“I just thought she was another guest,” she stammered.
“Do I go through this kind of trouble for just a guest?” I stepped forward. She scrambled back a few feet. “Do I scene with a someone three times if they are just a guest?”
Her eyes grew wide.
“Do I focus so much on aftercare and know her favorite things if she’s just a guest?” I towered over her, but instead of fear, an amused twitch lifted the side of her mouth.
“What?” I barked.
“I figured you knew her before this trip, but I didn’t realize you were in love with her.” Carol smirked.
“Be careful, Carol.” I lowered myself into my office chair and placed my hands on the edge of the desk.
“I don’t mean to overstep. I never question your methods, I’m sure you have your reasons, but I have never seen you with someone the way you are with her.”
“It can’t happen.” I flexed and unflexed my fingers and closed my eyes. The motion of the boat rocking in the water had a way of soothing me. The ocean waves calmed my soul.
“Then why are you bothering going after her?”
My eyes popped open.
Much like the ocean, Lucinda’s presence calmed me. Being with her made me better. Her laugh and smile soothed my jaded soul. I’d had five days to focus on her, and it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough.
“Because I’m not ready to let her go.”
Lucinda
It was so easy. Too easy.
I heard the helicopter return and my phone in my stateroom rang fifteen minutes later.
I hesitated to answer, thinking it was Zach, but thankfully it wasn’t.
“Oh good. You’re up.” Marcus’ voice was muffled by the sound of wind. “Pack a small bag. I’ll make sure the rest of your stuff gets to you later.”
“What? Where am I going?”
“I’m heading back to the mainland. I suggest you do the same. Mandy will be there in a few minutes.” He was walking. “The two of you will switch clothes and then you’ll meet me on the sky deck.”
“Marcus!”
“You told me this afternoon you wanted to get off the boat. Here’s your chance.”
“I don’t know.” I watched the door, expecting Zach to burst through it at any minute.
“Zachariah will not take kindly to me breaking his trust, but if you want to confront him, I think it would be wise to do it some other time and not in an environment where he is in complete control.”
For Doms I imagined there wasn’t many places on the planet where that wasn’t the case. Marcus had explained that he didn’t really understand Zach’s motives, but he did know he’d been following me on camera over every inch of the boat since I arrived. Listening to my conversations.
Zach used to entertain me with is mastery of impersonations. He’d imitated Marcus to a tea in our scenes. He knew stuff about our conversations. He’d even directed Marcus on occasions via text message.
Marcus was right. As much as I wanted to confront him and get answers, I wasn’t on equal footing. I was in his domain, and I had to take the chance to escape.
I also needed a chance to speak to my father.
“I’ll meet you on the sky deck,” I agreed.
A knock at my door catapulted me into action.
