Page 16 of Rival Hearts

Closer to the shore, the harbor entrance was guarded by the iconic Castle Hill Lighthouse, its red roof contrasting against the deep blue sea.

Directly below, the waterfront bustled with activity. People strolled along the promenade, sipping iced coffees, or explored the rows of boutique shops. Their laughter carried up to the boardroom window just below the penthouse where our offices were situated.

I was ever grateful that we’d been given this shot—I was well aware we could have ended up in horrible situations. Hell, I’d been yanked out of an abusive home where I’d been beaten to a pulp more often than I could count in the short time I could actually remember. A haven that had not only saved us but also made us billionaires? That didn’t just happen.

Chris and I got along pretty good. He was easygoing. Sometimes his carefree attitude pissed me off, but he always joked I had a stick up my ass, so it went both ways.

“Ready for this?” I asked.

Chris nodded. “The designs look good. We have a lot to offer. Besides, we’re Blackwoods. They’re lucky as fuck to be in bed with us at all.”

I grinned at him. Chris always had such a way with words.

“Pure poetry,” I said.

The door opened again and this time it was Sarah, our secretary, announcing that the investors had arrived.

They filed into the room one by one—all of them giants in the business world. Tailored suits were their armor, bulging bank accounts their weapons of choice, and the names they’d created for themselves dictated the standard their investments had to adhere to.

It was a tough game here at the top, but we all knew how to play it.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” I said with a smile and Chris and I shook hands with the five investors who had arrived.

“The numbers are looking good,” Nigel Donovan said, rubbing his hands together after everyone had sat down and our secretary had brought in coffee. “The annual yacht show is going to be a banger.”

Nigel was a seasoned yacht broker with his own brokerage firm and a deep understanding of the market. He also had access to a network of high-end clients.

“We aim to please,” Chris said.

In three months’ time, we were going to the annual yacht show in Monaco, the highlight of the year and a place where we would showcase our work and make a metric fuck ton of sales.

“It’s too busy for my tastes, but the sales always excite me,” Henry O’Connell offered.

He was close to retirement but his business savvy in the tech world kept him on top, and he’d made his fortune early in life, releasing software that was impossible to replicate.

He was intrigued by the advanced technology and smart systems in modern luxury yachts, and we often turned to him for collaboration. Chris knew him well.

“Let’s get down to business, if you don’t mind,” Sasha Martinez said, checking the time. “I have a lot I need to get done today.”

The others rolled their eyes, but Sasha only pursed her lips and looked at us.

She was a venture capitalist who specialized in travel and hospitality, and there’d been a time she’d had her sights set on Benjamin, one of my brothers.

He’d turned her down. It had smarted enough that we’d nearly lost her investment, but she’d stayed, and Ben steered clear of meetings where she was present.

The others had been quiet so far, and I glanced at them. Samuel Bennett, who had a background in environmentalism, and Elena Marini, who worked hard on our interiors with us, keeping up with the trends in her design aesthetic.

“Right,” I said. “Of course, let’s get started. We’re excited to present a new yacht to you today. We’re on track to have it ready for the show.”

The investors gasped. “When did this happen?”

I glanced at Chris, who looked pleased with himself. “Where is the excitement if we don’t surprise you with something special once in a while?”

I dimmed the lights, and shutters rolled down over the windows, darkening the room so that Chris could start his presentation. The images of the yacht we were finalizing appeared on the screen.

“I present to you a sleek, two-hundred-foot superyacht boasting an innovative glass-bottom pool that extends from the main deck down to into the crystal-clear waters below.

“It’s a breathtaking fusion of luxury and nature, offering unparalleled views of marine life, whether you’re sipping champagne in the pool or relaxing in the elegantly appointed interior. This yacht is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of luxury yachting.”