In her younger days, she would've stayed for a few more minutes to see what his game was. Too many of them didn't really have anything to offer personality-wise, and she was experienced enough to see that within the first 15 minutes of conversations.
She's tired of first impressions that lead to nowhere, unimpressive sex at best, and weeks sometimes months of trying to get rid of them because they seem to like her more than she likes them.
More than that, she has Declan now. The love of her life whom she married when she was 25 years old. The end of her search for the perfect man that every girl wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. Declan was hers.
Her husband was the man who was able to convince her that she didn't want any other man in her life. He fulfilled her as no one has ever done before, romantically, physically, intellectually, and financially. He's the one who paid for her lavish lifestyle because he wanted to spoil her with luxury. He had no problem giving her everything she wanted, and needed, and more. After all, money was not a problem for Declan Hunt, his family and his businesses can provide well over a few generations to come.
But like most marriages, they grew apart. What was once so heated, always hot and heavy with each other gradually turned cold. His successful business took up more and more of his time, the fact that they couldn't get pregnant for so long was an added factor that their commitment was mere with each other.
She checked on her phone. It was a little after 2 AM. There was nothing from Declan. She wondered if he even remembers she had left for a 9-day solo vacation. She put it back on the side of the bathtub. She wasn't eager to know what he was doing either. Probably working in his study at their home like he usually does until 3 or 4 in the morning.
She got out of the tub and put on the lavender silk robe. She finished her last glass of champagne as she checked herself in the mirror. She liked what she saw. Even if her husband doesn't appreciate it anymore, at least a strange man does. She smiled.
**********
The morning sun felt warm against her cheeks. The Maitre'D had told her that if she wanted to get a glimpse of the pod of dolphins jumping in and out of the water, she had to catch them early.
She was used to waking up early, she was already out on the guardrail of the side deck before 10 AM. Breakfast was quick because she wasn't very hungry after a four-course meal the night before, and the endless supply of alcohol on the cruise was not helping her appetite.
She looked through her binoculars to look for sightings of her favorite sea creature, but all she could see was wave after wave of blue splashing against the breeze. The hard wind even blew her hat away, and when she turned around to get it back, her hat had landed on the chest of the same young man who complimented her the night before.
He was holding a camera in one hand, and her hat in the other. He smiled.
"It's very dangerous to be out here on your own, you know?"
She let out a silent sigh, she wasn't looking for company but these things always happened to her without her even trying.
"I can look out for myself ... I hope you're not here trying to protect me or anything," she scoffed and extended her arm to get her hat.
He curled his lips and looked down before he looked at her again, "No ... I was ... looking for dolphins, actually," he lifted his camera to prove his point, "I'm a photographer."
She laughed lightly, half-embarrassed for assuming, and half relieved that he wasn't stalking her. "Sorry ... I thought you were ..." she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Following you?" he tilted his shoulder. "We're on the same boat, and it looks like we have a few things in common ... I think we'll be seeing a lot of each other."
She took her hat from his hand, "Thanks."
"It's true though, it's very dangerous to be out here on your own ... do you know there are at least 20 people who fall overboard on a cruise ship every year?" he walked closer to the railing.
"Is that an accurate statistic? They're probably drunk ... I wouldn't be standing here after a few drinks ... not alone anyways."
The man was now standing next to her looking out to the vast body of water with the wind against his hair. His eyes were clear blue. "You shouldn't be alone in any case."
She furrowed her eyebrows, she felt his words were a bit flirtatious.
"I'm Roman," he offered her a handshake.
She hesitantly shook his hand, "Adele."
He narrowed his eyes, there was a certain spark in them, "Adele ... " he clicked his tongue, "I'd never guessed it ... it doesn't suit you."
He was flirting with her, she thought. But the day was much too beautiful to leave that deck without seeing the dolphins. "Really? What name would suit me then?"
He turned towards her with his elbow resting on the railing, "Something much more glamorous ... I don't know ... something that feels soft on the tongue ... between the lips and let out a gentle air from the vowels."
She stared at him suspiciously for a moment, thinking hard if maybe she had known him from somewhere. Or does he know her? But there was nothing familiar about him, he was just flirting, she convinced herself. "Well ... don't want to disappoint you, but that's my name."
He was an alluring gentleman. In that short interaction, she could sense he was a lot more mature than his age, or maybe he looked a lot younger than his age. It was yet to be revealed. But she found herself glancing a few times at him because he was really easy on the eyes.
He turned to face the sea again, "You didn't disappoint me, Adele ... I just have a very active imagination."
She thought it was awkward for a stranger to admit that he had fantasies about her, but his presence didn't feel threatening in any way, in fact, he was a nice distraction from her aloneness.
"So ... what brings you to this ship? If you don't mind me asking? I'm actually here to do some work for the cruise company ... They hired me to make a new company profile and do their marketing plan."
She breathed in the morning air until it filled up her lungs, "I'm here to enjoy myself ... is that not obvious?"
"Of course ... they have great services here, top of its class ... and Ludus is quite popular for its singles party, but I haven't seen you there ... yet ..."
It struck her, she never heard of it before, "Singles party?"
"Yeah ... at the Ludus Club, they held it every night where single people gather just to have fun ... dancing, drinking, talking, nothing sexual or anything, just single people enjoying themselves with other single people."
She raised her brows and curved her lips, "Hmm ... this is the first I've heard of it, did they put it in the brochures?"
He laughed lightly, "No, but they will ... that's why I'm here," he raised his camera again. "I was there last night ... I was actually hoping you'd be there."
It was a subtle invitation, a partial announcement that he was single even though she saw him with at least two different girls on the ship. She was intrigued with the idea of enjoying her trip to the fullest, but the title "Singles Party" was putting it off for her.
She wasn't single. But nobody needed to know that, her mind was circling the idea. She lets go of the railing, the conversation had developed to a point where she wasn't comfortable continuing. She wasn't willing to share any personal information with a total stranger, especially when she's traveling under a fake name.
"I don't know ... parties are not my scene ... not anymore," she said.
"Would you at least try it one time? It would be nice to take pictures of you there ... I mean, you'd be perfect for the model."
She laughed, "Oh no ... please ... no pictures, I have to go now ... it's nice talking to you, Roman." She stepped down from the guardrail platform.
"Where are you going?" he wasn't ready to let her go yet.
"Do some stuff."
"Will I see you at the Club tonight?"
She tilted her head to one side, "Don't wait for me," she waved one hand at him and walked away. She didn't want to have to explain anything further.
Roman hid a smile, then he took one shot of her from the back. He scrolled back his camera and looked at all the tens of pictures he had taken of her already.
Roman was telling the truth when he said he was on that cruise for a job. He was 26 years old, single, and prefers women who are older than him. When he spotted Olivia by the side of the pool, his mind was fixed on her. She's beautiful. He couldn't get her off his head. When he said he wasn't following her, he was lying. The first thing he did after the initial sighting from the upper deck was to find out who the strikingly attractive woman in blue whose eyes have met him and send shivers down his spine. Adele Leighton, suite 401, staying alone, and nothing more. He had to conjure up his own theory based on that limited information. Suite 401 was a confirmation that she was a lady of leisure, only those who come from a certain social class can afford that cabin if it can be called a cabin at all. It resembles a Presidential Suite
One dance led to another. One drink led to another. She called it a night after less than two hours she was there. He was getting too familiar, and she was enjoying his company more than she should. "I can't." The two words ended the night and Roman thought he was losing his Cinderella just before midnight. He would smack his own head if he wasn't in public. They were chain drinking, he might have stood too close to her than she would've liked. His hands must've wandered to places that made her uncomfortable. "Stupid." They murmured to themselves when they went their separate ways. Olivia went back to her room in a hurry. She didn't even explain to him why the night had to be cut short abruptly. She walked away as fast as she could, and left him stupefied on the dance floor without a chance to redeem himself. She sighed a breath of relief when she got to her room. Locked the door and closed her eyes for a moment to wash away the hysteria that was still left in her. He wasn't tou
She was giggling while looking through her binoculars. Finally, she found the site she'd been wanting to see. A pod of dolphins swimming near the ship. They seemed to be having fun jumping in and out of the water close to the rumbling engines. Dolphins are one of her favorite creatures. They're mammals that live in the sea, they are technically fish with the intelligence of a chimp, and they behave like dogs, they even have a facial expression, they're always smiling. At least that's how she sees it. Watching them in their natural habitat was a different experience. The way they swim so freely in the vast body of water, they are in their element. They spun their bodies up in the air, racing against the boat while putting on a show, cutting through the water, their tail wagged as if to say 'hi', their excitement was contagious, she was grinning from ear to ear. A fluttering sound of a camera shutter came from her back. It was a moment worth eternalizing, it's very rare for that many
It didn't surprise him when she didn't show up at the Club that night. In fact, she was nowhere to be seen. He spent hours going around the ship with his camera pretending to be doing some work when he was really searching for her. She was isolating herself in her room, he thought. 401. He knew where it was but he wasn't going there. He had to give her some space, or she would shut herself completely and he didn't want that. What was his plan? When he thought about it, he really didn't have any. He only knew that he had met the woman he had always imagined would be his soulmate and now he was pursuing her no matter what the obstacle was. Isn't that what people do? She's married. That much he was sure of. Does she have any kids? How long has she been married? The more he thought about it, the more restless he got. He was already jealous of the man who was living his dream. It's not too late, he thought. There must be something wrong with her marriage, but then again, there's always s
"Looks like someone's gonna miss the boat," he said as he sat on the sunbed next to her. "And I won't be alone," she raised her glass at him before she sipped the special drink. He shrugged, "Well ... I'm supposed to stay on the island for two nights as part of my job." He smiled, his clear blue eyes were looking straight into hers. "Hmm ... What a nice coincidence." "I hope they know you won't be going back to the ship, you might want to tell someone about it or they'll call the police." She almost choked on her drink, "You're kidding, right? They would do that?" He raised his brows and nodded, "Technically they're responsible for your well-being as their passenger." She grimaced, and leaned back on the sunbed, "That's ridiculous, I don't have to do that." Roman laughed lightly, "You really don't abide by rules, do you? Let me make it easier for you ..." he reached into his pocket and got his phone. "I'll call them for you." She wanted to stop him from doing it, but he was to
When did it all start? Was it when his cheek brushed against hers when they danced? His voice whispered in her ear telling her what a wonderful time he was having with her, how beautiful she looked under the dim lights of the seaside bar. Was it when he took her hand and swirled her around to land in his embrace over and over again? Until his embrace no longer felt out of place but was expected, she wanted to end up that close to him. He felt new to her, exciting. Or did it start when they first laid eyes on each other? Is there such a thing as an instant attraction? It felt like it. She tried to avoid it, didn't she? Or maybe, it started even further back before they even met. When her world crumbled to pieces when she found out her husband had slept with another woman for reasons she has yet to understand. He loved her, he adored her, and he told her she was everything to him. Yet it didn't stop him from sleeping with another woman and tarnished their once flawless marriage for a
She woke up still tangled in the sheets that were evidence of the night's rumpus. Staring at the picture on the wall she didn't even notice was there last night. It wasn't a dream, she didn't imagine it, as far as her memory allowed her to remember, she enjoyed it very much. What happened to guilt? Why hasn't it knocked on her door? It was the weirdest feeling ever. She looked at the man who gave her one of the best nights of her life and saw his peacefully sleeping face under the sunlight. It stirred her inside. Did Declan feel the same way in the morning when he woke up next to that woman? She wondered if his affair had driven her to that bed. She didn't have an answer to it. Whatever it was, it doesn't justify what she did. Had the man not been Roman, would she have done the same? For that, she has a firm answer, 'No'. There was something about Roman that she just couldn't resist. He slowly opened his sleepy eyes, bright blue against the ray of sunshine, his long lashes glisten
She never thought that holding hands would become a thing for her again. Being married for so long, Declan barely ever holds her hand anymore. Occasionally she would loop her arm around her husband's arm at formal events. A peck on her cheek to show his friends that he loves his wife, and of course all the jewelry on her body that he bought for her, or rather custom-made for her from one of his jewelry stores. But never that warm grip between her fingers pulling her everywhere he walks, a nice wet smack on her forehead, the top of her head, or small cute kisses around her neck the way Roman did to her. He really made her feel like a teenager again. He took her walking by the beach and had breakfast at one of the beachside cafes. He was acting like a love-crazed teenager, teasing her, seducing her, and laughing, he looked happy. Something she hadn't seen in Declan in years when they were together, nor she had seen it in herself. Her eyes were always scanning their surroundings, worri