He chuckles, his body vibrating against me. “Yes, I guess I did,” he says, revving forward again. I tighten my grip to not fall off.
He takes us around the back of the island, showing me the rest of the village, then finally comes to a stop on a sandy white beach in front of a villa that looks like someone plucked it off a Greek island and wedged it here in the sand.
I wiggle off the jet ski, stepping into warm ocean water. Marlen grabs a rope from beneath the seat and ties the jet ski to a palm tree on the shore. Then he turns and gestures for me to follow him.
The villa is magnificent. “This is the main residence. On either side, there are two smaller villas for when my family wants to use the island. I like to keep it private, though. We don’t have clients or business partners here. This is just for the family; otherwise, it wouldn’t feel as safe as it does,” he explains, leading me around.
There is a communal eating area that looks like a five-star restaurant. It faces the ocean with wide glass windows that can open all the way to make it feel like you’re right on the beach. Behind that is a kitchen fit for award-winning chefs, but open for any guests who feel like cooking.
There is a beach bar, a swimming pool bigger than most houses, a basketball court, a spa, Jacuzzis, a coffee bar, a gym… anything I can think of, I think I’ll find here.
After a tour, Marlen takes me to my room. My bed faces the ocean and a massive private balcony. I can smell the sea air and feel the warm breeze while I’m lying in bed.
“Breakfast is at eight, you can meet me downstairs in the restaurant,” he tells me. “Sleep well, Stefania. If you leave the balcony doors open, you’ll want to sleep under the net curtain around your bed. This is an island after all.”
“Thank you,” I smile. Marlen leaves.
I flop down onto the bed and giggle. This is incredible.
I can see why he calls this an escape. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and I can’t wait to explore more in the morning.
***
Breakfast with Marlen is a little tense, but the awkwardness is overshadowed by my excitement to explore.
“Can I walk around?” I ask, wondering if he plans to keep me a prisoner inside the villa, but I haven’t seen many guards at all, mostly just the cleaning staff.
“You can go anywhere. It’s an island. You’ll only get so far,” he chuckles.
His comment annoys me. He underestimates me. “You don’t know what I’m capable of. I could steal a jet ski. Or the little boat from the yacht,” I scoff.
He laughs warmly. “I’ll need to give you a lesson on the jet ski first. We can do it after breakfast.”
His teasing tone is friendly, and reluctantly, it pulls a smile onto my lips.
“Thanks, I appreciate that,” I say sarcastically.
“But seriously, feel free to explore. This villa is your home while you are here. The beach is beautiful. The water is warm. If you do swim, don’t go too deep. Though it’s crystal clear, and this island has a beautiful reef, I’d prefer it if you didn’t go alone. Maybe we can go snorkeling tomorrow? If you’d like?”
I stare at him for a moment, unsure, but wanting to believe that this is all just as it appears and not something else.
“So, you’ve genuinely just brought me on a holiday?” I ask cautiously.
“Yes, and myself. I’ve really needed a break for a while, and I saw how nuts you were going locked up in the mansion. This is a holiday, Stefania, nothing more than that.”
After breakfast, Marlen heads to the gym and leaves me to my own devices. In my bright yellow sundress, I walk barefoot along the beach, holding my sandals and wondering how in the world I ended up in this tropical island paradise, but loving it.
I explore the many pathways that weave through the resort’s little jungle gardens. I wade out into the shallow water when it gets too hot. I see a turtle swimming near the shore and sit and watch it for a while. I find bright orange exotic flowers and pick up a coconut from the sand, curious to see if I can open it back at the villa.
After a while, I realize I’ve reached the edge of the village. My heart somersaults as I glance behind me, back toward the villa where Marlen is. He’ll be furious to find I’ve gone so far away, but what do I care? I want to see everything.
With a tentative first step, I walk toward the village.
It’s bigger than it looked from my first glimpse of it on the jet ski. People walk along wide streets, all smiling at me when I pass. Women wear colorful dresses, and men walk shirtless, tanned, carrying bundles of freshly caught fish.
“Welcome, come in, come look,” an older woman waves at me, gesturing for me to come into her little store. Her smile is wide, and her face is wrinkled from years of sun and salt. Her hair is long and dark blonde, hanging in a thick braid over her shoulder.
The store is filled with beautiful handmade jewelry made from seashells and coconut shells. Along one wall are colorful dresses like the ones the other women were wearing.
