Read Online All the Pretty Poses by M. Leighton - Free Book Online Page A

knew it at the time. I
knew he was the quintessential rich kid and I was the classic poor
girl, but this…this is just staggering. We weren’t worlds apart; we
were galaxies apart. I was a fool to ever get involved with someone
like Reese. But the only thing I can do about it now is vow never
to make the same mistake again.
    And I don’t plan to.
    Ever.
    When we go below decks to the staterooms,
Karesh begins assigning rooms. I get a glimpse inside each one we
pass. They’re all outfitted with queen sized beds, rich cream
duvets and carpeting that appears to be six inches thick. They’re
nicer than my bedroom at home, which I was quite proud of until
today.
    Soon, everyone is getting settled in their
room and I am following Karesh by myself to another part of the
ship.
    “These are the crew quarters,” he says. “And
since you’ll be working for Mr. Spencer during this voyage,
your accommodations will be located here.” We pass several narrow
doors, one of which is open and I can see inside. Two sets of bunk
beds dominate the room, one against the wall to the left, the other
against the wall to the right. I gulp. I’m a very private person
and it really didn’t occur to me to ask about living quarters. But,
it’s too late to ask now. We’ve already left Los Angeles
behind.
    We pass an area he explains is the crew
lounge. It’s a large room with a kitchenette against the back wall
and a long table that separates it from the living area. The main
space holds three sofas, two chairs, and a big screen television
that’s mounted to the wall. Several people are gathered around two
men playing at a foosball table that’s pushed into a corner. None
of them bother to look up as we pass, for which I’m intensely
grateful. I need to get my bearings before meeting the others.
    Karesh continues on to more rooms, finally
stopping beside the very last door. He opens it and sweeps his arm
forward, an indication that I should precede him. So I do.
    This room is different than the others. It’s
lighter, this one having a small, high window on one wall, and it
has one full-sized bed rather than the bunk beds that line the
walls in the others. There is a small sink in one corner, as well
as a soft round chair that appears to be bolted to the floor. I
hold my breath, almost afraid to ask if this one will be mine.
    “This is where you’ll be staying,” Karesh
divulges.
    “Really?” He nods his head and smiles.
    “Really.”
    I chew on the inside of my cheek, running my
hand over the countertop that surrounds the sink. “Please don’t
take this as a complaint, but why do I get a room like this? What
about the other rooms?”
    “Mr. Spencer asked that you be given this
room.”
    “Did he say why?”
    “I only do as I’m told, ma’am. I don’t ask
questions.”
    I nod and smile. “I understand. Well, thank
you. This room is…is…it’s great.”
    “I’m glad you approve,” he says pleasantly.
“Your bags will be here shortly. If there is anything else you
need, feel free to ask. Just dial 300 from any phone on the ship. I
can arrange to have any necessities obtained for you once we reach
Hawaii.”
    “We’re going to Hawaii?”
    “Yes, that’s our first stop, where we’ll drop
off Mr. Spencer’s brother and his companions and pick up our
clients.”
    “Oh, I see. And then where will we be
going?”
    “French Polynesia, ma’am,” he answers.
    “Oh,” I reply vaguely but enthusiastically. I
have no idea what kinds of destinations lie in French Polynesia.
That’s what happens when you don’t finish high school. The GED
program skips a lot. “It sounds amazing.”
    “Oh, it is,” he assures. “I’ll leave you to
freshen up. If your bags aren’t delivered in ten minutes—”
    He doesn’t even have time to finish his
sentence before he’s interrupted by a young, fit, blond guy. “Sir,
I have them.”
    “Perfect timing, Brian,” Karesh says,
stepping out of his way. “Brian, this is Kennedy.