‘I didn’t know about the NDA stuff,’ he said quietly.
Ore wasn’t sure whether she believed him anymore. ‘Are you going to tell on Carlos?’ Ore was surprised by how wounded he looked by the question.
‘No, of course not. Listen, Ore …’ She was looking at him expectantly when he cut himself off. ‘Not here.’
He grabbed her by the hand and led her down a flight of steps and across the bottom deck. She thought about pullingher hand away at first, but despite herself, his touch felt comforting.
‘Where are you taking me?’ Ore asked, a little breathless from the pace.
‘Kit cupboard number 6,’ Daniel replied. As though that actually explained anything.
It turned out it did. It was a bit bigger than a cupboard, but it was full of kit, life jackets, water skis, one of those big blow-up banana things, though in its deflated state. The number 6 was painted on the door.
Inside, there was just about enough space for them both to stand between the shelves stacked with various iterations of neoprene.
‘Why are we here, Daniel?’ Ore felt exasperated and she wanted to get back to her pile of notes.
‘I wanted to speak to you in private, and I feel like there’s nowhere private on this boat.’ Daniel seemed flustered as he looked down at her hand, which he was still holding. He dropped it suddenly. ‘Oh God I’m sorry, this is actually so inappropriate. I’ve brought you to this weird cupboard and now you probably think I’m trying to … I don’t know …’ He went to reach for the door, but Ore grabbed his arm. She hadn’t seen him lose his cool quite like this, and it was kind of endearing.
‘It’s OK, Daniel. I’m OK. I don’t think you’ve lured me here to “do a Claude” or anything.’ She cringed; it was probably too soon to be making a joke of that, but Daniel laughed nervously and appeared to calm down.
‘I actually feel very safe around you.’ It came out of nowhere. She hadn’t believed she felt that way until she said it out loud.But it was true. ‘Although I was naive enough to think I could also trust you, so maybe I’m not the best judge of character,’ she added quickly.
There was that wounded expression again. ‘I didn’t mean to lie – it’s actually very unlike me. I don’t know why I did. I think that maybe I wanted you to … and in the end I never actually reported back anything that you …’ Daniel trailed off, breaking eye contact and standing up straighter. ‘Sorry, this is not your problem, I just wanted to bring you here to say that I’m not going to say anything to Chuck, and you don’t have to believe me but I’m saying it anyway.’
Ore was undecided; her body was so treacherous when she was around him. Everything about his presence made her feel calm and trusting but she couldn’t get Agatha’s words out of her head. ‘Agatha said I can’t trust you. She said she knew about the stuff I’ve been getting people to say about Chuck; she said he’s not happy about it,’ she said bluntly.
Daniel sighed heavily. ‘Ah, so that’s what she told you on the island.’
There really were spies everywhere apparently. ‘Yes.’ Ore was standing with her hands on her hips, waiting for his explanation.
‘Agatha and I … we had …’ He stalled again, searching her face for something, which he seemed to find. ‘We had a strange night. I can barely remember it …’
‘Oh God, Daniel, it’s OK. I don’t need to hear this; it’s none of my business.’ Ore was trying to stay level-headed, but her heart was beating too fast, and something like dread was coursing through her veins.Why was she having such a strong reaction to this?
‘No, no it’s not like that. Well it sort of is, but …’ Daniel sighed again.
Ore was trying to concentrate on keeping her breathing steady.
‘Basically she was complaining about Chuck and I told her that she wasn’t alone and that a lot of people you had spoken to insinuated similar stuff … I was trying to make her feel better … and then she tried to kiss me.’ He spoke with such earnestness and the room was so stuffy.
Ore felt disorientated. She didn’t know if she felt like laughing or crying. Every time she thought she was getting to the bottom of something, some other detail would emerge. She felt her heart slow, as she regained her composure. ‘I see.’ So it was Agatha who couldn’t be trusted? Or maybe it was both of them? Or everyone. She looked up at Daniel’s face. His deep brown eyes called to something in her, and she knew she was doomed to have faith in this man, in spite of any evidence that urged the contrary.
‘So you won’t tell Chuck about Carlos’ interview?’ Ore heard the pleading vulnerability in her own voice.
‘I promise,’ he whispered, and once again, she believed him, hoping with her whole heart that she wasn’t making a huge mistake.
They had gravitated even closer to each other in the small space. The intensity of their exchange pulled them to within touching distance, and Ore felt the urge again, to be held by him. The feeling was not excitement, like she usually felt with the men she was attracted to; she was not overcome by lust. It was something heavier, a grounding sensation. It was the same feeling she had had with Kyle.
They gazed at each other for a moment, and she thought she saw a glimmer of something in his eyes, something that she recognised. She imagined what it would be like to lean in, and cup his face in her hands. And then he took a step back.
‘That NDA stuff is dodgy,’ he said suddenly, looking away and bursting the bubble.
‘Yeah totally.’ She took his lead; this was not the time to get caught up in some romantic fantasy. The memory of Kyle’s rejection flashed through her head. She was doing it again, looking for comfort in others when she should be finding it in herself.
‘I mean Claude obviously has some hold over Chuck …’ she was musing out loud.
‘It can’t just be the money, but then they did go to school together so maybe it’s just an old friend’s loyalty?’ Daniel offered.
