Chapter Three - The Mysterious Note

Brynne dashed into the washroom to hide while Daniella opened the door to a ship crew member carrying a bouquet of red camellias. “Yes?” She gave him a suspicious look. 

“This is for Ms. Emerson!” He handed the bouquet to Daniella and walked away. 

Brynne peered, and her mouth hung open at the sight of the flowers. “Who was there? Where did these come from?” 

Daniella’s face broke into an excited grin, and she handed the exotic bouquet to her. “For you. Some cabin crew delivered it to Ms. Emerson.” She winked and watched the jaw dropped look on her face as she inspected the flowers. 

“For me? Who would send me flowers?” She searched for a label or note, but found none. 

Daniella looked more excited than her. “Not just any flower, Brynne. Someone’s sent you red camellias!” 

Brynne gave her a confused look. “What’s so special about them?” 

“Don’t you know what they symbolize?” Brynne shook her head. She only knew about roses. 

“Passion, desire!” gasped Daniella, watching her friend with amusement. “I’m sure your mysterious hook-up from last night might have sent it.”

Brynne waved her off and picked up a glass tumbler to arrange the flowers in. “That’s impossible. It was just a random thing. He might be busy with other females to give me a thought. I’m sure it’s Adam trying to woo me.”

Daniella rolled her eyes and picked up the key card to the room. “I doubt it. He’s hardly a romantic. He thinks with his c*ck. Anyway, I’m on my way out to grab breakfast. Are you coming?”

“Yes. Give me five minutes.” 

“You can admire the flowers later. Hurry, I’m famished already.” Brynne left the bouquet on the table to fix her appearance quickly. 

After ten minutes, the two friends walked down to a café on the deck. It was a bustling place with many of their colleagues enjoying their breakfast. Some waved at them, but Brynne had no wish to join their table. “Please, can we sit separate? I’m hung over!” 

“Sure, only if you give me the juicy details.”

Brynne rolled her eyes, thinking of a way to decline. “As if I remember. I was drunk, right?” It wasn’t the complete truth, but she had no wish to elaborate on an audience. 

“Oh, what a shame! Let’s order.” They sat down at a corner table and ordered breakfast. However, Brynne had the odd sensation of being watched. The hair at her nape stood straight with consciousness, and she wondered if she was overreacting. Should she look? 

“So, what’s the plan today? I want to explore. How about you?” 

Brynne groaned and shook her head. “I’ll sleep please. My head is killing me.” 

“Oh, then I’ll take up Ted on his offer.” It got Brynne’s attention and Daniella blushed at her slip of the tongue. 

“What offer?” Daniella looked away, and Brynne had the gut feeling something was cooking between her best friend and Ted. 

“Umm, nothing much. He offered to show me around the place.” Daniella blushed and Brynne knew she was hiding some juicy details, too. 

Their food arrived and the two friends tucked in hungrily. “This is good compared to the fare on my last cruise.” They discussed her last trip and about the attractions on board compared to this cruise. “This cruise ship is grander, with so much more to offer. Are you sure you don’t want to pop a pill and accompany us? It’ll be fun.”

Brynne shook her head, not wanting to be a third wheel between them. “Maybe later if I feel like it.” 

They asked for the bill, but the server smiled. “It’s paid for, ma’am.” Both friends gaped at the server. Was he drunk? Who would pay for their food? 

“Paid? By whom?” asked Daniella in confusion.

“Mr. Sylvester.” The server smiled and walked away while the two friends gaped at one another. Their boss had paid for their food too? This was a pleasant surprise!

“Yay! Boss has us covered on this trip. Let’s go.” Daniella grabbed her hand, and they rushed out in excitement. Brynne forgot her wish to scan the café, the wish to pop a pill and sleep being the utmost on her mind. 

Ted arrived at their cabin ten minutes later for Daniella. 

“Ready?” he asked Daniella, who was busy stuffing her handbag with essentials. 

“Yes. I just need my lip gloss.” 

Ted rolled his eyes. “You won’t need anything but dollar bills on this cruise. Everything is so d*mn expensive.” 

Daniella and Brynne’s mouth hung open, and they eyed one another. “But food is free, right?” asked Brynne, and Ted gave her a shocked look. 

“Who told you? A day’s meal costs a fortune here.”

Brynne was stunned by the piece of information. Then how did Mr. Sylvester pay for their meal? 

She eyed Daniella, who looked as lost as she did. “Come on. Let’s go. Are you sure you won’t join us, Brynne?” asked Ted half-heartedly.

“Yes, I’m fine. Enjoy yourselves.” Ted whisked her best friend away, and Brynne was glad she had opted out. Their outing looked more like a date than a casual outing. 

She showered, popped a pill and felt human again. Her glance fell upon the mysterious bouquet and she picked it up.

It was an exotic one with almost 150 rarest Middlemist red Camellias, arranged in a silk brocade wrap. It didn’t look like Adam could send such a thing to her. In the last two years of their relationship, he had only given her two chocolate boxes each year on her birthday. Then who could it be from?

Her mind immediately went back to last night and the dangerously hot stranger. No, that was impossible. What they shared was a one-night drunken mishap, and he ensured his anonymity. Why would he pursue a nobody like her? If he stayed in the Owner’s suite, he was definitely beyond her league. It was best to forget it ever happened. She wouldn’t think of him at all.

It was easier said than done. Even after a shower, her lips tingled from his touch, her p*ssy hurt yet felt moist. Her body was still aroused by his touch. Was this normal? She had no idea and no one to ask as well. Daniella was still a virgin with zero dating experience. 

She picked the flowers and arranged them one by one in four tumblers. A white note fell from the bottom of the wrap to the floor. Brynne frowned at it, picking it up and inspecting the folded piece. 

Opening it, she read the message scribbled in haste. 

Come over to collect what you left behind. 

That’s it? There was no name, no signature or anything. Where should she go? What had she left behind? 

It was the most confusing message of her life, and she sat reading it repeatedly. Yet Brynne couldn’t figure out what it meant. Should she go to Adam’s room or the stranger’s room? As far as she remembered, she had left behind nothing in either of them. With the 150 flowers sorted out in containers and tumblers, she felt claustrophobic trying to figure out the cryptic note. 

Maybe she could explore the ship on her own. When she had left nothing behind, there was no need to go anywhere. She would wait for the sender of the flowers to connect to her again. How could she go to the Owner’s suite and disturb the stranger?

It would look so desperate. What if he hadn’t sent the note? She would die of embarrassment. Picking up the room key card, wallet, her phone, and medallion, Brynne walked out of the cabin when her phone buzzed with a message from Daniella. 

I’ll be moving in with Ted right away.-Daniella. 

Brynne gaped at the message, realizing what it meant. She would be all by herself on this tour. It turned out to be the worst cruise tour of her life. Why was everyone abandoning her? First, it was Adam and now Daniella. All her excitement left her and she wanted to cut short her plans and go home. 

Yay, I’ll have a room all to myself.–Brynne.

She didn’t add how much she dreaded it. Living alone was the most hateful thing in the world for her. At home too, she was alone. Daniella had offered her to move in with her, but Brynne had postponed it for so long. She was considering moving in after the cruise ship tour, but maybe the option was closed now. With Ted in her life, Daniella wouldn’t want her in her house.

The phone buzzed with another message. 

Sorry about that. Things escalated and Ted proposed. I can’t believe I’m engaged to him, Brynne.- Daniella.

She gaped at the message with disbelief. Her friend Daniella was engaged? Why couldn’t it happen to her? Why couldn’t Adam be like Ted? 

Congratulations, girl. I’m waiting for my treat. – Brynne. 

Soon. I’m so excited. – Daniella.

She smiled, switched off the phone and slipped it inside her pocket. “Ms. Emerson?” Brynne stopped and turned to find a cabin crew approaching her. 

“Yes.” She waited with a perplexed look on her face. Now what had she done?