We woke up early the next morning to go look at a 40ft Cabo Open Bridge fishing boat. It had a front room master bedroom with bath and a spacious living space. The deck was made out of dark teak with two leather fighting chairs stationed side-by-side. All the fishing equipment came with the purchase and there wasn’t anything that needed to be added or done.

“I’ll take it,” I said to the dealer.

“Awesome, let me write her up for you.”

“Do you guys do lettering here?”

“Absolutely, what would you like to name it?”

Ysabelle raised her hand in the air. “I have a name.”

“What?” I asked.

She smiled. “Keeping Her Wet.”

I shook my head and we both laughed. “You heard the lady.”

“Perfect. It will be done by this evening and she will be sailed over first thing tomorrow morning. She should arrive in two to three days, give or take.”

Ysabelle needed to get back to the bar, and although her GM said everything was fine, she was itching to get back. So we decided to have someone else sail her back.

We landed on the island mid-afternoon. She spent most of the day looking over receipts, payroll, and getting everything in order for the holiday season that started in a few weeks. The high time for tourism was October through May, but November through the end of January she was slam packed. The snowbirds wanted to leave the cold and people overseas took holidays for a month due to their employment being closed.

To keep the crowd coming in daily, she set up different themes each day; sink or swim, two for one, happy hour, etc. The girl knew how to throw a good time, that was for sure. The waitresses dressed in bikinis and performed dances on the bar at different times of the day. They’d throw confetti in the air and really get the crowd going. It was like an all day party and that’s what vacationers wanted.

“You about done, Ysa?”

“Yeah, just trying to work out the profit from the substance sales.”

“What’s that?”

“The drug sales.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I roared.

She peeked up from her paperwork, surprised by my drastic change in tone. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re selling drugs here?”

“No, I mean not really. I barely make any profit off it. Why are you looking at me like that?”

My eyes widened. “Ysabelle, please tell me you’re fucking kidding.”

“I wouldn’t have said it if it weren’t true.”

“Why?” I demanded, trying to keep my temper at bay.

“Why what?”

“Your bar brings in a crazy amount of revenue as it is. Why the fuck would you involve yourself in that?”

“I don’t, I don’t supply it. I don’t look for it. I’m the middleman. I have nothing to do with it, other than letting the one guy come around and see if anyone wants anything.”

I couldn’t believe what she was saying. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“It’s mostly just weed and shit.” She dropped her pen on the desk in a frustrated gesture. “Come on, Sebastian, don’t look at me like that. People on vacation want to have a good time. The crowds I bring in are looking to let go and just have fun. Marijuana is legal for recreational use in two states, it’s only a matter of time till it’s legal everywhere else. Don’t be so straight-laced.”

“Is that all your selling?”

“I’m. Not. Selling. It.”

“What if he asks the wrong person, huh?”

“Seriously…these guys know what they’re doing. They make a living off it, long before I even arrived. This isn’t the States. This is an island where the government makes money off tourism. They get caught, they pay them off. Nothing is tied back to me. End of story.”

“I don’t want you to do it anymore,” I demanded.

She cocked her head to the side. “Excuse me?”

“I’m serious, Ysa, it ends.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember asking you for permission to run MY business. I know what I’m doing and I don’t need your input.”

I placed my hands on the edge of her desk, hovering over her and she didn’t cower down. Not that I expected her to.

“Is that all you sell?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb, Ysa. Is that all you sell?”

She rolled her eyes. “No. Sometimes they buy blow and molly…very rarely, though.”

“And you think that’s okay?”

“I don’t think anything. It’s not my business to care about what other people want to do on their vacation. I supply a good time.” She pointed to herself. “That’s my job. I’m not backing down from this, Sebastian. There are a lot of things I’ll give you and meet you halfway on, but this is not one of them. I’m a businesswoman, and if there’s a demand, then I supply. Trust me…I’m not the only bar or even restaurant on this island, or any other island for that matter, doing the same thing.”

I backed away and left, slamming the door behind me.

For the first time since I met her…

She reminded me of The Madam.