“Everything’s ready boss.” the assistant informed as soon as he saw Nicholas walking out of the boathouse towards the pier. 

The ship had been waiting for him for five minutes after he called. As soon as the ceremony finished he went ahead, he didn’t even try to linger in the reception and have a meal at least.

The endless blue of the Pacific Ocean flowed past as they headed towards Albion-1, the 120 meter black and white superyacht with gracefully reversed bow anchored not far from the island. All the way, Nicholas kept a pensive look until he boarded and was greeted by his crew.   

“Are you sure the boss attended a wedding and not a funeral?”

“What nonsense are you talking about!” the assistant roared to the bosun.  

“The boss doesn’t look like he’s in a good mood.”

“When did you see him in a good mood recently?”

“If it’s not family or business matters, it’s even more impossible to be a relationship matter either.” their Captain/Engineer said. 

“Oh, I don’t know. He turned his phone off and only opened it a few hours ago. He seemed to be alright yesterday. I think the getaway only made him grumpier.”

The assistant is right, ever since he took a vacation his mood only worsened. Fine sand, crystalline waters, aren’t people supposed to be refreshed after? Why does he look like someone stole his chastity but refused to take responsibility? 

Not in a thousand years the crew would know that their guessing joke was the closest thing there is to the actual events. Although in reverse. 

Inside his suite, Nicholas loosened his tie and slumped on the seat. His eyes locked on the camel shaped island as if trying to magnify something out of its blurring lines.    

Thank you? 

Did he hear that right? Or that sneaky brat really pulled one on him? 

Him… of all people! 

He was having a bad time last night when his old grandfather kept pestering on the phone to introduce him to an acquaintance's granddaughter going as far as calling the hotel room. When the old man starts, it will be long before you get to hear the end of it so it was better to play dead.  

Sleep-deprived due to jet lag, the prompt noise from his mobile began to grate on his nerves as well. He couldn't sleep so he walked out of the hotel to rest in the boathouse on the west side of the island instead. This was the only place detached from many tourists because it is a gated compound. There's a winding path up the hill and another near the shore. He took the latter path because it cuts half of the journey and it brings him directly to the private beach where the boathouse is.  

The sun was about to set then, it had always been an ordinary scenery he'd seen over a thousand times but this one particularly stood out. It's not that he disliked twilight, it's just that the orange glow of the sun before the whole place is plunged into darkness gives him mixed feelings. 

Emptiness is one.

Casting his eyes to the fading horizon, Nicholas caught a glimpse of a lone dreary-looking person walking along the beach. An empty glass in one hand, a thin beach dress showing off her smooth back and a crying face. Although she is pretty, that all-out crying resembled a child being left off when their parents go to the grocery. so against his better judgment, he laughed. He watched for a good half an hour until she was done, the wind tousled her inky black hair making her look more alluring than a sea nymph.  

He stopped laughing when he got a better look on her face. Apparently, she was someone he knew but not personally. He heard rumours about her too and most of them are not too kind. 

Who knew he would see her again that night?

Seeing her up close was a thrill. He thought he found a nymph, and didn't expect to meet a harpy pricklier than a cactus instead. Not even a hint of softness in her. 

But surprisingly talking to the cactus was refreshing and relaxed. Nicholas only thought of teasing her a little, to see how that face would change expression after he cracked that stiff front. Unexpectedly, she has shown a lot more in less than an hour. 

Sena Erde.

They said she was stubborn and snobbish but the her that he saw was contradictory. Her mouth was unrestrained but her eyes were unfathomably deep, she seemed like a typical spoiled rich miss at first glance but after a whole night of being near her, he learned she was a lot more desolate than the moon. 

However, she was not the kind who acts mysteriously nor was she trying to highlight fragility to solicit pity. Her attitude is what you see is what you get. As for other personal things, she keeps them well hidden. 

What was the reason for her crying then? 

If he had not gotten a careful look he could have missed those rare moments she was unguarded. Sometimes being a busybody has its perks, see? If he hadn’t taken the initiative to that figure by the shore he would have never known that there was more to her than that alluring face and rumour.

Her involvement with the couple was pure. Most of the intrigues were fabricated. 

She is not mysterious. Sena is Sena, prickly, blunt and vigilant. An annoying yet strangely adorable combination. 

More often than not when he is confronted with this attitude, he would have gotten up and left quickly. Out of sight. Out of mind.

It has always been easy for him to charm people whenever the urge comes. He started his wild days very early after he was initiated by the men of his family. In a place of mutual benefit, of course, no one says no. When he was a developing teenager, he was taught how to deal with the changes in his body properly. The pleasure was there but overindulgence is a no. His uncles up to his grandfathers were well-known rakes when they were young but they make sure not to cross the line and offend people intentionally. 

When both parties came to an agreement there were even fewer talks. Before morning came, they separated and that was it. He doesn’t need to invest deeper emotion into it. It became a routine that he eventually got tired of and matured early.

He honestly had no plans with Sena other than pissing her off. Why? Because when he saw her stare blankly into the sea for a long time, it gave him an ominous feeling. Besides, he just saw her cry that afternoon and hit herself. Even if he is a bastard he wouldn’t be the kind of bastard who takes advantage of emotionally unstable women. More than that she was impatient and snarky; it can make the kindest saint curse. But then it surprised him greatly when she held no reserve around him. 

People he typically meets would naturally want to impress him to get on his good side. There were few who tried the hot and cold tactic but he had no patience for pretentious plays like that. Seen and heard it all. 

Why was she different?

Nicholas chuckled. First, it was because she didn’t know him, another is that it was because he was aware that even if she recognized who he was she would not become a simpering fool in front of him. Chances are, she would pick up her glittery slippers and give him a double slap in the face.

Better cut ties with her first thing tomorrow. But morning came and he found himself looking for her. 

He looked only to get his patience snap.

What really pissed him off was her nonchalance. The audacious girl just took off, patted her butt and not even an adios was heard and when she saw him she looked like she saw her life's greatest regret.

Nicholas thought he would give her a surprise at the wedding ceremony but she punched him right to his ego. Hell, the one she wanted to see was that sloppy-looking guy she mistook for a stripper, it was written all over her face. 

Would she rather be with a strange wild man than him? Nicholas grounded his molars. He knew the answer.

She wanted that one who pestered her on the beachside, got drunk and laughed with her on that luau. 

Not him in a suit. 

Sena, Sena… 

He rubbed his aching head. Even before she pissed him off he knew already... 

This is going to become troublesome.