5. Reality/opportunity

“No? I wasn't expecting that."

The waiter finally served our food.

I took a bite of the bread and scooped in a few spoons of soup.

"Will you come to the main event with me tonight, then?” Graham asked. “Just one evening, Catalina. Surely, you can-”

“No.”

His smile faltered for barely a second before returning.

“You reject a forty-million-dollar marriage proposal and a goodwill invitation to a party on the same day. You're a difficult woman to impress.”

“Well, I'm not trying to impress you.”

“Clearly.” He studied me with those unnervingly intense eyes. “I'll see you tonight, then.”

I scoffed. “Did you not hear me say no?”

“I heard you perfectly.”

“Then why are you acting as though I've agreed?”

“Optimism, princess.”

I rolled my eyes, pushed my chair back, and stood.

“Thank you for the meal, Graham. Now enjoy your optimism. Gotta go.”

I didn't bother waiting for his response.

I turned and walked out of the cafeteria, leaving him with his ridiculous proposal.

There are more pressing things to worry about.

First, I needed to get off this Island.

I headed to the reception area, where a young woman stood behind the desk.

“Good afternoon,” I greeted her. “I'd like to arrange a boat transfer to the mainland, please.”

She offered me a professional smile. “Certainly, ma'am. May I ask whether you have a scheduled transfer?”

“No. I’m hoping to arrange a private one. I'm ready to leave.”

Her smile softened into an apologetic expression.

“Oh. I'm afraid that won't be possible at the moment.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

“There's been a change in the sea conditions this evening. The harbour authorities have temporarily suspended passenger transfers because of the swells beyond the island's sheltered waters. For everyone's safety, our boat operators have been instructed to remain at the dock until conditions improve.”

I stared at her.

“You mean there isn't a single boat available to take me to the mainland?”

“Not one that can safely make the crossing right now, ma'am.”

I pressed my lips together, trying to contain my frustration.

“When are the boats likely to start running again?”

The latest update suggests that regular transfers would resume in the early hours of tomorrow morning. We have several boats scheduled to transport our guests back to the mainland after tonight's activities. Once the authorities clear the route, we'll begin those transfers as planned.”

“Early hours of tomorrow morning." I repeated incredulously.

“Yes, ma'am. I'm very sorry.”

I blew out my cheeks in frustration.

Of all the days for the sea to become troublesome, it had to be today.

“Are you absolutely certain there's nothing you can do?”

“I wish there were, ma'am, but we cannot compromise your safety. If the situation changes, we'll notify our guests immediately.”

I thanked her, although I wasn't sure the word sounded particularly sincere, and moved away from the desk.

I was stranded at a luxury resort on a private island.

With my cheating boyfriend somewhere on the premises, messing around with the woman pregnant with his child, and a ridiculously handsome Formula One driver who had just offered me millions to marry him.

If someone had told me a week ago that this would be my life, I would have laughed in their face.

Now, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

I settled for an exasperated sigh.

The first thing I needed to do was find Jeffery. Surely, he could at least help me figure out an alternative arrangement.

Regardless of what had happened between us, we had travelled here together. I needed to let him know I was leaving too.

I pulled out my phone and called him.

It rang until the call disconnected. Then I tried again and again.

Same result.

“Pick up the damn phone, Jeffery,” I muttered.

I opened our message thread and began typing.

"[Where are you?]"

I waited a minute before sending another message.

"[I've been trying to reach you. I need to speak with you]."

"[Call me]."

I stared at the screen, waiting for the familiar indication that he had read my messages.

But there was nothing.

So, I headed back to the kind lady at the reception.

"Hi, I'm sorry to bother you. But I was wondering if you saw this man today?" I showed her a picture of Graham.

"Oh yes," she nodded. "He is among the few guests who left the resort this morning."

"No, no, he hasn't left the resort yet. You must be mistaking him for someone else."

She frowned and looked closely at the picture.

"I believe this is Mr. Suther, and he left the resort this morning with one of the female guests that came in last night."

F*ck you, Jeffery. F*ck you big time.

"Oh,” was all I could afford immediately.

Then I managed a “Thank you,"

I was about to slip my phone into my pocket when it vibrated.

Tapping on the screen, I read the three-word text from Jeffery.

"[Busy. Call later]."

I stared at the message.

That was it?

He didn’t even ask why I called so many times. He didn’t bother to check on me, either, despite not having seen me since last night.

He really made his priorities painfully clear.

I locked my phone and began walking towards the elevator, intending to return to the suite and wait until tomorrow.

“Miss Catalina?”

I turned at the sound of my name.

A resort attendant stood a short distance away, holding a long black garment bag on a hanger. It was the kind used to transport expensive suits or evening gowns without creasing the fabric.

“Yes.”

“This is for you, ma'am,” he said politely.

I glanced at the garment bag, then back at him.

“For me? Who sent it?”

He shook his head. “I-I don't know. I was only told to deliver it directly to you.”

“Thank you,” I said, accepting the bag reluctantly.

As he walked away, curiosity got the better of me, and I unzipped the bag just enough to peek inside.

A beautiful evening gown lay neatly arranged within it. The fabric looked luxurious, and even from here, I could tell that it was an expensive piece.

A small envelope had been tucked near the hanger.

I pulled it out and opened it.

"DEAR RUNAWAY PRINCESS,

I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL LOOK SO GOOD ON YOU.

I HOPE YOU'LL RECONSIDER MY INVITATION.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN IT TONIGHT.

—GRAHAM.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered.

The man proposed a contractual marriage over breakfast, was rejected, invited me to a party, was rejected again, and somehow he concluded that sending me an expensive dress would improve his chances.

A part of me wanted to try the dress on simply to see how it looked, not that I wanted to go to the party.

At least, that was what I told myself as I zipped the garment bag closed and started towards the suite.

Since I couldn't leave the island until tomorrow morning, perhaps I could spend the rest of the day sleeping off the previous night's alcohol.

Or call my best friend, Melody, and tell her about the spectacular disaster my life had become.

The second option sounded considerably more appealing.

So, I called her once I got into the suite.

“You're not seriously considering staying in that room all night, are you?” Melody asked after hearing me explain everything that happened between Jeffery and me, carefully skipping the part where I followed Graham Scazard to his suite.

“I'm considering sleeping until tomorrow morning.”

“Absolutely not. Graham freaking Scazard got you a dress that probably cost more than my rent, Babe. And he wants you at the party. For once, stop thinking about Jeffrey and go have fun.”

“But-but- I came here with Jeffery.”

“So? He ditched your a$$. Freaking left you on an unknown Island all by yourself. That man is a heartless beast, Catty. You don't owe him shit anymore."

I stared at the dress on the bed.

"You're right, Mel. I don't owe Jeffery loyalty, and I have every right to hang out with anyone I choose to hang out with.”

“Exactly. Now, let's get you ready. When you come back home, you owe me a whole lot of gist.”

I laughed for the first time that day.

For the next few hours, Melody kept me company over the phone as we decided how to style the dress and which pieces of jewellery would complement it. By the time we were done, I barely recognised the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

The gown fitted beautifully, and the jewellery added just the right touch of elegance.

I always knew that calling Melody would definitely lead to me going to the party.