Second Chance Daddy

Chapter Four

Elodie’s POV

Our suite is nothing short of breathtaking. Situated perfectly on the corner of the bow on the highest deck, it feels less like a cruise cabin and more like a floating penthouse. The layout splits into two spacious bedrooms separated by a lavish private bathroom, but the crown jewel of the entire space is the floor-to-ceiling glass wall. It stretches the entire width of the suite, offering an unobstructed, panoramic view of the endless ocean ahead of us, the water meeting the horizon in a sharp, glittering line.

‘It’s bigger than our whole apartment’ Callie gushes, her excitement palpable as she pulls open every single drawer, wardrobe and cabinet in the room, just to see what’s inside. Her small hands run over the plush fabric of the curtains, and she presses her nose against the glass, staring down at the churning white foam wake far below.

I can’t help but smile, as I watch her flit from point to point, exclaiming about the most mundane things as she finds them.

‘Look Mummy! There is a metal box with numbers! Wow! I wonder what it’s for’ she adds, frowning in confusion.

‘It’s a safe’ I laugh as I walk over to stand beside her, ‘it’s to keep your valuables in so people can’t steal them.’

Callie’s eyes widen as she looks up at me, ‘people steal on boats?!’ she whispers in awe.

I shake my head, ‘no angel, not really, it’s just a precaution for people who want extra security for their most precious things.

Callie frowns, looking back at the safe before moving toward her small, frayed backpack and opening it, pulling out her much-loved stuffed rabbit and bringing it back to place inside. She closes the door, and steps back beaming, ‘now Mr Bunny is safe’ she states, ‘he’s my most precious thing so he goes in there.’

I nod, ‘excellent idea’ I reply, ‘he’ll be very safe in there.’ I don’t bother to tell her about locking it, it seems it’s enough that Mr Bunny is in there at all.

My daughter takes off again, flying into my room, barely missing a vase that sits on a small table by the door as she passes. I dart forward, steadying it with my hands before lifting it up and placing it somewhere safer.

‘Don't break anything before we even have a chance to unpack, Callie,’ I tease gently, leaning against the doorframe of the primary bedroom, watching Callie head for the bathroom and dive through it.

‘I won't!’ she throws over her shoulder, as she steps through the connecting bathroom and into the second bedroom, throwing herself face first onto the bed and rolling onto her back to star fish the mattress. ‘Look at how big my bed is!’ she squeals, ‘and the pillows, Mummy! They're like clouds!’

I chuckle softly, but the light heartedness doesn't last. A sharp chime echoes from the sleek digital panel mounted near the door, followed by a polite, modulated voice reminding all participants that the ship will be leaving port in fifteen minutes, and all contestants need to make their way to the main observation for the live guest icebreaker where we will all meet each other and the host for the first time.

My stomach does a familiar, uncomfortable flip. Live. We’re going to be live, on TV, in front of millions of people. I take a deep, stabilizing breath, smoothing down the front of my sundress in a futile attempt to calm my racing pulse.

‘Alright, explorer," I call out, trying to keep my tone light and steady as panic pulses through me. "Time to go meet everybody. Let's try to make a good impression.’

We step out into the sunlight, Callie’s hand grasped in mine as we walk toward the observation deck, following the sounds of voices until we walk up a flight of steps that opens up before us.

People are everywhere, lighting teams run around with cables, camera men try to find the perfect spot to record, sound technicians check microphones that are on the end of long sticks and producers flip through scripts and shout at everyone to keep the walkway clear.

‘It’s a bit overwhelming isn’t it’ a soft voice murmurs at my elbow, startling me. I turn to find a brunette who looks to be in her late twenties standing beside me, her eyes on a small boy of about eight years old that is hanging onto the rail, staring down at the water below.

‘Are . . . you a contestant too?’ I ask hoarsely.

The woman turns toward me, her smile widening as she nods.

‘Yeah, here to find my prince charming just like everyone else’ she replies dryly before laughing, her tone warm as she shakes her head.

My eyes drift over the woman beside me, and I feel an immediate sense of ease. She carries herself with an unassuming air.

As she turns to face me, holding out her hand, she offers a small, genuine smile that reaches her eyes. I immediately like her, she feels honest and I get the feeling that she believes she’ll find love on this ship as much as I do.

‘I’m Lena’ she tells me. ‘And that little rascal over there is my son Felix.’

I take her hand, shaking it, ‘I’m Elodie, and this is my daughter Callie’ I reply.

I look around at the other contestants, only the women seem to be here, each are keeping to themselves, every one of us watching the rest uncertainly, there are four of us in total.

A well dressed man steps forward, a microphone in his hand as he waves to us all, encouraging us forward. We all shuffle closer, Lena beckoning her son to her who rushes over, eyeing Callie with intrigue as we gather around.

‘Welcome ladies’ the man states loudly, smiling widely at us, ‘As you all probably know, I am Fallon Monroe . . .’ He pauses, pearly white teeth flashing as he waits for . . . I don’t know what.

One of the women a tall, elegant blonde with an expensive looking dress and oozing confidence, beams widely as she nods.

‘Well of course we know who you are Fallon, you are our very good looking host’ she states, her gaze raking over him.

Fallon beams, ‘you flatter me ma-am’ he returns, ‘but yes, I am your host and fellow traveller on this fine vessel, the Azure Horizon. Now I’m sure that you’ve all noticed that half of our contestants are missing.’ He grins knowingly around at us, ‘that’s because the very first time you meet will be on this deck, live on TV!’

A couple of the women cheer as my stomach squirms for the second time.

‘Yay! We get to have our first reactions broadcast to the nation’ Lena murmurs beside me. I glance over at her as she winces, ‘what if they are all ugly? Or misogynistic assholes? How am I supposed to cover my opinion up? Seriously, what my mouth doesn’t say my face will’ she whispers. I choke back a giggle, hastily turning it into a cough as the blonde flicks her gaze toward me disapprovingly.

‘So, what we are going to do’ Fallon continues as I hastily tune back in, realising that I’ve stopped listening. ‘We’re all going to take a seat on that white couch over there and when the camera’s start, I’ll introduce the show and then speak to each of you in turn so that you can introduce yourselves and your child.’

He glances around the four children who are staring at him mutely, ‘we won’t speak to any of you guys so don’t worry about the camera’s or anything’ he tells them in what I think is supposed to be a fatherly voice. ‘All you need to do is sit nicely beside your mother’s and try not to pick your noses.’ He laughs loudly, Lena’s son joining in, as does the little boy standing beside the blonde who glared at me seconds ago, though he stops abruptly when his mother’s red painted nails curl around his shoulder.

Fallon finishes his speal and we trail over to the couch, the blonde taking the seat nearest to the host as the rest of us file in behind her. Lena and I take the seats at the end, Callie and Felix sitting beside each other in between us, heads bent together as Felix shows her a shiny green pebble that he produced from his pocket.

Camera’s move in, zooming in on our faces as an older man in a producers chair holds up his hand for quiet before a young girl steps forward and starts to countdown, her voice cutting off as she holds up three, then two, then one finger and points to the host.

His smile turns on instantly, his back straightening as Fallon looks down the camera lens.

"Good afternoon and welcome, everyone, to this very special Christmas edition of . . ." he pauses for dramatic effect before his voice booms out loudly, ‘The Luxury Love Liner! Where we try to find true love for one of our amazing single mother’s just in time for Dear old Saint Nick.’ He raises an eyebrow, smiling c.ockily, ‘let’s meet our first contestant shall we?’ he adds as the camera pans to the blonde who throws out her chest her smile widening as she wraps an arm around her son.

‘Hi Fallon, I’m Vanessa and this is my sweet five year old son Dominic’ she states loudly, ‘and can I say what a pleasure it is to meet you, I am a huge fan.’

Fallon laughs loudly, ‘well it’s a delight to meet you too Vanessa, why are you here on . . . The Luxury Love Liner?’

Vanessa bats her eyelashes provocatively at the camera, ‘I’m here because I am looking for what everyone is looking for, true love.’

I zone out my gaze moving around the deck as each contestant takes their turn until I feel Lena reach over and prod me.

I glance back just as Fallon smiles toward me, ‘and last but in no way least, our final contestant! What is your name and who is this beautiful little girl with you?’

I look up to find the camera in my face, my lips parting as my throat constricts.

‘I . . uh . . I. .’ I stammer.

‘Her name is Elodie and she’s my mummy’ Callie pipes up suddenly, ‘and my name is Callie! We’re here so my mummy can find a boyfriend and I can have a Daddy to come to my school like other kids.’

‘Well, um . . . thank you Callie’ Fallon replies, ‘we hope we can make that dream come true for you here on The Luxury Love Liner! Now, shall we meet the men that are hoping to sweep our lovely ladies off their feet?

Gentlemen! Come on out!’

I turn instinctively toward the stairs as the first of the male contestants appears, his sandy blonde hair blowing in the wind as he waves to the camera before heading over to us and stopping on a taped x that I now realise is stuck to the floor. Next is a tall, broad shouldered man who looks like he might have played sports at some point. Third and fourth are both brunettes, angular jaws and reek of wealth. Contestant five smiles warmly around us all as he approaches, lifting his hand to drag his fingers through his salt and pepper hair.

Beside me Lena groans, ‘hubba hubba’ she mutters, forcing me to press my lips together to stop myself from laughing. That desire fades quickly as the last male contestant appears at the top of the stairs, an expensive tailored suit moulded to his perfect body, black hair that sweeps over her forehead in a slightly dishevelled way and the arrogant look of a man who is important and he knows it. He radiates power, a cold, calculated authority that commands the entire deck, even the other male contestants seem to shy away from him slightly.

He steps up to his marker, which is nearest to Fallon, who beams as he asks him to introduce himself.

He clears his throat before replying in the smooth, velvety voice that I would recognise anywhere.

‘I’m Beckett Hayes, CEO and owner of Omni Logistics, it is a pleasure to meet you all.’

His gaze moves along the row of women, a practiced smile on his lips as he nods to us each, Vanessa smiling predatorially at him as she leans forward slightly in her seat. Everything moves in slow motion around me, my breathing harsh as my fingers dig into the seat underneath me, staring at him. He finally reaches me, that smile still in place, and for one, brief second I think that maybe, he won't recognise me . . . Beckett's gaze starts to slide away before it snaps back to me, his brow furrowing just a fraction as he stares at me. I hold my breath, silently begging for him to look away, maybe not be able to place me. Suddenly his eyes widen and I see the realisation flicker in his face. I swallow thickly, trying to think of what to do, maybe I can still get off the ship, they can't physically stop me from leaving if I really want to.

my body won't move though, I'm frozen in place under his intense gaze, staring back at him until his attention drops to my right . . . to the six year old child beside me . . . the child he helped me create . . . even if he doesn’t know it.