Chapter 12: Double Date Cruise

Back to the present

I woke up in bed. I was in my nightgown and my body felt stiff. The maids probably changed me when I came back late last night. Too much went on yesterday with Zak and the shock of meeting his arranged-date, Annie, made me forget that I had something to tell Zak.

I grabbed my mobile phone and dialed Zak via my favorite speed dial. He picked up almost immediately as if he’d been waiting for my call. I just love Zak.

“Hey! How about going on a cruise with me this weekend?” I asked with over-the-top excitement, intentionally leaving out all the caveats.

“ ... with your old man and his new fiancé?” Zak answered back with a knowing laugh. Fuck, he caught on fast. There’s no way I’m going on a cruise as a third wheeler and no way I’m going to enjoy my time with big-boob Angela.

“Please ... who knows? His fiancé might fall for your charms and back away from Lucien,” I teased.

“Hell no. I don’t like fucking bitches with fake boobs. I’ve had enough of that in the industry,” Zak replied. How did he know though?

“Why do you think she’s got fake boobs? You know her?” I asked curiously.

“I’ve met her around. No, I’ve never slept with her but words do travel fast when you’re rich and your father is trying hard to marry you off,” Zak explained. He is so full of gossip. The amount of intel he has on people in our high-society is amazing and he does have a lot of connections with people.

“Enough about her. Be a prince and come on a cruise with me. Please?” I pleaded in my cute voice. Zak has never been able to resist me pleading like this before.

“Ok. Condition: blindfold,” Zak agreed while stating his condition. Sex on the cruise with a blindfold on. Not a bad bargain considering he could have chosen something more daring.

“Deal. See you! Have I mentioned it lately? ... I love you!” I said and hung up.

That settles it. At least I will have my “brother” on the cruise with me. Knowing Zak, he will probably help me deal with Angela as well. I will survive this cruise no matter what.

... Natalia hung up. She’s clearly happy that I’m going on the cruise with her. I would have volunteered anyways even if she didn’t ask. I found out about the cruise already through one of my maids who always loves to gossip with maids from Lucien’s mansion. The perks of living next door, indeed. Letting Natalia go on a cruise with Angela and an unsuspecting Lucien is a dangerous idea. Angela is anything but nice and innocent. She may seem like an angel on the outside but there are ugly rumors surrounding her and her father.

The fact that out of all the promising candidates, the elders chose her to marry Lucien is proof enough that she will hurt Natalia somehow. This arranged nuptial is not purely for simple business gains; it was designed to use Angela to hurt Natalia specifically as well. I’m going to have to dig up some dirt on Angela to use as my secret arsenal in the case she threatens Natalia. Welcome to our fucked-up lives.

... Finally, the day of the apocalypse, I mean the cruise, has arrived. I’m packed and well prepared mentally and physical for this battle, I mean cruise. Running a last-minute check on my mental checklist of my packing list: sunscreen, bikini, towel, camera ... Seem like I’ve got everything on the list. I head down from my bedroom to the living room downstairs to meet up with Lucien and Zak.

The three of us will be driving together to the dock and Angela will be meeting us there to board the cruise. Zak has volunteered to drive like a good boy in the place of his uncle, who seems to be tired from a long week of stressful work. Peering over at Lucien, I could see dark circles under his eyes. Perhaps he’s been having trouble sleeping? I thought with concern before switching to think about what I could do to relieve him of his stress.

Sitting in the driver seat next to Lucien, Zak seemed to be in a good mood as he drove for us. He was all smiles and full of energy, the total opposite of Lucien. I’m so happy and thankful that he’s here with us. Leave it to Zak to save my day ... or in this case my weekend. Wearing a loose white shirt with sleeves folded up to show his tan and muscular forearm ... he’s so hot.

“Thanks for coming along to keep Natalia company. I was afraid she would be bored spending time with her good old dad,” Lucien laughed self-depreciatingly.

“Lucien, don’t say that. You’re not old at all, you’re at a handsome and ripe age of 38. You’re still so fit and sexy too!” I defended Lucien much more actively than I intended leading both men to look at me with raised eyebrows. Ok, I’ll just shut up now.

“Don’t go calling your father sexy; it gives me the creeps,” Zak exclaimed jokingly while acting like he’s shivering from disgust.

I peered at Lucien’s face and saw that his face was slightly red. Perhaps he does like being complicated once in a while? I do mean it though, to me Lucian is far from old. He’s so beautiful and sexy ... and I love him so much.

We arrived at the dock and Angela greeted all of us with a big and warm smile.

“Hi, this is my cousin, Zak. His mother is Lucien’s older sister,” I introduced Zak to Angela as he bowed slightly in a perfect gentlemanly manner.

“I see. So, you’re Madame Francesca’s only son,” Angela said as her eyes narrowed. She’s heard of his fame many times before. Born as the first grandson of the family with looks resembling a Greek god with rays of the sun in his hairs and eyes. Rumors for once are extremely accurate. This is the first time she’s seen Zak up close and was frankly startled by his good looks. Zak is famous for his contribution to art, fashion and film and also heads his family’s marketing and branding arm, all at such a young age.

We boarded the cruise where we will be cruising to fish and relax for the weekend. The cruise belongs to our family so this is not the first time that I’ve been here with Lucien and Zak. First off to our rooms. Thank god the cruise was luxuriously huge and had enough rooms for everyone. Being rich has its perk for sure this time, I thought, otherwise I’ll surely be sharing a room with Angela. If that was the case, I’d rather sleep out in the open ... After freshening up and changing into my white bikini I headed up on deck where Lucian and Zak were busy preparing our barbecue lunch. There were maids around on this cruise but I guess Zak and Lucien wanted to the experience of cooking our lunch themselves.

“Hi, boys!” I greeted them cheerfully with the brightest smile I could put on.

Their faces lit up with smiles as well as they greeted me. At times like these, I try my best to forget the mess of my life and just enjoy the moment as it comes. I decided to help them prepare the barbecue.

Angela soon came on deck wearing a very revealing red bikini. She looks like an adult magazine model, which is smoking hot. I have to give her fair credit where it’s due. I wonder how Lucien feels seeing her like that. Their engagement was sudden and although Lucien never explained it to me, I can sense that the elders probably had a big say in it. I wonder if Lucien loves her...

“Lucien, we have decided that it would be in the company’s and the family’s best interest if you marry Angela Woodwick. Her father’s business in energy and his tight ties to powerful politicians is what we need to further grow the family’s business. Her family is also wealthy and well recognized in foreign circles. Having you marry her will be for the best,” Elizabeth declared in a commanding voice. Elizabeth is currently the chairwomen of the company and the head of the elders.

Lucien looked up from where he knelt on one knee on the deep red carpeted floor at the 3 elders. Our company and therefore, family, is run by the “elders”. The elders are chosen by vote from family members to take on management of the company and also of family affairs with the sole purpose of making decisions that would be best for the company’s and family’s interests. Strictly business and void of any human emotions, they view family members merely as resources to expand the business. Each family member’s path in life is destined by the elder group from a young age including: education, training, career, dating, marriage, etc. However, in the end the elders are human and if you please them well enough, there will start to be room for negotiations.

Today, Lucien is here to make the second big negotiation of his life with the elders and for that to go through, he must make big sacrifices.

“I will agree on two conditions,” Lucien said in a monotonous voice.

“So, you want to make a deal? Sure, what are your conditions?” Elizabeth asked without any surprise in her voice. She knew that Lucien would not agree to a loveless marriage without placing conditions.

“One, I will divorce her when the business deal has gone through and the set-up is complete or in two years, whichever comes first. Two, Natalia will become my lover and next marriage partner. You all will acknowledge her immediately as such and treat her so,” Lucien stated the conditions that he had prepared.