the law in any way,” Mr Blight continued in a low angry tone. “You will paste a smile on your face and it will remain there whenever you are serving. These clients are all extremely rich and powerful people – they expect the best. They are always right, no matter what. I will happily throw you off the boat to make your own way home if I do not feel you are up to standard. Understood?”
There was silence. Even Kira kept quiet.
“Right, well,” Mr Blight continued after clearing his throat. “Let’s get on with it shall we. No point you lot standing around like lemmings – the guests will be out in a few minutes and expecting their welcome glass of champagne.” He glanced at the door for a moment and then took a step towards us before lowering his voice. “And if you want to be paid you’ll report to me and not over my head. Understand?”
Chapter 5
Set me free
Jack
I’d forgotten about the bloody uniforms.
Maybe because I’d never really taken much of an interest in them before. I’d been coming out here to host this week for the last three years and had always considered the serving staff as window dressing. I had an uncomfortable feeling that that made me a colossal arsehole. I winced as I remembered a conversation I’d once overheard between my old boss and Tim Blight about staffing the boat.
“The staff have got to be attractive. A few guys but mostly girls. Young and with enough flesh showing to be just skirting the edges of inappropriate,” my old boss had said. I was still climbing the ranks at the time, hungry to impress and not about to pull up a superior on his attitude.
That was five years ago, before I’d started my own company and bought the boat from that old bastard at a ridiculously low price after his company went down the tubes. I was in charge now, but the boat set-up hadn’t changed. As I watched Urvi move around the main lounge I hated myself a little bit. This sexist bullshit just wasn’t acceptable. Yes, I paid these people well. Yes, I wanted my guests to have a good time. But this wasn’t a meat market.
I grunted as an unwanted hand slapped me on the back and turned to see George, the client from hell, come up beside me. “You put on the best damn parties in Saint-Tropez. Loving the fine fillies handing out the champers this year.” He lowered his voice and moved closer, his gin-scented breath grazing my cheek. “See you managed to snare the exotic barmaid from Dragon’s Den. Do you and your people scope out all of London for the best pus -?”
“Finish that sentence and your teeth will make their way down into your stomach before you can blink.” My voice was even, betraying none of the rage behind my words.
“W-w-what on earth?”
“George!” Stella said, stepping between us with a wide smile then shoving me back with a sharp elbow. “Didn’t see you board. Journey okay? How’s business? Don’t mind Jack, we’ve been doing this fake threat thing for weeks now – I told him some people wouldn’t get it but he insists it’s funny as all hell. Why don’t you come over this way and I can introduce you to some of the top guys and gals in our creative team?” She shot me a vicious look over her shoulder as she led a bemused George away and I felt a muscle tick in my jaw.
“Same old George Montague then,” Ben’s voice came from behind me and I forced my shoulders to relax, not wanting Ben to see how much that creepy, rapey, racist bastard had wound me up. “Surprised you’re doing business with him at all if I’m honest.”
“His money’s as good as anyone else’s,” I told Ben, striving for a passive expression as I turned towards him. The fact that there were plenty on my staff who agreed with Ben made me even more defensive. “Can’t be too picky. You know that.”
“Hmm.” He shrugged, his face unreadable until something caught his eye over my shoulder and a slow smile spread across his face. “Ah, Giblet Tickler.”
“As pet names go that’s got to be the grossest I’ve ever heard,” Urvi said in her husky voice and I turned to see her right next to us, holding a massive tray laden with glasses of champagne. “You are such a charmer, Baloo.”
“Baloo?” Ben looked mock-horrified. “You’ve gone too