All Chapters of Stranded on an Island with Mr. CEO: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

79 Chapters

The moment of truth

Ariana's POVI spent the entire day cooped up in Maya’s apartment, feeling like a caged animal. I fixed myself some toast and eggs, but my appetite was fickle, swinging between ravenous and completely repulsed. To kill the time, I flipped through the channels. Most of the news stations were still running "Miracle on Pulau Sigamat" segments, so I scrolled past them as fast as I could. I couldn’t stand to see my own face or Nathaniel's under those flashing headlines.I eventually landed on a discovery channel showing a documentary about the deep ocean. The slow, rhythmic sounds of the water and the sight of whales gliding through the blue were the only things that calmed my nerves. It reminded me of the nights on the beach.Later, I caught an interview with a man talking about remote data entry jobs. He was explaining how working from home had saved his life after an injury. I leaned in, memorizing the names of the websites he mentioned. It wasn't a bad idea. I could use my laptop, stay

The hunt begins

Nathaniel's POVAriana was running in the rain on the island and laughing. She looked beautiful and radiant in the moonlight, her skin glowing with life. She turned toward me, her eyes sparkling, and hugged me. I held her back fiercely, burying my face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the scent of salt and tropical air. I pulled back to look at her smiling face, my heart pounding with relief."Why did you leave?" I whispered. "Where are you?"Her smile froze. Her eyes went wide with a sudden, haunting sadness. She opened her mouth to answer—A shrill, rhythmic screeching tore the world apart. I woke up and hit my alarm so hard I heard the plastic crack.I groaned, the sound vibrating painfully against the inside of my skull. My head felt like it had been used as a punching bag by a heavyweight champion. After leaving Dani’s place yesterday, I had spent the rest of the evening drowning my misery in a high-end bar downtown. I didn't even remember getting home so my sticky buddies—

Hidden shares

Nathaniel's POVGurner reclined further in his worn leather seat, the springs creaking under his weight as he blew a slow, contemplative cloud of smoke toward the ceiling. "I see," he rumbled, his scarred lip twitching. "The girl from the island. You want me to find her.""She’s most likely at a friend’s place—Maya Donovan," I said, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. "But I don’t know for sure. She vanished from the hospital the day before yesterday without leaving a trace. Even the CCTV was a dead end."Gurner squinted through the haze of smoke. "Do you have a name and a picture? I need something current. People change when they’re out in the wild, Coop."I opened my mouth to answer, then paused. I didn’t actually have a single photograph of Ariana. Not one. On the island, we had nothing but the reflection in the lagoon. In the hospital, I had been too busy trying to memorize the curve of her jaw with my own eyes to think about a phone.I felt a surge of frustration a

Unknown caller

Ariana's POVMaya and I spent the rest of the day just chilling and watching Friday shows. It felt surreal to be sitting on a comfortable sofa, surrounded by the sound of an air conditioner and the smell of scented candles, after so long in the wild. Maya had taken over the kitchen completely. She cooked a massive breakfast of scrambled eggs, avocado toast, and fruit then stood over me until I took my folic acid and prenatal vitamins."I still can’t believe it," she said, leaning against the counter and watching me swallow the pills. "I can’t believe you got pregnant before me. You were always the one who said kids weren't in the cards.""Me neither," I said, a small, bittersweet smile touching my lips. "Life has a funny way of tearing up your plans and handing you something completely different."Maya's expression turned serious. "Are you really not going to tell Mr. Coop? He is the father, after all. He has a right to know, Ari."I shook my head and let out a long sigh. "I’ll tell h

Matchmaking

Nathaniel's POVThe grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel was a sea of clinking crystal and forced laughter. Tonight was an event specifically organized for the city’s elite to celebrate the resilience of New York’s business leaders which was a thinly veiled excuse to parade me around as the man who had cheated death.I remembered with annoyance the hours I had spent the day before at One Touch. My mother had fussed over the lapels of my tuxedo as if my life depended on the symmetry of the fabric. Eventually, we bought the most expensive suit in the shop with my own card, the one she had haughtily demanded I hand over as if I were a child who couldn't be trusted with his own wallet.The flashbulbs were blinding as I stepped onto the red carpet at the center of the room. There was a woman clinging to my arm whom I didn't know from Adam, but according to my mother, having a beautiful woman on my arm made me look like a respectable gentleman again.People craned their necks, whispering as I

Seeing her again

Nathaniel's POV The woman by the shore laughed, a high, melodic sound that drifted over the crashing waves. A small child, maybe four years old, came sprinting across the wet sand, shouting "Mom! Mom!" at the top of his lungs. The woman turned, scooping the boy into her arms. The moonlight hit her face, and the air left my lungs in a dull hiss. It wasn't Ariana. Hope deflated inside me like a punctured tire, but I wasn't entirely shocked. What were the chances she’d be out here, playing in the surf in the middle of the night? My mind was just playing tricks on me, seeing her silhouette in every shadow. I sat on a piece of driftwood for a long time, letting the cold night breeze sting my face. The rhythm of the Atlantic was the only thing that kept my head from spinning. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see Gurner’s name on the screen. "Yes?" I answered. "Guess who I found," Gurner’s gravelly voice crackled through the speaker. "Ariana?" I stood up, my boots s

Employment offer

Ariana's POVMonday morning felt like it was moving in slow motion. Maya had already headed out to the office, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a bowl of oatmeal that I was struggling to finish. My belongings had been delivered to Maya’s other apartment early this morning. I’d already planned a clandestine trip over there later tonight to grab my essentials, especially my laptop. Using Maya’s computer felt like borrowing someone else’s brain. I needed my own space.I was curled up on the sofa, mindlessly flipping through an old fashion magazine, when a sharp ping echoed from the kitchen counter.I nearly tripped over my own feet dashing to the laptop. My heart was thumping against my ribs. Please don't be a newsletter. Please don't be spam. I clicked the trackpad, and my breath hitched.Subject: Employment Offer – Data Entry Specialist – CloudWorkersI let out a muffled scream, immediately clapping my hands over my mouth. I did a little silent victory dance, my feet tapping a fra

There is a baby

Ariana's POVThe lobby of the St. Jude Private Clinic smelled like expensive citrus. As we sat on the plush velvet chairs, I leaned closer to Maya, whispering, "How did you secure an appointment this fast? This place looks like you need a background check just to walk through the door."My eyes drifted across the room, catching on a man sitting a few rows away. He was wearing a generic jacket and reading a fishing magazine, but he looked completely out of place—too alert, his eyes scanning the room more than the pages.Maya waved a hand dismissively. "Let’s just say the gynecologist and I know each other on... more personal terms."My jaw dropped. "Maya!""What?" she asked, looking perfectly innocent. "He’s rich, he’s hot, and he’s hardworking. A triple threat, Ari.""Did he ask you out?""Well, not yet—""Then what in God’s name are you doing?" I gasped. "Is this a strangers-with-benefits thing? Maya, you can't just use a doctor for priority scans!""Will you let me explain?" Maya hi

Black and white image

Nathaniel's POVI stood in my office, my hands shoved deep into my pockets, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows. Gurner had sent a text message earlier. Subject on the move. 7:46 AM. Leaving with the roommate.Since then, I haven't been able to focus on a single spreadsheet or contract. I had asked—no, demanded—that Gurner have someone follow them. I felt a pang of guilt in my chest, a heavy, sinking feeling. I was watching her without her knowledge, invading the very privacy she had run away to find. But I told myself it was for the sake of my sanity. If I didn't know she was safe, I wouldn't be able to breathe.My laptop pinged with a digital notification. I practically lunged for it.The email was from a secure, encrypted address. I sat down, my heart hammering against my ribs, and began to read.To: N. CoopFrom: G-ExtractionSubject: Surveillance Report - MondayTimeline:07:46 AM: Target and Maya Donovan departed residence in Astoria.08:08 AM: Arrived at St. Jude Private C

Watching her

Nathaniel's POVI sat in the back of the darkened SUV, my eyes fixed on the small figure sitting on the sand. It was her. Even from this distance, I would know the tilt of her head anywhere. Ariana was dressed lightly—far too lightly for the evening breeze coming off the water. A part of me wanted to throw the door open, run across the dunes, and wrap my jacket around her shoulders just to feel her warmth again."Aren't you getting out, sir?" my driver asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror."No," I said, my voice sounding raspy even to my own ears. "I’ll stay here like this for a while. You can go, grab some coffee or something. Return in an hour.""Thank you, Mr. Coop," the man said. He stepped out, leaving the engine idling quietly so the heater stayed on, and disappeared toward a nearby shack.I kept watching her back. She looked so calm, so serene, just staring at the black expanse of the Atlantic. I realized in that moment that I could never get tired of watching her.

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