I Won’t Change for Anyone

Aurora Brooks POV

We walked off the ship together. Silence fell between us. Heavy. Almost holy.

He swallowed his tongue. I bit mine. Even our eyes refused to meet. They stayed fixed on the road ahead.

Curious, I spoke from behind him, studying his broad shoulders with open contempt.

God, how I hated him.

"Where are we going?"

He did not answer.

He had stopped beside a fairly large group of men wearing the same bright white uniform. Sailors. Naval men. The captain spoke with a firm voice that commanded instant obedience.

"Was it supplied with the cargo before it was activated?"

A man with two dimples and narrow eyes answered. Handsome. Charismatic in a quiet way.

"Yes, sir."

I stepped a little closer, and suddenly all their eyes turned to me.

The attention made heat crawl up my neck. I felt absurdly embarrassed.

Alexander answered while moving toward the door of ship number seven, the number carved deeply into its massive side.

The long haired man followed him, his hair tied behind his head. Clearly the chief marine engineer.

Then Martin followed as well, shooting me a glare so deadly that if it had been a bullet, I would be dead.

Alexander turned his neck toward me after the two men walked inside. Then he called me over with a curl of his fingers.

I asked impatiently. I hated pointless orders. I hated being moved around like some kind of working machine.

"What now?"

His body disappeared from my sight, forcing me to follow his shadow toward the engine room. My ears caught the conversation of the two men ahead of me, their voices loud and serious.

The door opened to a narrow room that could barely hold five people because of the huge number of machines and wires crammed inside. Strange computers blinked everywhere, glowing with cold blue lights.

The captain walked straight to the troubled engine and crouched beside it.

He opened his tool case slowly, pulled out a leather glove, and slipped it on.

After examining the engine for a few moments, he grunted in frustration. Like a volcano spitting sparks.

"What the hell is this nonsense?"

Martin straightened immediately, pulling his hands from his pockets as his composure returned.

"What happened, sir?"

Alexander did not look at him. Instead, he pulled his hat off his head with tense fingers and shoved it toward me.

My hands caught it against my chest, irritated by how harshly he spoke to his crew.

"You didn't cool the engine. That's why the temperature rose and it shut down."

His sharp gaze moved to the long haired man.

"You are the chief engineer. Where was your brain?"

The engineer wet his lips, still not smiling.

"I will cool it now. Do not worry, Captain."

Mr. Alexander stood up again. His shirt tightened across his chest from the pressure of his muscles. He pulled off his gloves with visible irritation.

"It will run in five minutes. If everyone is ready, you may begin the sailing process."

Martin added with confusion,

"You won't be on board with us? You are the senior captain. Your presence matters in every shipping operation."

Still distracted by the strange subject they were discussing, Alexander looked around with firm calm.

"I will not be here today. Something important requires my attention. The deputy will take my place."

He walked out, ignoring their surprise.

I followed him with light steps.

He moved quickly toward the daylight, forcing me to almost run to keep up. His cap still between my fingers. His tall body etched clearly into my vision.

I breathed in relief when fresh oxygen filled my lungs again.

I muttered beside him,

"The way you treat your friends is terrible."

He flicked his lighter. Fire sparked. Then he brought the flame to the cigarette resting between his pink lips. After a long drag, he answered calmly.

"Work is work. Friendship comes later."

I curled my lips in annoyance.

"But your tongue is sharp."

He blew a thick cloud of smoke straight into my face. It brushed my skin like a teasing ghost.

"This is who I am. I will not change for anyone."

I moved toward the short railing separating the small bridge from the dark sea below and grabbed it tightly. My brown hair flew wildly behind me in the wind. Free. Far freer than I would ever be.

"Do you act like this with your children too? Your daughter?"

Suddenly I felt hot breath near my neck. He directed his cigarette smoke there.

"It is not your right to ask about my relationship with my children. And I am not willing to answer."

I lowered my head and stared at the gray sky reflected on the water.

"I hope you are a good father. Because you are not a good man."

I saw his hand tighten hard around the metal chain separating us from the harbor water. His voice sounded strangled.

"Maybe the opposite. Maybe I am a good man... but a terrible father."

Our eyes locked for a short moment.

Long enough for me to notice the sadness shining deep inside his black pupils.

His hand trembled again. Something inside him was breaking.

"What is stopping you from being a great father to them? Ethan and your daughter are innocent. They deserve someone to make up for losing their mother. And no one would be better than you."

He took a harsh drag from his cigarette and spoke with quiet regret.

"It is too late, Aurora. I have not lived in that house for years. My sister takes care of everything."

A wicked idea suddenly flashed through my mind. I did not hesitate to say it. I tilted my head toward him with innocent eyes.

"Is it because your wife died? You still haven't moved on... right?"

He threw the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his heavy boot.

He ignored my question completely and changed the subject in a way that shocked me.

"The engagement party will be held at that house. Tell your family to prepare themselves. End of this week."

My body twisted in surprise at his sudden decision. Just minutes ago he had refused the idea of his son marrying my sister.

"How?"

My stupid question received a calm, steady answer.

"You will stay in my house for three days. After the engagement takes place on the third day, you may leave."

My wide eyes lifted slowly to meet his sharp gaze once my mind managed to process the first shock.

"Why would we live in your house for three days?"

His bold hand reached toward my hair, brushing the strands resting over my shoulder in a careless way. Then he gave me an arrogant answer that matched his personality perfectly.

"Because I want to."

I shifted my body slightly to escape his playful touch. He noticed my irritation and pulled his hand away.

"So the families can get to know each other better."

I nodded slowly and decided to leave.

I do not know how it happened, but my heel twisted the moment I turned. My balance slipped. I was about to fall.

Strong hands suddenly wrapped around my waist, pulling me hard against his body. I could feel his thick thighs supporting my weight as he held me upright.

His warm whisper rolled inside my ear like slow thunder.

"Slow down, little one. You almost fell on your clean knees."

My body shivered as his sinful whisper touched me. His warm breath brushed both my heart and my earlobe.

"I did not fall. So remove your hands from my waist."

He tightened his grip even more. Pain forced me to bite my lip.

Then one second later, he loosened his hold and removed his hands from my fragile bones.

"The size fits perfectly to feed my ego."

Without thinking, anger exploded inside me. I slammed my bag into his chest.

"Nothing will satisfy your ego except dirt. When you die and get buried, we will throw a party instead of a funeral."

I turned to walk back toward the gate.

But he grabbed my arm and pulled me back to face him. His expression was still. Yet his eyes screamed with rejection at my words.

He asked with a harsh voice touched by a faint tremor,

"Am I that bad?"

My confused eyes rose slowly to meet his.

I could not judge a man I had only seen three times in my entire life. But what I had experienced from him was exhausting.

I inhaled softly and answered with hesitation.

"You are not bad. You act strong in front of everyone. But inside... you are fragile."

His fingers loosened around my wrist. His brows drew together. A thick cloud of smoke left his mouth as he spoke heavily.

"Go, Aurora."

Our gazes held each other for one final moment before I walked away with steady steps.

I lowered my eyes to the ground.

Then I turned back.

He was still standing there.

Watching me closely.

With those dangerous eyes.