Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“Wayland said you needed us in the salon, sir?” Joel asked, eyeing me warily before he focused on Theo. He took a small step to the side, away from where Ivy leaned against him.
Theo nodded, taking a deep breath before he let it go slowly. He was still looking out at the car, but slowly, his gaze trailed over to me.
There was something strange about the way he looked at me then, like he knew something I didn’t. I couldn’t explain why, but there was a whisper of comfort in his eyes, as if he were assuring me without saying anything that it would all be okay.
And where I wanted to break into another fit of sobs, Theo did the exact opposite.
He smiled.
The man smiled as if we had some sort of inside joke, as if we’d had a jolly old time and he was bidding me a pleasant farewell. Thank you for visiting, Miss Dawn! See you in the Hamptons!
I waited for him to tell Joel and his posse to escort me to the black car at the end of the dock, but when he finally faced them, he said the absolute last thing I ever expected.
“Joel, Ace, Celeste, Ivy,” he said, addressing each of them. “I want to thank you for your… hospitality while aboard my yacht. However, at this time, your services are no longer required.”
I gaped at Theo, along with the rest of the crew, but he just smiled and stood tall like there was nothing outrageous about what he’d just said.
“Sir?” Celeste asked, the bravest of the four.
It seemed to be that word that stripped Theo of his niceties, and I saw a cold demeanor unlike anything I’d ever witnessed slip over him like a cape. His smile flattened, jaw hardening as he took two menacing steps toward the crew, and he seemed to grow six extra inches, towering over them.
“Are you all naïve enough to believe I don’t know everything that happens on my own boat?”
At that, all their faces went white.
I frowned.
What is going on?
Joel blew out a breath, fists clenching at his sides. “I don’t know what she told you, sir, but she’s just upset because I broke up with her. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
I scoffed, neck burning as the rest of the crew turned on me with fierce glares. “Me? What do I have to do with any of this?”
“Don’t concern yourself, Aspen. He’s just mad he got caught,” Theo answered for me, his eyes still on Joel. “These four have been stealing from me.”
At that, my jaw hinged open. “They what?”
Just then, I noticed Captain Chuck and the other deck hands carrying suitcases down the dock and throwing them into the trunk of the waiting black car.
And it wasn’t my bag they were throwing in there.
It was theirs.
I only knew because I recognized Joel’s in the heap.
My heart accelerated, and I was thankful I was sitting, because my head was already spinning as I tried to follow what was happening.
“I didn’t want to believe Wayland when he first told me,” Theo said to the four of them, pacing in front of them like a warden. “He’d noticed things missing — small things. Things maybe you thought no one would notice. A piece of china. A Rolex watch I don’t wear often. A pair of earrings Nicolette left behind. A tablet in the guest stateroom that no one was staying in.” Theo shrugged. “So, I threw the crew a pool party, and Wayland and I went on a little scavenger hunt.”
Ace groaned, shaking his head as he gave Joel a look that gave me the impression he was the one leading the whole thing.
I just stood there with my mouth open like a guppy.
“We found everything we knew was missing and then some stuffed in the compartment under your bed,” he said, looking at Joel. “And yours,” he added, his eyes on Ivy now. “Quite unimaginative, if I do say so myself. Still, I didn’t want to assume it was you. I thought perhaps someone else was doing the grand theft and framing it up to make themselves look innocent. So, I left it alone, knowing nothing was leaving the ship just yet anyway.” His gaze hardened. “Instead, we set up cameras.”
“Sir, let me just say I wanted nothing to—” Celeste tried, but Theo held up a hand to silence her.
“You know, honestly? I didn’t care at first. You want to take back a few watches and some tech gear to make a few thousand bucks back home?” He shrugged. “Not the end of the world. You all work hard, and I guess I don’t blame you for thinking a billionaire wouldn’t miss a few valuable things. I clearly have the means to replace them.” He paused. “But that wasn’t enough, was it?” He pinned Ace with his glare then. “You wanted more.”