Avery was about to call Caden’s name when he disappeared into the cottages. Assuming it might not also be the best option to call his name as it seemed like Caden was being secretive, Avery just kept walking in the direction he disappeared.But only once she walked into the middle of the cottages, she realized how stupid she had been. These cottages were not the ones the islanders lived in, but more like the abandoned ones.She could feel the creepiness crawling into her mind as the atmosphere was a dead silence. There was not even the sound of a cricket. She was too far from any civilian, and even if something happened, there wouldn’t be anyone to help her.While she walked, she recognized a glass building in the distance. Her eyes squinted, trying to figure out what it was as she walked towards it.The chilly breeze coming from the sea at night sent shivers down her spine, and she took out her phone to use the torch, only to realize the battery was dead.“Dammit.”She cursed as she
“They probably won’t set this on fire, would they?”Avery asked, making Caden chuckle nervously. They were walking deeper into the greenhouse, taking soft steps forward.“As much as you make sense, I would rather believe they won’t. The greenhouse can be seen on the beach, and if this is on fire, everyone there will rush here. Won’t do any good by gaining attention to their hideous places."“Mm... true. At least we won’t be dead. Even if they come tomorrow and free us pretending we just got trapped here by an accident and ask us questions, there isn’t much we know, anyway.”“Exactly. So..."Caden turned to Avery and interlocked his fingers with hers.“... don’t worry too much.”Avery nodded with a smile. She was feeling warm as Caden was worrying about her. All throughout her lifetime, no one really cared about her.She had an older brother, and he took his bachelors in marketing, and then he did his Masters. Her brother then got a white-collar job and ran up to an executive post, whi
The two shadows lingered longer than they should have. If they were to open the door, they would have already.Avery and Caden looked at each other, puzzled, before their eyes widened. It could be some locals passing by, and they might be able to help them out!Avery and Caden rushed out from behind the tree and started to walk towards the door. They were cautious and ready to run at any time, but taking the risk was worth more than staying an entire night in a greenhouse, which might be set on fire anytime.But as they walked closer, two familiar voices filled in their ears.“Andy?”“Janet?”Caden and Avery said simultaneously before they looked at each other, happiness overflowing. It was really them!“I’m sure they are somewhere around. I saw them coming in this direction clearly.”“You sure you’re not drunk and imagining things? Why would Caden and Avery even be at this eerie place?"Janet rebuked, but just then, Caden banged on the door.“Ah!”“Fuck!”Janet and Andy cursed as the
Avery, Caden, Janet, and Andy stood on the soft, golden sands of the beach. Waves lazily crashed onto the shore, creating a calming music of nature. The sun had only begun to rise, and long shadows extended up to them, who were huddled together as the sea breeze of morning was chilly.All of them were waiting for Agent Minho and his team to arrive. Yesterday, when Caden called Minho, an old friend that he befriended while handling a crime case at the company, Minho had agreed to help him at once. Apparently, Minho and his team were on a break after a mission so they could easily come and help Caden out.Caden, whose frame glowed to the morning sunlight that bathed him, checked his wristwatch. It was about time Minho and his team landed. Caden was sure Minho could get to the bottom of this mystery while keeping him and Avery intact from harm. And he was finally meeting his old friend after a long time. Anticipation was real.“How long do you think it will take for them to come here?”J
It was past twelve midnight and Avery couldn’t sleep. She was just too worried about everything that was happening and she felt like if she slept, she wouldn’t live to wake up the next day. The deaths and the threats. Everything lingered in her mind.“This won’t work,” Avery huffed as she kicked the sheets away as she wore up from the bed and went to fetch a glass of water.She grabbed the glass and walked to the window. The sea waves crashed on the beach while a dark figure drew to a distant toward the direction of the greenhouse. Avery’s eyes squinted. She placed the glass of water on the ledge of the window and walked to her bedside drawer.She picked up her phone and dialed Caden’s number. Three rings, and Caden mumbled.“Avery, hi. Is everything all right?” his voice was so full of concern that Avery felt as if a warm liquid was filling her body. Caden just woke up from his sleep, but his first instinct was to worry about her.“So, um... I don’t know if this will be any use, but
Avery stared at Bright, fear evident in her eyes but Bright just tsked his tongue and looked at Minho.“I know who did this. It is the same person who tried to kill Avery.”His words were laced with a heavy accent, making it almost impossible for Caden to understand but it seemed Minho had no problem in understanding because the Agent replied so casually to Bright while he examined Dr. Taylor’s body along with Veron.“How did you know?”“The man had a blood-dripping knife in his hand.”Avery seemed to register what Bright said this time because she also spoke with a shaky voice.“I also believe he was the one who killed Dr. Taylor but then how was he already at the resort with a blood-dripping knife if it was now he killed the doctor?”“The doctor was killed at least thirty minutes before. His body is already starting to grow cold.”Veron interjected and that was when Minho looked at shaking Avery sympathetically before saying,“The man must have killed Dr. Taylor before coming to kil
When Avery, Caden and Bright ran to Khama’s cottage, which was not that far from where Dr. Taylor was killed, the door of Khama’s cottage was already open. The three of them halted on their feet and looked at each other in horror. There were two things that was going through their mind. First, with what they saw had happened to Dr. Taylor, they feared that Khama might also be killed. Second, Khama might have heard the screams of the people from the resort and headed there. Whatever it was, no one could think any better than that could happen to Khama. “I don’t know what I want to expect. For him to be inside this cottage or not.” Avery said, gulping a lump of saliva and Bright looked at them before scanning the surrounding as he hushed. “Let’s just hope he is inside and is fine.” Avery and Caden nodded. Bright took the lead to enter the cottage. He cocked his gun and as his eye beads cautiously looked around for any possible danger and when he was sure nothing could harm them, he
“Calm down, George. You are high and you don’t know what you are doing. Put the gun down.”Khama said trembling but George started to laugh maniacally before he shot to the air two more times before cocking the gun and pointing it to Khama once again.“WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE DRUGS?”This time George’s voice was getting lower in octaves with each word he spoke and Caden and Avery could clearly see this was not going on the right way.“Bright, do something.”Caden muttered but all Bright did was clench his jaws before slowly shaking his head. There was clearly something on the boy’s mind.“You don’t want to die from overdose, George. This is getting out of hands so I burned them.”“You burned the drugs? Don’t damn lie to me! You won’t burn them!”George shot the first bullet to Khama’s hand and Khama screamed as he held his hand and bent to the floor. Avery’s scream filled the entire area as she closed her ears with her hands and Caden hugged her tightly as he muttered,“It’s all right,
Avery and Caden walked out of the meeting room to meet Andy and Janet out of it. The two of them were grinning from ear to ear.“Everyone seemed pleased going out of the meeting room, so I guessed everything went all right?"Andy asked, and Caden hummed.“Everything was perfect, but I wonder who told the executive board about me and Avery.”“Oh c’mon man, everyone was wondering where the ever so dutiful CEO disappeared and I had to give answers.”Andy brushed it off as he patted Caden’s back, and Caden just huffed, making Avery and Janet stifle their laugh.“So you are flying in a few hours?” Janet asked, and Avery nodded.“Yeah, in exactly two hours. Speaking of which, I should probably head out to get ready.”“How about the four of us grabbing a coffee before that?”Andy asked, and Avery nodded as the four of them started to walk to the cafeteria.The cafeteria was buzzing with the little chats of crews in Aurora Airlines, and everyone fell silent when they saw the CEO approaching.
The moment Caden and Avery got down from the car, they could see Janet briskly walking toward them.“Good morning.”She greeted cheerfully as she walked toward Avery and patted her back.“Good morning, Janet.”Avery greeted back. Acknowledging Avery’s greet with a nod, Janet turned to Caden and smiled, who looked apologetically at her.“Look, Janet. That day, I think--”“Forget it, Mr. Caden. Let’s focus on the upcoming meeting. This is Avery’s first meeting with the executives, and I need to brief you two about it.”Happy about the fact that Janet had already let go of it, Caden smiled and gestured for her to continue.Caden started to walk with Avery by his side, and Janet followed as she summarized everything up.“Avery is the second female in Aurora Airlines to attend an executive meeting.”She carried on, and that was when Avery asked, feeling a little proud of herself.“I’m sorry, but may I ask who the first is? I’m curious.”“Lara.”Caden replied shortly, and Avery’s heart swel
Avery and Caden were on their way back to the office after the little escapism they had for a day. Caden drove, humming a little song while Avery checked the emails Caden had got in order to aid him with the work he missed. “You receive this much of emails a day?” She gasped as she opened each of them and read the important notes in them for him, and Caden looked at her briefly as he asked, “How many emails are there?” “Eighty-one.” “That’s actually better. There were days I received over a hundred and fifty emails. Most of them were from companies asking for partnership and some from events asking for sponsors, but it still meant I had to go through each and every one of them.” “Damn. Can’t Janet do what I’m doing for you right now? Like read the emails and tell you what’s important?” “She can, but there is so much she can handle. She is already having a big workload. We can take another employee, but I don’t feel it’s worth it.” “I get it.” Avery muttered just when her phone
Avery and Caden were coming back to the hotel from the pebble path that led them to the forest. They were hand-in-hand, and soft chuckles filled the air. “I want to come to this place again. You are right. This provides a wonderful escape from reality.” Avery said as she clung on to Caden’s arm, and Caden just picked up and twirled her around, her white dress twirling with her among the lush greenery. It was getting late at night when they returned, and the lights of the hotel were on, making them feel like they were in heaven. “This place is so beautiful, Caden. I will never get tired of saying it.” Avery said as she shuddered to the cold wind that blew across their bodies, and Caden immediately hugged her, making her giggle. “I’m glad you like the place, sweetheart. Now, this can be our little escape space whenever we want some rest. I’m glad I could share this place with you.” “And I’m glad you found me worthy enough to share.” Avery stood on her toes and kissed Caden’s chee
Avery giggled as Caden carried her back to their hotel room in his arms.“Caden, put me down. What if someone sees us?"She covered her face on Caden’s chest; her laughs get muffled in him, and Caden kept smiling widely.“So what if they see Avery? People should know already that this is how people in love look like.”“More like how much people in love stinks. Have respect for the single community, and this is so embarrassing!”She was still giggling, though.“Really? But why do I have a feeling you love this? Because I don’t think you will be laughing this much if you didn’t like this.”Caden’s face leaned down to Avery’s before booping his nose on hers, and Avery blushed prettily as she booped her nose back on Caden before hiding her face on his chest again.“That is how I cope with my embarrassment.”She declared, and Caden shook his head at her antics. By now, Caden was already used to Avery’s subtle shyness for the little things he was doing, and he was living to see those reacti
Caden and Avery were dipped in the hot water bath. Their towels laid on the tile somewhere at a distance as their naked bodies rubbed against each other. Caden was back hugging Avery by her waist, leaning to the edge of the water bath, and Avery had the back of her head placed on Caden’s shoulder with her eyes closed.The steam of the hot water evolved around them as the yellow lanterns added a dim lighting, making them look cinematic. Caden’s hands on Avery’s hips slowly strode toward her hips and started to caress them, making Avery let out a soft whimper of pleasure. They had finally explored each and every nook of their bodies ever since they met for the first time, and both of them couldn’t have asked for a better experience. It was like they were two pieces of a puzzle that matched perfectly with each other. “Caden...” Avery said, her words almost lost in her breath. Caden’s fingers were slowly massaging Avery’s hips, and she had to bite her lips to hold back a moan.“Hm?”E
When they entered the room, the air was heavy with the scent of fresh flowers and the subtle scent of essential oils. The large windows invited Avery to look at the breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and the distant sun, whose rays didn’t seem to reaching the top of the mountain they were in even though it was noon. Avery walked toward the window, with her heart on her sleeve, still unable to process the beauty of what she was seeing. There was a well-mowed lawn below with all kinds of mountain flowers in different, vibrant colors. A stone pathway was leading to the lush greenery of the forest, signifying that it was open for exploration. Beyond those lush green trees was the majestic mountains with clouds touching the peak. The play of the sunlight over those mountains just created a wonderful scenery as if painted on a canvas. “Caden, look at this. Is this even real?” Avery gasped. She didn’t turn back to Caden because she was too enchanted to take her eyes off from wh
Caden had driven Avery to the most beautiful hotel she had ever seen in her life. She had actually thought such picturesque hotels only existed in films. Though Caden had initially called the place a restaurant, it was actually a luxurious hotel on the top of a mountain.The hotel looked like an ethereal painting with delicate woodwork and vibrant colors, which gave the real vibe of a Thai hotel with the lush greenery in the background. As the couple stepped out of the car, the cold mountain breeze hugged their bodies, carrying the sweet scent of the mountain flowers and the pine trees.Avery was in total awe as she stared at the scenery.“Caden, this place is amazing! How did you even find it?” she asked, her voice filled with admiration.Caden grinned. This was what he wanted to see on Avery’s face. Pure joy, surprise, and glee. Caden would trade anything to keep those expressions lasting on her face and it filled his heart with pride that he was the reason she was smiling like that
Andy was in the middle of a meeting when Caden called him. But knowing his best friend, Caden and because the CEO’s call was more important than anything else, Andy went out of the meeting room to answer it.But when he heard about what had happened between Caden and Janet, he immediately ditched the meeting and went in search of Janet. The meeting was with the executive board so other than the major decisions, the discussions could be carried on without him.Andy was restless. How could Caden talk to Janet like that? When the woman always tried her best for him and when she was literally in love with him, how could Caden do that? Especially when Caden knew that she loved him. At least he should be careful about her feelings, shouldn’t he?But then again, knowing Janet, Andy knew she might have crossed the boundary and urged Caden. Which was not respectful either. Andy just let out a low, frustrated scream as he ruffled his hair, annoyed.He had been searching for Janet all over the b