5. Boarding Break Up
S itting next to Joshua in the back of the car, Poppy cursed herself for having trusted him. Just sharing the same air as the man plotting to kill her infuriated her, and Mina’s attempts to fill the silence with chatter about the ship’s amenities only heightened her unease.
Days had passed since the funeral. She’d waited for Joshua to come clean and confess everything, but he’d kept away, claiming he was busy.
The weight of his unspoken betrayal was becoming unbearable, casting a shadow of distrust over everything.
Perhaps it was best for both of them that he had stayed away; otherwise, she might have been tempted to push him off the balcony of her new penthouse.
Then again, two suspicious falls might be too much of a coincidence.
“When we first met, we agreed that I’d help you with your career, and you would be a buffer to stop my aunt from setting me up with men who could ‘benefit’ my aunt’s career.
Our relationship might be a lie, but I thought we were at least friends,” Poppy said suddenly, unable to stand the silence a moment longer.
She wanted to give him a chance, an inch, to come clean before it was too late.
“Of course we’re friends. Where is this coming from?” he asked, fidgeting with his expensive watch. His stale breath and the dark circles under his eyes told her he had been out all night drinking. Maybe planning to kill his girlfriend had worn him out.
“Do you feel like I didn’t hold up my end of the deal?” she asked, trying to make sense of his betrayal.
“Poppy, I’m too hungover to understand what you want to hear. Can we just enjoy our holiday, and when we return home, we can figure out our next move?” Joshua grumbled, his refusal to make eye contact a clear sign of his guilt.
Poppy gave up. As the Midas came into view at the end of the dock, flying the trident flag, a wave of relief and hope washed over her.
The ship, a symbol of her escape from Joshua and her troubles, was a welcome sight.
It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders and she could finally breathe.
“Who’s that?” she asked Mina as she got out of the car, nodding towards a tall man with broad shoulders talking to a staff member with a clipboard at the end of the pier by the boarding area.
He lifted his arm to adjust his collar, which was caught in his long navy jacket, and in doing so revealed the gun holstered at his hip.
The weapon sent a shiver down Poppy’s spine.
“As requested, your new bodyguard. Isaiah Rivers comes highly recommended by Mr Eckells. I should mention that he’s also a detective on leave.
I’ve spoken to him briefly, and I believe we can trust him to be discreet,” Mina whispered.
Joshua was overseeing the process of their bags being unloaded and brought to the ship.
“A detective? I thought you would hire a bouncer,” Poppy protested. The thought of being under the watchful eye of a detective, especially one she didn’t know, made her uneasy.
“Rivers showed up while I was making arrangements with Mr Eckells about the trip, and he offered Isaiah the job,” Mina replied.
Poppy wished she hadn’t let Marty retire after the funeral.
He was the only one on the security team she trusted, but he’d wanted to spend more time with his family, and she couldn’t deny his request. Isaiah was undoubtedly nicer to look at, but now wasn’t the time to focus on his designer stubble and dark eyes.
“Where’s Marty?” Joshua asked like an echo of her thoughts, staring at Isaiah like he had a disease.
Then again, it might be handy to have a detective around. She wondered if he had any cuffs on him.
“Marty retired; I told you that,” she said, hoping a smile would ease his suspicion.
“So he is…?” Joshua winced as the sun got in his eyes.
“Our bodyguard for the trip. He’s here to make sure we’re safe,” Poppy said, leading the way towards the boarding plank where Isaiah waited.
“How much protection do we need on a cruise ship?” Joshua argued, apparently frustrated by the change in plans.
“We’ve always brought security away with us. You’ve never complained before,” Poppy pointed out sarcastically.
“That’s different. We know Marty. We don’t need to be protected by a stranger. I can look after us,” Joshua said, loudly enough for Isaiah to turn from Mina and greet them.
“You must be Ms Roe.” Poppy liked how Isaiah directed his attention at her, ignoring Joshua’s temper tantrum. “I arrived early to go over some details with the staff. I’m Isaiah Rivers, and I’ll be your protective detail for the next two weeks.”
“I’m afraid we’ve wasted your time. We won’t need your services,” Joshua put in before Poppy could reply, making a show of sizing up Isaiah.
The two men were complete opposites; Joshua wore a Hawaiian shirt, socks, and sandals.
In contrast, Isaiah wore a shirt and trousers with a belt, highlighting his toned body, all business.
Isaiah smiled, clearly not bothered by his attitude.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I was hired by Mr Eckells, the owner of the Midas , to ensure Ms Roe’s safety during her trip.
Without his say, I won’t be leaving her side.
I’ll merely be a shadow. You won’t even notice that I’m here,” he said coolly.
Poppy silently thanked him for standing his ground.
He wasn’t easily swayed, which she respected.
“There’s no point in arguing. Everyone has a bodyguard on the Midas .
With so many important people on one ship, it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Mina interrupted, backing up Isaiah without hesitation.
Poppy figured it was because they both worked for the same person.
Still, she was curious about Isaiah’s background.
How had a detective ended up working for Levi Eckells?
Was he corrupt, or did he like to moonlight as a bodyguard?
She made a mental note to stop assuming the worst of people.
“Can I speak to my girlfriend alone for a minute?” Joshua snapped.
“Please don’t take too long, sir. We’re already running behind schedule. Captain Hamill doesn’t like to be late, and we have the other guests to consider,” the staff member with the clipboard said.
Ignoring her, Joshua started pulling Poppy to the side. When she didn’t move, his fingers dug in harder. She gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to slap his hand away.
“Unless you want to lose that hand, remove it from Ms Roe.”
Poppy wanted to tell Isaiah she could handle herself, but she was too amused by the stunned expression on Joshua’s sweaty face at his command.
“Who do you think you are? You work for us,” Joshua snapped.
“Mr Eckells assigned me to look after Ms Roe and Mina,” Isaiah said plainly. “I’d like to ask you again to please remove your hand.”
“Don’t lecture me about what I can or can’t do to my girlfriend!” Joshua glared at him, but Isaiah didn’t back down.
Poppy wouldn’t have put it past Joshua to take a swing at him, but instead he let her go.
Isaiah looked at her as though to check if she was alright.
She couldn’t remember if anyone had ever stood in her corner before; it felt odd.
Watching him return to Mina’s side, she smiled softly in acknowledgment and followed Joshua as he stormed off.
“Your girlfriend?” she began. “Laying it on a bit thick, considering you’ve been screwing Gabriella.”
He gaped. “How’d you—?”
“Don’t look so frightened. It’s not like we’re a real couple. You can screw whoever you like. In fact, I was going to talk to you about ending this farce earlier. But, you disappeared after the funeral,” Poppy said, giving him another chance to end it before anyone got hurt.
“I know we aren’t a couple, but we shouldn’t just decide this on a whim. I don’t know what’s got into you. First, this new assistant—” Joshua glared at Mina, still within earshot. “No offence,” he added nastily.
“None taken.” Mina shrugged as Joshua pulled Poppy further away.
“And now a bodyguard we’ve never even met?
” He huffed. “Maybe we shouldn’t go. I thought this was a break for the two of us.
I didn’t think we’d have so much company.
If you want to end this, we can, but I don’t think we should rush into anything.
As for Gabriella, she knows our situation, so you don’t have to worry about her going to the press. ”
Poppy frowned. “I’m not worried about her going to the press. I’m just trying to give you back your freedom. I don’t understand why you’re so upset about a bodyguard and an assistant when this is how it’s always been.”
Joshua shook his head, but she refused to budge. There was no way he was getting her on the ship alone. No temper tantrum was going to change her plans.
“Sorry to interrupt, but are you going to be departing soon?” The Midas staff member in the navy suit smiled impatiently as their bags were boarded on the immaculate white ship.
“Just a minute,” Joshua snapped, and the woman retreated.
“I don’t think I can do this. You’ve fired everyone who’s been with you for years and moved out of your aunt’s house, all in a matter of weeks.
You’re talking about acting and wanting to end things between us. I feel like I don’t know you anymore.”
Poppy hesitated. If he doesn’t board, then I don’t have to worry about him killing me. And I don’t have to worry about killing him.
“If you get on that ship, we’re done. I won’t be there for you anymore,” Joshua said, giving her the out she needed.
“If you don’t, then we’re done,” she countered.
“Just like that? Am I nothing to you?! Fine, have it your way; I’m done being Mr Roe. You have fun with your new friends,” he snapped, backing away from her.
Stung by the way he used Duggery’s words, Poppy looked up and took a deep breath before responding, only to notice that a lot of the guests who had already boarded were watching from their balconies.
“Mr Roe?” She laughed. “You can’t blame me because you feel inferior. You might not believe it, but you’ve benefitted from our arrangement as much as I have. You resent me for my success while all I have done is support you!”
“You’re impossible to love,” Joshua sighed, turning his back on her. He knew how much that would hurt her. It had been her aunt’s favourite line whenever she stood her ground.
Poppy watched him go, grinding her teeth to stop herself from saying what she knew of his plans.
“Are you okay?” Mina asked, appearing at her side.
“Fine,” she said sharply. “Frightening Joshua off with a detective is much easier than playing the doting girlfriend until he attempts to throw me overboard.”
“For someone with murderous intentions, I expected more of a backbone,” Mina sighed.
“He was just a puppet,” Poppy said quietly.
“Ms Roe, if you’ll be joining us, then I need you to board.” The woman’s patience had worn off. Poppy felt terrible for causing such a scene and delaying their departure.
“Yes, we’re coming. I’m so sorry for the delay.”
She looked over her shoulder as she boarded to see Joshua enter the car.
Isaiah glanced at her, and Poppy realised he probably thought she was heartbroken about being dumped.
If only he knew. Without Joshua, there was nothing to fear onboard, and the prospect of a holiday to reset was even more appealing.
Her ego faltered at being dumped in front of a crowd, but it was better than being killed.