“I heard about the man who went missing nearby,” Dana began. “The oceanographer?”
Griffin turned his head like he was already bored with the conversation.
“Oh, that,” he bellowed. “Tragic story, yes. He was lost at sea.”
Dana continued with encouragement from Rux’s warm, comforting hand.
“Was it his plane that went down?”
Griffin was looking at her intently. It was like he’d never heard a woman speak more than one sentence. It was insulting, but she was willing to let it go for Jennifer’s sake.
“I haven’t heard much from the police,” he bellowed back.
They locked eyes for a long time, and Dana felt her friendly expression disappear. She knew within her soul that he had something to do with it.
He looked away, glancing at Rux and changing the subject without hesitation.
“It’s been some time since you visited, my friend,” Griffin roared. “I think you are going to enjoy the, how do I say, sights.”
He snapped his look over to Dana, flicked his eyes down to her breasts, and then looked back up. He gave her a wink that made Dana want to throw up.
She let the subject go for a moment as they arrived on the island.
It was everything Dana could have imagined and also so much more.
Dana felt like she had walked onto the set ofEyes Wide Shutcombined withThe Great Gatsby.There was a red velvet carpet laid along the dock, meeting the shoreline, streaming across the sand.
The guests followed the line of palm trees, decked out in golden streamers, and scantily clad women offered champagne to everyone who showed up.
Dana was glad that she had chosen to wear a dress that walked the line between stylish and comfortable. Every person was wearing clothing that ranged from casual beachwear to thin, expensive-looking, three-piece suits. She felt like an imposter for a moment as a streak of insecurity raised its ugly head in her gut.
But Rux, despite his brooding disposition, held her hand the entire way. It made her want to rethink everything she had said to him on the plane ride over.
I mean, think about It … is the thought of a partner really so awful?
There were couples of all genders and numbers drinking excessively, some wearing very little clothing. They frolicked like no one else was around. There were tables strung around in the sand surrounding what Dana assumed was Griffin’s main homestead.
He held a hand out to the giant tropical manor, that robotic smile shining in the light.
“Welcome to my abode,” he said. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
Rux shook his hand, and they clapped each other on the back again. Griffin gave Dana a final nod and objectifying look over, then placed his hands behind his back. He wandered away over the red carpet, following the trail to his front door.
Rux immediately let go of her hand, which made Dana’s heart drop. She felt awkward for the first time in their relationship, looking around at the debauchery, the sparkly and decorated strangers who were using Griffin’s island as their hedonistic oasis.
Not that she judged that. She just knew there was something else far more malevolent going on.
Something that most certainly involves Jennifer’s father.
She turned to Rux and raised her eyebrows.
“What are you thinking, Captain?” Dana said, trying to draw him out of his shell.
Rux took a glass of champagne from one of the waitresses walking by. He shrugged, then sipped at it with a blank expression.
Dana crossed her arms. She waited for his eyes to meet hers, and when they didn’t, her arms fell to her sides.
“Fine,” she said, genuinely pissed. “You can have a nice look around at the skin Olympics, for all I care.”