Lost Flyght – Chapter 13

As I throw a glance over my shoulder for the hundredth time, I realize I’m acting like a hunted animal.

“She’s still not there,” Skylar drawls out as she catches me being paranoid.

We’ve abandoned the covered cabana for the lounge chairs in the late afternoon sun. I figure I have another two days here, max, before I become so anxious I won’t be able to stay anymore. So I might as well get as much sunlight on my skin as possible. This natural warmth has to last through the cold blackness of space for the foreseeable future. I’ve spent the day swimming and relaxing. Now I need to make it through dinnertime and hope I can convince everyone to leave after.

“Shut up. You would be paranoid, too, if she were on your case all the time.”

We both turn our heads to watch Gus swim laps to and from the floating dock in the water.

“So, Gus…” Skylar starts.

“Yes, I know. So, Gus.”

“You gonna hit that, or what?”

I throw my head back in a hearty laugh. “I’ve tried. I really have. He seems determined to keep me at arm’s length.”

She scoffs. “He wants you, Viv. What’s the problem?”

“Wanting and actually doing something about it are two different things. His family seems to think he should align himself with someone from the military. I don’t know. I think it’s something I can negotiate around if they listen to me. I shouldn’t want someone in my network just because I’m attracted to him, but I do. I’m not very good at throwing caution to the wind. I’m the exact opposite. But I want him to join us permanently.”

Skylar cocks a crooked smile at me. “That’s my girl.” She reaches over and slaps me on the shoulder. “Get in there and strike a better deal. When’s the wedding?”

“Four Ossun days.”

“We should go shopping!” Skylar’s eyes light up, and I hear my bank account cry.

“You should definitely go shopping.” Gus’s voice is right at my feet, and I let out a startled yelp. How much of our conversation did he hear?

By the twist of his lips, he heard enough.

“I… I’m not prepared to discuss my budgetary restrictions today, but perhaps there will be shopping in another day or two.”

Gus grabs a towel, smiles, and then shakes his head all over both Skylar and me, dousing us with water. We shriek like little girls and laugh as he throws himself onto the chair next to us.

But his smile evaporates in a flash. “Uh, Vivian?”

“Yeah?” I turn to follow the direction of his gaze, and my stomach sinks.

Here she comes. Cressida has tracked me down, and she’s brought her friends along to confront me. My heart pounds in my chest, and my eyesight turns dark around the edges. Just looking at her determined face, the sway of her hips in her bright pink bikini, and the intense gazes of her cohorts pushes me over into the land of panic attacks.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. I’m going to be sick.

Maybe I should puke all over her.

She stops right in front of our chairs, her hands on her hips. I look up at her perfect face and her hair wrapped in a stylish kerchief. I wish I could pull off that kind of fashion. She’s got the sophisticated bohemian vibe going.

“I should have known you’d be at the Lee villa. Funny that they invited someone like you in.”

My mouth is frozen shut. I can’t do anything but blink. I should remind her that they never invited her to Lee villa.

But that would be petty.

“You know, this place?” She throws out her hand to encompass everything around. “Belongs to me. Not to you. You may think you can steal my man, but you can’t take this place from me too.”

“The whole resort doesn’t belong to you. And I didn’t steal Jin.” I’m surprised my voice works.

“Bullshit. You had Marcelo Silva scope him out for you months before our contract was up.”

I glance at Skylar. She shrugs.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I only started with Marcelo, uh…” I think back. “About six or seven weeks ago.”

“That’s a lie, and you know it.”

I let out one of my more weary and annoyed sighs. “Whatever. I literally don’t care what you think.”

“Well, you should. I’m fucking suing both you and Jinzo.”

“What?” Panic runs through my legs but doesn’t touch my voice, thankfully. Gus, silent and observant, clutches the towel he’s holding. It’s taking every gram of strength he has to stay quiet when he wants to whisk me off to someplace a lot less stressful.

“Yeah, I am. I’m going to take you both to court for breach of contract.” She tosses her hair with a laugh. “This is why we have contracts now, you know. I hear that before the contract system, everything was a mess. It was every woman for herself. Nowadays, you can’t get away with this.”

This is pitiful. This woman is so desperate to hold onto something that means less to her than a coat or a pair of shoes. I rub my face with both of my hands, a gesture I notice I do a lot of recently. It’s like I’m trying to rub the world back into focus because it’s always a little skewed and just not right.

“Really? Why would you waste your money on that? Jin left you. He contacted Marcelo ages ago and indicated he was ready to be done with you. If you want it to come out in court that your beloved hated you and still hates you, then be my guest.”

Her skin turns pink around her neck. The men and one woman behind her watch her warily.

“You are such a fucking bitch,” she breathes out. Her people behind her turn away. “You may get Jin out of this whole deal, but if you think you’re going to snag my ship too, then you’re mistaken.”

“Okay, I’ve had enough of this.” I stand up, and for once, I’m super grateful for my height. I tower over her. She looks up and tries to meet my stare, but I can see her try to swallow her fear. “What are you ranting about now? A ship? I swear, you are delusional. Have you had your head checked?”

Skylar stands up next to me, and Cressida backs down a millimeter.

“My ship, the Taurus.” Cressida lifts her head and smirks when she catches my reaction. “Yeah, the Taurus is mine, promised to me in our contract. I’ve heard through my relationship channels that Jin is trying to sell it, and he wants to gift you the proceeds. But I have an injunction in process to stop the sale.”

Oh, fuck no. The panic fades, and anger takes its place. My whole body heats under her sharp glare.

My split personalities pitch a tent in my head and lay out a map for battle. It’s time to bring out General Vivian, master of arms, commander of strategy, and kicker of all asses.

I rest my hands on my hips. “Whether or not the Taurus is yours does not concern me. I don’t give a shit about ships like some shallow fool. I care about people, and apparently, that’s not something you value at all.” I glance at her network. There’s a spark of truth to what I said reflected in their eyes. That’s unexpected. “Yeah. I guess we’ll see who’s in the right, and until then?”

I sit back down on the lounge chair.

“You can move along. I have nothing else to say to you.”

I grab a pair of sunglasses from the table next to me and slide them on, though I think they’re Asteria’s, left here by accident.

“This will not be the last you hear from me,” Cressida threatens, backing up.

“Unfortunately, I fear that’s true, and I really don’t give a shit.”