Chapter 296: ID (2)

(It's my birthday yesterday.)

[Edward POV]

Paparazzi swarmed the port area, snapping pictures of the yacht as people boarded, capturing every moment of our departure. A few relentless photographers attempted to follow us in a rented boat, but my security team, along with the vigilant FBI agents watching over me, swiftly handled the situation.

For the partygoers, this was a rare escape—a time when they could let loose without the scrutiny that usually accompanied their lives in the limelight. The yacht itself was a marvel of luxury, comfortably fitting into the superyacht category.

Inside, the lounge featured long couches that could accommodate fifteen people, perfectly positioned to face the kitchen and bar. As guests moved to the deck, they were greeted by a couple of lounge chairs and an infinity pool shimmering at the center, with stairs on either side connecting the upper and lower decks.

Below deck, five rooms provided plush accommodations: one master cabin, three ordinary cabins, and a specially renovated cabin for my dad. To decide who would claim the master cabin, we played a round of rock-paper-scissors, and luck was on my side—I won. 

I had taken the time to upgrade my dad's simple cabin, ensuring it wouldn't feel too shabby compared to mine; it now featured its own bathroom and a cozy lounge area. My cabin was spacious enough to house a pool table if I chose to put one in... but I hadn't yet.

The yacht was a source of envy for many, with an estimated market value of a staggering $80 million. Little did they know I had acquired it for less than $8 million and poured an additional $3 million into refurbishing and modifying it. 

It was still a hefty sum, but as someone with the second-best-selling albums of all time and the master of new era technology, I could afford to indulge in a little luxury once in a while.

"Oh my god, this shrimp is so big!" Brenda exclaimed, her mouth full as she savored the seafood. She had changed into a blue-black polka dot bikini and topped her look with a large sun hat that bounced lightly with her animated gestures.

I, on the other hand, kept it simple in a white shirt and jean shorts, complemented by a pair of classic sunglasses to shield my eyes from the sun. The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and the sound of waves lapping against the yacht.

The staff had stocked the yacht with some food for my trip, so seeing her dig into the provisions didn't bother me; I had my pizzas waiting. The staff had prepared an impressive spread—meat, fresh lobster, shrimp, my beloved ramyeon, chicken, vegetables, ice cream, and lasagna. They even got me some rice.

Before we set sail, I had enlisted two more helpers from my dad's tourism business—a chef and a bartender—who willingly volunteered for the occasion. I paid them generously, of course. 

The chefs continued cooking and served the hungry guests some food. The shrimp platter was one of them.

Brenda jogged towards me and stuffed the prawn into my mouth, "It's great isn't it?"

"Free food is always great." I mumbled as I chewed on it. "For the freeloaders at least."

Brenda giggled, not bothered by the hidden sarcasm and said, "

As Brenda shared her shrimp bounty with the others, I sipped a non-alcoholic cocktail, keeping my beer stash hidden away in the master bedroom.

Glancing around, I spotted some familiar faces among the crowd. Emily Ratajkowski lounged near the hot tub on the upper deck, while Danielle Panabaker chatted with Brenda, both of them enjoying the shrimp. 

Justin Bieber stood alone by the rails, engrossed in his phone. Ashley Benson caught my eye, her excitement evident every time I looked her way as she conversed with another actress whose name eluded me, though her face felt oddly familiar.

Vanessa approached me, clad in a thin, one-piece purple swimsuit, a fruity drink in hand. "Are you searching for your targets?" she teased, noticing my scanning gaze.

I shook my head. "Just looking for people I know. Not much to see."

She shrugged apologetically. "Most of them are Brenda's friends. I have no idea how Bieber ended up here. I'm going to apologize for her."

I chuckled, turning my attention back to her. My eyes instinctively roamed her figure, and she arched her back, leaning closer to me. Confused at first, I soon understood her intent as she whispered in my ear, "Taylor's here."

"What?" I widened my eyes and scanned the ship, finally spotting him—Taylor Lautner, shirtless and chatting with a group of European models on the deck.

"Are you kidding me right now!" I exclaimed, turning to Vanessa, who burst into laughter and darted away. My heart almost jumped out of my chest from the shock. 

In her haste, she almost slipped, and I instinctively wrapped my arm around her waist to steady her. My center of gravity and hers rubbed against each other accidentally. 

"You alright there?" I asked, amusement lacing my voice.

Vanessa felt the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck. "I'm—I'm fine," she stammered, quickly retreating to join Brenda, who was giggling at the entire scene with her friend.

I walked to the deck, greeting a few partygoers along the way, but before I could reach my intended target, a tall blonde girl grabbed my arm from behind. 

She stood at 177 cm with frilly hair, freckles dancing across her nose, and piercing blue eyes that seemed a little dull and lifeless. A pearl necklace adorned her neck, and her polka-dot bikini held up her D-cup bosom, epitomizing the stereotypical beach babe.

"Hi. I'm Luna," she said, extending her hand and speaking with a vocal fry that was jarring.

"Hello, Luna. I'm Edward," I replied casually, shaking her hand.

"So, when's the party going to start?" she asked with a slight alarm in her tone, her smile wide.

"Hmm? It's already starting now," I replied, slightly confused.

Luna suddenly guffawed, her laughter erupting in a way that caught me off guard. She laughed so hard that tears formed in her eyes, slapping my bicep as if it were the punchline of a great joke.

I stared at her, my brows furrowed in bewilderment. Once she calmed down, she leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "Not that. The true party! Is it an anal party?"

"What?" I widened my eyes in shock. She continued blithely, "Then, pee party—I need to know the vices first before I can decide to participate or not. I may be open-minded about new things, but I draw the line at shitting in the mou—"

"What in the world are you talking about?" I interjected, desperate to redirect the conversation before it veered any further. "This is a normal party." I stressed out.

"Or anything to do with shit." Luna didn't seem fazed. She winked at me, using air quotes as she said, "Yeah. I get it. 'Normal' party." Her expression was playful, but I could sense she was serious about her inquiries. "Slime party? Masked orgy? Furry? Baby oil? What is it? You're taking us to an unknown location and start hunting us one by one? Just don't kill me, okay?"

I sighed, feeling helpless from her lack of trust. "Go ask Brenda. It's her party. I don't have the heart to deal with this."

"Wait. Is it really a normal party?" She asked, her voice turned into a normal voice as she was surprised.

"What else?" I asked with frustration. "I'm not a degenerate."

"Really?" She looked at me with suspicion. "But you know Diddy?" She added.

I was flabbergasted when I heard that, "I don't know him! When did I ever know him?!" I left after grimacing at the girl. As she watched me walk away, she mumbled to herself, "It's not? Seriously?" Then, she walked toward some other girls and told them. They even shouted together in celebration after that.

I fished out my anti-anxiety pills and popped two more into my mouth. With my Steve Rogers-level metabolism, I knew the effects would be dulled when taken orally, but I needed a little something to take the edge off. With that, I made my way over to Justin Bieber.

"Sup," I greeted him with a slight nod.

JB smiled wryly. "Hi."

"Let me guess, you thought this was a Diddy party too," I said, teasingly raising an eyebrow.

He chuckled. "No, I wanted to escape from those—didn't know this was your party though."

"Don't worry about it. Even I don't know how this is going to turn into a party. By the way, this is Brenda Song's party, not mine," I said casually, then added, "You know this is an overnight trip, right?"

JB's eyes widened in alarm. "For real?! I—I have a concert tomorrow morning. I can't stay. Um—"

"Eh, don't worry about it. I can have a speedboat come by to pick you up tonight," I said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "So just try to enjoy the trip."

"You have other boats?" he asked, disbelief etched across his face.

I shot him a quizzical look. "Not mine. Just the business. Wanna go grab a bite?"

He was all alone over there, and I felt a bit bad for him. I introduced him to Brenda and a few other girls nearby before I drifted off to mingle elsewhere.

Little did I know that this simple meeting would redefine JB's experience that night—he would soon find himself engrossed in a conversation with Brenda, who would relay to him the details I had shared about the so-called Diddy party.

…

We anchored near an unknown tourist spot, a hidden gem where the partygoers could swim alongside the vibrant fish in the clear blue ocean. However, only Vanessa and Danielle Panabaker displayed the courage to dive in.

I leaned against the ladder, waiting for Vanessa to return from her swim. As she climbed up, I chuckled and teased, "You don't even know how to swim, but you're confident enough to swim in the open water?"

She pinched her nose and blew, trying to clear the water from her ears. Frustrated, she replied, "I can swim. I just can't do it in pools!"

"Ah, you're allergic to chlorine," I recalled.

Vanessa looked at me, puzzled. "How did you know that? I've never told you."

I waved her off, continuing, "No wonder in the High School Musical pool scene, the stunt double who jumped in was so blatantly obvious. Wait, you did drown there, right?"

"ALMOST!" she corrected me, indignantly. "Almost…drowned! I handled it professionally!"

As she spoke, I wrapped a towel around her shoulders. She paused, looking up at me with affectionate eyes. "Such a gentleman," she teased.

"Go get changed. You won't want to miss the sunset," I said casually, then did the same for Danielle when she emerged from the water. But when Vanessa saw me being friendly with Danielle, irritation flickered across her face, and she stomped off to her room.

"I'm using the shower in your room!" she called back demandingly.

"My room is locked—though…" I shouted after her, but she was already gone, sticking a finger in her ear to clear out the water and likely not hearing me.

I turned to Danielle Panabaker, feeling a bit awkward. "I really liked you in The Flash."

"Thanks?" she replied, confusion etched on her face.

I shrugged it off and walked away, leaving her dumbfounded. "What just happened? I didn't work in The Flash…is there a story called The Flash?" she mumbled to herself, bewildered.

When I reached my cabin, I glanced at the digital lock on the door, which required a six-digit password to unlock. Outside, I noticed Vanessa still struggling with the water in her ear, pinching her nose and trying to pop it out until her nose turned red.

"Unlock it," she demanded, flashing her pitiful eyes at me.

I chuckled, "Go to your room and shower there."

"There's only a shared toilet! I want to take a long hot shower," she whined.

I grimaced, "Don't waste the water. There's a limited supply."

Seeing her frustration, I decided to help. "Lower the side where the water is, and jump a few times."

"What?" she asked, confusion written all over her face.

"Just do it," I instructed, unlocking the door for her. Vanessa stepped inside, tossing the towel onto the lounge chair before jumping once.

"It doesn't work," she said, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Keep doing it until it comes out. It won't take long," I replied, rummaging through my bag for a bottle of Euphoria. The sun was nearing the horizon, and I wanted to enjoy the view.

Vanessa jumped again, pausing to check for results, then jumping once more. She took long breaks in between, blaming me for her continued struggle.

"You just want to watch me bounce, don't you!?" she accused, her tone playful yet annoyed.

Sighing, I walked toward her and grabbed her shoulder. She looked bewildered and bashful. "Wh-What are you doing?"

"We're going to jump," I said, and before she could protest, I pulled her in for a synchronized leap.

As we jumped, her eyes widened in surprise, and then she suddenly realized the water had finally flowed out of her ear. A triumphant smile spread across her face, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh-ho~, it really works," she exclaimed excitedly.

"Of course it'll work. It's me," I replied smugly, turning to leave the room. But as I did, Vanessa turned and fumbled with her one-piece swimsuit, trying to unzip it but unable to find the zipper.

Before I could step out, she called after me, "Ed, can you help me with this? I can't find it."

"Huh? What?" I turned back, curious.

"The zipper pull," she said urgently, running her hand along her back but only feeling the teeth of the zipper.

I walked back inside and took a look, only to discover that the pull was indeed missing. "Oh, it's gone," I said casually.

"Really? WHEN?!" she exclaimed, her urgency growing as she struggled with the wet fabric that clung to her skin.

"How should I know? Maybe when you were swimming in the ocean? Honestly, this is what happens when you buy cheap swimsuits."

"It's a $300 Victoria's Secret swimsuit!" she shot back, clearly irritated. "I can't take it anymore. You need to cut me out of it."

"Wait. Really?" I asked, surprised. "You'll be naked in front of me, though."

She shot me a disdainful look. "Then it won't be the first time."

"Huh? When did that happen before?" I asked, genuinely confused.

Vanessa went momentarily speechless before finally saying, "My nudes were leaked, remember?"

"That's different, though. You weren't within grabbing range then." I chuckled teasingly.

Vanessa blushed but tried to act casual. "Well, it's you. I trust you—"

Before she could finish, I grabbed both parts of the zipper teeth and ripped it off. Her eyes widened in shock at my sudden action. "This is enough, right?" I asked nonchalantly.

She turned toward me and hit my chest in frustration. "I just got it! Now you've ruined it!"

"It's not like you had any bright idea to salvage it. What's the difference between this and cutting it off with scissors?"

"CONSENT!" she argued, her nostrils flaring in exasperation. I cackled and then walked away, "Problem solved anyway." 

"Wait," she called out just as I reached for the door handle. I sighed in exasperation and turned back to her. "What is it now?"

"Um, I don't have any change of clothes. They're in Brenda's room. Can you go pick them up for me?" She tried to act cute, clearly hoping to win me over.

I rolled my eyes. "There's a towel robe in my closet. Use that and get your own clothes after you finish showering."

"WAIT!" she called again. Frustrated, I turned back to her and asked, "Why? What now?"

"Um, can you just stay here until I finish showering?" she asked, her eyes darting away as if hiding something.

I caught on and pressed her, "What's going on? Why don't you want me up on the deck?"

"Um, who said anything about not letting you see the sunset? I just need some company, that's all," she said, avoiding eye contact.

I chuckled, "I didn't say it was about the sunset." Her eyes widened in shock. I leaned in closer, teasingly, "So you don't want me up there, why? Tell me, or I'll go there now."

With her back bare, Vanessa took a step back, trying to avoid my gaze, but she seemed mesmerized and couldn't look away. I moved forward, applying gentle pressure, and suddenly her bottom fell onto my bed. Vanessa sat on the edge, and I stood right in front of her, placing my hand on her chin to guide her gaze up.

Her face flushed, and she bit her lip, glancing slightly at my crotch area before her sanity seemed to return.

"Um…" Vanessa hesitated, then sighed. "Alright. Cat's out of the bag. I can't let you go up there. I overheard two or…more girls saying they were going to make a move on you right then. It'll be too messy when you reject them, and it'll ruin the trip."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? And what makes you think I'd reject them?"

Her expression fell slightly, and I smirked. "Thanks for the tip, by the way. There are a lot of girls who want to make a move on me. I'll be sure to think of you when I bring them back into my room later on."

Vanessa scoffed, disdain evident in her voice. "Stop pretending. You weren't going to hook up at all. Otherwise, you'd have done it already."

I shrugged. "Why would I hook up in broad daylight?"

Vanessa's eyes widened as she realized what I meant. She stammered, "Wait. So you do want to?"

"Not with you," I teased, giving her nose a gentle bop.

Vanessa grumbled in dissatisfaction before shouting angrily, "Go on! Leave the room, you pervert!"

"You're the one topless on my bed," I said as I turned to walk away.

"Topless?" she echoed, confusion filling her voice.

She glanced down, and her eyes went wide as she realized her top had fallen off, exposing her breast. Panic set in as the realization hit her. "Oh my God!" she shouted, cursing my name multiple times as she scrambled to cover herself.

"I'm going to use up all the water, you hear me!" Vanessa shouted in my direction, clearly wanting to punish me for not telling her about it earlier.

As I made my way back to the deck, the sunset had begun. The horizon was painted in vibrant oranges and pinks, casting a warm glow over everything and creating a beautifully romantic atmosphere.

But I couldn't enjoy the view for long; I soon felt predatory gazes coming from all directions. I chuckled to myself, "Maybe listening to Hudgens won't be so bad after all?"

Walking to the side of the deck, I settled into a lone lounge chair. I poured myself a glass of my Euphoria mixed drink, the shimmering liquid catching the fading sunlight before it glowed slightly inside the shot glass. 

I downed another shot of my drink, savoring the flavor as I hissed in satisfaction, "That really hit the spot."

Suddenly, I heard someone clear her throat beside me. I ignored it, pouring another glass of my concoction, but the throat-clearing grew louder.

Raising an eyebrow, I turned to see Ashley Benson standing there, adorned in a one-piece white gown, a large white hat perched stylishly atop her head, and white high heels that accentuated her long legs. 

She acted as if she was enjoying the view, but I could tell she was aware of my gaze. As she 'caught' me looking, she grinned and sauntered over, sitting down on the same lounge chair, her back to me but her face turned slightly my way.

I had to admit, she had planned this beautifully. The sunset bathed her in golden light, reflecting off her features in a way that made her look almost ethereal.

"Hi Ed. We meet again," she said, her voice smooth as she lightly touched my hand. "We met by accident on the beach, and now here… I didn't believe in fate, but it does make one think, doesn't it?"

"Damn, that was good." I mumbled as I applauded her opening line inwardly.