Carmen sat on the bench for what felt like hours, her mind in turmoil. Eventually, she made the difficult decision to leave the cruise. She couldn't see any reason to stay, even though she wanted to know why Simon had done what he did. She was exhausted and done with everything that was going on around her. The constant hurt, betrayal, and lies had taken their toll, and she needed a break, a fucking break.
Had it not been for Molly stopping her from boarding that flight, she would have been sitting contentedly with her dad. She wouldn't have met Simon, and she wouldn't be standing at this perplexing crossroads in her life. Now, her biggest problem was figuring out what she should do next. Should she simply accept whatever came her way as fate, or should she take action and ensure that those who had made her life miserable were held accountable?
The uncertainty of her situation weighed heavily on her mind. She felt lost, trapped in a maze with no clear path out. Should she continue down the road she was on, or take a new, unknown direction?
As she pondered her options, memories of the past flooded her mind. The harsh words, the cruel laughter, the constant belittling. It was all still fresh, still raw.
A sudden surge of anger coursed through her. Why should she just accept what had happened to her? Why shouldn't she fight back and make a stand?
However, the reality of the situation was harsh and daunting. The individuals Carmen was currently dealing with were some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world. They were untouchable, operating outside the bounds of any justice system. With an army of lawyers, private investigators, and corrupt officials at their disposal, they could evade consequences for any wrongdoing.
As much as it pained her to admit it, this was the harsh truth of the world she lived in. The rich wielded immense power and influence, and there seemed to be little that could bring them down or hold them accountable for their actions. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it was a reality that Carmen had learned to accept in order to survive in the cutthroat world of high-stakes business.
"Ugh, what should I do?" Carmen let out a frustrated groan and dropped her face into her hands. She was at her wits' end, unsure of what to do next. The weight of her problems felt like a heavy burden that she couldn't shake off.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts, and she felt a jolt of shock run through her body.
"How about welcoming me with a fucking smile!" the voice exclaimed, and Carmen's head shot up to see who it was.
Carmen's heart leaped into her throat when she laid eyes on her best friend Molly standing before her, looking more alive and vibrant than ever before. She was so shocked that she could barely find the words to speak. "What the hell?" she finally managed to gasp out, hardly believing that her friend was actually there.
With a sudden burst of energy, Carmen leapt to her feet and threw her arms around Molly in a tight embrace. She held her friend close, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I can't believe you're here," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Molly hugged her back just as tightly, chuckling. "I couldn't let you suffer alone," she said, her voice filled with both tease and genuine concern. "Of course I had to come."
Carmen pulled back slightly and studied her friend's face, taking in every detail. Molly's hair was styled in a sleek bob, and her makeup was impeccable, with a bold red lip that made her features pop. She looked like a completely different person from the last time Carmen had seen her.
"Seriously, how did you even get here?" Carmen asked, still in shock.
Molly grinned mischievously. "Let's just say, I have my ways," she said, winking.
Carmen couldn't help but smile at her friend's antics. Having Molly by her side again made her feel like anything was possible.
But then Molly's expression turned into a pout and she scanned the area. "Hey, what's up with you sitting here all by yourself?" she asked with a worried look on her face. "You totally ruined my sneaky plan, you know? I was gonna sneak into your room while you were off doing who knows what and scare the shit out of you with my new skeleton mask."
Carmen couldn't help but swat Molly's arm playfully. "You and your crazy ideas," she chuckled. "I can't believe you bought a skeleton mask just to scare me. I guess, I don't have any reason to curse my twisted ankle anymore."
Molly laughed, holding her hands up in surrender. "Hey, I had to make sure you got the surprise of a lifetime. But seriously, what's going on? Why are you here all alone? And wait, did you say your ankle was twisted?"
Carmen sighed, feeling like she was living in a string of bad luck. "Where do I even begin?"
"Don't even worry about it, chica. I'm here now, and we're gonna turn this ship around. Let's get crazy and have some fun, dammit!" Molly declared, throwing her hands up in excitement.
* * *
Once Molly had stashed her suitcases in her swanky suite, she made a deal with Carmen to rendezvous at the food court. Eager to look her best, she swiftly swapped her travel clothes for a pair of daring hot pants and a stunning strap top that hugged her curves in all the right places.
Taking one last flirty glance at her reflection in the mirror, Molly strutted towards the elevator. But as soon as she stepped inside, her mood was dampened by the arrival of a dude who seemed to have no concept of personal space.
Molly shot daggers at the man and folded her arms tightly across her chest. "What the hell, man?"
Jasper, however, seemed unperturbed by her icy glare and flashed a playful grin, hands padded in the pockets of his jeans. "I just wanted to make sure you got in without any hassle," he said, his tone light and teasing. "I was raised to treat women like queens and make sure they're always comfortable as hell."
Molly rolled her eyes, clearly not impressed. "Let's get one thing straight: just because you did me a favor once doesn't mean we're besties, got it? So don't even think about getting any ideas in that big ol' head of yours."
Jasper just grinned, his charming smile revealing pearly white teeth. "Oh, I wasn't getting any ideas before," he replied, as if a light bulb had just flicked on above his head. "But now that you mention it...I can't seem to stop having some pretty good ones." He gave her a cheeky wink, and Molly let out an exasperated groan.
"God, you're insufferable."
"And yet, I'm the only one you came to for help," Jasper pointed out, a hint of smugness creeping into his voice.
Molly bristled at his words. "That's only because the cruise was fully booked, and you happened to have a spare ticket," she countered.
As the elevator descended, Jasper leaned in close, the stunning view of the atrium over Molly's shoulder visible through the glass walls. His warm breath tickled her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. The scent of his cologne mixed with the salty sea air, and Molly couldn't help but notice how soft his lips looked. Despite the intimate proximity, she found herself strangely drawn to him, even though she didn't approve of his behavior.
"And how did you know I had a spare, Molly darling?" Jasper whispered.
Molly's heart fluttered at the endearment, but she quickly regained her composure. "I'm not a woman without resources, in case you forgot," she retorted, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Jasper leaned back, a smug expression on his face. "Or maybe you've been stalking my Instagram. You're a bit of a stalker, Molly. Just admit it."
Molly rolled her eyes, feeling a surge of annoyance. "As if I would waste my time stalking your Instagram. Please," she scoffed.
Jasper chuckled, the sound low and throaty. "Well, I must admit I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping you had a secret crush on me."
Molly scoffed, but couldn't help the blush that crept up her neck. "In your dreams, Jasper."
"Hey, a man can dream," Jasper replied with a playful shrug. "But in all seriousness, I'm happy to help you out. Just remember to show some gratitude, okay?"
Molly bristled again, but she knew he had a point. She clenched her jaw and gritted her teeth. "Fine, I'll thank you when we get back on land. But don't expect me to kiss your feet or anything."
Jasper just grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I wasn't thinking about my feet."
Just as Molly was about to completely lose it, the elevator doors swooshed open and she was grateful for the interruption.
"Ew, Jasper," she scrunched her nose instead, as she ducked under his arm and practically ran for the exit, not before hearing him laugh.
"Well, thank the cruise gods for small favors," she muttered under her breath, feeling like she had just escaped a crazy clown on a haunted ride.
A/N: What do you think of the chapter? Omg did you see that thing between MOlly and Jasper coming? :P lol they already have my heart.
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