His Devious Rule

Alvin climbed the stairs faster than he could even think of. His heart hammered in his chest, his body shook in anger. Pursing his lips to a thin line, he skipped steps and reached the sixth floor in the blink of an eye. 

This was the reason why he wasn't ready to let her go on the ship. He hadn't expected she would attract jerks so soon. In the past, he was growling at the men and women who bullied her for being chubby and simple. Now his Little Donut was attracting real trouble. 

Alvin saw two out of three men entering a room. He wasn't sure if Anya was there. Without thinking, he ran towards the room keeping his eyes fixated at the point to avoid any confusion due to the identical entrances. 

When he went close to the room, he heard muffles and scuffles coming from the room. He tried to open the door pressing the doorknob but to no avail. He knocked on the door but there was no response how loud he slammed on the door. The sobbing and whimpering sound increased, running his mind wilder. His heart shuddered and he did what he felt right without having a second thought. He kicked the door open.

'Thud.'

Alvin rushed inside the room, "Little…" He froze at the door. He took a second to grasp the situation. he looked at the three men painfully groaning on the floor. He followed their line of sight and caught Anya flexing her wrist as she turned to him. As if he wasn't the person who panicked a second back or enraged to bury those men into the ground, he stood indifferently, morphing his stormy mood to a day of winter, cold to the bones.

He had forgotten for a moment that his Little Donut wasn't as delicate as she looks. Her self-defense skills were commendable. It was good that those three gym bodies weren't as strong as they looked.

'I have a feisty wife.' He mused looking at her. She looked cool with that sly smirk on her face. Well, she was too courageous thinking only three were there. But they could gang up with other men on the ship and attack her.

Oh, what is he there for? The bodyguard's job is to protect. 

A man in short pants threatened her, "You don't know who my father is." There was a pain in his tone.

Anya snickered, "I am not interested to know either." 

Why should she bow down if it's a big name or small? 

She couldn't understand how people could use their parents' names to threaten others. Was riding on coattails so fun?

"We will sue you." Another one tried to frighten her while holding his painful jaw. He grimaced after speaking.

Anya rolled her eyes as she went towards the door, "Bring it on." She was going to fetch the corridor security footage in case those three dared to go and complain.

Alvin didn't move from the door when she stood in front of him and craned her neck to look at him. Her head faintly slanted, he knew she was trying to read him and he asked, "Vented out?"

Anya: "..."

Was she so easy to read? 

Though those three men followed her, tried to touch her, and invited her to the room, she lost her cool easily because she was already pissed off. So she went inside the room, thrashed them, and cooled off. 

Well, it was also necessary to teach those scums a lesson that when a girl says no, it's a 'NO.' That doesn't mean that they could continue to harass her.

Seeing her embarrassed, Alvin knew he was right. In a way, it was good that those men provoked her as that helped him escape the paws of the kitten… (correction) lioness.

She knew Alvin wouldn't do as those men did. Yet she threatened him with a dark smile, "My dear husband, don't you dare try anything on me. I might make you regret it for the rest of your life." She patted his shoulder, then pushed his shoulder to make way for herself. 

Although she was warning him, Alvin was so surprised hearing her call him 'My dear husband.' So he let her push him, gave her the way, and followed her to the room. A silly smile hung at the corner of his lips repeating 'My dear husband' in his mind. 

He had thought working by her side was fun as she doesn't show displeasure and try to help him or learn from him. Now, her fury and her actions due to the same was fun too. More than that, he knew she was trying to avoid conflict between them. 

They were at the stairs when he realized he was smiling like a fool and put on a stoic face immediately. 

Meanwhile, Anya was convincing herself to make do with the situation for three days. After three days, he won't be able to control her. She will escape from his hands as soon as the ship reaches the port. She didn't throw her anger on him because of the same. She was feeling like she was using him for her benefit and fleeing after her work. Though Bernard and he pulled her into the mess, she assumed Alvin was with her due to Bernard, she was still guilty of her plan.

A bleak smile appeared on her face. Linus was right. She was truly ungrateful. When did she turn so heartless? She wasn't such a complex woman, she was always simple but this general-secretary job was turning her into what she wasn't. She wasn't even sure whether she should embrace this change or be what she was.

Lost in thought, Anya tripped on the stairs "Ahh…" Her hand reached for the railing to hold.

Alvin felt his heart leap to his throat when he barely managed to clutch her dress, Thanks to his quick reflex. Anya was able to balance herself with his support and her hold. She was trying to stand when she winced in pain and involuntarily held his arm when he went closer. 

He was about to breathe in relief and chide her when she held him tight. He saw her face twist in pain, "What's wrong?" He turned her towards him, holding her arms firmly, yet gentle on her skin.

Anya bit her lips looking at her ankle, "I- I think I twisted my ankle." She lifted her head to ask him to help her downstairs. Her words stuck in her thought when she looked at him. The pain was replaced with guilt. She chose to bear the pain to avoid feeling more guilty. 

"Thank you." She thanked him for holding her in time. She left his hand and used a rail for support. She limped to the next step slowly.

He couldn't believe the woman who thrashed the three men like stomping on a cockroach, tripped herself and twisted her ankle. His eyes were on her gradually swelling and reddened ankle when she turned around and took a step. In a brisk move, he scooped her to his arms and heard her gasp as she held his shoulder.

"I- I can walk." She mewled. The help she thought was just to use his hand. She wouldn't have asked him to carry her. When her finger unawarely clutched his jacket, she flustered and took her hand away without showing it on her face.

Alvin glanced at her. He sees women putting on drama to get his attention. He was giving her full attention yet she didn't want it. "Who will do the work if you break your head with a fall?" He deadpanned. His cold voice rang against his actions.

Anya: "..."

She pursed her lips looking at his side profile. There was only one way to avoid feeling guilty. Alvin has to let her go. "Alvin…" He glanced at her, steadily descending the steps. She hesitantly spoke, "Once the ship reaches the port… I-I will go to my place." 

Alvin turned away in silence. He alighted the last step and walked towards their room. By the time the ship reaches the country port, Harper will get to know who changed his plan. In Harper's view, she escaped with a hard disk and ruined his plan so he will hunt for her everywhere. It will be far more dangerous for her outside, "No." He didn't explain to her thinking she might worry.

Anya: "..."

Was he thinking she will put Bernard, Linus, and Alvin in danger after she leaves?

He doesn't even know she is an officer so she couldn't understand why he wasn't letting her go. 

It could be because of Harper, but once the ship reaches the port, won't Bernard take action and capture him? If not, her plans were in the process to stop Harper. She can't just sit in his mansion and wait for the problems to be solved.

Arguing with him or forcing him would turn things ugly between them. Breathing deep and long, she accepted to live in guilt for using him. 'I am sorry.' She apologized to him in her mind.

Alvin could feel her mood down again. He couldn't understand how easily her mood swings. She was down when they left the mansion, then she cheered up on the flight, then she was angry and now she is gloomy. He was aware he takes half the responsibility.

He considered asking what's wrong and then assumed it might be because of pain. "Little Donut…" She turned around with a sweet hum but he was clueless about what to say. 

Endure it? I will call the doctor? Let me check? You will be fine?

Seeing her patiently waiting for him to speak, he chose to say an entirely different thing in a sarcastic tone, "I have only two hands." Then he looked at the door.

Anya snorted in her mind and pressed the door handle before pushing it open. She was expecting him to let her sit on the couch or bed but he was lying her on the bed as though putting her to sleep.

He saw her eyes widen in big rounds and fathomed he was doing it wrong. He lifted her again, shifted further up, and made her lean on the bedpost. He heard her thank him when he sat on the bed at her legs. He held her leg and tried to remove her high heel pumps. 

Anya felt her heart skip a beat when he gently lifted her foot and reached for her shoe. Suddenly a pang of guilt slapped her face. She pulled her leg away and blurted out, "I will manage."

She didn't want his any more help. She hoped he would stay indifferent to her, ignore her, and let her struggle. She couldn't handle his considerate side. She wasn't ready to live with a mountain of remorse or make another grave mistake.

However, will he be able to understand her? 

Or will she be able to recognize the intention behind his actions?

They forgot they need clear communication.