Claim Me Captain! I'm Addicted to You!
Chapter 19: Fresh From the Shower

Chapter 19: Fresh From the Shower

As planned, today marked Georgia’s first official day as a steward-in-training. Even though she barely caught a few hours of sleep after tackling mountains of laundry the night before, she forced herself up before dawn. No complaints—keeping busy was the only thing keeping her sane.

By six sharp, she found Evelyn in the supply room. "Good morning, boss... ma’am... chief?" Georgia greeted with an awkward grin, scratching her head sheepishly.

Evelyn chuckled, clearly amused. "Just call me Evelyn. All the titles are just for show. I’d rather be friends than stiff coworkers," she said with a playful wink.

Georgia’s smile relaxed. "Okay, Evelyn, it is. But can I ask a favor?"

Evelyn paused, setting down a box of supplies and giving Georgia her full attention. "Fire away."

"Could you, uh... give me a lot of things to do?" Georgia asked, her voice softening. "I want to stay busy—keep my mind from wandering to places it shouldn’t. I keep thinking about my niece. About... everything."

Evelyn arched a brow. "That’s all? And here I was bracing myself for a loan request," she teased, and both women burst into laughter.

Relief washed over Georgia. For the first time since the betrayal, she laughed—really laughed. It felt strange and good.

"I mean it," Georgia added. "Make me scrub the whole ship if you have to."

"Don’t tempt me," Evelyn smirked. Then her expression softened. "But I get it. Keeping your body tired is sometimes the only way to quiet the noise in your head."

Georgia nodded, her voice hesitant. "Do you think the Captain would let me contact my best friend? Just one message?"

Evelyn’s smile faltered slightly as she considered the question. "Honestly? I don’t know. He’s not as stone-hearted as everyone claims—I’ve seen through that armor. But he is strict. Best to ask him yourself. Can’t hurt to try."

"You’re right. I’ll ask him when I see him," Georgia said with quiet determination. "So... what’s my first mission for the day?"

Without missing a beat, Evelyn grabbed a small crate and began filling it with coffee supplies—sugar, cream, filters, and canisters.

"First assignment: restock the coffee stations. Start with the galley, then the bridge, and lastly the Captain’s office. Do it in that order. The galley should be empty at this hour, so no awkward encounters."

She handed Georgia a clipboard. "Here’s your checklist—tasks, crew schedule, and my own timetable so you’ll always know where to find me. The Captain said no unnecessary interactions with the crew, so this will help you move around unnoticed."

Georgia accepted the crate and clipboard, hugging them like a lifeline. "Got it. Thank you, Evelyn."

"Go knock ’em dead, rookie," Evelyn winked.

With a small but genuine smile, Georgia stepped out into the corridor, her heart pounding—not from nerves, but from excitement in doing her first task.

Georgia reached the galley in no time, just as Evelyn said—and sure enough, the dining area was completely empty. The only movement came from the kitchen, where the Chief Cook and his assistant were already busy with prep. They both gave her a brief nod when they saw her, but didn’t utter a word—clearly following the Captain’s strict orders to the letter.

After finishing up there, she headed to the bridge.

The moment she stepped inside, she spotted Steven—the Chief Mate who had been present during her tense interrogation with Captain Knight yesterday—and a young cadet standing beside him, clearly in training.

The cadet’s eyes widened the instant he noticed her, and he quickly looked away, his face stiff with discomfort.

’Yep, definitely got the Captain’s warning loud and clear,’ Georgia thought with a sigh.

But Steven, one of the few allowed to speak with her, offered a warm, reassuring smile and walked over. "Good morning, Georgia. How’s your day so far?"

"Morning, Chief. All good so far. I’m just here to refill the coffee station," she replied with a polite smile, eyes scanning the room.

Steven noticed her looking around and gestured toward the side console. "It’s just over there. Help yourself. I’ll let you get to it."

Georgia gave a small nod and moved to her task while Steven returned to his post—professional, distant, and yet... somehow kind.

Her final stop was the Captain’s office. But before heading there, Georgia swung by the laundry room to grab the freshly washed sheets, pillowcases, and Nick’s neatly folded uniform. According to the task list Evelyn gave her, she was also supposed to change the sheets in the Captain’s cabin—perfect chance to kill two birds with one stone.

She knocked on the door to his office. No answer.

’Maybe he’s still asleep,’ she thought, remembering Evelyn’s note that she was allowed to enter just to refill the coffee station.

Carefully, she cracked the door open and peeked in. Empty.

Still cautious, she opened the door wider—just enough so that anyone passing by could see her clearly, eliminating any suspicion while she restocked the coffee supplies.

Task one—done.

Now, all she had left before breakfast with Evelyn was changing the bed linens and placing the Captain’s clean uniform on his desk.

Her gaze shifted to the adjoining door leading into Nick’s private quarters. She walked toward it, lifted her hand to knock—then froze.

’Ugh, stop hesitating! You won’t get anything done like this!’

She knocked once. No reply.

She glanced at the clipboard. ’Captain usually eats breakfast before seven... maybe he’s already gone down when I was on the bridge.’

*Knock, knock.*

"Captain? It’s Georgia. Are you in there?"

A beat of silence... then a reply.

"Yes?"

"I just finished refilling your coffee station. I brought your clean uniform and sheets."

"The door’s open. Come in and leave them on the bed—I’m in the bathroom," came Nick’s voice from inside.

Georgia stepped into the cabin and immediately sighed at the semi-disaster zone that greeted her. Not as bad as yesterday—but still far from tidy, at least based on her standards.

She placed the folded uniform on his desk and began tidying up, moving quickly, efficiently. Within minutes, the clutter was gone, and she had started stripping the bed.

That’s when she heard the bathroom door click open.

She turned toward the sound—and froze.

Nick stepped out, steam trailing behind him, his hands on his head, holding a towel to dry his hair. Skin glistening from the shower, every muscle defined and flexing with each step.

Georgia’s heart skipped a beat. Her jaw unhinged.

"Oh my God!"