Chapter 4 - Welcome Aboard
Millie arrived at the port separately.
Her family had expected her to join them in the private limousine she had reserved. That transportation disappeared when she removed the upgrades.
Vanessa called seventeen times.
Millie did not answer.
When she entered the cruise terminal, an employee escorted her to the premium check-in line. A gold wristband was fastened around her arm, giving her access to the penthouse level, private lounge, exclusive restaurant, and reserved deck.
Her family stood in the crowded standard line across the terminal.
Vanessa noticed her first.
“Millie!”
Every head turned.
Robert pushed through the crowd.
“What happened to the car?”
“I canceled it.”
“You left your mother standing outside in the heat.”
“There are taxis.”
Robert lowered his voice.
“Fix it before we board.”
“No.”
The word seemed to confuse him.
Millie had disagreed with her father before, but she had rarely refused him without explanation.
Her mother approached.
“Sweetheart, there must have been a mistake with the rooms. They gave us interior cabins.”
“That’s what you booked before I upgraded you.”
“But we can’t spend seven days without windows.”
“You can pay the difference.”
Vanessa stared at Millie’s gold wristband.
“Why do you still have premium access?”
“Because I paid for mine.”
A boarding employee called Millie’s group.
She turned toward security.
Her mother caught her wrist gently.
“Are you really going to board without us?”
Millie looked at the family who had planned an entire vacation without her while using her money to finance it.
May you like
“You planned to enjoy the cruise without me,” she replied. “I’m simply respecting your plan.”
Then she walked onto the ship.
