Her Billionaire's Reckoning

13. Cruise

Alice appeared in front of Rose's place dressed in a white summer dress to go with pink loafers, a pink Terry wave bucket hat and a pink purse.

Without wasting time knocking, Alice inputted the code and entered the place, going straight to Rose's bedroom, expecting to find Rose deep in sleep, only to find her sitting on her bed with one knee propped up and seeing the view of the city her ceiling-to-floor window provided.

"Rose, I've been calling you on the phone. Why weren't you picking? And why do you look like your puppy died?" Alice asked, concerned.

"Do you think I should get a puppy?" Rose said, not bothering to turn away from the window. "Or maybe a cat? What brings you so early in the morning anyway?"

"I completely forgot to tell you yesterday," Alice brought out the tickets from her purse and handed them to Rose, who turned to look at her for the first time since she came into the room.

"You are going to a party?" Rose said before looking at the tickets, and her eyebrows shot up before her lips turned into a smile. "I can't remember the last time I went on a pleasure trip. This better be memorable."

"This is no time for small talk. If we don't leave in forty minutes' time, we're going to miss it. Come on, I will pack your stuff while you take a shower and change."

"Sure thing," Rose stood up and started heading for the bathroom just as Alice was heading towards the walk-in closet. "Um, on second taught," Rose rushed towards Alice, stopping her from entering the closet. "I'm kind of hungry and will get sea sick if I don't eat something. Why don't you prepare some breakfast while I get ready?"

Alice's calculating eyes drifted between the door, bathroom, the closet and then Rose before smiling in amusement.

"Ah I see," Alice grinned. "You've got some skeletons in there, don't you?" Alice pointed with her thumb towards the closet.

"Yeah, kind of," Rose chuckled awkwardly.

"Don't worry then, I've got you. So just hurry," Alice patted Rose on the back before sashaying out of the room, humming to herself.

Rose sighed in relief before entering her closet. In a few minutes' time, she had packed all her stuff in a suitcase. She brought out an outfit for herself before jumping into the shower, and 20 minutes later, Rose came out of her room dressed in violet, ruffle skirt, a lighter colored blouse and a wide-brimmed hat.

She left her suitcase in the living room and went to the kitchen to find that Alice had prepared toast, eggs and had taken out some fruit juice from the fridge while taking out some milk for herself.

"Thanks," Rose said before digging in and in five minutes, they were done.

"Miss Adams coming over to tidy up, right?" Alice asked, pointing towards the used dishes.

"Nope," Rose stood up and started shoving everything into the dishwasher. "She's on a break. Every one of my employees is on a break," Rose finished before closing the dishwasher and turning it on, setting it up to open after the dishes are done.

"Oh," Alice said in disappointment.

"Now let's go," Rose said cheerfully, clinking her car keys in the air.

"Ah sure," Alice shook her head, hoping to shake off the disappointment with that.

*

As the evening drew to a close, Rose and Alice stood side by side at the railing, along with other people, mesmerized by the sunset's orange glow dancing across the waves. They savored the salty sea air, their feelings undescribed as the ship glided smoothly through the serene waters.

After arriving at the docks, the two were able to get on the ship on time, and after going through some clearance, they were shown to their rooms. After unpacking, the two sunbathed, had lunch, toured some parts of the ship before coming to see the sunset.

Rose inhaled deeply, with her eyes closed. Memories of sailing on a private yacht with her grandparents when she was 16 came to mind. How happy they were, just three of them. But now, all three were gone, her grandparents and the yacht.

'If only I hadn't been so devastated after their deaths'. Rose thought regrettably. 'If only I had taken action sooner. I wouldn't have lost half of what they cherished. But at least I have the company now. And I will do everything to take it to great heights. More than Ma and Pa would have imagined'. Rose breathed out, opening her eyes to find that the sun had already set.

Alice, on the other hand, took in the view with all its glory, registering it to memory.

'How you would have loved to be here,' she thought sadly. 'But I am here on your behalf. And I am enjoying every good thing life has to offer, so that you won't feel bad about leaving me behind'. Alice blinked the sadness away.

"I heard there is a bar on the second floor," Alice spoke. Why don't we go have some drinks?"

"Lead the way," Rose stated.

The two had just entered the bar and were about to order when someone beside them gasped.

"Wow! Fancy seeing you here, Miss Gabrielle. You definitely look better in person," the man smiled at her with familiarity.

"Excuse me," Rose raised an eyebrow in question. "Do I know you?"

"Ah, pardon my manners, let me introduce myself, I'm Jacob Albert," the man extended his hand, expecting Rose to shake hands, and his expression faltered when she made no move to do that.

"Wait a minute," Alice spoke up. "You are..."

"The blind date, yes," the man spoke, hoping to be recognized. "I apologize deeply. It's completely my fault. Your parents spoke with me yesterday, both I forgot to inform Miss Gabrielle about it. Although I wasn't expecting to see you on this cruise."

"Me neither. I must say it's definitely fate," the man beamed.

"Yeah! What a total coincidence," Alice laughed.

"Date? What Date? I didn't agree to any blind date," Rose let out, and the man's smile faltered once again.

"Right," Alice laughed awkwardly. "Please excuse us for some minutes," Alice said and pulled Rose to the side.

"Did you set me up on a blind date?"

"No. Why will I do that knowing you are not interested in dating anyone?"

"Then explain what is going on?"

"Do you really not remember? You agreed to this."

"When?"

"With his parents last night. Mr. and Mrs. Albert, right before we got into the restroom?"

Rose was quiet for a few seconds before facepalming and groaning as it finally clicked. "I can't believe I agreed to something like that."

"What are you going to do now? The guy seems ready to hang out," Alice said, and they both looked in his direction, then quickly turned away when they saw him watching them.

"Might as well get this over with," Rose said determinedly. "Get ready for the most boring date of your life, Jacob."