Diana enjoyed dancing in the shallow end of the pool. She motioned for J.J. to join her, but he was sitting in a beach chair on the deck of the ship, sucking down his second Mai Tai.

They had enjoyed the sunset at a cute little restaurant patio sharing a plate of nachos and margaritas. By the time they got back to the ship, neither was feeling any pain.

The purser found her and said there was a ship-to-shore call for her. Why couldn’t her father wait until their scheduled time? Why did everything need to be on his terms?

She wanted to blow him off, but she had no excuse good enough to ignore him. Might as well get the call over with, and then get drunk. No doubt it would be another rotten conversation with him blasting her.

Diana made her way to J.J.’s side, dropped a kiss on his lips, and said she’d be back in a few minutes, that it was work and she had to handle it.

“It sucks that you can’t even have a vacation without them ruining it.”

“That’s the nature of this beast. Save me a seat. I’ll be back.”

She followed the purser to his desk and picked up the receiver, sucking in a gust of self-confidence she sadly needed. “Hello, Daddy. What is it this time?”

“I am your father, young lady, and I don’t appreciate your sarcasm. You’re there on business, not pleasure.”

“You’re calling me as a boss, not as a father so cut the crap. You know what kills me? You have the fear of flying, not me. I’m here doing what you can’t, but that’s not good enough. I’m doing everything I can think of to give you a full comprehensive report, and all you can do is call at your convenience, not mine, interrupt me while I’m working, and be a general pain in my ass. If you weren’t my father, I’d divorce you.”

The purser’s face reddened. He went into his office and closed the door. At least now she wouldn’t have to worry about being overheard if something about the sale of the cruise line came up.

“And if you weren’t my daughter, I’d fire you.”

Diana laughed into the receiver. “You make it awfully hard to be your daughter.”

“Same goes for you.”

“What do you want this time?”

“I’m anxious to close this deal.”

“So am I, but do you really want to me to give you a false report or do you want me to keep at it?

“When do I get your report?”

Diana huffed into the phone, “When the trip is over.”

“I don’t understand you. You’re not there for the cruise experience. You’re there to find out if the ship is sound, the crew is competent, and if this is a profitable investment.”

Diana could just imagine her father using air quotes. “I’m doing that, but you need to understand all that a cruise is. For the complete experience, it’s necessary to thoroughly research every department. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Hunter and Manda strolled by, arm in arm. She raised a hand to wave, but they were lost in each other’s company.

“Surely, at least you have a good idea which way you’re leaning. Toss me a crumb, will you?”

For once, the ball was in her court. She had the power in her hands and was going to hold on to it for as long as she could. “As a matter of fact, I do have an opinion, but I’d rather not say before I have all the information. You’d want no less from anyone who reports to you, so why is it necessary to harass me until I’m ready to give you a conclusion?”

“Because you’re my daughter, and I expect you to give me one-hundred percent.”

“I’ve given you a thousand percent because you’re my father. It’s you who have always cut me short for being a girl.”

“Not that crap again.”

“Damned right. You want me to act like a V.P., handling everything about this deal, but you won’t give me the job or the pay, and yet I’m expected to have all the responsibility. You keep using that old stale excuse about the situation needing a man’s strength. Well, I have news for you. I’m a woman, and no man could have done the job I’m doing for you.” Diana, suffused with power, stood up in her own defense. She turned around watching the passengers rushing to the next fun place.

“We’ll see about that.”

It was time to go in for the kill. “I’ll make you a deal. I know you’re hesitant about this new venture, bringing the cruise line into Tolliver Enterprises. But I’ll prove to you it’s more than a sound investment and that you’re a damn fool if you don’t snap it up. In exchange, you make me the V.P. of the Marketing for Tolliver Enterprises.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Diana turned and smacked the counter. “That’s your way of saying no. Well, I’m tired of this cat and mouse game. It’s always your way or the highway, but two of us can play that game. At what point did this become a marriage where you get to tell me what to do, when to do it, and how to do it?” Diana was practically yelling into the phone. But it was true. This was exactly how he treated her mother. No wonder her mother pulled away and made a life for herself. “It’s time for me—” Diana looked up to find J.J. staring at her with his jaw wide open as if she’s just dropped a bomb.

J.J. turned and walked away.

What had she just said? Then she realized he walked in on a conversation and taken her words out of context. He had no way of knowing she was talking to her father.

“I’ve gotta go, Daddy, I’ll call you later.”

“Do not hang up on me young lady.”

“It’s important.” She hung up and raced after J.J.

She heard his door slam all the way down the hall. It would have been funny except for the devastated expression on his face.

How could she explain she was talking to her father about her job? At this point, she had nothing to lose. After the way she spoke to her father, he’d probably cancel the purchase of the cruise line then fire her.

What difference did it make if she wasn’t happy? And without J.J. in her life, even her job lost its luster. She sucked in a deep breath ready to give the apology of her lifetime.