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“True. But there’s no point living with a grudge that you can’t do anything about. You’re only hurting yourself.”
I nod. “In time. Maybe in time.”
“Maybe you should start remembering the good things he did for you.”
Amber-Rose stabs me in the guts, in a good way. Graeme Hartley taught me everything he knew, and he was one of the forces behind my achievements. The first time he took me out on a jet boat on Lake Geneva was when I truly fell in love with the blue water. To this day, I still say that Lady Geneva was my first love.
I feel a finger wiping a tear from my eye. My lovely companion stares at me with all her tenderness and understanding. “I’m here for you,” she whispers.
Those four words instantly drain away the clogs inside me. I can breathe easy now, even though the mighty Peregrine stares down at me. With Amber-Rose by my side, I can count on her help.
My emotions for Dad—the ones I keep buried in the deepest part of me—have been my enemies, until now. Until she said she was here for me.
I simply hug her, thanking her in silence. I’m still a long way from forgiving my dad, but I’ve found my refuge. Someone I can lean on when those emotions resurface.
I gently kiss her forehead. “Thank you, Amber-Rose.”
“What else would you like to show me?” she asks.
I hold her hand and lead her into our submersibles area. “It can be a little slippery here. Be careful.”
“I’ll just hold on to you,” she says, squeezing my hand back.
Why does there have to be a party out there? Why can’t we just stay around this engine-heavy, slippery area of Hartley Marine? Because I don’t want Amber-Rose to let me go.
“Wow!” she remarks. “I thought I’d only ever see this kind of thing in a movie set.”
“Dive into the Titanic wreck, that’s one of our missions. Our biggest mission.”
“How many people can go inside?”
“Two. Very tight space, though.”
“Can we?” she asks, her naughty eyes shooting at me.
I’m about to open the hatch when my engineer turns up. “Oi! You’re not allowed in there, Mr. Hartley!”
“Geez, Rocky!” I say. “Since when do you call me Mr. Hartley?”
The guy has worked with me since day zero. He laughs out loud. “I just wanted to make you look powerful in front of your lady friend.”
Amber-Rose laughs joyously. “Hi, I’m Amber.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Emmett, but Rob calls me Rocky.”
“So, was Mr. Hartley about to commit murder? Leading me into an unsafe vehicle?”
The two men laugh.
Rocky says, “It’s safe. It’s just that I don’t like him messing with something that I’m still working on.”
“You don’t trust him?”
“Ooo… I won’t answer that. I don’t want to lose my annual bonus,” Rocky says, glancing at me. “Honestly, I’d trust him with my life. He’s a good engineer, a good skipper, and overall a good man.”
“Well said, Rocky,” I snort.
“Does this vehicle have a name?” she asks.
