My Story: R.M.S Titanic [Completed]

4: Officer Scott Sire

I walked to Mr. Ismay's office and knocked on the door quickly. I had returned my drawing supplies back to my trunk and I still felt terrible about how my father treated me but I wasn't about to stand up to him in his place of work. All Mother and him wanted for me was to be the proper young lady that they wanted to see raise through the ranks of society.

"Come in," Mr. Ismay called out. I opened the door to see Mr. Ismay sitting behind his desk. Thomas Andrews was leaning against the wall with a whiskey in his hand. My father was sitting in one of the two seats in front of the desk. He stood up and hugged me tightly.

"I'm sorry about my behaviour earlier, Mae. That was uncalled for," he whispered. I nodded as he stepped back and I dropped my shawl.

"Close the door," Mr. Ismay said. I shut the door and Father helped me sit in the chair and he sat in the other chair.

"May I ask what this is about?" Father asked as we looked at Mr. Ismay expectantly.

"Miss Morgan, you believe in saving reputations is very important, correct?" Mr. Ismay asked. I looked at Thomas who was staring at me.

"I believe that is something that must be done," I stated and Mr. Ismay exchanged a look with Thomas.

"I must ask again, what this is about?" Father asked, looking between the two dignified men.

"Tell them Joseph," Thomas said.

"Mr. J.P Morgan cancelled his suite last night," Mr. Ismay said.

"That's terrible but I don't see how we can help," my father said. I looked at my father.

"We refuse to let a room be empty on this ship," Thomas said as he sat on the couch and took a sip of his whiskey.

"I believe that we are still missing the need for us in this situation, Mr. Ismay and Mr. Andrews, and that is in all due respect," Father said as he shifted forward in his seat.

"Mr. Morgan, you are only here to approve this plan, Miss Morgan is the only one we actually need," Mr. Ismay said. I looked at my father who raised an eyebrow.

"And what is this plan?" Father asked.

"A fake engagement between Miss Morgan and one of our officers on the ship," Mr. Ismay said. Father slammed his hand on the desk making me jump a mile out of my chair. Thomas stood and touched my shoulder.

"No, never! My daughter will not do a deed like that for you when she is a child," Father nearly yelled. I placed my hand on his arm as vains popped out his neck and arms.

"And my reputation is on the line," Mr. Ismay stated.

"Your reputation means nothing to me or my daughter," my father snapped at him. Mr. Ismay stood slowly and stared my father down. His wiry frame was nothing compared to my father's large muscular frame.

"And your livilihood means nothing to me. Do you think I care if you are in the boiler room for the rest of the pitiful life you live?" he asked. My father stared at him and I could see his resolution falter.

"What are you getting at?" my father asked. Mr. Ismay sat down with a little smirk and leaned back in his chair.

"If your daughter doesn't do this, then let's say that you might die of starvation before this ship makes it to America without your daughter aboard to her future," Mr. Ismay said. I looked at Father, who hung his head in shame and looked at me.

"I'm strong enough to do it, Father," I whispered to my father. He looked at me and nodded.

"I, at the minimum, want to meet this man that will be in a fake engagement to my daughter," Father said. Thomas looked at Mr. Ismay as his hand stayed on my shoulder.

"It's only fair, Joseph," Thomas said as my father sat. Mr. Ismay nodded and looked at Thomas, who grumbled and walked out of the office. He was gone for five minutes while we sat in complete silence.

"May I present Deck Officer Scott Sire," Mr. Ismay said as the door opened, "Or rather one of them." My father and I looked and his face showed recognition.

"Miss Morgan, it's a pleasure to see you again," Officer Sire said. I nodded.

"You as well, Officer Sire," I said. I didn't understand why I was so upset that he lied to me but he did the "third class" terminology and he was wearing clothes like my father.

"You two have met?" Mr. Ismay asked as Officer Sire took a seat on the couch.

"This morning. She dropped her drawing pencils in the boiler room so I returned them to her," Officer Sire said.

"I believe I didn't give you a proper thanks since I was in the rush to get to the captain," I stated as he studied my face.

"It's quite okay. I was just doing my job," he said. I nodded and looked at my lap.

"Officer Sire, we are removing your name from the manifesto of officers so there won't be any questions about where you were," Mr. Ismay said.

"Is Miss Morgan-?" Officer Sire started to ask until Thomas started nodding. "Very well. Then perhaps we should start by you calling me Scott instead of Officer Sire."

"And you should call me Mae," I said softly. He nodded and looked at Mr. Ismay.

"Officer Sire, it is your job to make sure that no one knows that she doesn't have money. If even one person calls her out on it, it's your problem," Mr. Ismay said. Scott nodded and looked at me.

"Based on what interaction we had today, that should be a very easy task," Scott said.

"Dresses and jewellery and everything she will need to fit in," Mr. Ismay said.

"And maids and all of that will come on board the day of the voyage," Thomas said. I looked at Scott and he gave the smallest of smiles.