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AWEEK EARLIER
“What the fuck do you mean?” Beckham’s deep voice boomed through the phone.
Damn, Fletch hated disappointing Beck. But, he had no choice this time. Fletch was well aware of the importance of the upcoming cruise with investors in a few days.
The anger in Beck's voice didn't help matters either. He wasn't afraid of Beck; they'd known each other since they were kids. Counted on each other. Protected each other. Established and grown their company together. So no, he wasn't afraid of him, many people were, but not him.
Beckham was a driven man. Driven to succeed, driven to work harder than most. Driven to make his visions happen. BFR Industries, a multi-billion company, was proof.
“I’m sorry, Beck, but…”
“How badly are you hurt?” Beck interrupted. Fletch heard the concern in Beck’s tone. Once you got through his grumpy, leathery outer shell, he was as soft as the insides of a cream puff. Not many people ever saw that side, leading him to be highly misunderstood. Ruthless many would say.
Which Fletch knew was how Beck preferred it.
“Spiral fracture to my left shin. I’ll likely be out of commission for about eight months. You should see the contraption they have me in.” Fletch learned long ago trying to spin humor on a situation sailed right past Beckham…as it did right now. But, Fletch never failed to try.
“And you did that how?” Beck’s voice was steel.
“You know what happens when I’m dared.” Fletch paused, feeling sheepish for thinking he could manage a skateboard in one of the skate parks without taking a header. He was lucky he hadn't killed himself.
He waited for Beck’s scolding and was surprised when it didn’t come.
“Sorry, boss.” Sure Beck was his boss as owner of the yacht, but both held equal shares in BFR.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re a big boy and know how to handle yourself. Don't call me boss…er…hang on, Fletch.”
Fletch heard Beck’s muted conversation with Rob. He was also a shareholder in BFR and served as CCO - Chief Communications Officer. They met him in high school and it'd been the Three Musketeers ever since. Beck told him what happened.
“What a tool. He should know better by now." Fletch smiled listening to Rob's assessment of his adventures. "That’s how it goes when he’s dared. Luckily he didn't kill himself. Oh, wait…maybe not,” Rob commented and Fletch laughed. Beck chuckled.
They'll never let me live this down.
“I doubt he’ll ever learn. Will you, Fletch? Don’t answer because you can’t teach an old sea dog like you new tricks.”
“I’m not old…just a sea dog," he told him.
Beck laughed and Fletch relaxed. Beck was usually far too serious to laugh, but when he let himself loosen up, he had a great sense of humor.
Beck sighed. “Well, buddy, so what now?” His voice edged with weariness. “If you can’t be here as captain, we’re going to have to postpone the whole thing. Shit. What a nightmare.”
Rob spoke, and Fletch waited until he was done.
This was an important next few weeks. They didn’t need any complications and his broken leg certainly was a complication. After the cruise to the barrier islands, it was final prep provisioning time for the July 4th yacht party. Eight months of organization and there was no way he'd let it fail. BFR's new venture would be finalized by then, if everything went well on the trip to the barrier island BFR acquired.
“Are you pacing?" Fletch asked. Knowing he was — it's what he did when things went down the shitter.
“Fletch, my man, I’m looking at the yacht club, from our mooring at Passion Cove. I’m damn glad you got us here and settled before you decided to be stupid.” Beck was never backward at coming forward.
Fletch chuckled. That's one way of putting it. Intrepid was big and drew too much draft to tie up at the docks, so she was anchored in the protected cove. Intrepid was his baby too. She was huge and impressive, she was his passion and pride wasn't far off with the attention she got wherever they sailed. He'd been with Beck when he'd commissioned her and traveled to Gdansk for the outfitting and launch and inaugural cruise to the Med.
Murmuring in the background continued and Fletch listened.
"It’s not going to work now. No way can we cruise to the barrier islands without him. Rob, how many guests are expected at the party? We'll have to reschedule the inspection as well. Fuck!”
Fletch stayed quiet and waited for an opening to tell them the solution he had to the problem.
