Fun Below Deck

Chapter 15

Arabella.

His woman. I would like hearing that but in this scenario I don’t want to. My ears are ringing, my nose running and my breathing erratic. I'm going to have a panic attack.  

They want Dom to file a sexual harassment against me. Ok, I know he won't. that’s not the point. This will go on my future work record.  

“I quit.!” I whisper yet the only person who looks at me is Ste.  

He shakes his head, “You cant quit honey. You are my best worker. I don’t want another chief Stew.”  

The tears finally stop, this time replacing with strength. I don’t know where it came from, as long as it doesn’t leave me when all eyes lock on me, “Sorry Ste. I don’t want to leave you dry but I have to. I'm not willing to give up a relationship I can see going farther than this yacht.” 

Dom looks at me, worry, proudness with a mix of fear written on his face, “Baby don’t give up your dream for me.”  

“Then what? Give up our relationship Dom? Would you rather that?” There's no need for the smarminess in my tone toward him. I can't help it I'm pissed off.  

“No, no, no. never in a million dreams will I be willing to give us up. There has to be another solution.” He look desperately to Ste but he shakes his head gently.  

He comes across to me and rests his hand on my shoulder, “If the person didn’t put in a complaint this wouldn’t of happened. I'm sorry guys.” His eyes go from me to Dom and back to me. I see the sincerity in them. He didn’t want this to happen either. 

All the men stand from their positions on the couch, the one that was horrible to me slides the harassment form onto the coffee table pushing it closer to Dom, “Just in case. Arabella you have twenty-four hours to get your stuff from the crew mess. You must be off this yacht by the time she sets sail.”  

He turns and they all head to the door.  

“No she won't be,” Doms voice echoes in the now near empty room, “Arabella will be joining me as my guest for the rest of the charter.”  

The men all look between themselves, with the tallest shrugging his shoulders, “That’s fine. But she will cost extra. This vacation was paid for six people not seven.”  

Dom shrugs his shoulder in return, “send me over the new bill then mate.” I can tell he's angry but so relieved they didn’t try to have me thrown off the yacht.  

Funny when you’ve been with someone on land it takes months to get to know their quirks, we have only known each other for six weeks but we have spent every wakened moment together. In the yachting industry we say a week on sea is a month on land. So, if we want to go for technicality's our relationship has hit its six-month mark and what a bang it did.  

Ste sees the men out and that’s when I finally release the breath I was holding in. Dom walks to the harassment form and lifts it. My heart shatters, will he see it that way? I wanted to seduce him for money or to get a foot up in the industry. I tear my eyes away. I cant watch him with it in his hands, then I hear the sound of ripping paper.             

When I look up Ste has entered the room and watching along with me, his hand on my shoulder again. Dom doesn’t stop until the form is in complete shreds.