His Devious Rule

In ensuite,

Anya quickly ran to the shower block, she had read the ship had solar panels so she turned on the hot water shower at full temperature. By the time Alvin enters the ensuite, the glass cube will have a layer of steam which will turn transparent to translucent. Then Alvin could set the temperature of water to his requirement. This process will consume less to no time so that she could be a little comfortable and wait for steam to cover the ensuite.

She went near the bathtub and pretended to be preparing for her bath. She kept the water temperature high and she could see the steam rising just by a few liters of water. She played with the small perfume bottle with her fingers near the bathroom countertop as she watched the bathtub fill.

Alvin purposefully took a long time and entered inside after knocking on the door. He was clad in a white bathrobe and changed his shoes to white slippers. He was amused seeing her halfway in her plan.

Instead of going towards the shower block, he went to her as he noticed the camera up at the ceiling in the corner. She will have to climb the edge of the bathtub to mask the camera manually.

He trapped her against the countertop and asked looking at her calmness, "How long do I have to shower?"

He suddenly felt a smoothing cold and wet on the back of his hand and realized she was going to spray the camera lens with perfume as soon as she sees the time suitable.

"You can have your shower. I need just a minute or two." Yet she couldn't go out, "I won't recommend blocking the whole cabin so I will create a loop for the bathroom camera. What do you think?"

Alvin gave a thought and found it reasonable. If they suddenly mask all the cameras, it will alert Harper's men. If they block other room cameras, it will also raise suspicion on them as they were the new guests on the ship.

Anyway, he hinted to her that they are a married couple on the ship and her comfort level was important, "Are you sure, my dear wife?" His deep voice was sexy as he propped his eyebrow at her.

Anya: "..."

Was she imagining it or did he really sound affectionate calling her as his wife?

'Oh wife!' She had forgotten that part. Will they have to behave like husband and wife?

Anya immediately shook her head, "I will bully my husband." She meant she would kick him to the couch before resting. So they will behave like an angry wife, a bullied husband.

She noticed him holding back his smile while pursing his lips to a thin line yet she could see the smile line at the corner of his lips. He rubbed her head while turning to leave but she held his sleeves and stopped him.

"Don't get scalded." She gave him a heads up that the water was hot. He understood and gave a nod before going further.

Anya quickly looked away and stared at the water in the bathtub as he would drop his robe outside before stepping inside the shower block. Despite trying her best to make the situation a little comfortable, her uneasiness just grew and her brows tightly knitted.

She couldn't even imagine what would have happened if Alvin was somebody else. Although he teases her, he always makes sure he doesn't cross the line. She should be thankful for that, however, she couldn't help but be concerned due to Zane.

When the rhythm of the shower changed, Anya breathed as she slowly climbed on the bathtub edge and went to the wall side behind the tap. There was a camera above her and a shower block in front of her. She didn't dare to look at the shower though she was certain about the steam on the glass.

She sat down pretending to be keeping her legs in the hot water without dipping them inside as the water was burning hot. After about two minutes, she sensed her hands feeling moisture due to steam in the air. She took the chance and crawled back to the wall.

Carefully standing up against the wall, she sprayed the perfume on the small circular spot. She placed the thin layer of tissue on the camera and sprayed it again. It would blur the vision for a long time.

Satisfied, she quickly skipped towards the third luggage. She didn't bother to go back near the bathtub. With her back facing the shower block, she sat on the floor and started working on the laptop with other devices, with her complete focus on the work.

She came prepared as she knew there won't be any internet. Hence she smoothly hacked the network. Her other guess was right. Excluding the rooms of cruise ship staff, all other rooms were under surveillance.

She first hacked their ensuite camera and took control. Then she hacked the two cameras in the bedroom and set the control to a small device she had brought. At a click of a button, it will show the video she was going to set.

While doing so, she was so drowned in the work, she didn't notice Alvin was already out of the shower. He tied the bathrobe and went up to her. He scooped her up in his arms while she secured the laptop on her lap and continued to work just adding protesting hums.

He carefully left her on the dressing chair and sighed seeing the entire focus on her laptop that she kept on the counter. He looked at the screen. Though he helped her learn to hack, he wasn't a hacker. He had lost touch with software in these five years. Nevertheless, he could still understand what she was doing. It was a computer virus to destroy the functioning or something in the network.

He asked, watching her reflection in the mirror, "When are you going to implement this?"

Anya hummed at his voice, her fingers barely paused before they resumed. She responded to his question slowly uttering each word as her focus was on the laptop, "There are two teams on the ship. One team probably has no idea what is going on in the ship. Another is in contact with Harper Johnson."

Alvin had deduced it as soon as he spotted the camera. He stayed silent and continued to hear her while thinking if her hair was disturbing her as those were just by the side of her face.

Anya continued to respond to the question he asked, "In the past few days, they have managed to store a lot of videos that could be used against people. I am developing malware to destroy those databases without a chance of recovery."

Anya heard him hum and continued to do her job. After a minute or two, she suddenly felt him behind her and his hands slowly held her hair on both sides of her face. Unawarely, her lips curled and her fingers slowed down, curious what he was up to. Then she felt something barely clutching her hair.

Alvin, who put the hair clutch on, was about to be proud of himself for being successful on the first try but the clutch slowly slid down her hair and fell on the floor.

Anya silently laughed as she continued to work at half of her speed, which was still faster compared to normal people.

Alvin grabbed the hair clutch, determined to succeed this time. He carefully held her hair on both sides of her face, unwilling to disturb her work, and clipped behind her head. This time taking more hair into the clutch.

He nodded at himself, appreciating his work looking at the clutch stay in place. However, his face darkened when he saw her short hair from the front had slid out.

He took the clutch and tried again and again without realizing her focus was on him. In the end, he went towards the dustbin to throw the clutch while cursing it in his mind.

Anya burst into laughter, finding him cute. She genuinely didn't know he had this side and always thought he didn't have tolerance. But he had lots of patience and determination without giving up easily. She also noticed he was trying to make a hairstyle that was similar to Sophie, his housekeeper.

Alvin turned to her and heard her, "Don't throw, come here." He obliged.

Anya taught him just like teaching a little kid. She placed the clutch on the counter and turned to the mirror. Both looked at their reflection in the mirror. Holding some strands of hair in the front on both sides, she explained, "My hair is short. If you hold it at the ear level, the length inside the clutch will be short so it slips out. If you hold it right above the ear level, it will have more length and will enter the clutch. Or else…"

She used her fingers and combed her hair back and held the front hair above her head, "Now, my hair will be secured.." She put the clutch on her hair that revealed her full face.

Alvin had deep frowns, understanding his mistake. However, he snorted and walked away like a tsundere. He didn't accept he was trying to help her but ended up disturbing her the whole time.

Anya silently laughed watching his reflection. When he stood by the closet, she quickly switched her focus on the laptop screen as he would wear clothes.

Alvin turned to her. Looking at her reflection in the mirror his eyes continued to look at her face, though there were similarities, she looked so different. He modified the famous saying. Even women who are focused on their work are captivating. For him, it was only her.

"..." What was he thinking again? Shaking off his thoughts, he got ready and checked the time. They had an hour for lunch and she will have to get fresh too. Looking at her, forgetting the world around her, he checked the temperature of the water in the bathtub. It was perfect, pouring bath salt on it, he went to her and knocked on her head.

"Alvin…" She looked at his reflection and blinked in amusement. Seems like age was just a number to him. Looking at his laidback look, she felt like he was growing young.

He was wearing white short pants, white shirt that had vertical blue stripes. Half of his shirt buttons were undone showing off his resplendently muscular chest. He was looking hot with an added hairstyle and cold expression on his handsome face.

'Why am I checking him out?' She was bewildered that she hid well. She never cared to check out anybody unless she had to make note of something due to her work.

Alvin had seen her eyes look over him. He assumed she was making sure he was wearing clothes. "Bath." He commanded, pointing his chin to the bathtub.

Anya looked down at her stomach. She was hungry and… drowsy too. So she nodded, "Is the dress code casual for luncheon?" He was wearing a casual outfit, more like beachwear.

He hummed as he went out, "Don't be late."

Anya quickly locked the door, placed her laptop by the bathtub. She was about to pour some bath salt when she noticed the jar wasn't full.

She looked at the door in surprise. 'Alvin Matthews prepared a bath for me?' In disbelief, she entered the water, laid on her stomach, and continued to work.