ostracised was a suitable punishment for them. Gemma probably would appreciate the extra privacy, as she had tired of Enrique’s company.
Jason found Gemma on the flybridge, engrossed in her stars and streaking meteorites trailing light across the blackness.
“Done?” she queried.
Jason sighed. He struggled to keep secrets from her, even if the truth had the potential to upset her. “Enrique, I think, has been trying to impress me too much, and Maria was absent-minded. I’ve confined them to their room for the next three days. The crew will be told they are having a respite period. Save them the embarrassment of being suspended from duties. They are to stay away from this deck.”
Gemma didn’t criticise his decision—it wasn’t her place. However, as he’d expected, she seemed relieved.
“I’m glad she wasn’t whipped. It seems harsh to me. Perhaps in the long run, she’s done us a favour. John has finally confronted what we are and seems to have accepted it.”
Jason didn’t disagree with her. He stared up at the stars. There was a clear view of the Milky Way, and he found the twinkling, fixed constellations stilled his troubled mind. Tomorrow, he had work to face, and he felt in his bones it was going to be a bad news day.
He didn’t want to think about what had transpired in the stateroom. He wanted her. “I’m sorry your ‘anything’ is going to be somewhat subdued. I’m not in the mood for excesses this night. The Jacuzzi up here is warm, and I like the stars.”
They stripped and sank into the small pool, switched on the whirlpool, and allowed the gently swirling bubbles to pummel their bodies. Entwined in the warm water, they played spot the constellation, and that in turn became discover the erotic image portrayed by the night sky.
“Can’t you see, Jason, it looks just like a cock.” She drew her finger about in the air.
“You’re obsessed, Gem. Is that what you’ve been doing up here? Cock spotting?”
He nuzzled his chin in her hair as she lay back between his legs. At long last, he chilled out and went hard, pressing his cock into her naked back.
“Oh, God, Gem,” he moaned. “What would I do without you?”
Chapter 20. Deal Off
Day Ten
“Señor Lucas? I am very sorry to disturb, but there is an urgent phone call for you.” Esteban’s distant voice came out of the intercom handset.
“Shit!” said Jason, rousing himself from the bed.
Gemma stirred, turning over, and drifted back off to sleep.
Jason took the call in his study, wearing his sweatpants and vest with his hair dishevelled—he’d gone to sleep with it wet. Listening to the news, he gripped the handset tightly, squeezing it between his fingers as his rage grew.
The deal was off.
The other party had pulled out, not prepared to sell off their lucrative subsidiary. The reasons given—none. The lack of excuses infuriated him. To have wasted time and energy on the negotiations, lawyers, and due diligence. The regulatory requirements, financial considerations, and profit forecasts—all generated and completed for nothing.
Philip rattled off a string of measures he had put in place. “We’d ironed out much of the issues we had last week, Jason. Nothing seemed to indicate they were going to back off completely and kill the acquisition.”
“They didn’t come clean about the asset portfolio, though, did they? No, there is something going on, something is wrong in that company. I’m not going to give up on this matter until I have an explanation of why they ditched a deal that was to our mutual benefit. I’ll come back today. Sort this fucking mess out myself!”
“I’m sorry, Jason. I—”
Jason cut across his apology. “Get my jet back out here somewhere. Get my travel arrangements sorted. I want to be back by tonight. We can talk tomorrow, Philip, when I’m in a better frame of mind, because at this moment, I don’t want to hear apologies or accusations of whose arse has screwed up. I have to go tell my wife she is going to be deserted on our holiday and, at this precise moment, that is what is occupying my mind.”
“I understand, sir.”
Jason slammed the phone down on him.
***
Gemma approached the office door. She had heard his raised voice, venting considerable spleen at someone. It was early, barely nine o’clock in the morning. With the sun blazing, the heat returned quickly, and the air conditioning worked hard in the background. Assuming his anger had abated—because the room had gone quiet—she decided to turn the door handle.
Jason sat at his desk, his face deep in thought, his arms folded, chin on his chest.