His Devious Rule

Anya couldn't believe her emotions going all over the place being around Alvin. He makes her angry, then his tsundere behavior makes her laugh, then he calms her with his childish act. All the more she was catering to his needs.

Jogging behind him, "You dumb-headed, do you think I have long legs like you?"

He looked daggers at her and pulled her front at the bow deck. The bow deck is the observation deck at the most front of the ship. Anya leaned against the railing and looked at the man who trapped her between his hands.

There was enough space for her so she didn't throw any tantrums. She carefully looked over his shoulder and saw the security staff member staying back as nobody else was around her.

Anya came to the important discussion she had been waiting to tell him, "Do you remember the three men who were keeping an eye on us in the morning?"

Alvin didn't respond and looked at her blankly. He waited for her to complete. 

Anya controlled herself from smacking him and continued, "Those three men have nearly thirty men under them." She kicked Alvin's leg and questioned, "How dare you just run into them like a fool?" He was extremely outnumbered against thirty. There could be more people also.

In slow motion, Alvin looked down at his leg, then her face. He went closer to her while she pressed herself against the railings and narrowed her eyes at him, "How dare YOU kick me?" 

Anya: "..."

She was talking about the problem at hand and she gently kicked him to show her annoyance at his actions. Why was he focusing on them instead of the mess in their hands?

His long hand reached her chin, his slender fingers gripped her chin, and pulled her face close to him, "I never heard people kick their acquaintance."

Anya batted her long lashes, looking at him. He had a valid point. He isn't just his acquaintance but they were more or less, acquaintances in the past as he was teaching in the library. They never spoke about each other, hardly shared anything. He was like a teacher who was training her and planned to employ her in his startup. And she was willing to work beside him because she was...

Now she doesn't fear being so casual with him but they weren't close enough to call them a friend. She didn't even know what to call him anymore.

Shaking her head, she moved away from his hand. It wasn't the time to think what he was to her. All she knew was they don't belong to the same world. He was at the position where he could rule while she could only serve. 

She came to the main point without responding to him, "Those three men are meeting the manager of this vacation regularly." She initially thought those men might be helping the manager handle the crew space work. Anyway, after checking the details, those men were just sweeper staff.

She concluded, "So the manager is involved in Harper's plan but I am not quite sure about his role here."

Alvin was expecting her to say something to the 'acquaintance.' He will take time and slowly bring her on the track. He focused on what she didn't know. If there could be approximately thirty under three men, there could be more. 

Why will there be 30 or more people? There has to be a reason. Harper was a smart man, he wouldn't waste his money and resources.

Alvin's expression was turning serious with each passing second. Anya wanted to poke him and ask him to tell what was running in his mind but held back her urge.

"Did you find any other device in the ship network that could connect to the shore communication center?" He questioned as he stood straight and crossed his arms. 

Anya looked at his radiant face against the sun, bright and dazzling. His chiseled jawline looked sharp and his lashes cast the shadow on his eyes. He looked so perfect as if somebody sat and carved taking their own time. Suddenly, her eyes averted realizing her actions and she stood straight, chiding herself in her mind.

"There is no device in the stateroom and public space. I still have to check the entire crew space. There are many engine rooms so I will need a good amount of time to inspect that network."  She couldn't afford to make a mistake as the engine rooms are the heart of the ship and she never studied the ship engine network. 

"Taking Harper's personality, he will definitely have a backup." She added what was on her mind.

Alvin realized it was time they should leave the ship. He couldn't afford to put her in danger for the others' lives. They have tried their best, he could do nothing more.

"Let's go…" He naturally reached for her hand and tugged her. 

Before he could take any step, a tall, tanned, burly man in white uniform made way towards them. If Anya calls Alvin tall, that man was even taller by an inch or two and his physique was enormous. He was like a strong wall who she could never defeat if not tricked.

The man shifted his hands behind his back in the form of respect and greeted, "Mr. Matthews." Then he nodded at her as a greeting.

"Mr. Stefan, I need two diving suits," Alvin ordered as he walked towards the passageway.

Anya: "..."

She had to walk fast behind Alvin without understanding what was going on. The burly man was the security officer of the ship. And he was the man Mr. Wright asked them to meet if they needed any help in the mission.

How does he know Alvin was a Matthews?

As if one shock wasn't enough, Alvin asked for two diving suits. Why does he want it? Is Alvin planning to go sea diving? No, it should be ocean diving to greet the sharks and whales and to get eaten by them.

Her face paled thinking she couldn't fight those ocean creatures. What the freaking hell was he thinking?

What is his plan?

If he knew the security officer, why didn't he tell her before?

She felt like a toy that was being played around. She could have hidden her investigation status too, wasn't she sharing with him? It was to have balance and coordination between them. 

Why couldn't he respect her and speak with her?

She shrugged his hand off and silently walked without meeting his gaze.

The security officer was stunned by Alvin's sudden demand. He was there to ask him to shift to the suites in the name of security. The ocean view cabins weren't as safe as suites.

He walked a step behind Alvin, next to Anya while thinking if he could arrange it without raising suspicion. After a few seconds he voiced, "Mr. Matthews, the diving suits management is under Vice-captain. Either we have to ask permission or steal it. It's not safe to bring it to your cabin, you will have to reach the rescue room."

Alvin heard the officer but his eyes were on Anya whose face had fallen. She should have been asking him hundreds of questions about what was going on, yet she was silent as a grave. 

He turned around to explain to her about the situation. The security officer stopped seeing Alvin halt. However, she tried to pass through him and he attempted to hold her back. Anya expected it and slipped away, decisively taking the steps forward.

Alvin internally sighed. They didn't have much time, he would have explained to her slowly. 

On the first day, the security officer was the one Alvin was planning to meet, to ask for a different room. However, due to the cameras and suspicious activities, he didn't dare to leave Anya alone in the room. Alvin didn't mean to hide it from her, he didn't feel it was necessary. Only after hearing Mr. Wright, he got to know the security officer was also investigating the situation. Whereas Stefan was waiting for the right movement to speak with him without revealing his identity.

Alvin turned to the security officer, "Put your men there. We will leave soon."

Stefan wanted to ask why he wanted to get off in the middle of nowhere, that too with a woman by his side. There were no islands and it wasn't safe. Alvin was a type who doesn't tell anybody anything, hence he let out a frustrated sigh looking at him following the lady.

Stefan went towards his office to arrange as per Alvin's requirement. Considering Alvin as his former employer and aware of the illegal activities on the ship, he chose to help Alvin.

—----

Alvin walked faster behind Anya who was unusually fast on her feet. "Little Donut."

She didn't respond and increased her pace. Obviously, she was angry and also upset.

He jogged a few steps and caught her hand. She immediately protested, trying to shrug off his hand, "Let me go." She tried to push him, but that also didn't work. 

"Listen to me."

Why should she always listen to him? She wasn't his employee to follow him like a puppet. 

"I don't want to." She struggled to get away and he kept her close. 

She always tried to be understanding so he was very patient, without shouting at her or scolding her. Well, patient in his own way. He scooped her off the floor to his arms and briskly went towards their cabin.

Anya froze for a moment and started raining punches on his shoulder, "Put me down or I am going to…" She paused. She can't threaten him like Krystle as she was in his arms. Other threats of physical pain don't work on him.

Alvin glanced at her who was thinking of a threat. He probed her, "You are going to?"

Alvin: "..."

Inarticulate, he watched her biting his shoulder over his pullover. He thought she was just going to threaten him like other times. 

A faint hiss left his lips when she bit him harder venting her all the frustration she had pent-up these days because of him.