He smirked. "Since we're in the mood of gratitude, I've decided something. My suite lacks a personal maid."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I'm the host of this ship. Everyone else gets standard service. I deserve a premium."

"Then go hire someone. There are literally tons of maids on this cruise."

"Yes, tons of maids, caring for everyone. I want one just for me."

"Then pick anyone. Just not me. I wasn't hired to be a maid. I'm supposed to be in the kitchen, prepping food, not rubbing your royal feet."

I turned to leave, but he caught my wrist.

"You owe me your life," he said. "A simple thank you wouldn't kill you. You could've died last night if I weren't there."

"Oh, thank you for the 129th time," I snapped. "Or was that the thousandth? Maybe we should make it into a song. 'Liam saved Maya's life, Maya now owes Liam her soul.'" I sang angrily, pulling my wrist from his grip.

He laughed. "You know I don't mean it that way. I just enjoy seeing you irritated."

"Youuuuuu!!," I shouted and pointed my fingers at him angrily. 

But he ignored me and just walked up to the side table, picking up the telephone.

He dialed it, and I stood wondering who he was calling," Hello chief chef." 

The chef must have wondered why he called, because Liam's response was," No not at all, there's no issue." I just called to let you know that from today henceforth, Maya is relieved of her kitchen duties. She'll be working as my personal maid in my suite."

I rushed towards him in an attempt to pull the phone from his grip, "End the call, Liam!"

He raised a brow. " No, no... That's Mr. Liam to you. I hired you, remember? I'm your boss. Try using my name with some respect."

I wanted to scream. I could feel the rage boiling under my skin. He was unbearable.

I just want to grab him by the throat and watch him struggle for his dear life.

"Your work starts now," he added. "My entire body aches from hauling you off that railing. What do you eat? You're heavy as hell. And now I'm cold. So how about you run me a hot bath... followed by a good massage?"

I gritted my teeth. There was no way out. I couldn't afford to lose this job. Not now. So I marched to the bathroom like a war prisoner and started his bath.

I wish the chef had protested, but what could he have said?

'She's an important asset in the kitchen, she can't be relieved of her kitchen duties?' Or 'No Mr Liam I can't let you enslave my staff, she's my property or responsibility, not yours.'

Goddddddd!!!

Why is my luck so bad? I muttered angrily.

"Your bath is ready," I said as I walked out of the bathroom walking straight towards the door.

"Don't stand outside," he called. "You can wait here. Or... would you rather scrub my back? I could use an extra hand." He said with a smirk, that I wish I could just punch off his face.

I shot him a look. "You wish."

Without hesitating, I walked out the door, slamming the door behind me. 

I stood outside the door, fuming. I muttered a thousand curses under my breath. One day, I swear I'll poison his food and walk away whistling.

A bell rang, and at first, I stood still, unsure of what the bell was for.

Then it rang again. 

The fuck is wrong with him? Is he a child now playing with bells as toys? Where the fuck did he get a bell from by the way.

"Mayaaaaaaaa!!" His voice rang out louder than the bell.

I quickly rushed inside.

He stood in a towel, still wet, water trailing down the planes of his chest. I looked away immediately.

"Why weren't you responding? Did you not hear the bell?" 

I looked at him like he'd been smoking stuff that's making him spout nonsense," You seriously weren't using a bell to call out to me?" 

"What was I supposed to use? A whistle?" He asked, walking to the closet. 

I stood there, for the first time short of words to say.

"That was the best bath I've had in my life," he sighed. "You must have put in a lot of love in preparing it for me. I honestly didn't know you cared so much about me." He said grinning from ear to ear. 

I rolled my eyes, and unconsciously, they landed on his chest. 

"Don't look. Don't look." I muttered to myself. "He's the devil with good shoulders. That's all."

"Where's the oil?" he asked. "You brought the massage oil, right?"

"I...I don't usually do this," I stammered. "I don't know where you keep your...uh...stuff."

"Check the drawer beside the bed." he said, pointing in the direction of the drawer.

I nodded and walked towards the drawer.

I pulled it open and froze.

"Oh. My. God." I gulped hard.

Sex toys. All shapes. All colors. Some that defied physics.

"You're disgusting," I said, shutting the drawer like it had just burned me.

"You could've just grabbed the oil and ignored the rest," he said casually.

"Youuuu..." I yelled.

Totally ignoring me like I was just over reacting, he walked to the drawer, pulled out the oil and tossed it at me," Here," he said."My body won't massage itself. Come on, put those soft little hands to work."

God, give me strength.

I did it. I massaged his back, "Ahhhh, softer baby..." he moaned.

"Be quiet, someone might hear you and think we're doing something" 

"Mmm. Your hands are soft. Like you've never worked a day in your life. I can't help but moan."

"Just don't shout," I said angrily. But of course, he'd do the opposite.

"Ahhhhh,"

"Oooooh,"

"Harder,"

Staring at him lying flat on the surface, I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to just strangle the life out of him. But I didn't, I let a good opportunity go again.

At the end, I was too flushed and embarrassed to even walk out of the room.

By the end of the day, he had run me dry. "Maya, bring my food to my suite. Maya, my leg hurts, Massage it. Maya, fetch my robe. Maya, my back itches."

Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya.

Have never hated hearing my name so much until today.

When I finally collapsed on my bed that night, I felt like I'd been hit by a bus. I wanted to scream, cry, and slap him, maybe all at once.

How the hell did I get myself into this mess?

I was dead on my feet.

After a full day of playing "personal maid" to Lord Arrogant Himself, I could barely lift my legs as I lay on my bed. Every muscle in my body ached. My arms, my back, even my eyelids feel heavy. 

But worse than the physical exhaustion was how humiliated I felt.

"Who the hell ends up a personal maid in the middle of the damn ocean?" I said, screaming into my pillow.

I didn't even take off my shoes. I just lay there, face in the pillow, muttering every curse I could think of. Liam had made sure my entire day was one long reel of humiliation: draw his bath, stand outside, serve his food, massage his stupid rich-boy shoulders, run back and forth like a servant from a soap opera.

I swore, if I had one ounce of magic, I'd teleport his smug self into a shark's mouth.

The next morning, I thought maybe, just maybe, I could avoid him. I tried sneaking through the crew corridor, eyes darting left and right like I was evading a warlord. 

It didn't work. He sent a staff member to fetch me like I was his little pet. No escape.

But then came the announcement: "Due to a minor atmospheric disturbance, guests are advised to remain indoors this evening. A storm warning has been issued."

Finally, A storm. Maybe the universe was on my side for once.

Nope.

The next announcement came thirty minutes later: "To lighten the mood during the storm, tonight's event will be a themed party in the main ballroom. Attendance is optional but encouraged."

I blinked.

They wanted to throw a party... during a storm?

Of course, rich people.

I got dressed anyway. Not because I wanted to party, but because Liam would have dragged me there either way. I wasn't needed in the kitchen, and I can't stay in my room either.

I wore a casual blue gown, not my regular uniform, nothing unique about the gown. 

I walked into the ballroom, and I could feel eyes on me from every angle. Not admiration. No, this was the kind of attention you get when people think they own you, or rather the 'You don't belong here' look. 

And Liam? Well, he was in his element.

Sitting on a velvet couch like he owned the world, drink in hand, surrounded by people laughing too hard at his not-so-funny jokes. He looked up, spotted me, and smiled that wicked little smile like he already had a new game planned.

I hated that smile.

"Come here, Maya," he called, loud enough for nearby guests to hear.

I hesitated. His tone said 'come here like a good girl,' and that tone? Oh, it did something to my temper.

I walked over, arms crossed. "Yes, sir?"

"Could you bring me another drink? You're technically still on duty, aren't you?"

People turned to look. I felt their judgment, the way they acknowledged his action. Like they're telling him, 'that's right Liam, put her in her place'.

He was humiliating me again, and he knew it.

"I'm not a waitress," I said, keeping my voice even. "I'm also not your maid anymore, if we're going by hourly contracts. This is a party, not your personal circus."

The air in the room shifted. Everyone went "Ooh" like middle schoolers watching a cafeteria fight.

Liam's eyes darkened. He stood slowly, taking a step toward me, towering, but I didn't budge. If I was going down, I was going down swinging.

"You don't get to talk to me like that," he hissed. "I'm your employer."

"And I'm a human being," I snapped. "The fact that you signed a paycheck doesn't mean you get to parade me like some toy in front of your little yacht club."

His jaw tightened. "Come with me. Now." He said.

I didn't move. I was still riding the high of calling him out. But the way he clenched his glass, like it might shatter in his palm, made me think twice.

I took a step forward, but before I could move further, he pulled me by the wrist and dragged me out of the ballroom. 

Dragging me back to his suite, he pushed me inside, slammed the door, and turned to face me.

"What the hell was that?" he snapped.

"What? You mean standing up for myself?" I shot back. "You humiliated me in front of everyone. Again. What did you expect me to do, curtsey?"

"I expect a little respect," he growled.

"And I expect basic human decency, but hey, we can't all get what we want. You give respect, you get one as well."

Before he could fire back, the ship jerked.

Not just a little sway. A full-on crack followed by a violent jolt that sent both of us stumbling. His lamp fell off the table. I heard a glass shatter in the distance.

"What the heck!!" He said, running to the balcony of his room.

The intercom blared: "All passengers are to return to their cabins immediately. We've experienced a mechanical issue. Please remain calm."

Another jolt occurred. This time stronger.

Liam pulled out his phone and dialed furiously. "Get someone to my suite now. I want a full update."

He hung up and looked at me like I should be impressed.

I sat on the bed, shaking both my legs from anxiety. Soon the bed was becoming uncomfortable, so I walked to the balcony to see what was going on.

The ship was already sinking.

I could hear screams and yelling from a distance.

I paced the room. "Where are your 'people' now, huh?"

"They'll come."

"No, Liam. They won't." I pointed to the now-flooded hallway just outside the door. "Everyone's trying to save themselves. No one's coming to rescue your self-absorbed ass."

"I paid them," he said. "They're contractually obligated."

I laughed bitterly. "Right. Because contracts matter when the ship is sinking. You really think you own everyone don't you?" I scoffed.

Minutes passed. Water began creeping under the door.

He was rich, and I had a little hope someone would actually come, even though I said otherwise. 

But more time passed and no one showed up.

Five minutes.

Ten.

I turned to him. "Still think they're coming?"

He hesitated.

"That's what I thought," I snapped. "You can drown here with your pride, or we can both get the hell out of here and save ourselves."

I stood still, I could see the panic in his eyes. He didn't move, he just looked at the phone, like he was waiting for it to ring. Or maybe someone was going to jump out of it and save him.

I shook my head, and walked to his closet, pulled out a coat jacket, draped it around the summer gown I have on, and ran out.

I didn't wait for him again. Obviously, no one is coming.

The halls were in chaos, passengers screaming, alarms blaring, and staff nowhere to be found. By the time I got to the lifeboat deck, it was too late. The last raft had already pulled away, all the rich folks gone. Just workers like me left.

I ran to where the life jackets were kept, but there were no more life jackets. No crew. Just me. Alone.

Well, almost.

I turned back, half-running toward the nearest stairwell, when I spotted Liam. 

He had finally left his suite, but rather than jumping into the water before the ship finally sank, he was clinging to the side railing like a damn lifeline.

"What the hell are you doing?" I shouted over the wind and rain. "Let go and jump!"

"I can't!" he shouted back. 

"Why? You'd go down with the ship if you don't jump off it." I yelled back.

"I...I can't swim!"

I stopped cold.

I ran towards him, "You're kidding me."

He shook his head, terrified.

"You're rich, on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and you never learned how to swim?!"

"I didn't think I'd need to!"

I cursed under my breath. "Unbelievable."

I turned to go.

The ship shook again, throwing him off the railing.

I fell to the floor, but got up quickly after, turning around to leave.

Then I stopped.

I turned to look at him, he was now at the corner of the room, legs to his chest. Terrified like a fish.

My heart screamed to leave him. My brain screamed to run. But something else... something dumber... told me to go back.

So I did.

"Okay," I said, panting, grabbing his arm. "Then hold onto me. And for God's sake, paddle or fake it. Just don't drag me down. Or I'll kill you before the water does."

He didn't answer. Just nodded.

God, I'm a fool. What are we? Jack and Rose from Titanic?

I held his hand, running to the edge of the ship, "Jump," I yelled. 

He hesitated for a split second, but my grip around him was tighter, I pulled him, and we both jumped into the water together.

SPLASHHH......

The water shot up my nose so fast I thought my brain had short-circuited.

When I chose to study marine biology, I pictured sunlit dives and coral reefs.... I never imagined I'd be in the open ocean, hauling a fully grown man like he was my personal charity project.

"Maya! Help!!!" Liam's voice wasn't so much a call for help as it was a full-on screech.

I'd expected chaos the moment we jumped into the water, maybe huge waves, deafening wind, the kind of storm you only see in disaster movies. Instead, the water was... calm. Mostly. Just a lazy swell and a breeze brushing against my ears, which made zero sense.

Because logically? This wasn't the kind of weather that could rip a luxury cruise ship apart.

But I didn't have time to solve that mystery. I had a billionaire flailing beside me, throwing water everywhere except in the direction we needed to go.

"Paddle!" I yelled, choking as a wave slapped me in the face. "Push the water behind you!"

He coughed, sputtered, and kicked... if you could call that kicking.

"I can't feel my legs! Please, don't let me go!" he begged, his voice almost sounding like a baby crying for his mother.

If eye-rolling worked underwater, my pupils would've done a full gymnastics routine.

Why was I even doing this? My own survival wasn't guaranteed. Hell, it was barely possible. And here I am, hauling Mr. Can't-Swim-But-Owns-A-Yacht.

"I won't let you go," I said, forcing the words through gritted teeth. "Just float. Let the water carry you. We just need somewhere to rest until help comes."

Lie.

I didn't believe help was coming. But for once, I hoped being tangled up with a billionaire would actually pay off.

I don't know how long I swam. Or dragged. Or half-drowned.

Every second stretched into an hour. My arms trembled, my shoulders screamed, and each kick of my legs felt heavier than the last. I could feel the tremor in my grip on Liam's wrist, but I didn't dare loosen it.

He was my ticket out of here.

I can be forgotten easily, but certainly not the heir to the Ashford empire.

The water's pull was relentless, tugging at my clothes, dragging me under if I let my guard down. Every breath felt stolen, bought at the price of another burning stroke forward.

I scanned the horizon for any resting place, but nothing. Absofuckenlutely nothing. No land. No boats. Just blue swallowing blue.

"Do you see anything?" I asked. Maybe I was the one who was just too blind to see...

But before he could respond, "BOOM..."

Something slammed into my head. Not enough to end me, but enough to send the world spinning. The edges of my vision went fuzzy. I couldn't tell if it was metal, wood, or just the universe giving me one final slap for bad life choices.

"Maya!" Liam's voice was muffled, panicked. I felt his grip tighten on my arm.

Probably finally realizing I wasn't gonna let go...

And then... darkness, and water gushing into my mouth and nostrils.

The fucken water hadn't killed me, nor had the storm. 

A fucken  table did...

Where was it when we needed a resting spot? 

In the world of unlucky, I'd be the queen.

*********

When I woke up, it was to sand scraping against my cheek and the rhythmic slap of waves against my legs.

I coughed until my ribs ached, spitting out a mouthful of seawater. My lungs burned. My head pounded with every beat of my heart.

"I'm alive." The words scraped out of me. Then, louder... "I'm fucking alive."

The ocean had spat me out like it was done playing with its food. And hell, I was grateful.

But then...

"Liam," I called out like my brain was finally resetting.

I sat up fast, scanning the shoreline. "Liam?"

No answer. Just the whisper of waves and... trees.

Tall palms. Thick undergrowth. A jagged cliff in the distance.

The realization landed on me like a punch.

"I'm alone."

On an island.

Was he dead? Did someone save him and ditch me?

"Oh my God, if he left me here after everything..." I muttered. "I will haunt him till his death..."

I forced myself upright, my entire muscle aching like hell itself. 

The summer dress and jacket cling to my skin. 

My knees were shaking. Hell, my body just wanted to collapse. 

But I have to get out of here, I have to find someone, or something. 

Finally turning around to gauge my surroundings, I contemplated where to head. 

The cliff, or the bush? 

After so much consideration, I chose the cliff.

The cliff loomed ahead of me like a dare, so I started climbing. One hand after another, ignoring the sting in my scraped palms.

"Hello?" My voice cracked halfway up. "Anybody here?" I called out, hoping anyone would hear me and come to my rescue.

But only my own desperation echoed back at me.

The climb felt like forever, I scraped my knee against rock, warm blood trailing down my shin, but I didn't stop.

Just when I thought I'd finally pass out and fall to my death from this cliff, my fingers touched the flat surface.

Using all of the strength I had left, I pulled myself up, lying on my back. 

I lay there on the grass, gulping air like it was luxury. 

When I finally stood, the view stole whatever hope I had left.

No houses. No boats. No movement.

Just endless water on all sides and me with  the sickening realization that there was no way off this island.

My eyes caught something, just a little distance from the shore.

I squinted my eyes to get a better look, it wasn't just something. It was someone.

Face down. Limbs slack.

"Liam?" My heart stuttered.

I didn't think. 

Adrenaline shot through my veins, and I ran. Half-slid down the cliffside, hitting the sand hard before splashing into the water.

The cold bit into my legs, but I kept going until I reached him. His skin was pale, his lips tinged blue.

"Come on, come on..." I yelled like that would automatically bring him back to life.

Hooking my arm under his, I hauled him towards shore.

By the time we hit the sand, my lungs were on fire and my arms were jelly. He wasn't breathing.

"No. No, no, no. You don't get to die after all that."

I pressed my palms to his chest, counting under my breath. Nothing. I leaned down, forcing air into his lungs. His chest rose, but still no response. I did it again. And again.

And again...

"God please, do not let him die..." 

I sat by his side, not sure what other additional method I knew that could revive him. 

His usually black perfect hair now colored with sand, framing his sharp jawline, even now as he lay lifeless, he still looked like he was competing for the most perfect face...

"You can't die," I said.

"I need to take revenge for all the things you've done to me, I can't let you die,"

Like that was my awakening call, I climbed over him and started putting pressure on his chest over again.

Leaning down, I forced more air into his lungs like my life depended on it. 

Then...he coughed. Hard. Water gushed from his mouth, splattering my face.

"OMG!! You're.." I screamed in excitement, almost hugging him.

But shoved me back in full force, still coughing. "Were you.." cough.. " trying to take advantage of me?"