Chapter 7 SEVEN

Tuesday morning dawned grey and quiet. Marissa awoke to a gentle drizzle tapping against the windowpane of her room at La Viv Resorts. She lay still for a moment, listening to the rhythmic patter of rain, wishing she could wash away the turmoil inside her. The day stretched before her like an empty page, and she had no words to fill it.

She dressed in soft cotton, moving slowly through the spacious room. The four-poster bed with billowing white curtains, the polished porcelain floor that gleamed even in the dim light. Outside, the veranda overlooked the gardens, shimmering under the mist. But Marissa didn't step out. Instead, she curled up on the chaise lounge, pulling a blanket over her legs, and opened a book she had barely touched.

Her thoughts drifted inevitably to Raymond, his cold distance, the years of silence between them and to the little girl she lost, whose laughter haunted her dreams. She pressed her hand to her heart, trying to quiet the ache, but the emptiness echoed louder.

Hours passed in solitude. She let the day slip away without speaking to anyone, except Lilian who brought her meals with a gentle smile but never pressed for conversation.

Far from the resort, in the grand but lonely mansion, Lazar was already awake. The estate was silent except for the soft tapping of his fingers on the polished mahogany desk. His study was lined with dark wood shelves heavy with books and mementos; old photographs of a life who no longer filled him with light.

He worked tirelessly on business documents and company strategies, knowing that the upcoming week would demand his full attention. Yet despite the papers, the beeping pager, and the flickering glow of his computer screen, his mind was elsewhere, wandering back to the woman he'd met at the resort.

He thought of her fierce eyes and the subtle vulnerability she hid beneath her composed exterior. Marissa's presence had stirred something in him: hope and a dangerous longing.

Back at the resort, Wednesday morning brought clear skies and warm sunlight. Marissa finally rose with the day, feeling the familiar ache softened by the promise of something new. She dressed in a flowing dress the color of deep wine and went about her day,.

The hours passed with measured calm. The garden bloomed with beauty as she strolled through the gardens, feeling the soft grass beneath her feet, the gentle brush of flowers and leaves whispering secrets. She sat by the pool, watching the sunlight dance on the water's surface, her thoughts drifting between past wounds and tentative dreams.

As evening settled in, after she had returned to her villa, a quiet knock came-Lilian, holding a carefully wrapped hamper. The moment shifted, the air thickening with unspoken promises.

"He sent this for you." she said pointedly with a knowing smile.

Marissa got off the chaise lounge and walked towards Lilian, carefully carrying the hamper.

Lifting the lid to reveal an elegant assortment: a delicate silk scarf in deep burgundy, a small velvet box with understated pearl earrings, artisan chocolates arranged like jewels, an Arabian floral perfume, and a bottle of white wine.

Her breath caught. The gesture was bold and intimate without words. It was more than a gift. It was a bridge thrown across the distance between two souls.

"He's waiting for you in the garden," Lilian added and without waiting for a response, she let herself out.

Heart pounding, Marissa dropped the hamper on a table and sat on the edge of the bed. Her head was now a jumbled mess. She sat there a while, trying to put her thoughts together before she slipped on a light jacket and stepped outside.

The evening air was cool, fragrant with blooming jasmine. She walked slowly, clenching her fists by her sides.

Marissa stepped into the garden, the warm glow of lanterns casting shadows on the fragrant blooms. Lazar was already there, leaning against the wrought-iron bench, looking as though he belonged to the night itself. Maybe he did.

From where she stood, she thought he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. His face was dark and unreadable-as if he was lost in his own mind.

Then he looked up at her. Relief flooded his face. Then, he smiled. A small, almost shy smile.

"I was hoping you'd come." his voice was low.

Her heart fluttered, a mix of nerves and something she hadn't felt in a long time. "The basket was... unexpected," she said softly, "You didn't have to."

"I wanted to," he replied, voice still low. "I've been thinking about you, more than I probably should."

She looked away, wrapping her arms around herself.

Lazar continued. "Marissa... I've missed you."

She returned her gaze to his, neither of them moving. Her heart was fluttering. "I'm scared," she admitted.

He took a slow step forward. "Of what?"

"Of what this might mean." her voice was heavy.

His gaze softened. "I can't stop feeling this way. But you feel it too. This pull between us ."

She met his eyes, the vulnerability mirroring her own. "Yes," she whispered. "More than I should."

He took another slow step closer, closing the space between them. "You shouldn't fight it, Marissa. I want to find out what this could be-with you."

She swallowed hard, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't know. I can't think straight."

He nodded, his eyes searching her face. "You don't have to think. Some things are best left out of our control. We just have to see where it takes us."

He would never understand, Marissa thought.

She wanted to scream and tell him she was married, but she couldn't form the words.

He reached out, his hand hovering over hers. "I want you. More than I expected."

Her eyes dropped, brushing a petal from her sleeve. "This...do you think this is real?"

He smiled. He cupped her face. "Tell me this isn't."

For a heartbeat, the world stood at a standstill. His fingers brushing her cheeks lightly, she gazed up at him, heart pounding. The thin space between them was charged with something electric.

"You don't even know me," she reminded him, remembering they had agreed not to share any personal information.

His eyes smiled then took a breath. "There's no rush, sweetie. We have time."

A quiet pause fell between them, the night humming softly. The air tightened and the atmosphere between them got tense. His eyes moved over the softness of her body. She realized that one of his hands had moved to her neck.

His breath changed and she knew it coming.

Then, with no hesitation or warning, lazar leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. A soft kiss at first but claiming. The kiss deepened, heavy with the scent of desire.

She took a deep, shuddering breath as his kiss deepened and without restraint, her hands wound up and around his neck, trailing her fingers softly through the darkness of his hair.

She lost herself in his caresses down her body, his warmth, her body spinning out of control.

As the night wrapped around them, the kiss carried the promise of everything they had both been holding back and afraid to say.