“Wait,” Mina calls after him.
He’s a fast walker and is almost to the parking garage by the time she catches up to him. A breeze brushes through his dark hair like a silk sheet. It's gorgeous and long, flowing down his back like Fabio. No better. She's met Fabio and Barrett Rodrigo's hair is ten times better.
He crosses his arms and his muscles bulge. Mina wonders if he’s going to break through his shirt like Hulk Hogan used to do back in the heyday of ’80s wrestling.
She catches up to him. He stands much taller than her, around 6’, and looks to be somewhere in his 40’s. Mina is pretty good at telling someone’s age and it’s a combination of skin tone, elasticity, and hair. His square face shows the subtle stubble of a beard on his strong jaw with bits of grey along his chin and upper lip. She’s clocked hours into this ability, to determine how desperate a client is. The goal is always to be more beautiful, and younger than the next hot commodity on the Hollywood market.
“What do you want?” There’s a slight accent in his voice which is reminiscent of her grandfather.
“Are you Barrett Rodrigo?” she asks. She notices her sister isn’t with her and Yvette is probably busy at the bar closing their tab. Better to keep this conversation under the light of the street lamp and where people can see them. Mina doesn’t know what kind of guy he is yet. She also knows how dangerous it can be at night, even on a busy Redondo Beach pier full of tourists and party-goers.
“Depends on whose asking,” is his response and it instantly annoys her. Mina knows how to deal with people who beat around the bush. She’s had many clients come in for hair, pretending to not want hair, and then leave with thousands of dollars worth of it.
“Mina Toro,” she says, extending her hand.
The first rule of negotiations is to be cordial, inviting, and agreeable. He shakes her hand with a strong grip, one she feels could easily break her bones. She’s grateful when he pulls back first.
“What can I do for you, Mina?” His gaze is intense and she senses he’s one of those guys that are either all in or all out of anything he does. He doesn’t half-ass anything.
So she gets right to it, “I hear you are a sea captain. A friend of mine said I should look you up since I need to get somewhere special.”
“A friend?” He raises a thick, straight eyebrow, “or do you mean associate of some kind? If this person is a friend, they wouldn’t send you to me.”
Mina smiles nervously, “Well, yes, more of an associate but one I trust to steer me in the right direction.” She licks her lips and says, “I need a ship captain and I’d like to hire you if you’re available.”
That’s a lie. Mina has no choice but to hire him. According to Ardan’s letter, Barrett is the only captain who can take her where she needs to go. But she’s not going to tell him that. Why reveal all of one’s cards when it isn’t necessary?
“Oh,” he says crossing his arms again, “well I’m not for sale. I retired.”
He takes a step to walk away but she stops him with her question. “Retired? When did you do that? I was told that you’d be the best person to hire and you came highly recommended.” She knew she was starting to sound desperate so she cleared her voice to reset. The last thing she wanted to do was beg.
“Just now. I retired right now. I may have a broken nose, not sure so I better get that checked out.”
She takes a closer look at his aquiline nose which already features slight bumps as if it's been broken before. “It doesn’t look broken. In fact, it looks fine to me. Are you telling me that you’re retiring right now because you think your nose is broken?”
He glares at her. “Who sent you to me?”
She shifts uncomfortably as a cold breeze rushes by her and sends an icy chill to her bones. “Ardan,” she says.
“Ardan, what? I know lots of people by that name.”
She huffs. “Ardan of Eden Island. I don’t think he has a last name. It’s a small community or something like that.”
Barrett laughs out loud. “Ardan, that scoundrel. I know him well.” The hardness in his eyes softens as does his posture and he seems more relaxed. “You must be going somewhere…special. Somewhere that a normal sea captain doesn’t go. Where is it that Mina Toro seeks to go?” There’s intrigue laced in his words, mischief, and something else that stirs a sense of danger inside her.
“To Eden Island. I’m going to tour Ardan’s workshop since we’re working together. He’s one of my new suppliers.”
Barrett crosses his arms again. “Supplier of what?”
She grins, “hair. In case you didn’t know, I’m the CEO of Wilhelmina Hair.” She doesn’t expect him to know who she is but she makes it seem like he should.
He laughs again, “hair? I know Ardan peddles many things but never hair. What do you do with this hair? Concoct sorcery and spells?”
She’s agitated again, this time because he isn’t taking her seriously, “no I sell it so people can wear it. It’s a very lucrative business. Most of my clients are A-listers. Rich, famous actors and musicians. Steven Tyler buys my clip-ins.” Now she’s sounding defensive and Mina wants to kick herself for not keeping a business-savvy demeanor.
“Steven Tyler, you say?” He chuckles, “That’s nice. Send my regards to Ardan when you see him next.” He starts to leave again.
“Wait,” she hurries to catch up to him, “I need you to take me to Eden Island.”
“Why?” He doesn’t slow down but keeps walking steadily to the parking garage.
“I already told you, why. Ardan sent me to find you. He was very specific in who I should hire and recommended you by name.” She huffs, feeling the opportunity slip through her fingers like sand. “He said you are the only one who can take me there.”
He stops. “He did, did he?”
“Yes. So you see, you must take me to Eden Island. I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
He lets out air and runs his hand down his head, “Well I would if I could but I haven’t a ship.”
“That’s ok, I’m in the market for a ship,” she says, sensing the sliver of hope.
“Well, my crew will need some time to assemble.”
She counters again with a quick response, “Take all the time you need. The less time, the better though because I’d like to get going as soon as possible.”
“It’s also short notice too,” he says as he rubs his chin in thought.
“I can accommodate you generously. Name your price and we can iron out the terms later. I’m flexible with negotiations.” She can’t help but smile because she knows he’s running out of excuses and she has him cornered.
“Alright.” He cocks his head. “You realize the journey is dangerous and there are many perils on the high seas?”
She nods.
“We won’t know what lies ahead, how the ocean will behave, and if the gods will honor our travels. There’s much to consider in such an adventure as this. Getting past the ice wall is half the battle but a quarter of the odyssey into the realm of fae.”
Mina looks at him, puzzled.
“However, Eden Island is no walk in the park either. Is Ardan hosting your arrival?”
“Um…I think so.”
“Better to be safe than sorry,” he says more to himself than to her. “I’ll need to procure an amulet.” His voice trails off as he paces and murmurs something to himself about tree portals.
“What did I miss?” Yvette finally strolls up to Mina. “Sorry, it took me forever to close the tab. There’s only one bartender right now and he was so busy.”
Barrett stops pacing, his eyes fix on Yvette who blushes like a schoolgirl. “Barrett, this is my sister Yvette.” He nods in her direction and then slaps his hands together. It startles Mina.
“Damn, I almost forgot. Winter. The storms. Are you sure you want to leave now? It may be better to wait a few more months when Poseidon is calm with spring festival offerings and wine.”
He's sounding just like that old crazy delivery lady, rambling on about gods. She looks past that for now. “No, we need to leave the sooner the better. I have a summer showcase to plan for, the New York and Paris fashion shows I am providing pieces for. Oh no, it definitely cannot wait.”
His eye twitches and he says, “Well then, there’s no time to waste.” He takes out his phone, enters his code to unlock it and sets it up to add a new contact, and hands it to Mina.
She takes it and types in her cell phone number as he says, “I’ll call you as soon as I have my crew together.”
She passes the phone back. “Sure, sounds good to me. Is a week okay?”
“Perfect. Farewell for now. I will see you ladies in a week.”
He rushes toward the parking garage as Yvette says under her breath, “Nice to meet you too.” Soon, he is out of sight and she is still staring after him.
“I told you, you haven’t got the balls to ask him out.” Mina is teasing her now as they walk the pier, back the way they came.
“Oh please, like I’m going to cut in on your deal-making to ask him out. Besides, if he’s going to be the captain of your ship, I’m totally going with you.”
Mina smiles and there’s an extra pep in her step. Music pours out of the next small bar they pass and there are more people on the pier now. Couples holding hands, friends in groups, eager for a night out. She contemplates her next move. “Now I just need to find a ship to buy. Do you know anyone in the boat business?”
Yvette chuckles, “No, but I bet Marcel does. That guy seems to know just about everyone worth knowing. And if he doesn’t, he knows someone who does.”
Marcel.
Mina hasn’t spoken to him much since the dinner with Ardan. She wonders if he misses her, even a little. Probably not and it’s probably for the best. Marcel is not the kind of guy to get attached to, not the kind of guy one tries to pin down for marriage either. He’s the kind of guy you go out for drinks with, flirt with, dance with. And at the end of the night, maybe hook up with if you’re both drunk enough.
Marcel.
He’s the kind of guy she needs right now. The right kind of guy that brings sunshine to her day and makes the rain clouds go away. She clears her throat when she realizes that she’s beaming at the thought of him and straightens her mouth from the large grin she’s wearing. Yvette is too busy looking up at the full moon and commenting on how calm the beach is at this hour.
They stroll to the end of the pier. Music rises and falls as they pass the various bars until it is finally quiet and all they can hear is the ocean tide rising and falling. The waves crash against the beams of the pier. The lights of the Portofino Hotel greet them and together they make their way up to the third floor. Once inside Mina’s room, they both kick off their shoes and pop open a bottle of champagne.