MEETING A BOY

Ariana’s pov~

The last 24 hours have been most relaxing and extraordinary, Silvio was the perfect gentleman. We had gone on a yacht ride through the ocean, and the star gazed into the night.

One time I slept Off and I lost count of the hours. When I woke up he was right there watching me, the soft smile he had formed for me melting away the doubt I harboured about him.

He has been nothing but soft with me, slowly I feel myself relax in his presence.

I started to wonder if life with Silvio would have been so much more peaceful.

Today he came to my room, I noticed he had trimmed his beard, he looked more handsome and I couldn't look away from him and when I noticed I was starting to embarrass myself I looked away.

“I'm sorry I'll be leaving you again by yourself this morning, but take this” He started handing me a small light suitcase, I placed it firmly on my palm and clicked it open, stacked euros stared back at me.

“I don't understand. What is this for Silvio?” I asked with a hint of confusion in my tone, I closed the case and dropped it on the bed beside me.

“I've arranged for a local tour around the island, mingle with the local people, try some local entertainment, buy some things for yourself, make yourself happy my love,” He said taking my hand in his,

 “I just want to make you happy Ariana” He smiled at me softly.

He leaned close to me and planted a small kiss on my lips. I was shocked, I didn't expect it so soon, but my body didn't fight it, i was calm as I felt the softness of his lips caress my wanton lips.

“You look so beautiful Cara Mia,” he whispered in my ear, my cheeks turned red in shame.

“Thank you,” I muttered.

He kissed me on my forehead And lightly touched my arm,

“Alina will be your guide, always stay close to her, the locals don't like armed guards walking around so don't wander off” He warned before kissing my cheeks.

I smiled and nodded in understanding.

I watched Him pick up the call, his phone rang earlier, he soon left and soon a young girl probably my age or older walked in, she held a basket decorated with a pink net and ribbon.

“Hi I'm Alina” she smiled, stretching her hand which I received in the same spirit. I noticed Her clenched fist around my light hands were tighter than I was used to, but she wasn't hurting me

“Hi, I'm….” 

“Miss Ariana, yes I was briefed, you are our special guest here, welcome to Nalani island” She smiled gracefully as she offered me the gift basket she brought which I collected with a smile.

“Nalani island is a beautiful tropical island just off the coast of Thailand, we are surrounded by beautiful Ocean, the island has two parts, the main village where the locals are permitted to live, and the Nalani island resort where you currently are” she introduced, she grinned ear to ear as she went on about her beloved island.

“Oh wow, I can't wait to see what this is….”

“Don Silvio has entrusted you in my care while he is away, I'm your tour guide for today, I'll be showing you around the village” she interjected again, I was starting to feel annoyed by her constant cutting in but I didn't let it show.

“I'm going to come back in one hour to pick you up, I hope you will be ready by then” she asked.

I nodded. In response, I noticed that the grin never left her face all through our little chat. She had done this so much that it must feel like a default for her.

I started to wonder, how many women had Silvio kidnapped and brought to this island.

“I need a phone,” I said and waited for her response, her grin soon faded, 

“ Don Silvio Has not instructed that we give you access to communication devices, but as soon as he is back you may reach out to him about it” she responded with her smile coming back exactly as it was before.

Which looked weird and uncomfortable.

Why can't I get a phone? He told me I'm not a prisoner, why do I suddenly feel like I've been trapped?

An hour later I was ready in my new sundress and my heart, comfortable sneakers to climb any mountain on my way!

Alina was back and she brought a car with her, one of the guards suggested he go undercover but I assured him Alina and I would be fine.

He wasn't keen on the idea but he promised to stay at a safe distance.

I got in and soon we were riding through the road carved out through the heart of the island and soon we got to a densely populated area.

“Welcome to Tylos Kui, population 5000, everyone who lives here one way or the other works at the resort” she started and I nodded In understanding as the car came to a stop in front of a large clearing, i could see women busy with their hands, the strong stench of fish filled the air.

“The locals Are fishermen and builders, they provide the food we eat at the resort, the locals Are the backbone of this entire resort,” She said smiling, she took me along the village, passing every historical place we could find.

I made friends with the women by the shore and played with their children, i gave them a thousand dollars each and soon people started To gather, 

My guard who stood at a safe distance soon came to disperse the crowd and walk to safety.

“Ma'am I'll advise you to stop giving out money in the meantime, it doesn't look safe, and the village can be scary as well,” Alina said to me.

I soon took her advice and I put the money safely away.

I had spent so much time having fun with the village locals I was losing track of time. 

Alina and I were able to sneak away from the guard when she wanted to show me the secret shrine of their goddess.

A shrine only women were allowed to visit, it was a beautiful enclosure with a painted stone statue of a woman holding a child.

We were heading back to the car, My guard was out of sight, he must have been frantic and looking for me everywhere.

I lost my balance as I felt something knock into me, this little boy ran past me, almost knocking me down.

“You better run boy!” a voice called in front of us, I looked up and I saw four grown men running after him, I saw Alina’s face change.

“Oh my God! Sunan!” she called, running after the little boy.

I was confused, who were these people and why were they chasing this boy?

I stood there in a daze, soon the men were able to catch up with the boy and he started to struggle with them.

I quickly caught up with Alina who was panting hysterically as she struggled to catch her breath.

“Sunan! What did you do again!” Alina cried holding onto the side of his shirt as the men tried to drag him away.

“You know him, good! He is in a whole world of trouble” one of the men spoke up.

Sunnan didn't say much, he kept struggling to get free from the two other men who held him firmly.

“What's going on? I don't understand Alina, who is this boy?” I asked how the boy was being handled resonated with my inner child and I quickly wanted him freed.

“Sunan’s mother is my cousin, he is the only son and he always has to do odd jobs that get him in trouble”

“What has he done, he is just a child!” I exclaimed, facing the terrifying-looking men holding clubs and machetes.

“Ma'am please you can't get involved, these are dangerous men, sunan is always getting in trouble” Alina said as She tried to drag the boy away from their grasp.

“What did he do!” I asked Again,

“He stole from the big boss, he was supposed to transport a huge sum over to the mainland, but he came back with a sob story” another of the men said.

“It's not a sob story! I told you I was attacked the moment I got to the mainland! someone knew I was coming!” Sunan finally spoke.

We all looked at him, “Really then where did you get attacked? Where are the cuts and bruises, they took all that money and let you go?” Another man asked,

“Why did you run?” Another asked, “The boss wants to see you,” the first guy said, dragging him across the floor.

“Wait! Wait!  How much is it? How much does he owe you!” I exclaimed, stopping the screaming boy in their tracks.

“None of your business! Get out of the way!” One of them screamed,

“I'll pay it off! How much is he owing!” I exclaimed again, I didn't know if I was doing the right thing but I knew my heart didn't want him to see him in pain anymore

“Twenty thousand dollars” he yelled at me, 

“Fine, I’ll pay for it!” 

They all looked at me in disbelief, and I instantly regretted the words as they came out of my mouth.

“Leave the boy, let's take her to the boss, she’s a foreigner she will pay good money” 

With that said the two other men grabbed my arms simultaneously, they picked me up and forced me into their van.

My heart started to beat a thousand times more than it did a few minutes ago.

trouble seemed to find me everywhere I went.

I saw Alina hold on to Sunan as she screamed my name after me.