I put my phone in my pocket and face Antonio. This feels awkward now that we’re sitting side by side in silence. So, of course, I have the deep need to make it even worse. “Alone at last, huh?” I fake chuckle.
Antonio looks at me like I’ve officially lost the plot, then points upstairs. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Be gone by the time I’m out.” And with that, he starts taking the stairs two at a time.
Well, alrighty, then. Don’t have to tell me twice. I ignore the massive luggage Bergdorf Goodman packed for me and go straight to my trusty carry-on. After checking that Antonio can’t see me from upstairs, I throw on my red bikini and a white cover-up and slide my feet into my flip-flops. I grab my toiletry bag and look at my reflection in my compact mirror as I apply some light makeup and throw my hair up in a ponytail. After a quick swipe of tinted lip balm, I grab my tote bag and drop in a few essentials, including sunscreen. I have no intention of returning to this room until bedtime, so I’m bringing all I need with me.
I consider it a success when I’m out the door before he’s out of the shower. Taking a deep breath, I tell myself for the millionth time today, that this is the beginning of a great vacation. At this point, I have clearly crossed over into delusional territory, but Iamthe queen offake it till you make it.
I only manage a few steps out our front door when a golf cart pulls up in front of me. “G’day, ma’am, I’m Chris. I’m here to provide you a ride to anywhere you need to go.” The young man smiles. He doesn’t seem a day over twenty.
“Oh, I’m okay. Just walking to the pool over there. I’m a New Yorker. We know how to use our legs and walk everywhere.”
Chris chuckles. “Oh, I’d love to go to New York sometime. How about you hop on board and tell me all about it?”
That line might have creeped me out had some other guy said it, but coming from Chris, it sounded so earnest, so I oblige. “Sure. But first you have to tell me why I have yet to run into a single Dominican staff member,” I say as I hop onto the golf cart next to him instead of the bench behind him. He goes to protest, but I wave him off as I start to recall.
“First, it was the pilot. He had a British accent. Frobish clearly has a Russian accent. And now, and please forgive me if I’m wrong, but is that an Australian accent I’m picking up from you?”
Chris laughs. “That would be correct. Born and raised in Sydney. And as for the others? I assume they saw the same job postings as me. This place put out ads that offered to pay relocation and visa costs, along with documentation prep and good pay to come work here. At first, I honestly thought it was a joke. But turns out, Mr. Barlowe wanted to make this place feel like its own little world rather than just a small island in the Caribbean, so he threw money at all of us to help make that vision come to fruition.”
“Wow, that sounds… a little weird. I’m not gonna lie. But this place is beautiful, so I won’t complain,” I say as I take in the breathtaking surroundings.
Crystal clear water and white sand surround us as we drive on a skinny bridge toward the impressive cabana that houses the hotel lobby. Perfectly lined palm trees surround the entire property, along with the most beautiful bayahibe roses in every meticulously landscaped bush.
Chris lowers his voice as he continues. “Want to know the weirdest part?” Obviously, kid. “None of us know what Mr. Barlowe looks like. At first, some of us thought he wanted to stay anonymous so he could come to the resort and check up on us when we least expected it, but from what I hear, he hasn’t stepped foot on this resort since it was built. Rich people are mad, aren’t they?” He quickly turns a deep shade of red. “My apologies, ma’am. I meant—”
“That does sound batshit crazy to me.” I laugh, and the relief on his face is palpable. “Besides, I’m not rich, so no offense taken. My friend sent me here as a gift.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Well, then, I guess I need to find me some better mates!” We both laugh as we pull up to the walkway that’ll lead me to the resort pool.
“Thank you so much for the ride, Chris. See you around!”
He tips his Barlowe Resort & Spa cap at me and smiles before he drives off.
I make the quick walk toward the pool and stop once it all comes into view. To my left is a stunning restaurant, decorated in whites and blues with wood accents. Dainty chandeliers adorn the ceilings along with tasteful string lights. It makes me feel like my TJ Maxx cover-up doesn’t quite make the dress code, so I continue to my right, where the enormous pool is surrounded by ivory and tan loungers. With a handful of over-the-pool cabanas.
Geez. Is this place against placing anything on solid ground?
My eyes land on the view beyond the pool which leads to the clear blue ocean water that I will definitely be taking advantage of later.
I realize that I’m grinning like a fool, and I already feel out of place as it is, so I quickly pick the lounge chair closest to me and settle in. The pool is mostly empty aside from a cute family of three that’s hanging out in one of the cabanas. A little girl, who must be no older than five, spots me from the cabana and offers me an exaggerated smile and wave. Her brown hair slips out of her pigtails in the process. I can’t help but laugh at her infectious enthusiasm and offer her my own goofy smile and wave.
Our interactions are interrupted when a server comes my way. “Hello, Ms. Nikki. My name is Kelsey. Could I interest you in anything to drink or eat?”American? No, Canadian accent.
“Oh, um, sure. Can I see a menu?” I look around me to see if I missed it.
She smiles sweetly at me. “We don’t use menus by the pool. Just tell me what you’d like, and the staff will make it for you.”
I sit up straight on the lounger. “Hold on. Anything?” I snap my fingers. “Just like that?” I ask, gobsmacked.
Kelsey giggles again. “Yes.” She snaps her fingers like I just demonstrated. “Just like that. Chris was right. You are funny.”
“Huh, how did you know… never mind.” News here must travel quicker than a small town. Noted.
“Just tell me what you typically like to drink and eat, then we’ll do all the magic. Trust me.”
After I rattle off the most random list of my likes and dislikes, Kelsey takes off toward the restaurant.
I stand to take my cover-up off, and once I’m left in my red bikini, I feel eyes on me. I turn back toward the restaurant just as I connect my gaze with a man who exudes power. Tall, dark, and dangerous. Black hair with a bit of graying by the temples, along with more pronounced crinkles by his eyes as he keeps me pinned in place. His stride doesn’t break as he stays locked on me on his way to the restaurant bar.
