I stayed in the penthouse suite of our hotel and not the room the company booked for me—a perk of being the owner's daughter—spending my time doing the tourist thing, although it wasn't my first visit to the city.

The unexpectedly gorgeous weather made it possible for me to pick a direction and started walking as I called the number provided by my new employers.

"Hello, this is Britney. I don't know if I have the right number and just called to say I won't be using the room you booked for me." There was a pause on the other side.

"This is the correct number, Miss Sheridan. Is there something wrong with the room?" A reserved but friendly voice asked on the other side.

"No. I made other arrangements thank you." Another slight pause.

"I will inform my employer. Welcome to the family, Miss Sheridan, and enjoy your trip."

"Thank you." I shut down the phone and frowned. Why did that feel like an odd conversation, as if there was subtext I wasn't getting? Was it my imagination? Probably. As I crossed the street, I pocketed my phone.

The city always brought out the small child in me, and I smiled as I strolled out into a world of small galleries, expensive little boutiques, and quaint little cafes before finally conceding to my hurting feet.

Instead of returning to my room, I boarded a bus that did the scenic route through the city, and it showed me a whole other side of the metropolis I had never seen before. I arrived at my hotel past ten and slept like a log, setting the trend for the next two days.

The morning I was to board, I woke bright and early, packed, had breakfast, got the last few things I needed, and I walked onto the harbor at exactly ten to eleven to find the crew already releasing the boat from its moorings.

The solicitor argued with a handsome, brawny man with the stature and build of a Greek god over the fact that I wasn't on board yet, and apparently, I was not the only missing crew member.

"You seem to be about to miss your ride. May I help you?" The cabby offered, and I gratefully accepted as we grabbed my stuff and hurried toward the dock.

The solicitor looked immensely relieved to see me. Two other men were on board, nice specimens but not the man staring at me with anger and disdain. The others helped get my things on board, and even as the boat drifted away from the pier, they assisted me over the side and onto the deck.

I turned toward the cabby, but the solicitor had already taken care of it. She waved me off as another man ran down the docks, helplessly watching the motors kick in and the boat turn out to sea.

It wasn't a big boat, but it wasn't tiny either. My father's pleasure cruiser was around five times its size, yet it seemed sturdy and well-equipped. These things barely registered as the dark-haired Adonis stalked toward me with predatory intent, and I almost stepped away from him as he stared down at me with those remarkably blue eyes.

"Is this going to be your work ethic, Sheridan? Making an entire crew wait on your pleasure and coming on board with your entire wardrobe?" He demanded angrily.

Fury boiled through my veins, replacing the adrenaline rush of getting on board in the nick of time.

"My contract says this ship would leave at noon, and I was an hour early after clearing customs," I coldly mimicked stepmother two to perfection.

"This is my expedition. We work on my timetable, not yours. Ships and tides wait for no one, and the next time you're late or backchat me, you are off this ship." The icy glare of those incredible eyes didn't distract me from the resentment already making me regret ever having signed that contract.

"I have worked with most of those on board, and I don't know you. You are an inexperienced rookie with no place here, and I have no time to babysit." He bit out each word, but something in his expression didn't gel with his words, and he didn't give me time to respond.

"Nora insisted that you come along. Why exactly, I don't know. We have Eva, a marine biologist, and she can dive. Norman's an archeologist, and he can dive. I can pilot a helicopter; you and your luggage are just in the way." His dispassion exploded my fury into a reckless sense of righteousness I hadn't felt since I was twelve.

"I brought only what the company suggested I bring and half of this luggage is new equipment. I didn't invite myself; Nora hired me. I know I am a rookie, and I have no problem with you being the boss. I am just here to learn how to do my job."

He opened his mouth to continue his tirade, but I didn't give him the chance to speak.

"Sorry if there was some misunderstanding and sorry if you don't enjoy babysitting, but it was not my choice. I would have told Nora to keep her job if I knew this was the reception I would get." Even I found my sudden chilling calm impressive, although I had to fight the urge to calm him, "sir." For some reason, I had a distinct idea that this man was ex-military, and the cadet in me found it hard not to be respectful.

"Get your things below deck before we get out to sea. Eva, she's your responsibility. Keep her out from under my feet and teach her the ropes," he commanded, confirming my suspicions with his clipped tone. He turned on his heel and disappeared into the wheelhouse, ignoring me.

"Don't mind, director Swan. He isn't usually this harsh," Eva apologized, and I stilled in the process of picking up my luggage. I struggled not to laugh. Swan? His surname was Swan? It suited him about as much as calling a pet barracuda "Fluffy."

Eva noticed my smirk and grinned. Had she said it on purpose so I wouldn't find him so intimidating? Yes. Why hadn't he changed it or chosen some other moniker? My father would laugh his arse off at the irony, and Lily would have asked if he knew Bella—when she was still Lily.

We were smirking as she introduced the other two.

"This is Norman and Callum."

They each took my hand in a firm but gentle grip, helping us get all the stuff downstairs into my tiny cabin, and to my dismay, there was no room left for me to sleep.

"You said there was some new gear; we can store that in the kit room," Eva offered as I opened the cases and showed her what I brought along while the men did their duties. They were either shy or not the talkative type, and I doubted both options.

"Oh, my word!" She was like a kid in a candy store with each discovery, and soon enough, there was almost enough room in the cabin for me and my cases.

"The bed lifts into the wall, and your drawers and shelves are underneath. Stow your gear and the cases can join the rest of the stuff in storage," Eva suggested. "I have a few things to do while you do your thing."

I nodded and started unpacking, sensing that I would have to join the rest of the crew before Director... Swan came looking for me. It would kill me every time and probably get me in trouble.

"Are you ready?" Eva asked what felt like moments later. We put away the empty suitcases and bags, going up to the deck to watch the sea go by from the railing.

I closed my eyes, and I was at home in my element as the stress left my shoulders and body.

"This is a small crew, and we need to pitch in with whatever else needs doing. We are seven on board, and only three are crew members. Come, I'll show you the ropes," Eva invited, and I was soon engrossed in the mechanics of getting everything ready and into place for our voyage at sea.

I couldn't shake the feeling that Swan watched me from the bridge, and I was determined not to let him see me as a slacker.