His Devious Rule

Alvin, who was wasting time in the bedroom while waiting for Anya to complete her bath, suddenly heard a beep. There is no mobile network for him to receive messages. Yet he turned to the desk where he had kept his mobile. The screen was lit. 

He doesn't have a habit of keeping an alarm or any reminder over the mobile. Anyway, he chose to check it. He grabbed the mobile and checked the notification bar. He found nothing, he looked through mobile. At first, he saw no change until his eyes fell on a new icon in the app list.

He could easily guess Anya had installed a simple interface application wirelessly. He clicked it open to check it out. There were a few buttons. He read them. The first line was 'In the ensuite,' There were three buttons under it, 'He', 'She' and 'Both.' Next line there was a big button, 'Loop Bedroom.' Under it, 'Resume All'

"Smart," Alvin commended her efforts and problem-solving mind. If both of them enter the bathroom, they have to click on the 'Both.' They could speak anything while the people behind the camera will see what Anya will show them. 

'Loop Bedroom' He could guess, it might be for masking the bedroom cameras if they needed to talk about anything in the bedroom.

If in case Harper's men doubt them, those men could enter their cabin when he and Anya won't be in the cabin. If they resume the camera functionality while leaving the cabin, those men will see them live and assume everything was working fine.

A pop-up notification appeared on the screen. It was a message from Anya. [Click on buttons, one after the other. I am testing.] He did as said and saw  another pop-up message, [Thank you.] Alvin shook his head in resignation. She was doing all the work and thanking him.

Despite all this preparation, Alvin knew they would still be caught if Harper's men noticed the oddness in the videos. Especially when Anya enters and exits the ensuite. They won't be able to see her changing yet she will appear in a new set of clothes.

To take care of that, Anya had her plan too. She threw a long gown on the door of the closet that blocked her torso from appearing on the camera. She quickly changed, then stepped away and got ready. Before leaving the ensuite, she made sure to keep the expensive evening gown back into the closet.

Alvin turned to the ensuite door when he heard it open after about forty minutes. He was concerned about her swollen ankle. Due to the plans, he didn't get to give her an ice pack so he was ready to scold her if she had chosen high heels. Hence his eyes went straight to her feet. She was wearing white sneakers which won't hurt her ankle. Anyway, he could see her ankle swollen and bright red.

The girl whose eyes used to fill and turn red at the pinch on her chubby cheeks was bearing such pain as if nothing. She didn't stop amusing him, at the same time, he was also worried about recalling the bruise on her waist. Changes don't happen overnight. One has to go through some good or bad experiences. 

What must have happened in these five years?

The first evil person that comes to his mind was his father. If his father was troubling her or looking for her in the past five years, Liam would have notified him immediately or stopped his father. 

Then who might have troubled her?

Flora Dalton? He recalled how angry Anya was when she got to know Flora was his fianceé without knowing it was just statements created by the Matthews and Dalton families without his consent. 

She won't tell him anything, she was asking him to stop looking into her past. Even so, he wanted to find out irrespective of how serious it might be for her 

His eyes shifted up her slender, tempting long legs. She was wearing white low waisted, folded shorts making her legs look slinky and attractive. For the top, she had picked a dapper tan-colored simple half-sleeve top. The outfit was too simple just as in the past, nevertheless, the way she carried it now had grace and confidence. 

She had accessorized with a thin long golden chain that had geometric pendants. The delicate makeup on her face highlighted her silvery-gray eyes and her straight nose. Her lips had a reddish-pink tint and her ears had her diamond studs.

Out of all, what caught his attention was her hairstyle. Her straight hair was styled wavy and braided a small section of her hair and clipped it under some hair. Seeing her holding a white round hat which was stolen from his section of the closet, he planned to take it away as her hairstyle looked too pretty to hide.

Anya, who reached him, waved her hand in front of his face, "Where have you lost?"

He seized the hat from her hand and wore it leaving her word struck. Then he checked the time. There were fifteen more minutes, "Sit." He commanded her and fetched the ice pack from the mini-refrigerator.

Anya didn't do as he said, she watched him take the ice pack and glanced at her leg. She knew her ankle would swell more if not treated. She extended her hand for an ice pack and he gave her, seeing her willingness to use it. Both sat down on the couch while she cold compressed, "Let's look around the ship." She didn't sound excited but stressed her words, looking at him firmly.

Alvin could understand the underneath meaning. She must have spotted the room location where Harper's men were keeping their eyes on them and everyone. He hummed, understanding the room camera was rolling.

He watched her flash him a smile and turned her attention on her ankle. He asked after some time, "Do you ignore your health and state for your baby?" Because she was good at enduring pain.

The question came as a surprise to Anya. She glanced at him and shook her head. "Nope." She promptly answered, "I can only take care of my baby if I am in good condition. I can teach him good manners if I behave well. He is my highest priority. At the same time, I don't ignore myself."

First of all, Zane doesn't have a father and she doesn't send him to her parents' place often or for very long. Only this time was an exception. Hence she was the only family member he sees every day. Her behavior and actions affect him greatly. He will learn by looking at her. So ignoring herself meant ignoring little details of Zane's growth.

Alvin watched her dimples appear on her cheeks while speaking about her son and smiling recalling her son. Her son was lucky to have her who had learned to balance her work life and love him so much. 

Thinking of young Mommy and her son, Alvin recalled his mother. His mother loves him but not more than herself or her career. He was her last priority. Looking at Anya, he was sure his mother would undoubtedly like her, for being career-oriented and managing to take care of her baby without depending on a man.

He felt a gentle bop on his nose tip and focused his eyes on the owner of the finger. Anya asked, tilting her head, "Why are you zoning out?" A part of her was worried he might have got to know anything about her son.

He didn't respond to her. "Let's go." He stood up, took her hand, and went towards the door. 

Anya looked at her wrist. She assumed he was holding her due to the cameras and didn't protest. He put his shades on her as her silvery-gray eyes were too catchy. 

Alvin had read the venue details, Anya who had no idea followed him silently like a docile young lady. To the people who were watching them on screen, they looked like a young couple on their honeymoon. Those men were eager for the night to watch and save another thrilling video by believing the couple as Collins.

—------

The luncheon was in the hall which had glass walls and a roof. The hall was decorated in mild tones with a touch of classiness. It was a buffet hall, yet there were waiters to serve.

Anya noticed only young couples were together at the same tables, the single young men were gathered in groups and checking out the young ladies. The middle-aged men were busy discussing something and middle-aged women were gossiping and laughing. 

As soon as Anya and Alvin entered, slowly but surely everyone's eyes were set on them, turning the hall to absolute silence.

Alvin was professional at ignoring people so he glanced at her if she was uncomfortable. Well, she looked unbothered by the gazes. In the past, she used to lower her head and be uneasy in the crowd if people were staring at her with judging eyes. This confidence of hers gave special charm.

Unawarely a smile appeared on his face, making young men envious of two things. The lady beside him and his hotness. The young ladies admired the man for a few seconds before going green in envy looking at Anya.

Nobody identified Alvin as he was known in the business circle rather than the political circle. So they started to discuss who they might be.

The smile vanished from Alvin's face when he noticed three men who she had thrashed were sitting with the other four men and cooking up a plan. His palm slid to her palm and held her tight as he passed his orders, "Don't run around alone. Stick with me." 

He was cent percent sure other people will approach her as soon as he leaves her alone. With him being next to her, he didn't think anybody would so easily pick the conversation. However, those men will certainly pick a fight with them soon.

Should he send her to bed and handle those men alone?

He wasn't comfortable leaving her alone in the cabin as there were cameras. If he focuses on these scums, Harper's men could reach her.

Anya: "..."

She heard him however her attention was at their hands while her heart quickened its speed. Though he wasn't interlacing their fingers, his warm palm gently yet firmly holding her hand felt intimate and protective. 

If this is how they have to behave as 'Husband and wife,' on the ship, then it was going to be harder on her. 

'Oh Anya Owen, he is acting. Don't forget you have a little life to protect..' Anya was afraid she might end up doing anything stupid again so she reminded herself about her son, her strongest motivation.