Page 18 of Below the Deck

Sam took another swig of his beer. He was talking too much, he knew that. But the easy banter was comforting – it was like he was chatting to the lads back home. He missed that, needed it more than he’d realized. It was easy; he didn’t have to think about everything he said before he said it. Hedidn’t have to measure his words, like he did around his colleagues and his boss. ‘I can’t figure out why she’s still with him, honestly,’ he said.

‘Maybe she likes the money,’ offered Kai.

‘Or maybe she just doesn’t know she could do better,’ said Noah, giving Sam a meaningful look.

Sam laughed off his words, but deep down he agreed. Taliacoulddo better. So much better. ‘Did you hear any of the stories he was telling last night?’

‘Who?’ asked Noah. ‘Mr Ashworth?’ Sam nodded. ‘Nah. Dinner and drinks are the stews’ domain. Why, what was he saying?’

Sam rolled his eyes, and repeated one of the embarrassing anecdotes Rory had taken it upon himself to share last night. He’d overheard his boss recounting to Nick a viral video about a woman on a London Underground platform. Rory had been making an animated gesture of grabbing something with his hands, and the anecdote ended with ‘the woman with the tits stepped back, but the guy was talking about a passenger with actual juicy melons’, before Rory dissolved into laughter.

‘Gross,’ said Kai, when Sam finished.Sam nodded; his flesh had crawled when he heard it, and it crawled again now.

For the first few years he’d worked for him, Sam just accepted this was Rory: an embarrassing drunk with an outdated sense of humour, stuck in the days before MeToo was a thing. It irked him, but he didn’t think about it too much.

These days, though, it was hitting differently.

That story was exactly the kind of thing Claire had complained to Sam about after she’d met Rory at the awards night a few months back. At the time, he’d not wanted to hearhis girlfriend’s point of view – hecouldn’t. He’d tried to explain that it was just harmless banter from an old-fashioned fella – a man of his time. That all the ways Rory supported women at work, all his generosity towards his colleagues, more than made up for the times he said stupid things. That his outdated chat merited an eye-roll, and nothing more.

But Claire hadn’t agreed. She’d been convinced that if Rory behaved like that in public, he’d be doing far worse behind closed doors – in meeting rooms and during one-to-ones.

They’d fought about it. Sam thought it was a massive overreaction; he couldn’t understand why they were disagreeing about something so fucking trivial, something that had nothing to do with their relationship.

He’d changed his mind soon after, when he realized that she’d been right and he’d been wrong.

Because, it turned out, Claire wasn’t the only woman to warn Sam about Rory.

GENDARMERIE MARITIME DE POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE

CASE NUMBER: 247849

POLICE EXHIBIT THREE

Text message exchange between crew members Noah Bailey and Michaela Stevens, 08/06/2026

16:37 Noah: Hey. You coming back on soon? Just went to pick up the guests, they’re back on board now. But I’ve got a few minutes. Can I come see you?

16:39 Michaela: I’m still below deck. Coming up in a sec to help Johanna before dinner. Just needed some time out today – sorry, I feel bad for letting everyone down :(

16:39 Noah: Ah, no worries. We all need a break sometimes. Are you ok, though? Waiting on these rich arseholes getting to you? ;)

16:41 Michaela: Ha. Something like that

16:41 Noah: They’re all the fucking same, Mic. Especially the blokes. Don’t let em bother you

16.44 Noah: Mic?

16.46 Michaela: Sorry, got distracted. Thought I heard something. But yeah – I know. You’re right. I thought these ones were going to be ok. But nope … just more entitled dickheads. Tbh, I think I might be done with it after this one

16:47 Noah: Done with charters? Ah man. Johanna said you werethinking something like that. But hasn’t this been your entire life for the last five years? You’re chief stew! I thought you lived and breathed superyachts

16:48 Michaela: I dunno. I’m tired. The travelling, the sea – the appeal wears off after a while. For me anyway. And I miss my mum and my little niece – I’ve not seen her since she was born and she’s nearly one now!

16:48 Michaela: And you know what, these guests might be some of the worst. They seemed nice enough yesterday morning, but nope – it’s always the same. They get hammered and it all comes out. Some of the guys on this charter … gross

16:49 Noah: I’m sorry. But I’ll miss you if you quit. It’s been cool getting to know you this season. Hey, want some goss to cheer you up? I reckon there’s some shady shit going on with these guests …

16:50 Michaela: Hang on. Just heard it again. There’s someone else down here. Didn’t think anyone else was on break. Did you send Kai down early?