The resort had captured Sophia from the moment she woke up in ways she hadn't expected. As I walked along the sidewalks, everything looked like paradise. The beautifully manicured gardens, the rich flowers in all the colors of the rainbow, and the ever-chevroning pool beneath the sun—all of it spoke; clearly this had been made with care and love to feel peaceful.
Sophia found herself secretly applauding the effortless experience of nature intertwined with the home. It was as if in a dream. But for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt her shoulders drop. This was a kind of place that could dissolve all but the most determined tension.
Emma had gone into the lobby with her camera when she started exploring the resort and before she knew it, she followed Emma and them two were determined to see all that the resort had to offer. It took them through a young woman seated near the pool, sketching ideas in a notebook.
"Hi there!" the woman called up, smiling up brightly. "I'm Claire. Ethan's sister."
Sophia blinked, somewhat taken aback. Olivia had only ever mentioned Ethan in passing, nothing more than an abstract name, but hearing it affixed to an actual human body left Sofia feeling a little too curious.
"So nice to meet you, Claire," Sophia said, recovering from her surprise, and offering her hand. "I'm Sophia — the photographer they hired."
Claire's eyes brightened, and she put down her notebook. "Oh, Ethan's been saying great things about you! He's super excited about the project. He believes you're going to be a good fit."
Before Sophia could answer, a shadow passed over them. She lifted her head to see a man striding toward her, his step easy and confident, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed the possibility of something more guarded.
"Claire," said the man, smiling and then quickly hugging her. "I see you've met Sophia."
Sophia didn't need to be introduced to know who he was. This had to be Ethan Walker. Olivia had told him about this man, but words hadn't done him justice. His rumpled dark hair, angular cheekbones and an attitude of unassailable confidence made it impossible to dismiss him. But it wasn't his looks that surprised her — it was the flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, just under the surface.
"We were just getting to know each other," Claire said, smiling.
His smile disarming, Ethan turned to Sophia. "Welcome to the island. I hope you're settling in."
Sophia nodded. "The place is beautiful. You've been amazing here."
"Thanks," he said sincerely. "And we've put a lot into trying to make it feel. I was wondering if we could have lunch to talk over the project, if you are game?"
"Sure," Sophia said, interest piqued.
They walked to the resort's open-air restaurant, where the ocean breeze danced gently across their faces. The mood was light, but the gravity of their discussion was not. They talked about angles for shooting hotels, the resort's sustainability initiatives and how to convey the essence of the place.
Sophia had her doubts, but she was taken by Ethan's passion. He was more than a businessman, he really cared about the resort and what it represents. And yet there was something defensive about him, as if he had raised barriers he wasn't yet ready to lower.
Exactly when she found herself settling, the moment was shattered.
"So now we're working together, Ethan?"
Sophia glanced up to see a man approaching their table. He spoke in a sing-song voice that oozed sarcasm, and his way of moving his body made you nervous right away.
"Nathan," Ethan said cool and clipped.
Sophia looked back and forth between the two men, feeling the tension in the air. Nathan Cole, it turned out, was Ethan's business competitor — someone whose very presence felt like it grated on the natural easing connection of their conversation.
Nathan looked at Sophia as his grin widened. "And who's this? The gifted photographer I've been hearing about?"
Sophia tensed under his gaze but managed a polite smile. "Sophia Carter."
"Well, Sophia," Nathan said, leaning in a bit, "I hope you're ready for the circus of dealing with Ethan. It's never boring, I'll give him that."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Nathan, if you have no reason to be here, I advise you to leave."
Nathan put his hands in mock surrender. "Just wanted to say hello. Don't get too comfortable, Ethan. You know how things can change so rapidly."
Then he walked off, leaving that disquiet behind him. Sophia had cast a sideways glance at Ethan, whose face had lowered to undiluted darkness.
"Is he always like that?" she asked carefully.
"Pretty much," Ethan said, smiling in a way that didn't reach his eyes. He loves to get under people's skin," he said.
Sophia could tell there was more to it than that, but she didn't press. Instead, she decided to keep an eye on Nathan. There was something off about him.
That evening, Sophia was having dinner with Emma and Claire. The three hit it off easily, swapping stories and laughing at the island's quirks. Sophia felt an unexpected warmth, a sense of belonging surprising her.
As they were finishing up, Ethan showed up wearing a black shirt and jeans, looking like he just walked from a fashion shoot.
"Mind if I join you?" he said, his voice suggestive of breezy charm.
Emma and Claire beckoned for him to join them, but Sophia couldn't stop her heart from skipping a beat when he took the seat next to hers. He had brushed her elbow with his own, which had inexplicably sent purling shivers down her spine.
The conversation flowed easily, with Ethan revealing a side of himself Soph had not seen before. He was funny, irreverent and unexpectedly unpretentious. But then she saw hints of the closed-up man she'd met earlier—the man who felt like he was carrying a burden he wasn't ready to share.
Sophia was uplifted but also unsettled by the end of the evening. Ethan was not like anyone she had ever known. He was charismatic, although there was an edge to him, a hint of danger that made her cautious.
As they strolled back to their rooms, she asked herself what she was getting herself into. Ethan was charming, sure, but also complicated. And Sophia had learned long ago to be wary of complicated men.
Yet even as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, she couldn't forget his smile or how he made her feel. It was a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time — electricity, potential.
But along with that spark came a warning: she was here to do a job, not get involved. She had to resist whatever pull she felt toward Ethan. Her career depended on it.
And yet, as she fell asleep, she wondered if perhaps the island had something else in store.