She Poured Orange Juice on Me in Front of Everyone—Then the Yacht Captain Answered My Call

Brooke stood so fast her chair scraped the floor.

"I want a lawyer."

"Then call one," Claire said.

"And I want off this boat."

"We're twenty miles offshore."

"Get me a tender."

"No."

Brooke looked at Grant. "Do something."

He stared at her as if seeing her clearly for the first time.

"Did you take it?"

"No."

"Did you use my access code?"

"You already know I had it."

"That's not an answer."

Brooke laughed bitterly. "Now you care about honesty?"

Maya almost admired the hit.

Vivian snapped, "Enough drama."

Brooke spun toward her. "You don't get to say that."

Vivian's face sharpened.

Grant noticed. "What does that mean?"

Brooke looked between mother and son.

Then she smiled.

"Ask her why I was invited."

Maya felt the room change again.

Grant turned slowly. "Mom?"

Vivian didn't answer.

Brooke did.

"She asked me to keep you distracted."

Grant's face went blank.

"What?"

"She knew you were getting nervous about tricking Maya into signing the merger release. She thought if you were busy with me, you'd stop growing a conscience."

Maya looked at Vivian.

Even Claire seemed stunned.

Grant whispered, "You knew about us?"

Vivian's response was ice. "I knew enough."

"You set it up?"

"Don't be childish. You're thirty-four. Nobody made you sleep with anyone."

Grant flinched as if slapped.

Brooke pointed at Vivian. "She promised me a consulting contract after the merger. Two hundred grand."

Vivian said, "You're lying."

"Want me to show them the texts?"

The older woman's confidence cracked.

Maya watched with cold disbelief. The drink. The bracelet. The affair. The papers. All of it was part of the same machine: confuse her, embarrass her, make her feel small, get her signature, then discard her.

Claire said, "Show us."

Brooke reached into her clutch.

Empty.

She checked again.

Her face changed.

"My phone."

Grant frowned. "What?"

"It's gone."

At that exact moment, an alarm sounded from the lower deck.

One long blast.

Then another.

Claire was on her feet instantly.