Emma straightened.
Storms were manageable. With preparation. With systems. With walls.
“Let it come,” she said.
Behind her, the spiral carving caught the rising sun and seemed to pulse once before settling back into stone.
Only Emma noticed. Or perhaps she was the only one listening.
Chapter 1
Afternoon Chaos
By the timethe third boat arrived, Emma had reassigned twelve rooms, replaced a bartender, and talked the pastry chef out of quitting. She preferred problems that occurred in daylight. They were much easier to solve.
She stood at the head of the dock, clipboard in hand and pencil tucked behind one ear, watching the latest wave of task force hires disembark from the sleek catamaran bobbing beside the floating pier. Most were young, energetic, and wide-eyed—impressed by the turquoise water and the understated luxury of Isla Nocturna.
The marina pulsed with late-afternoon chaos; the scent of salt, sunscreen, and new beginnings hung in the air. Luggage carts rattled across the bamboo-planked dock while staff hurried between arriving boats and the welcome center. Beyond them, the finished but empty terraces of the Ivory Drift Resort climbed the hillside in pale tiers of stone and glass.
The lagoon shimmered beneath the sinking sun, its horseshoe-shaped cove cradled by limestone outcroppings and lush greenery. The soft slap of waves blended with the hum of cicadas and distant gull cries.
She offered a bright smile as they approached, greeting them by name. She'd memorized their names and faces during the hiring process: first impressions mattered. If the new hires didn’t settle in quickly, the opening timeline for Ivory Drift would start slipping before the resort ever welcomed its first guest. That was unacceptable.
One young woman stood apart from the others, clutching her bag as though it were an anchor. Paddleboards bobbed behind her where she lingered by the side of the floating dock.
“Diego Mendoza, culinary assistant. Report to Chef Adina this afternoon for orientation. Welcome to paradise.”
He beamed as he accepted the welcome packet she handed over. “Gracias, Miss Vann.”
Next came two spa attendants, a trio of servers, and a guest services trainee who was already sweating through his linen uniform. Emma handed him a chilled bottle of water from the cooler at her feet.
“Hydrate first. Panic second,” she said with a wink.
The kid laughed nervously. “Y-yes, ma’am.”
Once the rush wound down, Emma drifted over to the woman standing alone, breathing in the natural perfume of hibiscus mingled with sea spray.
“Hey, what’s your name?” she asked casually.
“Lila.” Her hands trembled, though she appeared to be trying hard to hide it.
“First resort job?”
Lila nodded. “And first time to live away from home.”
“Ah, that’s a big move. I think you’ll love it here. Hotel staff tend to bond together like family. Let me check your room assignment.” Emma flipped through her clipboard pages, although she already knew it. She was assessing Lila’s neighbors. Carmen Morales. Perfect.
“Okay, Lila, you are in Building C, Room 212. Right next door, in 214, is Carmen Morales. She’s a room service supervisor, and volunteered to help show others around. Knock on her door after you settle in, and she can show you the way to the staff dining hall. The welcome dinner starts in an hour.”
With a little more cheerleading, Emma got Lila’s feet unstuck and the girl wandered off to find her room.
After the last hire checked in and wandered toward the shaded welcome center, Emma rolled her shoulders and glanced at the clipboard. A few late arrivals. A few internal promotions to finalize. One more room reassignment, thanks to a leaky ceiling in the staff quarters. Nothing unmanageable.
A sudden, massive gust of wind hit her, almost knocking her off her feet. The flag snapped violently, rope cracking against the pole like a gunshot.
The air went still.
She frowned.Odd.
