Chapter Thirty-Eight
Reuben
Ilean into my chair, my eyes quickly shifting among screens as I sit in the surveillance room with only dim lighting. I monitor every video feed while the quiet buzz of electronics dominates the surroundings because I am looking for indications of suspicious behavior.
One screen begins to display movement, which immediately grabs my focus.
I squint, leaning in closer. My blood runs cold as I recognize the figures: my secretary Lisa, James from marketing, and my personal assistant Jack appear on the screen.
The group moves stealthily while half-dragging and half-carrying a person between them.
I freeze when I finally recognize the identity of the person they’re carrying: Mariah.
Mariah’s body is completely limp while her head hangs unnervingly to one side. The group ascends to the upper deck, where their purpose begins to take on a nightmarish reality.
“No,” I mutter, my fingers flying over the keyboard to zoom in on the feed. “No, no, no.”
I snatch my phone and make the call immediately. “Security, this is Crowley. An emergency team must arrive immediately on the upper deck’s starboard side. Code Red.”
I don’t wait for a response before I bolt from the room, my feet pounding against the floor as I race through the corridors. The rush of panic battles with my strong determination in my mind. What possible mistake allowed this situation to unfold? How did they get to her?
As I step onto the deck, the door opens behind me, and a blast of cool night air slaps against my face. I scan my eyes around frantically because I need to find Mariah and whoever has captured her.
There, at the far end of the deck, I notice they are having an encounter with another person close to the deck railing.
“Hey!” I shout, my voice cutting across the ocean waves. “Stop right there!”
They pause and turn their attention to me for just a second. The fear in their eyes shifts into visible desperation.
With each step, I push forward at full speed, and my heart beats loudly against my skull. Shears of panic grip me as I increase my speed. I watch in horror as they lift Mariah, her body still worryingly motionless.
“Don’t you dare!” I shout while pushing myself to run faster than I ever have in my life.
Just as they’re about to hurl her over the railing, I hear the thundering footsteps behind me. My security team reaches the deck and immediately disperses throughout the area.
“Boss, we’ve got this!” one of them shouts, but I can barely hear him.
I make contact with the group just as they’re letting go of Mariah. My hands reach out desperately as I lunge forward without thinking. I feel fabric under my fingers and clutch it with all my might.
For a terrifying moment, I teeter on the edge of the railing, Mariah’s weight pulling me forward. Suddenly, strong arms seize me and drag me back. We manage to pull Mariah back to safety on the deck.
I cradle her in my arms, my heart racing as I check for signs of life. “Mariah? Mariah, can you hear me?”
The lids of her eyes move softly while a gentle moan escapes her lips. A massive rush of relief floods me like I’m caught in deep ocean currents.
Around us, chaos erupts. My security team restrains Lisa while James and Jack resist by shouting accusations.
“She knows too much!” Lisa screams. “We had to stop her!”
I focus solely on Mariah while dismissing what my security team is doing around us. Confusion appears on her face as her eyes gradually open.
“Reuben?” she mumbles, her voice weak. “What . . . what happened?”
I carefully pull her hair away from her face while my hand trembles. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
She attempts to lift her upper body from the lying position, but pain forces her to wince. “They . . . they jumped me. Drugged me, I think.”
A wave of rage builds within me as I stare down at my ex-employees. I watch them get handcuffed, their facial expressions revealing defiance and fear.
“Get them out of my sight,” I snarl to my security team. “And call the ship’s doctor. Now.”
As they’re led away, I return to Mariah. My eyes meet hers as her gaze becomes clearer.
“You saved me,” she whispers, a small smile tugging at her lips.
I shake my head while drawing Mariah nearer to me. “I almost lost you. I’m so sorry, Mariah. My actions needed more caution because I should have—”
She uses her finger to cover my mouth, stopping me from speaking. “You came for me. That’s what matters.”
Her eyes stream with trust and affection as I look into them. The realization washes over me like a tidal wave about how close I am to losing her. Without her presence, my life would become hollow.
“Mariah, I . . .” I begin to speak, but emotion makes my voice heavy.
She shakes her head as her hand gently forms a circle around my face. “I know,” she says softly. “Me too.”
As we sit on the deck, waiting for the doctor, I hold her close, vowing silently to never let her go again. Everything about the conspiracy and the company fades in importance next to my feelings for the woman I hold.
I understand now in vivid detail that my fake commitment has become the most genuine reality of my existence. No one will ever remove this reality from me.
Later that day, I move back and forth across my cabin while my thoughts race through everything that has happened over the last few hours.
My brain permanently retains the image of Mariah appearing limp and helpless while my disloyal employees carry her.
Anger, followed by fear, propels my fists to tighten and loosen several times.
The gentle knock against the door breaks through my stormy mental chaos. “Come in,” I call out, my voice rough with emotion.
The door creeps open as Mariah takes her first steps into the room.
The paleness of her complexion mirrors her shaky posture while her intention becomes completely visible in her clear, unwavering eyes.
I move toward her with my hands hovering above her because I don’t want to touch her, and I’m afraid she’ll break.
“Mariah,” I breathe, “you should be resting. The doctor said—”
She interrupts me with a shaking head. “I’m fine, Reuben. Our next steps need discussion now.”
I lead her to sit at the edge of the bed while I sit down next to her. “What happens next is I make sure nothing like this ever happens to you again,” I say, my voice fierce with protective anger.
Mariah extends her hand toward mine to cover it. Her touch sends a shock through my body while keeping me grounded. “Reuben, listen to me. We now possess all the necessary evidence. It’s time to end this.”
I nod slowly because my thoughts have already begun creating strategies. “You’re right. I will gather everyone together by calling a meeting. We’ll expose them all at once.”
“And then what?” Her eyes search mine as she asks the question.
I pause, realizing I haven’t thought that far ahead. “I . . . I don’t know. Rebuild, I suppose. Start over.”
Mariah holds my hand delicately between her fingers. “Start over,” she repeats softly. “That sounds nice.”
Something in her tone makes my heart skip a beat. I examine her features, noting the brightness of her eyes and the gentle shape of her lips. “Mariah, I—”
She stops me from speaking by pressing her finger against my lips. “Not yet,” she whispers. “Let’s finish this first. Then . . . then we’ll talk about us.”
I’m nodding because her words convey great wisdom to me. But I’m not letting go of her hand as I stand up, pulling her gently with me. “Okay, before we go any further, you need to give me this promise.”
She arches one eyebrow as she waits for me to elaborate.
“Stay close to me,” I say, my voice low and intense. “No matter what happens in that room or what’s said or done, stay by my side. I can’t . . . I can’t risk losing you again.”
Mariah’s eyes soften, and she steps closer, her free hand coming up to cup my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere, Reuben. We’re in this together, remember?”
My body moves toward her touch while I briefly shut my eyes. I’m filled with a new resolve when I open them again. “Together,” I agree.
We walk toward the door, our hands joined. Mariah softly pulls me back when I reach for the door handle. I turn to her, questioning.
Mariah takes a moment to align her shoulders, and her eyes show intense determination. “Let’s go take back your company,” she says, her voice strong and sure.
I nod because her confidence gives me strength. Once we leave the cabin and enter the corridor, I sense a change deep inside myself. The man known as Reuben Crowley, who isolates himself behind masks, is gradually disappearing.
Someone new takes his place, and this new person embodies greater strength and demonstrates complete honesty.
My employees and board members gather in the grand ballroom where we are headed. Every step I take strengthens my determination. I stand ready to face my future while rebuilding my business and my life.
When we reach the threshold of the ballroom doors, I stop momentarily and face Mariah. “Thank you,” I say simply, pouring all my gratitude and affection into those two words.
She smiles up at me, her eyes shining with a mix of determination. “Always.”
Taking a deep breath, I open the doors with Mariah standing next to me. This chapter must come to an end permanently. Now, I must tell you everything because nothing else matters.
I’ve reached a point where the truth no longer terrifies me because, for the first time in my life, I feel fearless about its consequences.
I stand at the front of the ship’s grand ballroom, my fists clenched, rage simmering beneath the surface. As my staff and board members enter the room, they engage in anxious conversation and look around with bewildered concern.
“What’s this about, Reuben?” Johnson from accounting shouts, his voice trembling involuntarily.
My eyes sweep across the room as the last attendees walk through the door. With a loud slam, the doors shut behind me, and I acknowledge the security personnel who stand guard throughout the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” I begin, my voice carrying across the suddenly silent room. “I’ve called you here tonight because we have some . . . housekeeping to attend to.”
As I walk at a slow pace across the stage, I make sure to look into each person’s eyes one by one. A few people begin to move restlessly, while others maintain artificial smiles. My eyes reveal three equally present emotions among those here: guilt, fear, and defiance.
“For weeks now, I’ve been aware of a conspiracy within my company,” I continue, my voice growing harder. “A plot to undermine me, to steal from me, to destroy everything I’ve built.”
The gathered crowd responds with gasps followed by low murmurs. I lift my hand above my head to quiet them.
“I know who you are,” I say, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Every. Single. One of you.”
I give my tech team a nod before the massive screen behind me lights up. The screen displays video files and audio clips, along with multiple incriminating company emails. People’s faces lose color as they begin to fidget and perspire.
“Mr. Roberts,” I say, pointing to a middle-aged man trying to inch toward the door. “Perhaps you’d like to explain why you’ve been selling our trade secrets to our competitors?”
Roberts stands frozen, his face turning completely white. “I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammers.
I smirk humorlessly. “No? Now listen to your voice on this audio tape as you discuss prices to recall what happened.”
His voice fills the room, echoing as clear evidence of guilt. Two security guards approach Roberts from the sides as his body collapses in defeat.
“And you, Ms. Thompson,” I continue, my gaze locking onto my head of HR. “Care to tell us about the offshore accounts into which you’ve funneled company funds?”
While Thompson cries uncontrollably, I feel no pity. Mariah’s attempted harm is too great for me to feel any sympathy toward Thompson.
I reveal their secrets one at a time: the marketing team members who have sabotaged our campaigns, the board members who have been actively working to remove me from my position, and the IT department that operates as a data broker for our company.
Every new disclosure heightens the tension in the room. Some groups deny the information, while others attempt to justify their behavior. But the evidence is irrefutable.
“You all think you can outsmart me,” I say, my voice rising angrily. “You think you can betray me, steal from me, even harm those close to me.”
My fists clench tighter as I remember Mariah’s limp form being dragged across the deck. “You are wrong.”
The doors explode open at that instant. The police just arrive on the scene using a coast guard speed boat. The chief of police leads the security team onto the ship.
“These are the ones,” I say, gesturing to the stunned crowd. “Every person in this room is implicated in corporate espionage, attempted murder, and a host of other crimes.”
Police officers advance through the crowd, causing chaos. Some people try to escape by running, but their voices rise in shouts because there are no available exits.
My former employees, along with trusted advisors, stand before me as police officers click their handcuffs into place. Righteous anger dominates my emotions, though I feel a pang of sadness over their betrayal.
As the last of them are escorted out, I’m left alone in the ballroom with my security team and the ship’s police chief.
“Mr. Crowley,” the chief says, approaching me. “This is unprecedented. We’ll need statements and evidence.”
I nod, suddenly feeling exhausted. “You’ll have everything you need. My team will cooperate fully.”
As he leaves, I sink into a nearby chair, the weight of everything crashing down on me. Every part of my company, which represents my life’s work, has suffered from infiltration. Recovering from this situation will require many long months of hard work.
But then, I remember Mariah’s smile and unwavering support throughout this ordeal. I recall how safe and alive my life feels when she lies in my embrace. My confidence expands because she is with me, and I know I can face any challenge.
I rise from my seat while adjusting my jacket to stand properly. I have many tasks ahead, including making essential statements as I rebuild our company. After many empty years of hopelessness, I firmly believe that positive outcomes await us.
While I’m exiting the ballroom, my phone starts vibrating inside my pocket. It’s a message from Mariah: “Is it over?”
I smile as I type back: “It’s over. We won.”
As I hit Send, I realize it’s not just the conspiracy that’s over. The man I used to be and my old life have both ended. I stand completely prepared to face whatever happens next.