SWNOVELS Chapter 81
Chapter 81
The weekend, more specifically Saturday, had approached faster than I had
anticipated. Naturally, Hayley was already over the moon about what today
meant and I found her at my bedside at a time that was too early for a Saturday
all bright eyes and bushy tailed.
I opened the covers and invited her in hoping she would call back asleep for a
few more hours at least just so I could some extra sleep in but it was impossible.
I could feel her stare at me and every time I dozed back of to sleep, Hayley
would promptly proceed to ask me a question ranging from yachts to how they
operate to what was she going to wear today.
She was excited, to say the least, and I was thrilled about it but I just wanted a
little bit of sleep for the weekend. Eventually, I had given up trying to catch any
sleep and allowed myself to be dragged by her down to the kitchen so we could
get some breakfast.
Coffee and a small bite was a must for me when I had just woken up and Hayley,
being as observant as ever, picked up on that and knew that getting me to the
kitchen meant that the day could commence and soon we would be all ready to
go.
“I want some cereal. The chocolate one that's crunchy.” She opted for that and I
happily placed a bowl, spoon, and the milk along with the cereal for her to eat.
I was in no mood to whip up pancakes or any thing of that sort this morning. As
for me, I made a cup of coffee and enjoyed it with a cranberry and dark chocolate
biscotti.
“Do you
think that there would be other kids there?” Hayley asked as she mixed her
cereal about.
I paused with my cup in my hands. I didn’t think so and the chances of such a
thing was rare unless the friends Scott had been inviting had children of their own
that they asked to bring along which was something I also doubted.
“I'm not too sure about that. I didn’t want to go at all because I like spending
weekends with you but then Scott, the man who owns the yacht, said that I
should bring you along too.” I explained to her while she placed a spoonful in to
her mouth and shrugged her small shoulders.
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“It doesn’t matter. I just want to be on a yacht. I haven't ever been on one.” Her
eagerness to rectify that out wayed her disappointment of having not yet
experienced it.
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“I'm sure you'd enjoy yourself and imm be right by you.” I reassured her and she
nodded.
fib
Scott's yacht was leaving the docks at 11 a.m. The weather was pleasant for
such an outing and activity which I confirmed by taking a peak through the
kitchen windows. All I could see were light blue skies and airy white clouds.
I tried to drag the morning as much as possible to get Hayley to slow down since
itwas only 9 a.m but the time we had gotten done with breakfast. For the second
time that morning I had given up and just proceeded to give in.
Hayley showered then changed herself in to an all in one denim onesie. I spent
time braiding her hair to make a band across the front of her head before I
cl*pped it in to place and she was all too happy with how it had turned out. She
picked out her sandals and a cap to help her against the sun which she didn’t
wear just yet insisting it would cover her pretty hair.
She had calmed down a lot after being ready and whilst she was still excited, it
had slowed down a little bit and enough for to watch some t.v while I had gotten
ready myself. It was already after 10 a.m and it felt like the time had just flown by
before I could even realise it.
I didn’t go with anything too fancy but I did pull out a yellow sun dress with a
halter n*eck strap. It was a decent length stoping at the middle point if my knees
and it had a more flowy bottom half after the fitting waist line. Paired with a
wedge heel shoe and a beige straw hat, it would look fitting given the outing. I
applied a generous amount of sunscreen before doing my face up in a light look.
It was roughly a fifteen minute drive from here to the docks and we left the house
with enough time to spare. I unlocked my car and was about to get in to it when a
sleek shiny black car drove down the driveway and parked just behind my own
car.
I didn't recognise the middle aged man driving but his uniform indicated that he
was a chauffer but I wasn't about to stick to that assumption until I knew for sure.
The man for out of the car then approached me. “Good day, miss. Mr. Vanderbilt
sent me to pick you and your daughter up.” He informed me with a jovial smile on
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his face.
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That was nice of Scott even though it wasn't necessary at all but I was not going
to ruin the morning by declining the gesture.
“Give me a moment.” I said to him and he nodded curtly before returning to the
side of the car he had driven.
1 undid Hayley's seat belt and told her about the change in plan and she was
even more excited as if she hasn't been chauffer driven her whole life by either
myself or Dante.
“Why are you laughing? Are you laughing at me?” She question the smallest
chuckle that had escaped me.
I shook my head immediately. “No, no. I just love that you get so excited about
new things.” I reassured her as we approached the back of the car which the
chauffer held open for her to get
in.
“What is your name?” Hayley paused before going in to the car and looked at the
man asking him the question even I had forgotten to ask.
“Patrick and what is your name, young lady?” Patrick asked with a smile that
pushed his full cheeks up causing his eyes to crease at their corners.
“I'm Hayley. It's nice to meet you and thank you for coming to pick us up.” She
spoke so clearly and confidently that I felt proud of her.
“You are very welcome, Hayley.” He said as he motioned for her to get in. “A
yacht awaits your little presence.” He added and Hayley hopped in.
When Scott said that he was inviting a few “friends’ I should have enquired as
who exactly he had been refering to in order to have saved myself the shock that
I had encountered when I set foot on to the large, very expensive yacht.
There has been a couple of individual on the yacht that I had heard about or
vaguely knew of but have never met that were present but they were rather
friendly and easy to converse with like Haden Grey and his wife, Melinda. Both
successful individuals and a power couple but very down to earth and
approachable people. Even the men present were obviously business associates
who were also friends of Scotts and that made sense why there were invited but
one man’s presence in particular made zero sense.
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5,
The second we stepped on the yacht and met with the rest of the problem
already on board sipping on their champagne and engaging in chatted, Hayley
spotted Dante in the small gathering and immediately called out to him.
“Dad!” She waved at him letting got of my hand and immediately rushing over to
him.
Dante, dressed in a pair of casual khaki shorts and a white t-shirt, crouched
down to catch the leaping Hayley. He picked her up and his face was pure
happiness at seeing her.
“What are you doing here?” He asked her as he hugged her before letting her
move back in his hold.
“I came here with mama. Her friend invited us.” She explained briefly but I didn’t
give too much attention to listening in on their conversation from where I stood.
My attention was fixed on the woman next to Dante. Tall, beautiful, and almost
model looking. From the pictures, I was certain that that had been Jessica. The
blonde hair glistening beneath the sun and her eyes sparkled in the brightness.
She work a lime green sun dress that show cased her legs that went on for days
perfectly. She looked like she had stepped out of a magazine with her oversized
glasses on her combed back hair.
Again, that pang of jealousy burned through me seeing her beside Dante. Hayley
had noticed her too and her face lit up in recognition.
“Jessica! You're here too.” Hayley said illiciting a small chuckle from every one
around as they observed her.
Some of the people looked shocked to discover that Dante Crawford had a child
but it was even bigger of a shocked when they realised that I was her mother. Up
until then, I didn’t think that many people had been aware of this fact.
Scott had been the first person to approach me appearing from some where I
hadn't noticed before and lead me further in and away from the edge of the
yacht. He handed me a glass of champagne and I had taken it.
“You made it.” He said but then looked around me. “Where is the kid you asked
to bring along?” He asked and I opened my mouth to respond to him when
people began laughing at some thing Hayley had said causing Scott to look away
and to the rest of the crowd when he spotted her in Dante's arms.
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“I guess we found her. She looks like you but very little.” I watched as Scott saw
the striking resemblance between Hayley and Dante and his eyes widened
slightly in realisation.
“Oh. Oh! No way.” He whisper yelled as he turned to look back in my direction.
I shrugged sheepishly taking a gulp of champagne. “Yep. That is Hayley.”
“You and Crawford had a kid. I didn’t see that coming but it explains a lot.” Scott
said with a twitch of his I*ps.
“What do you mean?” I raised
mean?” I raised a brow at him.
“It explains why he was so against me joining your company. The man feels
threatened with me potentially targetting the mother of his child.” He said and I
rolled my eyes at that.
Dante couldn't care less and if he did it was because he was being cruel about it
and wanted nothing more than to control my life and make it miserable.
He had Jessica to prove it now.
“I doubt that.” I pursed my I*ps before asking the burning question. “What is
Dante doing here anyways? I wouldn't consider the both of your to be the best of
friends.” I pointed out and he nodded.
“That is true but Jessica and I go way back and she insisted on bringing him so
here are.” He said tightly and I sensed that he didn't like Dante too much. Not
that I had been too surprised about that.
I looked around the yacht as it moved through the dark blue waters and saw
Dante look murderously in my direction as he stared between the small space
between Scott and I. I bit back a scoff and his double standard and noticed then
that Hayley was now with Jessica. She showed Hayley the scenery and pointed
her to look at things of interest causing my blood to boil.
What was his point of forging this relationship between Jessica and Hayley? Did
he think that I would just step down and watch him encourage a relationship with
his new arm candy? Don't get me wrong, I liked that Hayley was meeting new
people but what I didn't like was that it felt like Dante was using Jessica as some
thing to rub my face in.
“We should head to the upper deck. I'm famished.” Scoff announced and one by
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Chapter 81
one we made our way up to the upper deck.
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The upper deck was an entire different story. It boasted a long dining table that
seated all of us comfortably. I would have thought that Scott would have had light
snack food available for people to snack on as they enjoyed the open air and
soaked up the sun but, my goodness, was I wrong.
Instead, he had a five course meal prepared for us and even went to the extent
of curating a saperate menu for Hayley to be more suitable for her palette and
age. No one seemed to mind that Hayley was seated at out table but it was not
difficult to notice the burning question dancing in every ones eyes.
Ten people had been seated at this table and all of them besides Dante and I
held the same curios glance each time Dante, Hayley, or I had said a word.
Hayley's table manners were good and she didn’t cause any difficulty but Dante
did try and engage her in conversation many times asking about her food or how
she was finding this outing so far. He would move to speak to Jessica or any of
the other men present at the table before he would check in on Hayley again.
It was unfortunate enough that Dante and Jessica had been seated across from
Hayley and I. It made looking at Dante inevitable let alone listening in to their
conversations. They were civil and not displaying public affection that made any
one uncomfortable and I was thankful for that but some thing about them didn’t
add up as a couple.
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