Chapter 3: Queensland Island

I WOKE UP to the fresh air caressing my cheek as well as the fragrant smell biting my nose.

I got up and noticed that I had taken off my nighties and underwear last night on the table. My two cheeks warmed at the thought of Ellwood holding it apart from me.

I looked down at the loose T-shirt I was wearing after gasping for breath. Eventually I chose to wear my underwear and the same lose white shirt. Now I felt more embarrassed than last night where he applied medicine to my own leg wound.

I quickly kicked myself because I felt like I was weakening my body when I approached him and stood beside him last night.

If he's like the bad guy that I've had watched in a thriller movies. He can take advantage of me unopposed.

But he didn't.

I pursed my lips, scolding myself again. Isn't enough that he let you stay here and hid you from Dolfo to make him think badly?

I let out a heavy sigh. Right now I can do nothing but trust him, even though it’s hard for me to do that after all.

I winced when I heard some footsteps from outside my room. I hurried out to greet him but I was shocked when I saw a not familiar face at the door step.

The women with her ebony hair and bright eyes looking hard at me.

"Uh, good morning," I could only say.

She quickly dropped her gaze on what I was wearing and lingered on my sore leg.

"You're probably the one who sneaked in here last night and the police are looking for you." She cut off my gaze and went straight to the sofa set to turn them on and fix something there.

Based on of what she's wearing she is one of the staff here. She's almost as tall as me but also based on my physique she's obviously older than me.

"I'm Tinay, the maid servant here. Sir Ellwood also ordered me to look after you," she said without looking at me.

I would have liked to ask where he was. I know he didn’t sleep here last night because he gave me his room.

"Did you get your panties and bra?" She faced me and looked at me again.

"Yes thank you."

I bent down to hide the redness of my faces. I thought Ellwood was the one who brought it here.

"Eat your breakfast, I'll be back in twenty minutes." She started walking towards the door.

"Where's Ellwood?" I couldn't help but ask.

She stopped and turned to me for a moment. Her eyes squinted a bit, and her brows twitched as if I was said something she didn't like.

"He's sleeping in one of the cabins here. Just so you know this is not a cruise ship. This is a cargo ship.

There's not that much room here and the only neat room is this room." Her voice was cold when she spoke to me.

I feel so was embarrassed and could not speak immediately.

"This ship will dock in Queensland later that night. That means Echeverrii Trading wouldn't responsible for you. If possible we don't want trouble, if not for Sir Ellwood's request. We will not allow him to welcome a criminal like you."

I frowned at the last thing she said. I knew she saw what I did so she smiled strangely at me, "Aren't the police looking for you? Oh, that doesn't mean you're a criminal."

I swallowed to calm myself down. Nothing will happen if I argue with her. Daddy never taught me to argue especially with older than me.

"I will leave as soon as this ship lands." I still chose to give her a smile in return for all her allegations.

I noticed that she stopped before smirking at me and finally left the room.

Again I let out a deep sigh and eating my breakfast. I finish it right away and washed the dishes.

I just chose to go back to the room. Good that the room has a sliding door for the small veranda. There were two white metal chairs and a white table as well. Instead of sitting down, I faced the railing to observe the calm ocean. I can’t help but admire the vibrant blue sea.

This is my first time on a ship.I must be nervous now and vomiting because of dizziness. But because of what I had witnessed last night is even worse, the fear I feel seems to be more intense than last night.

I could see no land yet, only birds and strong waves crashing on the ship is all I could see and hear for this moment.

I felt my eyes clouding. I can’t help but think of Dad right now. His body was lying on the floor while bathed in his own blood.

Little by little my tears flowed. It shouldn’t have happened to him. He did not deserve this, he was a very kind person. He almost shared his own food to his employees just to give them the proper benefits but what did they do? Dolfo and his men, including some workers and Auntie Lucille.

I clasped my hands to the steel handle. I wanted to shed tears but I was startled when I heard a scream.

"Jesus! What the hell are you doing up there?!" A shout a voice from below made me look down.

Ellwood looked up and just looked straight into my eyes. But from here I noticed his rising anger as he looked up at me.

"What the fuck are you doing there?!" He shouted again. He took off the helmet he was wearing and turned to some sailors who were also looking up at me.

I saw a playful smile on their lips. The others here seem to be peeking something.

"Go back to work, morons!" He growled.

They seemed frightened and bowed down their heads. Then he turned his gaze to me again, but this time he's now looking under my lose T-shirt.

Heat rose up from both my cheeks. Slowly my hand came down to touch the flying dress.

I stepped a back shaking and he quickly disappeared from my site.

I bit my lips when I realized what had happened. I almost covered my face as I back away from the veranda.

"Holy shit, Venice! They saw me, my... my panty!"

That was the time the is door is open violently. I was expecting who it was but I had no idea the reaction he was showing right now.

"What are you doing?" He took a big steps to approached me. His eyes looks far from what I saw last night. There's a dark murderous and outrage there.

I swallowed hard to gain my senses but he's too close. His strong built and unexpected trance overwhelmed me.

"Did you see how my people stared at you? You gave them a show and you let them feast on your body!" His voice thundered, but I could still feel the tenderness and the softness there.

"I–I'm sorry." I bowed quickly.

He didn’t answered, he just stayed in front of me while the distance didn’t change.

"D*mn..." I heard him say that before he turned around and entered a room that I thought was his closet.

I had no strength to sit up in while still unable to believe what had happened. But not less than a minute later the door opened again so I quickly straightened up.

"Here's my shorts, wear that before my people think anything bad about you."

My whole body seemed to grow cold at what he said. Does this mean that what I think is unlikely to happen?

Come on, Venice, you are in the middle of the sea. In fact, you have nothing against them. They can do anything good to you! They can just throw you into the sea and feed you to the sharks if they want to.

"Sorry, I didn't mean that. I was just fascinating by the sea."

I looked up at him. His dark look was replaced by a soft expression. He also just nodded in response to my explanation.

"I'll ask Tinay if she can lend you a dress, but for the meantime that's what you should wear first."

I just reached for the short he was holding, “Thank you, sorry again for what happened,” I murmured.

He just blew out a breath as an answer. He glanced at his wristwatch before speaking again.

"After lunch we're definitely in Queensland. The weather is pretty good compared to yesterday so we're running fast now."

I nodded still confused. I did not expect our ship to arrive early. Once again my chest throbbed as hard. I feel like I'm approaching danger again.

"All right..." That was all I could say before he turned his back on me.

I was not eating well when lunch came in. Ellwood hasn't come back to the room since earlier. Tinay gave me her short pants and gray T-shirt. It's a bit roomy but because I'm still wearing the boxer shorts that Ellwood lent me earlier it fits now.

I was startled from my seat when I heard the ship whistle. Indication that we have landed.

I quickly got up and walked around the room. Worried that there might be policemen waiting for me. I hurried to the veranda to see if there were any police but the beautiful Queensland Island welcomed me.

I thought it was just small but it was bigger than I expected. I looked even further away. I also saw some buildings and some structures under construction.

"Sir, Ellwood is calling you."

I looked at Tinay's voice. I smiled at her and followed her at the hallway right to his office.

Tinay knocked first before she speak. "Sir, Elwood , Venice is here," she said in a soft voice.

Tinay turned the door open and led me inside before she left the room. Elwood looked straight in to my eyes. He also quickly closed the door after I entered.

The whole room was quiet when I arrived. A quality wooden table and with a small door at the end I noticed. On the pure wooden wall by the side of the table hung there some certificates and clearances of his business.

Echeverrii Trading and company. That’s what I read on the certificate. There are also some photos with Ellwood shaking hands with some big businessmen.

My gaze landed on his clean desk. All the papers were neatly stacke, only one I noticed there was the picture frame upside down on the far side of the table.

Out of curiosity I took it for a peek. The woman in her middle age looks so radiant in the picture. Her color is almost radish like mine. The nose is pointed and there are pairs of eye-catching eyes.

She held Ellwood herself as he hugged the woman. They look perfectly beautiful together. I'm sure she's his girlfriend or maybe his wife.

He looked down at the picture frame I was holding. He clenched his jaw and walked headed to his office in front of me.

"Your wife?" I asks in soft tone. I also smiled broadly.

He glanced slightly at the picture frame before his gaze flew to mine.

"So, what are your plans now?"

That’s what he answered me as he leaned back in his chair.

I twisted my lips, not knowing what to answer. I played with the fingers that were in front of me as I bent down.

And then I heard his heavy sigh that made me flinched. Raise the back of the chair, both arms are on his table. He slightly looked up at me and met my gaze.

"The ship will also leave tomorrow so you have no choice but to get off." He stopped for a moment and watched my reaction.

I gave him a nod. I understand what he means. I had no choice but to leave.

He leaned back in his swivel chair and returned to the position of his legs.

"How old are you, Venice?" he asked in low calm voice.

"I'm seventeen." I have a weak answer.

I saw his jaw fight several times before it finally nodded. He pulled his cellphone out of his pocket, apparently reading some text there before laying it on the table itself.

"Very young, huh?" His brows hitched a bit.

I felt my two cheeks blush at what he said. I can't help but go back to what happened on the veranda earlier.

"I mean you are still under custody of your parents, right?"

I bit my lip hard because of what he said.

"Who's Dolfo Herrera?" He asks a question very smoothly.

My grip on my hand is tighter now. I could feel the grain of sweat on my forehead and trembling lips.

"Are you alright." He quickly got up from his chair and faced me. He grabbed my two shoulders but I still can’t help but shiver. Tears were also slowly forming in my eyes.

"Hey, Venice look at me?" He touched both of my cheeks, so I looked up at him. Tears fell on my eyes which he immediately wiped away.

His gaze lingered on me for a moment and he lick his lower lips and muttered a cursed.

He slowly released me and pulled out his cellphone on the table.

"I need to make a call, I'll be right back. Don't leave here."

He turned his back on me. I had no strength to sit in the chair when he left. Less than a few minutes later the door opened again.

Ellwood look straight to my eyes. I can’t explain how it feels while looking up at him.

"Let's go," he said before held out his hand to me.