Page 68 of Unapologetic Obsession
Her eyes landed on Caden, lips tilting into a coy smile. She walked past me and sauntered toward him. “Dr. Maxwell,” she purred. “I heard you decided to join us on the cruise after all. Where have you been hiding these past few days?” Her hand lingered on his arm, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “I was wondering when I’d see you.”
I shifted uncomfortably, feeling like an intruder in their private moment. Hints of envy brewed inside my chest until I caught Caden’s expression. He slanted his body away from the redhead so her hand naturally fell away. The happy-adjacent man had left the building, and he was back to the emotionless blank slate.
He really disliked unprompted touch, didn’t he? At least, he hadn’t entertained her efforts. I was relieved.
“Rose.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer until I was plastered against his hard chest. “This is Natasha. Shemanages the clothing stores on this boat,” he introduced us, though he didn’t look at her, only at me.
Natasha made the same observation. Her smile faltered when she saw me in his arms, facing me with a barely concealed disdain. “This is the…patient…who needs a new wardrobe?”
“This is Rose,” he corrected, his tone brooking no argument. “She also needs a dress for the Captain’s Gala.”
I frowned. “Gala?”
He nodded. “It’s a welcome reception to celebrate the boat’s first cruise.”
“Oh.” I shouldn’t be surprised. A boat like this must host numerous events and activities for its guests, each with its own dress code. Proper attire was a requirement to leave this room, that much I had gathered.
It sounded reasonable—but expensive. I looked at the price tag for one of the dresses and counted the four zeros following the number eight. I doubt they had anything in my budget—four zeros without an eight preceding it.
It would be so much easier if I got a job. The crew members had designated uniforms. Problem solved.
I cocked my head. “Do you think I can borrow something instead?”
Caden stared at me pensively. His fingers settled on my hips, lazily skimming over the bathrobe as he spoke. His focus was always on one part of my body or the other. “It’s important to blend in instead of standing out. Do you understand?”
I nodded, though I didn’t understand at all.
He added, “Natasha will be your assistant today and help you pick out a few things.”
Natasha’s jaw tightened, and I knew why. It seemed purposefully demeaning to call her an assistant when she managed all the stores on the boat.
With narrowed eyes, she looked me up and down. I thought she would set the record straight. Instead, she adjusted her posture, jutting out her breasts provocatively. “Of course.” Her voice dripped with fake, syrupy sweetness. “We’ll make herpresentable,” she emphasized the wordpresentable, making it transparent that I wasn’t at the moment.
Caden’s gaze slid over Natasha like ice. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he asked, voice low and precise.
I hadn’t expected his quick reaction to the offhanded insult. I placed my hand on his chest, silently telling him it was okay, but his body was tense under my touch.
Natasha’s eyes widened in horror at Caden’s tone. “I-I just meant we’ll find her something nice to wear.”
“Is that what you meant?” The sarcastic question might as well be a scalpel gliding over Natasha’s neck.
“I-I didn’t mean it as an insult, I swear. Please forgive my poor choice of words. Your companion is…” She wanted to say something catty about me, but she also wanted to appease Caden. After another cutting glance from him, she swallowed her pride and said, “Beautiful.” I wasn’t in the same league as her and complimenting me caused her excruciating effort. “I only meant that the clothes from our shop will enhance her natural beauty.”
It was a good save. Caden dropped the topic once she complimented me, though his eyes remained glacial.
I learned aboutvillainessesandthe other womenfrom the Korean dramas Amelie made me watch yesterday. The other women in the shows were always unreasonably bitchy, and they waited until the hero was out of sight to strike.
Natasha wanted Caden, and I held his attention. Ergo, nothing good would come out of this interaction, especially if he left me alone with her.
I gazed up at Caden. “Are you sure I can’t just borrow something from?—”
Amelie poked her head through the open front door, interrupting my protest. I brightened on cue, and she returned my smile. If she was surprised that I had left the medical room in favor of Dr. Maxwell’s suite, she didn’t let it show. She glanced at Caden, and said, “Dr. Maxwell, call for you.”
A huff of annoyance passed his lips.
Amelie held up two hands in surrender. “Your brother’s on the line. I told him you were busy, but he insisted on talking to you.”
Cursing under his breath, Caden relented. “Fine,” he told her, his voice clipped. He pulled me to the side, his eyes shining with annoyance, though it wasn’t directed at me. “There is a guard stationed outside the room,” he said in a low voice as Amelie and Natasha watched us curiously. “Her name’s Linda. Call out for her if you need anything.”
