Chapter 1 The Black Venus

On a cold night in Hamburg, Germany, a cruise ship could be seen making its way into the port of Hamburg. They watched it make a steady approach. She was the Black Venus, on a world cruise around the world.

The waves were tossing and beating against her, and no one could be seen on deck, just the massive ship swaying from side to side amid the brewing storm. But more than the raging waves outside were the raging emotions of one of the Black Venus occupants.

Grace was one of the assistants who went everywhere the ship sailed. She was one of the most efficient and trusted employees the ship had.

Mr. Morgan, the owner, and captain of the ship had personally asked for her to be left at the Hamburg harbor to take care of his private affairs on the ground and would arrange for her to board the next ship coming home.

Any other day, Grace would have been excited at the news to go on land, to have some time to herself, do a bit of shopping, and most importantly, walk on solid ground. Whenever they spent this much time on the sea, she missed the everyday things in life she often took for granted, things like, sitting on a bench at the park, watching people go by, was one of her favorite pastime. But today the news came as a shock to her, that she couldn't hold in her emotions.

She had felt dizzy when Mr. Morgan laid out his plan to her. She had more to look forward to on the ship than on land. After her meeting, she had gone back to her cabin and cried until there were no more tears coming out.

After her crying spell, she only had enough time to throw some belongings in a bag before one of the crew members tapped gently at her door.

The ship would not be landing at the harbor as per the captain's original plans. She was to jump into a small boat that would take her offshore.

Following behind the crew member, she could hardly see from the tears that were threatening to spill over.

Her legs felt heavy on the carpeted floor. She kept on hoping, if only she could bump into Nickolas, the handsome billionaire everyone was going crazy about. And explain to him her change of plans. But thinking back to the captain's strict instructions, "no one was to know about this arrangement," and Grace, not wanting to break the captain's trust, she quietly followed the man in front of her.

As soon as they reached the boat, the man assigned to take her offshore was already panicking, gesturing wildly in an unfamiliar language.

Ignoring everything and everyone, she settled down on the boat, the midnight air sifting through her clothing like razor blades.

The boat sped away towards the lights in the distance. She looked back at the big ship behind her, fresh tears running down her face. "What was he doing at this very moment?" "Was he thinking about her and their future together, and would she ever see him again?" These were the thoughts running through her mind the closer they got to the big lights, and the more further away the Black Venus, which was already becoming a speck in her memory.