Page 9 of Enslaved

“World class.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’ve traveled all over the world on yachts like these. But I haven’t been in my home waters in five years. I’m looking forward to this last season.”

“Why is it your last?” He’s older than me, but not even close to thirty. Why would anyone with no ring on their finger leave a job like this?

“My family needs the money I send back, but now my mother’s health isn’t so good, eh?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, California. I saw the world and met many beautiful women. Stick with me; I’ll teach you what I know.”

“It’s okay, thanks. I’m more of a hands-on learner.”

He stopped mopping, dark eyes looking at my hands.

“That came out wrong. Your English is good by the way.”

“Thank you. I started learning at an early age. So, did you leave a boyfriend waiting for you at home?”

“No. And I’m not looking for one either.”

“Ah, California. The magic of the Med might change your mind.”

I stood, stuffing the wet towels into his chest. “Don’t bet on it.”

After we finished cleaning up our water fight, we joined the rest of the deck crew inspecting the jet skis, waterslide, and tender. The other men barely looked at me, as if not having a stick between my legs made me irrelevant. My face burned, and it wasn’t from the sun, but I wanted to prove myself, so I held my temper in check.

Someday. Someday they’ll see, I can do the same things they can and might even be better at it.

“You okay, California?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, for asking.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve been doing this for over a decade. I’ll teach you what they won’t even bother to show you… starting with how to tie off a bow line.”

“Thanks, Andre. But I meant what I said about not looking for romance.”

“Message received. Come on, while the rest of them take their smoke break, we will teach ourselves. That’s how you get ahead.”

I followed him up to the bow. I’ve worked on yachts but nothing even close to anything of this size.

He stopped to open a cooler, handing me an iced-water which I gratefully accepted. Andre was kind, light-hearted, and good. He meant what he said about taking me under his wing and helping me. And I felt grateful to have made my first friend on the Med.

After a back-breaking day of getting the yacht prepped for the owner and his guests, I stood in a line with the entire crew. One of the deep-water slips opened in port and the mighty Oasis was able to dock. Stavros, the captain, barely looked at me as he shouted orders to tie off the bow and stern lines as he guided the multi-million-dollar vessel in. A scratch in the fiber glass would be costly to fix. I was hoping for a more approachable captain. Some take the deck crew under their wings, even letting us chart course. But this one, I had no doubt would be harsh and firm and I made a note to stay out of his way.

A black SUV drove to the foot of the docks. A tall man stood, helping two giggling blondes out of the back seat.

Typical.I had thought.

But I pasted a smile on my face and stood tall. He stopped to shake hands with every one of the crew, as the two women clung to him, one hanging to each of his arms. I tensed as they reached me, trying to hold in a smirk. It was apparent these women were hookers. But as I stared at the man who stopped before me, I wondered why.

He was handsome; there was no doubt about that. He towered over me. His blue eyes were hard as he gazed down. I shivered wondering why, when he had joked and laughed with the other crew members he just met.

I stuck out my hand for him to shake, but he ignored it. My cheeks turned red. Thankfully, my sunglasses hid the anger and embarrassment in my eyes. He stood for a full minute staring at me hard while the two blondes giggled at my obvious discomfort.

“Jessie Montgomery, I presume?”

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