The Power Trip

be a feisty little minx, and he couldn’t help wondering how Aleksandr felt about his famous girlfriend flashing her pussy for all the world to see. The man was probably major pissed. Guy knew he would be if it was his boyfriend flashing his dick for public consumption.

Luca and Jeromy appeared on deck at exactly five thirty, both in white suits. Checking them out, Guy considered them to be an odd coupling. Luca was hot, Jeromy not. What hidden talents did the gorgeous blond super-star see in the tall, skinny Englishman?

Oh well, everyone to their own. Although Guy had to admit that he wouldn’t say no to a run around the track with Luca Perez. He was some Latin hottie!

Mercedes immediately sprang into action, offering the couple champagne or a drink of their choice, speaking to Luca in Spanish.

Guy didn’t know what Captain Dickson was so concerned about. The women on the yacht were all so bloody beautiful, why would a pretty young Mexican girl threaten any of them? Mercedes was perfectly suitable for her job. She was also appropriately dressed in a smart nautical uniform, so no one would mistake her for anything other than a hard-working and eager-to-please member of the crew. He liked Renee and Den too. They were fellow Australians like him, and they both seemed to know what they were doing.

The next couple to arrive for cocktails were Ashley and Taye. Aleksandr stepped forward to greet them. As a football fanatic he wanted to spend time speaking with Taye, picking his brain about the team he was in talks to buy. He beckoned Taye towards him, and the two men moved over to a quiet corner of the deck.

Ashley immediately zeroed in on Luca. ‘I can’t believe we’ve never met before,’ she enthused. ‘You being with Jeromy and all, and me being Jeromy’s partner. It’s so lovely to finally meet you. I’m a big fan.’

Cliff and Lori approached just in time for Lori to overhear Ashley’s — ‘I’m a big fan.’

Here we go again, Lori thought. Everyone’s a big fan of everyone else. What a clusterfuck!

‘Luca!’ Cliff exclaimed. ‘I was making a movie in Puerto Rico last year, an’ I managed to catch your concert. That was some wild performance.’

Please don’t say it, Lori silently begged. Please, please, please!

‘I’m a big fan,’ Cliff added.

Shit! Lori thought. You too.

‘Oh, and this is Lori,’ Cliff continued, introducing her as if she was some kind of an afterthought.

‘Lori an’ me — we’re old friends,’ Luca said, winking at her in a knowing way like he totally got it. ‘Isn’t that right, carino?’

‘You two know each other?’ Cliff said, a look of puzzlement on his face.

‘We go way back,’ Luca explained. ‘We were hangin’ out by the pool today, catching up.’

Lori experienced a small shiver of triumph. She wasn’t just an appendage on Cliff Baxter’s arm, she was a person in her own right.

At which point Ashley and her cascade of blond curls moved, in big time; grabbing Cliff by the arm, she whisked him away.

‘Thanks,’ Lori muttered to Luca, who patted her on the arm and said, ‘I get it, sweet thing. Been there. Done that. You should know that when I was first married to Suga, nobody knew who the hell I was. I was simply the pretty boy in the background, and unless I was attached to Suga’s arm, nobody gave a fast shit.’

‘Then you totally understand,’ Lori said, relieved that at least someone was aware of exactly how she felt.

‘You bet I do,’ Luca said. ‘Don’t sweat it, bonita. We’re all here to have fun and relax. You’re one of us now. Enjoy.’

‘Enjoy what?’ Bianca said, creeping up behind them.

‘Everything!’ Luca exclaimed, indicating the sunset. ‘This is spectacular.’

‘We aim to please,’ Bianca said with a Cheshire cat grin. It is spectacular, she thought, looking around and taking everything in. It’s way over the top, and I love it!

One thing about Aleksandr, he did not disappoint. He was a man of style, and she was looking forward to seven days of utter bliss.

* * *

Meanwhile, down in their stateroom, Hammond was taking his fury out on Sierra.

‘WHAT THE FUCK?’ he screamed at her. ‘You tell me what that loser bastard is doing on this trip.’

Sierra knew better than to answer him. She merely listened to him rant on about how much he hated Flynn Hudson.

‘He’s nothing but a low-life scumbag,’ Hammond yelled. ‘Why is he here? How did this happen? Why didn’t you get a list of guests?’ A pause for breath. ‘You know something? You’re useless. You probably wanted the son of a bitch here, the loser you used to fuck. How I could touch you after you’ve had his cock inside you is beyond me.’ Another pause. ‘Let’s not forget you were damaged goods and I fucking saved you. I’ve given you a life you can be proud of and this is how you repay me?’

Sierra watched him closely. His face was red with fury, his eyes were bulging. He was acting like a raving lunatic and blaming her for Flynn being aboard.

She chose to remain silent. She chose to close her mind to the broken heart she’d suffered when Flynn had betrayed her. It was all too painful to remember.

* * *

15 years earlier

Just like that, Flynn stopped calling. Sierra couldn’t understand why until she received a FedEx envelope marked High Priority. She opened the envelope and there they were — six graphic photos of Flynn with six different girls.

At first she couldn’t believe it, but after studying the photos she had no choice but to accept the worst. There was a typed note enclosed.

STOP BELIEVING YOUR SO-CALLED BOYFRIEND IS PERFECT.

OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE THE TRUTH.

A week later, she realized she was pregnant. Heartbroken and alone, she confided everything to Hammond Patterson, who had been coming around to see her ever since Flynn left. Hammond had told her that Flynn had asked him to look out for her. At first she’d been surprised, for she’d not realized that Flynn and Hammond were at all close. But Hammond had turned out to be the rock she’d needed to lean on. He was there for her in every way. He even offered to pay for an abortion, insisting it was the right thing for her to do.

She’d declined his offer, but he’d persuaded her to go to a party with him that night. At the party they’d both had too much to drink — especially Hammond, and while he was driving her home in his newly acquired Ferrari — a present from his adoring mother, he’d started coming on to her — one hand on the steering wheel, the other groping her breasts and between her legs.

She had never considered Hammond anything other than a friend, and his sudden attack shocked and upset her. She slapped his hand away, but he was determined.

Neither of them saw the oncoming car. Neither of them realized the danger. The rest was a blur as the Ferrari hit the other vehicle and immediately overturned, throwing Sierra out.

She suffered a broken pelvis and lost the baby.

Hammond suffered a damaged ego and walked away without a scratch.

Rumours abounded, and it wasn’t long before the whispers on campus were that Sierra had been pregnant with Hammond’s baby. Hammond said nothing to deny it — in fact, he promoted the story.

Still in the UK, Flynn heard the gossip and that was it for him. By the time he returned to the US, Sierra had dropped out of college and was back in New York with her parents.

They never spoke again.