Chapter 3 #2
We tossed ideas around for hours about materials, palettes, layouts.
Riley occasionally chimed in with “statement pieces” and “signature luxury touches,” half of which made Theo roll his eyes so hard I thought they might stay that way.
Still, a few of her suggestions were surprisingly sharp.
Bold, unconventional, but workable. The energy was electric, ideas flowing freely.
By the time we wrapped up, my phone read 11:45 p.m. My eyes burned with fatigue, but the session felt like a win.
“Solid start,” I said, stretching. “Let’s reconvene tomorrow after we tour the site.”
They murmured goodnights, filing out, the door clicking shut behind them.
The room fell silent, the ocean’s rhythm seeping through the open balcony.
I headed to the bathroom, letting the warm shower melt away the day’s tension.
After drying off, I slipped into a peach silk nightgown.
Simple yet elegant, its soft fabric brushing against my skin.
It fit comfortably, neither too revealing nor too modest, and the warm hue brought a quiet glow to my complexion.
For a moment, wrapped in the gentle fabric, I almost felt at ease.
Like the world outside my walls didn’t exist.
My hair was still wet, dripping coolly down my back.
I towel-dried it, then twisted it into a loose bun.
Exhaustion weighed on me, but as I slid under the sheets, sleep refused to come.
At home, I had my safe space. A fort in my bedroom, draped with blankets and fairy lights, a cocoon where nightmares couldn’t reach.
Here, I had only this unfamiliar space and the echoes of those grasping hands from my dreams. Acute insomnia, coupled with those repetitive nightmares, had haunted me for years, leaving me restless and frayed.
After half an hour of tossing, I gave up.
I grabbed the matching cloak that tied at the waist and draped it over my shoulders, cinching it loosely.
Slipping my phone into the pocket, I stepped out into the night.
The resort was quiet, the paths lit by lanterns that cast soft, golden light.
The air was balmy, scented with jasmine and salt, and my bare feet padded silently on the cool grass.
I wandered without direction, letting the island’s calm seep into me.
My steps led me to the infinity pool, a stunning expanse that seemed to merge with the lagoon beyond.
Moonlight danced on the water, silver ripples shimmering like liquid starlight.
Golden luminescent lights ringed the pool, their warm glow creating an ethereal ambiance.
I sat on the edge, dipping my legs into the cool water up to my calves, the sensation grounding me.
I pulled out my phone and played a soft melody.
Gentle piano notes that floated into the night, blending with the waves.
Closing my eyes, I let the music and water soothe my restless mind.
A ripple broke my reverie, the water stirring in the pool’s far corner.
I turned, my breath catching as a figure emerged from the depths.
He rose smoothly, water cascading off his broad shoulders, and flipped his wet hair back with one hand, droplets scattering like tiny stars.
He was breathtaking. Sharp jawline like chiseled stone, piercing eyes that gleamed under the moonlight, long eyelashes sparkling with water.
A neatly trimmed beard, softening his rugged beauty.
His hair slicked back, curled slightly at the ends.
Below the water, his physique was imposing.
Eight-pack abs rippling under tanned skin, a bulky build that made him look like a Greek statue come to life, powerful arms, a presence that dwarfed everything around him.
A faint scar slashed diagonally across his broad chest, a pale reminder that even perfection carried its battles.
He hadn’t noticed me, wading to the edge where a glass of cognac and a cigar rested on a small table.
Half his body was visible above the water, muscles flexing with each movement.
He lit the cigar with a match, the flame illuminating his face briefly, then took a deep puff, smoke curling into the night.
He poured a measure of cognac, sipping it slowly, the amber liquid glinting in the golden light.
Our eyes met as he turned, his expression calm, almost indifferent. My cheeks flushed, a warm blush spreading across my face. He set the glass down and spoke, his voice deep and resonant, carrying effortlessly over the water.
“You must be Aurelia Sterling.”
I nodded, caught off guard by his awareness of me. “Yes, that’s me. How did you know?”
A faint smile curved his lips, those dimples deepening. “I make it a point to know who’s on my island.”
My mind raced, pieces clicking into place. “Oh my God. You’re…”
He didn’t answer. Only exhaled a slow plume of smoke, eyes locked on mine. Steady, unblinking, almost daring me to finish the sentence myself.
Shock hit me like a wave. Keith Krogen. The man behind Elysian Haven. I scrambled to my feet, water dripping from my legs, suddenly hyper-aware of my revealing nightgown. “Mr. Krogen, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I couldn’t sleep and just needed some air. I’ll leave you to it.”
He lifted a hand, a subtle gesture that halted me instantly. “Stay.”
I froze. The word was calm, low, authoritative.
“Room not to your liking?”
“It’s not the room,” I said quickly, pulling the cloak tighter around me. “The room’s perfect. I just... have trouble sleeping. Insomnia, nightmares. They keep me up.”
He watched me for a moment, unreadable. Then quietly, “I know that.”
He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to. Something in his eyes told me enough. “The water helps,” he said after a beat, gaze drifting to the pool. “Most nights.”
The pool shimmered under the moonlight, golden lights rippling across its surface. The idea was tempting, but hesitation gripped me. “I don’t know how to swim,” I admitted quietly.
His head tilted slightly, droplets clinging to his lashes as he looked back at me. “It’s shallow.” A pause. “And you’re not alone.”
I stayed seated at the edge, my legs submerged, nightgown clinging lightly to my skin. The air between us buzzed with unspoken tension. “Maybe another time,” I said, forcing steadiness into my voice. “Tell me. What brings you here, Mr. Krogen?”
He stepped closer, resting his hands on the edge. “Ambition. Regret. What about you, Miss Sterling? Those nightmares?”
I hesitated, then whispered, “They’re always the same.
Hands from the dark, trying to pull me under.
Therapy helps, but some things don’t fade.
” And as the confession left my lips, a new fear crept in.
Quiet, unsettling. Why was I telling him all this?
No one close to me knew the details of my nightmares, not even the people I trusted.
Yet here I was, unraveling in front of a man I barely knew, as if something about him pulled the truth straight out of me.
The realization made my pulse trip, confusion curling in my chest… but I didn’t stop talking. I couldn’t.
He nodded, eyes thoughtful. “Ghosts like that never stay buried.”
His words lingered between us, heavier than it should’ve been. “It’s not just the water I’m afraid of,” I said softly. “It’s letting go.”
He smiled, dimples deepening. “No one’s good at that.”
Before I could respond, the sound of soft footsteps broke the moment. Riley.
She appeared from the shadows in a silk robe the color of champagne, hair perfectly tousled, lips glossed to perfection. A picture of deliberate effort. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Keith, gleaming with interest.
“Well,” she drawled, her tone smooth as honey but sharp underneath, “looks like I’m not the only one who couldn’t sleep.”
Keith didn’t move, his face unreadable. “Miss Hayes.” he said evenly. “You should be resting. Tomorrow will be long.”
Riley’s smile faltered for half a heartbeat before she recovered. “Oh, I’ll manage. I find late nights… productive.” Her gaze lingered on him. Bold, expectant.
He didn’t return it. Instead, he reached for his glass of cognac, took a slow sip, and said nothing. The silence stretched, heavy and deliberate.
Riley’s smirk wavered. She tried again, brushing her hair over one shoulder. “I was just thinking how rare it is to see the boss this… relaxed. Should I be jealous, Aurelia?”
I met her gaze evenly, my tone cool and unbothered. “Only if you think you have a reason to be.”
Keith’s voice cut through like steel wrapped in velvet. “You should go, Miss Hayes.”
It wasn’t loud, but it carried finality.
Her lips parted, protest flickering in her eyes, but one look at him. The unyielding stillness in his gaze silenced her. She forced a tight smile. “Of course. Wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Her steps clicked away into the dark, leaving a faint trail of perfume and tension behind.
Keith exhaled, his tone softening as he turned back to me. “Some people mistake access for connection,” he said quietly.
I managed a small smile. “And some people mistake silence for indifference.”
His eyes met mine, a hint of warmth there now. “You’d be surprised,” he said.
The words lingered, heavy and unreadable, and for a heartbeat, I didn’t breathe. Why me?
Riley was beautiful, polished. The kind of woman men like him usually noticed.
The kind who moved through rooms expecting attention and getting it.
Yet he’d dismissed her without a second glance, as though she didn’t exist. And here he was, standing in front of me, his gaze steady, his tone softer than it had any right to be.
I didn’t understand it. The way he looked at me wasn’t admiration, or flirtation. It was something else. Something searching, like he was trying to place me in a memory he couldn’t quite reach.
“You should get some rest, Miss Sterling” he said at last, his voice low, controlled, but not unkind.
I nodded, though my heart was still racing. “Goodnight, Mr. Krogen.”
He didn’t answer. Just watched me for a beat longer, eyes unreadable, before turning away.