Chapter 3: Sound The Alarm

Kenzie felt like her head was about to explode. She sensed soft sheets beneath her frame, and her surroundings had a whiff of sandalwood. She fluttered her eyes open, realizing she was in someone else’s room, a huge and luxurious one at that.

Her nostrils picked up a scent of vanilla bean on her torso. When she sat up, she noticed how her shirt was hugging her loosely.

Then... the shock.                                

She was in someone else’s clothes. A man’s clothes!

In a split second, Kenzie felt her heart racing as panic struck her. She looked around and assumed the worst.

“Ahhhhh!” She screamed her loudest again and again. “Ahhhh!”

Seconds later, as she continued to scream in hysteria, she heard a loud set of banging against the door, and not a moment too soon, the door broke open with Andrew walking in, half-naked, wearing only his trousers. “What – what’s wrong, Kenzie? What happened?”

After a few more screams, Kenzie replied with tears in her eyes, “Oh, my God! Andrew? I - I lost my virginity and I don’t even know if it was any damn good!”

It took seconds for the words to sink into Andrew's head. "Jesus, you scared the hell out of me."

He placed both his hands behind his head and took a full turn, laughing unrestrained at Kenzie’s predicament. “You are something, alright, just Kenzie. You really are.”

***

“So.” With eyes wide open, Kenzie sipped on a cup of coffee and sighed with relief. “Nothing happened between us?”

“Nothing of that sort happened between us,” Andrew replied, also drinking his hot beverage from across the table. He flashed a killer smile in Kenzie’s way before adding, “By the way, I’m very relieved to know that my wife is still a virgin.”

While feeling her ears burn, Kenzie could not help but drop her mouth at his comments. After shutting them close, her lips twitched before warning, “Don’t be such a pervert – Ah.”

Kenzie massaged her temples, sensing the headache. She gasped and asked, “Um… So what exactly happened? Are you sure you did not take advantage of me?”

Andrew raised his hand and promised, “I swear to the heavens… Nothing happened between us.” Pausing only for a second, he smirked, leaned over, and continued, “Although, I must say, you seemed very disappointed, sweetheart.”

She unknowingly gawked at him for a moment, thinking quietly, ‘Was I disappointed?’ Her eyes landed on his muscled chest, which just happened to flex as soon as she studied his frame. ‘Oh, yeah. Sound the alarm. Damn! He is a work of art.’

Despite the crazy headache, she could still appreciate Andrew’s bodily features.

“Like what you see?” Andrew teased.

‘Oh, my god! Was I staring that long?’ She looked away and suggested, “Get a shirt, Andrew!”

While Andrew went back inside his room, Kenzie tried her best to recall what transpired the night before. She remembered how she had too much to drink and was feeling sick. The bar they were at was full of people, and Kenzie wanted to go back to her room.

She recalled how Andrew offered to bring her to her cabin, but in the end, she was too drunk to make the long stroll to the other side of the vessel.

"Why did I book economy?" She groaned.

The only thing she could remember next was throwing up in Andrew’s bathroom. His suite was much closer to the bar and hence, the reason why they both found their way there. 

Returning from his room, already in a white shirt, Andrew offered Kenzie an aspirin. As if he knew what Kenzie was thinking, he explained, “After you threw up in my bathroom, you asked if you could just stay in my bed since they were more comfortable than yours. You were very drunk, and I was exhausted.”

“I honestly did not have the energy to go looking for your room at three in the morning, plus economy rooms are way too far from my suite,” Andrew added. “You feared I would take advantage of you, so you locked yourself in my room.”

Looking at her clothes, he said, “I did not change you so you must have chosen to wear my clothes.” He winked at her and complimented, “You look good in my shirt… better than your red dress.”

Kenzie rolled her eyes before she studied the oversized shirt she was wearing. Thank goodness she wore cycling shorts beneath her dress; otherwise, her underwear was for Andrew to feast on… At least, that was what she was thinking he would do.

“And mind you, I did not even get to wash. Thank you very much for locking the doors of my own room. And FYI, the couch was not as comfortable as my king-size bed,” he revealed. “So you owe me.”

“Oops. Sorry. ” She shrugged and said, “I did not know I had it in me. It was the first time I got drunk. And I don’t owe you anything. You had a beautiful girl sleep in your bed. I’d say you got more than what you bargained for.”

Andrew first squinted at Kenzie’s words, but soon he answered, “Touché.”

The doorbell rang, interrupting the moment between them.

“That must be breakfast,” said Andrew before getting up from his seat.

***

“I’m just a nobody. I’m poor. I am very poor,” Kenzie revealed as she and Andrew were having breakfast.

“I heard you the first time around,” Andrew replied. “You’ve been saying that since last night.”

“Did I?” She asked, frowning.

Andrew nodded and replied, “Yes, like a broken record. It was as if you were scaring me about the hole in your wallet.”

The two ate silently for seconds before Andrew spoke again. “But don’t worry, sweetheart. I don’t care if you are poor or the fact that you are a nobody.” He pointed his fork at her and added, “I like this… Kenzie, nobody.”

'Yes, I'm a nobody... and he said he did not care.' The idea that someone may actually like her without being recognized as her father's daughter was starting to sound appealing to her. With that, Kenzie smiled. 

“So… where do you live? I could tell you are American or maybe Canadian,” Andrew probed.

“American. I’m from Brae – Monroe City,” Kenzie said, quickly changing her hometown.

 “What do you do for a living?” he inquired.

“Ummm.” There was a hint of hesitation coming from Kenzie. She took a bite on her toast and after chewing it down, she answered, “I’m into music. I – I wanted to be a singer, but… But I wasn’t any good at it so I figured, I’ll just write songs from now on. Hoping I could sell them for a good price or maybe, I could be a producer.”

Silence filled the air, and Kenzie was unsure why. It was as if Andrew did not like her answer.

After some time, Andrew asked, “So you don’t like to be a singer or a star? Because I could help you with that.”

“No.” She said outright. “I’ve already decided, I don’t want the limelight.”

“And as I said, I’m… I’m not good at singing,” she replied. Of course, two weeks ago, her answer would have been different. Thanks to her so-called friends and boyfriend, she easily had a change of heart.

To her surprise, though, she caught Andrew sighing in relief. She heard him say, “Well, I’m glad.”

“Nothing against singers and actresses or models. I have friends who are, and I manage an entertainment company, but I don’t think I’d want to be married to a woman who would constantly go on promotional tours, meet other vultures who prey on beautiful women, does kissing scenes, fake it so they can get what they want, worse, sleep with directors or producers to get on top of the game,” Andrew blurted out. His words clearly held a deeper meaning.

“You know, I know some people who say they were once in love but had to leave their partners for a chance at fame,” he added, speaking slowly this time, his voice sounding deeper. 

Kenzie was taken aback. She peered closely at Andrew as he ate. She asked, “Speaking from a personal experience?”

“Sort of. It was a long time ago, though. That’s why I made it a point never to date anyone in the entertainment industry,” he answered.

Kenzie did not know why, but she found herself smiling and said, “Andrew, I’m glad that she left you.”

“I mean, I’m glad you are single.”

“No! I mean, she does not deserve you!”

She cringed and muttered, “Arrgh. I don’t know what I am saying!”

“You mean, you are glad I got dumped so I’m free to marry you,” Andrew swiftly supplemented, smirking while he was at it.

“Yes. No! That’s not what I mean!” Kenzie countered, turning tomato red! Despite trying to take it all back, Andrew was already laughing at her admittance.

“You tricked me, for crying out loud!”

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He winked and suggested, “I can take a hint.”

"If it makes you feel better, I'm glad that did happen and years passed. Here I am, meeting the woman who turns me on with her every move," Andrew added with a wink. 

"Pervert!"

"Haha!"