chapter 10

A TIME FOR MYSELF.

~LAUREN'S POV~

The first rays of morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, golden and warm, but my thoughts were far from serene.

I stared at the ceiling, trying to shake off the leftovers of last night—the dinner, the drama, and Alexandro's maddening smirk.

His touch, his words, even the way he had looked at me—it was too much. I sat up, groaning into my hands. This trip was supposed to be my escape, a chance to recover from heartbreak and find some clearness.

Instead, it had turned into a stage for mind games and jealousy-fueled power plays.

I swung my legs off the bed and grabbed my notebook from the nightstand. I had jotted down my plans the night before, determined to reclaim at least one day for myself.

"Breakfast by the beach." check

"Morning yoga." check, i said with a smile spreading across my lips.

"Explore the resort."

"Call Mom and Emma."

"Book a yacht ride." That sum it all, I said taking a good look at the notebook again, before writing. "No Alexandro. No drama," I muttered to myself, setting the notebook aside.

I rose, showered, and dressed in a light sundress, tying my hair into a loose braid. Today, I wouldn't let anyone—not even Alexandro Castello with all his trillionaire swagger—ruin my peace.

Breakfast was everything I'd hoped for. A quiet table overlooking the ocean, the rhythmic crash of waves in the distance, and the salty breeze ruffling the pages of my notebook as I planned my next move.

Yoga, however, was another story.

The instructor's soothing voice urged us to find balance and let go of distractions, but my mind refused to cooperate. The serene poses quickly turned into a comedy of errors.

My tree poses toppled, my warrior stance wobbled, and by the end, I was sprawled on my mat, staring at the sky.

"Guess balance isn't my strong suit," I muttered, brushing the sand off my hands.

Still, I felt lighter as I strolled through the resort gardens, the vibrant flowers and buzzing bees a pleasant distraction. I found a shaded bench beneath a towering palm tree, pulled out my phone, and dialed Mom.

She picked up on the second ring.

"Lauren, darling!"

"Hi, Mom. How are you?"

"Oh, we're fine," she said brightly. "Emma and I were just talking about you and Alexandro."

My stomach flipped.

"Me and Alexandro?"

"Of course! Emma's dying to meet him. You're still bringing him home for Christmas, right?"

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Mom didn't know about Patrick, didn't know that the man she thought I was bringing home was long gone.

"Yes," I said quickly, forcing a smile into my voice. "We'll be there."

"Wonderful! He sounds like such a catch. We can't wait to meet him!"

I managed to keep the conversation light until we hung up, but as soon as the call ended, I slumped against the bench.

"What am I doing?" I whispered.

With a sigh, I booked a yacht ride for the afternoon. If I couldn't fix my tangled web of lies, at least I could spend a few hours pretending everything was fine.

~ALEXANDRO'S POV~

The meeting room overlooked the river, sunlight glinting off the water and creating patterns on the walls. It was the perfect backdrop for the merger discussions, but my focus was elsewhere.

As one of the executives droned on, I found myself thinking about Lauren.

Her flushed cheeks, the way she tried to hide her vulnerability behind sharp words—she was fascinating.

A smile tugged at my lips, and the room fell silent.

"Sir?" one of the men ventured, clearly uncomfortable.

I straightened, schooling my expression into something more professional. "Continue."

The discussion resumed, but my patience wore thin. I interrupted after a few minutes, issuing curt instructions and cutting the meeting short.

I rose, offering a brief apology, but as I turned toward the window, something caught my eye.

Lauren.

She stood at the dock, her hair catching the sunlight, talking animatedly to a staff member. My curiosity piqued, and I left the room without a backward glance, striding toward the riverbank.

When I approached, the man speaking with Lauren noticed me first. His demeanor shifted, his posture stiffening as he greeted me.

"Mr. Castello."

Lauren turned, her eyes narrowing when she saw me.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"I could ask you the same," I replied smoothly.

Her gaze was defiant, her chin lifting in a challenge. "Not that it's any of your business, but I'm going for a yacht ride."

"And you didn't think to inform me?"

She rolled her eyes. "It's a personal decision. You don't need to know everything I do."

Her flippant tone sparked something in me—a dangerous mix of irritation and amusement. I stepped closer, my voice dropping.

"Watch your tongue, Lauren," I warned. "You're treading on thin ice."

Her breath hitched, but she didn't back down. "Are you threatening me?"

"Not a threat," I said, leaning closer. "A reminder. As long as you're involved with me, everything about you—what you do, who you meet—is my concern."

She stared at me, her lips parted in shock, but before she could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Lauren! Alexandro!"

~LAUREN'S POV~

I turned, my heart sinking as I saw Patrick, Rosette, Lilac, Fatimah, and Malcolm approaching the dock.

Rosette, of course, was leading the group, her flirty smile directed straight at Alexandro.

"Is there still space for us?" she asked, her voice sickly sweet. I felt Alexandro stiffen beside me, his jaw tightening.

This was supposed to be my escape.

Now, it felt like the universe was plotting against me.