Cruise of Secrets

2.

Chapter 2: The Deal

The night air is cool against my skin, and my heart is still pounding in my chest. I look at Prescott, my eyes narrowing as he stands in front of me with that knowing smirk still on his lips. I can’t believe I just agreed to something so… reckless. Fake dating. I hardly know him. Yet, here I am, standing on the edge of a decision that could change everything.

“So,” I say, clearing my throat, trying to sound confident despite the war raging inside me. “We’re really doing this?”

Prescott’s dark eyes flicker with amusement. “Why not? You get back at your cheating ex, and I get to see him squirm. It’s a win-win, don’t you think?”

I try to swallow the rising lump in my throat. This is insane. I’m about to make a deal with a stranger because of my bruised ego. But the truth is, I don’t know what else to do. Ethan’s betrayal cuts deep, and I need to do something—anything—to take my power back.

I nod slowly, my hands trembling at my sides. “Okay, Prescott. Let’s do it.”

He grins, looking almost too pleased. “Good choice.” He tilts his head, glancing at the ship’s elegant deck, the soft hum of music floating from the nearby lounge. “You’ll need to play the part. We’re not just pretending to be a couple; we need to make it believable.”

“Believable?” I echo, confused. “What do you mean?”

He raises an eyebrow, his smirk never fading. “If you want to make your ex jealous, you can’t just hold hands and smile awkwardly at him. You need to show him what he’s lost. Make him see that you’re moving on, and that you’re better off without him.”

My stomach churns as I imagine it. The last thing I want to do is put on a show, especially after everything that’s happened, but Prescott’s right. This could work. If I want to get through this trip with my dignity intact, I need to make Ethan feel the sting of rejection.

“Right,” I say, trying to steady my voice. “So, what’s the first step?”

Prescott’s smile turns a little more serious. “First thing’s first. We need to look the part. And that means looking like we’re actually enjoying each other’s company. None of this awkward, ‘we’re just doing this for revenge’ stuff.”

I can feel my face flush at the thought of pretending to be happy with him. I barely know him, but there’s something about the way he looks at me that makes me question everything. He’s confident, sure of himself, and somehow, that confidence is making me second-guess myself.

“You’re not nervous, are you?” he asks, his tone teasing but somehow perceptive.

“No,” I lie, forcing a laugh. “I’m fine.”

He doesn’t seem convinced, but he doesn’t press. Instead, he steps closer, lowering his voice just enough so that only I can hear. “Trust me, Sydney. You don’t want to show weakness. Not now, not with him watching.”

My breath catches at his words. It feels like a challenge, and I’m not about to back down. “I’m not weak,” I say, a little too defensively.

Prescott looks at me, his gaze unwavering. “I didn’t say you were. But if you want to make him regret everything, you need to be stronger than you’ve ever been before.”

I nod slowly, his words sinking in. He’s right, of course. If I’m going to pull this off, I need to be stronger. I need to be the woman Ethan wished he hadn’t thrown away.

“So,” I say, swallowing my nerves. “What now?”

He grins, a glint of something mischievous in his eyes. “Now we make our grand entrance. After all, this is a cruise, and the night’s still young.”

We walk back toward the lounge, and I can already feel the weight of Ethan’s gaze from across the room. He’s sitting with Maya, his arm around her shoulders, laughing like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I feel a twist in my stomach, but I push it aside. This isn’t about me. This is about making him regret his actions.

Prescott is walking beside me, his presence somehow calming despite the chaos in my head. When we reach the entrance to the lounge, he places a hand on my lower back, guiding me inside. His touch is brief, but it feels like an electric current running through my body. I stiffen but don’t pull away.

We move through the room, the sound of voices and clinking glasses filling the air. I can feel the eyes of the other guests on us as we walk past, their gazes lingering on Prescott and then shifting to me. It’s subtle, but it’s enough to make my heart race. I don’t know why, but I feel… different. I feel like the center of attention in a way I’ve never felt before.

As we approach the bar, I see Ethan’s face fall when he notices us. I try to act casual, to look like I’m completely at ease, but inside, I’m anything but. Prescott leads me to a seat at the bar, his arm brushing mine as he pulls out the stool for me.

“Can I get you anything?” the bartender asks, eyeing us both with a polite smile.

“I’ll have a whiskey,” Prescott says smoothly, without missing a beat. “Sydney?”

“Um,” I hesitate, trying to shake off the nerves. “I’ll have the same.”

The bartender nods and turns to make our drinks. I glance over at Ethan, who is now watching us with narrowed eyes. Maya is whispering something to him, but he doesn’t seem to take his eyes off me. I can feel the tension building between us, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“This is going to be fun,” Prescott says under his breath, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I can’t help but laugh, even though it’s not really funny. “Yeah, fun.”

We sit at the bar for the next hour, pretending to talk, pretending to be the happy couple. I can see the way Ethan watches us from across the room, his expression unreadable. He doesn’t know what to make of this new development, and I can tell he’s getting increasingly uncomfortable.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Prescott asks me quietly, his voice low so only I can hear.

“I’m fine,” I say, a little too quickly. “I just… I just need to keep it together.”

Prescott nods, his gaze flicking over to Ethan. “You’re doing fine. He’ll crack soon enough.”

I nod, even though a part of me wonders how long I can keep this up. Pretending. Faking. Every time I look at Prescott, I’m reminded that I’m doing this for all the wrong reasons. But still, the idea of making Ethan pay, of showing him what he lost, it keeps me going.

Later that night, we find ourselves on the ship’s deck, the stars glittering above us like a thousand tiny diamonds. The cool breeze tugs at my hair, and I close my eyes, letting the sound of the ocean calm me. Prescott stands beside me, his hands shoved in the pockets of his leather jacket, his posture relaxed.

“Is this part of the act too?” I ask, half-laughing, half-serious.

He glances at me, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. “No. This part’s just for us. You need a break, right?”

I nod, grateful for the moment of peace. The fake dating, the tension, the lies—it’s starting to wear on me, and I can feel it in every inch of my body.

“So, tell me,” I say, wanting to break the silence. “Why did you agree to help me? What’s in it for you?”

He turns to face me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “I don’t like cheaters,” he says, his voice flat. “And I don’t like seeing people get hurt. I’m not the hero here, Sydney. I’m just making sure you don’t lose yourself in all of this.”

For a moment, we just stand there, the sound of the waves crashing against the ship’s hull filling the space between us. I don’t know why, but his words settle in me, making me feel… understood. Maybe that’s what I need right now. To be understood.

“You’re not the only one with reasons,” I say quietly, looking up at the stars. “I just need to get through this.”