Lauren sighs when she sees what time it is. It's almost one in the afternoon.
After eating breakfast earlier, she returned to her cabin since she was still sleepy. She only wants to take a nap, but it seems she slept for too long.
How could she not sleep longer? The morning has arrived, but she's still wide awake. She rolled over on the bed multiple times, played some lullaby, and already started counting sheep, but nothing worked.
Add to that her body clock, which causes her to wake up early even though she goes to bed late at night. Hence, if she hasn't felt her back aching, and her stomach didn't feel the hunger, she'll surely get up later.
As soon as she got up from her bed, the first thing she did was some stretching. Then she went to the bathroom after that to take a shower.
Lauren wears a pinstripe off-shoulder dress and then matches it with a lace-up sandal.
Lauren grabbed the pouch from the top of the bed before finally leaving her room.
The picture of chocolate suddenly flashes in her mind. At that moment, she suddenly craved some chocolate. She recalled the dessert they served in Kaizer's cabin suite last night, but she didn't even have the chance to taste it. 
She makes a quick trip to the main dining hall to eat lunch. 
.
.
.
Lauren decided to stay on the pool deck for her to relax and breathe some fresh air for a while. She put on an earphone and hummed along with the song that’s been played in her playlist.
Before Lauren could find a vacant seat, she immediately noticed Kaizer. He was alone while quietly reading a few documents.
Lauren stopped first to look at the man. She wonders why the man wasted his time going to the cruise ship when he was only going to do work.
Lauren was about to continue walking when she noticed not far from Kaizer, the woman they ran away from yesterday. Lauren wants to pretend that she didn't see them, not until the woman shifts her gaze to where she is.
Uhh…how unlucky she is.
Why did she even think of stopping there in the first place? She didn’t learn any lesson from what happened yesterday. 
By how the woman furrowed her brows and looked at the place where Kaizer is... then shifted her gaze back at Lauren. She was probably wondering if Lauren would approach Kaizer. Or what would they do at that time? 
There is a tendency that she might suspect them, especially if she leaves instead of going to Kaizer. The woman may even think that they fought due to what happened yesterday. When the truth is, that won't happen because they don't have a real relationship. And even if that's not what the woman thinks, she can’t help but think of the worst-case scenario. Her way of thinking was advanced. She awkwardly smiles and walks into the table where Kaizer is.
Sometimes Lauren just wants to be a potato and bury her body in the ground or merely be an ingredient for a dish. At least she's useful there isn’t she? Because if it's not the trouble she's involved in, it was some embarrassing situation that happens to her.
Lauren noticed that Kaizer's assistant wasn't around him. She thought that maybe he was doing something that his 'good' boss had ordered him to do.
She pulled up one of the chairs in front of Kaizer and quietly sat there. When Kaizer heard the sound of the chair being pulled up, he looked up only to see Lauren there. He thought that another lady was disturbing him once more. Kaizer confusingly glanced at Lauren.
Before Lauren said anything, she looked in Claudia's direction. “It seems she doesn’t want to give up on you.” Lauren paused for a moment, then seriously shifted her gaze to Kaizer. “Don’t you think so?” She added while smiling so innocently.
When Kaizer saw whom Lauren was referring to, it was only then that he understood what was happening. There’s a high possibility that Claudia was there for some time now but he didn’t know. He was too focused on the documents to notice the people around him.
Even though they were a few meters apart and Claudia had other companions with her, Kaizer and Lauren knew that the woman's attention was on them.
He’s grateful that Lauren was able to quickly notice those things. When he wasn’t aware because he doesn’t even have the slightest bit of care about his surroundings.
“Do you want some snacks?”
Lauren wants to punch Kaizer's face at that moment. Does she look like a person who is always starving that every time they talk he asks her about food?
She didn't answer his question. Instead, she changed the topic.
“Why do you think he still doesn't give up on you even though you said you already have a girlfriend?"
Kaizer pondered for a while. That woman troubled him for quite some time. Not only here on the cruise ship, but even in the company, the woman visits him without notice.
“She wants me to invest in their business.”
Lauren paused for a moment. She remembers her co-workers talking about Kaizer's rumored girlfriend.
She doesn't tend to delve into the problems of others and especially gossip about their personal lives. But how could she not know? They might as well post it on the announcement board or make a report because of the number of gossips they know.
Lauren remembers the name he said yesterday, something like Wilson.
It hits her… Wilson… the family that is known in the jewelry industry. The rumors say, their business is on the verge of bankruptcy.
No wonder she wants to get a deal with Kaizer through a relationship.
“You mean that Wilson family? ” She asked, making sure that what she thought was right.
Kaizer stopped what he was doing and then looked at her. “Hmm… how did you know?”
“I thought she was just another girl who keeps clinging to you. And upon remembering the name you said yesterday, I recall the news I heard about the Wilson Family. No wonder they keep on chasing after you. It’s because they want you to save their business.”
“I really admire you when the topic is related to business. You sure know a lot about the industry news these days.” 
‘You seem to be working in the business field. It would be better if I could work with you in the future.’  Kaizer thought while silently observing Lauren.
“Hmph, I guess you're the only one who doesn't know." Lauren disdainfully said. “I just heard it from my co-workers. It seems you don’t know that you’re also on the hot topic these past few days. They said that she’s actually your girlfriend.”
Lauren examined the man's reaction. "Looks like you don't deny it either."
“First of all, it’s just a rumor and I’m a busy person so it was a waste of time to take care of those people who love to spread baseless rumors.”
Well, he has a point. You will only waste time and energy because no matter what you explain to them, they will only choose to listen to what they want to hear and believe.
“Well then, I will immediately apologize if I disturb a busy person like you. It seems you have no choice but to endure being with me in this situation.”
Kaizer feels as if Lauren is still doing it against her will.
“Then, Miss Garcia—”
Lauren immediately cut him off. “Oh please, drop the formality. Just call me Lauren. They wouldn't believe that I was your girlfriend if that's what you're going to call me."
She even makes quotation marks in the air using her hands when she says the word girlfriend. Kaizer could only laugh and shake his head at her behavior.
“You look more handsome when you smile,” Lauren commented upon seeing his smile. She admitted that he was charming even though he looks so serious and stiff. But, he’s much more attractive with his smiling face. He seems gentle and relaxed that way. 
Kaizer averted his gaze. She caught him off-guard.
She keeps smiling while sipping her fruit juice. She didn't even know when Kaizer got some food for her to eat because he didn't call an attendant. All she knew was that someone was already serving snacks at their table.
A few minutes of silence passed between them before he broke it.
“Anyway, I want you to be my partner later.”
“You want me to be your partner? Are you sure?” Lauren asks him as if she was challenging him. It's not that she doesn't want to go with him, it's just that… she's not used to it. She dared challenge him but honestly, she was the one who was scared. 
What if the man will be humiliated because she is his partner? She would really transform into a potato then.
“Why? Aren’t you confident enough to be my girlfriend?” he said while grinning.
Lauren glared at him. He's really immersed in his role. "Haaaa, if you only knew."
If he only knew how nervous Lauren feels every time he's with her, that the woman around them might suddenly attack her. Especially the way they glared at her. If look can actually kill, they were probably dead by now. She's just encouraging herself to be strong.
“Know what?”
Lauren took a deep breath then looked around and could only do a facepalm.
She shakes her head. “Nothing. ” 
Good luck, self! I wish you could still get out alive from the mess you entered.
Lauren changed the subject, or else she might say something not nice. “I agree to be your partner later. But don’t complain if you will be embarrassed later. I'm telling you… I’m not used to such things.”