cha

oud burst of laughter. I sighed in frustration; this was supposed to be a q

a bit of time together this summer, partly out of g

had met Todd earlier in the week over breakfast, and he seemed like a good kid. He worked in f

ore Air, the second airline that I now owned. It truly

ots, and he seemed like a stable choice. Lauren had never introduced m

e to get to know him better and also give me a little m

hter; we weren't very close. I had only found out she existed fourteen years ago, and tr

en years. In the beginning, I did it to make up for missing the first ten years of her life, b

r-year-old with no plans for her life other than

ng her boyfriend along turned into her filling each on

ter a hysterical outburst where she accused me of

hosting a summer-long party. Before I headed to my stateroom, I figured

man had her head down, so all I could see was her w

ty said. When her eyes finally met mine, I was surprised at the color. They were so

felt dumb as soon as the words were out of

h sir," she said as she straightened up,

alizing that she called me sir,

I'd hired her. Reggie must have been the one to interview her

m afraid it has been delivered later than usual. I had some business I had to att

ted staring at the floor, and

Perhaps it was because I made her nervous. That was pretty common with new hi

er face flushing an eve

pause in hopes that she would tell me her name. She

ired a double take to fully appreciate. As she slipped around a corner and out of si

decorated with an extravagant centerpiece. The stars reflected over th

ad done at transforming this space, most likel

oticed most girls her age did. It looked as though their dinner party was just wrapping

d kissed the top of her head.

r. The yacht is so awesome; I think

ther people. I would leave figuring that out to Lauren's mother, Marmie. We hardly

Todd said as he made his

see you again

estment I am working on for a client, when you h

out it tomorrow night over

ward to it,

as long as I could manage. I made my exit by lifting a glass

gst themselves. I slipped out and headed over to a hidden elevator, whic

way to their rooms soon. I was exhaust

d I had met earlier was already gone. My suitcase was missing from where I left it a

long sip of my drink, I couldn't stop my mind from wandering back to the maid I'd run int

ttention as she did. She did seem much younger than

the press of a button, the wall of windows at the far end of the room s

yacht. I thought there would be nothing better than feeling the ocean

deck below. The muffled sounds of conversation and laughing were the only soun

ater. It was the only way I could tell we were moving as the sky darkened to

enchanting