Page 119 of Titus

“Situation?” I asked calmly.

“Every major station in Southern California already knows we’re approaching the coast,” he answered. “News helicopters have already requested aerial positioning once we anchor offshore.”

Of course they had. Eterna wasn’t the type of vessel people quietly ignored. Nearly six hundred feet of steel, glass, and precision engineering crossing into California waters after weeks at sea tended to attract attention.

Especially because moving a yacht that size wasn’t as simple as people imagined. It required a wealth of strategy, from international maritime authorization, Coast Guard clearance, fuel coordination, to crew rotations and environmental permits. And enough preparation to move what essentially amounted to a floating private resort across an ocean.

Millions in operational costs alone. So when most people saw luxury, I saw strategy, risk, responsibility, and moving parts.

And somewhere beneath all of it sat one particularly ridiculous truth… I moved the damn yacht because Catalina wouldn’t leave California.

Jesus Christ, I was cooked.

The Rolls glided silently away from the terminal while Los Angeles lights blurred against the windows outside.

“Media estimates are already calling her the largest superyacht ever anchored off the California coastline,” Duarte continued calmly.

Not surprising.

By morning, helicopters would be circling overhead, filming aerial footage, while every wealthy idiot in Southern California suddenly found reasons to sail near Newport.

Normally, that level of attention would irritate me. Tonight, I barely noticed it. For the first time in years, I wasn’t bringing the yacht to California just to impress the wealthy—I was bringing it because I was going to hire Cat to plan every event I’d use Eterna for all summer.

It would be interesting to see this season’s attendees, as I pulled everyone’s interest in mingling and doing business deals from overseas to the States.

More than that, it would be interesting to see Cat’s reaction when I brought her aboard tomorrow evening for dinner.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

The ocean breeze drifted through the open-air restaurant overlooking Newport Harbor as sunlight reflected off the water beyond the terrace.

Brunch crowds filled the waterfront patio, their low conversations, clinking glasses, and the occasional laughter drifting through the warm Newport afternoon.

My friend Sienna set her glass of champagne down carefully before studying me across the table. “You’ve been quieter than usual lately.”

The ocean breeze pushed strands of hair across my face as boats drifted through Newport Harbor beyond the terrace.

“I’ve had a lot on my mind since Amelia almost lost her baby.”

“How’s work since you’re not traveling abroad to plan events?”

I sighed. “Slow, which is to be expected.”

This was all starting to get to me. I usually never had time for mid-morning brunches. In fact, right now, I wouldn’t even be in the States. I’d be orchestrating an event for a family overseas in Italy.

“When do you think you’ll feel comfortable leaving her again?”

I sipped my coffee. “I was planning on two weeks from now,” I answered. “But she started spotting again.”

“Oh, no,” Sienna answered. “Poor thing. Is she scared?”

“Not really,” I responded. “Mickie said this was all normal.”

“Then perhaps you shouldn’t worry so much.”

“A little hard,” I said, eyeing her. “Getting that call from Titus while I was across the world was terrifying. I don’t want to be in that position again.”

“Speaking of Mr. Hawk,” she said with a knowing look, “how are things between you and him?”