If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 19

Her childhood memories were hazy. She only started retaining memories around the age of seven, and from then on, all she remembered were the times Willow, who was in his teens, would hit or torment her. The only reason was that she was a powerless younger sister.

Just as one might tear the wings off a tied-up dragonfly, Willow enjoyed inflicting pain on her, who was like a stuffed specimen in the house. Their parents would only get angry at the visible injuries, but they never truly cared for her.

Why did they even bother to give birth to her if they were going to treat her like this? Why didn’t they just abandon her? These resentful questions were all that filled her mind throughout her childhood.

The more she thought about it, the more the memories of this place were marred by harsh abuse, discrimination, and vile harassment. The only good memory she had was the day her family left for a trip without her, leaving her alone in the house.

Even so, leaving the place where she had been born and raised was not easy. Although there was nothing to be sentimental about, Georgiana found herself looking back several times after taking Lockwood’s hand at the dock.

But there was nothing left.

Just nothing at all.

Tears streamed down her chin, dripping onto the dock below.

By the time she regained some composure, they were already past the staircase leading to the sixth-floor cabins.

“You said you wanted to go straight to the cabin? Please follow me,” the attendant said as he guided them.

The landing between the sixth and seventh floors, where the first-class cabins were located, seemed unusually long. That meant the ceiling height of the first-class cabins was quite high, which must have cost a fortune.

Sensing her gaze lingering on the ornate lamps that adorned the stairway, the attendant added, “The seventh floor, right above us, houses the grand ballroom, club, and salon where meetings are held. You may dine there, or if you prefer, you can enjoy your meals in your cabin. The view from there will be splendid, though it will be just as fine from your room.”

“Yes,” she replied.

“I heard that the maid who was supposed to accompany you couldn’t board the ship due to illness. However, there is a maid on standby at all times for first-class passengers, so feel free to call on her whenever you need assistance.”

“I will.”

“The guidebook here has details about each floor, but if you have any questions, you can call on me or ask any of the guides stationed on each floor. Your luggage will be brought up to your cabin shortly. I hope you have a pleasant and comfortable stay.”

With a polite bow, the attendant who had escorted them from the first-class lounge to the cabin took his leave.

“Are you alright, miss?” Henry asked as soon as they were alone, his voice filled with concern as he looked at her pale, bloodless face. She finally pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.

“Shall I call for a doctor?”

“No, I’m feeling much better now. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Please tell me if you’re unwell at any time. By the way, aren’t you hungry? You haven’t had a proper meal since this morning.”

His concerned gaze lingered on her thin, concave stomach for a moment.

As he mentioned it, she realized she had gone the entire day without eating, but she hadn’t even noticed. But she had no appetite at all. Her abdomen still stung and ached from where Willow had kicked her, making it hard to think about eating.

“I’d rather rest first. I’d like to wash up and sleep.”

She couldn’t even remember the last time she had slept soundly. Perhaps she had been awake for two whole days. The shock had played a part, but it was clear that lack of sleep was the main cause of her dazed state since she had stepped out of the carriage.

“Of course, you should rest first. My cabin is right next door, so if you need anything, just pull this cord. I’ll come right away.”

“Thank you, Henry. You should rest too.”

Georgiana thought of asking for painkillers and a cup of warm tea but decided against it, not wanting to trouble him further. She believed that a good night’s sleep would solve everything.

Left alone, she headed toward the balcony, where the pristine white curtains were drawn back. The tightness in her chest made her long for some fresh air.

Being on the highest level of the cabins meant she would enjoy not only fresh air but also a clear view of the sea and port.

As she stepped outside, a completely different world unfolded before her.

The sunlight painted the sea with a golden hue, making it shimmer like gold dust scattered across the surface. The waves that approached the ship turned into foam and dispersed as they struck the hull, creating an impressive sight.

The massive white sails flapped in the breeze of the spring day.

Although the boarding was not yet complete, and many people still surrounded the dock, they appeared as tiny as dolls from up high.

If things had gone according to plan, she, too, would still be among that crowd.

Even though things hadn’t gone as planned, she was fortunate to have boarded the ship safely.

She had been so tense passing by the officers near the entrance, fearing they might arrest her at any moment. She imagined them grabbing her and demanding to know why she had shot Willow.

At that moment, Lockwood had drawn closer to her, as if to reassure her. Thankfully, the process of checking first-class tickets had been straightforward, and the officers seemed more focused on controlling other passengers than on first-class ones.

She couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if Lockwood hadn’t been there. Most likely, she would never have made it to the dock, and her attempt to escape would have ended there. Willow would have caught her.

The thought of the journey she had taken so far brought on a wave of exhaustion.

Not knowing how to use the bedroom, as he hadn’t yet explained, she collapsed onto the nearest sofa.

Though she had calmed down a bit during the journey, the memory of pulling the trigger was still vivid, and her hands trembled with the recollection. She had never harmed anyone before.

Yet, deep down, there was a sense of relief. She had often dreamed of fighting back against Willow, who had always mistreated her. She doubted she would ever forget the fear in his eyes.

They were no longer her family—not after trying to sell her. They had never truly considered her family, and she felt the same way.

The only reason she had endured in that place was that she had been young and had nowhere else to go.

But now, she was an adult, and she had somewhere to go. She even had a new family, at least on paper.

Although she only had a month, she decided to spend it as Juliana, not Georgiana, thinking deeply about how she wanted to live this new life.

***

The seventh-floor club was bustling, likely due to the presence of prominent members of the Senate.

Some gathered around tables in groups of three or four, while others enjoyed poker or billiards, chatting freely.

Lockwood sat at a poker table, sipping whiskey as he surveyed the room. The senator he needed to approach, Edmund, had not yet arrived.

“Is this your first time on a ship, Mr. Limberton?”

A man who had just laid down his last card flashed him a grin. The space in front of him, once filled with chips, was now completely empty, yet he didn’t seem the least bit disappointed.

Anthony Tobias.

A man from a family that had run shipyards in the southern region for generations, he had a tanned complexion and an air of infectious cheerfulness. He had approached Lockwood immediately upon seeing him at the entrance, despite not knowing him.

“This isn’t my first time, but I haven’t been on many ships,” Lockwood replied ambiguously. After tipping the dealer generously with some of his remaining chips, he pulled out a cigar.

A footman stationed by the table quickly cut the tip of the cigar and lit it for him.

“Ah…”

The cigar, which emitted the scent of aged birch, began to burn slowly from the end.

“I was hoping to ask you a few questions if you had more experience with ships, but it seems I’m out of luck. I’ve boarded this ship to get a feel for it because I’m considering building a large cruise ship like this, instead of a sailing vessel.”

“I’m afraid I won’t be of much help.”

“Well, I’ll figure it out on my own. By the way, what line of work are you in, Mr. Limberton? You have the look of a famous actor.”

When Tobias exaggeratedly remarked that even he, as a man, couldn’t help but be drawn to him, another person who had traveled with them on the previous ship chimed in.

“That’s right. I’ve heard that both men and women of all ages were so interested in Mr. Limberton that the carpet in his cabin’s corridor had to be replaced because of the constant traffic.”

“Haha, that sounds about right.”

“When I heard you boarded with your wife this time, I was so relieved. I won’t have to stand guard over my wives. And they say your wife is just as beautiful as you are.”

“Oh! I’m really curious now. Maybe we should move to the salon next; it’ll be nice to see some beauty amidst all this gloom.”

Just the fact that he was traveling with his wife had significantly reduced the attention he received. And being married seemed to increase his trustworthiness, which was exactly what he had hoped for.

Everything was going according to plan.

Though he hadn’t expected to be approached by someone as eccentric as the man before him.

Lockwood tolerated the overly talkative man, who seemed even more loquacious than Henry, because it helped him blend in seamlessly. Having such a person around also made him appear more sociable.

“Oh, I’ve veered off-topic again. So, what line of work did you say you were in, Mr. Limberton?”

“I run a textile business. I usually bring fabrics made in the New World and sell them back on the continent.”

“I’ve heard that ready-made clothes are becoming popular among the commoners, so you’re in a good position to start mass distribution. A timely venture.”

Though Lockwood hadn’t shared much, the man’s insight into market trends was sharp. He realized that the man before him was not as simple as he appeared.

As he began to reassess Tobias, the door clicked open, and the atmosphere in the club subtly shifted.

Though everyone seemed to carry on as before, his military-trained senses detected a heightened awareness in the room.