SARAHI stood there, my hand gripping the doorknob tighter than necessary as Marco and I locked eyes. I could feel my heart racing, the tension thick in the air between us. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Not like this. Not after what he’d done, what he’d said. But now, standing in front of me, he seemed…different. His usual coldness wasn’t there, and for a moment, I couldn’t place what I was seeing in his eyes.I tried to remind myself why I was mad, why I was hurt. But the longer I stood there, the more difficult it became to keep that fire of anger alive. My chest tightened, and I wanted so badly to look at him with the same hatred I’d felt earlier. But as much as I wanted to hold onto my anger, it slipped through my fingers. It was like my emotions were betraying me, softening when they shouldn’t. I could still feel the sting of his words, of his actions, but something in me faltered.We were just standing there, staring at each other, neither of us moving, neither of us saying any
SARAHAs Marco pulled away from the kiss, I felt frozen in place, my heart still racing. I didn’t expect it to feel like that, to be that… intense. His eyes locked on mine, and for a second, I felt like I could drown in them. My heart was still craving more, wanting the moment to last longer, but just as quickly as it happened, he stood up, creating an uncomfortable distance between us.“I’ve been caught up in a lot lately,” Marco started, running a hand through his hair. His tone was softer, like he was trying to figure out how to say something without making things worse. I stayed silent, unsure of what to expect next.“We need a break,” he added, almost as if he were stating a fact, not making a suggestion.A break? My mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario. Was this his way of saying we needed space? Had everything that just happened meant nothing to him? The whirlwind of emotions I’d just gone through came crashing down at his words, and I couldn’t help but feel confuse
MARCOSitting across from Carlos and Tony, I absently moved one of my pieces on the chessboard, half-listening as they rambled about the latest bars and clubs they’d been frequenting. It was the same old talk—places I hadn’t been to in ages. I wasn’t interested in all that anymore. There was always something more important to focus on.Carlos, always the loudest of the three of us, leaned forward, trying to get my attention. “You’re really missing out, Marco. You remember those nights? The drinks, the women, the music! Man, we used to own every spot we walked into.”I waved him off with a small laugh. “Those days are behind me, Carlos. I’ll pass. I’ve got more important things to deal with.”Tony cut in, smirking as he moved his rook across the board. “Of course, you’d turn it down. You’re always buried in work these days, Marco. But seriously, you gotta cut loose sometime. You don’t wanna be that guy who only works and forgets how to live.”I watched as Tony’s knight threatened one o
SARAHAs I stepped out of the shower, the steam clung to the mirror, blurring my reflection. I grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my body before reaching for the lotion and moisturizer. The routine of applying these things was almost mindless, but today, I found myself pausing more than once, replaying Marco’s words in my head. “Get ready, we’ll be leaving in the afternoon,” he had said, as if this was just another day, as if this was normal for us. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it—Marco, taking me on a vacation?I shook my head, rubbing the lotion into my skin as I glanced at my reflection. My hair was still wet, clinging to my shoulders as I tried to piece together how this was going to play out. Was this really happening? Was Marco actually… trying?The last few days had been a whirlwind. One minute, we were barely speaking, and the next, he’s apologizing for everything and booking a trip. A tiny part of me hoped this was real, that maybe Marco was changing, but I couldn’t
SARAHStepping outside, I saw Marco just standing there, frozen. His eyes widened, his mouth parted slightly, and for a split second, I wasn’t sure if he was breathing. It felt like time stretched on forever as he stared at me, and I shifted slightly, feeling a little self-conscious.“Marco?” I said softly, trying to break the tension with a small laugh. “Are you just going to stand there, or are you planning to open the door?”That seemed to snap him out of his daze. He blinked, rubbed his eyes as if he was waking up from a dream, and cleared his throat. “Right, sorry,” he mumbled, hurrying to open the car door. He stopped briefly before reaching the handle and turned to me. “It’s just… wow, Sarah. You look incredible.”I blushed, not entirely sure how to respond. Compliments from Marco didn’t come often, and when they did, they usually felt like a setup for something else. But this… this sounded different, genuine.“Thank you,” I replied softly, feeling warmth creep up my cheeks. It
SARAHThe hum of the jet engines was softer than I imagined. It was almost like a lullaby in the background, comforting and steady. I sat back in the plush seat, sinking into the leather, letting the reality of everything sink in. This was my first time on a plane—ever. And not just any plane—a private jet. It was overwhelming, in the best way possible.Outside the window, the sky stretched wide and endless, with streaks of pink and orange starting to appear as the sun began its slow descent. I stared at the clouds, mesmerized by how small everything seemed from up here. Tiny patches of land, rivers snaking their way across the earth, and oceans that looked like pools of shimmering blue. It was breathtaking.Marco, sitting across from me, was focused on his phone, speaking in low tones as he handled call after call. I barely noticed him; I was too caught up in the sights, pressing my face to the glass like a kid seeing the world for the first time. I was, in a way.At one point, Marco
SARAHI lay back on the bed, sinking into the soft pillows, the gentle hum of the ceiling fan creating a comforting background noise. After unpacking some of my things, I decided to take a break. I glanced around the luxurious suite, still in awe of how perfect everything looked. The soft, muted colors of the room, the ocean view from the balcony, the subtle scent of fresh flowers—it all felt like a dream.I reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a book that had been left in the suite. I wasn’t really in the mood to read, but it was something to keep my mind occupied while I waited for Marco. Flipping through the pages absentmindedly, I found myself staring at the words without actually absorbing them.My mind kept wandering back to Marco. We were supposed to be here together, yet from the moment we landed, he was more focused on work than anything else. I sighed, closing the book and tossing it aside. I could feel a mix of frustration and disappointment building up inside me. I d
SARAHLunch had started off quietly enough. The dishes that kept coming out of the kitchen were nothing short of impressive. Every course felt like a tiny masterpiece—each one more luxurious than the last. I couldn’t help but marvel at how extravagant this whole trip had become. I mean, really, this was almost too much. Who needs lobster for lunch? But the nagging feeling that Marco was up to something sat at the back of my mind, gnawing at me between bites.I was trying to relax, trying to take it all in. But there was something about the way Marco was acting—too calm, too composed. He was always the one to throw a curveball when you least expected it, and I could feel one coming.As the waiter placed down a beautifully arranged plate of seafood, Marco raised an eyebrow at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief.“Gonna eat that? Or just admire it?” he teased, that familiar smirk pulling at his lips.I shot him a playful glare, picking up my fork. “I’m not sure. It’s almost too pretty t