Episode 3 #2
There’s more to discuss, but our conversation is cut short as we approach a wooden pedestal with a table, clearly for us.
A rolled scroll sits on top. I unravel the thick paper, skimming the text, then passing it to Paya.
“There’s an advantage on this island,” I tell her, the competitive spark igniting in my chest. “Let’s go find it. ”
Three hours later, the island is winning.
The hunt is a grueling, exhausting joke.
The first clue sent us to a bird shaped boulder on the opposite side of the island.
For the second clue, we had to swim to the neighboring plot of land, then back.
Which led to a third clue instructing us to explore the thick brush of the jungle.
We’re sweating, covered in a thin layer of island grime, and only running on pure spite.
“Hopefully this is the last clue.” Paya groans, holding up a fresh piece of parchment she just pulled from a tree hollow.
She quickly summarizes it, her breath heavy, voice dripping with fatigue.
“Look beneath the roots where the shadow of the canopy splits. Great. Beautifully vague. My feet are officially killing me.”
“Let’s take a break,” I propose, motioning toward a giant flat boulder nearby.
Paya drops onto the stone with a dramatic sigh, but she doesn’t stay relaxed for long. She props her elbows on her knees, tilts her head, and gives me a piercing look. “Can I ask you something?”
Using the bottom of my shirt, I wipe the sweat from my forehead. “Anything.”
She tilts her head. “Why are you, Celeste Ashford, a corporate CEO of a million dollar company competing on a survival game show?”
I hesitate and drop my shirt, letting it fall back into place. It doesn’t matter if Paya’s my executive assistant who knows far more about my life than most employees. Admitting the truth that my company is hemorrhaging money and desperately needs the capital is simply not going to happen.
“I wanted to challenge myself,” I reply smoothly, exhaling slowly. “That’s all.” Before she can dig any deeper, I step closer, seizing the opportunity to pivot topics. “I think we should establish some ground rules.”
Paya looks up. “Like what?”
“While we’re out here, I’m not your supervisor. You’re not my direct report. As far as the game is concerned, it’s as if we just met.”
She licks her lips. “My lips are sealed…boss.”
“I’m serious.” I glare playfully. “Deal?”
She holds up a finger. “Since we are both playing this game, let’s agree that what happens on The Final Summit stays on The Final Summit. Maybe we can help each other.”
My heart skips a beat at the thought of all the ways that could entail. “Okay.”
She stands up, takes two steps and sticks out her hand.
“And I’ll still have a job to return to regardless of whatever happens between us during the game?
” Her mischievous tone matches the playful grin on her face, carrying a wave of temptation that makes the humid island air feel suddenly suffocating.
Megan told me to watch out for overt flirtation strategies, but she forgot to write a rule about what to do when you’re trapped alone with your ungodly attractive executive assistant wearing a bikini.
I huff a low laugh at her smirk and grip her hand, shaking on it. “Of course. Deal.”
“Good.” Paya flashes a bright smile, a speck of dirt on her nose. “Figured you might need some extra help around the office anyway, with your CFO gone.” She winks at my sudden, surprised expression.
I blink. I guess the word spread like wildfire through the department before we left. “That bad, huh?”
“Personally, I wasn’t a fan.” The corner of her lips curl. She doesn’t break eye contact, her gaze blatantly dropping, scaling the length of my body, taking me in, before rising back to meet my eyes.
The sheer boldness of her checking me out sends a jolt straight to my stomach, then lower. I return her slow smile, letting the moment linger between us for a beat too long, before I reluctantly step back. “We should keep searching.”
After what feels like hours of going in circles, we agree to split up. I’m parsing through a dense thicket of ferns when something catches my eye. We’re already pushing our limits and the sun is already setting.
Putting my hands on my head, I puff out a breath of air, ready to call it quits when something catches my eye. I peer down at a strip of twine wrapped around something.
My eyes widen. I crouch down, heart hammering, and push the foliage aside. My fingers fumble with a tight string, quickly unraveling a piece of parchment. Tucked inside is a green circular token necklace the size of my palm with a string wrapped neatly around the edges. I quickly read the paper:
Congratulations. You have found Sappho’s Super Secret Relic.
A legendary immunity token that holds absolute power at The Summit.
Unlike standard relics, which must be played before the voting process begins, this relic can be played at any time before the votes are read aloud.
This relic nullifies all votes cast against the holder and one other person of their choice.
Only one has ever existed in the history of the game. Only one ever will.
Guard it well. Only one has ever existed in the history of The Final Summit. Only one ever will.
A silent gasp escapes my lips. A rare relic that can be played after the votes are cast and saves up to two people. I fist bump the air. What a game changing find this early in the season. Megan would be so proud.
“Celeste!” Paya’s voice echoes from the other side of the brush.
After a quick glance over my shoulder, I tightly grip the heavy token and shove it deep into my pocket, smoothing my shirt over it just as the sound of snapping twigs signals her approach.
“Anything?” She breathes heavily, breaking through the thick foliage.
I open my mouth to answer, but the faint knot tightens in my stomach forces me to pause. Paya’s already lied to me once to get what she wanted. Now we’re on a game show together. Who knows what she’ll do to win. Should I trust her with this?
When she finally reaches my location, I stand and slowly turn around. She steadies herself against a tree, sweat dripping down her stomach. I meet her eyes and return her exhausted smile. “Nothing.”