“Have a seat, Andrew.” George motioned to the bench seating opposite the main controls. Still uneasy after my earlier screwup, I fidgeted under his intense scrutiny. He had a well-trimmed salt and pepper beard and a thick head of hair to match, with dark green eyes that were vivid and direct.
“As you can tell from your less than traditional introduction, Rowan likes to roam the ship and assist on occasion when it comes to the exterior cleaning. Don’t ask why, just accept it.”
“Understood.”Bored, eccentric billionaire with control issues must clean his ship and requires a fucking hobby ASAP.
“Now, Voyagerhas eight bedrooms, plus the main suite, a hot tub, a game room, a fully equipped gym, sauna, and a crew of fifteen. Rowan is here pretty much 24/7 for the next four months. He does not have a personal valet while on board, so the interior crew are required to deal with his laundry and related requests. Guests will arrive every other weekend, except for March. Most of his guests are clients. His family will visit for a week over Christmas. He spends New Year’s on shore at his home in the Virgin Islands, so staff get three days off, December 31stto January 2nd. His personal assistant, Ravi, is due to arrive tomorrow. He should have provided you with whatever additional details you need. We have one charter that we’re picking up this afternoon, four guests. Any questions so far?”
I shook my head. George reached behind his chair and pulled out a flat box, handing it over to me. “A tablet and all the necessary items for your use while on board. Excuse me.”
Reaching for his radio, George murmured a quick command. “Kayla, Jordan, please head up to the wheelhouse immediately.” He placed the radio on his desk as the responses came in.
“Copy that, Captain.”
“Copy.”
George turned to face me again. “Kayla and Jordan are your interior crew. Both are new hires, but they started a week ago, so they can help you navigate your way around. Feel free to set them up as 2ndand 3rdstew as you see fit. Given the size of the ship and the standards for service, please ensure you have a well-executed plan for shifts and breaks.”
“Of course.”
A minute later, a petite blonde woman in her twenties, and a brunet man of similar age entered the wheelhouse.
“Kayla, Jordan, please meet Andrew. He’s the new chief stew.”
I shook hands with both. “Nice to meet y’all. Let me get settled in, and we’ll regroup in the main lounge in half an hour for an overview meeting. Does that work?”
They both nodded, and George dismissed them.
“Again, I’m so sorry about earlier when I mistook Rowan – I mean, Mr. Carter – for a crew member.” My face reddened again.
“No apology required, Andrew. Let’s move on.” George paused. “As you no doubt have been advised and given Rowan’s past high-profile relationship, the press are still seeking him out. His time on board this yacht is necessary decompression. Occasionally we’ll have floaters nearby who try to get photos. I’m giving you fair warning to be on the lookout. His safety and privacy are our top priority. Is that understood?”
Ravi told me that Rowan had dated a UK celebrity, a reality TV host, a few years back, and ever since, he couldn’t go anywhere without being hounded. I didn’t follow celebrity press, but Ravi had forwarded links for my information. Let’s just say breaking up with a beloved public figure wasn’t a way to win favor, and the articles had been vicious in their opinions about Rowan Carter, the “billionaire bastard.” Ouch.
“Of course, Captain.”
“A few additional details for your reference. Rowan has asthma and uses an inhaler. He doesn’t have an attack often, but you need to be aware. Also – and this is to be kept in strictest confidence – he takes medication for high blood pressure. Your first aid and CPR certification was recently updated?”
“Yes, two months ago.”
“Excellent. Oh, there’s one other thing.”
“Yes?”
“I’m not sure if Ravi advised you, but Rowan sometimes has male guests stay overnight. Usually no longer than a night or a weekend. It’s your job to send them off without any drama. He always has them sign an NDA, so there should be no issues. Questions?”
George looked at me with an expectant expression, and I gave my best smile. “No, sir. I’ve had lots of experience looking after guests, and I treat everyone with total respect.”
“Good. We’ve had experience with homophobic comments from staff on occasion, but it is not tolerated, so they were quickly dealt with.”
I was relieved to hear that since I didn’t hide the fact that I was gay. I’d experienced harassment on previous jobs and had less than supportive managers when it came to resolving the situation. “I’m really glad to hear that you run an inclusive crew, Captain.”
George nodded and grabbed a radio unit and earpiece and passed it to me.
“Guard this with your life. Answer all requests no matter what. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night or if you’re using the bloody loo. Answer. Your. Radio.” His deep voice echoed in the tiny interior.
“Will do. Thank you, Captain.”
I made my way back down to the main level and found the galley kitchen. Two young women worked in tandem, one measuring and mixing ingredients and the other shaping dough into loaves. The fragrant smell of garlic, spices, and fresh bread made my stomach rumble. Knocking gently on the doorframe, I entered and waved.