As the day wore on, the three Reed sisters began drifting into conversation about their family business. It started innocently enough—talk about the properties they'd recently acquired, upcoming luxury events, and a few mentions of new investments. But soon, they were fully engrossed, throwing around terms like "equity stakes," "market shares," and "luxury retail expansion" that left me feeling completely out of my depth.
Vanessa shot me a quick glance, and I took it as my cue. I wasn't about to sit around while they discussed business strategies for the elite. I stood up from the sunbed and stretched.
"I'll leave you guys to it," I said, trying to sound casual. "I'm gonna go for a walk. Maybe explore the island a bit."
Vanessa smiled at me, a soft but appreciative look in her eyes. "Take your time, Tristan. We'll be here."
Bella barely acknowledged my exit, already too wrapped up in talking about some upcoming fashion collaboration with a big name in Milan. Alessa, as usual, kept things professional and serious, which only made the conversation feel more formal by the second. I nodded to myself, happy to get away from the intense business talk.
I wandered away from the beachside setup, my feet sinking into the warm sand as I made my way down one of the small paths that cut through the palm trees. The island was beautiful, with the kind of picturesque scenery you only ever saw in postcards—clear blue water, soft white sand, and lush greenery everywhere. It was a welcome change from the high-intensity atmosphere around the Reed sisters.
As I walked, I heard the soft hum of an engine in the distance. Following the sound, I found Leila sitting near the edge of the water, fiddling with one of the water motorcycles she'd brought with her. She hadn't noticed me at first, completely focused on whatever adjustment she was making to the bike's engine. I walked over, calling out to her as I approached.
"Hey," I said, trying not to startle her. "Everything okay over here?"
Leila looked up, flashing me a smile. Her brown eyes sparkled with that laid-back confidence I'd come to expect from her. "Hey, Tristan. Yeah, just doing a quick tune-up on this thing. It's been acting a little weird lately."
I nodded, glancing at the water motorcycle. "Sounds like you know what you're doing."
She laughed, sitting back on her heels and wiping her hands on a towel. "Yeah, kind of grew up around this stuff. My dad's really into water sports, so I've been messing around with these things since I was a kid."
I leaned against a nearby palm tree, the sound of the waves lapping against the shore filling the comfortable silence between us. Leila had a cool, easygoing vibe that made her incredibly easy to talk to, especially after spending time with the more intense Reed sisters.
She stood up, tossing the towel aside and dusting the sand off her hands. "So," she said, turning to me with a curious look, "I've been meaning to ask—how did you meet Vanessa?"
I shrugged, smiling at the memory. "I was working as an intern for her company when I was still in university. It was one of those last-minute opportunities, and I ended up in the marketing department, doing a lot of grunt work at first."
Leila raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "And somehow you went from intern to... well, this?"
I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, it's a long story. Vanessa was really hands-on with some of the projects I was working on, and we got to know each other through that. We started talking more, and eventually, she offered me a permanent position after I graduated."
Leila nodded, crossing her arms over her chest as she listened. "And now you're, what, her... boyfriend?"
I laughed awkwardly, still not entirely used to putting a label on things. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
She smiled, clearly amused by my hesitation. "Well, you've done pretty well for yourself, I'd say."
I shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "It's been... interesting, to say the least. Vanessa's world is pretty different from mine, but I'm trying to keep up."
Leila chuckled, her eyes glinting with humor. "Yeah, I can imagine. Bella's told me a bit about Vanessa's family. It's... intense."
I nodded, grateful that someone else seemed to understand. "That's an understatement. They're great, but it can be a lot to handle sometimes."
Leila leaned back against the water motorcycle, crossing her arms as she studied me for a moment. "And you? How do you feel about all of it?"
I blinked, not expecting the question. "About what?"
She shrugged. "This world. Vanessa's world. The money, the power, the status. It's a lot for someone who didn't grow up in it. Do you ever feel out of place?"
I thought about it for a second, trying to put my feelings into words. "Honestly? Yeah, sometimes. It's overwhelming. I mean, I come from a pretty average background, and now I'm suddenly surrounded by private jets, luxury yachts, and people who think 'low key' means owning only one mansion instead of two. It's a lot to process."
Leila nodded, her expression understanding. "I get it. Trust me, I've been there. Bella's the same way—totally carefree and wild, but she comes from serious money. I didn't grow up like that either, so it was a bit of a shock when we first started hanging out."
I raised an eyebrow, curious now. "So, how did you two meet?"
Leila smiled, looking out at the water for a moment before answering. "We met through this adventure sports group. I was leading a diving expedition, and Bella showed up with her usual enthusiasm and complete lack of experience. She was a mess—couldn't keep her gear straight, didn't follow half the safety protocols—but damn if she wasn't having the time of her life."
I chuckled, picturing Bella in that kind of situation. "That sounds about right."
Leila nodded, her smile widening. "Yeah, that's her. She's a handful, but she's got a good heart. After that dive, we started hanging out more, doing water sports, rock climbing, all that. She's fearless, I'll give her that."
I leaned back, feeling more relaxed as we talked. "Sounds like she found the perfect adventure buddy in you."
Leila laughed, shaking her head. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm just the one crazy enough to keep up with her."
We both laughed, and for a moment, the conversation drifted into comfortable silence. I could see why Bella liked Leila so much. She was grounded, easygoing, and had a sense of humor that balanced out Bella's wild energy.
After a few minutes, Leila pushed off the water motorcycle, standing up and stretching her arms over her head. "Alright, I think I'm gonna take this thing for a spin. You wanna join?"
I hesitated for a second, then smiled. "Sure, why not? Let's see if I can keep up."
Q: What do you think about dating someone who has significantly more wealth then you?