Chapter One

The steam from the coffee cup cleared up shortly, so Serena could see the tulip latte art the barista had carefully designed. She giggled lightly to herself and hoped the staff had gotten her order right.

If she ever had a period she was most grateful for her caramel blonde hair, it would be that moment in the soft white, cozy hotel robe.

She watched herself sip from the cup again, feeling like those rich powerful women in movies, having everything at their beck and call. She smiled inwardly and winked.

She fell with her back into one of the softest beds she'd laid on in her life, her legs hanging down at the edge of the bed. It could be the softest…after her Aunt Mabel's bed of course.

She heard the bird chirp notification of her phone right above her head. She tried to feel around for the phone while trying to figure out the intricate designs of the chandelier.

Another notification came on, but she still couldn't reach the laptop. She sighed and turned around swiftly, but the impact her leg had on the side stool, followed by the clattering sound of the teaspoon told her that she had messed up.

Serena jumped to her feet immediately, all the content of the cup had poured onto the rug.

She hadn't even drunk half of the cappuccino. Thanks to the rug, she didn't have to return an apology and a broken cup. What would she do now?

Her eyes darted to the bathroom, there had been a small towel there, she would wet it and use it to wipe the stain off the rug before it dries up.

Serena walked to the bathroom in a wobble. She hadn't spent a day and she was messing the place up. She returned to the room immediately with the small wet amber towel she had dipped in soapy water.

The rug was still wet and smelt of the cappuccino that would have gone down her stomach. She heard a short rapping sound on the wooden door.

Someone was knocking on the door. Not now, not now. She almost cried out loud in the room.

The person knocked again.

"Hold on," she scrubbed harder on the rug, hoping the stain wouldn't be noticeable if anyone walked in.

The distance between the bed and the door was a little bit short of five feet. If anyone, as much as glanced around, she was pretty sure their eyes would catch the fancy white rug at the foot of the bed.

A hotel attendant was at the other side of the door when Serena opened it. She had brought a set of new towels.

Serena took the basket from her and thanked her. She didn't wait for her to leave, she shut the door immediately and jumped into her bed again. Where was she? Her phone.

Two missed calls from Hadley. The messages must have been from her too. Serena grinned. She knew Hadley missed her already.

Well, Hadley would have to put up with something else for a week. Another notification came in from her again.

"Emergency?!"

Silly of Serena to take Hadley Norman seriously. She only wanted to get her attention after all. After spending thirty minutes talking to her best friend on the phone, she sighed and thought of what to do with her life.

If she were back home in Saint Lucas, she would have been on a project, editing articles and doing more and more research.

But Aunt Mabel had been serious when she said "strictly relaxation and self-care." So she was without her laptop and all she was required to do was enjoy herself.

A few minutes later she was dressed in a black hoodie over her yellow tank top and black jeans.

Her hair was already in a ponytail so she just applied a little oil. She didn't want to spend her day on makeup, so a lip balm did the job. She lingered in front of the mirror for a while.

The door at the other end of the room opened into a small balcony. It was a pretty view, a nice one for reading or pretending to read while you watch people swim, couples eating, and going all lovey-dovey in an outdoor garden.

There were just a couple of activities that would draw your interest at the center of the hotel buildings.

Serena realized that her mirror not only faced the direction of the balcony but she could clearly see the balcony at the opposite building.

It was a glass door, so anyone with a good eye would be able to see her anytime she stood in front of the mirror.

The image of someone watching her do her morning and night routine every day crept into her mind, but she brushed it off as quickly as it came.

Hopefully, no one was lodged into the room. She couldn't let a little inconvenience ruin her stay in one of the best and most affordable hotels in Mareco.

Tour guide in hand, with her knapsack over her back, she left the main hotel premises and walked into the city. So much life! She could feel it, she could smell it.

The aroma of fresh bread from a nearby bakery wafted into her eager nostrils. It was almost ten in the morning and every walkway on the street was busy.

Some people were already late for their business, walking as fast as possible, bumping into strangers, some were kind enough to apologize before they hurried away, while others let their victims curse away.

Serena felt her knapsack for the umpteenth time to make sure her keys were intact, as she tried to keep moving while watching a scene unfold between a redhead girl and a guy that accidentally spilled her coffee.

The guy pleaded with her and offered to take her to a store to change her dress, but she walked away after raining insults on him, leaving him dumbfounded.