tightly gripping the outer railing. She knew he wasn’t afraid of boating, but something was bothering him.
“What’s up? Are you seasick?”
He shook his head.
“Here, our kind host’s wife doesn’t want us to freeze our butts off.” She handed him the sweatshirt.
He took it and slipped it on. “We have to leave.”
“What? That’s impossible. We’re not returning until after midnight, and it’s only nine.”
He glanced overboard then out to the thin line of lights along the shore. “We’d never make the swim. It’s too far.”
“Swim? Why?”
He didn’t answer, but glanced up and down the yacht like a wild animal.
“You’re scaring me. Why do we need to get off the yacht?”
6
Darius wanted to start a future with Destiny, help her career, and make sure she kept her home. But he might’ve destroyed all three in one evening.
“We’re in the middle of the ocean. We can’t possibly get off this yacht.” Destiny’s eyes widened and looked around as if she expected something bad to happen. “Are we in danger?”
How much should he tell her? He didn’t need her panicking.
“In a way.” He hesitated, making sure there was no one nearby to overhear them.
“Are you going to tell me or what?” Her voice was low, but there was no mistaking the anger. She glanced over her shoulder as two crewmen strode past heading toward the bow. They didn’t stop, but gave them a friendly nod. “Are these people drug dealers? Terrorists?”
“Ha. That would be easier.” He could almost laugh at that.
“Holy fuck, what then?”
“The guests. Most of them are lawyers.”
Destiny laughed out loud. “Oh, I see why you’re concerned. Maybe we should jump ship now and take our chances with the sharks.” The sarcasm was so thick, it was obvious she enjoyed making fun of him.
He glared at her. “I heard them mention your university. One of them in the lounge area said he’s giving a talk next week. Aren’t you concerned this might get back to the ethics committee?”
“Darius, lawyers come into the strip club all the time. A few I even recognize. But they never recognize me. And I never worry that they will. I’m wearing a disguise, a wig and colored contacts, different makeup. They spend way more time staring at my tits and ass than studying my face and trying to figure out who I look like. Don’t worry.”
“I’d rather not take the chance,” he said. “This side job is too much risk. I’ll tell Karl you’re sick.”
“We’d lose all the money. We’re here. We might as well finish.”
“It’s not worth it,” he argued. “You can do something else.”
“Like what? Work less than minimum wage as a waitress? Do you know how long it’ll take to pay off my bills even when I do become a lawyer?”
“There you two are. I’ve been looking everywhere.” Karl’s voice had an edge of impatience. He strode over with a scotch in his hand. Darius had served him three on the rocks, and he suspected the host probably had at least that many prior to the cocktail party. “We’re ready for the big show. Guests are in the salon waiting on dessert. Except they’re expecting a decadent chocolate concoction, not your show.”
“We’re not doing the show,” Darius announced. “Destiny isn’t feeling well. I can continue serving your guests, but she’s going to the crew’s quarters to rest.”
Karl frowned and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Seasickness? Pamela can give you something for that. I wouldn’t want to disappoint my guests.” There was no sympathy in Karl’s tone.
“I’m sorry, Karl. Of course you don’t have to pay us for the evening,” Darius added.
Karl pressed his lips together as if considering how to respond. “Not acceptable. We had a business arrangement, and I expect you to honor that. Obviously I can’t sue you for not performing, but there are always other consequences for not honoring your agreement.”
“What’s that supposed to
“What’s up? Are you seasick?”
He shook his head.
“Here, our kind host’s wife doesn’t want us to freeze our butts off.” She handed him the sweatshirt.
He took it and slipped it on. “We have to leave.”
“What? That’s impossible. We’re not returning until after midnight, and it’s only nine.”
He glanced overboard then out to the thin line of lights along the shore. “We’d never make the swim. It’s too far.”
“Swim? Why?”
He didn’t answer, but glanced up and down the yacht like a wild animal.
“You’re scaring me. Why do we need to get off the yacht?”
6
Darius wanted to start a future with Destiny, help her career, and make sure she kept her home. But he might’ve destroyed all three in one evening.
“We’re in the middle of the ocean. We can’t possibly get off this yacht.” Destiny’s eyes widened and looked around as if she expected something bad to happen. “Are we in danger?”
How much should he tell her? He didn’t need her panicking.
“In a way.” He hesitated, making sure there was no one nearby to overhear them.
“Are you going to tell me or what?” Her voice was low, but there was no mistaking the anger. She glanced over her shoulder as two crewmen strode past heading toward the bow. They didn’t stop, but gave them a friendly nod. “Are these people drug dealers? Terrorists?”
“Ha. That would be easier.” He could almost laugh at that.
“Holy fuck, what then?”
“The guests. Most of them are lawyers.”
Destiny laughed out loud. “Oh, I see why you’re concerned. Maybe we should jump ship now and take our chances with the sharks.” The sarcasm was so thick, it was obvious she enjoyed making fun of him.
He glared at her. “I heard them mention your university. One of them in the lounge area said he’s giving a talk next week. Aren’t you concerned this might get back to the ethics committee?”
“Darius, lawyers come into the strip club all the time. A few I even recognize. But they never recognize me. And I never worry that they will. I’m wearing a disguise, a wig and colored contacts, different makeup. They spend way more time staring at my tits and ass than studying my face and trying to figure out who I look like. Don’t worry.”
“I’d rather not take the chance,” he said. “This side job is too much risk. I’ll tell Karl you’re sick.”
“We’d lose all the money. We’re here. We might as well finish.”
“It’s not worth it,” he argued. “You can do something else.”
“Like what? Work less than minimum wage as a waitress? Do you know how long it’ll take to pay off my bills even when I do become a lawyer?”
“There you two are. I’ve been looking everywhere.” Karl’s voice had an edge of impatience. He strode over with a scotch in his hand. Darius had served him three on the rocks, and he suspected the host probably had at least that many prior to the cocktail party. “We’re ready for the big show. Guests are in the salon waiting on dessert. Except they’re expecting a decadent chocolate concoction, not your show.”
“We’re not doing the show,” Darius announced. “Destiny isn’t feeling well. I can continue serving your guests, but she’s going to the crew’s quarters to rest.”
Karl frowned and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Seasickness? Pamela can give you something for that. I wouldn’t want to disappoint my guests.” There was no sympathy in Karl’s tone.
“I’m sorry, Karl. Of course you don’t have to pay us for the evening,” Darius added.
Karl pressed his lips together as if considering how to respond. “Not acceptable. We had a business arrangement, and I expect you to honor that. Obviously I can’t sue you for not performing, but there are always other consequences for not honoring your agreement.”
“What’s that supposed to
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