CHAPTER FORTY–EIGHT–BETWEEN THE LINES
Just as Nia was drifting off to sleep, a loud rumble of thunder shook the cabin. She sat up, suddenly alert. Through her porthole, she could see dark clouds gathering on the horizon.
“Great,” she muttered. “Just what I need. A storm to top off this perfect day.”
Little did Nia know that the approaching storm would bring more than just rain and wind. It would bring a series of events that would change the course of her trip- and possibly her life in ways she never could have anticipated.
The ship lurched violently, sending Nia tumbling from her bed. She hit the floor with a thud, disoriented and tangled in her blankets. Outside her porthole, angry waves crashed against the glass, illuminated by flashes of lightning.
Nia scrambled to her feet, her heart racing. The ship rocked again, and she stumbled, barely managing to catch herself on the edge of the desk.
“This can’t be normal,” she muttered, her voice shaky.
As if in response, the lights in her cabin flickered ominously before going out completely, plunging her into darkness. Nia fumbled for her phone, using its dim light to navigate the now pitch–black room.
She made her way to the corner farthest from the window, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor. Her stomach churned, a mix of seasickness and fear making her feel lightheaded.
Another crash of thunder rattled the walls, and Nia pulled her knees to her chest, trying to make herself as small as possible. She had never been particularly afraid of storms before, but being in the middle of the ocean during one was a whole different experience.
–
Just as she was considering making a run for it though to where, she wasn’t sure a knock on her door startled her out of her panic.
“Nia? Are you alright?” Leon’s concerned voice carried over the storm’s howl.
Nia froze. What was Leon doing here? And more importantly, what should she do? Part of her wanted to pretend she wasn’t there, to avoid any awkward interactions with her boss. But another part, the part that was terrified of being alone in the dark during this storm, longed for any kind of company.
After a moment’s h sitation, Nia called out, “I’m here! Her voice cracked slightly, betraying her fear.
Slowly, she got to her feet and made her way to the door. Her hand shook as she turned the handle, opening the door to reveal Leon standing in the dimly lit corridor.
Leon looked as disheveled as Nia felt. His usually impeccable hair was mussed, and his white shirt was partially untucked. In his hands, he held a small medical kit.
“I thought you might need these,” he said, offering a blister pack of pills. “They’re for seasickness. I always bring extra on cruises, just in case.”
Nia blinked, surprised by his thoughtfulness. “Oh… thank you,” she said, taking the pills gratefully.
As another wave rocked the ship, Leon stumbled, catching himself on the doorframe. Nia noticed his knuckles were white with tension, his usual confident demeanor replaced by something that looked a lot like fear.
Without really thinking about it, Nia found herself asking, “Would you like to come in?”
CHARTER FORTYEIGHT–BETWEEN THE LINES
Relief flooded Leon’s face. “If you don’t mind,” he said I don’t particularly like being alone during storms.”
Nia stepped aside, allowing Leon to enter the small cabin. As she closed the door behind him, she realized with a start that she was in her pajamas – an old t–shirt and shorts that suddenly felt very Inadequate in the presence of her boss.
“Sorry about the mess,” she said, gesturing vaguely to the tangled bedsheets on the floor. “The storm kind of caught me by surprise.”
露
Leon waved off her apology. “No need to apologize. I’m just glad you’re okay. When the power went out, I wanted to check on everyone.”
Another violent lurch of the ship sent them both stumbling. Without thinking, Nia reached out to steady herself, her hand landing on Leon’s arm. She quickly pulled away, mumbling an apology.
“Maybe we should sit down,” Leon suggested, eyeing the unstable floor warily.
They ended up sitting on the floor, backs against the bed, as the storm continued to rage outside. Nia dry- swallowed one of the seasickness pills, grateful for something to focus on other than the awkwardness of the situation.
For a while, they sat in silence, broken only by the crash of waves and the occasional rumble of thunder. Nia sneaked glances at Leon, surprised to see her usually composed boss looking so… human.
Finally, Leon spoke. “I should probably confess something,” he said, his voice barely audible over the storm. “I’m terrified of storms at sea.”
Nia turned to look at him, surprised by the admission. “Really? But you seem so… calm about everything.
Leon let out a humorless chuckle. “Years of practice hiding it, I suppose. But the truth is, ever since I was a kid, storms like this have terrified me.”
“What happened?” Nia found herself asking, genuinely curious.
Leon was quiet for a moment, and Nia worried she had overstepped. But then he began to speak, his voice low and measured.
“When I was ten, my father took Justin and me on a sailing trip. It was supposed to be a bonding experience, just the three of us. But on the second day, a storm hit out of nowhere. The waves were massive, tossing our little sailboat around like it was nothing.”
Nia listened, captivated by the story and the vulnerability in Leon’s voice.
“I remember clinging to the mast, certain we were going to capsize. Justin was crying, and my father… I’d never seen him look so scared. We eventually made it to shore, but I’ve never forgotten that feeling of helplessness, of being at the mercy of something so much bigger than us.”
As he finished speaking, another wave rocked the ship. Leon’s hand instinctively reached out, gripping Nia’s arm. She didn’t pull away this time, understanding now why he had really come to check on her.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” Nia said softly. “It must have been terrifying.”
Leon nodded, slowly releasing his grip on her arm. “It was. But you know what? Talking about it… it helps. Thank you for listening, Nia.”
They lapsed into silence again, but it was more comfortable now. Nia found herself relaxing, the constant. rocking of the ship becoming almost soothing. She wasn’t sure when it happened, but at some point, her eyes drifted closed.
When Nia next opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the silence. The storm had passed, leaving behind a gentle swaying of the ship. Pale morning light filtered through the porthole, casting a soft.
CHAPTERKIRTY SIGHT NETWEEN THE LINES:
glow over the cabin.
The second thing she noticed, with a start, was that she was resting her head on Leon’s shoulder.
Nia jerked away, her cheeks flaming. Leon stirred, blinking sleepily as he took in their surroundings. “I’m so sorry,” Nia stammered, scrambling to her feet. I didn’t mean to… I mean, I must have fallen asleep, and…”
Leon held up a hand, cutting off her rambling. “It’s alright, Nia. I think we both needed the company last night.” He stood up, wincing slightly as he stretched. Thank you for letting me stay. You didn’t have to do
that.”
Nia nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She was acutely aware of how disheveled she must look, and the realization that she had spent the night in close proximity to her boss was starting to sink in.
Leon seemed to sense her discomfort. “I should go,” he said, moving towards the door. “But Nia… thank you again. For everything.”
As he left, Nia sank onto the bed, her mind whirling. The events of the night felt almost dreamlike in the calm light of morning. Had she really comforted her boss during a storm? Had he really opened up to her about his–childhood trauma?
And more importantly, what did this mean for their relationship going forward?
Nia flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. She felt conflicted–touched by the vulnerability Leon had shown her, comforted by the unexpected connection they had formed, but also guilty about the ongoing deception about her past.
