MY CRUISE-FATED LOVE

COMPLICATED

Eloise moved through the narrow hallway of the ship, her steps quickening as she neared the suite she’d been so excited about just hours before. She could still hear Ethan’s voice in her head, whispering to her as they boarded, “Here’s to our unforgettable New Year’s cruise, babe.”

Unforgettable, alright, she thought bitterly, pressing her lips together as a storm of emotions surged within her. Disappointment, anger, heartbreak, all collided, leaving her nauseous and barely able to think straight.

The drink she had with Liam cooled her down for a while but after leaving him, she dropped back into her heartache.

The scene flooded her head one more time. Ethan, leaning into another woman, his arm wrapped around her waist as if he didn’t have a girlfriend a few decks away.

Grabbing the handle to her suite, Eloise yanked it open, her chest tight and hot with emotion. Once inside, she let the door close with a thud, the sudden silence amplifying her heartbreak. Tears pricked at her eyes as she sank onto the edge of the bed, replaying what she’d just seen.

“What an i***t” she blamed herself as she clutched the pillow to her chest.

She was angry at Ethan but also humiliated by own naivety.

It was mistake thinking this trip was a chance to reconnect and find a spark again but she felt completely foolish now. She was alone in a room she had booked with someone who was probably still laughing with someone else, shamelessly.

She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself not to cry. “I will not cry for him. Not now, not ever,” she told herself. Still, the tears came, silent but relentless, slipping down her cheeks as she sat there, clutching the pillow as if it could absorb the ache inside.

Everything felt so unfair and she couldn’t absorb it. She finally got the wave of defiance cut though her sadness. She grabbed her purse and swiped on a bit of lipstick, glancing in the mirror with renewed purpose. She wasn’t about to sit in her room all night and wallow.

Liam had proposed they move to the club earlier but she turned it down and backed out of their plans completely. She wasn’t ready to hurt herself further but now that the sadness sank in probably, she wanted to show him what he was really losing.

She grabbed her jacket and walked out, her heart still aching but her jaw set with determination. If Ethan wanted to pretend he didn’t know her, she could play that game too. She walked down the hall and took the elevator to the deck where she’d seen a cozy lounge, feeling a pulse of confidence with every step.

The lounge was warm and buzzing with laughter and chatter. She spotted a cozy booth by the window and slid in, scanning the room, hoping the new atmosphere would distract her. Maybe a drink would help, too.

“Gin and tonic, please,” she said, offering a small smile to the bartender.

Before she could settle in, a voice next to her interrupted her thoughts. “You couldn’t keep him off your mind?”

She glanced up, finding the tempting devil she had left earlier, leaning casually against the bar as if he had all the time in the world. He had changed his clothes and was looking more dashing.

“You don’t give up, do you?” she replied, trying to play it off. He looked effortlessly charming, his black suit crisply pressed, his hair tousled in that deliberately careless way.

“Mind if I join?” he asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from her.

Eloise hesitated, a part of her tempted to send him away. She wasn’t in the mood for the kind of company that would require a smile she didn’t feel capable of. But the spark of curiosity in his eyes made her pause.

“Sure,” she said, shrugging and taking a sip of her drink.

“You look so beautiful in the outfit” he threw at her

Eloise let out a dry laugh, but her gaze darkened. “I’m so confused.” She sighed.

They fell silent for a moment, Liam’s gaze never leaving her. Finally, he leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a mischievous light. “You know,” he said slowly, “My offer is still in place.”

Eloise looked at him, the seed of intrigue taking root in her mind. “I really don’t know”

He took a sip of his drink, leaning back in his seat, the picture of nonchalance. “It’s just a harmless little game. Pretend we’re together, just for the duration of the cruise. Trust me; nothing will drive him crazier than seeing you with someone else, especially someone like me.”

“I know I have a reason for doing this, but what about you?” she asked firmly

“Let’s just say I have my own ‘ex’ issues to deal with,” he replied, his tone suddenly shadowed. “Call it…mutual revenge.”

There was something undeniably intriguing about Liam, with his mix of mystery and self-assurance. Maybe she shouldn’t have turned him down rashly earlier. She had made a rash decision.

She took a deep breath. “Alright. I’ll play along. For the rest of this cruise, we’re a couple.”

Liam raised his glass in a toast, his smile broadening. “To new beginnings: and a bit of well-deserved mischief.”

They clinked glasses, and as Eloise took another sip, a nervous thrill rushed through her veins. For the first time since seeing Ethan, she felt alive, as if some spark had reignited within her.

As they sat there, slipping into easy conversation, she caught a glimpse of Ethan entering the lounge with that same woman on his arm. Her heart stung, but she held her head high, deciding not to give him the satisfaction of a reaction until he kissed the woman right in front of her.

Liam noticed her change in expression and turned to follow her gaze. His smile faded, replaced by a focused intensity. “Is that him?” he asked, his tone low and dark.

He didn’t see him earlier because Eloise blocked his view and stopped their deal before they could even start.

Eloise nodded, her jaw tight. “Yep. That’s him.”

Without missing a beat, Liam slipped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer in a way that felt both protective and possessive. “Then let’s make sure he remembers exactly what he lost,” he murmured.

Just as she leaned into the charade, trying to act natural, Ethan spotted them. His expression froze, disbelief flickering in his eyes before twisting into a sneer.

But Eloise held her ground, a cool smile curving her lips. She didn’t break eye contact as Ethan’s gaze darted from her to Liam, clearly sizing him up.

“Looks like he’s not happy,” Liam whispered with a smirk. “Good. Now…let’s give him something to really think about.”

Eloise’s breath caught as Liam leaned down, his face close to hers. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek, her pulse racing as he slowly closed the distance.

But before their lips could touch, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned, expecting Ethan. Instead, a woman with fierce green eyes and a dangerously amused smile looked between her and Liam with unsettling familiarity.

“Well, Liam,” she purred, ignoring Eloise entirely. “Didn’t take you long to find a new plaything.”

Eloise felt her stomach twist, realizing this must be Liam’s ex.

“Gillian,” Liam replied, his voice as cool and controlled as ever, but Eloise sensed a tension simmering beneath the surface.

The two locked eyes, and the room seemed to shrink around them. Eloise didn’t know why, but she felt a pulse of danger emanating from this woman; a feeling that warned her she was stepping into something much darker than a fake dating scheme.

Gillian’s gaze flicked to Eloise, her smile widening with a hint of cruelty. “Good luck, darling,” she said with a chilling finality, her voice like velvet. “You’re going to need it.”

As she walked away, a heavy silence fell over them. Eloise turned to Liam, her curiosity now mingled with fear. “What was that about?”

Liam’s jaw clenched, and for a brief moment, his mask slipped, revealing a flicker of vulnerability.

“It’s…complicated,” he muttered, looking away. “I’ll explain later. But for now…just stay close to me.”

Eloise’s heart pounded as she realized she’d stepped into a heralded danger she hadn’t anticipated.