The Invitation

Chapter one

Emily

~•~

The sun hung low over the ocean, casting a golden shimmer across the waves as I relaxed on the balcony of my private villa.

The soft crash of the tide below mixed with the rustling of palm trees, created a soothing melody that should have made me feel at peace.

But even in paradise, I still felt a sense of unease.

I took my phone, angling the screen so my sister, Emma, could see the breathtaking view. “Can you believe this place? He really outdid himself this time,” I said with a small smile, referring to my husband, Nathan.

He had surprised me with this trip, an extravagant escape to a secluded island resort, just the two of us, away from the noise of our busy lives.

Emma, lounging on her couch back home, sipped from her wine glass and smirked. “I don’t know if I should be happy for you or incredibly jealous. Seriously, Emily, this looks like something out of a movie.”

I chuckled, but it was a little forced. I love Nathan. At least, I had loved him.

But lately, something has been off. The surprise trip was supposed to bring us closer, to fix whatever cracks had begun to form between us.

And yet, even now, sitting here in this dreamlike setting, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

In the middle of our conversation, Emma’s expression shifted. Her brows knitted together, and she leaned closer to the screen. “Emily, who’s that behind you?”

A chill ran down my spine. I turned my head slowly, my heart hammering in my chest. But when I looked the balcony doors were open and all I could see was an invitation on the table.

I didn’t see anybody behind me.

The person must’ve dropped the card and left immediately.

“I’ll call you later Emma,” I said to my sister as I hung up the phone.

Curiosity had filled me up and I didn’t know if I should wait for Nathan or not. I had promised myself to not interfere in his business after seeing the way he acted the last time I did.

Our marriage was on the verge of breaking till I told him I was pregnant. He became all sweet but unfortunately, I lost the baby at two months.

Things had been weird between us until he arranged this trip for us. Now he’s been gone for three hours and I had no other option than to open the invitation.

“I’m going to do this anyway,” I said to myself. I walked towards the table in my white bikini set with a brown wrap around my waist. I took a deep breath not knowing what to expect as I opened the letter. “Oh my gosh!”

“You’ve been invited to a private dinner party by Mr. Nathaniel Luke, there’s a dress for you in the closet, a driver will be waiting to pick you up, don’t be late!” I read out loud.

Immediately I processed the information that I had just read, and I screamed.

I always thought our marriage was coming to an end but he has proved me wrong these past few days. “I need to get ready,” I said to myself.

As I stood in front of the full-length mirror adjusting the red dress Nathan had left for me, I couldn’t help but realize how much of myself I had lost trying to prove myself to him over the years.

It’s crazy that it’s all going to be worth it in a matter of time. He had started to see the efforts I was putting into our marriage. It was nice to know that he had started matching my efforts.

I opened my jewelry box and wore a pair of gold earrings that my mother had given me. Then an arm cuff and gold heels to match.

I headed out of the room to the elevator. I could tell I was looking captivated because of how everyone looked at me in the general villa.

As I rushed out of the elevator trying not to be late so the night didn’t get ruined, a familiar face walked up to me.

“You’re Emily right?” The blonde woman with blue eyes asked.

I raised a brow. “Yes, I am. Is there a reason you asked?” I raised a skeptical brow at her. .

“I helped set up the dinner that your husband invited you for and I overheard…”

My phone buzzed with text messages from Nathan and I was forced to cut her off.“ I really would have loved to hear you out but my husband needs me and I don’t want to be late, maybe some other time”.

“Wait!” She kept trying to get me to listen to her but I sprinted and walked towards the cab that Nathan had gotten me.

The car was sleek, black, and unfamiliar. The driver, a man in a crisp suit, greeted me with a polite nod but didn’t speak.

As we drove through the city streets, I pressed my hands together in my lap, staring at the passing lights. The ride was pretty smooth and quiet but I couldn’t help but wonder what the blonde-haired woman wanted to say. Whatever it was, I’m sure this dinner was more important.

We arrived at a fancy location. I don’t know what I was expecting but this was way beyond my imagination. The room was decorated with gold chairs and tables. The ambiance was spectacular.

On one end I saw a band of young men playing the violin and other instruments, what you would call an orchestra. The other end was filled with people who had been invited to the dinner. I scanned the room with my eyes to see if I could spot Nathan anywhere.

And there he was.

Nathan stood at one end, his presence filling the space effortlessly. Tall, and broad-shouldered, his tailored suit molding perfectly to his frame.

His dark hair was neatly combed back, and his strong jaw was freshly shaven. But it was his eyes, sharp, assessing, always watching that made me hesitate.

For a brief moment, I felt like she was walking into something more than just dinner.

“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice smooth and warm.

I smiled, stepping forward as he pulled out a chair. “You’re full of surprises tonight.”

He poured us both a glass of deep red wine, the liquid swirling like ink in the dim light. “I thought we could use a night just for us.”

I studied him as he spoke, noting the careful way he measured his words. There was a distance in him, a characteristic I had once admired. But now, it unsettles me.

The waiter arrived, placing the first course in front of us. Something delicate, plated with artistic precision. I picked up my fork, but I wasn’t thinking about the food.

I was thinking about the way Nathan’s eyes never left me. About the weight of this moment. About the woman who had stopped me earlier.

And about the feeling that, despite the romance of it all, I was not just here for dinner.

I was here for something else.

Something I didn’t understand yet.