I went to visit John and Ella to bring them food and water.

- Long time no see- John said.

- Indeed- I answered.

- What brings you here?- Ella asked while she started eating.

- Well... I guess I need someone to talk to... You see, I'm not very fond of dating Edward... I'd rather be with "him"...

- "Him"?- Ella asked, interested.

- The most powerful and rich man there is. But it's not easy to get his attention, he has very particular taste...

- The most powerful and rich man there is...- Ella exchanged a gaze with John and seemed to think of the same thing-. So what is your plan to get his attention?

- I don't need a plan, I just have to be with Edward, the man might be interested in me if he thinks I'm special because Edward chose me. But Edward won't let me meet that man no matter what so I don't know what to do...

My plan was working. They were falling right into the trap.

- Why don't we exchange clothes?- Ella suggested-. You can act as a maid and Edward won't know the difference from the distance so you can be free to go and talk to him when needed.

- That's a great plan! Thank you for helping me get out of here!- I hugged her and took her to my room to change clothes.

He would definetly want her, she was very beautiful and when he would see her with Edward he would immediately ask for her. He just needed to notice her. What I didn't tell her was that when he got bored he would dispose of her giving her to any of the pirates that worked for him as a reward. And as for John, she would bring him too of course, and he would be his slave for the rest of his life.

The day finally came when the man arrived and I went to my room and locked myself in there. Meanwhile, Ella was looking at the window, waiting for her chance to appear. Edward and the man had lunch together with the family. Unfortunately, he noticed his sister, Lilliana. He started to ask for her age and her interests. That was not part of the plan at all. The parents were also worried, since they didn't know how to stop him from taking her away. She was as old as I was when I first set sail to meet my fioncè, but looking at her and how innocent she was, I always thought she was too young to get married any time soon. Edward waited in order to see if he would leave her alone and just go after getting John as his "servant", but he asked for her. I listened to the conversation because they were having it near my door. Then I just couldn't stand it anymore and got out.

- Please don't take Lilliana, take me instead!- I asked desperately.

Edward got very angry, but I didn't care. I was dressed as a maid but maybe he still had an interest in me. The man looked at me and started to think about my offer. Then, Ella appeared and said:

- Even though I am Edward's fioncè, I would gladly go in his sister's place.

We were all very surprised that she dared to say those words, but she knew we wouldn't say anything about it. First, Edward would prefer that the man didn't know I was the real fioncè. Second, I couldn't let Edward know I "actually wanted to go with the man", and with those clothes, no one would believe me.

The man looked at her and was dazzled by her beauty and seemed interested in taking her for himself and away from Edward.

- I don't care if you take my sister or the maid, just please don't take her- Edward said, knowing that the man would want to do just the opposite. The more pretious Ella would seem to him, the more the man would want her.

- Edward, I don't think you would want to go against me if I asked for her, now would you?

- She is all I have...- he replied-. Are you going to keep taking away everything that's important to me?- Edward asked.

- Just this once, my friend, let me have her, I just want her so badly. I promise to you I won't ask anything else from you or your family ever again- the man said.

- I can't believe I'm doing this...- Edward said, shaking his hand.

Edward hugged Ella and he whispered to her ear thanking her for helping him to keep me by his side. And so Ella and John were gone with that man and we could finally breathe out and calm down. Well, not for long.

- Are you crazy? That was reckless!

Edward was really angry with me, he even let politeness aside. He approached me and I stepped back, fearing his actions. I ended up running away and he chased me.

- That's right, you'd better run!

I reached a corridor with a dead end, so I just chose a door and entered before Edward could see where I hid. I heard him open the doors one by one. He entered one and looked under the bed. I got out of my hiding place, closed his door and ran away again until I got to the house library. His parents and his sister were there, reading. I sat with them and chose a book, while Edward entered and grabbed me by the hand.

- You think you can get away with this just because they are here? You're comming with me.

I feared the worst, I had never seen him so angry. But then, a voice saved me.

- Dear, what did she do?- the mother asked.

- And what happened to the man's interest in Lilliana?- the father asked.

Edward had no choice but to explain, so he let me go and I sat on a couch, opening my book.

- She was crazy enough to offer herself in exchange for Lilliana. Luckily, he got more interested in Ella, the ex maid. So she and her brother went to serve him.

- You were so brave- Lilliana said to me and came to give me a kiss on the cheek.

Their parents agreed. But they also agreed I was reckless. Things could have gone worse.

- She is crazy, that's what she is- Edward crossed his arms on the chest-. I'm going out for a while. You can't stay here forever, and when you get out... Oh you will be sorry for dissobeing me.

He gave me a dangerous look I did not want to meddle with. I honestly hoped he would calm down just a bit. If not, well, I could say goodbye to my chance of winning our bet. But deep inside, I did not believe he could stay mad at me forever, but I was not fond of finding out what he would punish me with or what he would do. Night came and I was still reclutant to leave. I looked at the dark corridor and saw no one. So I sprinted to my room and closed the door. I was safe for the day. Or so I thought.

- Well, about to forget about the "one kiss a day" deal?- Edward said from behind me.

He was leaning against the wall next to the door. I got so scared I jumped back. Then I held my hand on my chest, trying to calm down my heart. But as long as he was there, it wouldn't stop.

- So, you were actually about to give up on me?

- I just didn't want him to take Lilliana... And I also hoped Ella would intervene.

- Do you have any idea how scared I was to lose you just then?- Edward embraced me tightly and didn't let me go.

He kissed me and kept hugging me.

- But it's over now... We are together and it's going to stay that way- I said to make him feel better, but I was actually scared then too, I didn't want to leave him for a rich man.

- I'm never letting go of you, no matter what- he held me in his arms even tighter, and then he finally released me only to look into my eyes-. Agreed?

- Agreed- I smiled, forgetting about everything else and just letting my feelings take control of the moment and kissed him.

We didn't stop there. There was magic in the air. After a while, we took a break and felt really good thinking of the special moment we were having. Until...

- Now, about your actions today... You didn't think I'd just let you go, right?

Let me just tell you, the punishment was the sweetest one there ever was. He just wanted to calm down and make him feel I wouldn't leave his side, so he decided to take me with him on his next trip after a massage session. I wasn't very good at it, but he feel asleep, so it couldn't have been so bad either. I laid down by his side. After all, it was my bed. Maybe he was asleep or maybe not, but he put his hands around me and held me close to him all night. It was so nice to sleep by his side so peacefully after everything that happened that day.

Ten months were almost over when Edward told me to get ready for the trip. He didn't tell me where we were going or why, but I just took it as a surprise he was giving me. And what a surprise it was...