Chapter 4 - The Invitation
Ryan introduced the yacht trip as a romantic surprise.
He approached Olivia during breakfast with a brochure for the Celestia, the largest private yacht owned by Harcourt Maritime.
“I reserved it for our anniversary,” he said.
“Our anniversary is two months away.”
“I know. But we’ve barely spent time together.”
Olivia looked at the photograph of the yacht.
The Celestia had six decks, two pools, a private cinema, and advanced security systems designed by her father.
Ryan had never shown much interest in the vessel before.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Just one night in open water. No meetings. No board members. No Margaret.”
He smiled.
“Only us.”
Olivia pretended to consider it.
“All right.”
Ryan’s relief was almost invisible.
That afternoon, she called Margaret and Nathan.
“It’s the yacht,” Olivia said.
Nathan frowned.
“Open water gives him isolation.”
“It also gives us a controlled environment,” Margaret replied.
The Celestia was legally owned by a Harcourt family trust. Its emergency systems could be modified without Ryan’s knowledge.
They began building the operation.
Nathan replaced two crew members with security officers trained in maritime rescue. The yacht’s captain, Samuel Reed, agreed to cooperate after reviewing the evidence.
Engine controls were connected to Olivia’s necklace transmitter.
Cameras were hidden throughout the upper deck.
Audio from the necklace would stream to three secure locations.
The flotation vest was designed beneath a loose evening gown. It would inflate automatically when exposed to seawater.
The most dangerous part was the fall.
Olivia would never actually be pushed.
A section of railing near the upper deck was modified with a concealed platform below it. When Ryan moved toward her, Olivia would step backward through an opening, landing on the platform before lowering herself safely into the water.
The camera angle would make the moment appear sudden.
Nathan opposed Olivia’s direct involvement.
“We already have financial evidence,” he said. “We don’t need you near him.”
“We have evidence of theft,” Olivia replied. “Not of what he intends to do.”
“You’re pregnant.”
“And protected.”
“Plans fail.”
Olivia met his eyes.
“My father built that company for his employees, not for Ryan to destroy. If we arrest him too early, he will claim the transfers were mistakes. He will blame Vanessa, accountants, anyone available.”
Margaret understood.
“You want him to confess.”
“I want him to believe he has won.”
Nathan remained uncomfortable, but he agreed under strict conditions.
Olivia would control the timing.
Security officers would remain nearby.
The captain could end the operation at any sign of unexpected danger.
Before the trip, Margaret changed the Harcourt trust.
Ryan believed he would inherit Olivia’s voting rights if she died.
The revised documents placed all controlling authority in a protected trust for Olivia’s unborn child, with Margaret as temporary trustee and Olivia retaining full control while living.
Ryan would inherit nothing.
But Olivia had another plan for Vanessa.
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She needed to discover whether Vanessa was a willing conspirator or another person Ryan was using.
The answer came three weeks before the voyage.
