Chapter 3
Melissa´s jaw dropped. She had no money with her at that moment and the idea of owing something to this Hockley scared her somehow. "I... I-I´m sorry, Mister", she stammered. "But all the money I have is in my cabin. Of course I would fetch it if you want it right here and now."
Quickly she turned her gaze towards the ground. She was so nervous that she had spoken too fast. Melissa wondered whether they could understand her or not.
To her luck the red-haired woman finally joined the conversation. Otherwise the man would have used his chance to throw a hidden word of insulting at her. "Please, excuse Mr. Hockley´s rude behaviour towards you."
She nodded a bit too hastily before the other woman continued: "I think the payment can wait until this evening. Would joining us for dinner be for your liking?"
Melissa could read right from Mr. Hockley´s eyes that it wasn´t for his liking but this was her chance to get to know the woman better. She seemed sympatically.
"Thanks, the pleasure would be all mine." It would be just perfect to show the rich people her manners and that she belonged to them. Hockley smiled a false smile and added: "Then it´s settled. I´ll be waiting for you in front of the dining hall at point seven o´ clock. I expect you to be punctual. Until then." He tapped his hat.
Then he put his arm around the woman´s shoulders, almost pulling her away from Melissa.
As he thought she couldn´t hear him anymore he spoke to her: "Rose, I don´t know what to do anymore. You can´t invite poor strangers..."
His speech continued but Melissa was unable to get what he was talking. But it were probably no compliments.
Two things were for sure: this man was the most arrogant, rudest... person in the world and that she would show all of those people that there was a lady inside her. She was already looking forward to this dinner.
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She left her cabin a quarter to seven, of course with the best dress she had. It had light yellow shades, no sleeves and went down to the ground. A white corset over it made her look almost angelic.
Melissa had decided to wear her blond hair in a knot to her head with two small strands hanging around her face. In her purse she carried the money Hockley wanted from her. In her opinion she didn´t look so much different but perhaps to strangers. And... she had to confess that she felf excited and nervous.
The young woman stopped on the first stair of the way that lead down to a large hall. This first class area of the ship was new to her.
As she looked down at all the beautiful women down there she realized how exaggeratingly the acted. Their faked giggles and waves of their hands made Melissa roll her eyes. They will never notice me until I start acting like them. And that will never happen.
Then her eyes fell on Hockley who leaned lazily against the banisters and probably waiting for her. But his easy-going behaviour he pretended didn´t impress her.
She walked down to him but felt afraid to say something all of sudden. He still didn´t seem to notice.
Her eyes followed his gaze that lay on Rose. With the thought How typical of men, Melissa finally dared to touch his shoulder and shake him out of his daydream.
The look of surprise on his face was obvious as he almost spun around. She smiled at the fact that she´d scared him. Dark brown eyes met green ones. Soon the brown eyes began travelling over her whole body, as if checking whether she looked presentable or not.
He seemed to come to the conclusion that she was worthy to walk beside him. Then it almost scared Melissa as he held his arm to her within moments.
She hooked her own arm under his and let him lead the way inside the dining hall. The room behind the beautiful door was full of people standing together and talking about business or politics.
Hockley guided her to a table where Rose sat. Beside her an older woman with hair just as red as hers. No doubt it was her mother.
There were also two men sitting on it who Melissa knew from the newspaper: Bruce Ismay and Thomas Andrews. They had designed the Titanic and made the building of it possible.
Melissa just wanted to sit down as she felt the chair under her move. Hockley had pulled it back to help her sit but this action had made her fall into the seat. She tried to smile to hide her anger at Hockley that was rising inside her. "Sorry", she heard him whisper but that was of no use.
After the oh-so-good start of dinner a conversation about the Titanic started. But she decided not to join it for she didn´t know much of this ship.
Maybe this could made them forget the little accident. They talked and talked. It almost seemed that they had forgotten that she was sitting on this table, too. Not that this was for Melissa´s disliking but ignoring her was quiete rude of them.
It gave her time to eat the food that was served. What for her disliking was that there was caviar. She hated this stuff so much. She couldn´t imagine people liking it.
Time was passing only slowly. But Rose herself was the one to finally introduce their guest to the others: "Perhaps you have already wondered who this woman here is. She was so kind and gave Caledon the pocket watch back which he had lost. And this dinner is the least we can do to thank her. Would you mind telling us about you, please?"
After all Rose was kind and asked for it and didn´t demand. Melissa nodded and started her story...
