Stained Offer

With that, Xavier turned and headed toward the dining hall, eager to avoid any more distractions.

Just as he entered the dining hall, he heard a whisper.

“He’s the one I pushed into the pool,” came the whisper, followed by giggles.

Xavier spun around, his irritation flaring as he spotted the same boy who had caused him so much trouble the previous day. His brow furrowed in annoyance. But he was taken aback to see two figures—an identical twin boy and girl—standing side by side, whispering and giggling.

“Twins. Of course,” Xavier muttered to himself with a touch of sarcasm.

He took a seat at a nearby table and let out a deep sigh, trying to calm himself.

“Sir, what would you like to order?” a waiter asked, approaching Xavier with a polite smile.

“I’ll have a black coffee and some croissants,” Xavier replied flatly, his mood still sour.

The waiter nodded and left. A few minutes later, he returned with a tray holding a cup of freshly brewed coffee and warm croissants.

“Sir, do you need anything else?” the waiter inquired.

“No, this will be fine,” Xavier said, taking a sip of his coffee, savoring the rich bitterness that contrasted with his mood.

As he was about to take his first bite of the croissants, he noticed the twins now seated with a woman, speaking to her in hushed tones. The woman’s face seemed vaguely familiar, striking a faint chord of recognition. Xavier tried to place her, peeking at her from the corner of his eye.

“Who is she?” he wondered, but despite his efforts, the memory remained just out of reach. He eventually gave up, the mystery adding to his frustration.

As Xavier chewed on his croissants, his eyes flicked back to the twins, who were now running wild around the dining hall, their screeches growing louder with every step. The constant noise grated on his nerves. Suddenly, a ball came flying through the air and landed in his cup of coffee. The impact caused a splash, and Xavier quickly moved to avoid the coffee spilling onto him.

“What the hell is this?” Xavier exclaimed, standing up as coffee splashed onto his gray shirt. The stain spread quickly, darkening the fabric.

He glared at the woman with the twins, his frustration mounting. “Didn’t you teach your kids any manners? If you can’t control them, why bring them out and create a mess?” he snapped, his voice carrying across the room and drawing the attention of other diners.

Without waiting for a response, he stormed out of the dining hall, his departure leaving a ripple of murmurs and uncomfortable silence.

Fuming, Xavier slammed the door to his room and muttered bitterly, “What’s the point of bringing kids on a cruise if you can’t keep them in check? This is supposed to be for adults, not a playground! Why even take them on trips like this, just to ruin everyone else’s time?” He glanced at the coffee stain on his shirt and grumbled, “I swear, I’ll never have kids. I can’t stand them.”

After a few moments, his anger subsided, and he noticed a red rose bouquet, a bottle of expensive wine, and a card on the side table. Curious, he picked up the card and read:

"Join me for the dance party tonight. — Tina"

He let out a sharp breath and tossed the card back onto the table. “Tina again,” he muttered, glancing at the bouquet with a mix of irritation and reluctant interest.

Xavier knew the invitation was more than just for a dance. It was an opportunity for something... more. He hesitated, wondering if it might be exactly what he needed to escape the stress and mess of the day.

“Should I go?” he wondered aloud as he paced the room. Tina was undeniably attractive, and a distraction might be exactly what he needed.

Before he could decide, his phone rang. Without checking the caller ID, he answered—and instantly regretted it when he heard his father's voice, his tone brisk and commanding.

“Xavier, why the hell are you on a cruise ship?” his father snapped, irritation dripping from his tone.