An hour later, Octavia was standing at the bow of the boat as they set off. It was a beautiful day without much wind. Octavia hadn't done much sailing in her life, and she was slightly apprehensive about being sea sick. She'd put on a pair of white shorts and pink blouse. Her hair was tied in a pony tail and she'd added just the miniMum amount of makeup. As Slava looked down at her from the bridge, he felt a feeling he had never felt before. It was a fluttering feeling that burnt right to his core.
When they left the harbor, the yacht began to sway gently. Octavia was perfectly at ease, and she sat down, tossed her head back and looked at the summer sky. Her thoughts began to wander to Slava. She liked him more than any man she had ever dated, she thought. He was handsome and charming, and she was convinced she was about to find out how good a lover he was. She knew her parents wouldn't approve if anything came of their relationship. They wanted her to marry an all-American boy, and preferably one with a political career ahead of him.
Hey, come up here and keep me company, Slava shouted when he saw Octavia lay down. You don't think I'm going to stay here and drive all the time without having the benefit of your company, do you?
She laughed and got up. She walked up the narrow staircase and onto the bridge. There were hundreds of dials, and a few screens on a huge dashboard in front of Slava, but she didn't know the faintest thing about how any of them worked. Slava was sitting in a Captain's chair. In front of him was a wheel and what seemed to be a lever that made the boat go faster or slower.
Come here, he said as he jumped out of the chair. Sit here and take over.
I can't possibly do that, she complained.
Nonsense, you can drive a car can't you?
Yes but....
Well this is the same, just a bit slower. Octavia sat in the chair and held onto the wheel.
Now push that lever forward gently, he said. She complied, and the boats engines began to roar. As their speed increased, he looked at her. Shall we throw your body guard?
If we do they'll only send someone to get me and the trip will be over. Do you know they're a real pain? Do you remember what you said to me, that evening in the Embassy?
About people's problems?
Yes.
Well I've thought about it, and you are right. I feel trapped. I hate what I'm doing, and I hate being watched all the time, especially by a media that doesn't understand that when they print bad things about me, it hurts.
I understand, he said, as he watched her face become sorrowful.
I never wanted to go to Harvard, and now I'm there, I actually hate it more than I thought possible. Most of all, I hate what I'm studying, Slava put his hand on hers in a show of solidarity. Much of what she was saying applied equally to him. I've spent hundreds of evenings sitting in front of my books wishing they would go away, she continued. I have zero interest in the law, and even less interest in the type of people I'm studying with. Most of them are pretentious and shallow, Slava thought he saw a small tear in the corner of her eye. My parents are control freaks who think I should only marry a politician. I really don't think I can stand many more years in Washington. It's such a shallow existence.
Octavia, he said, as she quickly gathered the tear she thought he hadn't seen. I really like you. You know that don't you? I don't just want to be friends with you. I want more.
She looked at him and ran her palm over his cheek. And I like you very much too and I have no intention of just being friends. You are far too handsome for that.
Slava put his hand onto hers and pulled the lever she was holding back until it would go no further. The boat slowed, and eventually the engines cut. All they could hear was the water lapping under the boat and the odd seagull. What did you do that for? We're just drifting now, she said.
Then let's do something about it. Pull that lever there, he said pointing to a long lever against the wall, to the side of the Captain's chair. Octavia leaned across and pulled it. There was a loud sound at the bow and stern of the boat and Octavia realized that she had just lowered the anchor. There, we won't move far now. We're about three miles off the coast and perfectly placed to pull into to Gladesville harbor for the night.
Why have we stopped? she asked.
Slava didn't speak. He leaned to her and kissed her. When Octavia stood up, he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. She put her hands around his neck and held onto him. Oh, I've wanted you to do that since the moment I saw you, she said, when their kiss finished.
Me too. I have just kissed the daughter of the President of the United States, and she tastes wonderful, he said as he threw his arms up in the air like a soccer player who had just shot the winning goal in the World Cup. Come with me, he added. He took her hand and led her down some steps to the lounge. It had a gold ceiling and a floor made of beautifully polished wood. There were gold colored sofas down both sides, and high windows, through which it's occupants had a superb view of the ocean. He went down another flight of stairs and through a narrow door. It was the master bedroom, and even Octavia, a woman accustomed to luxurious surroundings, gasped.