Chapter Ten
Molly
I was lying in bed, watching the storm rage on outside the resort. My view gave me maximum exposure, making me feel like I was in the thick of it, except that I remained warm, dry, and extremely comfortable. I could see the terrifying threads of lightning zigzag through the sky, and seconds later, great peals of thunder echoed across the ocean like some deadly creature from a mythical world.
It was a strangely singular experience, and even though a part of me was already scared, I couldn’t stop watching the elements ravage the world outside. There was something feral and violent about Mother Nature that no one realized until she was pissed off. I was so absorbed in my philosophical thoughts that I almost didn’t notice my phone ringing.
Thunder drowned out the sound, and the only reason I realized someone was calling was because of the flashing light next to me. I grabbed the phone and saw Jason’s number on the screen.
“Hi, bro,” I said.
“I heard there’s a storm in Oahu,” Jason said, cutting right to the chase.
“Yup.”
“Fuck, is that thunder?”
“Yup.”
“Fuck,” he said again. “Are you okay?”
I laughed. “I’m stranded at a five-star resort with four world-class restaurants, two indoor pools, and a full entertainment unit in my very own suite, and you’re asking me if I’m okay?”
“Ok, silly question. Let me rephrase,” he said. “How have you been?”
I paused a little, as my mind flitted to Tristan for a moment. I had been on three more dates in the last week, and Tristan had barely looked my way on all three occasions. He had nodded at me from afar one time, but that was the extent of our interaction. I wasn’t sure why I was continuing with Alani’s plan since it obviously wasn’t working, but a part of me was hoping that Tristan really was getting jealous, and it was just that he was so good of an actor that he didn’t let on easily.
Something told me that I couldn’t share all this with Jason, however. So instead, I kept the conversation predictable. “I’ve been great,” I said. “The resort is amazing. Tristan really did an amazing job.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything else from him,” Jason said. “I wish I could have seen it myself.”
“I’m sure you will one day,” I said.
“Do you think you’ll consider a position there?”
I paused. “Tristan hasn’t really mentioned anything,” I said. “Well…he did mention it once, the day I arrived but nothing after that. Maybe he’s reconsidered.”
“If that we the case, he would have let me know,” Jason said. “Tristan’s a straight shooter.”
“Even with his friends.”
“Especially with his friends.”
“If you say so,” I said. “The truth is, I’m leaning towards a no…that is if his offer is still on the table.”
“Really?” Jason sounded disappointed.
“I’ll admit, it would be a fantastic job,” I nodded. “But it would also mean moving to Hawaii.”
“Which is most people’s dream.”
“True,” I nodded. “But it also means working for Tristan.”
“Which is a problem because…”
“I don’t know,” I lied, deciding to be vague. “It’s weird.”
“Oh okay, it’s weird,” Jason laughed. “That makes perfect sense.”
“I thought there was no pressure,” I reminded him.
“I’m sorry,” he laughed. “You’re right. This is totally your decision; no pressure, for real.”
“Thanks,” I said. “So…have you spoken to Tristan lately?”
“I tried calling him yesterday,” Jason admitted, “but I couldn’t get through. Maybe it was because of the storm.”
“It’s more likely because he is so busy,” I said. “I’ve barely seen him since I arrived.”
“He hasn’t spent any time with you?” He seemed surprised by that.
“Why would he?” I asked, trying to sound casual. “We were never really friends.”
“Aw, come on,” Jason said. “You guys got along so well.”
“It was a different dynamic,” I reminded him. “You were always with us.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” he demanded, and I realized that the possibility of a romantic entanglement between Tristan and myself had never even crossed his mind.
“He’s just really busy,” I said, brushing off the topic. “I don’t blame him. And anyway, I’ve made friends.”
“Have you?”
“Alani is one of the managers here, and she’s really great,” I said.
“Well, I’m glad you’re making friends and enjoying yourself a little.”
“Me, too,” I agreed.
“What are your plans for tonight?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I might just watch a movie and head downstairs for a light dinner.”
“Sounds perfect. I’m jealous.”
I laughed. “Sounds like you need a break.”
“I do,” he sighed. “One day.”
I shook my head. “Talk later?”
“Sure thing.”
I left the bedroom and headed to my own personal living room where the entertainment unit was set up, complete with massive flat-screen TV and a built-in collection of movies and TV series for my viewing pleasure. I don’t know what made me do it, but I settled on horror. An hour into the movie, I was seriously regretting my decision. The roaring thunderstorm just outside didn’t help matters, either.
I was starting to psyche myself out. I started to see eyes everywhere, watching me with deadly intent. I started to hear screams hidden underneath the thunder. I started to imagine people hidden in the dark corners of the suite, waiting for the perfect moment to attack me.
Dad had always referred to my imagination as fanciful; Mom had called it overactive, while Jason maintained that I was simply dramatic. At the moment, I was forced to agree with all three assessments. And yet, I still hugged a pillow to my chest, unable to shake off the fear.
I sat up straight when I heard a hard rapping at my door. “No,” I told myself firmly. “That was just your imagination. Stop being so silly.”
The second time I heard the rapping, it was louder, and I was suddenly unsure. I turned off the movie, deciding that it was a silly move on a stormy and lonely night. Then suddenly, the phone rang, and I screamed in shock. With my heart thudding in my chest, I rolled my eyes at own silliness and picked up.
“Hello?”
“Molly?”
“Alani?” I said, recognizing her voice.
“Are you alright?”
“Uh…sure,” I nodded. “Why?”
“Because you’re not answering the door and I’m sure I just heard you scream a second ago.”
I blushed with embarrassment. “Oops… That was you.”
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“An axe murderer,” I joked.
“What?”
“Never mind,” I said quickly. “Sorry, let me just hang up and let you in.”
I hung up and rushed to the door. Alani was standing at the threshold with a slightly amused expression on her face. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I was watching a horror movie,” I admitted. “And… I started over thinking.”
She laughed and walked in. “Why on earth would you do that to yourself?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I said, holding the door open to allow her through. “But ever since I was old enough to watch horror films, I just kept at it, despite the fact that they terrify the life out of me.”
“Urgh,” she said, shuddering. “I hate the genre.”
I laughed. “I think it’s just sentimental to me.”
“Sentimental?”
“Whenever Tristan and Jason came home for a visit, we’d inevitably end up watching a horror movie,” I explained. “It was sort of a bonding thing between them and I just sort of…became a part of it, too.”
Alani nodded knowingly. “Any excuse to be near Tristan, huh?”
“I suppose it was,” I admitted. “As thrilled as I am to see you, I can’t help but think there’s a reason for your visit.”
“There is,” she nodded. “I’ve found you your next date.”
I groaned and fell back onto my cushy off-white couch.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s not working,” I sighed. “Tristan couldn’t care less, and to be honest, sitting there night after night trying to manufacture chemistry with men I have nothing in common with… It’s starting to feel like work.”
“Hang in there.”
“To what end?” I asked. “It’s kind of pointless don’t you think?”
“I don’t,” she said confidently. “I think the plan’s working beautifully.”
“Seriously?”
“Tristan is subtle about revealing how he feels, but I think he gives himself away each night he sees you with another man.”
“Oh?” I said. “What am I missing?”
“The amount of alcohol he drinks,” Alani said, as if that were concrete evidence. “And, he gets brusquer with the staff. Which is certainly out of the ordinary. Tristan has always been really great with the staff.”
“You might be misreading his mood.”
“Possibly,” she conceded. “But I don’t think so.”
“Who’s this new guy?” I asked curiously.
Her smile was slightly wicked. “He’s a rich businessman.”
“Aren’t they all?” I interrupted unenthusiastically.
She shot me a look. “Sorry,” I smiled. “Continue.”
“He’s actually a friend of Tristan’s.”
“He is?” I asked, in surprise.
“He is,” Alani nodded. “He started asking questions about you, and I thought…perfect.”
“Perfect?”
“He’s your next date,” she said. “In fact, he wants to take you out to dinner tonight.”
“What?” I said. “Right now?”
“Right now,” Alani nodded. “He wants to speak to you beforehand, though.”
“Uh…why?”
“I think he’s hoping to charm you,” she smiled.
“I’m not easily charmed.”
“I told him,” she said. “So, what do you say?”
I took a deep breath. “I suppose I’ve done this much…I might as well go the whole nine yards.”
“That’s my girl,” Alani said, clapping her hands together.
I shook my head at her. “You’re enjoying yourself way too much.”
“Hey, even managing a resort like this can get boring sometimes,” she joked. “A little real-life soap opera every once in a while can’t really hurt.”
“Especially if you’re choreographing the whole thing?”
Alani winked at me and headed towards the door. “Wait,” I said. “He’s coming in right now?”
“Yes.”
Unsure of my appearance, I looked down. I was wearing sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt with a picture of Mickey Mouse on the front. “I look like an idiot.”
“I like the look,” Alani said. “There’s something very confident about a woman who doesn’t give a shit about what she’s wearing or who sees her wearing it.”
“That’s a good point,” I nodded. “Okay, let him in.”
I heard Alani’s voice faintly from where I stood, and then a moment later a tall, dark-haired man entered. He was wearing dark pants and a blue blazer, and he looked both smart and cultured. He was quite obviously one of those men who seemed to get better looking with age. He gave me a confident smile that was also admiring.
“Mickey was always my favorite, too,” he said.
As far as pick-up lines went, it was one of the better ones. I couldn’t help smiling back at him. “He’s so underrated.”
“I completely agree.”
We made eye contact for a moment, and it was obvious we were sizing each other up in the silence. “I don’t know your name,” I said, breaking the silence.
“Gregory,” he replied. “Gregory Winchester.”
Chapter Eleven
Tristan
“Is there anything else I need to attend to before dinner?” I asked Ben.
“Not that I can see,” he replied.
I closed the files I had been looking at and stared off into the distance for a moment, contemplating the unusual situation I found myself in. I was afraid to have dinner at Albero’s nowadays, and that fear had everything to do with a certain Grace Kelly lookalike.
“Something the matter?” Ben asked, breaking through my haze of self-pity.
“No,” I said abruptly.
One of his eyebrows rose slightly, and I noticed one corner of his mouth turn up, as well. “What?” I demanded, with irritation.
“You’ve been a bad mood this last week,” he observed, completely indifferent to how rude I was being. Instead of shaming me into behaving, it made me feel as though I had the license to do so.
“I’m working around the clock,” I pointed out. “If you worked like I do, you would be, too.”
Ben narrowed his eyes at me. “I do work like you do,” he said. “In fact, I would argue that some days, I work harder than you.”
“Ha!” I said sarcastically.
“Scoff all you want,” he said, with a shrug. “It’s true. And I’d like to point out that despite my work ethic, I don’t make the kind of money that you do. So logically you should be happy all the time.”
“Not everything is about money, Benjamin,” I said, using his full name purely because I knew he hated it.
Ben rolled his eyes at my childish attempts to get a rise out of him. “Then why are you working yourself to the bone?” he demanded. “If money isn’t everything, why are you chasing it?”
“What are you?” I asked. “My shrink?”
“I don’t mind taking on the job,” he said sheepishly. “Provided I get paid for it.”
I cocked my head to the side and surveyed Ben carefully. “You’re an honest guy, aren’t you, Ben?”
“I’d like to think so, yes,” he nodded.
“Would you say that the two of us are friends?”
I could tell immediately that the question caught him by surprise. He processed it for a moment before he spoke. “Honestly… I think it’s hard to maintain a friendship when one person is providing the other’s salary.”
“Is that a no?” I asked bluntly.
“Not necessarily.”
I frowned. “Sounds like a no.”
“There are different kinds of friendships,” he said. “I think ours is simply…non-traditional.”
“Okay then, as my friend, I’m going to ask you a few questions,” I said. “And I expect you to answer them honestly and then keep my confidences.”
He rolled his eyes. “Do these questions have anything to do with Molly?”
I paused for a second, wondering if Ben knew me too well or if I was just that transparent. I decided I didn’t want to know. “Maybe,” I said, and then I corrected myself immediately. “Okay, fine; they are about Molly.”
“Go ahead.” Ben sounded bored already.
I ignored him. “Has she brought any of her dates up to her room with her after dinner?”
“No.” Ben sounded confident.
“How do you know?”
“Because I make sure security monitors any and all people staying at this resort who have not actually checked into the resort. Our suite guests are given leeway here and there, but anyone else is required to check in a visitor, regardless of how they’re related.”
“Huh… I didn’t realize you did that.”
“You don’t realize a lot of what I do.”
“Okay, okay, let’s assess your value later,” I said impatiently. “Would you happen to know if Molly went back with one of her dates…to their hotels, I mean?”
“No, she hasn’t,” Ben replied, and again, he sounded confident.
“How do you know?” I asked again.
“Security,” he replied simply. “Molly has slept at the resort every single night since she arrived here. And since she doesn’t bring up any of her dates, I’m safely surmising that she hasn’t slept with anyone—yet.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, taken by an irrational panic.
“Molly is an attractive young woman,” he said. “At some point, she’s going to sleep with someone.”
I gritted my teeth together. “Fuck,” I said, under my breath.
“What is your hang up with this woman?” he asked curiously.
“You yourself just mentioned how attractive she is.”
“Sure,” he nodded. “But so are all the women you’ve dated in the past. Why is this girl different?”
I looked up at Ben, and a part of me realized that this was the first time we were having a real, personal conversation. It was strangely freeing. “I don’t know,” I said. “She’s just stuck in my head.”
“For how long?”
“What?”
“Has she always been stuck in your head?” he asked. “Or has she only been on your mind since she arrived at the resort?”
I thought about that question for a moment. I thought about the six years that stood between us and wondered… Had I thought of her often during that time? Did I feel as though something was missing, without really being able to put my finger on it? Sometimes I felt wisps of longing, but I had never associated those feelings with Molly...not directly anyway.
Then little things kept coming back to me. It was almost as though my own mind was throwing the evidence in my face. I remembered ordering pizza with mushroom for no other reason than Molly liked it. I remembered looking twice at every blonde woman I met, hoping to find some part of Molly hidden beneath her features. I remembered having a fondness for horror movies because it reminded me of those cozy nights when Jason, Molly, and I would pick a new horror flick and watch it in the family room.
Had I spent half my life pining for a woman without even realizing it? The thought seemed almost too preposterous to consider.
“I… She Jason’s sister,” I said. “She’s always been on the periphery of my thoughts.”
Ben pursed his lips at me.
“What?” I demanded.
“We’re friends right?” he clarified first.
“Yes,” I said reluctantly.
“Then as your friend, it is my duty to inform you that this level of preoccupation with a woman is not normal—unless, of course, you harbor deep feelings for her.”
I narrowed my eyes at Ben. “I take it back; we’re not friends.”
“Why is that such a bad thing?” he wanted to know. “So you have feelings for Molly—she’s single, and so are you.”
“Apparently, she’s not single,” I pointed out.
“She’s dating,” Ben clarified. “It’s different. If she were seen every night with one man, then you would have cause to worry. That means she’s getting serious with a guy. But until then, you may have a chance.”
“I know I have a chance,” I snapped. “That’s not the point.”
“I can’t believe I want to know what the point is, but I do.”
I gave him a short glare. “The point is she’s Jason’s sister.”
“You do get repetitive, you know.”
“Would you sleep with a friend’s sister?” I demanded.
Ben raised his eyebrows. “Is that it, then?” he asked. “You just want to sleep with her?”
“I…no…yes… I… Fuck!” I cursed. “You don’t know my track record, okay?”
Ben looked at me incredulously for a moment. “Debbie, Annette, Tiffany, Brooke, Laura, Tanya, Tiffany again, Sandra, Mona, Alison, Mona again, Ti—”
“Okay, okay,” I said, holding up my hands to stop him. “So you know my track record. My point is that I don’t stick with one woman for long. I move on, in favor of work or another woman. And if I were to get involved with Molly…”
“You won’t be able to treat her like crap because her brother would kill you?”
“Well…yeah.”
“So, you’re scared of Jason?”
“I’m scared of hurting Molly,” I said. “But the Jason thing, too.”
Ben smiled. “And you don’t think you can change?”
“Meaning, do I think I’m capable of commitment?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know.”
“Then maybe it’s best you stay away from Molly.”
I sighed. “This honesty thing sucks.”
“And our hour is up,” Ben said, standing up and heading for the door. “You really should give me a second salary for moonlighting as your shrink.”
“You’re an ass,” I muttered.
He actually looked pleased with himself. “Shall I make you a reservation at the Lagoon, or perhaps Mosaic?”
“What?” I asked, in confusion. “I always eat at Albero.”
“And, Molly is always at Albero,” he pointed out. “Don’t you think you’d better avoid that restaurant for now?”
I was contemplating the sense in that, but as much as I hated seeing Molly with all her dates, I also wanted to see her. Ben seemed to realize this simply from the expression on my face.
“Have fun at Albero’s,” he said, with a smirk, before heading down.
Sighing at my weakness, I made my way to Albero’s determined to be an adult and simply allow Molly to do her thing while I did mine. The moment I entered the restaurant, however, my eyes searched for her.
She was sitting at the usual table in a silver mini dress that showcased her shapely legs. Her blonde hair fell down her back in waves, and I wondered what it would be like to touch her hair. I imagined it would feel like silk.
I was so mesmerized by Molly that I didn’t immediately recognize the man sitting opposite her. With a lurch of unpleasantness, I realized that Molly’s date was none other than Gregory.
“The fucking bastard,” I said to myself through gritted teeth.
I stalked over to my table, trying to be as visible as possible so that either Gregory or Molly would notice me enter, but neither one so much as turned their head in my direction. In fact, it looked like Gregory was utterly absorbed in Molly and vice versa. She kept laughing and touching his arm as though he were the most interesting man on the planet.
I, for one, just wanted to walk up to him and choke him. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that before or after I kicked him out of my resort.
I sat down at my table, but my appetite had completely disappeared. When Kani appeared before me with the menu, blocking Molly and Gregory from my line of vision, I all but bit his head off. He scurried off looking confused and frightened, and I felt like a complete asshole.
“Shit, this is not good,” I muttered to myself.
I couldn’t quite believe that Molly was on a date with Gregory. I remembered all the questions Gregory had aimed at me about Molly. Now, I realized that he had an ulterior motive the whole time. I was a fool for not having caught it sooner.
I was more than a little surprised with Molly, too. Gone was the shy young girl I had first met ten years ago. She had blossomed into a woman—and a confident one at that. It was obvious that men were lining up for her, and she was taking full advantage of that fact.
I ended up ordering a couple of appetizers because I didn’t think I could stomach an entire main, but I kept twisting and turning in my seat, trying to see what Molly and Gregory were up to. Every time she smiled at him, I wanted to throw something. Every time he touched her, I wanted to walk over to him and punch him in the face. I knew I was being juvenile and petty and completely irrational, but my feelings were completely unhinged from reason, and I couldn’t seem to rein them back in.
When my starters arrived at the table, I stabbed at the ravioli angrily until I realized that I was imagining Gregory’s face. The sound of Molly’s laughter had me turning back in their direction again. This time, I snapped. Before I could check myself, I was walking towards the table where Molly and Gregory were sitting.
Chapter Twelve
Molly
I had decided to wear my silver mini dress with the lace inserts. It was sexy, yet sophisticated, and it showed just the right amount of skin. I had arranged my hair into careless waves that fell over one shoulder and had applied only light makeup with dark lipstick to complete the come-hither look. I was hoping that my outfit, in combination with my date, might bring about the reaction I was hoping for.
At the very least, Gregory seemed to appreciate my effort. “Wow,” he said, the moment I emerged from my room. “You look drop dead gorgeous.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
He offered me his arm like a true gentleman, and we headed downstairs to Pepe Albero. I was looking forward to the meal and only slightly wary of taking Gregory as my date. But I figured either Tristan would be completely indifferent or only slightly indignant. It didn’t matter to me…much anyway. I was starting to resign myself to the fact that Tristan would never see me as anything but Jason’s little sister. He had frozen me in place in the image of the fourteen-year-old girl I had been when we had first met.
The first time I had set eyes on Tristan, he had been getting out of the car just in front of our house, and I had been hiding out in my room. He was over six feet tall, a particularly impressive feature considering that I was much shorter at the time. He had been wearing a black t-shirt and printed shorts, and his hair had that carelessly windblown look that every young aspiring model lusted after.
I had frozen the moment I saw him and the world had slowed down for a moment. And in those five seconds, I had gone from infatuation to love to longing. A part of me realized, as Gregory and I exited the elevator, that nothing had really shifted all that much since then. Ten years had passed, and it appeared I was still the same fourteen-year-old girl who was staring at Tristan, desperate for him to notice me.
“Just have fun,” I told myself harshly.
“Sorry,” Gregory asked, alerting me to the fact that I had spoken out loud. “Did you say something?”
“No,” I said quickly. “Nothing.”
We entered the restaurant, and I was shown to what had now become my usual table. I looked around subtly, but it was clear that Tristan hadn’t arrived yet. Nakoa approached with his ready smile and two menus. “Good evening, Ms. Sinclair,” he greeted. I saw him turn to my date and a glimmer of surprise flitted across his face. In the next second, however, it was gone. “And to you, as well, Mr. Winchester.”
“Thank you, my good man,” Gregory nodded, as he accepted the menu.
“Thank you, Nakoa,” I said, giving him a smile. “Any recommendations for me tonight?”
“What are you in the mood for, ma’am?”
“Something light and delicious.”
Nakoa smiled. “Might I suggest the shrimp gnocchi with salmon then?” he suggested. “It’s superb.”
“Have you tried it?” I asked, with interest.
“Just yesterday,” Nakoa nodded.
“And, did you like it better than the tortellini?”
“I did.”
“That’s all the encouragement I need then,” I said. “I’ll try the gnocchi.”
“Excellent,” Nakoa nodded. “And for you, Mr. Winchester?”
“I’ll have the Ragu,” Gregory replied as he handed Nakoa the menu.
Once we were alone, Gregory turned to me with a touch of surprise in his eyes. “You’re very familiar with the waiters.”
“I come here almost every night.”
“So do I,” he pointed out. “And yet, I still don’t have conversations with any of them.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, and he smiled in an embarrassed sort of way. “That came out sounding a little…”
“Elitist?” I offered bluntly.
“I suppose it did, didn’t it?”
“What’s your point, Gregory?”
“It’s nice,” he said. “It’s nice to see someone who takes such an interest in the people around her.”
“The hospitality industry is built on the backs of people like Nakoa,” I said. “They’re the unsung heroes in many ways. They do a lot of the grunt work for not much money, and very often they get treated the worst. I was a waitress once, so I understand what it means to serve people who don’t treat you very well.”
“You waitressed?”
“I did,” I nodded. “For two years before I started college, and in that time, I learned a lot about the world. I learned a lot about people, too. And sometimes, it feels as though they forget that waiters and servers and managers are people, too. They’re owed respect as much as the next person.”
“I agree,” Gregory nodded. He looked thoughtful for a moment.
“What?” I asked, sensing that he wanted to ask me a question, but wasn’t sure if he should or not.
“Well… You’re from a rich family,” he said.
“I am,” I nodded, suppressing my smile for a moment.
“I guess I’m wondering why you chose to get a job in the first place?”
“Because of that precise mentality.”
“What mentality?” Gregory asked.
“The kind of mentality that assumes because I was born into a privileged home, I don’t know how to work hard. Or perhaps that I won’t do certain jobs because I feel like it was beneath me. My father used to say to Jason and me all the time when we were growing up: no job is beneath me. A job is a job, and there is dignity in working hard, no matter what it is. We all have a part to play.”
“Your father sounds like the kind of man who would have raised a woman like you.”
I smiled. “What kind of woman is that?”
“Intelligent, hard-working, strong, and ambitious,” Gregory told me. “With the ability to still be humble, empathetic, and kind.”
I smiled, touched by his words. “Thank you,” I said. “That’s nice of you to say.”
“I’m not trying to be nice,” he said. “I’m just being honest.”
“I saw my father and mother work hard my whole life,” I said. “And, a part of me knew that even if I never became as successful as the two of them, I still wanted to do something all on my own, without contacts or help or support from anyone. That’s the reason I started working part-time jobs from the age of thirteen.”
“Sounds like you’ve had quite a few jobs.”
“Oh tons,” I said. “I waitressed, I had a paper route, I sold shoes in this huge department store close to home, I did grunt work at the local zoo, I worked in an old folks’ home for two summers in a row, and I worked in a couple of publication houses in the city.”
“What was your favorite job?” Gregory asked.
“Surprisingly, it was working at the old folks’ home.”
“No way.”
“Honestly,” I said. “They were all just so sweet… I made some friends while I was there. But working at the zoo was a close second.”
“Wow,” he said, and he looked impressed. “Worst job?”
I thought about it for a moment. “Waitressing, probably,” I said. “I had good moments, but more often than not you end up getting yelled at by some rude customer who’s taking his bad day out on you.”
“Hence the empathy for waiters?”
“Yes,” I nodded.
I got distracted for a moment when I noticed Tristan enter the restaurant. As his head turned in our direction, I looked away quickly so that he wouldn’t catch me staring. I realized after a second that I was actually enjoying talking to Gregory. He was easy to talk to, he was obviously interested in what I had to say, and he was actually wittier than I had expected him to be.
I decided to focus on him and push Tristan from my thoughts. Even as I resolved to that, however, I secretly hoped that he would notice and would feel a little jealous.
“What about you?” I asked. “Have you had many jobs before you made it big?”
Gregory smiled. “The truth is, I’m one of those spoon-fed rich kids. My father was a powerful man, and he pulled strings to get me into Harvard. Afterwards, he got me a job in this company and things sort of snowballed from there. I made contacts, rose through the ranks, and when I was confident enough, I started a company of my own. None of which would have happened at all if I hadn’t already been rich.”
I smiled. “It’s nice that you’re so honest.”
“You have to be honest with yourself if you expect to get anywhere in life,” he observed. “I’ve worked hard for what I’ve achieved, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I never had to start from scratch. I always had opportunities handed to me. You can’t know how much I admire you for doing things on your own, instead of relying on your parents.”
“Hey, I’m not judging,” I rushed to tell him. “There’s nothing wrong with getting help when someone offers. The point is that you take the help you’re given and make something more of it. It’s what Jason did, and it’s what Tristan did, too.”
“That’s—”
“Molly,” a hard voice said at my shoulder. “Gregory.”
I turned around in surprise to see Tristan standing over our table, staring daggers at Gregory. His expression was cold, bordering on furious, and I was shocked at how harsh his tone was.
“Tristan,” I said uncertainly. “What’s wrong?”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Tristan demanded of Gregory, without even looking at me.
Gregory kept calm and regarded Tristan coolly. “I’m having dinner,” he said, with a faint smile. “What are you doing?”
Instead of answering him, Tristan turned to me. “Molly, come with me.”
I bristled at his commanding tone of voice. “Excuse me?”
“I need to speak with you—now.”
“About what?”
“I think Molly just wants to have dinner with me, Tristan,” Gregory said. He put his hand on Tristan’s arm, but Tristan shook it away violently.
“Tristan,” I said, standing up. “Calm down; if you want to talk, let’s talk. Excuse me, Gregory.”
I could sense how tense and cold Tristan seemed to be. The moment we had turned into a large, deserted corridor, he rounded on me.
“What are you doing with him?” he demanded.
I raised my eyebrows. “We were having dinner,” I said. “Before you interrupted us.”
“He’s not good enough for you.”
I was taken aback by the reaction. I had hoped for a little jealousy, but I’d never expected this kind of uncontained anger. I couldn’t even be pleased because I was so shocked.
“He’s not?” I asked in disbelief.
“He plays the field,” Tristan blurted out. “He flits from one woman to another without a care in the world.”
“Something you have in common with him.”
My comment made him pause for only a second. “He’s too old for you; he’s too experienced, and you’re too—”
“Too what?” I demanded, starting to get angry myself.
“Too…young,” Tristan said, tripping over his words. “Too inexperienced…too pure.”
I blinked at him for a moment. When I found my voice, I took a step towards him and looked him directly in the eye. “I am not a child, Tristan,” I said through gritted teeth. “I am no one’s plaything, and I certainly am not yours to be told who I should or should not be having dinner with. I am a grown woman. And I will make my own decisions. If you don’t like it, then that’s your damn problem.”
Tristan was quiet for so long that I started to feel a little uncomfortable. The coldness in his eyes ebbed a little, but I could see that he was still angry.
I shook my head at him. “I can’t believe you still see me as a child.”
He looked down, breaking the eye contact between us. “I definitely do not see you as a child,” he said softly.
The change of tone surprised me, prompting me to search his face for some clue as to the cause. His intense dark eyes were masked over, and I could barely decipher what was hidden beneath them. I felt the heat between our bodies and the tension of our exchange, and for one insane second, I thought he was going to kiss me.
And just as my body leaned in towards his, Tristan turned his back on me and walked away without so much as a word or a backward glance.
Chapter Thirteen
Tristan
I had slept fitfully the whole night, contributing to my already dark mood. I had hoped I would cool down overnight, but somehow, I felt as annoyed and angry as I had the previous night. I kept seeing Molly in her stunning silver dress, with her golden hair flung over one shoulder like some angel out of my dreams. Then I kept remembering Gregory’s smug smile as he told me that Molly just wanted to have dinner with him.
The worst thing about all of it was that Gregory was right. Molly was right. They were adults who were on a date. I had no right to impose on their dinner, and I had stepped way out of line by demanding that Molly speak to me in private right in the middle of her date with Gregory.
Unfortunately, even though I could see reason, I couldn’t seem to be calmed by it. My mind was a live wire, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than Molly and Gregory.
When my phone rang, I answered without checking who it was. “Gregory?” I said aggressively.
“Um no,” Ben’s voice was slightly curious. “It’s Ben.”
“Oh,” I said. “What do you want?”
“What happened?” he asked. “Woke up on the wrong side of the bed today?”
“You could say that,” I muttered darkly.
“Does this have anything to do with what happened last night?”
I stopped short. Was it possible that the staff had been paying attention to the little drama I had enacted last night? I knew it was a stupid question—of course the whole restaurant would have been watching the whole thing unfold.
“Who told you?”
“Does it matter?” Ben asked wryly. “The point is the whole hotel is buzzing… Apparently, they’ve never seen the boss so angry before.”
“I was not angry,” I lied. “I was…annoyed.”
“Okay,” he replied with obvious disdain.
“Why are you calling?” I asked again, without much effort to be polite.
“I’m calling to ask if you plan to make it to your seven o’clock meeting or not?”
I glanced at the clock and cursed furiously. “Fuck, it’s seven-ten.”
“I’m aware.”
“Fuck,” I said again. “Can you push the appointment to eight?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” he replied.
“Oh, and one more thing before you leave…”
“Yes?”
“What room is Gregory staying in?”
“He has a superior suite,” Ben replied after a short, meaningful pause. “The number is one thousand.”
I knew I shouldn’t be doing this; there was more at stake than a simple friendship. Gregory was an investor—a significant investor at that—and I couldn’t afford to alienate him. And yet, despite the unending refrain in my head, I couldn’t seem to slow my pace or turn back.
It took me seven minutes to get to Gregory’s suite. I noticed that all my employees seemed to turn the other way when they saw me approach. Most averted their gaze or looked down at their shoes. Apparently, I had left quite the impression.
I didn’t allow myself to think about it. I just kept walking until I got to the suite. It was situated in an alcove meant to offer added privacy. I paced for a minute, before finally knocking on the door.
I stood there for exactly five seconds before another horrifying realization dawned on me. What if Gregory wasn’t in his suite tonight? What if he was with Molly in her suite? Or what if the door opened and it was Molly staring me in the face? What if she had spent the night with Gregory? I was contemplating breaking down the door and seeing what the situation was when the door swung open.
Gregory was standing there in one of the fluffy white robes that the resort provided for guests. He had obviously been sleeping. I felt a twinge of sadistic pleasure at having woken him up. It was childish and completely unreasonable, but I was powerless to stop myself. I walked into the suite without an invitation, and Gregory was forced to close the door and follow me into his room.
“Uh… Tristan,” he said, and even his voice was groggy with sleep. “I can’t say that I’m very happy with this wake-up call.”
“We need to talk,” I said, rounding on him fiercely.
He yawned and looked towards the tiny private bar that each suite was equipped with. “Will I need a drink for this?”
“That depends.”
“Oh boy,” he sighed. “Let me go splash some cold water on my face then.”
Unable to stop him, I watched him disappear into the alcove where his room and bathroom were situated. Unable to stand still, I started to pace around the living room, wondering if he was hiding Molly in his bedroom. I noticed he had made a point of closing the door behind him. What if she was in there trying to avoid being seen?
I thought back to the previous night and the heated words we had exchanged in the corridor. Molly had turned on me with blazing blue eyes and a confidence that had me weak in the knees. I had never been more turned on, and at the same time, I had never been more aware of the pointlessness of all that lust and passion.
When Gregory came back into the living room, he was fully dressed and looked much more alert and extremely amused. That observation only served to make my mood darker.
“Why are you here, Tristan?” Gregory asked calmly as he sat down on the couch.
“Molly,” I said.
He sighed. “Would you like to sit down?”
“No.”
“Suit yourself,” he shrugged. I hated how calm he was being. It made me look like some raving lunatic who had just barged into his room early morning. “There really is no need for all of this, you know.”
“All of what?” I demanded.
“The hostility,” Gregory said. “You kept insisting that Molly was nothing more to you than your friend’s sister. So naturally, I assumed you would have no problem with me dating her. Now that it’s obvious you’re in love with—”
“What are you talking about?” I demanded, cutting him off. “I’m not in love with Molly.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You’re not?”
“I’m not.”
His face cracked into a wide grin. “I see. And do you always get this worked up about women you have absolutely no romantic interest in?”
“She’s Jason’s sister, and I’m just looking out for her.”
“Why?” Gregory asked. “Because I’m not good enough for her?”
“I wanted to avoid saying that to your face, but yes,” I said. “She is too good for you.”
Rather than appear offended, his grin grew wider. “You know what,” he said. “I actually happen to agree with you. Molly’s a fantastic woman. Not only is she brilliant and beautiful, but she also happens to be a truly kind and thoughtful person. Did you know she knows all the waiters by name?”
“I…uh…no,” I said, stumbling over my words and more than a little surprised by Gregory’s strange reaction to my presence in his suite. “I didn’t know that.”
“She’s had several part-time jobs, too,” Gregory continued. “All of which she crammed into a period of five years before she started college.”
“She worked a lot,” I nodded impatiently. “I knew that.”
“Do you know why?”
I paused for a second. “I… What is the point of this?” I demanded. “What are we even talking about?”
“We’re talking about the fact that you are clearly in love with Molly,” Gregory said. “Even though you refuse to admit it. And yet, you have neglected to get to know her. She’s a stunning, fascinating woman, Tristan, and she might actually make a difference in your life. Have you ever considered that perhaps she just might be your perfect match?”
“I… She…” I stopped for a moment, annoyed with how flustered I was getting. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Perhaps I am,” Gregory nodded. “But you’re being foolish. In any case, if I am to believe your version of the story, which is that you’re only trying to protect Molly—”
“I am,” I insisted.
“Then you leave me no choice but to point out that Molly is her own person,” Gregory said. “She’s not a child; she’s a twenty-four-year-old woman, and you do her a disservice by treating her like an infant.”
“I’m—”
“Maybe you should let her make her own decisions?”
I stared at him for a moment. “I know you, Gregory,” I said, with narrowed eyes. “You can be a real charmer, especially when it comes to women. Molly might think she can handle it, but what happens when you cast her aside for some other girl?”
“You think so little of me?”
“I’ve seen it happen.”
“And, you’ve never done the same thing before?” he asked pointedly.
“I… That’s different,” I said weakly.
“Why?” he demanded.
I shook my head and turned my back on Gregory in favor of the view. But what I was really seeing was Molly’s face. “I don’t want you hurting her.”
“What makes you think I’m going to?”
“Men don’t change.”
“Is that your observation?” he asked. “Or is that your fear?”
“I’m not in love with Molly,” I said, more emphatically than was probably necessary. “But I do care about her. It’s the whole reason I wanted her to come down here and relax. She’s going through a rough time, and she doesn’t need anything or anyone clouding her head further.”
Gregory stared at me carefully for a long moment. “Okay,” he said.
“Okay?”
“I’ll back off,” he said.
“Just like that?” I asked in disbelief.
“Just like that,” he nodded. “Based on your reaction, this means a lot to you. I don’t want to lose a friend and a business partner over a woman, even a woman as wonderful as Molly.”
“Oh… Well… Thanks, Gregory,” I said uncertainly.
“Can I ask you a question, though?”
I pursed my lips and nodded.
“Molly is going to meet someone one day,” he pointed out. “She’s not the kind of woman who’s likely to stay single long. So what’s your game plan? Follow Molly around her entire life and chase off every man who shows any interest in her?”
I bit my lip, but I couldn’t find the right words to answer him. Gregory seemed to sense that he wasn’t going to get anything more out of me. He stood up, and his expression was knowing, but unsympathetic.
“If you do have any interest in Molly, act fast, Tristan. She’s not going to be around forever, and once you’ve lost her… You’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.”
Chapter Fourteen
Molly
I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when I stopped on a recent post of Jason’s. He was standing in a small group, between two women. Both women were attractive, but it was the redhead on his left that I zeroed in on.
She was tall and willowy, and she was wearing a short dress that displayed her long shapely legs. Her red hair had been blow-dried to a glossy sheen, and her smile seemed to light up her face. I felt my heart beat a little unevenly as I stared at her near perfect face.
I remembered the first time I had ever met Lizzie Strauss. She had accompanied Jason and Tristan home one holiday while school was out.
I had been fifteen at the time and had been looking forward to their visit for months. I had stood by my window for two hours before Jason’s familiar car pulled up in the drive. I had watched expectantly, desperate for a glimpse of Tristan. When he stepped out of the vehicle, my heart had skipped a beat, but the joy I felt had been short lived.
A few seconds later, the back door of the car opened and Lizzie got down. Even back then, she was all leg. She had been wearing denim shorts with a tie-dyed crop top that showed off her flat stomach, her belly button piercing, and the tattoo on her left hip. She looked like something out of a movie, an Amazonian beauty that reminded me of everything I was not.
I had watched with a sinking feeling in my gut as Tristan had placed his arm around her and they moved into the house. I had suffered through the whole weekend, watching from afar as Tristan and Lizzie exchanged little gestures of intimacy that seemed to cement their bond. I hated when she laughed at his jokes, put her hand on his leg, or leaned into his body as though she had a right to be there. I had felt physically sick the whole weekend. And at night, I would cry myself to sleep, wondering how I was going to survive knowing that Tristan loved someone else.
The morning that Tristan, Jason, and Lizzie were set to depart back to college, I had found Lizzie in the backyard overlooking the cornfield. I had watched her silently and enviously for a long while until she had turned around and spotted me watching her.
Her smile was sad, and perhaps that was what made me approach her. “Hello,” she said, as though we had just met.
“Hello,” I had replied.
“We haven’t spoken much this whole weekend,” she had said.
When I didn’t say anything, Lizzie turned her gaze back to the cornfield. “Don’t waste your time mooning after him, Molly,” she had said unexpectedly. “You’ll only wind up getting hurt.”
When I had looked at her quizzically, Lizzie had smiled knowingly. “You have feelings for Tristan, don’t you?”
“I don’t,” I’d said defensively.
Her smile seemed to get wider and sadder all at the same time. “He’s charming and handsome and witty and smart,” she continued, ignoring my denial. “It’s easy to love Tristan. But the only thing he really loves is his dreams. And unfortunately, his dreams are so big, they crowd you out.”
When I said nothing, Lizzie had given a huge, tired sigh and walked back into the house. I didn’t go out to say goodbye to them, and after that day I had never seen her again.
Until, of course, I had come across her picture on Jason’s feed. I was staring at her face, recalling that conversation with fresh perspective when I heard Gregory’s voice across the pool, calling my name.
I set my phone down and looked up. Gregory was walking towards me with a towel thrown across his shoulder. “Hi,” I said. “Are you here for a swim?”
“I certainly am,” he nodded. “But I also wanted to see how you were doing after last night.” He sat down on the lounge chair next to mine and stretched his feet out. I sat up and swung my legs down to face him.
“I’m sorry I cut out early, Gregory,” I told him. “I just didn’t think I could continue with dinner after that.”
“That’s quite alright,” he said, waving away my apology. “I had fun last night.”
“Did you?” I asked, incredulously.
“Of course,” he nodded. “It was actually quite an enjoyable first date…even if it was interrupted. And, even if it was completely fake.”
I felt a little spasm of guilt. “I shouldn’t have included you in this,” I said. “It was unfair.”
“I offered to be a part of it,” he reminded me.
“But still…you’re Tristan’s business partner, not to mention his friend,” I pointed out. “It was wrong of me to put you in the middle.”
“You might not have discovered how he really felt if I hadn’t have gotten involved.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Um…did I discover how he really felt?”
“Of course,” Gregory nodded. “Tristan definitely has feelings for you.”
“He denies it.”
“Of course, he denies it,” Gregory nodded. “Because he’s very clearly in denial. The man’s a fool. He insists that he has no feelings for you, he insisted as much this morning, too, and yet he can’t contain his rage when he sees you with another man.”
“What happened this morning?” I asked, jumping on that.
“Tristan visited me in my suite,” Gregory said, flashing me a smile. “Basically he wanted me to stay away from you.”
“Did he give you a reason as to why?”
“He said it was because he felt a brotherly obligation to protect you from the likes of me,” he said. “He feels that I’m not good enough for you.”
“He said that?” I asked, horrified.
“He most definitely did,” Gregory nodded. He seemed amused rather than offended. “He was in quite the mood, too.”
I shook my head. “I don’t get him.”
“He’s a complicated man,” Gregory agreed. “But he’s also a man who’s never committed to a woman his entire life. I think the thought terrifies him. I think that deep down he knows that he can’t just get away with a fling if he gets involved with you. He knows it will lead to something—and he’s terrified.”
“That can’t be the reason.”
“I think it absolutely is,” Gregory nodded. “But one thing is certain, and that is that he has feelings for you. He probably has for some time, based on his reaction.”
“Could it possibly be that he says what he means?” I suggested. “Maybe this really is just brotherly concern. I mean, it’s not like he reacted like that to any of the other men I dated.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“He didn’t know any of those men,” Gregory explained. “He couldn’t vouch for them one way or the other. And the fact that you never dated the same man twice might have made him complacent. It shows that you were never serious about anyone. But I think he sees you differently now.”
I frowned. “I don’t know about that.”
“Trust me,” Gregory assured me. “He realizes… He’s just stubborn. He doesn’t want to give in to his feelings for you because he’s convinced himself that it would only lead to disaster.”
I sighed. “I don’t know why I’m continuing with this plan of Alani’s,” I said. “What does it serve? I’ve been thinking about the possibility of Tristan and me for a while now and…”
“And?”
“It’s very possible that it would end badly,” I admitted. “We’re so different.”
“Maybe that’s why it’ll work out between you,” he said. “My wife and I were polar opposites, too.”
I looked at him in surprise. “You’re married?”
“Was,” he corrected quickly. “I was married. We’re divorced now.”
“Oh.”
“We got married really young,” he explained. “We were both still in college, and we eloped in Vegas one day on a whim. It was the most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. We were as different as night and day, but that was made the relationship interesting. All the differences between us is what created the passion and the fire that made our lives fun.”
I raised my eyebrows. “But you got divorced,” I pointed out gently.
He smiled. “Because we let the little things get to us,” he said. “Because we were too young. And too immature to realize what it took to make a marriage work. We started to get on each other’s nerves. We decided to quit instead of fight, and in the end… We ended things prematurely. I was only twenty-two when the divorce was finalized.”
“It sounds like you regret the decision,” I pointed out.
“I do sometimes,” he nodded. “In a way, my way of escaping the pain of the divorce was to bury myself in work. Which is probably the reason I became so successful. But sometimes I can’t keep thinking that if I’d chosen differently, I’d be living a quiet life in the suburbs with my wife, a couple of kids, and a minivan parked in the drive.”
“Where is she now?” I asked.
“My ex-wife?”
“Yes.”
“She moved to Switzerland shortly after we got divorced,” Gregory replied. “She married some Swiss guy a couple of years later, and she’s got a son now.”
I looked at his face and could see the regret there. “Do you still keep in touch with her?”
“I did for a while,” he nodded. “But it was too hard to see her in her new life. It’s been a few years since we last spoke.”
I nodded. “Is that why you’re helping me?”
“I like you, Molly,” he said. “You’re a great girl, but up until last night, I didn’t know you. I know Tristan, though, and he reminds me a lot of myself. Why should he repeat the same mistakes I made?”
“That’s very noble of you.”
Gregory smiled. “I’m getting soft in my old age.”
I laughed. “I wasn’t aware that thirties were considered old.”
“Working this hard ages you,” he said. “You forget to live; you forget to enjoy your life. This vacation is the first one I’ve been on in four years.”
“Wow.”
“Everyone seems to have forgotten that we work to support and enjoy the families we’ve built,” he reflected. “What’s the point in working this hard if we have no one to go home to?”
“I don’t know if everyone thinks that way, though,” I said, thinking of Tristan. “Some men just aren’t cut out for family life.”
“Maybe not,” Gregory agreed. “But I don’t think Tristan’s one of them.”
“Based on?”
“Instinct,” he said vaguely. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“What do you want?” he asked. “In regards to Tristan?”
I sighed—that really was the million-dollar question. “Would you judge me if I said I didn’t know?”
Gregory smiled. “Take the time to figure it out,” he said. “Don’t waste your whole life living on memories.”
There was sadness in his tone when he said it, and I couldn’t help but reach out and take his hand. “You’re a nicer guy than I had you pegged for.”
He laughed. “I’ll take that as a high compliment.”
“It was meant as one,” I said. “I wish… I wish that if I were in a different place emotionally…”
“I know,” he nodded. “I wish that date last night had been real.”
I could sense the possibility between us, but in the same breath, I knew it was a hollow feeling. It was hollow because of how I felt about Tristan. With that realization staring me in the face, I finally knew exactly what I wanted.
And I also knew that Lizzie had probably been right. I would probably get hurt.
Chapter Fifteen
Tristan
“Have all the preparations been made?” I asked, turning to Ben.
He nodded. “Everything’s taken care of.”
“The decorations?”
“They were un-crated this morning and strung up in the ballroom.”
“I don’t want it looking like some mediocre Christmas party at home,” I said.
“It’s looking good,” he assured me. “Very classy. We had Terrence Staten fly in from New York just to organize the look for this party.”
I groaned. “How much is that costing me?”
“Three nights in one of the deluxe suites.”
“Huh… I suppose that’s a fair price to pay,” I shrugged. “What about the food?”
“The menus were finalized four days ago,” Ben reminded me.
“I remember the meeting,” I said. “I don’t remember the menus.”
“Chef Pierre and Chef Arnaud are going to be the main chefs for the evening. We have two sections cordoned off for the buffet and the bar, and we’re going to have three live cooking stations.”
“Who were the three chefs we chose to manage the live stations?”
“Iokua, Kaleo, and Damien.”
I frowned. “Was I a part of that decision?”
“You told me to handle it,” Ben reminded me.
“Ah…right.”
He rolled his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Is Kaleo the best person to be in charge of a live station?” I questioned. “He’s not the most personable chef we have.”
“No, but he cooks seafood to perfection.”
“Yes but—”
“You handed the decision over to me,” Ben cut in. “And now you’re micromanaging.”
“Okay, fine,” I conceded. “Kaleo can stay, but for God’s sake, tell the man to smile a little bit more—this is a fucking Christmas party.”
“I’ll pass on the message.”
“The band?”
“They arrived this morning,” Ben informed me. “They’ve been rehearsing in the rec room since they got here, and they sound great.”
I nodded. “Okay… Everything seems to be on track,” I said. “The construction’s finished, and the resort is finally at five-star status.”
“Are you nervous?”
“About what?”
“Opening to the public,” he said.
“I’m always nervous right before opening day,” I admitted. “But they’re good nerves. It keeps the adrenaline pumping.”
“Good to know.”
“And, you’ve informed all the guests that all the restaurants will be closed for the night?”
“I have.”
“That includes room service.”
“I’ve notified everyone.”
“Good,” I nodded.
I was about to get out when I turned to Ben. “Try and relax tonight,” I told him. “This party is as much for the senior staff as it is for the guests.”
His smirk was dubious. “I don’t know that I relax so well.”
“Try,” I said. “You’ve been working around the clock this past week. I just want you to know that I’ve noticed.”
Ben looked slightly embarrassed as he nodded. “Thank you.”
Smiling, I left my office and headed to my room to change for the party. I walked through the western hall that boasted floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlooked one of the resort’s two outdoor pools. I had spotted Molly swimming there a number of times, but today there was no one around. She was probably getting ready for the party, just like everyone else in the resort.
I had done a good job of avoiding her for the past week. We hadn’t crossed paths at all, and the one time I had glimpsed her had been fleeting, and she hadn’t even noticed me. After our little confrontation in the hallway, I had stopped going to Albero’s for dinner. I just jumped between the other three restaurants, knowing I wasn’t likely to run into Molly there.
I wasn’t exactly sure why I was avoiding her so studiously. Was I embarrassed about my behavior, or did I simply wish to avoid temptation? I had thrown myself into work in the hopes that it would keep my mind off her, but unfortunately, there was nothing pressing enough that distracted me for long. Each night, at dinner, I would sit alone at my table and wonder what Molly was wearing that night and who she was sitting with. I had even stopped inquiring after her from my wait staff because a part of me was scared of hearing who she was with and flying into another rage.
I had a quick shower and then put on my navy-blue tux with the silver cufflinks. I ran my fingers through my hair and stared at my reflection in the mirror for a moment. I looked sharp, and on any other night, I would have felt confident and calm.
But tonight, I was anything but composed. I knew Molly would be at the party, and I knew she would look stunning. I would need to play host, but at the same time, I would need to stay far away from her.
I left my suite and headed into the ballroom where the party was being held. The ballroom was a large circular room with a domed ceiling painted in styles reminiscent of the ancient Italian painters. The roof alone contributed to the hall’s grand and luxurious feel.
When I stepped inside, I felt a surge of approval. The massive natural Christmas tree that I’d had flown in especially for the party was standing in the center of the hall. It was decked out in grand fashion and looked exceptionally beautiful. The decorations were classy and had been artfully placed around the space to create the feel of Christmas, without going overboard. There were Christmas wreaths everywhere, and mistletoe hung from the natural creepers that had been draped over and around pillars, lights, and chandeliers.
The hall was already half full when I entered. I started mingling with the crowd, welcoming guests and stopping to talk to a few of my investors. The buffet had been set up in the back of the hall, and the Christmas feast on display looked positively regal. The choice was elaborate, but if there was one holiday that demanded extravagance, it was this one.
I was walking over to the bar when Gregory blocked my path. “Hey, stranger,” he said. “Haven’t seen you around much.”
I felt more than a little ashamed of my behavior towards Gregory, but it had never been easy for me to say I was sorry. “I’ve been busy,” I said, employing an apologetic tone.
“Planning this shindig couldn’t have been easy,” he said, looking around. “I must say, this is spectacular.”
“Then mission accomplished.”
“I had dinner at Albero a few times over the last week,” he continued. “I noticed you weren’t at your usual table.”
I paused slightly. “Uh… Yeah. Well… I guess I was avoiding the restaurant.”
“I thought you might be…”
“Listen, Gregory,” I said, deciding that I needed to be a man and cop to my mistake. “About what happened last week…”
“It’s okay, Tristan,” Gregory said graciously. “I know. You don’t have to apologize. If I were that in love with a woman, I might have done way worse.”
I frowned. “I’m not in love with her, Gregory.”
“You’re sticking with that story?” he seemed surprised. “Still?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
He sighed. “If you say so. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to work my way down that buffet line.”
I stared after him, caught up in the conflict raging in my mind. Frustrated, I headed straight for the bar and helped myself to a large glass of eggnog that was heavy on the rum. I continued to circulate through the hall, refilling my eggnog each time I emptied another glass. I had well past my sixth drink when I caught sight of her.
She was standing near the Christmas tree, bathed in the light that twinkled down from its branches. She looked like some ethereal creature from another world. She was wearing a sparkling beaded red gown that hugged her chest, stomach, and hips before billowing out at the bottom half of the skirt. The beads glittered magnificently underneath the light, and I could see the faint outline of her legs through the thin fabric.
Her golden hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and her makeup was flawless elegance. Unable to turn away from her, I stood there like some hopeless idiot and stared until desire won over common sense, and I started walking towards her, through the gathering of people.
She didn’t see me until I was standing right beside her. When she glanced my way, she looked startled and slightly nervous.
“Tristan,” she said.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
I could feel the alcohol buzz through my system. It was giving me the courage I needed to see this through. I wondered if I would consider it courage tomorrow morning, but decided not to think too hard about that. Instead, I focused on Molly and her dazzling blue eyes.
“Thank you,” she replied. I noticed her tone was slightly wary.
I knew Molly was waiting for me to say something as we stared at each other. When the silence drew on and on, her body seemed to tense suddenly. I saw a flash of something in her blue eyes, and then she had turned her back on me, and she was walking away.
I was about to call out after her, but I thought better of it. Instead, I followed the path she took until I arrived at one of the hall’s five large, semicircular balconies that overlooked part of the resort and a fantastic section of the ocean just beyond. The sea was bathed in moonlight, and I could see dark purples and dancing grays in the blue of the waves that bowed at the shore.
Molly stood at the very edge of the balcony. Her perfect hourglass silhouette put the view to shame. I approached her cautiously, aware that the alcohol was making me do things I would have considered risky. If I had been sober and in full command of my faculties, I would have realized that the night was too romantic, the mood was too calming, and Molly was too beautiful for me to approach.
I walked up to her on the balcony and put my hand on her shoulder. She shook me off violently and took a step back.
“What do you want, Tristan?” she demanded.
Taken back by her fierceness, I tried to figure out what was causing her anger. “Molly,” I started weakly. “I’m sorry about last week… I… I should never have interrupted your date.”
She shook her head in frustration. “That’s what you’re apologizing for?”
“I…yes.”
“Great,” she replied, but her tone sounded sarcastic more than sincere. “Thanks for that. Excuse me.”
She walked around me and headed back to the party. Completely taken off guard, I followed her back through the gathering and straight out of the hall. She was walking down one of the deserted corridors in the direction of her suite when I caught up with her.
“Molly…wait,” I said, grabbing her hand and forcing her to turn around to face me.
Her eyes were blue fire when they met mine. “This is all just a game to you, isn’t it?” she demanded. “And I’m just another piece on your chessboard.”
I stared at her for a moment. “That’s not true,” I said softly. “Nor is that fair.”
“Ever since I got here, I’ve felt something between us,” she said blatantly. “It was subtle at first, but it’s got stronger and stronger. There’s something there, but you won’t acknowledge it. Because you’re a coward; you’re scared.”
“I am scared,” I blurted out.
Molly stopped short, and I realized that she hadn’t expected me to admit to anything. “What are you scared of, Tristan?”
I shouldn’t have answered her. I knew that. I should have turned around and walked away. But how could I possibly walk away from her now? Her eyes were beckoning, her body was leaning into mine, and her lips were only inches from mine.
“I’m scared of how much I want you,” I said.
The anger drained from her face, and I realized that my admission had justified every emotion she had experienced in the last few weeks. She was waiting for the truth, and she had finally received it. I had been fighting the truth all this time, and I had finally released the words that were clawing at me from the inside.
And after that, there was nothing else left to do but kiss her.