“This is amazing,” she said, between bites.
“Yes. They aren’t much to look at, but the food is fantastic. I come here every time I visit.”
“You come here quite often?”
“I’ve been here a few times. The brothers that I meet here are some of the best architects in modern history. You wouldn’t know it to see their beach house from the outside. It looks pretty generic, but inside they’ve converted the unimaginative palette created by the original builder into a technological wonder.”
“It sounds interesting.”
“Yes, but that is what they do. For what they lack in aesthetic creativity, they make up for it in technological advances. I’m negotiating with them to design a new convention center with new virtual reality technology. They can actually put you into the film you are watching to walk around and see the action from all angles.”
“That’s amazing. I didn’t know that such movies exist.”
“They don’t, not right now. I’m working with some other investors who are heavily capitalized in VR to make that happen very soon. By the time movies like that start hitting the market, we’ll be ahead of the game.”
“Sounds like you have your finger on the pulse of tomorrow then,” she replied.
“I try to and that’s why I need to make sure my clan isn’t in the wrong hands. I can’t take the company to the next level if I’m saddled with someone who lacks my vision, my drive. Kevin will hold the company back, and as a result, hold the clan back.”
“You said something else too. You said you thought there was something sinister about him.”
“Yes. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s there. I’ll figure him out. You can bet on that, but anyway, enough work talk. You’re not here to discuss all that.”
“What would you prefer to discuss?”
“How about we don’t discuss anything. We’re on an exotic island with nothing but beauty around us. Why don’t I get us a bottle of wine and some glasses from the bar and we’ll take a stroll back down the beach to the tiki bar. We can hang out there and worry about absolutely nothing for a while.”
“Yeah? That would be great,” she replied.
Aileen watched as he walked away, his broad shoulders and muscular legs drawing the attention of other women nearby. She was, once again, surprised by a slight hint of jealously, but quickly shut it down. He’d already made it clear that their night together had been a mistake, not to be repeated. There was nothing to be gained with thinking anything more of it.
He returned only a few minutes later, a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other. Aileen looked at him suspiciously.
“They gave you glass?”
“What?” he asked, a puzzled look on his face.
“A glass bottle and real glasses. They don’t usually allow those on beaches.”
“Maybe I didn’t tell them I was taking them to the beach.”
“Bad boy!” she teased.
“Yes, that is what I am. Come on, let’s slip off before they catch on to us,” he said, extending his elbow outward.
Aileen linked her arm through his and they began walking down the bamboo platform filled with other vacation goers chatting away, laughing and drinking. Under different circumstances, it would have been romantic to be here in such stunning surroundings where everyone seemed to be having a great time.
Still, it wasn’t awkward. There was an odd comfort between them, at least she felt like there was. What he was thinking was uncertain. Perhaps it was just him having some down time and she was handy. There was nothing wrong with a late night stroll on the beach.
“So, how’s married life treating you so far?” he teased.
“It’s not too bad,” she said with a playful smile. “A girl could do much worse.”
“Glad to hear it. I have to say that you are the best wife I’ve ever had.”
“I’ll take that for what it is worth.”
He laughed as they continued down the beach. The breeze blew in over the water, bringing that wonderful sea salt and ocean scent that made night walks so incredible. There was a part of her that wondered how nice it would be to be walking like this with someone who actually was her husband or at least, lover. It was rare that such things appealed to her, but surely everyone reconsidered their decisions from time to time.
Ultimately, marriage and children just wasn’t for her and that wouldn’t change. She wanted more than just being a mother of dragons and wife to a man who would excerpt his dominance over her. All her life, she had gone along to get along and not pursued her own dreams. She couldn’t let herself get caught up in romanticizing how the other half lives. This was all just temporary and then she would move on to become the person she had always longed to be.