Fate or Favour

'He must've been forced to say those things, Nate would never do that to me', Nadia thought to herself when she woke up after 12 hours in the water. Sitting alone in a two-sitter bunk that the tickets Nate bought afforded her. Nate is the one person she could tell everything to, he was different from all the other rich kids. Nate was understanding and kind and he loved her, as she thought more. The first day they met was about two years ago when 15 year old Nadia was going around selling oranges in town, Montana is the name of the town. Nate, who was only a year older, was with his friends that were making fun of the dress she was wearing, it was a bit bigger than her because it belonged to her mother, Novi Theron- a bar dancer. Nadia was walking around when she tripped and fell, dropping all the oranges in a basket she was carrying, while everybody was laughing Nate Shaban was the only one who went to help her pick up the orages and even wash them at a well nearby. She thanked him and they became friends since. They talked about how controlling Nate's father was and how he wants Nate to follow the career path he wants him to and how boujee his mother is, she once saw Nate talking to Nadia and she said, "That girl will give you diseases from the mess she comes from". One thing Nadia liked about him was that he never judged her, he understood that her mother does what she does for a reason to support them and although she hasn't been the best mother ever, always bringing men into their home, who have tried so many times to harass Nadia. He always encouraged her, even when he saw that she could draw he was so happy that all she needed to do was enhance her skill and she could become a very successful painter. He got her different coloured paints from his house and they always supported each other until the friendship started turning into more. They got stuck in the rain when they were from their walk in the woods and they found shelter to hide until the rain was gone and that's when they first kissed. Both of them didn't know a thing about relationships even though Nate has had a few trials with some of his friends at school. It wasn't at all great but their lips touched and that was a huge step. They started being in love more and wrote each other letters now and then, 'Even when his parents tried to threaten my drunkard mother, we became closer', Nadia continued thinking as she got distracted by people walking past her bunk trailer. A few months back Nate was telling Nadia that his father got him a school he needs to attend in a few months in order to be a doctor. She was happy for him and he was happy too, as much as he had a problem with his father always making decisions for him this time at least it's something that matters and he loves. Then a week ago they read the paper about a new amazing ship that will be going around the world, that's when Nadia decided it would be a perfect way to go somewhere she can enhance her talent and he can study to be a doctor in the same place so they can be able to be with each other. They were both so happy and Nate decided to spend his life savings on buying the tickets to the ship, he choose to pay for a two-sitter bunk in an enclosed cabin so they can sit comfortably all the way to wherever they were going. They had set a meeting at the Armani coast on Wednesday, the day the ship was to arrive near Montana. It was Tuesday and Nate thought maybe leaving would be a bad idea, first of all where are they going? How will they survive there? As much as he was understanding, he couldn't go to suffer away from his family and then he told his father about the plan him and Nadia made. On Wednesday, in the early hours of morning, Nadia wrote a letter explaining to her mother why she needed to go and she also made a promise to get her one day, once she is successful. She was waiting all day long when the ship finally arrived and everyone got on board. She was still waiting for Nate to show up and slept right outside the ship near the coast in case Nate shows up, especially because she was holding both their tickets. Woken by a huge honking sound followed by men shouting the last call out to all the boarders, Nadia stood up to go wait at the entrance. "I was getting worried", she said as she ran to hug Nate and the hug wasn't returned. "I can't go with you", he said with a very firm voice. She just stood there confused, hoping he was joking around and he continued, "I told my father that you're leaving and he was kind enough to give you this so you don't struggle when you reach your destination...". He was interrupted by the honking sound again, the men shout that the gates are being closed and the anchors are being raised. "Here take this bag aswell, it has some of my mother's clothes and jewellery you can sell too, I'm very sorry Nady, you better get on board... and read my letter in there!!" As she climbed on board she couldn't believe he really wasn't coming along. She was standing there until she couldn't see clearly on the land. Then she found the ashers responsible for getting her to her bunk trailer or cabin, she fell asleep still shocked in disbelief that she really is leaving, alone. 'Which reminds me', she thinks to herself. "Let me check the letter", as she said to herself she goes through the bag Nate gave her. 'There are indeed really nice clothes and jewellery in here, so much money! I have never seen this much before...'. She saw the letter, but couldn't decide if she really she wants to read it. She instead changed into one of the dresses, luckily Nate's mother was a very slim woman who actually liked small clothes and this green dress sits perfectly on Nadia, shaping her small figure, you can even see curves in it. She took a few coins and went out to look for something to eat. As she trailed back the way to where she was before going to her cabin, she saw women who look very young and wearing wigs, go through a door. She waits to see if everyone can enter, especially because people like her have never been allowed to go anywhere. 'I look like I'm elegant enough today, besides I'm wearing a very expensive gown so I'm going to try it out', she thought to herself, 'what's the worst that could happen? just a few punches and them throwing me out right'. She walked to the door and the man standing at the door opens it, "Thank you ". She is amazed at everything in this room. 'So many people dressed so nicely. The chairs look like they're for princesses and princes and the couches, wow, no one is throwing me out? I wonder if I'm allowed to sit here'. "Hello ma'am, how may I help you?", asked a waiter like usher, dressed in the same uniform as the one who showed her to her bunk and like the man at the door. "Would you like a sit alone?"... "Yes I would", finally she answers. "Follow me", he said. "What can I get you?.." He continues saying names Nadia has no idea what they are, but she says yes to the one the waiter said next. When the food arrived, she had no idea what it was but because she was hungry, she just ate away and she seemed to be enjoying herself. Spotted by an old man sitting with other men around a huge table, he asks the waiter to give Nadia a drink. "Here you go ma'am, the gentleman over there sends his regards", the waiter said. "What man? What do you mean?", asked a confused Nadia. The waiter explained and just said thank you. She was amazed at how nice and new this drink is and asked for one more glass. 'What is this thing I'm feeing? I cannot even walk straight' "Hey beautiful lady, where are you off to? That is a very dusty place you're heading to", the man from in the room said to stop her from walking back to her bunk. "But I have a cabin down there", she said. "Oh I see, you're of those that pretend you live the life and have good men like us pay for you huh? I should've known, judging by the shoes you're wearing and the way you eat. Did you even pay to be on this ship? " "What did I do? I'm sorry Sir!", she cried as the guy grabbed her wrist and said, "you're going to pay my money, even if you'll be slaved I cannot believe i even looked your way", he continued. "I am sorry Sir, I didn't mean to go in there!", she cried, but it was quite in the space they were at so no one could hear except for a very tall man looking at the old man like he could just step on him and he dies. "Now that is enough ", he said, he looks very big and hansome, his arms are huge and his face was shaped like a God's face in one of the books she used to read for practice of language, he's wearing normal clothes like he was on a holiday. "Prince Arthur, I didn't know you were talking a trip", the old man said laughing in an embarrassed way. "I would like to keep my being here a secret, I hope you can understand and find your way?", the man who the the old man called Prince Arthur said. Also asking Nadia where she is staying. She thanked him, kneeling on the floor and crying for mercy. "It's okay, it's not your fault, can I help you to your room? Because you don't look fine", he said to her. She just navigated the way and gave Arthur the keys. "I have no idea what is happening to me right now but I love it!. Is this how my mother always feel? Is there alcohol that looks like a drink?", Nadia couldn't stop talking. He got her into her bunk cabin and it's small. He would leave but this poor girl looks like she need help. "You know I was supposed to be in here with the love of my life, but he just decided to not leave anymore and I couldn't stay because there's no place for me there", she cried. "Now I'm here getting in trouble the first day, I'm all alone in this world, I really don't believe he didn't come with. Is it me? It's probably his father, he just wrote me a letter I haven't read right there". "Is this all your luggage?", he asked her and she said, "I didn't even have anything but Nate...", she couldn't continue. "I bet this is your first time drinking, let me read it for you", Arthur offered. 'Dear Nady i know you must be so disappointed now but I was thinking about my future. I don't want to run away from home, I love you so much but not to want to ruin my whole life. I know you're going to be okay wherever you end up at. I really believe you can be a very successful painter. I hope everything in the ship is fine. My father understood when I told him our plan and for the first time he listened to me, hence he gave you the envelope. I believe i have been misjudging my parents and thanks to you I now have a good foundation with both of them. I couldn't ask you to stay because I know you have no thing to stay for here. Stay focused and know that I will always love you. Until we meet again. Nate '. "So it really was him? How could he do this to me? I decided to leave my mother for him", Nadia cried until she fell asleep. Arthur was there listening to the sad Nadia until she fell asleep. 'Poor girl, she has no one' he thought to himself. This reminds him of his past aswell and the story he heard many times as a child, about how he lost his family. He thought about a promise he made his father but what else can he do? 'I'm not an invalid, those stupid women are the problem, not me'. He stood up and thought it best to leave this small space he can hardly breathe in. He left and locked the cabin leaving with the key because someone might get in while this little girl is sleeping. The next morning, Nadia is awoken by the sound of the key opening her cabin door, scared she asked, "Who is it?". The door opened and a waiter has brought her food, "Good morning ma'am, I was intructed to bring you these", showing the keys and placing them on the bunk she's now sitted on and he continued, "..and the food". "Who asked you bring these?", Nadia asked surprised. "I have no idea ma'am, I was just given an instruction by my boss", he turned and left. She now remembers the tall big guy who had saved her, 'Was it not a dream?', she asked herself as she tried to remember everything and how she went into a fancy room to eat with fancy people and the old man that almost beat her but she was saved by someone called Prince? "Wait he walked me here and he was here ..", she paused as she looked for the letter in her bag and yes, "He even read me Nate's letter!". She wants to thank him, she quickly got up to look for the man who was here but he disappeared from the hall. 'Maybe I can look for him later, it is so nice of him to even get me food'. She ate and went to the comfort room to clean herself. There were so many people in here but at least they're all women. She found herself a tub at the corner and washed up as quickly as possible, cleaned after herself and left to her small cabin. She locked herself, changed into clean clothes, she had only taken a few of the dresses she owned and she choose from one of those, wore a jacket and sat thinking about where she's going. She doesn't know where she is going but going back is not an option. In the bag that Nate got her was a pad and pencils and paints that she could use to draw as she starts out. She took them out and started drawing the ship, it was the most amazing architecture that she has ever seen. She saw it before boarding on it but she needs to see it again, to look at the details clearly and so she decide to go out. When she arrived outside, on the top of the ship, she wasn't interested in it anymore but with the wind blowing in her face, the water moving and the sky so different and she drew a picture of the sky and the water meet and how miraculous it looks, for a moment she forgets she's alone, she forgets the pain in her heart she forgets that she is scared of what is to happen when she gets off this ship. While drawing, a big shadow clouded her pad and there he is the man that saved her, "May I see?", he asked and she handed it to him. He can't deny there's talent in her. "Sir, I want to thank you so much for yesterday and this morning, you're indeed a kind man", says Nadia in a very humble way. "My name is Arthur, not Sir", he replied. "You are welcome Nady, right?". "Nadia Sir, sorry Sir Arthur", she said confused and shaken. "How are you feeling today? May I join you?" , Arthur said and she nodded saying, "I feel very good when drawing or painting...I heard that man call you Prince last night, is it your last name Sir?". He replied, "I don't like being addressed so. Tell me have you thought of where you'll go?". "If I knew places I would decide but I have no idea, I will get off at the last stop before the ship turns around", she replied. Then it was quite for a while, both of them lost in their own thoughts but it was peaceful. She looked at him while he was enjoying the breeze, "I have never met a rich man as kind as you, would you mind telling me where you come from?", she asked a little scared of the response, she might have stepped over the lines. "You certainly are the first person to say that", Arthur replied as he stood up, "Take care of yourself", he continued and left her there. She finished with her drawing and left to her cabin. 'I should maybe try asking for work here, that way I can make more money settle nicely when I get to a new town. I have to find the man's boss, she might have something for me. I think it's best I go find the boss now'. She stood up and left to find anyone with a uniform on and luckily she bumbed into the same waiter who was in her room earlier. "Hello? Would you mind telling me where your boss is, I would like to ask for something", Nadia talked to the waiter looking worried that something is wrong but he replied nicely, "Right this way ma'am ". 'This thing of being called ma'am is unsettling, I'm usually the one calling others that way', she thought as she followed him. They came to a stop when he knocked on a door and a woman's voice shouted, "Come in". He announced me inside and left. 'Wow she is beautiful', her hair was curled and the dress she was wearing was nothing short of amazing. She introduces herself, "Mary Iran, the staff manager, how can I help you?". "My name is Nadia Theron and I was wondering if you have any work available? I can clean everything , anything you might have", she said with a pleading voice. "We are not hiring at the moment, I'm sorry", she replied a bit harshly. "Oh thank you, if anything comes up may you please consider me", said Nadia feeling sad and she thanked Mary to turn and go out. As she walked to the door, Arthur came in and surprised he said, "Nady, what are you doing here?". "I just came to ask for work but no helpers needed", she replied. "Oh really?", he said looking at Mary. "I am from the main kitchen right now and the chef was complaining about the shortage of staff that wash the dishes and he said he told you yesterday", he continued. " But Sir she's_" , Mary tried to say something but the look on Arthur's face stopped her. "I trust you'll make the right decision", he said to Mary and he tapped Nadia's shoulder and left. "Well miss Nami, you have the job of washing dishes in the kitchen. You can start tomorrow morning at six. I shall find you a uniform that you need to wear at all times when working", Mary said and continued with the rules that Nadia needs to follow. When she was done, Nadia left and went to her cabin feeling very happy. 'Off to a promising start of being by myself'. It has been two weeks that Nadia has woken up early and went to work, she was doing her very best, made sure not a single plate goes unwashed when she leaves to rest at night. She had also taken a job to clean the kitchen at night when everyone knocks off and Mary couldn't be more happier to have hired a hardworking girl like Nadia. She had her doubts of course, how could such a tiny girl be able to wash mountains of dishes per hour and what did a girl like her know anything about working at a big deal kitchen like this one but she has proven her wrong. Mary called a meeting with the staff tonight, telling everyone that tomorrow they will all be working half a day taking turns because they are at the Saldana coast, and some people are unboarding while others are coming on board and almost everyone will want to go explore the city instead of sitting onboard. 'How I wish to go look at this city, maybe it's the one I might end up living in', Nadia stopped dreaming once the meeting was over and headed to work. After she had washed every plate with perfection she also cleaned the kitchen floors and removed grease on every stove. She left it spotless just like she's done the past few days. She went to her cabin walking slowly because of the futige. As she was climbing down the staircase she saw someone standing at the end of the stairs she only noticed when she was finally there that it's Arthur. She was surprised to see him after so long. She can't remember the last time she saw him. 'Oh yes, it was last week when he ordered his food be delivered by me to his office'. The request itself was out of nowhere but how he acted was also a bit strange, he had asked her to sit and tell him if she thinks she can fall in love again. She hadn't answered the question and not because she was thinking of Nate but because it was a bit awkward talking to him about this now. He sounded like he was drunk, his eyes were a bit red, the hair was a mess, he was wearing a shirt not tugged in the pair of pants and she had no idea how to talk to him when he's like this. She just told him that she needed to get back to work but he just stood up and locked the door. Scared as she was, asked what the problem is and Arthur started venting out in sadness that turned into anger when he threw down a glass of juice, that was on a tray that Nadia came in with. She sat still, like stone, thought she did something wrong because she has never seen anyone act out that way. Then he started to approach her and he knelt down beside the chair she was sitting on and he rubbed his thumb on her face. When he felt her shaking he looked down and told her to get back to work and she hurriedly got up, unlocked the door and left. That was the last time they met until now. "Sir? What are you doing here?", Nadia asked him and he said he was looking for her. 'My plan was to go take a quick bath and turn back to my cabin to sleep but that has to be prolonged now, I wonder what he's going to say now'. "How was work?", Arthur asked. "It was good", she replied and continued, "What about you? What do you really want here Sir?". "I asked you to stop calling me Sir.. I wanted to clarify the misunderstanding we had last time ". "Sir you don't owe me an explanation. I'm just a worker...", she said, "..and I have to go clean up before hot water runs out". "You run out of hot water? What are you still doing down here when the workers cabins are up there?", Arthur asked concerned. "Miss Mary said because there are no cabins available in the workers section. And there are a lot of people who use the comfort room down here so hot water runs out quickly", she replied. "How about you come use the tub or shower in my room?" Then we can talk when you're all done and refreshed. I have everything you might need in there. Have you eaten dinner? This way.." ,he pointed up the stairs and they walked, passing a lot of doors and they climbed the last case of stairs and there was just one door. He opened it using the sets of keys he took out his pocket and he showed her a way in. 'Wow, this is bewildering! Like a castle', Nadia thought to herself while looking around the room she was in, there hung a chandelier on the ceiling of this room. "Is this your cabin?", she asked surprised and he didn't answer but showed her the way to his bathroom. He showed her how to turn on the water in the shower and where the towels are and Nadia is awoken by the snap of Arthur's fingers. "Did you get that?", he asked. She just nodded and he left the room. 'How can one person's cabin be so huge? It's like a house, and what does Sir, I mean Arthur even do?', she struggled to turn on shower so she decided to run a bath instead. Meanwhile Arthur ordered food and went to peak if everything is alright in the bathroom, 'I shouldn't be doing this, but she's just a woman, nothing I haven't seen before. Why is it so hard to do whatever I want when she's around? He fought with his thoughts until he knocked on the door of the bathroom and pulled the knob to open, she's all done. She had one of the white furry robes hanging on the back of the door and put it on, it's a bit big on her and she couldn't look sexier, with her wet hair pulled back. "I'm sorry I borrowed one of these", she said when she looked up as she finished brushing her teeth and saw him standing at the door. "All done?", he asked and there was a knock on the door, "...and that must be the food I'm sure you're hungry". He left to attend to the door and she came out just as he had closed it. She sat down on the couch and he put the tray of food he just recieved on the table infront of the couch and he sat next to her. He saw how shy she was to take the food and he said, "Dig in, I promise you'll like it". She did take bites but she was confused at this whole thing, 'Why am I here? This is all strange, he is way too kind. This cabin is huge and different from other people's cabins'. Until she finally asked, "So Sir, would you mind telling about yourself? You have heard a lot about me and even helped me more than once, I would really like to know more about You?". Arthur doesn't necessarily like talking about himself or his life, he has a duty to fulfil and that's all that matters. Upon hearing her ask him that made him think about his father, 'I wonder how father is doing. I miss him so but I will not go home without an answer'. He got angry according to the expression on his face and Nadia just said, feeling a bit scared, "It's alright sir, you don't need to tell me if you don't want to". She knew that something about his life makes him angry but how would she know if he doesn't tell her? She started feeling like she needed to know what it was, that way she can save him just as he had saved her. "If you don't want to talk then it is fine, I should head back now", she said again. When she was about to walk to the door after standing up he stopped her, "Wait...It's a really long story so you might need to stay a while longer", he said with a calm voice, "Please sit_". He couldn't believe himself, he was going to tell this girl about his life, his family, everything and he had never told the story himself. Yes he has heard the story a million times since childhood and many have heard it and talked about it but he has never said a single word about it to anyone but today, this night he will be sharing it with a mere simple small girl all in the name of making her stay a while longer.