Chapter 39: Staying invisible!
A blonde-hair, middle-aged man stood in front of Mel and Brenden.
" What? It's not like you're seeing me for the first time! " he said jokingly.
" Um... hello, Mr. White. " Mel smiled. ' What? There's nothing wrong with being friendly! '
" Mr. James White. " Brenden greeted formally nodding once.
' Why the fu*k is he calling him 'that', isn't he his father? ' Mel wondered...
' Well, it's his name, what else do you expect him to call? ' her subconscious snapped and looked at Brenden with glowing eyes.
" What nuisance? " she snorted out loud. Brenden looked at her amused, while James looked at her confused.
She looked up and realized what had just happened, " Oh, I said it out loud, didn't I? " she whispered to Brenden. He nodded ever so lightly.
" I'm sorry, " she apologized to James, " I'll leave, you guys to catch up. " she bid goodbye and left.
....
" What do you think you're doing? " James asked as Mel left.
" What I do, don't... none of it is of your concern. " Brenden snapped, his face neutral.
" Why are you behind that girl? What about you're fiancé? " he asked, ignoring him.
" Who do you think you are to interfere in my life? "he asked chuckling coldly, " Oh please don't tell me that it's for my sake now. I guess we have already helped each other- by each, staying out of the other's life. "
James frowned at his tone, " I guess you know why you are engaged to Scarlet, young man. If that breaks, think about what you're going to do about you're cover? "
Brenden scoffed, " How educative! " he turned to leave.
" Wouldn't you regret it? " James asked making Brenden stop in his tracks.
" I don't think you should be the one talking. " saying that he left, leaving James behind.
James sighed looking at the horizon, ' He had committed a lot of mistakes in his life but not raising his own children, was his greatest regret rather, a punishment. '
....
The whole day went by inviting the guests. The cruise started sail at 11 am in the morning.
Everyone was quite excited, business talk, chats, benefits of influence- a lot boring, but an honor to be invited as a socialite.
' How sordid! ', Mel scoffed and went to her deck when she heard someone call her.
" Melanie? " a voice ran out in the corridor of the 2nd-floor deck. " Is it really you? You're alive? "
Mel frowned as she saw who that person was.
" Juliet! What are you doing here? " she asked in disbelief, she really didn't want to meet anyone from the family who had betrayed her.
" Well, I've been invited to the birthday. What are 'you' doing here? " she asked still seemingly, not believing that she was present there, alive.
" My friend's birthday, too. " Mel replied curtly.
" Oh, ok. So, how have you been, where were you? " she asked. " Alex - " she stopped as Mel gestured to her to not continue any further.
" I don't wish to hear about a family who sold me out. About anyone, for that matter. " she turned and got on to the stairs, " It would be better if we didn't run into each other next time. Even if we do, I will not take some time out for you and fake to be concerned. " saying that she walked into the 3rd-floor deck.
Juliet sighed, ' Wow, that went totally well! ' she thought sarcastically and pulled out her phone to call Alex but decided against it. ' It's better this way... '
She walked up the stairs just to find herself kicked out by two bulky guards.
" Ma'am you're not allowed further. Please leave. " one of the guards said.
" Why was she allowed then? " Juliet asked, totally pissed.
" She belongs to the family. " the guard replied, lazily.
" What do you mean, family? ", WOAH, this is news!
" Sorry, I'm not in a position to disclose that," he replied, ever so lazily.
She nodded and got back to her cabin, where there were 2 more girls, waiting for her.
' Lucky Melanie! '
....
Evening, cruise banquet hall:
All were dressed and busy acting high and mighty or busy extending their connections.
Elites!
The birthday was on Sunday, until then from that day evening, would be just simple parties and the whole cruise service was planned.
Spa and Grooming- a whole of 3 hours on Saturday morning.
Theatre- movies: 3 shows- one for children, teens, and adults.
Bridge, beer pong, scavenger hunts, bowling, a teenage fun game (only children allowed), and a few more games.
There was a ball dance set for Saturday night and the birthday celebration continued till the early morning of Sunday.
Today was just the banquet and the games for the teenagers as Spencer had it set up.
....
Mel entered the banquet as she was hungry.
' If I had a choice, I never would've had to see so many people. * wu...wu...* ' Then she frowned, if her dad was present she would literally be hiding behind him. Just smiling and greeting people he greeted, following him.
She took a deep breath and got inside.
...
The bright light hit her, " FU*K! " she muttered, under her breath.
There were so many people and why the hell was they dressed like that???
Every man wore a business suit and every woman was busy discussing her dress to the one beside her. Everyone were so well-groomed and ostentatious.
Suddenly she felt a tug at her hand and someone caught it, breaking her from her stupor.
" Come, let's get you something to eat. You must be famished. " Brenden's voice cooled her down and she hid behind him.
' Ha! At last! I can just stay invisible!!! '
....
The chatter went on...
The Heike family and the Linale family were seated along with the Whites.
Mel kept fidgeting with her hands just to avoid feeling awkward between the elite families.
She sat beside Brenden and Skylar while Scarlet was beside Brenden.
" So, what I was saying is that you should get Stephanie engaged to Harrington. You see, they just look so great together, already! " Grandma Heike said cheerfully.
She was a white head in her 70's, who still had the energy to scheme and be calculative. What a woman!
Mel chuckled involuntarily as she heard that Lucas was to be engaged to Steph!
' Never in two worlds would those two be compatible with each other! '
" Is something funny, Ms. White? " the old- lady asked and suddenly the entire table tensed up.
Not under any condition would they piss off the old lady if they wanted to stay alive.
Mel looked around, ' Who was Ms. White, why haven't I met her? I never knew that the family had a sister-- ' she wondered when she heard.
" You're the 'Ms. White' she is talking about. " Brenden whispered.
Her eyes got teary from fear as she realized his words, " I'm sorry, I didn't do it intentionally. I apologize if you feel offended, ma'am. " she said instantly, ignoring the tense atmosphere.
The old lady looked at her sternly, Mel looked down as she couldn't stand the lady's stare.
" You- " she gestured for her bodyguard.
Before she could say something Brenden got up and pulled Mel behind him in an instant.
Tensing up the situation, more than it already was.
" Get away from her. " he hissed as Skylar stood up to support him take his little sister.
" Come, let's go," he said to her slowly and held her hand, ignoring the others.
" You know, you have all the power to finish me by any means and that's not a surprise. But, the truth is that you're just weak, you can't even hear out to other people, that you end up deciding their entire fate! " Mel snapped before walking out with Brenden.
The entire hall fell silent, no one had ever, EVER, raised their voice to her except for her granddaughter. And that girl had just blown up the situation like that.
Erick stood up from his chair at last, all this while he sat to see what those two grandkids of his would do against the Heike old lady.
" Well, what is a banquet without some drama? Let's resume eating. "
....
After getting out, Mel pushed off Brenden's hand and ran up the deck to her room.
" FU*K!!! What have I done? I never should have come *sob* never should have been there *sob* never should have been alive!!! " she blabbered as she sobbed.
' You were the one who acted high and mighty in front of a woman who looked so scary that one more glare would've literally been my death!!! Why didn't you run away when you had the chance? ' her subconscious snapped, crying her heart out... out if fear!
Mel sat up and wiped her face. She was not a person who cried all the time, this was very new for her. She never used to cry so that her dad didn't see or notice that she was sad. Not because she didn't want to, regardless, she just didn't...
She chuckled, " What the hell have you done Melanie Lambert? "
" Nothing. " a deep, smoky voice spoke from near the shadows, scaring her out of her wits.
A shiver ran down her spine and she jumped off the bed.
The lights were put on, making her dark cabin, visible.
" Remember me? " he asked, she frowned as the lights, literally blinded her and her tears didn't help much!
" Who the hell are you? Why the hell do people come to me? It creeps the sh*t of me! " she screamed and wiped her face off any tears.
"The same old creepy mask, the scar. Hello, Mr. T. " she snapped and went to drink some water.
" Came here to meet me while I'm still alive? "