Chapter 131

**Hadassah POV**

The Rolls-Royce Phantom glides down the winding coastal road, its polished black exterior reflecting the sun setting over the Turkish horizon. The deep purr of its engine is almost imperceptible, a sound of quiet power, as it weaves through the narrow streets toward the bustling port. The scent of saltwater fills the air, mingling with the distant sound of seagulls and the rhythmic slap of waves against the docks.
I lean forward to engage the divider so the opaque glass glides up, sealing off the rear cabin.
“Tell me again how you making your money?”
“He’s not making it,” Emilia clarifies, giving Calum a meaningful side eye. “He’s taking it.”
“Must be because there’s no way you’ve been living paycheck to paycheck with me. And yet you had this big money making potential—this whole time!”
“It’s not like that,” he mutters indignantly, shifting comfortably. “You don’t think if I could have been living like this sooner. I would’ve been.”
I incline my head, staring at him with a degree of distrust.
“You’re evading the question with another question.”
“Classic evasion technique,” Emilia comments with an amused smile.
“Oh, look!” he says with exaggerated excitement, pointing over me to gesture to the window. Clearly diverting attention off himself. “We’re here.”
Ahead, the massive cruise ship comes into view, a gleaming white behemoth, anchored against the shimmering sea. Its towering decks are lit with golden lights, casting a warm glow over the water. People mill around the port, travelers and locals alike, their eagerness palpable as they queue in long lines beneath the towering ship. The Rolls slips through the crowd effortlessly, drawing eyes as it approaches the VIP entrance reserved for the ship’s most prestigious guests.
“You guys ready to act like the rich snobs everyone hates?” Calum quizzes, pinching his fingers and bringing to the crown of his head, near his face before bringing it down to his chest in a straight line theatrically . “So I’m channeling my inner Torin.”
In unison, Emilia and I slip on our black sunglasses despite it being a late summer evening. Calum follows suit, fixing on his own pair of Louis Vuittons. The car comes to a stop, its sleek doors swinging open. All three of us, elegantly dressed, step out, our shoes tapping softly against the polished pavement. We pause for a moment, taking in the sight of the ship looming above us before we move closer behind the queue. The line is long, stretching across the dock, filled with murmuring passengers eagerly awaiting their escape into luxury. Our advent immediately yanks their attention as speculations about who we are ripple through the crowd. Others strain their necks to catch glimpses of the Rolls.
Calum flings a glance back at us, dipping his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose to expose his eyes. He sends us both a wink before he struts up the wide ramp, striding up the sidelines where the mass of people are clumped in the center in a long and thick line as Calum rises among the rims. Emilia and I trade looks before we speed up to catch up to him, Versace heels thudding on the wooden planks.
“I don’t intend to spend a premium only to endure anything less than first-class service!” Calum yells with a polished accent with an Eurocentric tinge. “Surely you don’t expect us to queue with the commoners like livestock awaiting their turn, do you?”
An outraged clamor rushes through the throng, a burst of revile from those who understood. And that eruption alarms the staff ahead. Within moments, a secondary host, dressed in crisp white, appears from the ship's side entrance. She sashays toward us with practiced grace, if she’s revolted by his behavior—it doesn’t show at all. A curated composure of a professionalist. With a sickening attitude, Calum brandishes the elite documentation of who we are and whatever room he had booked for us. Her entire demeanor shifts from staid to fascination as she fixes on an indulgent smile.
“My apologies, Mr Astor. We should have had someone waiting to welcome you upon your arrival.”
“Exactly,” he says with a dramatic hand fanning his face. Then he pauses to stare back at her with vulgar expectancy. “What are you waiting for, an autograph? Take us to our suites.”
She bows her head at him and offers Emilia and I a discreet nod as she gestures for us to follow.
The host leads us past the crowded line and through a private entrance, where the grandeur of the ship’s interior unfolds. We step into the lobby, and the world transforms. Towering marble columns rise to meet vaulted ceilings adorned with chandeliers that sparkle like stars, casting a soft glow over the expansive room.
Ornate gold trim lines the edges of everything, from the polished floors to the grand staircase that spirals up toward the higher decks. Gentle classical music plays in the background, mingling with the low murmur of guests and the clink of champagne glasses. Calum hangs back so Emilia and I can flank him as we each claim an arm, tangling our arms around his own.
“You’re doing too much,” I whisper as I maintain an unimpressed expression, even though I’m awe-struck. It has the opulence of Orian’s superyacht—it’s just a hundred times bigger because it’s a whole cruise ship.
“I’m just playing the part,” he whispers back oh-so lusciously. Then he turns his head to address Emilia. “And how are you finding the facilities?”
“I can’t say I wouldn’t mind living a life like this,” she responds, almost absently. “A life, but I live in this one.”
As a trio, we are escorted deeper into the heart of the ship, past luxurious lounges filled with velvet armchairs and shimmering fountains, where staff move with quiet precision. The ship’s wealth and splendor are on full display, every surface polished, every detail meticulously designed to awe.
At last, we reach our destination—a grand set of double doors that open into the Presidential Cabin Master Suite. The host steps aside with a bow, allowing us to enter. Inside, the suite is nothing short of breathtaking. A massive living space greets us, bathed in natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a panoramic view of the open sea.