“And is re-vacuuming the Sky Lounge on that list?”
Alyssa doesn’t respond.
“Then I don’t see what the issue is. Seems I’ve made it very clear what you ought to be doing.”
“Someone’s got to pick up the slack around here,” Alyssa mutters when she bends over to wind up the vacuum cord.
I suck in a breath through my nose, because if I open my mouth too soon, this will end badly. “Remind me, who is the chief stewardess on this yacht?” Alyssa keeps her attention on the vacuum cord and doesn’t answer. “Oh right.I’mchief stew,” I continue. “And whether you like it or not, you answer to me. If you want to do things the way they’re done on your old boat, thenWhy Knotgo back?”
Alyssa is spared having to respond when Xav’s voice comes on over the radio. “RJ, Nina, this is Xav. I need you in the wheelhouse ASAP.”
I sigh and bring the radio to my lips. “Nina here. I’m on my way.” I clip the radio back to my skirt and turn to Alyssa. “Since you love vacuuming so much, why don’t you do the main salon next. Go wild. Do a chevron pattern on the carpet if you want.”
I can feel Alyssa glaring at my back as I leave the Sky Lounge, but I don’t waste a second more of my time dwelling on her power dynamic issues. Instead, I’m rehearsing what I’ll say when I get to the wheelhouse. This has Ollie written all over it. I know, because only ten minutes ago I heard him radio Xav to ask if they could have a chat, and after last night, what else could it be about?
The regret over what I said to him last night fades a little as I near the door to the wheelhouse. Why Ollie feels the need to get involved in the running of my department is beyond me. I ought to break out the masking tape and mark off his area of the boat to remind him of his place. Galley: Ollie. Everywhere else in the interior: Nina. It’s simple, really. You’d think he’d get that after working with me this long.
I’ve got peak bitch face in place when I step into the wheelhouse. Xav and Ollie are already seated, but I’ve arrived before RJ. Neither Xav nor Ollie looks happy, which works for me. At least there’s something we can all agree on.
“Take a seat, kiddo,” Xav says.
I don’t look at Ollie when I sit, leaving an empty chair for RJ between us. Normally I’d walk in here and demand to know what the surprise department-head meeting is all about, but I already know and wish I didn’t. No one speaks until Xav sighs a minute later and mutters, “Where the hell is RJ?”
Xav leaves the table to look out the wheelhouse windows. When he pulls out his radio to call for RJ again, I lean toward Ollie. “You hadnoright to interfere.”
“Come off it, Neen. That’s not even—”
“I had everything under control. There are only two days left of this charter and—”
I’m interrupted by RJ’s arrival to the wheelhouse. “Sorry, Cap,” he says. “Guests wanted the slide.”
Xav’s beard twitches in annoyance. “I don’t care if they want you to set up a dick-measuring contest; when I say to get your ass to the wheelhouse ASAP, you stop whatever it is you’re doing and drag yourself up here. Got it?”
RJ nods. Xav gestures to the table and returns to his seat. RJ settles in between me and Ollie. Perfect. Never in a million years did I think I’d rather look at RJ’s face than Ollie’s. But I suppose some things do change after all.
“This is going to be uncomfortable,” Xav says. He settles his gaze on each of us in turn.
I peek around RJ to glare at Ollie, who seems to be very purposefullynotlooking at me.
“I hate to do this,” Xav continues. “Especially when everyone’sworked so hard, and we’ve almost made it through, but I’ve got no choice. We’re ending the charter early. As soon as we’re done here, we’re setting sail back to Simpson Bay.”
Fucking Ollie and his meddling. “I don’t know what Ollie said, but it’s really not that bad.”
“Neen—” Ollie starts.
“We’ve got less than forty-eight hours,” I say. “I’ve dealt with worse, honestly.”
“Not that bad?” Xav says. “Do you know what’ll happen if we get caught with drugs on board? It doesn’t matterwhothey belong to. Forget this charter, the whole goddamn season will be over.”
“Drugs?” I look from Xav to Ollie to RJ. RJ is the only one who looks as surprised as I am.
Xav fishes something from his pocket and smacks a small plastic baggie containing white powder onto the table. “This was found in the primary’s bathroom this morning,” Xav says. “Beats me why Chef is bringing it to my attention instead of you, Nina. Whatever is going on with interior needs to work itself out, because if I have to get involved, no one will be happy.”
“Oh,” I say. I can’t unglue my eyes from the baggie on the table. Why had Ollie been the one to bring this to Cap? What was he doing in the guest rooms?
“Chef,” Xav says, “we won’t get back to the dock until after lunch, so you’ll still have to cook for the little asshats, but don’t put too much effort into it. Nina, RJ, I don’t want the guests finding out what’s going on until we have to tell them. Clue in your departments but instruct them to keep it quiet.”
“Copy,” RJ says.
