Realization

Erika

Knock! Knock!

I awoke to the sound of a knock; someone was at my room's door and was very impatient. I looked around for the first few seconds to remind my brain where I was. It was my first morning of freedom, and the realization made me smile.

Knock! Knock!

The person knocked again and sucked in the air, relieving my frustration. "Coming!" I yelled at the person as I dragged my feet to the door, swinging it open. Alexis greeted me with her familiar green eyes. He was standing by the door, smiling warmly. His eyes reminded me of someone, and I wanted to ask him, but I buried the question in my mind.

"Yes?" I asked nervously; I did not know the man and was unaware of his behavior, so I needed to be cautious. "Ms. Carter, it is past twelve, and I am checking in on you. Since you seem fine, I would like to ask if you would like to join me for brunch," he invited me softly, concern in his voice as he fidgeted with his fingers behind his back.

"Yeah, why not? But let me freshen up." I accepted his invitation without hesitation; the man gave off a pleasant vibe, so I tried to give in for once. After receiving the answer, his smile turned into a grin, and he left.

I locked the door, walked to the bathroom to complete my morning routine, and then left my cabin. When I join Alexits for brunch, I notice a serious expression on his face. He was lost in his thoughts and had already spoken on the table, but he had not touched anything on his plate. His expression changed when his gaze fell on me.

"Thanks for waiting," I chirped while grabbing a seat beside him. The table was already full of various dishes. So, without hesitation, I stuffed my plate. "If you want to order something else, you can," he offered, pouring a glass of orange juice and placing it next to my plate.

"No, I am fine; there is already a lot, and I am afraid I will not be able to finish everything," I replied, sipping my orange juice. For a few seconds, we said nothing and ate our food in peace. Only the clatter of cutlery could have been listening.

"Would you like to attend a banquet with me, Ms. Carter?" he asked out of the blue. I looked at him, my brow furrowed with confusion. "Why are you being so nice and generous with me? Is this some kind of prank or trap? Are you going to drag me into some sort of illegal activities?" I asked, impatiently.

I was suspicious because the man's behavior towards me seemed too good to be true. "It is Master's order; you are a guest on his cruise, so he instructed me to take care of you and accompany you for two days...after that, you are on your own, Ms. Carter," he explained, his expression cold and his voice devoid of emotion. I could not decide whether the man was irritated or just professional.

"A guest? Is not he being overly generous?" I mocked. "I am just a possession for him, his property, his slave," I said with a hint of rage and rolled my eyes. I remembered Mr. King's treatment of me in the suite.

Alexis, on the other hand, was eerily quiet. His face was expressionless as he clutched the spoon so tightly that his fingers turned white. Anger and coldness were visible in his emerald eyes.

"Yes, you are Ms. Carter; Master paid a large sum for you. But, did he use you after that...?No! Even when you are powerless and on the verge of death, he provides you with food and shelter, and you-" he retorted angrily, trailing off the final word. His response left me speechless. I felt ashamed because I had nothing to say in response.

"Master had a deeper perspective on things than your little barin can. Anyways, only two days Ms. Carter and you will be free after that," he stated turning his attention to his plate. He did not say anything else, and the silence between us felt awkward and suffocating.

We finished our meal, and the only sound in the suite was clattering. Alexis left his cutlery and wiped his hands and face with a napkin. "Thanks for the company, Ms. Carter," he snapped at me, I could tell by his voice.

"I would like to attend that banquet, but I do not have a dress to wear," I muttered softly. He was half raised from his chair and about to leave, but my words stopped him. He took his seat again and looked at me with amusement in his eyes.

"Do not worry, Ms. Carter. I will arrange for that, as well as some other necessities. "Be ready at 7:30 p.m.," he said smirking. I could see a glimmer of victory in his eyes. Cocky bitch!

I exited the dining room while cursing him and returned to my room.

As promised, Alexis sent a maid to deliver a dress, makeup, and heels in the evening. The maid also helped me get ready before leaving the suite. I looked in the mirror and smiled warmly. The black dress with a pink slit flare fit perfectly on my body. It came with a pearl necklace set, beautiful pink gloves, and transparent heels.

I must say that everything looked gorgeous on me. I was lost in admiring myself when I heard the doorbell ring again. It was after 7:30, so I opened the door idly and found Alexis standing there. He wore a black tuxedo suit with a bow. He looked stunningly handsome. His hair was combed back and he smiled at me through his emerald eyes.

He offered me his arm, and I grabbed it without hesitation. He led me to the banquet hall. "You looked beautiful," he complimented softly, and I muttered a thank you in response.

"Stick to me all the time, no matter what, and do not drink anything anyone offers you. "Do not leave your drink and food unattended, and notify me immediately if anything suspicious occurs or you feel uneasy," he warned as we descended a luxurious flight of stairs.

He kept a wide smile on his face throughout our conversation. We soon blended in, and he began introducing me to people one by one; I faked a smile as I met each person. After a while, we seized a table in the hall's corner.

"Enjoy your food and have a good time," he wished me as he left the table to attend to some business. I sat there and observed my surroundings. The thick mat of the hall felt soft under my feet, and the aroma of fresh flowers mixed with food provided a comforting atmosphere. The soft, low music made the atmosphere more inviting, even for a stranger like me.

However, I could tell Alexis had a reputation among these elite people. They respected him and paid close attention to his every word. His aura emitted power that controlled other people's behavior, which was easily identifiable by his actions. Many beautiful women asked him to dance, but he politely declined. He sent a server my way and handed me a glass of Champion.

I felt suffocated, so I exited the banquet area and went over to the balcony side for some fresh air. The sea salty air hit my face as my hair floated in the wind. It makes me feel lighter, which helps me clear my mind.

This life is extraordinary and powerful, but I must avenge those who adore me and find my way back. I darted at the dark sky, my mind racing with thoughts.

"So you are here! I think.... I think-" Alexis huffed, panting, and his face was filled with fear. "What do you think? "Why are you worried?" I inquired, a frown on my face. He didn't trusted enough.

"Nothing, Let's have dinner," he masked his emotion immediately. He turned around without answering my questions, and I could not help but follow him. We soon approached a massive dining table with numerous chairs. All of the guests had already been announced, but the head chair was still vacant, which I assumed would remain so.

Alexis, being the nice gentleman he is, pulled a chair for me, which I gracefully accepted. We quickly became immersed in our dinner, and the servers kept bringing various types of delicacies one after the other.

People eating and chatting marily. This life is completely different than it was a few weeks ago, and the realization hit me like a brick.

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Erika's dress, heels, gloves and necklace