The other day. The helicopters landed on an island shimmering under the tropical sun. Everyone stepped out, gasping at the beautiful locale.
As the staff marveled at the breathtaking scenery of the tranquil island, Rita's attention was fixated on her colleagues' expressions rather than the beauty surrounding her. Emma, noticing Rita's gloomy demeanor, approached her with concern.
"Rita, why do you still look so down? We're in such a beautiful place; you should enjoy it."
Rita, forcing a smile, tried to reassure Emma without disclosing her inner turmoil.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Emma. I'm fine. Just lost in my thoughts, that's all."
As the team gathered for a meal, one of the curious colleagues couldn't resist asking Jefferson about the cost of renting the island for their team-building.
"Jefferson, this place is incredible! How much did it cost to rent this island?"
Jefferson simply smiled and exchanged a knowing look with his assistant, Neo, who had prepared an answer for such inquiries.
Receiving Jefferson's hint, Neo expression changed and obviously he diverted the topic.
Neo, being an old acquaintance of Jefferson's and the only one he had brought into the company, knew that the island was Jefferson's private asset. However, it seemed his secret boss did not want those staff in this company to know how rich he is.
"Well, my friend, let's just say that Jefferson has a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to finding amazing locations like this. He's a master at making extraordinary things happen."
Rita noticed the silent communication but chose not to say anything, although she wondered why Jefferson seemed to have so many secrets.
While the colleagues were immersed in their various ways of relaxation, Rita found herself sitting alone on the lush green lawn, lost in her thoughts.
Jefferson, noticing her solitude, approached her discreetly, suggesting they go to his room.
Rita felt a surge of panic, not wanting her colleagues to witness any intimacy between them. Jefferson, understanding her concerns, assured her that he had taken precautions to ensure their privacy would go unnoticed.
"Rita, I know you don't want people to see us together like this. I've been careful, and nobody will suspect a thing. Please, come with me to my room."
Eventually, she relented and followed him obediently to his room, hoping their absence wouldn't raise any suspicions among their colleagues.
--
As they reached Jefferson's room, he turned to Rita, eager to know her thoughts about the island and if she was enjoying their time there.
"Rita, how do you feel about this place? Are you enjoying it?"
Rita, taken aback by the unexpected question, was momentarily dumbfounded.
Jefferson continued, "Rita, actually, I noticed how exhausted you've been lately, and I wanted to give you a break. That's why I arranged this trip. I wanted to take care of you."
"I... I didn't realize this event was organized just for me. I thought it was a team-building activity for everyone."
Jefferson smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting genuine concern for her well-being.
Rita, still processing Jefferson's words, blurted out her honest feelings.
"I didn't expect you to be so kind to me. We got married in such a rushed manner, and sometimes it feels surreal. I thought you wouldn't bother much about our relationship."
Jefferson raised an eyebrow, slightly hurt by her words.
"Why wouldn't I treat you well? We're husband and wife, Rita. It's only natural for me to be kind and caring."
Rita wanted to express her lingering doubts about their relationship, but she realized that it was she who had agreed to the sudden marriage. Blaming Jefferson wouldn't be fair.
Rita stared at him silently and reflected. 'He is right... I guess I still struggle with the fact that our marriage happened so unexpectedly.'
She cleared her throat and replied, "Anyway, I appreciate that you're making an effort to play the husband role, especially considering our situation at work. Thanks, Jefferson."
Jefferson, noticing Rita's murmured words of gratitude, furrowed his brows.
He was so curious why this Rita acted completely different from the Rita he knew before...
"Rita, please be honest with me. Do you have a twin sister or something?"
Rita, confused by the sudden question, shook her head.
"No, Jefferson, I don't have a twin sister. Why do you ask?"
Jefferson sighed, trying to find the right words to express his concerns.
As Jefferson struggled to find an appropriate excuse for his previous question, he decided to dismiss it with a casual remark.
"Ah, never mind. It's nothing important. Let's just enjoy our time here."
Trying to lighten the mood, he reached into a bag and pulled out a burger, a small act of consideration for Rita.
" I noticed you didn't eat much during the meal. I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you a burger."
Rita couldn't help but smile, touched by Jefferson's thoughtfulness.
"Thank you, Jefferson. That's very kind of you. I appreciate your consideration."
--
As the day progressed, the staff gathered for some team-building games. Rita and Jefferson joined in, eager to participate and bond with their colleagues. The group settled on playing a round of truth or dare.
Rita found herself on the losing end and was presented with the dare.
The challenge required her to cover her eyes with a cloth and retrieve a flag placed a short distance away.
Determined to complete the task successfully, she took a deep breath and prepared herself.
With the blindfold securely in place, Rita relied on her other senses to guide her. Her heart raced with anticipation as she inched forward, her hands outstretched, searching for any cues that would lead her to the flag. Every step was a delicate balance between caution and urgency.
But fate had a different plan in store for Rita. As she moved forward, an unexpected obstacle disrupted her equilibrium. Her foot caught on an unseen object, causing her to lose her balance. Panic surged through her as she felt herself hurtling towards the ground.
Reacting quickly, Jefferson rushed to her aid, trying to catch her.
However, their combined momentum caused them to tumble to the ground, and...their lips inadvertently meeting in the process!