𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 |Harold Lowe

Chapter 5: Tell me your name, officer

That evening Meredith was in her cabin getting ready for dinner. After drinking a few glasses of whiskey and smoking a few cigarettes, it was time to choose the dress, a very important choice given that many women will probably object to the "mysterious girl in the red and vulgar dress" seen on the deck of the ship that same afternoon. The blonde turned to her wardrobe and pulling out an emerald green dress with wonderful black lace inserts, a dress that certainly won't go unnoticed given the various bright emeralds that illuminate her dress making it unique. The girl gathered her long blond hair in a messy hairstyle, letting some golden strands fall on her face.

The young woman, walking along the corridors of the ship, carefully observed the glances of each first-class person who passed by her side, they were curious glances, they obviously judged her, after having told a few things to Rose and Caledon,
by afternoon the rumors will have already made the rounds of the ship.
When she arrived at the entrance to the dining saloon, the doors were opened for her by two smiling stewards who waved her hand and indicated the entrance and in an instant all the eyes of the richest people in the world were on her, some judgmental glances, others admiration others of desire, Meredith loved that feeling, she loved being the protagonist of everything and being what people admire and envy. Meredith smilingly followed the white dressed waiter who led her to her table. A single table, just for her. Sadly Metedith was thinking that the place in front of her should have been occupied by her friend Dean, a veil of nostalgia and sadness covered her in that moment but she couldn't afford to let her evening be ruined by negative thoughts so she decided to put on a mask of happiness and order her dinner.

"What can I get you Miss?" the waiter asks, leaning to her left "The best dish of the ship! Is it okay?" the waiter evidently surprised by the girl's response nodded and walked away to then come back and pour some Champagne into her glass "Leave me the bottle!" Meredith said smiling and leaving the waiter bewildered by the young woman's "funny" requests.
The dinner went very well, between the looks of women and successive whispers at the tables, Meredith ordered many delicacies, she would never have been able to afford them if she hadn't kept aside all the money she stole in the last years. "Miss Moore?" a soft and feminine voice caught the blonde's attention "Miss 'very long name', nice to see you again" Meredith replied continuing to eat, Rose at the girl's nickname blushed but still try to continue the conversation "Are you here alone?" the girl who was wearing a long white and green dress asked her and trying to get her attention she put herself in front of Meredith "Yes, I'm traveling alone, so I'm having dinner with myself" she replied ironically "Oh right I forgot... do you want to join to us? Caledon told everyone about you" ah yes? with a dazzling smile Meredith put on her businesswoman mask and stood up "Of course!" she answered causing a smile on Rose's face who took her by the arm "They are all impatient to know the richest young woman of the ship... my mother especially..." she said the last sentence with a touch of disgust "Your mother? " I ask Meredith in response "She's a mean bitch, don't pay attention to her intrusive questions" the blonde was surprised to hear a classy young woman like Rose talk like that, she liked it! "Really? more than Cal then?" she asked with a grin receiving a slight laugh from the redhead in response.

Arriving in front of the long table of rich Rose introduces the girl next to her "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Miss Meredith Moore, she will sit with us for dessert" Rose announced "Good evening everyone" the girl replied sitting down next to the young woman "Good evening to you Miss Moore! We already know everything about the richest young woman of the Titanic" A man with white hair and mustache said to her, raising a glass full of brandy to her as a sign of welcome "You investigated me eh" she replied smiling "So are you the richest woman on this ship? so young?" a woman with red hair and skin as clear as porcelain asked her "Yes, ma'am, apparently yes! Do you have anything against it?" a silence fell on the table and a single look was shared between the people, a look of embarrassment aimed at what should be Rose's mother, who in response to Meredith's pleading shook her head "Very good!" the young girl smiled and then everyone started talking and laughing again.
The evening lasted a long time Meredith talking about her life, or rather, she invented past scenarios or experiences, everyone seemed very interested in the stories she was telling but unfortunately at the table with them there was also a lot of alcohol and Meredith couldn't help but drink. With each story she told, the young woman drank and drank, it is known that Champagne without realizing it is drunk like water, but on the other hand all the others at the table with her did no less.

"Now it's time for the Brandy in the smoking room" Rose announced in Meredith's ear laughing "Gentlemen it was a pleasure staying with you this evening, would you like to follow me to the smoking room for a great cigar and some brandy?" all the men got up and went towards the exit of the room, so did Meredith too "Aren't you staying to have a chat like young ladies Miss Moore?" Rose asked her taking her hand "I'm pretty tired and drunk, I think it's better for me to go back to the cabin before I fall asleep here. Goodnight Miss..." but she was interrupted by the sweet voice of the girl next to her "Rose... please call me Rose" she smiled embarrassed "Goodnight Rose..." smiling Meredith took the end of her dress to get up from the chair "Goodnight Meredith..." continued the girl still sitting at the table watching her leave the room.

Meredith a few minutes later would find herself on the deck of the ship humming something that even she didn't know, and then clinging to the rail and looking for a few seconds the stars and then the sea below her "wow" she said in a sigh, and then resumed singing walking and letting herself be carried away by the icy wind of the night, her hair now undone flying in the air making it fall on her face too. Meredith came back to reality only when she realized that she was actually lost, or at least she didn't recognize the way back to the cabin "Damn it!" she said placing a hand on her forehead. She was lost in her evening hangover when she was distracted by the voice of a man behind her "Miss are you okay?" Meredith immediately turned around and putting the figure in sharp focus, she understood from the hat that it was an officer of the ship "No! actually yes, I think..." she answered and then burst out laughing "I'm sorry, I think I drank too much at dinner and I lost my sense of direction, I should go to my cabin but I don't know where it is" her cracked voice attracted the officer's attention knowing that it was something serious, he certainly couldn't leave a young woman drunk on the deck of the ship in the middle of the night "Miss let me walk you to your cabin..." said the attentive boy "okay, just because you're cute" she smiled once he had approached to take her arm "Thank you Miss" evidently embarrassed the officer walked towards the first class entrance "Miss Moore" continued Meredith looking at the perfect profile of her companion "Well Miss Moore, which of these cabins is yours?" kindly ask the man next to her. In response the young woman points with her finger at the white door on their right "Do you want to enter, officer?" she asks smiling while she was opening the door still looking at him... 'what a smile...' thought the officer, who for a second the temptation was about to betray him making him forget his duty "I can't Miss Moore... maybe I do anything else for you?" the man in uniform asked her "Yes. .. tell me your name, officer" she asked looking and teasing at him with her blue doll eyes "Fifth officer Harold Lowe, Miss" he answered evidently embarrassed. Meredith leaning her head on the side of the door, observes him carefully and then smile and says :"Well... goodnight officer Lowe".