Unfaithful: Web Of Betrayal

It didn’t surprise him when she didn’t show up at the Club that night. In fact, she was nowhere to be seen. He spent hours going around the ship with his camera pretending to be doing some work when he was really searching for her.

She was isolating herself in her room, he thought. 401. He knew where it was, but he wasn’t going there. He had to give her some space, or she would shut herself completely, and he didn’t want that.

What was his plan? When he thought about it, he really didn’t have any. He only knew that he had met the woman he had always imagined would be his soulmate, and now he was pursuing her no matter the obstacle. Isn’t that what people do?

She’s married. That much he was sure of. Does she have any kids? How long has she been married? The more he thought about it, the more restless he got. He was already jealous of the man who was living his dream. It’s not too late, he thought. There must be something wrong with her marriage, but then again, there’s always something wrong with a marriage, and that will be his leeway into her heart.

**********

She put on her jumpsuit sundress, one of the collections from her line. It was broken white bohemian-style shorts with floral patterns on the edges of the wide sleeves. With a low-cut neckline, she wore a bikini underneath, just in case. She wore her sunhat, favorite Bottega sunglasses, goliath-style leather sandals, and a designer sling bag to match her outfit.

She skipped breakfast, hoping to sneak out of the ship without being spotted by Roman. Although, there was a funny feeling inside her from not seeing him for a whole day. She got onto the small boat to the island with several other passengers. There was a person in charge giving them directions of where to go and ensuring everyone remembered the meeting point to return to the ship before sundown. He gave them his phone number.

“Five thirty is the latest … later than that, you will have to find another way to go back to the ship, or you will have to stay on the island until tomorrow,” the man said.

Everyone nodded in understanding and then went their separate ways.

5. 30? They say the Bhorma sunset is the best view in the world; it would be nice if she could stay to watch the sun go down from another location other than the cruise. She shrugged it off; this is the reason why she always opts to travel alone.

The first place she went to was a cozy breakfast cafe she had searched in her traveling app. While enjoying her healthy vegan meal and a cup of thick black coffee, she looked for other places nearby to enjoy the authentic island experience by herself.

Handicraft shops and boutiques are her top destination, besides the beach club, where she can enjoy her afternoon drinks before the sunset. She had booked a rental car to take her around the island, stopping at famous tourist spots that had gotten rave reviews from other visitors.

Olivia Harmon is not your regular shopper, and she needs to think about the things she wants to buy. She visualizes the things she sees and is able to combine them with the things she already has in her head. It was a trait that enabled her to mix, match, re-design, or create a new look for everything.

When she goes into a shop, her eyes can scan the room for items that would go perfectly in her room, house, office, store, or even closet. She doesn’t overthink about buying an item, and the price is never too high for excellence.

When Olivia Harmon stepped into a store that she liked, it would be a great day for the sales clerk because she would point to every single piece that she wanted and ask them to wrap them up and ship it to her address. Yes, ship it. When she travels, she always comes home empty-handed with a container packed with stuff to arrive at her doorstep the following days or weeks.

She swiped her titanium credit card courtesy of Declan Hunt at every store she did her shopping spree in. A gesture that will haunt her later without her realizing it.

Declan didn’t mind it; he encouraged it. He provided his wife with 5 different credit cards from 5 different banks, and she was free to use them all to their limits that, if combined, could buy her a lovely big house in Bhorma if she wished. He spoils her with luxury. The only way he knows how to keep his lovely wife happy is in a childless marriage.

It was a long day of shopping. Her feet were sore. Her energy drained from all that hard work of choosing the things that would look good for her home makeover. A nice afternoon drink was in order, nothing a cocktail at the beach club couldn’t fix.

She checked her phone, but nothing from Declan. He’ll probably contact her when he receives the notification from the bank of how much she spent on her first day on the island. She smiled at the waiter, who handed her a nice classic Mojito that would quench her thirst. She told him to bring another one even before she sipped on her first.

She stretched her legs and leaned back on the sunbed facing the ocean. An extra $20 an hour for that seat at the Cul De Sac on-peak hours. One of the island’s most famous beach clubs. She hadn’t had an island getaway for over 13 years since the day she married Declan. He was more of a European trip guy, classic Renaissance ambiance in Autumn or Wintertime. Classy, which she also likes.

After her third drink, she looked at the horizon, the sky turning orange. One more drink, and she won’t care about the time limit the tour guide had set. Who in their right mind would get up and go when the sun set so beautifully? She felt serene; she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

“Compliment from the gentleman at the bar.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

A waiter came by her table and served her another drink.

“Our house’s special … The Playful Lover …” he added.

She turned to look at the said ‘gentleman’ the waiter had pointed to. He was leaning his elbow at the bar counter with the same drink in his hand. He was scruffier than the last time they’d seen each other. A wide smile bloomed across his face as he bit the straw of his drink and raised his glass at her.

Olivia curved her lips; she didn’t realize how much she wanted to see his face again.