The marina was a study in contrasts—an oasis of opulence nestled against the serene backdrop of Saint Martin's turquoise waters. Yacht hulls gleamed in the afternoon light, their polished surfaces reflecting the soft glow of the sun. Sailboats swayed lazily at their docks, their white sails a stark contrast to the deep blue of the ocean. It was paradise, or at least, it looked like it.
Addison stood by the railing, trying to ignore the clammy feeling creeping up her neck. She had been to marinas before—mostly back home in the States—and they always had the same sterile, almost too-perfect quality to them. The polished stone walkways, the glint of expensive watches, and the hushed conversations that only seemed to matter in this world of exclusivity.
But today, this marina felt different. It felt like the calm before a storm.
Addison's gaze flickered over to Justin, who was standing a few feet away, his posture rigid and calculating as he watched the scene unfold before him. His eyes were locked on the main pier, where a sleek black yacht had just pulled into port, its engines quieting as the boat docked smoothly. The anticipation in his stance was palpable. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for.
Addison felt her phone buzz in her pocket, but she ignored it, the only thing on her mind now being the reason they were here.
Katrina Sawyer had arrived.
The woman was as much a figure of intrigue as she was a source of Justin's obsession. Addison had heard bits and pieces about her—a genius inventor, an environmentalist, a woman who seemed to operate on her own wavelength, never fitting into the boxes people tried to put her in. From what Addison had gathered in the few hours they'd spent on the island, Katrina had a reputation for being elusive, intelligent, and fiercely protective of her work. And from the look on Justin's face now, it was clear that he was about to make his move.
Addison, still standing back slightly, watched the boat slowly pull into its designated slip. Her eyes didn't leave the woman stepping onto the dock. She was tall and poised, with dark, wavy hair cascading down her back in an effortless, almost careless way. Her clothes were simple—a fitted white blouse and faded jeans, but they hung off her frame with an air of confidence that made Addison feel underdressed in her plain sundress.
Katrina's sharp, focused eyes scanned the area around her, and Addison felt something stir within her. It was an awareness, a certainty that this was no ordinary woman.
Justin straightened, a quick, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips, and before Addison could process, he was already moving toward the dock, his strides confident and purposeful, as though he were already on familiar ground.
Addison's stomach twisted as she followed his movements. She had no interest in being a part of this little "encounter," but it was hard not to watch as Justin made his way to Katrina, his presence imposing in a way that seemed to challenge everything about the calmness surrounding the marina.
The moment they met, Addison could almost feel the electricity between them. There was an intensity in Justin's eyes, a predatory gleam that seemed to pierce right through Katrina.
"Ms. Sawyer," Justin said smoothly, his voice rich and easy, as though this was just another day in the office. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Katrina's eyes flickered to him, her expression unreadable, but the slight raise of her brow told Addison all she needed to know. She wasn't impressed.
"It's 'Katrina,'" she said, her tone cool, almost distant, as she extended a hand, but it wasn't the gesture of someone eager to please. It was more of a formality, a transaction. She didn't look at him with the fascination that Justin was clearly expecting.
Justin grasped her hand firmly, holding it a moment longer than necessary, as though he were trying to assert dominance. Addison could feel her pulse quicken at the dynamic unfolding before her. Justin's smooth demeanor didn't seem to be having the desired effect.
Katrina pulled her hand back almost immediately, not rudely, but with such indifference that it felt like a dismissal. She glanced at him again, this time her expression unreadable. There was something about the way her lips pressed together, as though she were about to say something, but held it back.
"I've heard a lot about you," Justin continued, clearly undeterred. He flashed a smile, one that was just a little too rehearsed, and Addison could almost feel the insincerity of it from where she stood. "I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement. You're exactly the kind of person I've been looking for."
Katrina's eyes narrowed, and Addison couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the woman. There was a weariness to Katrina's expression—a quiet assessment that made it clear she had seen this all before. Justin wasn't the first man to try to flatter his way into her favor, and judging by the way her jaw tightened ever so slightly, he wouldn't be the last.
"I'm not interested in arrangements," Katrina replied flatly, cutting him off before he could continue. "I don't work for people who think they can just buy my time." Her voice was sharp, a contrast to Justin's smooth tone.
Addison could see it now—Justin's frustration beginning to creep in beneath the surface. His eyes flicked to her, as if checking to see if she was watching. She was, and she didn't know what disturbed her more: the way he seemed to underestimate Katrina or the way he expected her to simply fall into his plans.
But then Katrina spoke again, her voice as steady and controlled as before, but this time there was something else there—an edge of challenge. "If you want my attention, Mr. Ross, you'll have to prove that you're worth it. You don't intimidate me, and I don't respond to bluster."
The words hung in the air like a slap, and for a moment, there was nothing but the quiet lapping of the waves against the dock. Justin's smile faltered, just for a second, but it was enough for Addison to catch it.
Katrina didn't back down. She wasn't going to make this easy for him.
Addison felt a strange sense of satisfaction ripple through her. She wasn't sure when, exactly, but somewhere between the docking of the yacht and Katrina's firm rejection, something inside her shifted. She realized she wasn't just observing this meeting anymore. She was in it, whether she liked it or not.
Katrina's gaze flicked over Justin's shoulder toward Addison, and for the briefest moment, their eyes met. Addison felt a sudden wave of recognition—like Katrina was looking at her as if to say, You're not like him.
Addison's heart thudded in her chest. She didn't know why the thought unsettled her so much, but she couldn't shake it.
Justin's voice broke the silence. "Well, I'm sure we'll be able to find common ground," he said, his tone all business again, but it lacked the same charm it had before. Katrina's cold dismissal had put him on the defensive. "Perhaps we can talk more over dinner tonight?"
Katrina's lips twitched, just slightly. "I'm not interested in dinner with you, Mr. Ross."
The finality in her words was clear.
As she turned to walk away, Addison watched her go, a strange sense of admiration stirring within her. Katrina was no fool. She knew exactly how to handle someone like Justin.
And for the first time since arriving on the island, Addison felt the walls that Justin had so carefully constructed begin to crack. He wasn't invincible. Not to everyone.
Not to Katrina.