Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
His eyes darkened with promise. “Definitely later. When we don’t have a tour to attend.”
He kissed me then—soft and unhurried, a preview of things to come—before his phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the moment.
Simon pulled back with a rueful sigh and checked the message. “Alexander. He wants us to meet him in the lobby for the tour. Chuck will be there too.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Wonderful.”
Simon chuckled, but there was an edge to it. Neither of us was looking forward to spending time with Chuck after everything that had happened at the gala, but Alexander had invited him and his family for the weekend, too. We’d have to play nice whether we liked it or not.
I ducked into the bathroom to freshen up—running a brush through my hair and reapplying my coral lipstick—then rejoined Simon. His hand found mine again as we headed back to the lobby.
Alexander was already waiting near the Neptune statue, impossible to miss with his silver hair and warm smile. Chuck stood nearby with his family, a wife whose attention was glued to her phone and two sons—not quite kids anymore but not yet teenagers—who were engaged in an increasingly aggressive game of tag that threatened to topple innocent bystanders.
“Simon, Raina!” Alexander’s face lit up when he spotted us. “It’s wonderful to see you again. I’m so glad you could join us.”
I stepped forward to embrace him, genuinely pleased by his warmth. “Thank you for inviting us. This place is incredible.”
Alexander beamed with obvious pride. “It’s a special place. My home away from home. My children practically grew up here. Running through these halls, swimming in those pools. Every corner holds a memory.”
“Children are wonderful, aren’t they?” Chuck cut in, gesturing meaningfully at his sons, who had progressed from shoving to full-on wrestling on the tile floor while their mother hissed at them to stop.
When Chuck turned to Simon with a smug smirk, I understood exactly what he was doing. Look at me, the wholesome family man. What do you have, Powers?
I smothered my irritation and pivoted smoothly. “Where’s Brenda this evening? I was hoping to see her.”
Alexander’s expression softened at the mention of his wife. “She’s with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren in the waterpark. In fact, why don’t we start our tour there?”
The next hour was a masterclass in what made Neptune’s Kingdom special. We began in the waterpark, where Alexander’s oldest daughter had brought her family for the weekend. His grandchildren—a boy around ten and a girl maybe seven—squealed with delight at the sight of him, launching themselves into his arms without any concern for their soaking-wet swimsuits. Alexander knelt down and gathered them close, his designer polo be damned, his face glowing with pure, undisguised joy.
He truly was the family man he claimed to be. No performance, no pretense, just a grandfather who adored his grandchildren and wasn’t afraid to show it.
From there, we toured the extensive arcade, the ball pit designed for younger kids, the rock-climbing wall that had a line of eager climbers waiting their turn. Every attraction was thoughtfully designed, clearly built with families in mind.
The adult-oriented amenities occupied the second floor—the spa, the fitness center, the upscale bar—and I noticed they were significantly less crowded than the family areas. I could practically see Simon cataloging the observation, filing it away as a potential opportunity for improvement.
Simon didn’t say much during the tour, his expression thoughtful and analytical, so I made a point of engaging with Alexander at every opportunity. Complimenting the design choices, asking about the history of various features, expressing genuine enthusiasm for what he’d built. It felt like we were operating as a team—Simon handling the business considerations while I forged the personal connection.
If Chuck hadn’t been such an insufferable ass, I might have felt sorry for him. His wife remained glued to her phone, contributing nothing to the conversation. His sons grew increasingly bored and restless, their rough housing requiring constant intervention. Chuck was trying to kiss up to Alexander while simultaneously parenting, and the strain was showing.
By the time we settled into the resort’s restaurant for dinner, exhaustion and frustration had carved deep lines around Chuck’s eyes. He shot narrow-eyed glares in my direction whenever Alexander’s attention was elsewhere, clearly blaming me for how poorly his family was comparing to our united front.
Simon noticed. I felt his energy shift as we took our seats at a large table by the windows, a subtle tension entering his frame, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. Before he could say anything, I reached for his hand where it rested on the table between us.
His attention snapped to me immediately, the rest of the room fading away like we were the only two people present. Despite the chaos of Alexander’s extended family filling the chairs around us, despite the noise and laughter and clatter of silverware, in that moment it was just us.