That night, we got dressed up for the performance that Zach had organized for the occupants of the resort and naturally, we had to go. The island had transformed into a bubbling night life area, more people than before walking around with sheer clothes and wide grins on their faces. A makeshift stage decorated with strings of bright lights had been built in front of a couple of palm trees while rows of large wooden benches faced it, their legs sinking deep into the full sand.Crystal directed us to the front row seats just a few feet away from the stage while she and her husband went behind to organize the last minute preparations. As we waited for the event to start, more vacationeers started to come out bringing a wide variety of noise patterns and a baby's cry pierced through the air.The first presentation was a guy and his dog who pranced around gracefully as he obeyed the commands. I watched them for a while before I got bored and began to make a short Snapchat video of myself.
"Now, we'll be rendering something special for five random couples here tonight," the Master of Ceremony, a short white man with an afro, announced with a wide grin after the short drama performance. "So put on your dancing shoes and get ready because we may just pick you."Loud cheers erupted from the audience and we all looked on as a man and woman came forward with microphones in their hands and cosy grins on their faces. The both of them held hands and began to hum softly to the background music till it increased in pitch and they followed suit, turning to each other with face splitting smiles. Behind them, the large projector that had been showing the performances switched into a black screen as the song's words rolled up.I squinted my eyes at the speaker behind them, trying to figure out the song till the chorus started and voices from the crowd began to sing along. Love me like you do by Ellie Goulding.I began to bop my head slowly to the music, singing softly along till whit
The second round was a game of 'Likes and Dislikes' as the host called it, where we would have to write ten things we liked and ten things we disliked, after which our partner would have to correctly guess our preferences. Immediately he explained the rules of the game, he split us up so we could not communicate with our partners.He put all four men at one end and the women at the other side of the stage, while the other workers gave each of us a small note to write down our preferences under five minutes. Afterwards, they collected our papers and the host told the crowd to watch us and make sure the rest of us would not try to cheat.Just then, I turned to look at Cole and our eyes met briefly before he winked at me and gave me a thumbs up. Just then, the thought that I did not know enough about Cole flew into my brain and I panicked. While the host explained the rules, I tried to wack my brain for the little I knew about him as well as the answers I wrote down and if I had told Col
"Why did you add my name to your list?" I suddenly asked, the water rushing up to my ankles as I stared into the distance where a small tiny light twinkled dimly. It was most likely the small house Crystal had talked about, which was used for incoming night ships harbouring visitors.According to her, there had been one too many stories about boats crashing there before Zach bought out the island. It was due to the amount of spiky, jagged rocks as well as the lack of suitable light in the area, so the first thing she did was to build a mini light house there."Because I like you, Elizabeth," Cole whispered and turned my head to face him as he walked closer to me and invaded my thoughts. "More than just a secretary. So much more.""What?" I asked, my voice echoing through the quiet of the night as I looked past his heady gaze into the island. The crowd had thinned considerably, leaving only a few people who still sat around the stage talking quietly. Night time was always the best for
I woke up early the next morning and sat up in bed, groaning as my eyes adjusted to the bright light coming from the open window. My head was still pounding and my cheeks felt hot, a trail of goosebumps appeared along my arm and I instantly turned off the AC just as I heard Cole's voice beside me."Are you alright?" He asked and I jumped slightly before I rubbed at my eyes and nodded my head. "Could you please close the window? It is affecting my...eyes," I whispered weakly, giving him a small smile when he got up from the dresser table and yanked down the curtains, blocking out the bright day of sunlight.With great effort, I pulled myself to the headboard and rested my back across it, ignoring Cole's look of curiosity as I tried to take in deep breaths of air. After a moment of awkward silence, not that I had the energy to care much, he came to the bed and sat beside me."About yester–""Have you had breakfast?" I interrupted him and jumped out of bed quickly, wrapping my nightgown
I woke up drenched in a pool of sweat and quickly kicked away the covers, only to see Cole on the other side of the bed looking at me with a blank expression. He was lying on his side, his head propped up by an arm with his phone in the other hand."How are you feeling?" He asked and I was about to nod my head when I looked into his face and shook my head instead, pouting my lips as I began to shiver. I watched with a bit of guilt as his eyes widened into saucers and he instantly got off the bed, making quick work of getting out the drugs. I could not remember the last time I had been taken care of so well; large hands playing with my hair as I drifted in and out of sleep, hourly temperature checks, routine towelbaths. Fortunately, his actions helped as my joints were better now but surely, it was not a crime to just pretend for a while longer. Right?I focused my attention on him as he dropped the pills as well as a bottle of water on the duvet and then climbed back in. He placed his
"But you treated me badly for the first year, sending me off on impossible tasks and hurling insults at me," I complained, eager to hear his answer but he just trailed a finger across my chin and put a knee on the ground to balance himself on the mosaic floor."I was trying to fight against my feelings for you. I didn't want a relationship, most especially with my secretary. It was unethical and besides, I still wanted freedom.""So what changed?""Simple. The deal." He shrugged and smiled at me, but I just returned a blank gaze and he sighed. "It was a wake-up call for me. Life had thrown me a deadline, and there were no acceptable excuses so I had to ask you. I wouldn't have asked anyone else," he explained and his gaze flickered to my lips.I sucked in a breath and matched his gaze, my focus moving between his eyes and his soft lips. They looked so full and inviting, and when he leaned in, I met him halfway. Time stopped when his lips met mine, but the flutter only intensified in m
Later on that night, I woke up to the sound of loud chuckles which signified that our hosts were back from the party. I heard their noisy thumps and quiet murmurs as they climbed up the staircase as well as the opening and closing of doors opposite us. When I glanced at the wall clock it read three am, and that meant that they had spent the whole night outside. Someone knocked at the door and I started to get up to answer it when Cole pushed my body back onto the bed and shook his head. "I'll get it." He padded out of the bed, his lithe form lightly swaying as he walked the small distance to the door.Not surprisingly, Crystal's voice came through in a whisper. "How's she doing?" Her words were slurred, rising and falling in intensity and I guessed they must have drank alcohol to their fills.Cole whispered that I was feeling better, thanks to the drugs that I reluctantly took and I silently agreed with him. The bitter taste was still evident in my mouth, and I struggled not to swallo