The next day I called Rikki again, with my secret number. "Hallo Rikki. Thought about my proposition?" I asked when she answered.
"Who is this?" Rikki asked on the other side of the line.
"Someone who knows what you're hiding." I said.
"I don't know. Maybe we could work out something?" It sounded insecure. So totally not Rikki.
"There's no negotiating, Rikki. Or you're gonna do what I want, or I'll tell the world about you."
"Please, don't do that." She sounded almost like crying.
"And about Cleo, and Emma, and Bella." I continued.
"Don't! What do you want me to do?" She reacted finally the way I wanted! This was my moment to get what I want!
"Come tomorrow to the beach near the jetty. Be there at 10. And come alone. I don't want to have any of your friends around. Understood?"
"Yes." Rikki answered quietly, I could barely hear it. And I hung up.
The next day I watched her walking circles at the beach for nearly 20 minutes. She was already there at 9.50 AM. Then I walked over to her. She was surprised to see me. "Hi Rikki" I smiled at her. "Hi Sophie." She smiled back, but I seemed a little forced.
"We need to talk." I said.
"About what?" she asked. "If you want a raise on your salary, you'll have to discuss it with Zane."
"No , it's not about that. I know what you've been hiding all this time." I said self-assured.
"hiding what?" she asked, half-laughing.
"The secret you share with your friends."
"And what would that be?" she reacted like she could care less. Or there was really nothing to hide, or she was a good actress. But I knew it was the second option.
"Your water-secret." I said. Now Rikki's expression changed. It was something between worrying, scared and surprised.
"You're the one that has been calling me, aren't you?" Rikki said nearly furious.
"Yes." I said shortly.
"How do you know?" Rikki asked seriously.
"Oh, I have my ways." I answered nonchalant. Rikki walked off furiously and I stayed behind with a big smile on my face. I'd soon have what I wanted, I knew.
Half an hour later, it was time for Will's practice and I walked over to his shed. I heard Rikki's voice screaming. "You've told her! How could you? We thought we could trust you with our secret!"
"But you can, Rikki. I haven't told Sophie anything, I swear!" I heard my brother defending himself, apparently he knows what she's hiding. Good to know.
"I don't believe you! You a liar and traitor!" Rikki yelled, walked outside the shed and dove immediately into the water. I saw something orange appearing in the water and then it took off.
Then I entered Will's shed and greeted him. "Time for your practice." I smiled.
"Not in the mood, sis." He said angry.
"But why not? Think of our goal, Will. You have to win the Regional's to make it as a professional free-diver."
"What goal? If I can't have my friends to share my happiness with, then what's fun about it? That's why I'm doing this, sis, you know that. It's because I love it down-there." He claimed.
"Having fun, isn't everything in life." I said.
"Constantly training isn't either." He answered, left his shed, jumped into his boat and went off. Shit! Now that Rikki-girl wasn't only intruding my plans with Zane, she also intruded my plans with Will. I needed to get rid of her and as soon as possible.
I hadn't heard of Will anymore that day, neither of Rikki. The next day, it was going to be exciting: I had to work a shift at the café: Lauren and Amber were working when I entered, but there was no sign of Rikki or Zane. When I asked Lauren and Amber, they didn't know either were the other bosses were. Lauren put me immediately at work and for the rest of the day, there was no Rikki or Zane to spot. That evening I decided to call her.
"Well, decided yet?" I asked when she picked up the phone.
"Maybe. What is it you want me to do to keep quiet?" Rikki asked me.
"At first I want you to answer me some questions, later we'll see what else I need." I smiled.
"Fine. Where you wanna meet?" Rikki sighed heavily. She didn't seem happy with this, but I didn't really care. It was finally time I'd get my way.
"Again at the beach. Tomorrow afternoon, at 2 o'clock. Again you come alone!" I said.
"Okay. See you then." Rikki said and hang up.
