Chapter 80 - Unstained

Alvin didn't wake Anya on time. He let her take some more rest and got ready in formal wear for the dinner. The dinner had started when he woke her up and she got ready in five minutes.

Alvin, who had expected Anya to take time, looked at her outfit. He had expected her to wear an evening gown but she was contrasting. Anya was donning white high-waist white trousers and a black crop-top with puffed short sleeves. Her slinky waist looked more enticing.

Alvin looked back at her little face when she was busy wearing a wristwatch and said, "Let's go." He was hoping that she could attract fewer eyes on her but she seemed to be adamant about going against him. 

Preparing his mind for the ogling eyes on her, he stood up and went to the door. He led her out but Anya paused at the door. She wasn't sleepy anymore and her eyes glinted sharply.

They had fooled Harper's men, that is Berwick and his team, as the camera had a problem. So, 'What if they try to install a new spy camera?' They can't pretend to look around the room again to check for the new camera. 

If they have to check the room footage, they will have to use the laptop, the new camera could record them and alert Harper's men. They couldn't take such risks.

"Give me a moment." She uttered and went inside.

"..." Alvin who turned around got a glimpse of her backless top and was speechless. His Little Donut was definitely challenging him by trying to lure other men. 

How many insects does he have to squash?

Unaware of Alvin's thoughts, Anya pretended to be reapplying the lipstick. She returned with another lipstick in hand. She pushed the door just enough for her to get in and out. Then she dropped the lipstick behind the door. She noted the exact spot and exited the cabin.

Alvin who never felt the urge to cover a woman, keep others' eyes away from her, involuntarily removed his blazer when he again saw a thin lace of her top tied on her back. 

Anya who closed the door, felt a warm cloth settle on her shoulder. A bleak smile appeared on her face when glanced at her shoulder. With his little actions, nobody could doubt they weren't a couple. However, those little actions were making her feel heartless because she was going to be a b*tch, a thankless b*tch. At the same time, she was swaying on her decisions which she couldn't afford.

'It isn't time to think about all that.' Anya told herself and spun around. "Thank you…" She held his arm before he could try to hold her hand. 

Alvin glanced at her hand and weighed her dimple-less, fake smile. He couldn't understand what was going on in her mind. She won't tell him anyway, so he went towards the elevator as he gave her heads up, "Don't eat anything heavy. Choose something light and easily digestible."

She didn't know why he said it. She agreed without asking, "Alright." Then she recalled something, "Are we checking out the ship after dinner?"

Alvin pressed on the elevator button, considering it for a few seconds. Berwick will have his eyes on them, he will doubt if they pass by his secret monitoring room. Apart from that, the weather will get worse soon, she has some work to complete before that. He again didn't explain to her. "Tomorrow."

Anya just nodded. She could actually go alone. She didn't want to rile him up and have an argument. Hence she asked hoping he might accept.

Anya and Alvin reached the sunset deck. The deck was a wide-open area. Since the ship was moving towards the west, as soon as she stepped out, they were welcomed with the colorful shades of setting sun rays.

A few long-winged birds were flying high in the sky, migrating from cold to warm regions. The clear sky had fluffy clouds with a brighter Silverline. The sun which always appeared like a button on the sky was dazzling big and bright kissing the ocean surface. It was breathing.

Alvin's footsteps reduced even slower when he sensed her footsteps. He watched her while her eyes were fixed at the horizon. Her gray eyes dazzled against the sunrays, her lips faintly curled yet the dimples were teasing his eyes. As simple as he could read her, she was also a complex puzzle, very hard to solve.

He didn't avert his gaze when she sensed his eyes and turned to him. He was expecting her smile to fade but she was again contrasting to his thought process. She flashed a beautiful smile that curled her eyes to crescents and dimples deepened, whispering that she wasn't faking her smile.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Her mellow voice floated to his ear.

He looked at her as if it was his last chance to see that smile as if it was a sight he was waiting for years. He hummed in response to her smile, rather than the sun.

"Mr. Collins, Mrs. Collins…" 

Alvin's face turned immediately icy cold hearing the penetrating voice. Anya furrowed, feeling the itch to cover her ears. Both saw a flock of people rushing towards them and started bombarding them with their apology, asking for forgiveness.

"I am really sorry for my son's ill behavior. I will teach him a good lesson." The man turned to the young man whose hand was in a cast. He pressed the young man to the floor and yelled, "Ask for forgiveness."

Since they were close to Anya, the latter tried to take a step away. Anyhow, Alvin wrapped his hand around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. He turned aside to leave but they were circled. He gritted his teeth. How he wished it was his ship. He could have called for security to throw those people into the ocean. 

The manager who noticed the commotion felt tired to help them out. He just focused on checking if the dinner was arranged properly.

Not just one, everyone started doing the same without hearing Anya saying, 'It's alright.' to get rid of them. The eyes on them continued to increase, the voices were just noise in the air, ruining the mood. 

Alvin who glanced around for the manager didn't get to see him. He snapped at them after a minute or two, "Quiet."

Suddenly the silence fell over. Even the waiters and other people stilled at his warning tone. The people who met his gaze, stumbled back, uneasily looked everywhere but him.

"Scram." He growled glaring at them.

Anya breathed in relief when the group hurriedly scattered to their tables. Similarly, the eyes on them gradually reduced. 

Following a waiter to the empty table, Anya wondered, "How did they change from arrogant to apologetic?"

Alvin didn't bother to think about it. Those people ruined his mood. They took seats and received the menu cards from the waiter. 

Both were skimming through the menu when they heard the old man's tone asking them in an interrogation tone, "Who are you?"

Anya's back faintly stiffened hearing the voice next to her. She doesn't know any political background families. So her gaze went on Alvin whose face darkened. She had forgotten to ask if anybody knows Linus.

The old man's voice was filled with suspicions and a hint of anger when he asked. "Why are you impersonating Collins?" His loud strict voice spread to the nearest tables and the murmur started instantly.

Alvin clenched his teeth and glared at the old man. Numerous thoughts ran into Anya's mind while hearing the buzzing around them.

"What does Mr. Wright mean?"

"Aren't they Collins?"

"The Collins is well known to Mr. Wright. Does that mean… these two are con artists?"

"Did you hear? Mr. Wright said the couple isn't collins."

'This isn't good.' The ship staff could lock them in a room until they confirm their identity, In extreme cases, they could hand them over to the nearest island cops. 

Anya glanced at the old man and… "Mr. Wright!?" He wasn't on the list of guests she had checked.

The old man's expression changed when he looked at the lady from near. He remembers her gray eyes and short hair. "You!? What are you…" He recalled that Anya was Mrs. Collins. As far as he knew, she wasn't the type to leave her work, impersonate somebody. If she was as such, Bernard wouldn't have worked closely with her.

Alvin looked at Anya when she stood up from her chair. He saw her brush her hair while whispering something to the old man. "President Collins sent us here." And the old man nodded. He pursed his lips and glared at her without knowing what she said that could cool the old man.

Anya knew well which words could silence the old man. She pointed to her chair as she stepped away, "Please…" The old man sat down without a word.

She looked at the waiter and asked, "We need another chair. Thank you."

The crowd: "..."

They didn't understand what just happened. If those weren't the Collins, why did Wright sit down for dinner with them?

Was he just throwing a tantrum? They continued their dinner with confusion and a lot of questions.

Anya cleared the first and foremost thing to the old man, "Mr. Wright, I and Alvin are here on a secret mission. President Collins is aware of this." 

Wright somehow trusted her so he stopped being suspicious of them.

Anya sat down facing the west directly. While she liked to watch the sunset, Alvin's eyes were on her and the old man's eyes were on Alvin. Anya was mulling over how much to let the old man know. 

Alvin ignored the old man and ordered dinner for him and Anya. Then he was busy admiring his view when a question hit their ears.

"Are you Janet's son?" The old man asked in a dilemma. 

As far as he knew Bernard trusts very few people. If Alvin was accompanying Anya due to some work, he highly doubted the man to be someone known to Bernard. When he saw those cognac eyes sharp, yet dazzling, he immediately asked.

Janet Collins, a movie queen who has been ruling the entertainment industry since her teenage. She is in her late forties, still looking as young as ever. Janet was initially managed by the Matthews Entertainment agency before she opened her studio and production house. 

Anya glanced at the old man. Janet was mother Owen's favorite celebrity hence Anya had heard a lot about Janet. Janet had two children, both were teenagers. The elder daughter was preparing to enter the singing field while the youngest son was a child artist for many commercials and cameo roles in drama and television. Janet had no connection with the Matthews family.

Anya was about to respond to the question as 'No, Alvin is a Matthews.' when she sensed something amiss. She looked at Alvin who was clenching his teeth, looking daggers at the old man.

Anya's eyes suddenly widened at the realization. Alvin was a nephew of Bernard, Janet Collins was a younger sister of Bernard, only sibling. However, Janet Collins wasn't the wife of Casper Matthews. 

Anya, who always felt complicated thinking how a father could throw his son out and ruin his startup, got the hints of why Alvin hates his father and 'mother' so much. The mother was actually a stepmother and his real mother never accepted him publicly as her son. Janet was living happily in her small family where Alvin had no space.

Alvin had expected the old man to speak about the issue and mind his business. He hadn't expected the old man to be close enough with the Collins family that he knew about his existence. If not, the old man couldn't have guessed right. After all, the movie queen was unstained in her whole career.

He gritted his teeth feeling Anya's eyes on him. This was exactly the mess he didn't want her to know. 

Pity, disgust, mockery, or judgemental eyes? He wasn't ready to face any of those.. He suddenly got up jarring the chair on the floor and left from there like a grim man out of hell.