Page 19 of The Surfer

I can see where Sandy and Cove got their looks from, I can see where Sandy got her charm and where Cove got his arrogance. Michael Finn is both of those things. He strolls into the restaurant like he owns the place, shaking the hands of the waiters and chatting to some of the customers who recognize him. Well, technically his family does own the place. His nephew, Cliff Finn - Sandy’s cousin, is the owner.

Mr Finn walks straight over to our table, widely smiling with his perfect white teeth at a passing waiter. As he passes, he orders the most expensive whiskey. One ice cube. Small glass.

“Ah, you must be Miss Ripley Sailor,” the silver fox says, raising a manicured hand to shake mine. He’s really turning on the charm taps here.

He’s even more intimidating up close, just like Cove was this morning.

I nervously nod my head and shake his hand, feeling very aware of how sweaty my palm must be. Michael Finn has such a firm grip I’m worried he’ll crush my hand. I can see how he’s made so many high-flying deals, the man is born to be a billionaire businessman.

God, this is where Cove gets his cocky attitude from? No wonder why he’s so arrogant and sure of himself when he must’ve learned from the best.

“Hi, Mr Finn. I’m Ripley.”

“Oh, don’t worry about my formal name, only my employees call me Mr Finn. Please call me Michael,” he says, gesturing for me to sit back down. He turns to his daughter and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Michael Finn takes his seat. He seems to dominate the space. His booming voice and controlling manner made him the center of the room, here is a man used to attention. The waiter arrives with his whiskey and Michael Finn thanks him with a ten-dollar tip.

“Thanks for coming, dad,” Sandy says.

“Let’s get straight down to business,” Mr Finn replies, taking a long sip of his drink. “Cove. He’s why are here, he’s why you’ve been taken from New York and flown down here, Ripley.”

“Thank you for the trip, Mr – Michael Finn,” I say sheepishly. Sandy’s dad waves my concerns away.

“No worries at all, Miss Sailor. Let me put everything to you bluntly, Cove’s accident last year has cost me a lot of money. A lot. His recovery in the best private hospitals is one thing, but what’s been going on recently is completely unacceptable.”

“What dad’s trying to say,” Sandy explains to me, putting down a steaming chip. “Is that Cove’s in a rough patch at the moment.”

“A rough patch? More like a black hole. He needs to get back on his feet. Cove is an embarrassment, an utter embarrassment to me and the Finn family name.”

“I wouldn’t put it like that, dad.”

“How else would you put it? He’s gallivanting around town doing whatever drugs he can get his hands on and screwing any girl that gives him a second glance. He’s completely out of control and it’s ruining not just my reputation, but also yours, Sandy.”

“I know, dad. But it’s not embarrassment, it’s more of a loss of his potential. He’s a talented guy, he’s just going… nowhere.”

“Sure,” Mr Finn says, turning back to me. “Let’s put it that way, then. Cove has a lot of potential. I see that in him. He wants to be a professional surfer rather than follow me into business, and it was really starting to come together until his accident at that surf competition when he threw his life away. He threw away everything. All his second chances. All the talent he has is going to waste, and now he’s crashing at his sister’s place. He has no job, no future, and I’m not prepared to keep on paying for his degenerate lifestyle.”

“dad, you’re rambling on,” Sandy says. She looks at me. “Basically, we want you to spend your time with Cove. That’ll be his rent for living with me, we want you to do it.”

I put down my knife and fork and glanced at them both individually. “You know I’m not a psychologist, right? Let alone an actual nurse yet. Hell, I’m not even a proper nursing student yet. All I know is CPR.”

Michael Finn leans forward so that he’s inches away from my face. I can smell his expensive aftershave from here, probably something from one of the top places in Paris. “Cove has either screwed or given the silent treatment to every psychologist in the Southern Hemisphere,” he whispers so that no one else in the restaurant can hear. “We need to do something unconventional, bring in someone unconventional. You’re Sandy’s best friend and she vouches for you. We need to do something different to get to Cove. And, plus, we need discretion when it comes to him and his… activities. I think you’re perfectly suitable and fitting for the job.”

“I know we can trust you, Ripley,” Sandy says. “You’re my best friend and you have such a good soul.”

“We need discretion,” Sandy’s dad continues. “There’s a lot of newspapers and tabloids out there that’ll pay a lot of money to see a Finn fall flat on their drunken ass outside a nightclub. They’ll pay a lot of money to find out Cove is in dire straits.”

Sandy reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. She looks me directly in my eyes. I see unrestricted affection in hers. “We’ll pay for your university fees,” she says softly.

What? My university fees?

Does she know the magnitude of what she’s saying?

Unbelievable.

“What are you saying?” I ask, flabbergasted. “Everything?”

Sandy smiles. She knows what she’s doing. “Yes, everything.”

Images flash in my mind’s eye. All my dreams achieved. With my tuition fees paid for I will have no more worries about where to get the money for my education, no more stress as I think about my future. My Mom can retire as soon as I get back home, she won’t have to continue working night shifts as a nurse to get me through college. I’ll be able to pay for it all. My life will be made infinitely easier. Does Michael Finn and Sandy understand what they are offering means for me? What it will mean for my Mom? I very much doubt they do.