the yacht. You know, towels, sunscreen and things,” said Jackie. I was glad that someone here was actually calling it a yacht.
“It’s fine,” I said. “C’mon in. I was just going to head down for breakfast anyway.”
“Oh, of course,” said Jackie, “I’ll head down with you and make sure that everything is set up.” That was the last thing that I wanted her to say. I was hoping that I could use this time to search for Dylan, but without having to lie or make a fuss, I simply smiled and thanked her, following her out of the wardrobe.
“Molly are you sure you didn’t want to finish our conversation first?” said Ruth.
Jackie’s head turned towards Ruth, just before the doors to the wardrobe closed. I watched Jackie clench her jaw and wrap her arms in front of her chest, as she glared back at Ruth. Strange, I mean I knew that Ruth was nothing but an AI, but I thought that the two of them got along. I thought that they were friends by the way that Ruth explained how the two of them had been working together creating this very wardrobe for me. But by the way that Jackie was staring back at her, the vibe between them felt contentious.
“What conversation?” Jackie said bluntly.
“Oh, it’s nothing, I’ll chat to you later, Ruth,” I said turning my back to her as Jackie followed me into the elevator.
“Jackie, do you ever get a break, like when do you get to leave this place and go see your family?” I asked, on the way down to the ground floor. I kept my eyes locked on the inside of the glass elevator, wondering if I could get a glimpse into the many different levels that I had yet to scope out to get a gist of where Dylan might be.
“I don’t have a family,” said Jackie.
“Oh,” I replied, my heart sinking into my chest but I didn’t say anything more. Both I and Henry knew it all too well that you couldn’t say much in a situation like that.
“I actually met Henry when we were younger, we became pretty good friends. We had been in and out of the foster situation together. But Henry had family friends that he ended up staying with and he built the life that he did. And me, well, I ended up going down a much darker path. In fact, I was stuck in that path until my twenty-first birthday. When fate should have it, I ran into Henry in the city and well, he helped me more than I could have asked for. He pulled me out of my own self-pity, and he gave me a reason, a purpose and a life. I began managing this place from the very start. I managed the building of the island and now I manage the whole island. So, to answer your question, I pretty much live here,” she said.
“Oh wow, that’s incredible,” I said. Henry had given her a whole new life, and I felt like he was just about to do the same for me, by the way we spoke last night.
“Yes, you’ve got a really good man on your hands, that’s for sure,” said Jackie and I smiled as the elevator doors opened.
I followed Jackie out towards the dining area outside. The alfresco table had changed to a long twelve-seater outdoor dining table. It was still only Henry and I dining, but the table was filled with a spread big enough to feed a dozen people. There was the most colorful fruit platter, buttery toasted bread, a stack of pancakes with a side of every kind of syrup, various hot plates that still had their silver tops covering them. But my guess was that was the eggs and savory options and in the corner of the table was a tall pile of croissants that I had no doubt were the same ones Dylan was cooking fresh last night.
Jackie pulled a seat out for me, as I sat down feeling like actual island royalty. “Henry shouldn’t be too long,” she said.
