MY CRUISE-FATED LOVE

A DANGEROUS CHOICE

The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a fiery orange glow over the ship’s deck. The gentle sway of the ocean, the soft hum of laughter from nearby guests, and the tinkling of glasses filled the air with an illusion of serenity. Yet, for Eloise, the world felt like it was falling apart.

Ethan had shattered every ounce of trust she’d ever placed in him. The image of him in the arms of another woman, his lips pressed to hers in a kiss that sent her spiraling into disbelief, was burned into her memory. Her heart hammered in her chest, the weight of betrayal dragging her deeper into a pit of hurt she had never known.

She retreated to the ship’s bar, the soft clink of ice in her glass the only sound that seemed to matter now. The rich, fruity cocktail in her hand barely registered as she took a sip, feeling the burn of alcohol sweep through her like a dull comfort. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, caught somewhere between rage and heartbreak, and she couldn’t bring herself to think about anything else aside Ethan.

“Eloise?”

She didn’t turn around at first, but the voice; low, smooth, and laced with just the right amount of concern was impossible to ignore. The kind of voice that made your skin tingle, even if you were a thousand miles away from the person speaking.

It was Liam.

The man she’d met yesterday, when the anger at Ethan’s betrayal had first propelled her. He’d sat down beside her without hesitation, a stranger, but one who seemed somehow more understanding than anyone she knew. The way he’d listened to her rant, without judgment or interruption, had surprised her. He was clearly used to dealing with people who had secrets of their own.

“Here you are. I had been looking out for you since you left the bar yesterday” his rough but calm voice passed his message firmly

“Well, I had to call it a night. It was too much drama for a single day.”

She turned now, meeting his eyes for the first time since their brief encounter earlier. His gaze was sharp, his features rugged in the dim light, but there was a gentleness in his expression that contrasted with the usual cool detachment she’d expected.

“I—” Eloise started, but the words caught in her throat. What was she supposed to say? That her life had just fallen apart? That she couldn’t move past her man’s betrayal?

“Is this about Gillian?” Liam asked, his voice soft but firm, he could understand her hesitation and confusion after what transpired between them yesterday.

Eloise felt the sting of humiliation rise again, but there was something about Liam’s calm demeanor that kept her from spiraling completely. Maybe it was the way he had remained neutral earlier, or the way he hadn’t tried to comfort her with empty words.

"Don’t," she muttered, glancing down at her glass. "I don’t need pity."

"I’m not offering pity," he replied, his eyes still locked onto hers. "I just thought… maybe you could use a distraction."

Eloise’s brow furrowed, the implication of his words not lost on her. "A distraction?" she repeated, her voice thick with disbelief. "Distraction is not the problem. I just feel like it’s deeper than I might be able to handle”

Liam leaned in slightly, his gaze never wavering. “Don’t worry about anyone. You just have to focus on me. It’s not like we are putting any emotion into this. Remember, the main aim is to make your boyfriend realize what he had lost”

Eloise blinked, a small laugh of disbelief escaping her lips. "You’re still serious with this?"

"Dead serious," Liam said, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "It’s simple, really. We fake-date. Make him jealous. Show him that you're not the kind of girl who gets walked all over."

As much as she was thrilled with the idea, she didn’t know Liam. He was a stranger. What kind of game was he playing?

"And what do you get out of it?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Liam paused, his gaze flickering toward the distant horizon before he spoke again. "I need to get a few people off my back while I'm here. Some… personal business." His voice dipped, just slightly, as if he didn’t want to reveal too much.

Eloise studied him. There was a mystery about Liam that made her uneasy, but also intrigued her. "So, this is a business arrangement?" she asked, her tone skeptical.

Liam met her eyes again, his expression hardening. "In a way," he said. "But I’m not asking for anything in return, except for your cooperation. You want revenge, I want a little... space. It’s mutually beneficial."

There was a pause, the weight of the situation hanging between them like the tension before a storm. Eloise bit her lip, her mind spinning. She couldn’t let Ethan get away with this. She couldn’t just let him pretend like nothing had happened, like her feelings didn’t matter. And if there was a way to get under his skin, to make him feel what she felt, even for just a second... then maybe she could begin to heal.

But still, something about the way Liam spoke made her wary. The whole thing felt… off.

"Alright," she said suddenly, surprising herself. "I’m in. But this better not be some stupid game, Liam."

“This is your third time. Are you in for the final time? No backing out again, right?”

She nodded to confirm and he folded his fist softly. A slow smile spread across his face, and for the first time.

"Trust me, Eloise," he said, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "This is going to be more fun than you think."

*****

The next few days passed in a blur of rehearsed moments. Every time Eloise and Liam walked together in public, there was a new tension, one that simmered just beneath the surface. Ethan’s eyes followed them constantly, his jaw tightening whenever he saw them laughing, his fists clenching at the sight of Liam’s hand on her back. It was almost too easy.

But there were moments when Eloise wondered if she was losing herself in the game. Each touch from Liam, each glance he cast her way, stirred something in her; a feeling she couldn’t name.

Was it possible to fall for someone this quickly? Or was she just so desperate for affection that she was imagining it?

“I need to take things easy” she whispered to herself as they continued their fake date.

One evening, after a lavish gala dinner, the two of them found themselves alone on the top deck, the ship cutting through the dark waves below. Eloise leaned against the railing, the night air cool on her skin. Her mind was whirling.

"Do you ever think we’re… doing this for the wrong reasons?" she asked softly, not looking at him.

Liam stood beside her, quiet for a long moment before responding. "Maybe. But sometimes, when you’re stuck in a bad situation, you have to take control however you can."

Eloise looked at him then, finally meeting his gaze. She saw something in his eyes, a flicker of emotion, fleeting and hidden beneath the surface.

The sound of footsteps echoed across the deck cut through their gazes. They turned in unison.

A tall figure emerged from the shadows. It was Gillian Martin, the woman from the bar.

Her eyes were cold and calculating as she smiled, but there was something else—a warning in the way her lips curved.

"You two are quite the pair," Gillian said smoothly, her voice silky yet sharp.

Eloise’s stomach dropped. This wasn’t just about making Ethan jealous anymore. Something else was at play, and it wasn’t just Liam’s secrets. Gillian wasn’t here by accident.

"Tell me," Gillian purred, "are you sure you know exactly who you’re playing with her?"

“I don’t think I owe you that explanation” his cold voice cut through the tension

“I love your sudden boldness. We both know this game will get you nowhere” her voice was more of mockery.

She was not intimidated with whatever games we were playing, she was so sure that he was hers. That alone was terrifying.

“You’ve made a dangerous choice.” Gillian sneered

Eloise’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up, wondering if she had just sealed her fate.