Claim Me Captain! I'm Addicted to You!
Chapter 22: Sleep With Me

Chapter 22: Sleep With Me

"H-Huh?! W-What are you saying?!" Georgia’s voice trembled as panic surged through her.

Nick instinctively stepped in, gently but firmly moving Georgia aside as he snatched the phone. "Ella, this is Captain Nicholas Knight of the London Courage. How the hell do you know Raymond is headed here?"

[Because I saw him, Captain,] Ella replied, her voice tense. [I was on the bridge when he spoke with the Coast Guard. This ship has a helipad and a high-speed chase boat—top-of-the-line. A team from the Coast Guard landed minutes ago, and now Raymond is in a meeting with them. He’s offered his boat to get to your ship faster. He knows Georgia’s alive... and he knows exactly where she is.]

"What?" Nick’s jaw clenched.

"No, no, no..." Georgia’s breath quickened as she staggered back and clutched her head like it was about to split open. She started pacing frantically. "If they bring me back—Ella, you remember the prenup, don’t you?! If I go back, I’ll be forced to marry Raymond!"

[Yes... I remember,] Ella said with worry in her voice.

"And if they find me here..." Georgia’s voice cracked. "The Captain... the crew... they’ll all be in trouble because of me. They could lose everything! I can’t let that happen!"

Nick’s heart twinged. Amid her panic, she was thinking of others—of his people. She wasn’t just running from her life; she was protecting theirs.

[What do you want me to do? Just say it. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you, Georgia. I swear,] Ella said firmly.

"For now... don’t say a word about Katie’s whereabouts. Only you, me, and the Captain know where she is. Keep it that way," Georgia said with urgency. "Pretend we never spoke. I’ll find a way—I’ll contact you when it’s safe."

She was about to end the call when Nick leaned in and took the phone again.

"Ella," he said, his voice low and resolute. "She’s safe here. With me. And I give you my word—no one touches her while she’s under my protection."

Then, without another word, he ended the call.

Georgia kept pacing, her steps quick and restless, like a caged animal trying to find a way out. Nick leaned against the desk, arms folded, watching her silently, but his mind was racing just as fast.

Finally, he couldn’t hold back anymore. "What exactly is in this prenup?"

She stopped cold, turning to face him, her expression dark and defeated. "I owe Raymond’s father a fortune. I used the money to save my family’s company from collapsing. Hundreds of jobs were on the line, and I didn’t have a choice."

Nick scoffed. "So take out a loan. Pay them back."

Georgia shook her head. "It’s not that simple. The agreement was... once I married Raymond, my company would merge with the East West Corporation. They’d absorb our operations, pay off our debts, and erase mine entirely. Raymond would take full control of the business while I’d step away, free to do whatever I wanted."

Nick narrowed his eyes. "East West is a giant. Why would they even bother with a mid-sized manning agency?"

Her jaw clenched. "Because what we lack in size, we make up for in power. Our people are elite—skilled, certified, and tenured. Most of them have worked with us for years and stayed even through the worst of the pandemic. These workers are loyal to my family. They refuse to work through anyone else. Raymond knew the importance of having the right people, the value of the right manpower."

She paused, then stepped closer, her voice lower but firm.

"And there’s more. My father and brother created a training curriculum so advanced, our people ace international exams with ease. Raymond knew all this. He’s in a power struggle with his own family right now. His father’s biological son recently resurfaced, and now he’s desperate to gain influence—fast. My company gave him leverage. And I... I was willing to hand it over. I trusted him."

Her voice cracked.

"I was ready to give up everything for him. But he chose to betray me."

Nick’s fists clenched at his sides. Now he understood. Georgia wasn’t just running from a broken engagement—she was fleeing from a betrayal wrapped in corporate warfare.

"Maybe... maybe we can hide you somewhere on the ship?" Nick offered, the words slipping out before he could even think them through.

Georgia’s eyes snapped to him, sharp and certain. "Captain, you know that’s useless. They’ll tear this ship apart looking for me—especially if someone tipped them off. Whoever reported me would’ve given them everything—my routine, where I sleep, even what time I brush my damn teeth."

Nick clenched his jaw. "Then how the hell do we—"

He didn’t even get to finish before Georgia spun around and dropped a verbal grenade.

"Marry me."

Nick blinked. "What?"

"Marry me, Captain. Right now. That’s the only way we stop Raymond from dragging me off this ship."

His face contorted like he’d just been slapped. "The fuck?!"

Nick had always thought he was the reckless one. But this? Georgia was on a whole different level of crazy.

"If we’re legally married, then he can’t marry me. The prenup’s void. Sure, I’ll pay a fine for backing out of the deal, but I’ll be free."

Nick threw up his hands. "Then just say no! Why drag me into your personal war?"

"Because he won’t accept ’no.’ He’ll manipulate me, threaten me, maybe even blackmail me to get what he wants. And I know him, he’ll do whatever it takes to force that wedding."

Nick dragged a hand down his face, muttering under his breath. He hated that part of him—the part that was actually considering it, even for a second.

"No," he said firmly. "It’s not happening."

Georgia stood still for a beat, then inhaled deeply, fire flashing in her eyes. "Fine. If you don’t want to tie yourself to me legally... then have sex with me instead. Sleep with me now."

The air went dead silent. The Captain’s jaw dropped to the ground.

Nick froze, both hands now on his face, blinking rapidly in shock. "I’m sorry—what the fuck?!"

Georgia stood her ground, cheeks burning but chin high. "If I sleep with someone else, Raymond won’t marry me. He’ll throw me away like garbage, and I’ll be free."

Nick stared at her, completely stunned. ’This woman!’ he thought, ’Is out of her goddamn fucking mind!’

And yet... he couldn’t look away...