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In the end, he says to Angus, “You might almost convince me. But there’s one thing Mars will never have.”
“What’s that?” Angus says, jovial and half-drunk on Dirty Shirleys.
Sullivan looks right at me and winks.
“It’ll never have Theo.”
7
SULLY
When we anchor at Catalina Island, there’s a flurry of activity. Theo helps to corral the guests, though probably not with her usual efficiency, since she’s about four Dirty Shirleys deep. Angus doesn’t seem to notice because he’s had at least six.
I’ve been nursing a single drink so I can stay sharp.
There’s plenty to observe in the many dramas unfolding on Angus’ yacht.
First, I’m checking out my competition. At least six other people here are trying to snag this land deal with Angus, whether they’ll admit it or not. The biggest threat at this point appears to be Corgus. He owns a minority stake in Galactic, and it’s pretty clear that he’s trying to wriggle his way deeper into the project.
He’s a large, bald-headed man with hands the size of baseball mitts and a deep, booming voice. There’s some sort of antipathy between him and Theo though I haven’t quite figured out why—I’m guessing he resents her closeness to Angus.
Like all circles of power, the people surrounding Angus Tate resemble nobles in a royal court. Everyone is angling to increase their wealth and influence.
Angus sits at the center like Louis the Sun King, the players revolving around him.
And just like a king, the image of invulnerability is an illusion.
Angus has his weaknesses like everyone else. I just need to find them.
I already put my finger on one: Little Miss Theo.
It didn’t take much digging to realize how heavily Angus relies on her. Now that I’m here, I can see it for myself. He asks for Theo’s opinion constantly though he doesn’t take her advice any more than he does Corgus’.
His attachment to her goes far beyond her usefulness. She’s more like his security blanket.
If Theo leaves his eyesight for more than ten minutes, Angus is sure to look for her, and if twenty minutes pass, he starts asking where she went. Even if he just sent her to accomplish some task that would obviously take more than twenty minutes.
Martinique does her best to fill the gaps, but Angus mostly uses her to relay instructions for Theo that Martinique could easily handle herself.
“Tell Theo to get the snorkel equipment ready,” he orders Martinique as the anchor plunges down.
I find Theo at the back of the boat, looking slightly green.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, assuming seasickness.
“Angus will make me go swimming,” she mutters.
“What’s wrong with that?”
She looks down at the dark water, her face paler than ever.
“There’s sharks down there…among other things.”
I resist the urge to tease Theo about what could possibly be swimming around in the ocean that scares her more than sharks.
Theo is still an anxious person, even if she’s made strides as an adult. This situation I’ve concocted isn’t helping—she’sbeen on edge from the moment I picked her up from her tiny apartment.
She was right when she said she’s no actor—she’s painfully transparent in her nervousness, her stress, and her desire to please. Luckily for me, it all feeds into the “awkward girl in a new relationship” role I’m forcing her to play.
