His Last Chance at Redemption by Michelle Conder Page A

guests to appreciate as they wandered past!
    This ship, which Leo called a yacht, had so many rooms it was more like a floating castle. A very sleek and richly furnished castle with more natural stone and marble than a Renaissance church.
    She stopped in the doorway of an elegant sitting room and noticed the supermodel, Katya, at the far end, shaking her finger at a young staff member, who looked as if she was about to collapse.
    Used to sorting out all kinds of problems Lexi didn’t think twice before approaching to offer her assistance. The younger girl, whom she had met downstairs earlier, looked at her with open relief.
    ‘Hi there; what seems to be the problem?’ she asked pleasantly.
    The supermodel swung around sharply at the sound of hervoice. She looked Lexi up and down as if she was considering whether or not she was worthy of an answer, and then waved her hand dismissively at the other girl.
    ‘The
problem
is that laundry staff are not supposed to occupy the same room as a guest.’
    ‘I was delivering t-t-towels to the second pool area,’ the young girl stammered.
    ‘Does this look like a swimming pool to you?’ the model snapped.
    ‘Again, I’m sorry ma’am. I got lost.’
    Lexi threw the younger girl a sympathetic glance but Katya wasn’t finished reprimanding her.
    ‘You pass them onto the steward anyway, you imbecile. You shouldn’t be above deck yourself.’
    Not above deck in this glorious weather! Was that true? Lexi was flabbergasted and appalled at the model’s attitude in equal measure. ‘Excuse me, but that’s no way to speak to anybody,’ she reproved, not caring if this woman
was
Leo’s latest mistress.
    The model’s eyes widened at her tone. ‘And who are you to speak to me like that?’ She regarded Lexi as if she were an ugly bug—which was exactly how she felt, standing beside the couture-clad model wearing a chain store white vest top and khaki shorts. ‘Aren’t you some sort of servant yourself? You shouldn’t be up here either.’
    Lexi ignored the comment and was about to offer to take the towels and leave the model to her own horrible company when Leo’s deep voice cracked through the air like a whip.
    ‘Katya.’
    Lexi noticed the model curve her body into a provocative pose as Leo approached. He looked fit and utterly male in navy trousers and a crisp white dress shirt. ‘If I ever catch you speaking to my staff like that again it will be your last time on one of my yachts.’
    ‘Leo, darling,’ the model cooed, ‘I was just informing these girls of the rules and they got upset.’
    ‘You were being a bitch. Leave us.’
    ‘Leo!’ She tried to hook her arm through his but he cast her a look that would have turned mortals into stone.
    She sniffed and blinked a sexy glance from beneath her thickly coated lashes. ‘I’ll be by the pool.’
    They all watched her saunter out of the room and Leo turned to the laundress. ‘I apologise, Stella, for any offence my guest may have caused you. Here, let me take those.’
    He knew the laundress’s name? Lexi wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t heard it with her own ears.
And
he was going to carry towels?
    ‘Thank you, Mr Aleksandrov.’ Stella handed over her bundle and all but curtsied before scurrying out of the room.
    ‘Nice company you keep,’ Lexi said.
    ‘Not everyone behaves like that.’
    They stared at each other for a moment too long and then Lexi remembered that she’d been looking for him. ‘I wanted to ask why you assigned Carolina to assist me.’
    He hesitated before answering. ‘You have a problem with my decision?’
    How did he know she had a problem with it when she’d tried to keep her query light? ‘No. Well, yes. I’m a qualified childcare provider. I can look after one child with my hands tied behind my back.’
    ‘Ah, you think I’m questioning your professional integrity.’
    ‘Aren’t you?’
    ‘No, Lexi. I’ve seen how good you are with Ty. But I don’t expect you