"Angela...I didn't know cruise ships were this huge. You can fit 3 of your new office building in here." Tony said in awe as they arrived at the deck and several first commanding Officers of the ship welcomed them.
"Isn't this great? You and I on a vacation of a lifetime! Lying back on lounge chairs while sipping champagne as the ship stroll on the magnificent emerald waters, seagulls flying overhead and dolphins jumping in and out of the waters—this is the life. " exclaimed Tony with absolute excitement.
"Good morning, Ms. Bower!", greeted the First mate.
Tony and Angela took the red-eye flight via American Eagle from Bradley Airport in Connecticut to Miami where the Crown Princess cruise ship will start her voyage to the pristine waters on the Caribbean sea instead of flying a day before and staying a night in Miami. Angela felt so exhausted. She wondered how Tony managed to keep his pep being awake for several hours and then carrying two heavy luggage.
"Good morning", she managed. Tony saw the cool breeze blew Angela's blond hair away from her face and swayed her blue sun dress a little, revealing her shapely legs. He put his hands inside the pockets of his khaki shorts and exhaled. Oh, boy this is going to be a long week, he thought.
"Stanley here, will show you to your room, Ms. Bower", said the officer.
Tony and Angela followed Stanley inside the ship. The main lobby was encased by a Cathedral ceiling, with wall to wall mirrors on either side, velvet couches that match the draperies and red carpet on the floor. A long, winding gold and black spiral staircase was in the middle of the room that leads to the Mezzanine where people can dine and enjoy listening to the piano and an orchestra quartet while watching the people on the main floor. A few yards behind the spiral staircase, on either side were the glass elevators that would take the guests to all 15 floors of the ship. Tony and Angela were taken to the 10th floor, the highest floor of the guest rooms and were led to the left corridor as they stepped out of the elevator. The cabin boy opened Room 1026 put their luggage in and handed Tony the key. The room had a foyer and you step down to the carpeted area where 2 double beds were and on the far side of the room is a massive glass window that allows you to watch the horizon. On the opposite side of the beds was the door leading to the bathroom and beside the bathroom door was the plasma television and vcr. Tony checked out the bathroom and saw it had walk in closets and a Jacuzzi.
"Oh wow, Angela. Is this how the queens live", quipped Tony.
"Oh that luggage goes to another room", said Angela to Stanley as she pointed out Tony's suitcase.
"Other room? Madame, you only had one room reserved under your name", said Stanley.
"What?" Angela said in disbelief. "I called up the travel agency handling this function and specifically said 2 rooms", said Angela. "Would you please be so kind as to check on the mix-up", she continued as she exhaustedly sat on one of the soft beds and rested her head on the pillow.
"Angela, Angela, calm down", said Tony. "There was no mix-up." He gave the cabin boy his gratuity and closed the door. Angela looked at him in confusion.
"When the travel coordinator, Lucille, called she said she couldn't get any 2 rooms with a connecting door or rooms close to each other. So how am I suppose to check on you if I was on another floor so I told her to just make sure we get a big room with 2 beds that way I can take care of you and still have our personal space", explained Tony. Angela didn't know what to say. A week alone with Tony in one room, can she handle that?
"Tony, you're impossible!" shouted Angela and stormed out of the room.
She immediately regretted her action as she was tired and wanted so much to sleep before the seminar this afternoon at 2pm. Besides, Tony was being so sweet, wanting to take care of her. He was only thinking of her welfare, she realized. She stepped out on the deck of the 10th floor and watched the morning sun peer out of a huge cloud. The ship started to move out of the dock. Angela watched as the harbour slowly disappeared from view. I guess I was just uncomfortable having Tony so close because I care about him. What if he sees it in my eyes. What if I talk in my sleep and tell him just how I feel. My college roommate told me sometimes I talk in my sleep, especially when I'm tired. And this Ad Congress certainly might cause me to be exhausted. I have to come up with great ideas and be aggressive in showing them how brilliant Angela Bower is, one of the few roses among thorns of male executives.
Oh, Tony, why aren't you the least bit troubled about being with me in one room. I must be just a friend to you. She was leaning on the railings deep in thought, the wind blowing her hair and the skirts of her blue dress, when her reverie was disturbed by a kiss on the nape of her neck. She squealed in surprise and turned around and found herself staring into the pool of blue eyes of Todd. She had to restrain herself from slapping the grin off his face.
"Todd! What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Hey, you're not the only big top shot Ad exec. I too am invited to the Ad Congress", he replied with a devilish grin, running his hands on Angela's back.
"I didn't mean to imply that...don't." Angela said rather strongly than she intended to, pushing him away when he tried to pull her closer to him.
His flirtatious smile quickly faded and his blue eyes became cloudy "Hey... don't you think that icy demeanour has gone far enough", he retorted and grabbed Angela's wrist. This caught Angela by surprise and was unable to react right away. He was about to force her to kiss him when an angry Brooklyn accented voice reverberated in the air.
"Didn't it ever occur to you that maybe she isn't interested." Before either Angela nor Todd could react Tony was beside them, loosening Todd's grip on Angela and taking her from Todd. When Todd recovered from his surprise he glared at Tony.
"Stay out of this", he said trying to grab Angela again. Tony looked at him with a controlled wrath but steadily said
"Let my girlfriend go". This statement left Todd dumbfounded and he angrily left in haste.
Angela was so shaken by the incident she buried herself in Tony's embrace for comfort. Tony held her close, stroking her hair as she calmed herself. Angela could smell Tony's Cool Water Cologne on his white shirt and this somehow reassured her of his protection and she snuggled closer. Tony was still cloaked in hatred for what he had witnessed Todd tried to do to Angela but having Angela's soft frame in his arms, has melted his fury. The feel of her cheeks through his unbuttoned white shirt, and the smell of faint scent of Chamomile in her hair filled his being with something he'd rather not entertain. "Come on, Angela. Let's go back to the room".
Angela woke up refreshed and vibrant after a 4 hour nap. The Ad Congress was about to start in 30 minutes and she still hasn't decided what outfit to wear. When Tony and Angela went back to the room, Tony brewed a cup of Darjeeling Tea he brought with him from their house to calm her and help her sleep. Both were quiet for sometime uncertain on how they could broach the subject of what had just happened at the sundeck. After Angela was done with the tea, she looked up from the bed and looked into Tony's warm dark eyes.
"Thank you. I'm so glad you're here with me", she said sincerely. Tony walked toward her on the bed and sat down beside her.
"Hey, you don't have to thank me. I knew he was trouble the first time I saw him", he said warmly and put his arms around her shoulder. Angela in turn leaned her head side-ways onto Tony's shoulder just enjoying the feel of him near her.
Tony knew Angela was exhausted from working on her speech and program for the Ad Congress and for staying up all night at the plane last night. The mishap at the deck with Todd didn't help either. Soon Angela fell into slumber. Tony carried her to the other bed near the window. Although she already wrinkled the sheets of the bed nearer the door, Tony brought her to the other bed where she could see the sky and the stars at night and view the colourful horizon during sunset. He covered her with the soft quilt and adjusted the temperature of the air-conditioner. He then stepped out to explore the ship.
When he got back to the room Angela had showered and was wearing her pink bathrobe, still undecided about what to wear. "Oh, Tony, what do you think-Neiman Marcus or Michael Kors?"
Angela was holding up four outfits for Tony to decide, all of which appeared sophisticated but sexy. Angela was eyeing the white cashmere sheath dress with matching cashmere white coat. It was knee-length but he was certain the thin black accessory belt would lift the dress a bit.
"Don't you have any of your Prada—they're more conservative—you know slacks and blazer?" Then in a softer, lighter tone that Angela couldn't hear "those that don't cling too much."
Then back to his normal voice "I remember ironing 2 of them just last night before we left the house," replied Tony.
"Oh, I left them to make room for my Neiman Marcus new collection. I don't want to bring too many suitcases", she said absent-mindedly taking out a bonbon pleated dress. Tony strode to the closet and took a Nieman Marcus long-sleeved chocolate cashmere lounger that reached the shins. It has ribbed front, a henley neckline.
"What about this", he said handing it to her.
"Oh that's not for business. That's more suitable for cocktail or an informal dinner date. Besides, don't you think I'm too clad?" Angela replied walking to the bathroom to get dressed.
When she walked out of the bathroom her hair had been blow dried, her wavy blond curls framing her face. She had on the scooped-neckline bonbon sleeveless pleated dress with pink, cream, and brown geometric print down front she was holding earlier. Her high-heeled peep-toe ecru sandals with strings that you tie above your ankles made the dress seemed shorter.
Tony caught his breath, "and I suppose this is a business suit?" he asked incredulously.
"Well, as it is, it is not but if I put on this pique off-white coat it will be. I don't want to be too formal on our first day of the seminar. I want something casual yet smart to give an aura of success without intimidation."
Tony eyed the long-sleeves tie detailed cuffs and the front flap pocketed coat and felt relieved that it reached Angela's knees and it indeed looks becoming on her. He approached Angela and closed the three buttons in front of the coat concealing the dress.
Angela laughed, "Tony! The point was for the dress to peer out of the coat." "We don't want the male executives having any ideas, do we?", he said.
"Tony, if you're thinking about Todd, you don't have to worry. I don't think he'll ever try that onslaught again after your confrontation. Besides, you're a man but you don't get any ideas. See you at dinner and enjoy yourself while I'm engaged. The shops, spa, theatres, and activity centres are on the top five floors", she smiled and walked out the door.
"Don't be too sure about me not having any ideas", he called out to the closed door.