Chapter 2 TWO

Lazar had never believed in things like "a spark at first sight." His world had been too heavy for dreams, too full of ghosts to entertain fancies. But when he saw her standing by the dessert table with confusion dancing across her face, something unexplainable stirred inside him.

She looked... untouchable.

A flicker of fierceness in her eyes. Posture straight, arms subtly guarded and he knew she was someone who carried silence like armor.

He knew already that she must be new. He didn't know everyone, but he was sure about this one. He didn't stay at the resort but he liked having dinner on Friday nights there whenever he was around.

Seeing her tonight, he felt a tug in his chest, giving him a sensation that he had always known to be true and gripping. Lazar saw how she had hesitated before taking the cup of parfait from him.

She was every bit gorgeous and mesmerizing and her eyes held so much from where he was seated.

"Are you new here?" he repeated the question, even when he already knew the answer.

She set down the cutlery and gazed hard at him. He feared for a second, she would pick up her plate and walk away.

"Why? Do you know everyone here?" she retorted.

He scoffed. He must say he liked her voice. Smooth and soothing, like a distant musicale.

Without moving a muscle, he spoke. "Maybe I do." Leaning forward, he continued. "And I can easily tell you're a new face." He gave her a quick smile to ease her.

Her gaze was unwavering, then she dropped it to the space between them over the table. Then she raised her eyes to him again. "I arrived here today." she replied, then picked up the napkin to remove a fork and knife.

As she busied herself with that, Lazar let his eyes run over her features. He found himself studying her. She had delicate fingers, nails clean and short, the kind of woman who didn't have time for the theatrics of beauty but ended up being beautiful anyway.

She was unmistakably beautiful.

He wondered where she came from and if she came with anyone. He won't be surprised if she did.

She had round eyes that were just made for her face. Her dainty nose was in contrast to her full lips. He was deeply attracted to her and that scared him.

He wasn't sure it was something he could afford; that is, being attracted to her.

When she took her first bite, she raised her gaze to his. She chewed innocently, but there was something that movement did to him.

Lazar cleared his throat, then picked the iced tea and bottled water from his tray and placed it beside her plate. "Is it your first time here in Bevin island?"

He saw how fast her eyes flew to his, they were filled with an unspoken expression he couldn't quite read. In that moment, he also saw that she relaxed a bit.

"Thank you. I – I had forgotten to take them with me."

Lazar shook his head. "It's fine." He blinked at her and noted how she blushed.

They relapsed into silence as she went on to clear her plate, while he distracted himself with his own cup of the parfait.

"Do you have any plans while you're here?" he finally asked, subtly avoiding to ask her if she had company.

She spared him a cool stare while she sipped the iced tea. "I don't plan to move around so much. I just came here to..." she paused and Lazar saw how her eyes shadowed. "To have some peace and quiet."

He heard the sudden bite in her voice and how she avoided her gaze while closing her mouth over a spoonful of the parfait.

"I didn't mean to overstep." He said gently, but she didn't look at him. "I'm just trying to make sure you're comfortable and –"

"I don't remember running to you for some comfort, did I?" she snapped at him.

He was taken aback by that sudden change. He regarded her for a while, seeing how she forced spoon after spoon into her mouth. "You're going to get sick if you eat like that." he said, and that brought her gaze back on him. He studied her for a moment. Something about her reminded him of silence in churches... of a song he'd once heard on a rainy day.

Before either could say more, a loud beep interrupted the moment. Lazar reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black pager.

He sighed, already knowing what it meant. He had forgotten he had a late night meeting to attend to. He hated to leave like that, but he had to.

Casting her a long stare, he leaned closer across the table. "I need to leave, but can I at least get a name?" his muttered.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. She was being reluctant and he knew that whatever she was going to tell him would be a lie.

"Alice. My name's Alice." She swallowed and dropped her eyes.

He knew it. There was no way in hell her name would be Alice. It didn't suit her at all.

"That's not your name. You're not an Alice." He disagreed and saw how her head snapped up.

She had a glint in her eyes now and that proved him right.

"What am I then?"

She was daring him. He could see it in her eyes.

Glancing down quickly at his wrist watch, he grimaced. "I don't know but..." he paused and briefly thought, boring his eyes into hers. "I think Marissa suits you better."

If that was amusement or shock, he couldn't tell but he knew one thing as he left the hall and made his way out of the resort.

He would be seeing her again and he feared that she might be his undoing.

Immediately Lazar walked into the house, he hightailed for the study to attend to whatever his assistant had been paging him. Turning on the lights as he went, he noted how dead quiet the whole house was. The housekeeper had left earlier in the day. He didn't like having anyone around as he only came to Bevin Island for the solitude it provided.

Staying away from the life he was used to was everything he needed. He had gone through the most painful phase of his life. So, he had gone under the radar, erasing himself from the world that knew him.

Maybe one day he would heal. But for now, he would continue to live as he had been doing for ten years.

Sitting behind the desk in the study, he turned on the laptop and got to work. He had efficient staff that took care of things for him while he stayed away from the public's eyes. In fact, the media had fought tooth and nail to get a picture of him for a whole decade but it hadn't been successful. Everything about him had been erased from the internet as though he never existed.

His years of being in the forefront of things were over, now he enjoyed being in the shadows.

He moved the mouse around, going through the documents that Mary, his assistant had sent him. His company had bought out some companies, so he needed to give the instructions on what next to do after acquiring them. Lazar had been putting it off as he had not wanted to be burdened with the stress that comes with buying out a company, let alone, buying out three companies at the same time.

From the updates he had been getting from Mary, one of the companies was going to be a hassle and they need to put the seal on the deal and fast.

After having a late night meeting with some members of the staff, he shut everything down and hoped to relaxed.

While he relaxed into the chair, gazing into the dimly lit room, his mind wandered back to her. The woman. She was a brunette, fair skinned and stunningly lovely. Her pale hair fell like sand dune either side of her face. Perfect features – full lips, delicate nose and sparkling eyes –all made her a total peach of a female.

He liked her and would really love to see her again. But–

She seemed apprehensive that he could visibly see the walls she erected around herself.

She was definitely from the big city, he could tell, from the way she carried herself and the air of poise about her.

She must be someone that was looking for an escape since she wouldn't even tell him her name and he found that rather, intriguing.

Lazar couldn't tell why Marissa popped into his head. He just thought it suited her soft and lovely figure.

He wasn't going to push her to reveal anything to him, it was even better for him as he wouldn't risk ticking off the media and getting them taking another interest in his life.

Thinking about her made his heart jump, not in panic but in subtle ecstasy.

It had been ten years since that day. he had drifted in and out, trying to find himself but it was all futile. All he had done was throw himself into work and he had succeeded in building up the company into an empire.

Yet, as the days grew all he could feel was inane emptiness and engulfing sadness and wreck that wouldn't lose its grip on him.

But seeing her there, he had felt a light and a certain thrill within him. There was something about her that pulled him and he knew he had to adhere to it.

When was the last time he felt attracted to another woman? It's been ten years, yet he still couldn't move on.

He had vanished and stayed behind the scene, and having every staff, especially his domestic staff sworn to secrecy of never speaking a word about him to anyone. That's why he had kept very few people around him, at his home in the big city and here in Bevin.

Finally deciding to go up to his room and get some sleep, he let himself from the chair and started out of the study.

Is she married? he noticed that she didn't wear any ring though, but he also knew that a ring wouldn't really matter.

Would she be gone by the next day? he was afraid, she might feel bothered and decide to leave.

Would he really see her again?

Thoughts moved across Lazar's mind. Questions and questions that reeled in his head as he climbed the stairs to his room.

Tomorrow would answer his questions.

When he left, Marissa was completely dazed. She couldn't tell if it was a lucky guess or he had a prior knowledge of her. When Lilian came to clear the table, she asked her about him but she replied vaguely, making her the more alarmed.

There was no doubt in her mind that he was a really handsome man, and even in his lounge wear he looked sophisticated.

Marissa had seen enough of Raymond's business partners to know that he wasn't a common man who resided in the countryside.

Worse, she found him attractive. Returning to her room, she climbed into bed and draped herself with the white sheets, enjoying the cold and quiet that enveloped her.

She had been able to enjoy the day without getting down into her grief. She could get used to this, she thought to herself as she turned towards the window, looking out into the darkness.

She could hear a distant wave and chirping birds on trees. It was peaceful.

But would just a few weeks away from the life that awaited her back in Bustrov, be enough to save her from her sadness and grief?

Would she ever sit behind the computer and write again?

When was the last time she really laughed, or smiled?

Ten years ago? Or was it seven years ago?

Ten years of being in that marriage, seven years of grieving Emerald's death.

She was the only thing in her life that made sense and life snatched her away.

Thinking for a moment, she felt her ring finger. It has been years since she last wore that ring. She carried it around in her purse now but never wore it anymore.

Then the man had looked at her as though he could see right through her soul. He had suggested a dessert for her, which by the way was the best parfait she had ever had.

Marissa wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes against the darkness, trying to fall asleep.

A tear slipped free and seeped into the pillow, but she didn't raise a palm to wipe it.

She just let herself cry.