The Magnate's Island Bride

Along distant horizons, melodious laughter, and soft whispers proclaimed a new day began. The sun’s warmth, hidden beneath thick fog, could be felt through the early morning chills. While along the skyline, tall buildings of various shapes and sizes rose and spread. The atmosphere, white with pollution, cleared slowly enough that she could make out the orangish hue of dawn. Standing beside the window, she stared out at the tall buildings without seeing them. Whispers of yesterday’s sweet memories filtered in, and her usually solemn face relaxed into a pleasing smile. They were all such beautiful recollections of previous days’ adventure, of exploring a vast city, in a foreign land. Bursting out in laughter, Steffie recalled a moment in the courtyard; for a brief period, on her way back, she thought she was lost. Giggling, she recalled how being one to love nature, and having a tenacious memory, she’d found her way back to civilization. As one keen on observation, Steffie soon realized that there seemed to be quite some effort in the upkeep and restoration of the structures as she strolled by. The history of the country seems to also be well preserved and stands out in key structures of the city. The people all seemed proud and delighted at displaying their culture and tradition. Walking the busy streets, Steffie witnessed how it was full of life with souvenir shops of colourful decorations, which drew her attention to the vast beauty of it all. Giggling softly, looking back, she recalled that the street stalls reminded her of her recent visit. Steffie, on her visit to the museum that very day, had marvelled at the items on exhibition. Items with significant beauty found and protected as national treasures. Julianna and Ellissa joined Steffie on the tour as they pointed out artifacts and were even awed at the explanation given. Later, after a full morning, they discovered themselves at a local food shop where they indulged in fine cuisine and found it to be quite tasty. With a contented sigh, Steffie turned and left the window, walked over to the bed, grabbed the suitcase and backpack, and left the room. Her curly black hair, hung behind her head in a ponytail, swaying from side to side as she moved. Her heart-shaped face, devoid of makeup, was quite charming and drew attention. Dressed in black body fit pants, thigh high boots-that made her seem tall, and a white sleeved top, which highlighted her Caribbean heritage, she stepped in simple style like a model from a magazine. Walking away from the elevator, and into the foyer, she glanced about and found Julianna. Feeling rather contented and ecstatic, a smile lit her face. Julianna, who was sitting on one of the couches, looked up from her phone and into her direction. With a small wave, Julianna smiled and greeted her. “Hey, Steff.” “Hey, Jules.” Taking a seat beside Jules on the couch, Steffie took in Julianna’s outfit. Dressed in a gray and white jumpsuit with black boots, hair pulled back into a ponytail with strands dancing in her fair flushed face, and a grey leather jacket, Steffie found Jules to be star-like. Wowed by the look, Steffie said to Jules, “You look stunning.” “Thank you,” Blushing at the comment, she returned “You don’t look too bad yourself.” Nodding, Steffie glanced about and asked, “Where’s Lissa?” Unconcerned, Jules shrugged and responded. “She was here a minute ago but got a call. If you didn’t pass her near the elevator, she probably went outside to handle it.” “Oh. I didn’t.” Relaxing further into the softness of the couch, Steffie sighed. “Um, did you find out about the storage of our bags?” “Uh...yes, about that.” The guide came a while ago and spoke with reception. We were asked to label our bags before storing them.” Rifling about in her jacket pocket, Julianna pulled out a few circular-shaped paper stickers and handed them over. “Here you go. Just fill out the sticker and attach it to your bag.” “Thank you.” Steff took what Jules handed over, dug around in her bag for a pen, then filled it out. “Did Lissa fill out hers already?” “No. She was about to when her phone rang.” “Oh, Okay.” “Hmm.” “You guys seem quite prepared today.” Steff smiled gently, making conversation. “Yeah. All we need is for our driver to be here on time and off we go.” “Well, from what I have observed, these people are ALWAYS on time.” Jules nodded in agreement. “We’re no longer in our country where we can be late or laid back with the time.” stated Steffie, looking at her wristwatch. “Yeah, quite a change for me.” Jules mumbled thoughtfully. Steffie glanced at Jules then smiled. “For someone like you who loves wasting time, that’s a bummer, right?” Jules glanced at Steffie and playfully flipped her. Steffie’s soft but melodious laughter could be heard all over the foyer. Causing some heads to turn in their direction. “Alright you two, what did I miss?” The sound of footsteps brought Ellissa before them. And Steffie coughed and cleared her throat. “Uh, nothing of significant importance.” Steffie snickered. “So, where were you just now?” Taking a deep breath, as if carrying the world, Lissa slouched down onto the couch opposite to Steffie and Jules and responded, “Work problems with a client.” “Ouch!” both girls reacted. “Yeah, but Lucas has it under control.” she smiled softly and quickly stated. “Okay. That sounds relieving.” Jules stated and bowed her head to her phone. Steffie shook her head at Jules, then continued observing Lissa. She was dressed in jeans with boots, a brown leather jacket and her wavy shoulder-length hair pulled back into a bun. Suddenly, with a blast of optimism, Ellissa perked up, distracting Steffie and, with renewed energy, shouted, “Who’s ready for the road trip?” Cringing from her loud tone, Steffie looked around embarrassed, “Can you not be so annoyingly loud?” “What do you mean? Tsk! We’re tourists in a foreign country.” “Does that justify being annoyingly loud?” asked Steffie sarcastically. “It sure does.” “Really?” “Yes, it does.” Ellissa said, like a child going back and forth arguing her point. “Tourists are people who travel for fun. And we’re here to do just that.” “I know. But can we bypass the unpleasant loudness and just be ourselves to have fun?” Glancing around, Steffie observed the people giving them looks. “You’re drawing unnecessary attention here.” Giggling, Julianna looked up from her phone and got into the spirit. With a singsong voice, she said, “Oh, Steff. Fun is why we’re here. Can’t you learn to loosen up and enjoy yourself? Just this one time?” “You’re in on this too?” “Yea. We came on this trip to have an adventure. So, let’s have some fun while we’re here.” Rolling her eyes at both girls, she watched as they enjoyed themselves. Realizing a losing battle, she complied. Standing up from the couch, she felt a bit of excitement surge through her veins to discover the unknown. They were, after-all, here to sight see. Glancing at Lissa, she declared “Lead the way!” With a huge smirk, Lissa stood and walked over to Steff, enveloping her in a tight hug. “You’ll definitely enjoy this trip.” “Will I?” “Yes, you shall.” “Why do you think so?” “Because when Ellissa and I planned this, we planned it with you in mind,” responded Julianna. “Really?” “Yes, really.” Well, okay. If you guys say so, I look forward to what’s in store.” “We’re going to lots of places that interest you, and then some. You’ll like it all.” “Okay, if you all said so.” Steff smiled coyly. ~❤~   Exhausted from the long ride, and exploring the busy streets of the new city, Steffie was delighted when the day ended. Wanting to catch an early rest, she was delighted when they’d checked in. Finding her room, she wasted no time, jumping beneath the cool silk sheets and hitting the hay. In the light of day, Steffie took in the atmosphere and environment of the establishment and found the ambiance to be great. Positioned beside the large bay window, she pulled back the curtains and took in the view silently. The sun was slowly rising, and, despite the foggy atmosphere, the colors painted quite a lovely glow along the horizon. The view here was good also, she mused. Gathering her leather jacket and her cross-body bag, she left the room. Walking towards the elevator, she scrolled through her phone, not taking notice of her surroundings, and walked right into a wall. It was a moving wall though. Oops. Uh-oh. What a klutz. Looking up the wall, Steffie found herself looking up at eyes the color of the Caribbean sky. Giving her a feeling of homesickness. These eyes were so captivating that any hot-blooded female would be lost in them. He was about a foot and a half taller than her, 5′4". What a good-looking man. She mused. Especially dressed in formal wear. Hmm. He was mouth-watering, and she slowly took him all in. From his clacks, charcoal black suit and even the way his well shaved face seems to stand out. Though he looked unfriendly, she still found him to be a gorgeous specimen. So lost was Steffie in her observation, that the ding of the cab jolted her back to the present. She mumbled quickly, “Sorry,” and walked to the far end of the back to take support for her shaking knees. Closing her eyes, trying to regain some form of composure to her usually unruffled control, she hears a deep husky voice pull at her. Her eyes snapped open, and she stared at his strong back. “Are you going up or down?” She felt mesmerized as if in a spell. He shifted to her slightly and repeated his question as if speaking to a dumb person. “Uh-um-m... I’m going u-u-up.” Realizing immediately, she said the wrong thing, she squeezed her eyes shut then hurriedly stuttered, “Shoot, I mean, I’m going d-d-down.” “Okay.” His handsome face fitted into a smirk. Punching the button, he pocked his hands, standing like a soldier at ease. The lift immediately started descending. From the corner of her eyes, she observed him, feeling her face and ears grow hot. She lifted her hands to fan her face, hoping to ease the heat. Dammit! Something about him called out to her. He seemed so familiar. As soon as the cab jolted to a stop and the doors pinged open, she rushed out, yet again, bumping into his hard body, and further embarrassing herself. “Well, this doesn’t seem to be my day,” She mumbled and sighed. “S-s-sorry,” She whispered. “It’s all good,” His face stiffly lifted into a broad grin. “You seem to be in a rush.” Gently, he steadied and released her. Despite the shock of feelings flowing through him, by holding on to her hand, his impersonal face never betrayed his reaction. Just as quickly as the grin came, it disappeared. Her face flushed, a rapidly beating heart, she strained her brown eyes at his open collar chest and apologized more firmly. “I am sorry for bumping into you and thank you for your kind assistance. I really didn’t mean to crash into you over and over.” Before he could respond, she escaped quickly, fighting the impulse to look back. A shiver of apprehension tingled down her arm and back, as if being watched. Wanting not to stumble, out of fear of making a fool of herself, on trembling legs Steff moved towards the twirling door and into the cold air. It was a refreshing welcome to her hot face. What the hell was that? Nicholas was quite intrigued by his reaction to the woman. The flow of emotions that filled his veins left him dumbfounded. She’d bumped into him twice within an hour. Then fled, as if in a race, to wherever it was she was going. He scoffed. What a numskull. Suddenly, a memory of the past surfaced. He recalled a woman with a slender form, a bit of a klutz like the woman who bumped into him. It’s been fifteen years since they last crossed paths. Fifteen years of vast space and no interaction. Fifteen years of suppressed emotions. Time had passed and they’d both changed in character and appearance. In a turmoil state of thought, he walked over to the dining area where he’d agreed to meet his client. Putting away his weighted thoughts in a box where all his emotions were sealed, he took a second to close his eyes and composed himself. He’d never met this man before, but with just one look at his photo he believed he could recognize him. Scanning the room, replaying the image in the back of his mind and hoping to find the face in a sea of the unknown, he came across the man sitting at a table that sat two in a corner. He smirked. He was indeed good at his job as an operative in the field. Pasting on a smile, he walked over. Stopping before the table with a slight bow in greeting. “Good morning. I’m Nicholas Lovette from Novelty’s Asylum Agency.” A dwarfish man swiftly stood and extended his hand. “Thanks for coming at such short notice.” Then he indicated that Nicholas should take the available chair. Both men sat and chatted for a while, getting down to business. The exchange was quite fruitful. Understanding the concerns of the man, Nicholas gave his agreement to undertake the job personally. On his way back to his room, the incident of bumping into her, replayed in his mind and made him wonder who she was, where she came from and what she was doing. As he stepped off the elevator, he reflected. Would he bump into her again? She seemed to be on his floor. But that was highly unlikely. Mentally shaking away those thoughts, he pulled his key card from his pocket and swiped to enter his room. Removing his phone from his jacket pocket, he video called his best friend and business partner. Connecting on the second ring, Lucas inquired straight away, “So, I’m guessing you decided to take the job?” Nicholas could hear the shifting of papers on the phone before seeing Lucas’ face appear through the screen. “Yes, I did. His case is a bit sensitive and tricky due to his position.” “Good, good.” Lucas was pleased. Suddenly he cursed out beneath his breath. “Dammit.” Taking a pause, he focused on Nicholas, “What document do you need me to draft for you?” “Are you okay, man?” Nicholas squinted at Lucas, ignoring for the time being the business matter. “Yea, man.” Letting out a frustrated breath. “Trying to get a client of Lissa’s under control, but he’s getting me annoyed with his clinging and inconsiderate attitude. Don’t know how she deals with this guy.” “Oh. Why are you the one trying to handle him? Can’t she deal with him herself?” Nick asked curiously. “Lissa can, but she’s on vacation right now.” “Oh!” Pondering about what Luc said, he paused before responding. “Sounds like a demanding client indeed.” “He is. The only demanding one from all her clients. The guy can’t seem to understand what a vacation is,” Lucas grumbled. “Oi. So, she finally took one?” “What?” Lucas wasn’t paying attention. “A vacation,” Nick teased. “Yes. After much encouragement though.” “Well, that’s good. I thought she was just like you. Work, work, work, and more work.” Nick chuckled. Lucas joined in. “She had to. Because I think work and the wedding planning were starting to get to her.” “Oh, well, that’s not a good thing.” “Not good indeed. She was starting to pass the frustration on me.” “So, where did she go?” “She’s somewhere over where you are, probably.” “What?!” Pulling at Lucas’ attention in his reaction, “Yep-p.” Luc said with a pop, leaning back into his chair and eyeing the phone screen with interest. Nicholas stopped what he was doing and replayed what Lucas said. “Are you saying we’re in the same country at present?” “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Luc nodded. “Oh. Well, that’s good. Hope she enjoys the visit.” “Did you bump into them?” “Them?” Nick c****d his eyes at Lucas. Muddled in thought, he wondered what Lucas was asking. “What do you mean ‘them’?” Smiling with all intentions of amusement, Lucas closely observed Nick as he divulged. “I mean,” he paused for effect, “you know,” smilingly, “Lissa and the girls. Steffie and Julianna are with her.” Nicholas, who was sitting on the bed of his room, immediately stood up and started pacing. “Huh?” Lucas wasn’t done yet, he mocked Nick some more by explaining it. “They’re on a girls’ trip. Touring across a couple of towns, meeting people and visiting sites.” Lucas made himself more comfortable in his chair, crossing his arms along his chest. Smirking at his friend through the phone. “Who did you meet?” “What do you mean, ‘who did I meet?’” “From your reaction, I’m sure you met one of them.” "If they're on a 'girls' trip', how would I be bothered?" "Very good question," Lucas mused, "So, which one did you bump into?" “I don’t know what you mean.” “Oh, you know what I mean. I want to know who you met.” Lucas laughed gleefully. “Was it Julianna? Or Lissa?... Or was it...the love... you... never... got over. Was it her? Was it... Steffie?” Looking into the phone, Nick quickly masked his reaction, but it was too late. His sharp friend didn’t miss anything. “What do you mean? I haven’t met any of the girls. Firstly, if you didn't inform me they were over here, I wouldn't even have known.” he played it cool. “Did you forget that I have known you all our lives?” “How could I forget?” Nick said dryly. “Hmmm.” Luc smiled and letting it go for now, got back to looking for the file he was searching for, leaving Nick to his thoughts. Could it be that I ran into her today? Is that why I felt the way I did? Was it her? A chill crawled along his skin, leaving him feeling lost and uncomfortable. “They’re visiting for a week and should be leaving on the weekend,” Luc said. Could it really be her? Nick, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t hear Lucas’ last words. “Hey!” With no response, Lucas stared at a loss Nick into the phone. Smirking, he called out to him again. “Hey Nick! Earth to Nick.” “Uh, yeah. What up?” Lucas thought of further teasing Nick but felt that it was best he let him process the information he gave him. “Which document did you want me to send to you?” “Uh - the top priority,” he said thoughtfully. “Nick! Are you okay?” “Y-yeah man. I’m good. Was checking out something.” “Uh-huh. What were you checking out?” Nick had a feeling that he would be throwing himself into a trap if he responded to Lucas’ question. The concept of throwing himself under the bus wasn’t sitting right with him. That feeling brought him back to the present and made him take note of his surroundings. He was here to get a job done and he would get it done. Taking a chance at changing the subject, he responded with a question of his own. “Were you able to get the necessary information regarding the other matter for me?” Seeing through what Nick did, Lucas dropped it all. “Yeah. I am still gathering information on this. This is so hushed that digging into it may create problems. Are you sure you want to go there?” “Yes,” Nicholas responded quite seriously. “I need to know all there is to know about this. I have never heard of this before until now. What do you think?” Nodding in agreement, Lucas thought to himself. “I would want to know also.” “Let me know anything about your findings.” “Yeah.” “Are you going to tell her?” “No. She doesn’t need to know.” “But it affects her life as well.” “I will implement the necessary measures for her security. But I won’t tell her.” “Are you sure not telling her is the right thing to do?” “Yes. For now, she doesn’t need to know. All she has to do is live her life.” Smiling Lucas said, “You know she’ll stew you when she finds out what you’re doing?” “We will deal with that when we get to that bridge.” ~❤~ Another fun and adventure-filled day left Steffie tired and wanting the comfort of a soft bed. They visited a beautiful historical building with an intriguing maze to explore, and a boat house that left the explorer perplexed at its structure. Within the yard, the stone design and how they all resembled heads of lions lived up to the name of the place. Captivating to the listeners were the unique folk story. Taking in the landscape of the place, the cone-shaped roof gazebo, and even the stone maze; one has to admit that it was very alluring and sparked the imagination to images that could be a story. Quite an experience for someone who had a love for nature and adventure. Yet again, the girls were taken to a popular street, where they window shopped. It was something Julianna and Ellisa, welcomed and enjoyed, unlike Steffie who simply followed, glancing at whatever was on display with no interest. When she could take no more, she stomped her feet and cried out, "Please-e-e-e. No more walking. No-o-o-o more, please-e-e-e-e!" Lissa and Julianna glanced at each other and smiled. Strolling along, they came across another local shop where they settled for a bite. Although, it was quite local with the cuisine, they had a range of western foods as well. The girls relished their meal and returned to the hotel. Back in her room, reminiscing on the activities of the day, Steffie's face curled into a soft grin. Rolling to her side, making herself comfortable beneath the cold sheets, she drifted off to a peaceful sleep. Images of a handsome but aloof man slipped in and she wondered what it would be like if he showed a gentle side. When he'd taken her hand, assisting in getting her steady, sparks flowed like being shocked from a live wire. Glancing up at him, he'd shown no reaction.  Was she the only one who felt it? Impossible! Yet, it seemed like this.  The saying 'opposites attract' was suddenly dancing in her dreamlike thoughts as she felt a magnetic pull towards him. Sheepishly, she'd inhaled his masculine musk and shivered with longing. Longing she thought was long dead. Only one person could invoke such a reaction and it's been fifteen years since. She had been madly in love then and had given herself over without regret. A night of lust and sweet passion. A night forever burned into her mind and heart. But he was not him, and she felt herself yearning for his touch. How could she yearn for a strangers touch? Or was he even a stranger? 'Bad-ass woman....!' The blare of her alarm suddenly went off, jolting her from the dream. It was a new day. Rolling over on her back, she sighed with discontent, got up and got ready for what was ahead. The ride down to the foyer was non-eventful, just as the ride to their next destination. Although, the journey was just as long as before, Steffie didn't mind because she was lost in thought trying to analyze the dream she had and her emotional thoughts of wanting to meet the man she'd bumped into. He reminded her of the past. Of someone she always carry within her heart. But why? Arriving at their destination, the guide pointed out places or structures along the way that were of some significance. The buildings were quite tall and imposing but they failed to wow Steff as she continued with her thoughts. The waterfront of this new town showcased the colonial-era buildings of the past. A great delight to see these in person and immediately, Steffie pushed away her brooding mood and got quickly immersed in the view before her. Mobile in hand, she snapped photos of the structures, then a few selfies and did a few videos. Goodness gracious, she was indeed in her element filled with vast delight. Her soft fair skin, made a lot lighter from the cold atmosphere, glowed with excitement. Glancing around, she took in the stunning view of the ocean before her. It was a lake. Across the lake was a stunning view of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. It was quite a sight in the fog. So tall and imposing. Walking along, the guide took them to the 1st road where the high-end shopping mall was. Taking a breath to calm her irked nerves, she rolled her eyes. "You guys are not serious. Are you all for real?" "What do you mean?" Jules asked innocently. "Shopping...again?" lifting both hands in exasperation. "Again!?" she repeated, making her point. Ellissa and Julianna eyed each other then turned back to Steffie, "What's wrong with that?" "Urrg", shaking her head as if talking to a wall. She grumbled to herself and walked past. "Steffie girl, what are you in for?" a fit of giggling girls exploded behind her.  Dammit, she didn't sign up for this. Were they trying to make it miserable for her? All this pointless walking and shopping? With fierce displeasure, she marched on, then suddenly stopped, taking a deep breath. Letting the girls lead the way. She could only comply with them for now. She followed as Ellissa and Julianna perused a variety of stores in search for who knows what. With dignity in tatters, Steffie looked at the bright side of things. They did explore quite a bit of fun places and exhibits, so the least she could do was fold for an hour or two while they shopped. With that sentiment, she made peace with herself and relaxed into the shopping spree. Swiftly and quietly the day passed by. Steffie explored a few souvenir stalls along the various streets and even purchased a few small things. They ended the day with a night tour on the river. Smoothly they set sail after boarding and the beautiful lights of tall buildings lit up the darkened sky. Colors of red, blue, green, gold blinked in sync, lighting up the area and reflecting on the calm lake. Sightseeing at night on a smooth sail along the vast lake, was so-o-o romantic. She glowed, flirting with time at hand, for it was a memory she would cherish. The oohs and aahs of others visitors on the ride made the experience even more special. As the ride came to an end she disembarked with a solemn smile and fragile hope. Hope that one day she could return to this very city with the one she could share such beautiful romantic content with. That would be something. Suddenly, a handsome but intimidating face floated within the periphery of her mind. Squeezing her eyes closed and shaking her head as if to chase the thought away, she wondered, Why do I think of him? Turning back to the view, she tried not to let her mind wander off. With the atmosphere so titillating, filled with lights that were magnificent, it left her with an experience of something she'd heard spoken of before. Calling it a day, the girls checked into their hotel. Steffie was just settling into her room when she had the overwhelming feeling of discomfort. Taking in her surroundings, she found it to be quite displeasing. Steffie could feel the bile rise within her throat. Ready to suffocate her, but she tried her best to curb the revulsion. Observing the entire room until she tried to find it a bit tolerable. It's just for one night, she told herself. Could she make it though this night? She would be grateful if she could, but it was just for one night. One night, that she found to be quite too long. One night that was seeping into her bones, chilling her with vast fear. One night where she felt nothing to be the same again. Just one night!