SARAHThe hum of the jet engines was softer than I imagined. It was almost like a lullaby in the background, comforting and steady. I sat back in the plush seat, sinking into the leather, letting the reality of everything sink in. This was my first time on a plane—ever. And not just any plane—a private jet. It was overwhelming, in the best way possible.Outside the window, the sky stretched wide and endless, with streaks of pink and orange starting to appear as the sun began its slow descent. I stared at the clouds, mesmerized by how small everything seemed from up here. Tiny patches of land, rivers snaking their way across the earth, and oceans that looked like pools of shimmering blue. It was breathtaking.Marco, sitting across from me, was focused on his phone, speaking in low tones as he handled call after call. I barely noticed him; I was too caught up in the sights, pressing my face to the glass like a kid seeing the world for the first time. I was, in a way.At one point, Marco
SARAHI lay back on the bed, sinking into the soft pillows, the gentle hum of the ceiling fan creating a comforting background noise. After unpacking some of my things, I decided to take a break. I glanced around the luxurious suite, still in awe of how perfect everything looked. The soft, muted colors of the room, the ocean view from the balcony, the subtle scent of fresh flowers—it all felt like a dream.I reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a book that had been left in the suite. I wasn’t really in the mood to read, but it was something to keep my mind occupied while I waited for Marco. Flipping through the pages absentmindedly, I found myself staring at the words without actually absorbing them.My mind kept wandering back to Marco. We were supposed to be here together, yet from the moment we landed, he was more focused on work than anything else. I sighed, closing the book and tossing it aside. I could feel a mix of frustration and disappointment building up inside me. I d
SARAHLunch had started off quietly enough. The dishes that kept coming out of the kitchen were nothing short of impressive. Every course felt like a tiny masterpiece—each one more luxurious than the last. I couldn’t help but marvel at how extravagant this whole trip had become. I mean, really, this was almost too much. Who needs lobster for lunch? But the nagging feeling that Marco was up to something sat at the back of my mind, gnawing at me between bites.I was trying to relax, trying to take it all in. But there was something about the way Marco was acting—too calm, too composed. He was always the one to throw a curveball when you least expected it, and I could feel one coming.As the waiter placed down a beautifully arranged plate of seafood, Marco raised an eyebrow at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief.“Gonna eat that? Or just admire it?” he teased, that familiar smirk pulling at his lips.I shot him a playful glare, picking up my fork. “I’m not sure. It’s almost too pretty t
SARAHThe moment felt surreal. I sat there, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the band had just dedicated a song to me in front of all these people. I could feel every single eye in the room on me—strangers smiling, whispering, probably wondering who I was and why Marco had orchestrated such an elaborate surprise. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. How had I ended up here, in the middle of this?I glanced at Marco, who was looking back at me with the biggest grin plastered across his face. He was practically beaming with pride, clearly enjoying my reaction, while I was just trying to keep myself from completely melting into the floor. I shook my head in disbelief, unable to suppress the small smile that crept onto my lips despite the overwhelming nerves I was feeling.“You’re absolutely unbelievable,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady as I leaned closer to him. “What length on earth won’t you go to just to be extr
SARAHAs soon as we stepped into the bar, I could feel the shift in atmosphere. It was cozy, dimly lit, with just the right amount of chatter and soft music playing in the background. The waiter immediately recognized Marco, which wasn’t surprising. He seemed to know people everywhere we went.“Mr. De Luca, good evening,” the waiter greeted with a respectful nod. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”Marco gave a small smile, nodding in return. “Good to see you too. Lead us to your finest table, please.”The waiter gestured for us to follow, and we made our way to a quiet corner of the bar. The table was tucked away, providing just the right amount of privacy, and I couldn’t help but notice the envious glances some of the other patrons gave us as we walked by. Marco had that effect on people—commanding attention without even trying.Once we were seated, the waiter handed us menus and stood by, waiting for our order. Marco glanced through his menu, quickly settling on his drink of choice
SARAHI grabbed the glass, my determination kicking into high gear. There was no way I was going to let Marco win this, not after all his teasing. I glanced at him, sitting across from me, looking so casual and relaxed, like he wasn’t taking any of this seriously. Meanwhile, I was ready to down this drink like my life depended on it.“Ready?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.Marco gave me a slow, amused smile. “Oh, I’m ready. Are you?”I didn’t answer, just brought the glass to my lips and started drinking. The whiskey burned as it went down, but I powered through, my focus locked on him. Marco was sipping his drink with way too much ease. Was he even trying?I gulped faster, determined to get ahead. But suddenly, I felt the burn in my throat intensify, and before I knew it, I was choking. The whiskey came back up, and I coughed hard, feeling the liquid spill out the corners of my mouth.“Oh my God!” I gasped, dropping the glass and reaching for a napkin as I wiped at my face, morti
MARCOI made my way down the hall, stepping lightly to avoid waking anyone up. The last thing I wanted was to disturb the peaceful night at this place. We were supposed to be on vacation, relaxing. But, of course, work had a funny way of sneaking in no matter where I was. Especially with Tony.I pushed the thought aside and made my way down the dimly lit hallway, looking for somewhere more private to talk. As I spotted a balcony at the end of the corridor, I nodded to myself. That’d work. I needed some air anyway.Sliding open the glass door, I stepped outside into the cool night. The breeze felt good against my skin, a reminder that I wasn’t in some stuffy office dealing with the usual problems. Not right now, at least.I leaned on the railing and brought the phone to my ear. Tony picked up on the second ring.“Marco! How’s the vacation, man?” he asked, his voice instantly bringing me back to the usual chaos.I sighed, glancing out at the view below. The moonlight reflected off the w
SARAHI woke up with a jolt, my head pounding like a drum. The sharp pain was unbearable, and my vision was blurry. I tried to blink it away, but everything still seemed off, like I was seeing through a fog. I felt nauseous, my stomach churning in waves that made me want to throw up.I groaned, trying to lift my hand to my forehead to massage away the ache, but I couldn’t move. I blinked again, more aware now, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Something was wrong. My arms… they were tied. I tried to jerk my wrists free, but they were bound tightly. I was sitting on a cold, hard surface, my back pressed against something solid, and both my wrists were tied behind me.“What the—?” I whispered, the panic slowly creeping in as I tugged at the ropes binding me. I looked down at myself, and that’s when I realized: I had no idea where I was. The room was dim, shadows filling every corner. The air was thick and musty, and the silence was deafening.How did I get here?It was like a flo