ELENI 8 JUNE #2
Rumour had it, Rory splashed out over a hundred grand on these holidays – and Eleni could believe it.
This bonus scheme had been running a few years, and she thought she’d missed out when she didn’t get on the last one: Ashworth had hired a luxury resort on a private Caribbean island for a week, and the winners had flown there and back first class.
She’d chatted to them when they’d returned, their tales of private chefs and daily spa treatments leaving Eleni’s jaw on the floor. Unbelievable.
But actually, thank God she’d not been picked.
If she had, she’d never have got to come here – previous winners weren’t eligible for the next trip.
And this yacht made even the world’s most glamorous resort look like a three-star motel.
Shame she wasn’t on social media these days, and that her girlfriends had drifted away.
She’d love to share this with them – her best friend from uni, Bella, had a thing for sailing.
She’d have been beside herself seeing pics of the Lusso.
‘Yes, this is just about the most perfect start to the day any one of us could possibly imagine, isn’t it?
’ Rory’s voice was loud enough for people on the next island to hear as he went on: ‘I hope you’re all counting yourselves lucky to get a taste of how the super-rich live.
Not something any of you will likely experience again, eh? ’
Eleni cringed. She got on fine with Rory – she knew how to manage him: laughing along with his jokes, no matter their poor taste; allowing his patronizing comments to wash over her.
She could handle it, if it meant she’d keep forging ahead in her career.
But not everyone could; even Talia looked uncomfortable as he spoke.
Johanna returned then, placing coffee and a plate of delicious-looking eggs in front of her.
Eleni started to dig in with gusto, then remembered where she was and who she was with.
Don’t scoff the lot down in one big gulp like you’re eating with the boys.
A few small, ladylike bites, then a delicate dab at the sides of her mouth with her napkin – and repeat.
As the table fell quiet, Eleni darted a sideways glance at Lucy: her expression was stony.
She wondered if it was in response to Rory’s cringey banter.
She looks so uncomfortable. Not only was it odd that Lucy had managed to get a spot here, but now she didn’t even look happy about it.
Why did she even bother coming, if she was going to be this miserable the whole time?
She turned back to Nick; he was staring at the floor as he took mouthfuls of his eggs and bacon.
He was probably hungover – he’d been walloping back the cocktails during the quiz last night, so this fry-up would be going down a treat.
She took in his profile: the curl of his eyelashes; the curve of his lips.
After a decade together, she still found him breathtaking.
‘How’s your breakfast?’ she asked. ‘Looks so good.’
He smiled at her. He had a way of looking intently at her – at everyone – as though no one else existed. He could make anyone feel special; he was known as the sergeant who could get even drug dealers and gang members to open up – for good reason.
‘It’s delicious,’ Nick replied. Then he leaned close and said more quietly, ‘But not as delicious as you.’
Eleni giggled – how did he still do that to her? ‘Shh,’ she said, flushing. As he pulled away, he dropped his napkin, then leaned down to the deck floor to pick it up and spread it back over his lap.
She was glad to see him happy here so far.
She’d been worried how he’d react if she won the trip – before she knew she could bring a plus one.
Nick would have been anxious about her going alone – they’d always travelled together, off on globe-trotting adventures before they got married and had the boys.
In the ten years they’d been a couple, she’d never been away without him.
And his job meant Nick was always on alert for danger – he worried about Eleni if she took too long in the corner shop.
So when she’d learned that winners could bring a plus one – well, that was it.
She knew she’d do anything to be here. With Nick joining her, it solved the issues of leaving him alone with the kids and him worrying about her.
And this was her chance to get closer to Rory and Talia.
To spend some time together, the four of them – two successful, powerful couples getting to know each other, away from the distractions and pressures of life back home.
Nothing to distract them – nothing to draw their attention elsewhere.
When she won her place she’d told her mum and her sister why, in no uncertain terms, she and Nick both needed to be there.
They’d fallen over themselves to help, as Eleni knew they would.
‘Now, Johanna, remind us: what’s on the agenda today?’ asked Rory, through a mouthful of bacon.
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘This morning, we’ve arranged for some local massage therapists to join us on board for a bit of pampering.
Then we’ll sail around the north-western tip of Moorea to Tiahura beach, where we’ll anchor.
After lunch, we’ll take the tender to shore and you’ll make a short jeep ride inland to see a Polynesian marae. ’
‘Super! I love the sound of all that,’ said Rory.
‘Then you’ll have some free time to swim or relax on board before dinner.’
Free time? Eleni smiled: the phrase wasn’t in her vocabulary any more.
The boys, her full-on job, managing the household …
the never-ending pressure of everything.
She was constantly juggling a hundred balls – some made of plastic, some of delicate crystal, and she never knew which one was about to crash to the ground.
Excusing herself to freshen up after breakfast, Eleni headed back to her cabin alone, her brain ticking over her plans for the day.
She was keen to get chatting to Rory and Talia and find a good time for Nick to join her – she was determined to engineer an opportunity for the four of them to get together today, ideally over some drinks.
Musing on the best way forward, she finished brushing her teeth and put on some sun cream. Then she left the bathroom, picked up her bag and was about to head up to the sun deck to enjoy the view as they sailed – when something stopped her in her tracks.
A sound. It had snagged at her awareness; it was such an odd noise, unlike the usual noises on the boat. It was a quick, soft whirring – something mechanical.
She studied the room, tried to work out where it had come from. It had a different edge to it than the consistent humming of the air-conditioning – and the extractor fan in the bathroom was still running, so it couldn’t be that.
It’s nothing. It probably came from the crew quarters.
She sighed and tried to shake off her disquiet.
Why is this bothering me? Everything’s fine.
This was more than likely one of her ‘Eleni being Eleni’ moments that Nick ribbed her about: overthinking all the time, reading into things that weren’t really there.
But it was only by staying on alert, being tuned in to everything – everyone – that she could help life tick along smoothly.
It was just what she did: at home, Eleni was the one who kept things running – Nick’s shift patterns were unpredictable, and he often worked overnight.
The only way to cope was for Eleni to stick to a strict routine, to run a tight ship.
She started to feel calmer, but then the unease came rushing back. Something else was nagging at her – her internal alarm bells were going haywire.
‘Who’s there?’
She whipped her eyes around the cabin, turned to check outside the windows, then went back into the bathroom to check.
Stop it. What the hell is wrong with you?
It made no sense, but the feeling wasn’t going away. Standing there alone in her cabin, Eleni knew – and yes, it was more than just a feeling, it was absolute, rock-solid knowing …
… that someone was watching her.