Chapter Two

Lucas's POV

It was a bright and sunny morning on the cruise ship, and I wanted to start the day off by waking up my girlfriend. We had such a wonderful time together last night, and finally, after several failed attempts, I proposed to her. It was such an unforgettable moment.

I was looking forward to spending the whole day with her, but as I rolled over to expose her from the heavy blanket, I was shocked to find a complete stranger beside me. A feeling of claustrophobia overwhelmed me as it finally dawned on me what had happened the night before; I had spent the night in bed with a complete stranger.

I quickly got up from the bed, fully awake now, and looked around the room. My eyes turned red with fury as I stared at her, wondering what to do.

I screamed out in surprise and anger, my voice loud enough to wake up the entire cruise ship.

The woman finally stirs, awoken by my loud shout. As she woke, I lashed out angrily, startling her.

"What the hell are you doing here? Where is my girlfriend!" My voice echoing through the room as if I was about to turn into a wild animal.

The woman looked up into my eyes in surprise, obviously unaware of the situation she was in.

Just then, the staff members outside rushed inside carrying cakes, wine, balloons, gifts and many more.

Apparently, I had prepared all these as a surprise to propose to my original girlfriend and when I shouted loud, the staff outside thought that was the cue for them to come in.

Everyone in the cruise boat had heard my voice too and came to witness the scene, whatever it was.

The woman was out of bed already, trying to cover her face in shock. After a while, she finally looked up and managed to utter a few words.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else. I..I..made a mistake," she says as tears started streaming down her face.

"No, don't give me any of all that pity face look. I know your type. You're one of those bitches looking around to lure guys to bed, blackmail them and get a media worthy story out of it."

From somewhere in the crowd, someone shouted, "Bitch!"

The young lady seemed to be stupefied at my claims, but I was not falling for any of her innocent face traps.

"Actually, I was drunk yesterday night and I don't even know how I managed to get in here." She tried explaining. "I'm in shock!" She exclaimed.

"And I'm in bigger shock than you!" I retorted, making the crowd burst out in laughter. "Now listen, your plans have been exposed and I want you to know that, no matter what evidence you may have to leak to the media, I am less concerned and will not offer a dime to shut you up. Oh, I have other ways to shut you up." I let out a threat.

By now the murmurs and whispers from the crowd were becoming unbearable so I faced them. "And let it be known to everyone of you standing in this room that I have no intent of going viral on the media because of this incident, and if anyone should try denting my image or even so much as try reading a connection between myself and this bitch here," I sized her up with my hands, "I will drag such person to the ends of this earth and make life terrible for..."

While I was still going on with my threat, my phone vibrated. Oh great! It was a text message from my girlfriend. 

Nervousness suddenly devoured me. Was she in the crowd? Had she seen it all? I looked around to search for her and found nothing. All I could see was the spectators watching and twittering. She was not here. I read the text to myself and couldn't feel any worse.

"Sweetie, I'm sorry that I didn't show up on the cruise. The Black Swan invited me to their two-year training. I'm so excited about this! They finally accepted me. I will be in Paris for two years. Wish me good luck! Love you!"

Again!

My girlfriend abandoned me again for her ballet career. This was not the first time such would occur. I felt like the whole world was weighing down on me.

"Everybody out!" I shouted at the crowd.

Murmurs and whispers continued with nobody wanting to leave and miss the whole scene before them.

"Fucking get out of my room!" I yelled, filled with burning rage now.

"But sir, the surprise..." One of the staff started, but I was quick to cut her off.

"Well, it's my surprise, right? It's off now. Do you have any problem with that?" I looked at the person who spoke. When there was no response, I continued. "Great, since no one has an issue with that, can you all get the hell out of my room?!" I tried again, this time a little bit calmer. I was having a migraine already.

With reluctance, the staff involved with the surprise packages filed out, and before long the crowd of people also dispersed, leaving just two of us in the room.

I turned back to the young lady who was up and fully dressed at this point.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Vivian." She answered.

"Alright Vivian, listen and listen very well. I do not care whatever might have happened between us. It was never meant to be and that's it!" By now, I could see the tears flowing freely down her cheek. I raised the tone of my voice. "Hey, listen! I have no interest in this your crocodile tears. For all I know, you could have orchestrated all these. Now I need you to get out of my room, out of my life and do not ever come near me again!" I concluded, sounding as mean as I possibly could.

With the tears flowing down her face, I watched her retreating figure walk out of the room.

I needed to get back my composure. Taking in a deep breath, I lay down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling as my mind raced through all the events that led to this point. I felt really foolish and embarrassed.

*****

Vivian's POV

I woke up early in the morning to a loud shout and noticed another person in the room, who is definitely not Sam. I jumped out of the bed half naked with shock, trying to figure out what happened.

It all came running back to me- I had happened to get into the wrong room in my drunk state the night before. Now I was sober, and I realised all that had happened. The night of my first year anniversary in a relationship had been spent in bed with a total stranger, and to think I had sex with him also! I felt shame creep all over my face.

As if standing before him was not enough, the door soon opened and what seemed like the whole world trooped in. I had never felt so humiliated and powerless.

I was so shocked I couldn't do or say anything. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sam, my boyfriend, watching the scene in the crowd. Gosh, I felt like the ground should open up and swallow me whole.

After a few minutes, the crowd cleared and I managed to dress up fully. Standing face to face with this stranger again, I received what seemed like the most painful words of my life.

I couldn't even utter a word as I walked out. I still didn't know who he was, but from his tone of command and all that had happened in there, I knew for sure he was some rich dude and an important figure on this cruise ship.

I ran to the other side of the cruise ship where the windows were and gave myself up to the tears in my eyes. I desperately hoped that the sound of the waves crashing against the metal hull would help to drown out the pain that was consuming me.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I spotted Sam in the company of two girls from last night, they seemed to be having fun. Without me!

I walked over to him, hoping to make sense of the past few hours to him.

"Sam, it's not what you think. I can explain what happened. Last night I was...." I made to explain but he cut me short.

"Vivian, it's okay. I understand perfectly, it's fine." He sounded really off, not his usual casual tone.

"Are you sure you're not upset?" I moved closer to him trying to caress his cheek sensually.

Surprisingly, he held my hand preventing me from touching him. "Like I said, Vivian, it's fine. It's just that...."

I was getting really scared now. "What is the matter, babe?"

"It's nothing. Just that I'd like us to take a break, it seems this is not working. We are not working, so I think we should call this relationship off." He let the words flow smoothly as though he had practised a whole lot of times for this moment.

"Wait, Sam, this feels like a breakup." I said, I could feel the tears well up again in my eyes.

"It is, Vivian."

At that moment, I noticed the girl standing next to him, who was much wealthier than me obviously. She was holding hands with Sam, eyeing me possessively and then I realized for certain now that Sam had broken up with me to be with this other girl.

I let the tears stream again as I watched his retreating figure with his new girlfriend.

Oh God, could today get any more worse!

Just two days ago, I had had high hopes of a wonderful cruise vacation, the best few days of my life hopefully. But here I was today, pained, heartbroken and completely dejected. I had lost all hope.