Luca leaned against the stone pillar that bordered the garden, arms folded, a subtle frown etched on his face. He wasn't trying to eavesdrop, not exactly but when it came to Alex, there was no such thing as "accidental overhearing." You either stayed alert, or you stayed clueless.
He'd watched Alex follow Karen after dinner. The CEO had been unusually tense all night, and Luca wasn't dumb. He knew what that meant.
"Messy," he muttered under his breath.
His attention was drawn away when Carla walked past, clutching a small plate of fruit. She paused when she saw him.
"You always standing in shadows like a vampire?" she asked, one brow raised.
He gave her a half-smile. "Only when I'm watching over the unbothered."
She tilted her head. "That's just your way of saying you're nosy."
"Observant," he corrected smoothly.
Carla laughed and walked closer. "You've got your eyes on Karen, haven't you?"
Luca's smile faded slightly. "She doesn't realize what she's in the middle of."
Carla nodded solemnly. "You think he's serious about her?"
"Serious?" Luca repeated, glancing toward the path Alex had disappeared down. "No but he's obsessed. And with Alex, obsession is more dangerous than love."
Carla's eyes widened slightly. "Karen can handle herself."
"I know she can," Luca said. "But he's not just her boss anymore. He's becoming her storm."
There was a beat of silence before Carla changed the subject. "Wanna walk with me to the firepit? They're lighting it for marshmallows and gossip."
"Gossip?" Luca asked. "Now that sounds serious."
As they made their way through the resort's garden paths, voices floated around them.
"Did you see how he gave her that bracelet?"
"He never talks to anyone at work, but he talks to her?"
"She's got to be sleeping with him...no way she got chosen for this retreat otherwise."
Luca clenched his jaw. Carla didn't miss it.
"Let them talk," she murmured.
But Luca's instincts were burning. If Alex hadn't pulled Karen aside tonight, Luca would have.
He'd seen the hungry looks, the whispered remarks. Someone was getting bold and it wasn't just the jealous staff.
When they reached the firepit, Carla settled onto one of the benches, kicking her shoes off. Luca remained standing, arms crossed.
"You're too tense," she teased. "Come sit."
He looked at her, really looked this time. Carla was warm in ways Karen wasn't. She didn't make his heartbeat spike or his brain go static. But she had presence. A quiet sort of strength.
"I think I just found someone more complicated than Alex," he said, sitting beside her.
Carla smirked. "Then you better not fall for me."
But neither of them laughed.
Across the fire, Dami and a few others threw suspicious glances at them. One of them whispered something and cackled. Carla noticed but didn't react. Luca did.
"You want me to shut that down?" he asked quietly.
Carla shook her head. "Let them talk. They'll move on once someone else becomes interesting."
Luca looked at her, something unreadable in his eyes. "They're not going to move on from Karen. Not until something breaks."
Back at the garden, Alex returned alone.
His eyes scanned the firepit. When they locked with Luca's, something passed between them..unspoken tension.
Later that night, as the staff returned to their rooms, Luca intercepted Alex outside the main lodge.
"You need to be careful," Luca said plainly.
Alex turned slowly. "About what?"
"About her," Luca replied. "You're slipping."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "I don't slip."
"You do when you care."
Alex didn't respond, instead, he stepped close enough that their shoulders nearly touched. "Keep an eye on her."
Luca frowned. "I already am."
And with that, Alex disappeared into the night once again.
Luca remained in place, the stars glittering above him, Carla's laughter echoing faintly in the background.
He knew storms were brewing.
And Karen? She was standing right at the center of it all.