10. Maria
Sunlight filters through the curtains, warming the room as I slowly wake. I sit up straight, rubbing at my face.
Last night seems like nothing but a dream. The gala. The men chasing us. The drive to Montauk. It’s all a world away now.
Except I know it happened, because I’m in my family’s cabin. With Nathan.
Nathan.
My heart skips a beat. That’s the part that truly doesn’t feel real — he and I together.
“Hey.” I sit up and look at the spot on the floor in front of the stove.
The blanket and pillow are there, but Nathan isn’t.
Throwing my blanket off, I peek into the open bathroom. He’s not there either.
“Nathan?” I call.
There’s no answer.
A sudden panic sets in. Nathan is gone. My heart races as I imagine the worst — that the men from last night have taken him.
“Stay calm, Maria,” I whisper to myself, putting on my clothes in haste. I push open the cabin door and step into the cool morning air, scanning the area for any sign of him.
“Where could he be?” I mutter, walking outside as worry gnaws at me. Flashes of last night’s events replay in my mind — Nathan and I barely escaping from those men, the car chase, slipping into this cabin late at night. My chest tightens with unease.
Before I know it, tears are running down my cheeks. Nathan is gone. Who knows where those men have taken him, or if he’ll ever escape. Even if the ransom is paid, maybe they’ll kill him anyway.
Pain creeps up my chest, and my knees go weak. I feel like I’m going to vomit.
“Maria!” Nathan’s voice calls out, and my head snaps toward the sound. Relief washes over me when I spot him strolling down the street, the ocean behind him shimmering under the sun. He looks at ease, as though everything is normal.
“Where were you?” I ask, wiping away the tears that betray my fragile state. I don’t want him to see me like this, but it’s difficult to hide the fear and relief that now mingle together.
“I was just taking a look at the ocean,” he replies, approaching me with concern etched across his face. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Scare me?” I scoff, trying to play it off. “Please, I was just… surprised you weren’t here when I woke up, that’s all.” Despite my brave front, he can tell I’ve been crying.
“Maria…” he says softly, stepping closer and placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, I should have left you a note or something. I promise, I won’t leave the cabin again without telling you first, okay?”
“Okay,” I murmur, nodding. I appreciate his concern, but part of me wishes I could be more like the strong woman he knows from work — the one who can handle unpredictable situations with ease.
“Let’s go back inside,” he suggests, guiding me toward the cabin. As we walk, I try to shake off my lingering fears and focus on the present. For now, he’s safe, and so am I. That’s all that truly matters.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the cabin as we stand side by side in the small, rustic kitchen. I crack eggs into a bowl and whisk them while Nathan stands next to me, fumbling with the toaster. The tense lines on his face reveal a mind preoccupied with thoughts far beyond our cozy hideaway.
“Did you know I have three board meetings scheduled for next week?” he says, almost to himself, as he watches the toast slowly darken.
I nod. “I do. I’m your assistant, remember? I scheduled them.”
He seems to not hear me. “If those men aren’t caught soon, I don’t know how much longer I can stay here.”
“Everything will work out, Nathan,” I say, trying to reassure him even though I’m not entirely sure myself. “Your company will be fine without you for a little while.”
He glances at me, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “You really think so?” Clearly he’s struggling with the idea of relinquishing control.
“Of course.” I pour the scrambled eggs into a frying pan. “Besides, it’s not like you’re on vacation. You’re here because your life is in danger.”
He lets out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. “Right, because that’s so much better.”
“Hey.” I look over at him and nudge his arm gently. “Try to relax a little. Your company can survive a week or two without you. In the meantime, focus on staying safe and figuring out who’s after you.”
He sighs, nodding in agreement. “All right, all right. You win.” He turns his attention back to the toast and retrieves the now perfectly golden slices from the toaster. “I guess I can try to let go a bit.”
“Good.” With a genuine smile, I flip the scrambled eggs. “Now, why don’t you tell me something about yourself that has nothing to do with work? Anything. What’s your favorite movie?”
“Favorite movie?” he echoes, appearing genuinely surprised by the question. “Well, uh, I’d have to say… The Godfather.”
“Really?” I ask, amused. “You don’t strike me as a mobster movie kind of guy.”
“Hey, it’s a classic,” he defends with a sheepish grin.
“Fair enough,” I concede, chuckling. “What about your favorite book?”
“Uh, To Kill a Mockingbird,” he replies after a moment’s thought.
“Ah, Atticus Finch,” I muse, sliding the eggs onto a plate and setting it on the small kitchen table. “A man of principles and integrity. I can see why you’d like him.”
“Enough about me.” He brings the toast over to the table. “What about you? Favorite movie?”
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” I feel the blush spreading across my cheeks. “I know it’s a cliché, but Audrey Hepburn is just so lovely.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” He pours coffee into two mugs. “And your favorite book?”
“Jane Eyre,” I reply without hesitation. “Her strength and resilience have always inspired me.”
We sit down at the table, breakfast steaming before us, and for a little while, we simply enjoy each other’s company. The worries plaguing Nathan seem to recede as our conversation flows, and I can’t help but hope that this time together will help him find some balance in his life — between work and safety, control and trust.
“Your eggs are getting cold,” Nathan teases, pulling me back to the present.
“Right,” I laugh, picking up my fork. “Can’t let that happen.”
As we eat, I begin to think that, despite the circumstances that brought us here, maybe something good can come from this unexpected escape. After all, every now and then, life has a way of surprising us with small moments of happiness in the midst of chaos.
“Hey, Nathan,” I suggest as we finish our breakfast, “why don’t we clean up the house a bit? No one’s spent much time here in years, and it’ll help take your mind off things.”
He looks around, taking in the slightly dusty surfaces and the clutter of long-forgotten items. “You know, that’s not a bad idea.”
We start by wiping down the countertops and doing the dishes, Nathan wearing a plaid shirt and jeans that I’ve retrieved from the closet. It’s endearing to see him attempt something so domestic, so unlike the billionaire CEO he is.
“Okay, how do you work this mop?” He holds up the tool like it’s an alien object. I stifle a laugh. He has to be joking.
Except he isn’t. He genuinely looks stumped.
“First, fill the bucket with water and just a bit of soap.”
Nathan nods, but as he pours the liquid detergent into the mop bucket, he goes a little overboard. Bubbles soon overflow onto the wooden floor.
“Oops,” he says sheepishly. “Got a bit carried away there.”
“No worries,” I chuckle, watching the sudsy mess grow. “Let’s just mop it up quickly.”
As we both set to work, sloshing the bubbly water across the floor, the slippery surface catches us off guard. Our feet slide out from under us, and I reach out to Nathan, trying to grab hold of something to keep me up.
“I’m falling too!” he yelps, right before we both come crashing down onto the wet floor.
“Are you okay?” Nathan laughs out loud.
“Yeah.” I can’t stop myself from laughing as well. “You’re only supposed to put about a teaspoon in.”
“Well, I didn’t know,” he chuckles, his face red. “I’ve never mopped a floor before.”
“Clearly.”
It’s silly, but I can’t remember ever having this much fun. A part of me wishes we could stay in this cabin forever. But of course, I don’t say that out loud.
“You sure you’re okay?” Nathan asks between laughs, propping himself up on one elbow.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I reply. “I guess we’re not the most skilled cleaners, are we?”
“Speak for yourself,” he teases, attempting to stand up and slipping once more. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”
We eventually manage to clean the floor, our laughter echoing through the cabin as we stumble and fumble our way through the task. And for a little while at least, Nathan’s worries about his business and the danger that brought us here seem to fade away, replaced by a sense of normalcy neither of us could have anticipated.
We finish the rest of the cabin, and by sunset the place nearly sparkles. With an orange glow coming through the windows, Nathan’s phone buzzes loudly on the table, shattering our little bubble of peace. He hesitates for a moment before grabbing the phone.
“Hello?” he answers, his voice tense.
My heart races as I wonder what this call might mean for us. I pick at a loose thread on the couch, trying to focus on anything other than the conversation happening just a few feet away.
“Okay… Yes, I understand.” His face grows more serious with each passing second. “What do we need to do?”
He listens intently, nodding occasionally, and I find myself holding my breath as I wait for him to explain what’s going on.
“All right. Thank you. Keep me updated.” Nathan finally ends the call. He sits down on the couch next to me, his expression a mixture of frustration and concern.
“Is everything okay?” I ask tentatively, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
“Sort of,” he replies, rubbing his forehead. “My security team says some of my competitors have banded together to take me down. They’re the ones who hired the men to kidnap me. And they weren’t planning on a ransom… They want to kill me.”
I gasp. “That’s awful… but I’m not surprised.”
“Neither am I.”
He and I both know how cutthroat this business is, and even though we’re shocked at others wanting to murder him, it does make sense. It also makes all of this even more serious.
A shiver runs through me, and suddenly I’m acutely aware of every creak the cabin makes.
Nathan sighs. “They’re still gathering information before they can present a case, so we’re stuck here for a while longer.”
While the thought of Nathan’s enemies working together sends a chill down my spine, I can’t help but feel a secret thrill at the prospect of spending more time in this cabin with him. Not that I would ever admit it to him, of course.
“They suggested we get rid of our cellphones for now,” he continues, his grip tightening around the device in his hand. “We can’t risk being tracked.”
“Are you sure that’s necessary?” I ask, even though I know it’s for the best. It’s obvious how hard this is for him, and I feel a pang of sympathy as he reluctantly powers off his phone.
“Better safe than sorry,” he mutters, tossing the now useless device onto the coffee table.
“Here,” I say, handing him my own phone. “We can throw them in the ocean or something. Give them a hero’s send-off. And we can use the phone at the grocery store if we need to.”
The corners of his mouth twitch into a small smile, and I know that, despite the danger we’re in, there’s a part of him that appreciates my attempt at humor.
“Was that man I met at the gala one of them?” I ask. “Jack Finn, right?”
Nathan’s eyes narrow, and it’s all the answer I need. “‘Yep.”
I wrap my arms around myself, remembering the way that man had looked at me — like I belonged to him. It makes me furious that he would consider killing Nathan over something as petty as business. What kind of human would resort to such a thing?
“He’s been champing at the bit for a long time,” Nathan says. “Trying to take what’s mine. It started when we worked together years ago, and it hasn’t stopped since.”
“And he wants to kill you to make money,” I breathe.
He rubs the back of his head. “That’s the world, I guess.” Nathan sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Money makes people do crazy things. All you can do about it is be smart, and be careful.”
I don’t want to be that careful, though. A life lived constantly looking over my shoulder doesn’t sound worthwhile to me.
“Come on.” I stand up and pull Nathan to his feet. “Let’s go make sure our phones are truly off-grid.”
He grimaces. “You mean let’s throw them in the ocean?”
“What else?” I’ll need to send Kelsey a quick text, though, telling her I’m okay but to expect to not hear from me for a while.
At the beach, the salty breeze whips through my hair. Nathan and I reach the edge of the water, where the waves lazily lap against the shore.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. As the cool, salty air fills my lungs, I warm up to the idea of the tranquility and freedom that comes with being disconnected from the world. I know that once we dispose of our phones, we’ll be truly off-grid, safe from any prying eyes or potential threats.
Nathan holds both our phones and frowns at them. Clearly, this is painful for him. “Who should do the honors?”
“Rock, paper, scissors?”
He chuckles and nods. “Sounds fair to me.”
We hold out our hands and count to three in unison. On the third count, I throw out my hand in a victorious scissors, while Nathan’s hand remains flat, forming a defeated paper. A triumphant grin spreads across my face as I revel in the small victory. With a sense of purpose and determination, I reach out to take both phones from his grasp.
As I hold our devices in my hands, I think back to all the moments captured in that rectangular screen. The laughter, the tears, the conversations that seemed to last forever. But now, these phones hold more weight than just memories. They are a connection to a world that I no longer feel safe in.
I glance at Nathan, his expression mirroring my own nostalgic sentiment. We exchange a bittersweet glance, both aware of the significance of this moment. We have willingly chosen to sever our connection with the outside world, sacrificing the comforts and conveniences that come with it.
But we have to do it. There’s no choice. Personally, I would like to increase our chances of not being murdered as much as possible.
Still. It’s hard.
With a mix of apprehension and excitement swirling within me, I raise our phones above my head then release them into the ocean below. The water gently laps at the rocks, whispering a tale of freedom and release.
“It’s done.” I nod.
Nathan says nothing. He’s just staring at the water.
“You okay?” I ask.
His gaze remains fixed on the water, his mind consumed by something deeper than mere apprehension. The weight of our decision hangs heavy in the air, and I can almost hear the internal struggle raging within him.
“I don’t know,” he finally whispers, his voice barely audible above the crashing waves. “I mean, we’re cutting ourselves off from everything we know. Our friends, our families… our entire lives. It’s a leap into the unknown, and there’s a part of me that wonders if we’re making a mistake.”
My heart sinks at his words, doubt settling in my chest as the reality of our decision sets in.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves and find the courage to respond. “I understand your fears. It’s natural to feel this way. But remember, we’re doing this for a reason — to protect ourselves. Your security team… they know what they’re doing, I’m sure.”
He nods. “Yeah.”
I let out a long breath, and we just stand there for a few more minutes watching the water. What else are we going to do? There’s nowhere to be, and certainly no one to talk to.
Except each other.
The thought sends a flutter through my chest, but I ignore it. This isn’t some romantic weekend getaway. My boss and I are hiding in order to save our lives!
As the waves crash against the rocks, our conversation hangs heavy in the air. The weight of our decision to go into hiding intensifies with each passing moment. The world we once knew, filled with familiar faces and routines, already feels like a distant memory. How long are we going to be here, in this cabin by the beach?
And are we even truly safe here?
Nathan finally breaks the silence. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t—”
But he’s already turned away from me.