Excitedly, Saad removed the lid from the crate and placed it on the table. Next came handfuls of crinkle packaging, which he scooped out and dumped next to the lid. When the first glass-capped cork came into view, he took hold of it and carefully lifted the bottle out. After transporting it to his desk, he crossed the room to his bar, then removed a ball of ice from the freezer and dropped it into a glass, enjoying the anticipated clink.

He returned to his chair and slowly began to work the cap until he felt it give and heard a slight pop. Before he laid the cork down, he closed his eyes and deeply inhaled its scent. For a moment he was transported back to the upper deck of his boat. Tilting the bottle, he watched the amber liquid cascade off the ice and pool in the bottom half of his glass. He swirled it around a few times to chill it before taking a sip.

A smile came to his face, and he let out an audible “Ahh.”

As he was taking a second taste, his eyes caught sight of the envelope Noora left on his desk. Putting the glass down, he pulled the square over. The eggshell–colored material was familiar to him, but he didn’t know why. It came to him when he opened the envelope and saw threads fraying from the edges. It was artistic canvas. His daughter Fariha had gone through a stage when she wanted to be a world-renowned artist. A small fortune in materials and art lessons later, she decided she wanted to be a world-renowned singer instead.

Intrigued, he removed the envelope’s contents. The first item he noticed was a square of cement with a glossy coating approximately 10 × 12.5 centimeters. On it was painted a miniature caricature of Marilyn Monroe. She was biting a pair of Oakley sunglasses. It was irreverent, sexy, and overwhelmingly appealing. It was also familiar, and he tried to remember where he’d seen it.

Then that came to him too. The gist of a story published in the online newsletter of a high-end, members-only yachting organization was about some new canvas technique that allowed art to survive on the waters. Saad had been skeptical until he’d seen a photograph of his friend Takeshi standing next to that same Marilyn painting, titled Oakley Marilyn. He’d installed it on his yacht and was singing its praises.

The concept was certainly intriguing. The canvas was some kind of cement compound, likely the stuff he was holding in his hand. The paint was applied to the cement, then a thick gloss coating was added to protect the artwork. Mold, mildew, salt deterioration were all a constant battle on his yacht. It wasn’t a big financial drain, but it was a drain.