Since I arrived on board in the early afternoon, I had time to explore the boat before anyone else arrived for the party. I guess when you don't specify a time, everyone likes to show up, fashionably late. I saw the galley which was already hard at work preparing hors d'oeuvres, and prepping food for the dinner guests. I was honestly surprised not to see it full of redcaps but with regular humans.
I ended up bumping into Farel by accident looking at the wine and drink fridge/room.
"Hello Maria, can I help you find something to drink?"
I didn't want to seem like I was snooping around so I went with it. "Yeah, I wanted some good Scotch Whiskey like Edradour? I'll take Glenmorangie if you don't have Edradour."
"You're a scotch connoisseur? I'm surprised you drank that shite at the house two weeks ago you were served." Feral grabbed a bottle of Edradour 16 years and handed me the bottle. "I'll make sure you have this served to you from now on."
"Thanks... Hey Feral, who owns the boat?" My curiosity was killing me at the moment.
"I do. Along with many other things. Shocked?" He smiled at my alarmed face to hear this.
"Well, yeah. I shouldn't be? That was rude, I'm sorry." I apologize knowing how with Fae rudeness and being impolite can make you hated and ignored.
He waves it off, "I've spent a much longer time around humans than most will ever realize. We creatures of the Fae have always been among the humans, but more in the shadows then in the light. You do not need to apologize for being ignorant of those facts as much of the world is."
Curiously he leans forward, "Alex told me you speak french? J'espère que cette école vous a bien appris. (I hope that school taught you well.)"
"Oui, ils m'ont bien appris. (Yes, they did teach me well.)" I responded pausing slightly on remembering my vowels pronunciation.
"Très bien. Amusez-vous bien, Maria. (Very good. Have fun, Maria.)" He nodded to me and I left to go back to my room and not try to attract any more unnecessary attention.
In my room, I use the scanner in my bag and it lights up like a Christmas tree. Well so much for some privacy. I act like the darn things broken since it looks like a game system and toss it back in my bag. I pull out my clothes, shaking out wrinkles, hanging up or folding to put in drawers. I place my shoes in a line in the closet and set my toiletries up in the bathroom. There's no tub only a shower, but we're on a huge boat so who cares.
I pull out my phones camera and start taking selfies in the mirror like woman my age seem to do. Then of the room and a short video of me totally excited about how I get to stay here for a few nights. I sent John a text on the burner phone that said,
'I miss you, I went out of town for the weekend, job opportunity. I'll be safe but I will be busy. I'll let you know if something changes. love your favorite Sin'
I got a message back shortly,
'Job opportunity? I hope it pays well and makes you happy, you need to progress in this life. Please be safe and know I love you, my favorite Sin."
I giggled as I sat on the bed and hooked my phone up to charge after putting it on silent. I laid back and relaxed on the super plush bed and took a light nap.
I awoke to a helicopter coming to land on the bow of the ship. It was only an hour since I messaged John so it was still late afternoon. Looks like guests would be arriving sooner than I thought. I quickly throw my heels back on and freshen up my hair and makeup. I gargle some mouthwash and spray some of my real perfume on before heading out the door.
Alex is coming up from the lower decks and is looking polished in a silk business suit with a tie and his hair slicked back into a very well done pony. It makes him look serious and sophisticated but not according to the social norms.
(Stupid 4th Wall.... Author here: I don't even know if that description even makes sense to anyone. SO ....Picture Avan Jogia with his long hair and goatee in a suit if he was more muscular or thicker built.)
He sees me gawking and gets self conscious, "WHAT?" he says quickly.
"Nothing, I got to admit, you look good in a suit." I shake my head smirking wanting to golf clap him for the major improvement from the thug look when I first met him.
"Thank you. You ready to start meeting some people, chica? Heads up these are rich ass snobs, so they'll be stuck up and rude. Just stand your ground if one of these putas tries to put you down. Farel don't look kindly on anyone who's intentionally rude on his boat."
He smiles and puts his arm out for me to take. "Shall we Senorita?"
I take his arm with a smile and walk out confidently next to him. Holding my ground against arrogant, egotistical, narcissists is my specialty. I'm going to have fun tonight I think.
..... several hours later...and a lot of alcohol...
We were talking with his french business partners who purchased bolts of fabric and lace made in the factories in Mexico. Turns out Farel was also into the textile and clothing industry, he supplied quite a few major manufactures and designers. Alex was merely the figurehead of the companies.
Now I see why he referred to his kind as shadows throughout time. Those rags to riches overnight stories probably included a Fae of sorts. See those people got a 'happily ever after' and I get stiffed with watching everyone I love die sooner or later. Once business is concluded Alex tells me I'm more than welcome to go mingle if I'd like to.
"I think I'd rather get another drink and some of those little desserts over there." I get up and while I'm plating little bite size desserts someone comes up and grabs my ass and leaves his hand right on my left cheek.
"If you want to keep that hand of yours I suggest you remove it from my person. " I set the plate of desserts down as I hear a deep chuckle.
"Oh really? How much is Alex paying you to sleep with him a night? I'll triple it sweetheart." He proceeds to squeeze my cheek again.
"I warned you." So grabbing his hand on my left cheek I spun around to where he was now facing the sky, his body in the opposite direction as he was mere seconds ago and I had his head and arm locked in place.
"Don't you know how rude it is to touch someone you don't know like that? By the way, you pig, I don't work for Alex as a call girl, I'm his french interpreter. "Mon Dieu! Vous êtes un pervers malade.(my god, you're a sick pervert.)" He's trying to get me off of him and it's hopeless as I have him good.
Farel comes out for the first time since guests have arrived.
"Did this man accost you, Ma'am?" Farel asks me.
"Yes he grabbed me from behind and tried to buy me for sex like I was a prostitute."
Farel touched my arms and said, "I can handle it from here madam. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
I let go and Farel took the man by the throat and threw him overboard followed by a life preserver and life jacket.
He then announced, "If you are acquainted with that buffoon I just threw overboard, I suggest you find a way to retrieve him, or I do believe he will not make it."
He turned and said to me, "Shall I escort you to your room ma'am? Apparently there are still guests in this day and age who don't know how to treat a lady. Maybe I should set an example?" He offers his arm.
I swiftly take it, "Thank you Farel, I appreciate your kind thoughtfulness."
He then escorts me back to my room leaving the other guests either shocked, trying to contain their amusement, or are concerned over the man thrown overboard.
.....
Alex who had jumped up on seeing I was putting someone in a hold sat back down smiling. "She sure is something." He muttered into his drink as some of the hired help women came over to sit near him.
"No thank you ladies. I would like to be alone tonight." He gets back up walking away from the dejected ladies who find someone else to put some extra money in their hands for the night.
.....
I'm feeling the whiskey kicking in from the adrenaline rush I just got and as we start to go up the stairs I stumble.
"Whoa, I got you Maria." Farels deep voice and strong grasp keeps me from hitting the ground.
"Thank you, Farel" I mumbled trying to stand back up. I'm glad we were inside and no one could the drunk girl not being able to get back up.
Farel sighed and lifted me up in his arms and carried me up the stairs. I was shocked to say the least and quite grateful. I sobered up for a second and embarrassment set in as I flushed red and at the fact he was carrying me.
"I think I can walk now, Farel." I said wanting to hide my face but couldn't.
"It's fine Maria. You'll come to find we Fae take care of our own quite well." He gives me a knowing look that says he knows more than he lets on.
"Fae? Did Lar say something?" I ask as he opens my room and takes me to my bed and sets me down.
"Lar didn't have to say anything, I noticed when we first met that you have Fae blood in you."
"I was gifted actually by a fairy, I don't have Fae blood."
"Is that what you think?" He snorts. "A fairy would not help a human who didn't have Fae blood in them. You would not even be able to handle the gift if you did not."
"You're not going to tell Alex right? I don't want people to know. I end up getting used when they find out." I'm as honest as I can be so it's more convincing but the alcohol is making it hard not to let things slip. I end up laying back on the pillow and closing my eyes, since my eyelids feel so heavy.
"No, I will not tell him, we tend to take care of our own, Maria."
"Thank you, Farel." I mumble before passing out.
...
"Lar, Maria is drunk, can you go take care of her for the night, make sure she doesn't throw up or make a mess. Plus make sure Alex doesn't try to go watch her while she sleeps." Farel poked his head into the redcaps bedroom where they were working on sewing things together.
"Yeah, no problem, primo." Lar hands what he was working on to the redcap next to him and walks out. "Clothes are coming along just fine. They'll be ready tomorrow night for show. Did Alex ask her to model them yet?"
"I'm not sure. You can ask her tomorrow though. She'll need lots of water and an easy meal tomorrow though." Farel waves Lar up the stairs and leaves.
....
Lar opened up the door only to find Alex already in the room moving Maria's hair out of her face. He had a trash can in one hand and noticing Lar coming in he placed the trash down and stood up.
"I was just checking on her, I didn't know she was that drunk. I'll ask her about helping model the clothes tomorrow I guess." He put his hands in his pockets and walked out nodding to Lar as he went.
Lar shut the door and went to check on her. He removed her shoes and tucked her in the covers before going to the couch to sit back.
Across the hall Alex was in his room watching the video of her from the motel room again.
He jumps as he hears Farels voice from behind him, "I wouldn't try to attach yourself to that woman in there Alex. You will only end up hurt in the end."
Farel comes and sits down with Alex, staring at him intently.
"Why? Give it time, I'll get her to fall in love with me, what girl can forever resist all that I can offer?" He asks confidently.
"She has no need or want for this opulence, Alex, I do not want you to pursue her in that way. Something tells me there's more to this girl than she's telling us anyways. She can speak french, she knows self defense, she can be your everyday chica and then tonight she is the epitome of a high class woman. She's not telling us something." Farel crosses his arms and stares at Alex.
"What do think she's keeping from us?" Alex sits up starting to get suspicious now that it's been pointed out.
"I'm not sure, I'm getting more information on her as we speak, so we shall see." Farel crosses his legs. "Alex get me some Whiskey, I need a drink."
Alex complies, "Sure primo, anything else?" He gets a shake of the head and pours him a drink.
"So when is that asshole Ortiz supposed to be joining us? I thought he would have been here tonight already."
Farel laughs, "He had to reschedule. He'll see us once were back in Mexico. I really despise that foul creature myself, but he keeps his end of the bargain and therefore so do we." He downs the whiskey and snaps his finger for a dark bottle to appear and he pours the dark thick contents into his glass to drink it as well.
"Goodnight Alex. Do me a favor, leave Maria alone while she sleeps." He shuts the door on his way out leaving no room for Alex to say anything.
"He doesn't trust her, but wants me to leave her alone at the same time? Both Lar and him are being protective of her, what's up with that?" He shakes his head trying to wrap his thoughts around it and shrugs it off and goes to bed still watching the video of her over and over until he falls asleep.