ISLAND LOVE

CHAPTER 1

“Whose turn is it to serve Mr Liam today?” I heard one of the girls whisper behind me.

It's the third day on the cruise ship, and I’m yet to see the famous Liam Ashford.

As much as I wanted to mind my business, I’ll admit I’m curious to meet the young man who instills fear in everyone around him. Isn’t the good type of fear, not the one out of respect, it’s the one from his extremely abusive behavior.

“Maya, you’re up, go get yourself ready, you will be serving Mr Liam this morning,” the head chef instructed, not glancing in my direction.

Be careful what you wish for, it was no joke of a statement. Why did I just think of seeing him, and the next second I'm asked to serve him?

I wanted to swear and curse my faith, but there was no point in doing that, I mean, what could be the worst he could possibly do, yell at me?

If yelling at someone could actually kill a person, I would be ten feet in the ground by now.

“She’s definitely cooked. With that attitude of hers, she’s definitely getting in trouble with Mr Liam,” one of my co-workers whispered.

I heard her, but pretended not to, I mean she didn't say it to my face.

“She'd better fix that attitude before showing her face in front of him.” Another one chipped in.

“Maya,” the head chef called, “you’re taking this up first. And remember, no eye contact, and put a smile on that damn face of yours,” he added with a tone that left no room for argument.

“Yes sir, “ I responded, straightening my uniform, as I made sure my bun was properly in place and no strand of hair was flying around.

Heaving a sigh, I picked up the tray and walked up to the dining hall. The dining hall was big, with all of his friends who are as prominent as he is seated around, a huge chandelier hung from the ceiling, giving the room its gold glow.

“If you’re done staring, will you bring whatever you have with you to the table,” A voice said, jolting me from my thoughts. It wasn’t pleasant, more of sarcasm and disdain.

Rushing over to the table with my face flushed and face down, I quickly place the tray, arranging the food one after the other, “How foolish are you? Aren't you supposed to start over here?” the same voice that had spoken earlier said.

“What was his problem? What difference does it make if I start at this end of the table or the other,” I thought.

I raised my head slowly, trying to identify the face of the restless person, who wouldn’t let me do my job in peace.

My eyes locked with his, it wasn’t difficult to miss, every TV station and billboard had his face. Every corner you turned on the cruise ship had a large picture frame of him. “Hurry up and bring the food this way before I render you eyeless. As it seems, your eyes are your biggest problem and you can’t seem to concentrate when you have them.”

“What!!!” I gasped out.

But my response was overshadowed by the laughter of his friends seated there,” You’re right Liam, I think her eyes are too big for her head, taking them off will surely enhance her features.” One of his friends commented.

At this point, I was already boiling with anger, but I couldn’t even react, cause hell I need the money, and so far this is the only place that is promising.

Ignoring their laughter and nasty comments, I walked up to where the brat was seated at the other end of the table with the food and placed it right in front of him.

Without hesitation, I turned to leave, cause who knows what I’d do if I stayed there any longer, “And where do you think you’re going?” He said, stopping me on my track.

What the hell is his problem?

Feigning a smile,” I’m headed back to the kitchen, s..i..r,” it was so difficult to refer to him as sir, he doesn’t even deserve it.

“Huh, what did you say? I mean the last part, I didn’t quite hear you,” he said, resting his back on his chair, like he was waiting for me to make a mistake so he could bounce on me.

“I…I…I need to be in the kitchen si..r,”

“Hmmm, that’s much better, but you ain’t going anywhere. Come stand beside me, you’re needed here more than you’re needed there.”

Inhaling deeply, I tried to control my anger,” What would you like me to do Mr Liam?” I asked with the brightest smile I could manage.

“I need you to entertain me, my friends and I are bored. Do a little dance.”

“I’m afraid I can’t dance Mr Liam,”

“Are you trying to disrespect me?” He asked, his voice slightly raised.

“Not at all Mr Liam, I’m just not a dancer, and rather than being entertained, you’ll be irritated.”

“Wow, are you that terrible at dancing,” he said bursting out in rolls of laughter. “Did you hear that Paul?” He called out to one of his friends who was seated by his right-hand side.

“I did, and I must say, I’m intrigued. I’m willing to see her moves.” He said, sipping from his glass.

“Me too. You know what, let’s place a bet, if she makes us laugh, I’ll have your girlfriend for the night.”

At first, I thought I was dreaming, and had to bite my tongue to make sure I wasn’t, “isn’t that such a higher wager on my path. What if she doesn’t? What am I getting in return?”

Wait!!!

I can’t believe the so-called Paul guy is considering it.

What the fuck is wrong with these rich people?

Is a girl just a game to them?

“You’ll get my yellow Lamborghini,” Liam said without any hint of sarcasm in his face or tone.

“Deal,” Paul said with a half smile.

“Yay,” a female voice yelled from beside Paul, I presume she’s Paul’s girlfriend, and from the looks of it, she’s very pleased with the arrangement.

At this point, I believe everyone in this room with me is a sick psychopath, there’s no doubt in that.

“Alright server, the deal is set… Start dancing.”

“I’m sorry, but I won’t do that.”

“Then you’re fired, and you can’t be on my cruise. There’s no place for insolent people here.”

Wait!

He’s joking right…

We’re in the middle of the Caribbean Ocean, with only this cruise boat to take us back home.

I stood frozen, staring at him in disgust, trying to fathom how I had landed myself in this mess.

Taking off my shoes, I stretched out my legs and started dancing.

There was no music playing or anything. Just me swinging my hands and legs to their mocking laughter.

Liam laughed so hard that I could see a tear escaping his eye.

My anger boiled, he was the reason I’m being humiliated, he was the reason a table of almost twenty people is staring at me like I’m a toy that could be played with.

I danced behind his chair, holding it for support, as my eye caught the bowl of soup on the table.

Without considering my actions, I knocked the bowl slightly and watched as the entire contents of it landed on his lap.

The effect was satisfying,” Youuuuuu….” He shouted, his voice resounding in the entire dining hall as he sprang from his chair.

“Ooh my goodness, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen, I was only entertaining you… I’m so sorry,” I added, dusting off the soup from his trousers.

“I knew you fucken did it intentionally you low life bitch,” he yelled pushing me away from him.

It was satisfying seeing the embarrassment in his eyes. The entire table that was just laughing a few seconds ago was now quiet as a graveyard.

It was fun watching someone else get humiliated but not one of their own?

Jerks!!!

I was about to turn away to leave when he pulled me by my arm, the next instant an entire bowl of porridge soup was dripping from my head down to my face.

He didn’t stop there, the wine, the sauce, everything that was liquid, he was just hurling them at me.

My legs quivered, my eyes burned from the hotness of the food.

I pulled my arm from his grip, almost knocking him into his chair, as I eyed him in disgust, before running out of the hall.