Kurt made his way swiftly up the stairs, heading to B Deck, hoping to find some answers of what was going on, and praying, for his sister's sake, that this was all one giant misunderstanding.
He made his way into the smoking lounge, looking around for any sign of Max.
"Can I help you, sir?" One of the attending staff asked.
"I'm looking for Max Eisenhardt. Have you seen him? It's important that I speak with him."
"I'm sorry sir, but we haven't seen him yet today."
He nodded reluctantly and was just about to walk the other way when a bald man approached him.
"Pardon me….I couldn't help but overhear, but are you looking for Max?"
Kurt turned as the bald man stopped him, and he nodded. "Yes….do you know where I might find him?"
"I don't believe he's been up and about yet. May I ask what this is about?"
"Are you a friend of his?" Kurt asked.
"His business partner. My name is Charles Xavier."
"Mister Xavier, I don't mean to be rude, but your business partner really shouldn't play with people's emotions."
Realization set over Charles' face. "Ah. This is about Miss D'Ancanto."
"Yes. She is my sister. Is it true that Eisenhardt is engaged?"
"I'm afraid it is true. He is engaged to Miss Cassandra Michaels."
"The American heiress?"
"The very same." His smile soon faded into feigned sympathy. "I am truly sorry to be the one to deliver the news."
Kurt sighed, not saying anything for a moment. "Thank you for your time, Mister Xavier."
"Of course."
Max was in an exceptionally good mood. He had slept in, and had woken with a smile on his face as his thoughts were immediately of Anna Marie. The way she laughed, the way she had danced, the blush on her cheeks when he had bid her good night.
He felt like he was flying when she was near, no longer caged.
When he finally emerged from his stateroom, he was distracted for a moment before he saw Kurt standing not far away, talking to Charles.
When Kurt turned and started walking away, he caught sight of Max, and Max was immediately confused, as Kurt looked angry.
Kurt walked up to Max, and spoke lowly to him.
"Stay away from my sister."
Max's eyebrows drew together in confusion, and as Kurt walked away, he tried to call out to him.
"Kurt?"
When Kurt ignored him and made his way below, he turned to Charles, who had a slightly smug look on his face.
"You did what?!" Max exclaimed once they were behind closed doors.
"Oh come now Max, I did you a favor-"
"A favor? You lied! How the hell is that a favor?"
"It's not a lie, Max! You are engaged-"
"Not yet."
"Do you really think it matters? The whole purpose of this trip to America was for you to woo Miss Michaels and combine her family fortune-"
"And what if that's not what I want anymore? What if I changed my mind?"
"You cannot be serious, Max. You're seriously going to throw this all out the window over some trollop-"
"Call her that again and I will deck you. She has a name, Charles. Anna Marie."
"Anna Marie is clouding your judgment, Max. Granted, she is beautiful, but she is beneath you. She wants nothing more than your money-"
"And how the hell do you know what she wants, Charles? You barely spent an evening with her. You know nothing about her!"
"Do you? Do you know anything about her, Max?"
"I know that she is a kind, energetic, fiery woman who makes me feel things that I never thought I could feel."
"And if you were poor, she wouldn't give you the time of day."
"Bite your tongue, Charles."
"Don't you see that I am trying to do what's best for you-"
"That is a load of blödsinn, and you know it! You only care about what will make you rich! Nevermind that the woman that I have spent most of my time with while on this ship, a woman that I have come to care for, is probably down in third class upset over the lie you told-"
"It was not a LIE!"
"SHUT. UP!" Max bellowed. "It is a lie. I am not engaged. Nor do I want to be, if it means breaking her heart."
Charles was seething. "You're really going to throw it all away….on this….woman."
"Yes. I am. If she'll still have me."
"I won't let you."
"You're welcome to try and stop me."
"You are making a mistake-"
"And if I am, it is mine to make. Now kindly get out."
Anna Marie sat on her bed, waiting with bated breath, hoping her brother would walk back through the door and tell her that is was all just a cruel joke, that Remy was a liar, and that Max hadn't been leading her on-
She heard footsteps, and there, in the doorway, stood Kurt, with empathy and disappointment in his eyes.
No….
He took a deep breath and came to sit next to her on the bed, wrapping an arm around her and holding her close to him.
"I'm so sorry, sister…."
She wanted the ground to swallow her, and barely heard his words of comfort as she cried.