ISLAND LOVE

I was dead on my feet.

After a full day of playing "personal maid" to Lord Arrogant Himself, I could barely lift my legs as I lay on my bed. Every muscle in my body ached. My arms, my back, even my eyelids feel heavy. 

But worse than the physical exhaustion was how humiliated I felt.

"Who the hell ends up a personal maid in the middle of the damn ocean?" I said, screaming into my pillow.

I didn't even take off my shoes. I just lay there, face in the pillow, muttering every curse I could think of. Liam had made sure my entire day was one long reel of humiliation: draw his bath, stand outside, serve his food, massage his stupid rich-boy shoulders, run back and forth like a servant from a soap opera.

I swore, if I had one ounce of magic, I'd teleport his smug self into a shark's mouth.

The next morning, I thought maybe, just maybe, I could avoid him. I tried sneaking through the crew corridor, eyes darting left and right like I was evading a warlord. 

It didn't work. He sent a staff member to fetch me like I was his little pet. No escape.

But then came the announcement: "Due to a minor atmospheric disturbance, guests are advised to remain indoors this evening. A storm warning has been issued."

Finally, A storm. Maybe the universe was on my side for once.

Nope.

The next announcement came thirty minutes later: "To lighten the mood during the storm, tonight's event will be a themed party in the main ballroom. Attendance is optional but encouraged."

I blinked.

They wanted to throw a party... during a storm?

Of course, rich people.

I got dressed anyway. Not because I wanted to party, but because Liam would have dragged me there either way. I wasn't needed in the kitchen, and I can't stay in my room either.

I wore a casual blue gown, not my regular uniform, nothing unique about the gown. 

I walked into the ballroom, and I could feel eyes on me from every angle. Not admiration. No, this was the kind of attention you get when people think they own you, or rather the 'You don't belong here' look. 

And Liam? Well, he was in his element.

Sitting on a velvet couch like he owned the world, drink in hand, surrounded by people laughing too hard at his not-so-funny jokes. He looked up, spotted me, and smiled that wicked little smile like he already had a new game planned.

I hated that smile.

"Come here, Maya," he called, loud enough for nearby guests to hear.

I hesitated. His tone said 'come here like a good girl,' and that tone? Oh, it did something to my temper.

I walked over, arms crossed. "Yes, sir?"

"Could you bring me another drink? You're technically still on duty, aren't you?"

People turned to look. I felt their judgment, the way they acknowledged his action. Like they're telling him, 'that's right Liam, put her in her place'.

He was humiliating me again, and he knew it.

"I'm not a waitress," I said, keeping my voice even. "I'm also not your maid anymore, if we're going by hourly contracts. This is a party, not your personal circus."

The air in the room shifted. Everyone went "Ooh" like middle schoolers watching a cafeteria fight.

Liam's eyes darkened. He stood slowly, taking a step toward me, towering, but I didn't budge. If I was going down, I was going down swinging.

"You don't get to talk to me like that," he hissed. "I'm your employer."

"And I'm a human being," I snapped. "The fact that you signed a paycheck doesn't mean you get to parade me like some toy in front of your little yacht club."

His jaw tightened. "Come with me. Now." He said.

I didn't move. I was still riding the high of calling him out. But the way he clenched his glass, like it might shatter in his palm, made me think twice.

I took a step forward, but before I could move further, he pulled me by the wrist and dragged me out of the ballroom. 

Dragging me back to his suite, he pushed me inside, slammed the door, and turned to face me.

"What the hell was that?" he snapped.

"What? You mean standing up for myself?" I shot back. "You humiliated me in front of everyone. Again. What did you expect me to do, curtsey?"

"I expect a little respect," he growled.

"And I expect basic human decency, but hey, we can't all get what we want. You give respect, you get one as well."

Before he could fire back, the ship jerked.

Not just a little sway. A full-on crack followed by a violent jolt that sent both of us stumbling. His lamp fell off the table. I heard a glass shatter in the distance.

"What the heck!!" He said, running to the balcony of his room.

The intercom blared: "All passengers are to return to their cabins immediately. We've experienced a mechanical issue. Please remain calm."

Another jolt occurred. This time stronger.

Liam pulled out his phone and dialed furiously. "Get someone to my suite now. I want a full update."

He hung up and looked at me like I should be impressed.

I sat on the bed, shaking both my legs from anxiety. Soon the bed was becoming uncomfortable, so I walked to the balcony to see what was going on.

The ship was already sinking.

I could hear screams and yelling from a distance.

I paced the room. "Where are your 'people' now, huh?"

"They'll come."

"No, Liam. They won't." I pointed to the now-flooded hallway just outside the door. "Everyone's trying to save themselves. No one's coming to rescue your self-absorbed ass."

"I paid them," he said. "They're contractually obligated."

I laughed bitterly. "Right. Because contracts matter when the ship is sinking. You really think you own everyone don't you?" I scoffed.

Minutes passed. Water began creeping under the door.

He was rich, and I had a little hope someone would actually come, even though I said otherwise. 

But more time passed and no one showed up.

Five minutes.

Ten.

I turned to him. "Still think they're coming?"

He hesitated.

"That's what I thought," I snapped. "You can drown here with your pride, or we can both get the hell out of here and save ourselves."

I stood still, I could see the panic in his eyes. He didn't move, he just looked at the phone, like he was waiting for it to ring. Or maybe someone was going to jump out of it and save him.

I shook my head, and walked to his closet, pulled out a coat jacket, draped it around the summer gown I have on, and ran out.

I didn't wait for him again. Obviously, no one is coming.

The halls were in chaos, passengers screaming, alarms blaring, and staff nowhere to be found. By the time I got to the lifeboat deck, it was too late. The last raft had already pulled away, all the rich folks gone. Just workers like me left.

I ran to where the life jackets were kept, but there were no more life jackets. No crew. Just me. Alone.

Well, almost.

I turned back, half-running toward the nearest stairwell, when I spotted Liam. 

He had finally left his suite, but rather than jumping into the water before the ship finally sank, he was clinging to the side railing like a damn lifeline.

"What the hell are you doing?" I shouted over the wind and rain. "Let go and jump!"

"I can't!" he shouted back. 

"Why? You'd go down with the ship if you don't jump off it." I yelled back.

"I...I can't swim!"

I stopped cold.

I ran towards him, "You're kidding me."

He shook his head, terrified.

"You're rich, on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and you never learned how to swim?!"

"I didn't think I'd need to!"

I cursed under my breath. "Unbelievable."

I turned to go.

The ship shook again, throwing him off the railing.

I fell to the floor, but got up quickly after, turning around to leave.

Then I stopped.

I turned to look at him, he was now at the corner of the room, legs to his chest. Terrified like a fish.

My heart screamed to leave him. My brain screamed to run. But something else... something dumber... told me to go back.

So I did.

"Okay," I said, panting, grabbing his arm. "Then hold onto me. And for God's sake, paddle or fake it. Just don't drag me down. Or I'll kill you before the water does."

He didn't answer. Just nodded.

God, I'm a fool. What are we? Jack and Rose from Titanic?

I held his hand, running to the edge of the ship, "Jump," I yelled. 

He hesitated for a split second, but my grip around him was tighter, I pulled him, and we both jumped into the water together.

SPLASHHH......