Page 34 of Below the Deck

‘Talia,’ she said quietly. ‘I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking. But, yes – sometimes, the crew watch the footage. And we … weseethings on charters. Not just on CCTV.’

Talia took a deep breath.Where is she going with this?‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said, examining the plaster on her hand, the dry flakes to the side of her nails.

‘It’s just – well, being so close to people, in such a tight space … it’s hard not to pick up things about the people on board with us,’ the stewardess said softly.

Then Michaela leaned closer to Talia; so close that as Talia looked up, she could make out the flecks of brown in her light green eyes. ‘Of course, we try not to involve ourselves in guests’ business. It’s part of our job, to keep things to ourselves. But—’

Talia clattered off the stool and drew herself up to her full height. ‘What are you trying to say, exactly?’ she said.

The stewardess lowered her gaze. ‘I – I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just concerned.’ She met Talia’s eyes. ‘I think you need to be more careful.’

ELENI

Stop staring at her. She’s going to clock it any minute.

Eleni couldn’t tear her eyes away from Talia. They were back on board theLussoafter their bike tour, stretched out on sunbeds near the hot tub, sipping cold champagne. Rory had requested a themedCasino Royale-style party for this evening, requiring them all to put on their finest black and white glad rags, but they still had an hour to relax before getting ready. There was more of a breeze this afternoon, and the wind kept rustling the pages of her magazine. But at least out here in the sun, Eleni had an excuse to keep her shades on.

From her nearby lounger, she watched as Talia pushed cubes of ice around her cocktail with a straw, occasionally looking up and staring into the distance, then back down at her glass. Her usually immaculate hair had formed frizzy curls at the edges – a product of the briny sea air, no doubt. And she’d clearly been picking at her hands – there was a plaster on her palm, and the edge of one of her nails was a throbbing red; it had scabbed over slightly, as if it had been bleeding.

Talia seemed to be quietly unravelling. For the past two days, she’d looked constantly on edge: startling when anyone brushed past her too closely; wincing at Rory’s touch; spending more and more time between their meals and activities alone in the master stateroom. And she’d looked completely panicked for a second earlier, when Eleni pointed out the CCTV camera.

Eleni didn’t want to make it too obvious she’d noticed; that she was dying to know what Talia was thinking and feeling. She realized she had developed a kind of fascination with the woman – her straight-backed Pilates posture, her elegant gestures, the clipped edges of her voice.

She looked away, finally, as Rory got hastily to his feet, lifting his phone in the air and waving it around. ‘Damn poor signal – and no Wi-Fi! Can’t even read my bloody emails. How am I supposed to get anything done?’

Talia reached up and touched his arm soothingly. ‘Well, you’re meant to be on holiday, darling. Maybe it’s not the end of the world if you can’t check your messages for a few days?’

‘That’s all well and good for you to say – you’re not running a stock-listed company, are you? You’ve got no bloody idea!’ Then he stomped up the stairs to the sun deck, muttering something about finding a better signal higher up.

‘Wow,’ said Sam. ‘Somebody’s not exactly in the holiday spirit.’

Too right – and he’s not the only one.During the e-bike tour, Eleni had wanted to join Rory and Talia – but they’d been keen to take a trip alone, just the two of them. Disappointed, she’d ridden with Lucy, Mark and Sam while Nick rested up back on the yacht after his plunge into the water that morning. It was a strained few hours, the tension betweenLucy and Mark practically tangible – the couple barely said a word to each other.

‘I think he just got a little hot on our bike ride today,’ said Talia smoothly – though her voice caught as she spoke. Eleni could empathize – she wouldn’t like her husband speaking to her so rudely in front of everyone, either.

‘Are you okay?’ she asked, offering Talia a sympathetic tilt of her head.

‘I’m fine,’ Talia snapped. ‘But I think I’ve had rather enough company for now. I’m going to lie down before the party.’ With that, she stood up and stalked across the deck to the salon’s doors and disappeared inside.

‘Whoops. What have I done wrong now?’ murmured Eleni, half to herself. How was sheevergoing to get closer to Talia if she could barely say a word to the woman without inadvertently pissing her off? Maybe it was time to change tack; try to talk to Rory alone, instead. She turned to Nick, who was dozing next to her, then stretched and sat up.

‘Hey, I’ve finished my magazine,’ she said. ‘I think I’ll go and get my book from the cabin.’

‘Another destination thriller thing?’ he mumbled sleepily. ‘You’ve always got one of those on the go …’

‘Well, Ilikethem,’ she replied. Nick opened his eyes.Oops. She’d sounded snappy – she hadn’t meant to; she was rattled by the tense atmosphere and having unintentionally annoyed Talia. ‘But, you’re right, I do literally inhale one book after the other. I promise, they’re holiday reads only.’ She laughed, gave him a kiss on the forehead and got to her feet.

‘I’ll come with you,’ he said, sitting up.

Eleni frowned. ‘Why? No need. I’ll only be a sec.’

Just then, Johanna appeared at the top of the stairs. ‘Can I get anyone another drink? Nick – a cold beer, perhaps?’

He lay back down. ‘Actually, yeah. That sounds good.’

Eleni exhaled. ‘See you in a minute, then.’ She picked up her beach bag, walked downstairs and towards the salon door. Then, checking no one was watching, she quietly reversed her steps and climbed the stairs to the sun deck.

Her boss was stretched over the railings at the bow, holding his phone precariously high in the air above the sea. ‘Rory?’