*Andrea*
I made my way to the restroom, and as I left the table, I didn’t miss how Laura looked at me as if my mere existence threatened her. If looks could kill, I’d indeed have been dead since dinner started.
I cursed under my breath as I stumbled on my way to the restroom. I had taken about five shots of vodka, and honestly, alcohol wasn’t my strongest suit. Although I wasn’t drunk, I was very tipsy.
As I sat in the toilet, quickly doing my business, my mind went to Alejandro. I had been eyeing him all evening, just wanting to take him back to the cabin, but I also didn’t want to keep him from having fun, which was why I stayed for the stupid game in the first place.
I made my way to the sink, got out of the cubicle, and was washing my hands when the door opened. I sighed without turning to look. It’s probably just Laura or one of her minions, and I really didn’t have the patience or nerves to stand while they verbally harassed me again.
But as I threw water on my face to clear the haze of alcohol, I looked up and saw a man in the mirror. If I could guess correctly, it was Steve. The man Laura had dared me to make out with earlier.
I was confused and froze as we stared at each other in the mirror. What was a man doing in a female restroom? Maybe he was too drunk to read the sign on the door and had mistaken this as the male restroom.
But even as I tried to make an excuse for him, a crippling sensation climbed up my spine. I was a girl, and at the moment, I was defenseless, not to mention the fact that I was tipsy, bordering on the edge of drunk. There was no way I could defend myself if he wanted to have his way with me.
But he wouldn’t do that, right? Then I suddenly realized that I actually didn’t know any of these peoplewell, except Alejandroand I suddenly had the urge to flee. I gave him a tight smile as I passed by his side, heading towards the door behind him.
My nerves were all over the place, but I tried to plaster a calm expression on my face as I prayed for the fate I would be able to leave unscathed.
However, it seemed the fates were not smiling down at me because as soon as I passed by him, relief flooded my veins just mere seconds before I was suddenly grabbed from behind and thrown against the wall.
I screamed, and a hand shot out to muffle my screams while the other hand held my own hands up as he smiled savagely at me.
I bit down on the hand, covering my mouth as hard as I could, and he yelped as he immediately removed his hand. But contrary to what I thought, he still held my hands bound to the wall above my head.
I took the opportunity to yell at the top of my lungs, but then, my head whipped to the side as he used his injured hand to strike me across the face. I bit into my lower lip to try to contain the pain. At this point, the alcohol that seemed to hum in my veins mere seconds ago was nowhere to be found anymore.
I have never been as clear-headed as I was at this moment. Ever. It seemed the pain from the blow to my jaw had reset my system. I refused to let it stop me, though, and I let out a painful cry.
I silently prayed for Alejandro to come running, but I knew he could not hear me from the deck where we had dinner. The distance was too great.
“You dare bite me? You have guts, I’ll give you that. And I love women that have a fight in them. Makes it all the more fun,” he said to me and chuckled darkly.
I tried to twist my hands out of his hold, but I only managed to hurt myself, and one of my hands was now twisted and hurting badly from my struggles. I was losing strength.
Tears streamed down my eyes as I thought of what the monster in front of me intended to do. I wish we had never come on this boat cruise. Was it really worth it at the end?
“Please,” I begged, tears rolling down my face. “You don’t have to do this, please.”
But he just laughed in my face, like he didn’t understand me. “You have a wonderful body,” he commented, but I just squeezed my eyes shut as tears ran down my face.
Although I had no strength left, I managed to say, “Please. Just let me go. Please.”
It happened in a flash. One minute, I was being molested, and the next minute, the man was thrown off me as Alejandro knelt across his body, battering his face with punches.
I have never seen Alejandro lose his cool like this before. It seemed like an evil spirit possessed him. A gasp sounded from the doorway, and I noticed that Laura observed the scene in shock, and her hand flew to her mouth.
At that moment, it seemed like all the strength had left my body, and I wobbled on my feet as I made my way to Alejandro.
“Alejandro, please…” I pleaded with him, but he didn’t seem to hear me. He kept punching Steve even as blood poured out of his mouth and nose.
If I don’t stop him, he is going to kill Steve out of anger, and even though I think Steve deserves it, I don’t want Alejandro in jail.
Thankfully, Fred and the others came, and after much difficulty, they separated Alejandro from Steve. I moved my eyes away from Steve’s limp body, not able to bear the sight of him.
Alejandro looked around for a while, like someone snapping out of a daze. When his eyes landed on me, he strode over to me and gathered me in his arms.
“I’m so sorry, love. I should have known,” he murmured into my hair, and I rested my head on his chest.
I wanted to reassure him that there was no way he could have known, but I noticed Laura’s hateful gaze pinned on me and shuddered.
“Are you cold?” Alejandro fussed over me, but I shook my head.
“Can we go to the cabin now? Please,” I suddenly felt too exposed and communicated my desperation to him through my eyes and hoped he understood me.
He nodded and led me past Laura and the rest towards our cabin. When we were safely inside, I immediately took a shower. I intended to scrub away the feeling of Steve’s grimy hands from my skin.
Bedtime came, and it was awkward. I turned my back to Alejandro as I took some Aspirin to help with the pain. I felt detached from everything and tried not to think of what could have happened tonight as I finally let down, facing away from him.
“I never got to thank you for saving me. Thank you,” I told Alejandro, unable to look at him, but I knew he could hear me.
He sighed and replied, “It pains me to think of the fact that he even touched you. I should never have let you go alone.”
I turned to face him then, my face wet from the tears I’d been shedding silently. “Stop blaming yourself, Alejandro.” I cupped his cheeks as he faced me on the bed. “It’s not your fault, okay?”
I expected him to argue with me, but instead, he replied with an ‘okay’ and held his arms wide open. I smiled as I snuggled closer to him on the bed, falling into a fitful sleep in his embrace.
The following day, the pounding on our cabin door woke me up. Alejandro groaned against me as he held me tighter in his sleep.
But the knock persisted, and he blinked his eyes open. He finally disentangled from me and opened the door. My head was pounding, and I groaned as I tried to tune out the conversation taking place at the door, but I could hear it loud and clear.
It was Fred and Laura at the door, and I wasn’t sure if they were alone or if they had come with others. But it was their voices I heard.
“We’re sorry about yesterday’s incident,” Fred began. “Believe me when I say we were also shocked.”
Alejandro grunted. “It doesn’t excuse what he did, and I will make sure he’s locked up when we get back to land.”
My heart raced. What was Alejandro doing? Is he trying to start a fight with them?
I was thrilled by the fact that he wouldn’t just let it slide, but all I wanted was to forget. It was too much of a headache to go to the station and start writing reports and all that.
It will take time, not to mention the possibility that it may be leaked to the media, affecting Alejandro and his company. And him knowing who I really am.
I decided to talk to him when he came back to bed. I couldn’t afford to move as I felt weak, and all I wanted to do today was to just curl into Alejandro and sleep my pain off. I’m on a business trip, and it looks more like a vacation.
“That wouldn’t be necessary, please. We would see to it that he’s punished accordingly.” Fred replied, and I hoped Alejandro had just left it at that.
I watched him as he stood wedged between the door and the wall while he spoke with them. After Fred’s reply, he pulled his head in and raised his brows questioningly, asking if I was alright with it.
I nodded, and he turned his attention back to the people outside. My headache was now back in full force. It seemed the nod made it worse.
I bit back the groan of pain that almost left my lips as I heard Laura speak. “How’s she?”
I held my breath for a second. She was referring to me. How nice. She suddenly cares.
I had suspected she had a hand in what happened to me last night, and even though I didn’t voice my suspicionsnot even to AlejandroI intended to find out. I was sure I didn’t just imagine the hateful glare she sent my way last night after the incident. It was real.
After a few more exchanges of words, Alejandro closed the door and came back to bed. I snuggled into him as a sigh of relief left my lips. He felt like home.
Before climbing into bed, he passed me a glass of water and some Aspirin. I swallowed the Aspirin reluctantly before lying down beside him. I hated drugs.
He chuckled and looked at me, and his face turned dark at that moment. “What is it?” I asked, suddenly scared of his reaction.
“There’s a bruise forming on your jaw.” His eyes were hard with anger, but he softly caressed my face. “I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t want him to continue feeling guilty, so I just scoffed and slammed him lightly on the chest. “You can’t say the right time, love.” I teased him. He was always calling me ‘love’.
He looked at me with wide eyes. “Say it again.”
I laughed and swatted at his chest playfully, but then I yawned, and he smiled at me, ruffling my hair.
“Go to sleep, love. I’ll be here when you wake up,” he gave me a peck on my forehead, and I slept soundly, my dreams filled with memories of him.