Chapter 5
Thought of the day…
At times, you will need to put on the bravest face that ever was in the history of humanity.
(Even if inside, you’re screaming.)
As we motored away from the pier, Tommy at the helm, I kept a close eye on him and Elsa, scrutinising every nuance of their interactions. Mostly he issued instructions – to untie the buoys, or coil a rope, or raise a sail – and she deftly complied.
But the two times she approached him, they murmured, heads close together, their voices inaudible. Although Tommy’s heart-melting half-smile didn’t reappear, so I started to doubt myself. Maybe they were just colleagues.
But even if they aren’t, what business is it of mine? That stung, but I had no claim over Tommy. Not any more.
‘Isn’t it just incredible?’ Trudy asked.
I tore my eyes away from Tommy, who was hoisting the mainsail, the muscles in his forearms bulging as he expertly cranked the winch.
‘Er, yes,’ I replied. She was admiring the scenery, not the distracting sight of my ex’s muscles rippling. But both were incredible.
Trudy tipped her head to the sun and inhaled deeply. ‘And I just love the smell of the sea air, don’t you?’
It was a timely reminder of where I was and why. And neither had anything to do with Tommy. Taking Trudy’s lead, I inhaled deeply, the briny air filling my lungs. It was like taking a broom to the corners of my mind, sweeping away the cobwebs and dust.
‘I really do,’ I replied. ‘It’s invigorating.’
‘Ooh, good word. Yes, invigorating.’ Trudy was quiet for a moment, then said, ‘So…’
Uh-oh. It was obvious I was about to be in the hotseat.
‘Sorry to interrupt,’ said Niki, suddenly appearing before us. Not that I minded – she was saving me from an impending inquisition.
‘No problem,’ I said. ‘What’s up?’
‘Now that we’re under sail, it’s time to get some pics of you in your togs.’
‘Togs?’
‘Yeah, your swimmers.’
‘Oh right, yes.’ I rummaged in my beach tote and took out my bikini. ‘Where can I get changed?’
‘Oh, um… Actually, we’ve got some for you downstairs – in one of the cabins.’
‘Okay. And they’re in my size?’
She nodded. ‘I spoke to your assistant. It’s for the collab with Solari Swimwear,’ she explained, her pitch rising at the end.
‘Oh, that’s right,’ I said, recalling the marketing plan. I broke into a warm smile. ‘Let’s go see, shall we?’
Less than a minute later, as my eyes adjusted to the low light below deck, I started questioning the whole ‘collab’ thing. These weren’t bikini tops. They were pasties held together with string. And the bottoms weren’t much better.
‘Erm… Are there any other options?’ I asked, picking up one of the bottoms from the bed. What I presumed was the front was the size of a corn chip.
‘Oh yeah, for sure,’ she said. ‘They also sent over lime green and a floral design. But we figured these colours work best with the Aetheria logo. And you can choose.’
Having missed my point entirely, she gave me an encouraging thumbs up and left me to get changed. There were three bikinis laid out on the bed – identical, save for the colour – so with a sigh, I chose the aqua-coloured one and put it on.
There was a full-length mirror on the back of the cabin door and I turned this way and that, regarding myself with apprehension.
The top barely covered my nipples – forget ‘side boob’, I had ‘all boob’ – absolutely nothing left to the imagination.
And my arse was completely on display, the thin strip of fabric flossing my cheeks.
Oh, and the corn chip? Well, let’s just say it was a good thing I was freshly waxed.
I’ve never been shy about showing skin, but there’s body confidence and there’s full-frontal insanity. I was essentially wearing dental floss with delusions of grandeur.
‘It’s just a few photos and then you can put your clothes back on,’ I told my reflection.
The boat lurched, tilting from one side to the other. We must have been tacking – or jibing – I couldn’t remember which was which. Not that it mattered. Whichever one it was sent me flying, hurling me onto the bed right as Niki opened the cabin door.
‘Oh, sorry!’ she squealed, averting her eyes.
And no wonder. My legs were splayed and one of the nipple covers was askew.
I’d shown less of my body to my waxing technician.
‘I did knock,’ she added apologetically, which was technically true – even though she’d knocked and opened the door at the same time. Never a good idea.
I clambered off the bed and righted the three triangles of fabric, then took in a deep, bracing breath. I quickly checked my reflection again, smoothing an errant lock of hair, and gave her a winning smile.
‘All good. Let’s get those shots.’
She returned the smile with less confidence than I was pretending to have, and I followed her up onto the deck. I pointedly avoided looking at Tommy, who was standing at the helm, but in my periphery, I caught him openly gawping for a good five seconds before he composed himself.
Good, I thought, let him. I may have been this side of nude, but he could fill in the rest from memory.
‘That’s quite the bathing suit!’ Trudy exclaimed as I passed, unmissable admiration in her voice.
‘Thanks, Trudy,’ I replied over my shoulder.
Minh, who had been chatting with Dale, scrambled to keep up with me and Niki as she led the way to the bow.
‘Make sure you hold on,’ Tommy called out to us. ‘Always have one hand on the boat. You too, Minh.’
‘Aye, aye, Skipper,’ I replied loudly. ‘And maybe a little heads up the next time you tack – or jibe – or whatever,’ I muttered under my breath.
And poor Minh – how was he supposed to take photos while holding on to the boat with one hand? Thankfully, it seemed to have levelled out, gently rising and falling on a slight swell as we cut through the water.
Minh wedged himself into the bow pulpit – think Kate and Leo and that King-of-the-World moment – and Niki surveyed the scenery, then the deck, before her eyes settled on me.
‘How about reclining here,’ she said, pointing to the sun pad, ‘and we’ll get some pics with the island in the background.’
I carefully made my way to the sun pad, now faced with the next dilemma.
How was I supposed to get onto it gracefully?
Niki had already seen most of me, but I doubted poor Minh had signed up for that type of photoshoot.
I opted for a clumsy-but-modest manoeuvre – as in, falling onto my arse, then swinging my legs around until I was reclined.
Having done this sort of photoshoot once before, I moved into position, adopting a pose that showed off (what there was of) the Solari bikini. Minh abandoned the safety of his perch, stepping around me to capture shots while Niki gave directions.
‘Let’s get some with you turned towards the view, Ally,’ she said.
I rolled onto my side, knowing full well that my arse was on display – but by that stage not caring – and took in the scenery. Properly this time.
Bloody hell, Aetheria was even more beautiful from the water than it was from the air. We’d just rounded a point and were heading towards the white sandy cove I’d seen yesterday, the cliff rising steeply towards a glorious, cloudless sky.
I propped myself up on my elbow to get a better view.
‘That’s perfect, Ally!’ Niki called out. ‘Just one more there, then we’ll get some of you standing.’
I rolled onto my front, my legs bent and toes pointed. Minh moved around to my left.
‘Got it,’ he said.
Niki offered her hand to help me stand and I took it gratefully.
‘We’re going to drop anchor in this cove,’ Tommy shouted from the stern.
A moment later, Elsa bustled towards us, wearing her sucked-on-a-lemon expression. ‘Excuse me,’ she said in that surly tone that’s ruder than saying nothing. Niki and I stepped back to let her pass, then exchanged a glance.
As Tommy lowered the mainsail, the boat started to slow, and on his signal, Elsa activated the anchor, which clanked loudly to the sea floor. Soon we were bobbing in place.
Tommy called out from where he was securing the mainsail. ‘We’ll anchor here for a couple of hours. You should get some great photographs. And it’s calm – no risk of you being pitched into the sea,’ he told me with a cheeky glint in his eye.
I wasn’t sure how to take that. Was he just being helpful or trying to be charming? Either way, he was a distraction that I didn’t need – or want. I was working. Or trying to.
‘Excuse me,’ said Elsa, shoving past us again.
‘That was rather rude,’ said Niki quietly.
‘Maybe she’s here on a trial basis,’ I said.
‘I doubt it. She’s been here longer than me.’
‘Oh?’ I replied, unable to keep the amazement from my voice.
Perhaps Elsa was one of those people who interviewed well but turned out to be a nightmare. Julian probably had no idea she was such a sour-faced cow. But with Aetheria being high-end – lux, even – guests would expect nothing less than eager-to-please, approachable, and overly pleasant staff.
Maybe I should mention it, I thought, watching Elsa coil rope through slitted eyes.
‘Should we get those standing shots?’ Minh prompted.
‘Oh, sorry!’ I replied. ‘Lost in thought. So, where do you want me?’
* * *
‘Having a good day?’
I had a pita chip dripping with tzatziki halfway to my mouth when Tommy appeared next to me.
‘Yes, actually,’ I replied, putting it back on my plate.
I was full anyway. Elsa may have been a cactus in humanoid form, but she’d served a delicious lunch: horiatiki (Greek salad to us non-Greeks) with the ripest, most delicious tomatoes I’d ever tasted (seriously, I’d been ruined for life), fresh, garlicky tzatziki and pita chips, spanakopita with flaky filo pastry, feta and watermelon salad with mint, and octopus salad with red onion and capers.
It only occurred to me as I set my plate down that lunch was more likely Dimitra’s handiwork than Elsa’s. That was some Michelin-starred dip! But entertaining trifling thoughts about who prepared lunch was merely self-preservation – or a lifebuoy, to use a nautical term.