Dedicated to @wolvesamongthestars.. thank you for the beautiful cover

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I tried desperately to ignore Trijan the next morning even though I was sure they didn't see my face. I couldn't help but feel scared especially when I still didn't know what they were really talking about.

Or what the other option was

During breakfast, I sat with Jeremy and his family instead of sitting with my parents and the bills. They were a lovely company to be with and the thought of anything sad happening to them wasn't a particular happy thought.

"I would be the prettiest bride amongst the moguls' children" Denise interrupted Mrs Tinland's story for the third time

I rolled my eyes.

Jeremy smiled.

"Oh yes dear, you would be a beautiful bride"Mrs tinland who we now call shirley said keeping her cool even through her irritation. Her blonde gelled hair made her look like she was wearing a turban, her soft heart face and small lips with red lipstick carried the composture of an aging woman.

I didn't notice Mr Jack's absence till he arrived and after greeting a couple of guests he headed our way and all nerves in my body stood still as he smiled walking towards our table. I managed to smile despite the erected hair on my arms and the chills down my spine.

I swallowed air. Empty dry air down my throat.

"Good morning everybody" he greeted as he got three feet far from our table we responded like a chorus which was strange in a way as he stood between Denise and Shirley his hands on the shoulders of their chair.

"Good morning Mr. Jack"

"Hope you are all well?" He asked as he looked at everyone on the table and they nodded but when his eyes fell on me it lingered longer on me and once again I swallowed but still smiled then he turned and faced Denise "how are you?" He asked tilting her chin upwards a smile on his face and his eyes staring at hers.

She blushed "I'm fine sir".

Wow. .. seemed like Mr Jack really did like Denise but then what I heard last night was the exact opposite of what I was seeing right now. Infact he seemed to really care about her and as he took her up from the table nodded to us and led her to the table where his family was I couldn't help but imagine if I was dreaming last night.

If it wasn't real, a fragment of my dreams come to live perhaps.

It's either that or Mr Jack was a good actor.

I was loosing appetite from all the thinking but I had to eat something we had a long day ahead of us today. We were having a cruise today in the big ship owned by the Moguls.

After breakfast, I went to my room for a change of outfit, the red jumpsuit i had on wasn't really my type of clothing but since my mom had sent it to me I had to wear it.

I went through my travelling bag but some things i don't remember being here was here. Like the white high waist bum short i was holding with a long line of buttons and rough edges. I kind of liked it so i just wore it and a short hand floral top . I took a sandals and my wide beach hat I got as a gift from an Australian fan base.

I put on some cherry cologne and tie my caramel gladiator sandals looking at the mirror I looked ok... so I switched every appliances off and head out with just my phone as I got into the hallway I froze when I saw Trijan standing there in the hallway he was on a call but I wasn't sure if he had seen me so I could run back into my room or just face the other side of the hallway

"Or you could just walk pass him and ignore his existence" My inner version snorted "it's not like you did anything to him and besides you have all the rights he has" she added.

For a moment I thought about what she said, she was right I hadn't done anything wrong apart from eavesdropping.

"Ivy!" He called while I was still lost in thoughts..

"Trijan hey" I maintained a composture better than how scared my inside was feeling.

"I See you changed" he pointed out while he stood legs apart with his hands in his pockets as I walked towards him. His white t-shirt hugged him perfectly

" i see you did too" I noticed

"Yes ... the other polo was too thick needed something light and free " he explained and I just nodded and we fell silent as we walked through the hallways, occasionally his arms would graze over mine and I would shift a little so he wouldn't feel my beating heart.

I was feeling anxious and I wanted to question him about last night and what the other option was but then I wasn't sure if he knew I was there and if he did he would have confronted me. Right?

"You look nice by the way " he faced me his sea blue eyes meeting mine as we stood on front of the large reception of the hotel and I felt heat on my cheeks, my cheeks will definitely burn if I didn't knock out of what he was doing.

"Thank you and you look pleasant yourself" I returned the comment.

He bowed slightly then turned to walk away but then he stopped and faced me "I must say the beads you wore yesterday fit you perfectly, you looked great yesterday" he smirk-smiled and left.

My heart beat raced louder after his last words he knew I was the one last night.

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I had always loved being on a ship or sailing it was my favourite activity. I loved the sea and any other form of water bodies. It gave me relief from alot of worries and fears, so when I got into the ship it didn't take long to forget the situation between me eavesdropping on the Bills last night. I simply went to a side of the ship alone and stared at ocean. It was a big ship but it wasn't all that big. It had restrooms, kitchen, a wide hall and others but I stayed on one of the decks closer to the sea level.

I stared at the deep blue sea and how it parted as the ship passed though and came together after it went through it never seemed to be distinguished as to what water who or what part of the water was where..or maybe it's because the waters were too much to be divided. That's the advantage of being alot and together.

"Hey " someone called from behind me. I turned around and saw Jeremy shirtless. I had never seen him shirtless before and he was sexy. His torso was perfectly carved unlike what he had years ago

He was breathtaking now and mouth drooling. I swallowed imaginary water as I stared at him. I wanted to touch him to make sure this perfect hotness was real.

How did he transform from nerdtacular to hotacular?..

I managed to smile and wave.

"What you doing?" He asked

"Sea viewing"

"Wow... your choice of words are outstanding... Or is it just you miss ivy" he said close enough for me to smell his cologne.

He was playing the right cards, I knew this game I taught him after Dylan taught me.

The five ways to captivate a person into your control
What they see
what they hear
What they smell
What they feel and what they taste.

And how to know they are being captivated or already trapped..
They reply slower
They can't look at your eyes
Their mouths are ajar most of the time.

Like two years ago, i tested this theory on Jeremy and it worked and stuffs happened so I'm guessing now he was out to get me. The only difference between now and then was then I was a bit wilder then and would take stuff to other levels to get to the top of the game but now i was calmer, I wasn't that reckless any more.

"You smell divine ivy" he said like a whisper and I had to lean in to him to hear clearly. He shifted towards me causing our bodies to touch a slightly.

I felt like I touched a love wire as electricity flushed through me and losing guard my hat went off and in an attempt to catch it I leaned forward over the bars of the deck and half of me was on air almost above sea but something else was sucking up all the fear I was feeling.

Jeremy was.

He was so close to me and his hands were around my waist pulling me back into his body. I turned around but then I was face to face with him,So close to him. I never noticed he had beautiful grey eyes because I was always close to him in the dark, or that his dirty blonde hair was rough yet hot on him.

"Thanks Jeremy ... I'm ok" I said in an attempt to push him off but I was holding on to him as we stared at each other, the wind blew my hair over my face and he used his fingers to removing the causing sparks on my face. The only thing between us was the material of my top which was thin. I could feel his warmth in my skin through the materials and I was still staring at his eyes.

He leaned forward and whispered in my ears "You are not ok, you are beautiful".

He was winning four out of five.. damn teenage games.

I was loosing and I had to act fast and then the perfect distraction came. Miles away from us was the sleeping giant himself and I made him to turn over to look
"Damn it really does look like a sleeping giant"

Before the complete of ten minutes, the deck was filled with people all talking about the giant.. the pamplet we were given had a full description of the giant, the length, size, initial location and it's myth. Unluckily for me i left mine at the hotel.

Crazy sandals wagon!

But Joan came to my rescue. When I was younger we were so close. We were the ugly betties and we always loved that guys weren't after us.

Joan Norman was a short girl with a nice skin and black Bob. She had given all the uglyness away like her big glasses for green contact lens, her big tummy for a flat one and baggy clothes for tighter ones. She was now hot and I kind of liked even though I wasn't into girls I still loved and appreciated a gorgeous one.

"The myth is crazy!" She exclaimed 'there is no way someone has been sleeping in one positions for decades doesn't he turn over" I laughed.

"Well some people know how to sleep peaceful"I replied her still smiling.

"Well those people are boring" she paused and poked me with her green fingernails" like you ugly betty one"..

"I see your still a sleeping karate kid ugly betty two" I responded hugging her I hadn't seen her in a decade except on phone calls and video calls and like me she hated the Moguls gathering.

"You have shed all your ugliness" I complimented

" You had turned on the heat level on your entire body" she spined me around " I have missed you so much ivy"

"Same here love" we were still hugging and for a moment I understood why my mom wanted me to have friends in just 5 minutes she had made feel real connections and I don't know more alive.

'Seems like it's the betties reunion" Jamie Scott's voice gave a low announcement as he approached us with his kid sister Karen behind him. Karen and I hardly ever spoke she was Denise's friend but her brother and I had a certain kind of history thanks to my mom p.s I hate history.

We exchanged pleasantries and as usual Karen asked about Denise who was at the higher deck with her husband to be. I would have expected Karen to leave them alone but like her brother who was a spoilt brat she went up there and took Denise away leaving Trijan alone.

After a while, I got to meet Marcus mccurdy, the half American half Asian heir. He was tall and pale with black eyes and thin stature. Joan had a forever crush on him and it wasn't a surprise that as he walked towards us Joan took to her heels. I giggled

"Long time no see ivy"his deep voice worded

"Hey Marcus, how are you?" I missed the side of his cheeks a greeting he reciprocated

"I'm doing well I thought I saw you with Joan"

"Yeaaaa... she uhhh had something doing that way" I pointed towards the direction she went through

"Ok ivy catch up with you later" he left leaving me alone. I looked around everybody was in a chat with everybody. Denise,Karen and Elizabeth McClellan where having their brat girls conversation at the top deck. Trijan was with his dad and the other moguls everybody I was looking at was engaged and I felt a bit left out. I decided to walk inside and just have another drink.

Mr Bran was there, he gave me a juice and we started talking strangely he was the master of sarcasm. He talked about walking with the Moguls for 2 decades and things had improved.

I was tired after the cruise I went straight to my room to rest. I was tired but I couldn't sleep so I scrolled down my instagram news fees, updated my status and browsed about the sleeping giant.

After a while, my mind drifted to the events ing the day but my thought lingered on one particular person Jeremy, everyone had changed obviously but how he got to affect the way he did amazed me. My hand went to my tummy where his hands tested and I closed my eyes as I recalled how he held me. My thoughts were interrupted by the knock on my door.

I climbed down my bed and walked to the door, not knowing who it could be but suspecting Mr Bran with some instruction from my mum, I opened the door to my surprise and trouble
"Jeremy, what are you doing here?"