The taxi pulled over in front of a villa. But from the gates to the door was almost five meters distance. There were gardens of flowers and a few vegetables to one side, while the other was like a mini playground with swings, slides, and other fun for little kids to do, as well as a mini pool. Flora got off of the cab and waited for the driver to unload her luggage from the trunk, and went inside the house.It looked like a house from the outside, but when Flora got in, she was astonished at how it looked like a grand hotel."Welcome!" A warm voice greeted Flora as soon as she stepped in from the door. "Flora Carter, right?""Hi! Yes, my name is Flora. Nice to meet you," the newly arrived guest smiled as they exchanged handshakes."Emer De Lira. I own the place. Please enjoy your stay. Tell me if you need anything or if you want, we have a crew to accompany you for the whole stay. You can choose who you like to be with. We have the
Flora stared at the picture of the man. He has a stern face with a pair of cold blue eyes. His eyebrows were manly thick, and he had a scar on the left side of the forehead, which breaks the line on his left eyebrow. Flora noticed his profile picture posted didn't even have a smile in the slightest. It was not what anyone would expect for someone who is supposed to be assisting a guest on vacation for relaxation. He didn't seem welcoming or accommodating, and Flora was bothered about it. She was here to find her peace of mind and gather herself to prepare for a more significant battle she would be facing when she gets back home. She wanted to claim her rights as the sole heir of the company her grandparents had painstakingly established from the hands of her ex-husband and her clueless about-the-business parents."Let's see what else do we have here," Flora patted her chest and decided to look more into the options she could find for a guide on this island. She wa
Like Emer had told her, Flora picked up the wireless phone on her bedside drawers to dial the front desk's line. It was connected right away. "Hello? How may I help you?" asked the lady on the line. "Hi, this is Flora Carter. I am calling about the guide options," Flora replied, trying to make her voice sound calm and casual, although she could feel herself wrecking in nervousness. "Yes, ma'am. Have you chosen?" the employee asked politely. Flora cleared her throat. She wanted to ask some things to make sure of her decisions. "Before that, I would like to ask if it's okay in case I cancel the services in the midst of my stay. You know, just in case I don't feel comfortable, something like that..." Flora was stuttering as she tried to explain her thoughts. But the response she got was enough to calm her mind. "Yes, of course, Miss Carter. We are after your enjoyment while staying here. Please let us know if you want any adjustments, and we will do our best to fit with your request
Flora was contemplating. She was aware that if she let the guide help her apply the sunscreen lotions on her back, he would see the ugly scar she had from a flat iron Lambert had once pressed on her. It had been years, but the scar it left would still be visible. It hurt like hell during those times as she had no one to help her. She couldn't reach the spot with her hands to apply meds on it, so the scar it left was quite noticeable with the shape of a flat iron that the edges of the scar now have fibrous connective tissues. With the healthy pink skin tone that Flora has, the scar was visible and easy to identify what caused the burn."I worry you might see another ugly look of me?" Flora tried to hide the shy smile through a deep breath."Another? Wait?" Damien hurriedly asked as he looked at her face closely. "I don't see what you see, I guess," he frowned. "Have my eyes gone bad?"Flora snickered. Then she stared at the guide with squinted
Flora decided to go on with the flow and shake her doubts or fears loose. She was fully aware that it was the way to enjoy her holidays spent on the island. The guide, Damien Castle, toured her around the beach as she said she wanted to walk barefoot on the sand. She felt the sand was also hot, and she needed a little time to adjust to the heat before she could walk the way she wanted."If you walk close to the water, the sand won't be as hot as the part farther from the shoreline," Damien informed as he led Flora gently by the hand to walk to the end of the waves where the sand is wet but as the tide goes back to the sea, the water does not stay. Flora let the guide lead her, and she realized he was right."Hold on," Damien uttered before she stepped into the slamming wave."Huh?" Flora asked with a questioning frown.They were quietly walking side by side when the man suddenly blurted. To add to her surprise, Damien b
It was only late in the morning when the two met. They walked around the beach, and as Flora seemed to enjoy chasing the tiny waves on the shoreline, they were able to reach the village side of the island. A bit farther from her cottage. The sun was becoming more robust, but the guest didn't seem to notice as she was having such a good time. Damien had to take her out of the open and bring her to the shades. It's her first day on the island, and she might get too burned even with the sunscreens applied."Would you like to have lunch? You must be hungry. It's noon already," Damien tried to get Flora's attention as she was too engrossed playing with the bubbles of waves and ran as if playing catch with the water. But she would also get bothered when she saw something interesting among the shells and stones. Some were colorful, while the others were with unique shapes."Huh?" Flora looked up to see Damien now with a pair of sunglasses on. He looked d
"Let's go this way," Damien pointed his arm forward. Not to the left nor to the right side as the pathway showed."Sorry, where? Which way?" Flora asked with astonishment. She was confused. The guide was pointing in a direction with no visible trail of a pathway to walk onto.Damien snorted at Flora's questioning face. She pulled her sunglasses as they were already under the shades and to make sure she was looking in the right direction he was pointing into."Come, believe me, we're on the right track," Damien chuckled at her doubting mien. "This is a shortcut. If we follow the pathway you are looking at, we won't get there as quickly as we can if we take it this way. This one is for walking trails. Vehicles can only take the wider road, so even if they turn around, it would be the same span of time to arrive at where I am taking you."Flora nodded. "I see. I guess I should just follow. You're the guide, after all."Dami
Damien noticed where Flora was suddenly quiet. He followed her gaze and saw his sister Danielle and her husband Ricky with the man's right hand hanging on the woman's shoulders. Flora had a gaze perception that she turned to look in the direction she felt someone was intently gazing at her, and her eyes met with Damien. Their eyes locked for a good minute. No one seemed able to move their eyes away, staring right back at the person staring at them.The sound of someone clearing its throat awakened Flora and Damien from their wandering thoughts."Ahhmmm, oh my... What had just happened?" Flora felt embarrassed and pretended to dust the hem of her dress top to avoid the eyes of everyone around her.Danielle saved the lady from embarrassment and pulled Damien away to take his spot beside Flora."Have you chosen what you'd like to have?" Danielle asked gleefully. "Don't worry about the price. They are affordable."