Chapter 63 - A Bodyguard

The laughter of the men pulled Anya out of the trance. She immediately pushed Alvin away. Does he want to play husband and wife? Fine. She couldn't go against it now. She put on drama to stay away from him, hoping it would work.

"There is no honeymoon. you can't keep your word to bring a cruise ship for me, so I need a separate room." She demanded, crossed her arms, and looked away angrily.

Alvin wanted to smack her. Those petty acts don't work, especially in front of men. Instead, those men would pity him and send them to the same room. Anyway, he tried to add in a few words else she would be hopping mad.

He cleared his throat to avoid sounding commanding or cold, "We would be glad if you could give us adjacent rooms." Yet, his deep voice was domineering.

Anya's expression softened, she crossed her fingers waiting for the manager to accept it. But the men laughed as though they were watching a comedic scene for so long, "Mrs. Collins, why are you spoiling your mood on your honeymoon? Why don't you rest in the waiting area?" He pointed to the luxurious waiting room, "Your husband will complete the security check for you."

Anya: "..."

Why couldn't these men take her complaints seriously? It happened the same with the regency security staff and here again.

She looked at Alvin who was displeased due to the staff ignoring his words. Yet she was vexed. She gritted her teeth and went to sit inside without offering help to Alvin.

Alvin's eyes followed her and saw her sit. His eyes brushed around her, there was nobody, 'Better.' Then his eyes shifted to the men who were inspecting the luggage.

The manager of the ship, who was in his early forties, lifted his hand, ready to pat on Alvin's shoulder. Anyway, the manager's hand froze in the mid-air when he met Alvin's gaze. They had forgotten the guests on the ship were no ordinary people. He swallowed hard and awkwardly laughed, taking his hand away.

"Mr. Collins, women's demand never stops. This time your wife asked you for a ship, next time she will ask for something extravagant. You shouldn't just agree with your wife like that. Learn to coax her, lure her and make her believe you could do anything for her. Then they will follow you like a lost puppy."

The men chuckled at those words, nevertheless, Alvin's face stayed stoic. He glanced at his 'wife,' she will never have any demands. She only wishes for something she could afford so if he is rich or poor doesn't matter to her. 

'Coax,' He should learn that.

'A lost puppy? Probably I will be that one.' He thought looking at her eyes sneakily and cautiously gauging the waiting room while burying her bursting anger to the back of her mind. He was impressed by her dedication while looking at her work without being affected by her emotions.

"Your mobile?"

Alvin calmly looked at the person who asked for his mobile. He fished out his mobile and placed it in the small tray. A metal detector waved closely around his body. It beeped once at his leather belt buckle before he passed the security check.

Alvin went through the metal detector door, noticing the manager of the ship instructing some men about the room arrangements and shifting of luggage. 'Luggage?' Alvin looked at the bag that had a laptop and small devices. The metal detector should have detected it, he was preparing for an excuse. 

How did it not come to their notice?

His eyes shifted on the slender lady who packed those devices on the island. He was sure she did something. How does she know these kinds of things? She was becoming a mystery to him. Yet, she stays so innocent and feisty around him.

"Mr. Collins, please wait with your wife until we get your room ready. Your luggage will be shifted to your room." The manager carefully spoke, appalled at how the man behaves in the presence of his wife and her absence.

'My wife.' Alvin liked that address for his Little Donut. He didn't show it on his face. He just nodded in response to the manager, grabbed his mobile, and went to his wife. He sat right opposite to her and caught her attention. 

Anya wasn't checking out the luxurious ship, she saw if the security plan she studied was the same on the ship or changed. By the initial inspection, it seemed to be the same without any change. That meant every corridor and decks were under surveillance.

It was a piece of cake for her to hack and show them what she wanted them to see but it won't be necessary if everything goes as planned. When she was mulling over the safety measures she looked at Alvin and her lips twitched uncontrollably. 

He was crossing his legs with his back leaning on the backrest of the three-seater couch. His one hand was on the armrest and another hand on the headrest of the couch. She had thought his autocratic behavior was due to his mansion but it was in his blood. He was sitting on the couch as if he owned the entire ship. 

Though every place and luxury falls at his feet blending to his air, recalling him sitting on the throne-like chair in his study room, She felt it truly suited him so well. She doubted if anybody else could give justice to that chair.

Alvin narrowed his eyes on her. Though she was looking at him for a few seconds, she was lost in her thoughts very soon, without even blinking. It made him curious and also amused she hadn't attacked him yet for calling himself as her husband.

"My dear wife, are you enjoying your view?" He teased her in his deep flirty tone with a smirk at the corner of his lips. He was clearly enjoying it.

Anya came out of her daze and blinked, focusing her gaze on his attractive yet arrogant smirk. 'My dear wife!?' She wasn't quite sure how she felt hearing it. It was a foreign word to her. Such a relationship hardly crossed her mind.

Anyhow, her gaze shifted to the coffee table between them. There were trays of refreshments. Then her gaze returned to the man simply giving him a dare, 'I dare you to say that again.' If he did, she would bathe him in those refreshments.

Well, that encouraged him to call her again but he controlled. She was eager to vent her anger, and it wasn't good when the ship staff was still around them.

After about fifteen minutes of glaring and staring at each other, a staff member informed them and escorted them towards a room. Though the ship was enormous, the passageway was narrow and too long. The interior was in the colors of earthy tones with off-white and royal blue. The added lighting and small crystal chandeliers at equivalent intervals gave a perfect touch of luxe. 

Both sides of the passageway had rooms with numbers. Everything looked identical. If there were no numbers next to the door, it was easy to misidentify one's room. Alvin walked by her side while she was making note of the security cameras. Anya concluded the ship's security structure hadn't changed from the time the ship was bought from the manufacturing company.

Anya faintly furrowed when they climbed to the fifth floor and continued to walk further inside. It was exactly the floor where Anya didn't want them to be. Without reacting, she silently stepped ahead hoping to have separate rooms. The whole time she ignored the man next to her.

The staff member opened the door of a room and stood aside. He had an amazing accent and a formal smile on his face when he spoke, "Mr. and Mrs. Collins, there is a brochure on the table which will give you details of every event and the facilities available on the ship. As for today's events, there is a luncheon in two hours at the resto-bar, the sunset cruise dinner on the sunset deck, followed by a music night at the Sailor's Knot pub." 

He paused and glanced at the two before continuing, "We encourage our guests to wear appropriate outfits for the events. If you need an on-boat designer or an outfit, the details are included in the brochure. Please call us any time of the day if you have any queries. Have a pleasant stay on P-S-R." He bowed his head at them and looked at Alvin.

Lunch and dinner were a must for every guest to attend unless there is a valid excuse. She didn't require noise but was in search of peace. Hence she decided to skip the music night which will be a DJ night. She nodded to herself and looked around for another room. Before she could ask, she saw Alvin giving a few hundred bucks to the staff member.

Anya: "..."

She assumed he was bribing the staff for another room and waited for Alvin to speak but the staff thanked him and… left.

She flustered, "Wait… Another room?" She looked at the staff leaving as if he didn't hear her. She frowned at Alvin, "Alvin Matthews…" She said through her teeth and glared at him.

He realized what she had thought a second before. "Tips…" He gave tips to the staff member. The more tips, the service staff would serve them in priority.

Anya genuinely wanted to complete her work as a responsible, mature lady. But he wasn't playing along. He was making everything hard for her.

'Couldn't he just stay away from me?' His protective behavior was doing no good to her. And she can't relax a minute around him or ignore him like a stranger.

"I dare you to enter the room." Her angry purr came like a whine, a tantrum of a child. She needed room to work, for hacking or controlling the radio room. 

Alvin looked at her for a second and went inside the room. This wasn't what he expected but they have no choice now. He needs some time to create a choice.

Anya: "..."

Alvin looked around the room. The room's interior was coordinated with the passageway. The double bed was against the slanted window that was giving a clear view of the ocean. There was a desk next to the window for her to work. A brown L-shaped couch at the side completed the look minimalistic yet luxe look of the room.

Alvin was glad he could use the couch if another room couldn't be arranged by night.

Just then he heard a voice of three young men who were passing by the room, [I haven't seen her before on the ship.]

[She doesn't look like a staff.]

[Which family could she be from?]

[Is there a different kind of service that isn't mentioned?]

There was dirty, suggestive laughter.

[Let's go and check out the fruit.]

Alvin furrowed when he didn't see Anya inside the room or at the door. He rushed out of the room. He noticed she had walked far away. She was taking a turn at the stairs and the three men in their twenties were jogging behind her like bees attracted to the flower.

He gritted his teeth. It looks like he couldn't be her husband but a bodyguard. He turned to the other side of the passageway and noticed the stairs.. He immediately gave work to his feet and went to save his wife before those men could harass her.