Chapter 194
Elle’s POV
I was still fuming from my encounter with that arrogant captain when I noticed two uniformed crew members approaching our fishing spot. Sophia and Abigail looked up from their lines, curious expressions on their faces.
“Wonder what those two want,” Abigail murmured, reeling in her line slightly.
The first mate and second mate, judging by their uniforms walked directly toward me. My stomach twisted with unease. After what had just happened with the captain, I wasn’t in the mood for any more “special attention.”
“Ms. West,” the first mate addressed me formally, his tone respectful but carrying an undertone that made me nervous. “The captain sends his apologies for the earlier… misunderstanding. He would like to invite you to join him for dinner tonight as a gesture of goodwill.”
My face went pale, then flushed red with anger. The nerve of that man! After trapping me in his room and trying to kiss me, now he wanted to have dinner?
“No,” I said firmly, crossing my arms. “I don’t like dealing with people who have complicated agendas.”
“You’ve met the captain?‘ Sophia asked.
“Briefly,” I said through gritted teeth. “And I’m not interested in extending the acquaintance.”
The second mate stepped forward, seeming to sense my hostility. “I believe there’s been a misunderstanding, Ms. West. The captain isn’t requesting a private dinner. He’s personally prepared fresh fish soup for all the passengers on board. He’s inviting everyone to join him in the main dining hall.”
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. Damn it. I’d walked right into another one of his word games, making assumptions and looking foolish in the process. The captain was clearly more clever than I’d given him credit for.
Around us, other passengers had overheard and were already expressing enthusiasm excited about receiving personal attention from what they assumed was a werewolf captain.
the captain’s gesture. The human passengers seemed especially
“The captain is currently in the galley, personally overseeing the preparation of this special meal,” the first mate continued. ‘He hopes all passengers will join him to sample his culinary skills.”
Sophia nudged me gently. “Elle, you’re being a bit harsh. It sounds like a nice gesture for everyone.”
Abigail nodded in agreement. “And I have to admit, I’m curious about this mysterious captain everyone’s been talking about. Plus, fresh fish soup sounds
amazing.‘
I was trapped.
‘Please, Ms. West,” the first mate said earnestly. “The captain has put considerable effort into this meal. Perhaps you could find it in your heart to accept his gesture of hospitality, given the work he’s done for everyone aboard.”
My ears burned with embarrassment. There was no graceful way out of this without looking like a complete bitch in front of my friends and the other
passengers.
“Fine,” I said stiffly. “Please thank the captain for his… thoughtfulness. My friends and I will attend.”
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Chapter 194
“Excellent, the second mate beamed. ‘Dinner will be served in one hour in the main dining hall
As the crew members walked away, Abigail immediately turned to me with a knowing look. “Okay, spill. What’s really going on with you and this captain?
‘There’s definitely more to this story, Sophia added.
“It’s nothing,‘ I insisted, but even I could hear how unconvincing I sounded. “I just don’t like mysterious authority figures who seem to know more about me
than they should.”
“Fair enough, Sophia said, though she didn’t look entirely convinced.
We made our way toward the dining hall, joining a stream of excited passengers.
The dining hall was already bustling with activity when we arrived.
We found a table near the edge of the room, and I deliberately chose a seat that gave me a good view of the exits. Call it paranoia, but after my encounter
with the captain, I wanted escape routes mapped out.
The soup, when it arrived, was admittedly delicious. Rich and flavorful, with perfectly tender fish and an aromatic broth that warmed me from the inside
out.
“This is incredible, Abigail said after her first spoonful.
Before I could process this fully, one of the kitchen staff approached our table with an elegant platter. “Compliments of the captain, the server announced, setting down what looked like perfectly prepared Norwegian salmon. “Fresh caught this morning.”
Abigail’s eyes widened as she examined the fish. “Elle, this is deep–sea Norwegian salmon. It lives at depths of over thirty thousand feet. Finding it this fresh, this far from its native waters…” She trailed off, shaking her head.
“What?” I demanded.
‘It’s almost impossible. And prohibitively expensive.”
I looked around the dining hall and noticed that while every table had different dishes, the variety and obvious quality of the food at our table was
– we were getting treatment reserved for the most important guests imaginable. exceptional. We weren’t just getting special treatment
“This is getting really weird,‘ I muttered.
Sophia leaned closer, ‘Elle, I think we need to finish eating and get out of here. Whatever’s going on, this level of attention isn’t random.”
Just as I was about to agree, my phone rang,
I answered to hear Susan’s cheerful voice. “Elle, the ship is docking in about an hour for supplies. Malcolm and I have decided to get off and explore the city for a few days. He’s been telling me about all these wonderful places he wants to show me.”
*That sounds amazing, Mom,” I said, genuinely happy for her. “You two should absolutely go and have fun.”
‘Are you sure you’ll be okay on the ship without us?” Susan asked, though I could hear the excitement in her voice.
“Of course! This is exactly what you need – some time to enjoy yourself with Malcolm. Actually, let me transfer some money to your account right now for
the trip.”
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“Oh, Elle, you don’t need to-
“Mom, I want to. Consider it my contribution to your romantic getaway,” I said, already pulling up my banking app. “Go have dinner at nice restaurants, buy something pretty, whatever makes you happy.”
After a brief protest, Susan accepted gratefully. “Thank you, sweetheart. Malcolm is going to be so surprised when I can actually treat him to something nice
for once.
I looked at my friends after hanging up. “My mother and Malcolm are getting off in Vancouver for a romantic mini–vacation. I’m really happy for them.”
An hour later, most of the passengers had disembarked to explore the city, leaving the ship feeling eerily quiet. Sophia, Abigail, and I decided to stay aboard, settling on the deck with my tablet to watch some shows while they played chess nearby.
The calm was shattered when my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:
“Ms. West. I wonder if you might be interested in information about the whereabouts of the person who killed Tony?”
My blood ran cold as I stared at the message.
What the hell?
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
