The sound of birds chirping by the window woke Isis from her deep sleep. Their soft melodies drifted through the thin curtains, and she stirred, stretching her arms lazily above her head. She rolled over and reached out her right hand to touch the other side of the bed, expecting to feel Barry's presence beside her. Her fingers brushed over the soft sheets, but the space was empty. Confused, she slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the light. The spot next to her was cold showing no sign of him.
Isis frowned and rubbed her eyes to shake off the remnants of sleep. Her long hair fell over her shoulders as she sat up. "Barry?" she called out softly, her voice hoarse from sleep. She thought perhaps he had gone to the bathroom, but there was no reply. The quietness of the room made her uneasy.
With a sigh, she got out of bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor. She walked toward the bathroom, her silk nightgown flowing around her ankles. "Barry?" she called again, her voice more urgent this time. Reaching the bathroom door, she knocked softly before pushing it open. The bathroom was empty. There was no sign of him.
Her heart began to race. Where could he have gone? They had just arrived in Dubai the night before. Barry didn't even know the area well. A sense of panic started to creep in, and she bit her lip nervously. She spun around and rushed back to the room, her eyes darting around in search of her phone. It was lying on the small wooden stool beside the bed. She snatched it up and dialed his number with trembling fingers.
The phone began to ring, and for a brief moment, relief washed over her. But that relief was short-lived. As she turned back toward the bed, she noticed something sticking out from beneath the ruffled sheets. Barry's phone. Her heart sank.
"Gosh!" she exclaimed, hanging up the call. The phone was right there. Wherever Barry had gone, he had left without it.
Isis quickly grabbed her night robe from the chair near the window. The soft fabric wrapped around her, and she tied the belt tightly around her waist. Slipping on her flip-flops, she hurried to the door. Her mind raced with possibilities. Had he gone for a walk? Had he gotten lost? The thought of him wandering around an unfamiliar city without his phone made her even more anxious.
As she reached the door, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Her fingers gripped the doorknob tightly before twisting it open.
The moment the door swung open, she gasped in surprise. There he was. Barry stood right in front of her, his tall frame leaning casually against the doorframe. His dark hair was slightly messy, and he was wearing a simple white T-shirt and gray joggers.
Barry froze when he saw her standing at the door. His eyes widened slightly, and he quickly tried to mask his surprise, but it was too late. The startled expression on his face betrayed him. His lips parted as if to say something, but no words came out immediately. He shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Where were you?" Isis asked, her voice filled with worry. Her dark eyes searched his face for an answer.
He remained silent for a moment, his mind racing to come up with a believable explanation. "I…I…I went for a walk," he stammered finally, his voice hesitant.
"A walk?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. Her arms crossed over her chest as she looked at him skeptically.
He forced a smile, trying to regain his composure. "Won't you let me come in before you bombard me with questions?" he asked, a playful tone creeping into his voice.
Isis sighed deeply, then stepped aside to let him in. He brushed past her. As soon as he was inside, she shut the door firmly behind him.
"You were saying?" she asked, her voice sharp, her gaze still fixed on him.
Barry smiled again, softer this time, and walked toward her. He gently took her hands in his, his touch warm and reassuring. "I woke up very early this morning," he began, his voice calm. "I didn't want to disturb you, so I decided to step out for a bit."
Isis narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "Then why did you look so guilty when I opened the door? It was as if you got caught doing something wrong."
He threw his head back and burst into laughter, his deep voice filling the room. "That's not true," he said between chuckles. "I was just surprised. You startled me! I was about to open the door when you did."
Still holding her hands, he gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. "Come on, don't be mad," he whispered, his smile softening into a tender expression.
Isis smiled softly, her worry fading as she wrapped her arms around him. Her head rested on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. "You know how much I love waking up to see your face," she whispered.
Barry chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. "Yes, I do," he said. "And I'm sorry for making you worry." He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment.
As she hugged him, a faint scent wafted to her nose — a scent that seemed familiar yet out of place. It wasn't his usual cologne. This fragrance was softer, sweeter, and distinctly feminine. Isis frowned slightly as she pulled back to look at him.
"You smell… different," she said, her gaze narrowing as she examined his face closely.
Barry tilted his head, a confused look crossing his features. "Different?" he repeated, sniffing his shirt. "I don't smell anything unusual."
"Yes," she insisted. "It's not your usual scent. It smells like… perfume."
Barry gave a casual shrug, trying to appear unbothered. "Maybe it's from the flowers in the hotel lobby," he said smoothly. "I passed by them on my way back."
Isis stared at him, her brow furrowing in thought. Something about his explanation didn't sit right with her. How could the scent of flowers cling to his skin like perfume? It seemed unlikely. But as she struggled to make sense of it, doubt began creeping into her mind.
He noticed her hesitation and reached out to gently touch her cheek. "Come on, don't start overthinking," he said playfully, giving her cheek a light tap. "It's just flowers."
Isis forced a small smile, though uncertainty lingered in her eyes. He walked past her and sat back on the edge of the bed, stretching out his legs and rubbing his hands over his face.
"Gosh! This hotel room is so big and luxurious," He said, his eyes wide as he looked around. His gaze moved from the large bed with its crisp white sheets to the stylish furniture and the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline. "How did you afford to pay for all of this?"
Isis chuckled softly, a proud smile playing on her lips. "I told you, didn't I? I planned a romantic getaway," she said, stepping closer to him. "So just think of this as part of the package."
Barry turned to her, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Alright then, Miss Romantic Planner," he teased. "What do you have planned for us today?"
Isis laughed, enjoying his playful tone. "Well, first off," she said, "we need to head into the bathroom and take our baths. After that, we'll go downstairs for breakfast."
Barry nodded. "And after breakfast?"
"I need to check in with Melanie to finalize some plans," Isis explained. "I want to make sure everything is in place for where we'll be going tonight."
At the mention of Melanie's name, Barry groaned, his expression immediately shifting to one of irritation. "Melanie, ugh!," he muttered, rolling his eyes.
Isis couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. "You don't have to worry," she assured him. "She won't be joining us. I only brought her along to help me gather some things for the dress I'm working on."
Barry's expression relaxed, and he let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, good. I thought I'd have to deal with her annoying face."
Isis shook her head, "Be nice, Barry." She said playfully.
"I am being nice," he said with a mischievous grin. "I'm just glad she won't ruin our day."
Isis laughed as she grabbed his hands and gently pulled him up from the bed. "Go on… go to the bathroom," she said playfully.
Barry stood up, stretching his arms. "Won't you be joining me?" he asked, giving her a teasing look.
Isis chuckled. "Of course, I will," she replied with a wink. "But you go first. I need to make a quick phone call."
He nodded and headed toward the bathroom. As the door closed behind him, Isis walked over to the wardrobe. She opened it, pulled out her travel bag, and carefully unzipped a small compartment. Her fingers gently pulled out the ring case. She opened it, The diamond glinted under the soft light of the room.
A wide smile spread across her face as she stared at the ring. "I can't wait," she whispered, her heart racing with excitement. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she imagined the moment she would propose.
Suddenly, Barry's voice echoed from the bathroom. "Isis! Aren't you done yet?"
"Coming!" she called back quickly. She slipped the ring box back into her bag, zipped it up, and hurried toward the bathroom, her heart still fluttering with excitement.