I nod. I’m nervous, but not for the reasons Maxwell thinks. I’m not nervous about what I plan on doing tonight or about getting caught. I’m nervous to see Langston tonight and what that could possibly mean.
“Don’t be. My only job is to protect you and your identity. I’ll keep you safe. You don’t have to worry about that. I won’t let any man hurt you or even lay a finger on you unless you want them to.”
“Thank you,” I say with a weak smile. I truly think Maxwell might be the only good person in all of this, but he’s no match for Langston. If Langston wants to hurt me, Maxwell won’t be able to stop him.
“I could protect you better if you told me your plan,” Maxwell says.
My smile drops. “Sorry, Max, but I have to keep my intentions to myself.”
“But Mr. Brown knows?”
My eyes cut to Maxwell as we reach the top of the ramp.
“Miss…?” A man on the yacht with a tablet asks as I approach.
“Ms. Juliane White,” I say, giving a fake name.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. White. And you are?” The man turns to Maxwell.
“Mr. Maxwell,” he gives me a confused glance out of the corner of his eye but goes with the flow. He doesn’t know what tonight is about or what kind of yacht we just boarded. He doesn’t know that he’s going to have to earn his keep this weekend when some of the most powerful and dangerous men on the planet will all be gathered on this yacht.
The man nods at me. “I’ll escort you to your rooms. Play starts at midnight.”
I bat my eyelashes at him. “I can’t wait.”
The man leads me and Maxwell to two adjoining rooms, complete with a balcony and jacuzzi tub.
“You’ll find everything you need inside. If not, dial one on the phone, and anything you need will be provided. The yacht leaves in two hours. As I said, play starts at midnight.” Then the gentleman, who never gave us a name, leaves.
Maxwell stands frozen with his hands in his pocket, staring at me in disbelief.
“Liesel, what the heck have you gotten us into?”
I remove my mask, knowing that it will be one of the few times this weekend that I can. “Not us—me.”
“I’m on the damn ship, same as you. You just gave a fake name while boarding a ship without any luggage for a weekend. What the hell is going on?”
“I pay you to follow orders, Max, not to question my decisions.”
“Liesel, I’m speaking as a friend. What is going on?”
“Something was stolen from me. I’m just ensuring I get it back and that nothing else is ever stolen from me again.”
10
Langston
I stand on the pier, looking up at the giant yacht. Never have I been so hesitant to set foot on a boat.
Liesel came here because she needs money. Apparently, she thinks boarding this boat will help, but I’ve never found less information about an organization before stepping foot on their yacht than this one.
I scoured the internet but found nothing on this group. I don’t even know who owns this boat, or who runs whatever excursion we are about to embark on.
My guess is this is an exclusive poker tournament or betting ring. Liesel thinks this is the fastest way to earn a lot of money since she won’t ask her fiancé for money.
Their conversation the other morning was quite intriguing. So much unspoken in between them. I don’t understand why they are together—love, lust, power? What draws them together? It can’t be love. At least from Liesel’s side, the woman is incapable of the emotion.
“You sure about this, boss?” Enzo asks, standing next to me in a tux and black mask—the only requirements listed to board the yacht.