' reactions]," Javi said over the phone. He was referring to the Christmas event at the mall-he

roup of men by the pool, all staring in the s

king toward the

h a figure that could stop time. Mesmerizing. Hypnotic. It

𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭?" he muttered to himself, frowning in curiosity. He

𝘬𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳,"

ere?" the voice on the other e

y before ending the call. He turned on his heel and walked s

focus on the stack of documents waiting for his signature. But af

ow playing with a group of k

re resort. The glass walls were tinted-no one could see i

he murmured, watching her play and laugh with the k

-

his assistant-was also no

oday. No string of orders, no grumbling, no requests. And now

smil

ight. When he saw who he was stari

𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘴'𝘴

made the man falter. Plenty had tried-none succeeded. Hones

is answe

like a schoolboy, Alex

𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰

nge ac

-

the kids. She climbed out of the pool just

no drinks?" she complained

e cash you gave me barely co

n't you cover the

broke

got side gigs fixing motorbikes

innocent. "Haven'

orted and rol

u?" Ronnie asked. "The water's too shall

hips, laughing. "Beac

me, Sis!" he protes

help it. You

assing swimming here

n't you just talk to one of th

e-woman man,"

what if a cele

y. I hate flirts. I won't ru

ey headed to the adult pool together. It was near

ing for?" Matet said, splas

old?" Ronni

wait. She y

uttering. "Se

to swim, d

ilding up

ch other. Ronnie dove und

d him off. "Don't do t

start

her tongue out and

-

n off to avoid another splash war. She paus

e you goi

a while. What if she's with anothe

lling o

idn't lo

pool. She lay back, floating,

-

ll the playing and decided to look for

, where

ult pool with yo

go fin

be ca

, she spotted her mother floating on her back, eyes closed,

denly stepped

one said. Two ot

ou want?" La

ty lady," one said, reaching out

she cried, swatt

arm. "Don't be scared. W

trembled. She glanced

hear her. Still d

hest. They really

she sc

ghed. "Aw, little

-

AM

eyes f

dropped. Her daughter was being

think. Di

the water, still

for her