dark wood with cream carpet, cream leather couches and black finishes in the cushions and other accessories. The starboard side of the main saloon has a beautiful dark dining table for eight, with a corner bench along the wall on one side. The bench is scattered with bright orange cushions. Beyond the dining table is the lower helm station, with two large black leather captain-style chairs and a large board in front of the window, teeming with controls and navigational gadgets. The galley to the port side is fancier than my kitchen at home, with white granite bench tops and black cupboards, complete with stainless steel oven, cook top and other appliances. All the mod cons one would be proud of in their own home, let alone on a boat. Once again, I feel overwhelmed by the sheer extravagance of Joe Tench, “Did you want to look at the bedrooms downstairs now or later?” He says with a mischievous smirk.
I try and maintain my poise and remember that I’m being paid right now, so I should do as he suggests. Even though I really need to sit down before I fall down.
“We could look now?” I say with an unconvincing smile.
Tench’s eyes narrow at me. My mind races. What must he be thinking right now?
“No. I want to save you for later. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll go and help Toni cast us off.” Tench says as he leaves the saloon.
I take a seat on the corner bench opposite to where the helm area is. This way I can see out the front and be close to Tench. I feel the boat rock slightly as we float away from the wharf. Tench comes back to take his seat at the helm. Pushing a button, the entire yacht rattles under the immense twin V12 engines below. The water muffles the boats guttural purrs, and we launch towards the open harbour ahead. Toni’s voice broadcasts out of a speaker on the control panel, “Tango Tango to Mike Sierra.”
“Mike Sierra.” Tench rolls his eyes at me as he replies into the hand held receiver.
“Oh good boss. Just confirming that we have the Jet Ski’s on standby if anything happens okay.”
“Copy. Thank you Toni.” He says as he places the receiver back onto the hook, “Toni is a little hyper sensitive when I do things without him.” He says trying to comfort me.
“But we’re not going far away at all. See that island just in the middle of the harbour there.” He points to the tiny island in the short distance.
“That’s Clark Island. It’s ours for the day. I’ve hired the whole island so that we can be alone.”
His grin is infectious and soon enough I can’t stop smiling. I don’t know if it’s from being out on the water or in this amazing boat or the fact that Tench has hired out an entire island on the harbour for us to spend the day together… completely alone. He’s even called Toni off for the day. Is that wise given the avowed incidents of late that have caused so many burdens on Tench? Incidents that has apparently turning him into an affectionate recluse!
The boat slices through the water with ease as we approach the diminutive island ahead. Tench shifts the boat into neutral and looks at me with a soft smile. The boat slows to a placid drift.
“Come and hold the wheel steady for me gorgeous, while I tie off.” He says in a half demand, half encouraging manner.
I sit at the helm and hold the wheel steady as the boat glides gracefully and gently, alongside the island’s wharf. I look out of the starboard side. Tench has jumped onto the wharf to sling the ropes around the low bitts attached to the wharf. He manoeuvres around the wharf like an experienced seaman. I remain at the helm with the wheel completely steady until Tench comes back into the cabin,
“You can cut the engine now gorgeous. Just press the big red button on the control board.” He’s gleaming like an excited schoolboy as he almost skips about the cabin.
I hit the switch and the engine grumbles to a dead silence and all that can be heard is the soft ripples of the
I try and maintain my poise and remember that I’m being paid right now, so I should do as he suggests. Even though I really need to sit down before I fall down.
“We could look now?” I say with an unconvincing smile.
Tench’s eyes narrow at me. My mind races. What must he be thinking right now?
“No. I want to save you for later. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll go and help Toni cast us off.” Tench says as he leaves the saloon.
I take a seat on the corner bench opposite to where the helm area is. This way I can see out the front and be close to Tench. I feel the boat rock slightly as we float away from the wharf. Tench comes back to take his seat at the helm. Pushing a button, the entire yacht rattles under the immense twin V12 engines below. The water muffles the boats guttural purrs, and we launch towards the open harbour ahead. Toni’s voice broadcasts out of a speaker on the control panel, “Tango Tango to Mike Sierra.”
“Mike Sierra.” Tench rolls his eyes at me as he replies into the hand held receiver.
“Oh good boss. Just confirming that we have the Jet Ski’s on standby if anything happens okay.”
“Copy. Thank you Toni.” He says as he places the receiver back onto the hook, “Toni is a little hyper sensitive when I do things without him.” He says trying to comfort me.
“But we’re not going far away at all. See that island just in the middle of the harbour there.” He points to the tiny island in the short distance.
“That’s Clark Island. It’s ours for the day. I’ve hired the whole island so that we can be alone.”
His grin is infectious and soon enough I can’t stop smiling. I don’t know if it’s from being out on the water or in this amazing boat or the fact that Tench has hired out an entire island on the harbour for us to spend the day together… completely alone. He’s even called Toni off for the day. Is that wise given the avowed incidents of late that have caused so many burdens on Tench? Incidents that has apparently turning him into an affectionate recluse!
The boat slices through the water with ease as we approach the diminutive island ahead. Tench shifts the boat into neutral and looks at me with a soft smile. The boat slows to a placid drift.
“Come and hold the wheel steady for me gorgeous, while I tie off.” He says in a half demand, half encouraging manner.
I sit at the helm and hold the wheel steady as the boat glides gracefully and gently, alongside the island’s wharf. I look out of the starboard side. Tench has jumped onto the wharf to sling the ropes around the low bitts attached to the wharf. He manoeuvres around the wharf like an experienced seaman. I remain at the helm with the wheel completely steady until Tench comes back into the cabin,
“You can cut the engine now gorgeous. Just press the big red button on the control board.” He’s gleaming like an excited schoolboy as he almost skips about the cabin.
I hit the switch and the engine grumbles to a dead silence and all that can be heard is the soft ripples of the
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