Chapter 23
I wake up the following day shattered. Even though, after three nights, I’m getting used to the feel of sleeping at sea, it was very late by the time I got to bed, and I was plagued with bad dreams. And because Mehmet had effectively saved me from…
God knows what with Garry Gee, I felt obliged to have an apple tea and a game of cards with him and Emir’s grandmother.
And another game of cards as I became slightly better at it and more family members joined in.
Then another, but this time I was really getting the hang of it to the point of obsessively wanting to win.
But so did everyone else. The upshot being I went to bed obscenely late, and now I have to get up and clean the decks and prep for breakfast while horrendously sleep deprived.
Urgh. I prise my eyes open and blink some moisture back into them.
At least I have the full day at sea to pull myself together and make myself look presentable for this evening when Jackson will meet me at the harbour in Selimiye Bay to officially transfer me to head office.
I’ll be free from Garry. I can report his unorthodox financial practices and blatant bullying tactics to head office and be welcomed into the fold like an accounting superhero.
I’ll be much more suited to the office environment and managerial structure.
I picture an open-plan office with desks piled high with stacks of important papers and never-ending filing, while the low vibration of click-clacking from my calculator fills the air.
My heart skips a beat as I allow myself to imagine number-crunching my way through the day opposite Jackson (I have no idea how I will refrain from staring into his dreamy face) while I diligently process the LoveIt Holidays accounts.
Even though it has not even been two full days since I last saw him, it feels like forever.
I drag myself out of bed, sneaking by both Astrid and Tiffany, who are still sleeping, both wearing eye masks and earplugs.
As the cold shower helps soothe my tired brain, I formulate a plan.
There are a lot of things to do regarding my stealthy escape.
First, I need to gather all the evidence of financial misconduct to take with me.
I should do a thorough search of the boat.
If only I could gain access to Garry and Shaun’s cabin, I could probably find even more incriminating evidence.
Secondly, I need to return all of the stolen jewellery and the wads of cash to Emir’s family.
They’ve been incredibly generous, but I’d hate them to think I’d want extra money just for looking after their adorable, sugar-addicted son.
Finally, I need to be packed and ready to go, before I say goodbye to Emir because he will probably need to spend the evening with his parents and disembark at Selimiye Bay with the other guests.
I hurriedly towel dry my hair and silently slip into clean underwear and clothes before lifting my case up onto the bed without a sound.
‘What are you doing?’ Tiffany asks abruptly, sitting up straight in bed. She leans over to the porthole and pulls on the blind, which fills the room with early morning sun. Astrid remains gently snoring and oblivious.
She’s caught me red-handed. ‘Packing some things away,’ I say, hesitantly picking up my clothes from the drawer.
‘Why?’
‘Because with all of the mess you two make, I can’t find anything.
’ I sweep my hand around the room, the piles of their clothes heaped on the floor, the underwear draped over every surface and the copies of Just Seventeen and More!
magazines strewn around. It’s as though a crazed gorilla were let loose in the cabin.
‘It’s easier to keep my clothes in my case so at least I know where they are. ’
Tiffany flops back against the pillows. ‘It’s Astrid’s fault. Those hair crimpers, that scorch mark on the dresser and those hair scrunchies are nothing to do with me. Nor is that stain from her bottle of Dune. She’s a messy tart and that’s all there is to it.’
Astrid appears to wake at the mention of her name. Sitting bolt upright, she yells, ‘What? Who?’
‘Nothing,’ I say. ‘I’m just explaining why I’m packing some of my things away.
’ Lying is so stressful. ‘If you’re both awake, I’ll dry my hair before breakfast service starts.
’ I close the bathroom door behind me and exhale slowly.
I need my wits about me today. I take in my deathly pale skin, the dark circles and the bloodshot whites of my eyes.
This is not the look of a professional bookkeeper.
* * *
For once, the guests decide to help themselves to the buffet breakfast, which gives me a bit of free time, between customers, to rummage around in the cupboards and drawers of both bars.
I have reinstated the Mallet Method so every time someone orders a drink, I can write a receipt and get them to sign their name before sliding it over the nail.
I’m just admiring what a simple, effective system it is when Shaun leans on the bar. ‘Where’s Gee Man?’
‘Who?’ I refuse to acknowledge Garry’s stupid nickname. It’s petty, I know, but still.
‘Gee Man. As in Garry. As in your supervisor?’ Shaun is smiling, although his tone is brittle.
‘Oh, him.’ I pretend to think. ‘Maybe he’s skiving off as usual. Or maybe he’s busy getting customers to sign for drinks they haven’t had. Who knows?’ I go back to searching for evidence to hang him with.
I hear Shaun tut. ‘Well, if you see him, tell him the diving excursion planned for today will have to be cancelled. The dinghy has a puncture. We’ll stop off by the caves outside Selimiye Bay tomorrow morning and me and Tiff can take a group diving there instead. Okay?’
‘Okay. But honestly, you’re better off telling him yourself.’ I stand up. ‘I doubt I’ll see him. I’m not his favourite person at the moment.’
He hesitates a fraction. ‘Fair enough. And thanks for covering for me and… you know.’ I notice his cheeks glow pink. ‘Tiff would be furious if she found out.’
‘Then why do it? Why string two women along? They both obviously care about you. Why can’t you just pick one?
’ The controlling bossy one or the psychopathic deceitful one.
Can’t be that hard, surely? I’m sick of men thinking they can treat women however they like.
As though we don’t have feelings. As though we aren’t worthy of respect or honesty or the truth.
He looks at me with a blank expression as though the thought had never crossed his mind. ‘Because… well, because why would I settle for one when I can have my cake and eat it? Besides, they’re both grown-ups. They know what’s going on. It’s harmless fun,’ he scoffs before he ambles away.
I am blown away by the sheer arrogance.
‘What were you two talking about?’ Astrid leans over the bar. At least she’s talking to me again.
‘Nothing.’
‘It wasn’t nothing. You both had words coming out of your mouths.’
‘He was looking for Garry, that’s all.’
‘Was he asking about your huge row with him?’
‘No. And how do you know about that?’ I could have done with her around last night. ‘Did Shaun tell you Garry was very threatening? Did he tell you Garry almost tried to throttle me?’
Astrid makes a jokey face. ‘If we’d known, we would have formed a queue.’
Very witty. Under normal circumstances, I would have laughed. But I am still very sleep deprived and exhausted. ‘Have you seen Garry? Did he tell you what we argued about?’
‘No. I overheard you rowing from the top deck. I did happen to see you come out of the dining room with that nice-looking giant Chicken fella though.’ Astrid smirks. ‘And I’m not surprised Garry lost his rag. He’s furious you’ve basically charmed the whole family and taken all of his tips.’
‘That is totally not true.’
‘You didn’t get to bed till very late,’ she says, accusingly.
I literally can’t remember coming to bed, so I’ll leave that one hanging.
‘And to think you’ve been looking down on me like some sort of dirty tramp when you’re at it with the first rich Turk you come across.’
I can feel myself redden. ‘It was absolutely not like that. I was up playing cards. And I haven’t been looking down on you. If anything, I’ve protected you from—’
‘You looked steaming drunk to me. Banging into things, tripping over, you could barely stand up straight. And you put the bloody bathroom light on.’ This is developing into quite the list. She’s got her hands on her hips and a smug attitude.
‘That’s why I put my earplugs in and my eye mask on.
Give me some warning the next time you stay up late “playing cards”. ’
I am not doing myself any favours by engaging in this conversation because she’s probably not interested in the truth.
‘I think you’ll find my stumbling was thanks to all the mess you leave lying around. There’s no floor space to walk on. No wonder I tripped up and fell into bed.’ I lower my voice. ‘And this is the thanks I get for being discreet about your… erm, affair… with Shaun?’
She has the cheek to hold her hand to her mouth as though I hadn’t caught them at it multiple times. She leans further over the bar towards me, so that she’s barely audible. ‘It’s complicated. We were together for a long time before he cheated on me with Tiff.’
Oh.
Astrid calms significantly as though her energy is draining and looks me square in the eye. I’m not sure how to respond.
‘So, Tiffany is the one in the wrong?’
‘Not really. Like I say,’ Astrid says in a dejected tone before walking away. ‘It’s complicated.’
* * *
A few miles out to sea and the water is incredibly calm.
The guests are milling about on deck as I man the bar downstairs, mostly serving apple teas and coffee, while also playing chess with Emir, who is happily perched on a high stool at the end of the bench.
Astrid is manning the bar on the top deck and Shaun and Tiffany are on room-cleaning and towel-changing duty until lunch.
Garry must be ‘doing’ the accounts or whatever he does while we are doing actual jobs.
I will have to try and sneak away later to finish packing and, of course, I must return the contraband.
Mehmet sneaks up behind Emir and tickles him under the arms, causing a few chess pieces to fly off the board.
As he bends to pick them up, he asks me how I’m feeling today.
Mehmet is giving me a rather adoring look.
I hope he’s not one of those sapiosexuals, attracted to a woman’s intellect instead of her curves. I can do without any complications.
‘I have a tiredness headache. Like someone is drilling for oil in there.’
Mehmet laughs. ‘It was a pretty competitive night, for sure. I should have put money on you winning. You became like a machine.’
‘Did I?’ I fake laugh. Ho-ho-ho. Christ. After that third game I became single-mindedly determined to figure the strategy out.
Some might say annoyingly obsessive, eliminating family members from the game with ruthless efficiency.
It was quite the evening, and I think I went up in everyone’s estimations. I stare dazedly at him. ‘Coffee?’
‘Yes, please. Strong. Black. Four… no, five sugars.’
I can see where Emir gets his sugar addiction from.
I flit about pouring the tar-like liquid into beautifully designed, espresso-size porcelain cups specifically crafted for Turkish coffee.
They take their artisanal coffee very seriously here.
It’s more of a cultural experience than simply a hot beverage to perk you up.
I place the cup on a matching, intricately patterned saucer and slide it gently towards him.
‘Thank you. So, uh, what are your plans for today?’
‘Just working and playing chess,’ I say as brightly as I can. ‘Whatever the boss wants.’ I point my thumb towards Emir, who is delighted with this new job title.
‘Okay. Great. Emir, how would you like to go on a jet ski with me?’
Emir squeals with delight.
I wipe my hands on my apron and slip it over my head. ‘Certainly. I’ll sort that out, no problem. Would you like to take over playing the game while I pop downstairs to arrange things for you?’
‘The jet ski has room for three people?’ Mehmet asks hopefully, a flirty glint in his eye.
‘Yes. Yes, it does.’
‘Very good. Then you can accompany us too,’ he says, high-fiving Emir as though I’ve already agreed.
‘I’d love to,’ I say, making excuses. ‘But I’m so busy. Maybe it’s best you two do it alone. Garry has me on clean up again.’ And my heart is taken.
‘I don’t think Garry will be bothering you any more.’ Mehmet sits back and folds his arms.
My stomach lurches. ‘Erm, meaning?’ But Mehmet taps the side of his nose conspiratorially.
This family!
‘So, you will come,’ Emir says, smiling innocently. ‘I order you because I am the boss.’
I have created a monster.