Page 7

FIVE

CHRISSY

C hrissy stretched languidly across the king-sized bed in her private villa that morning.

Her body sank into Egyptian cotton sheets so soft they felt like sleeping on a cloud.

The sunlight streamed through the open balcony doors, painting golden patterns across the polished hardwood floor.

The gentle Caribbean breeze carried the scent of salt water and tropical flowers into the Orchid villa.

"Two days of absolute freedom," she whispered to herself, wiggling her unpainted toes. No Leslie hovering with a designer outfit. No Marty barking orders through her earpiece. No cameras documenting her every move.

She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above her. The strange disappointment at Gerri's abrupt departure still lingered. The matchmaker had vanished while Chrissy was settling into the Orchid villa, leaving a constellation of unanswered questions in her wake.

"How are you exactly keeping Marty away? Is my dad safe? Am I stuck here forever?" Chrissy murmured the questions to the empty room. "A goodbye would've been nice."

She pushed herself up and padded to the balcony, letting the warm tropical air envelop her body clad only in silk shorts and a thin camisole. The sea stretched to the horizon, impossibly blue and inviting.

"I could get used to this," she admitted, feeling a twinge of guilt. Her album had just dropped. Her fans were probably wondering where she'd disappeared to. But right now, in this moment, she realized her shoulders weren't bunched up around her ears and she could actually breathe again.

The villa's landline rang, startling her from her reverie.

"Hello?" she answered cautiously.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Olivia's cheerful voice came through. "Ready for our spa date today? I'll be at your door in fifteen minutes."

"Perfect timing. I'll be ready."

Chrissy moved to the closet filled with clothes Olivia had provided—casual, comfortable pieces that made her feel like herself again. She selected a simple yellow sundress, the fabric light and airy against her skin.

As she dressed, her thoughts drifted to Zev. Those intense blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. The way his jaw had tightened when their hands brushed. The subtle woodsy scent of him that had haunted her dreams for two nights straight.

Unlike the entertainment industry men who saw her as a product to be packaged and sold, Zev gazed at her like she was a rare discovery. Like meeting her had shifted something monumental in his world.

"Get it together, Chrissy," she scolded her reflection as she ran a brush through her long brown hair. "Just because he isn't immediately trying to profit off you doesn't mean he doesn't want something."

But what exactly did he want? She'd barely seen him since that first day. Only glimpsed him from afar, his powerful frame commanding attention as he strode across the resort grounds. Each time, he'd caught her watching and held her gaze with an intensity that had heat blooming in her chest.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She opened it to find Olivia waiting, radiant in a flowing teal sundress that complemented her tanned skin.

"You look like a different person already," Olivia noted with approval, stepping inside. "Two days of actual sleep works wonders, doesn't it?"

"You have no idea." Chrissy gathered her hair into a loose ponytail. "I forgot what it feels like to wake up naturally, without someone yanking back my curtains and shoving a protein shake in my hand."

Olivia laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "Well, today is all about pampering. The spa grotto is my favorite place on the island—after the private coves, of course."

"I haven't explored much yet," Chrissy admitted. "This villa has been my sanctuary since I arrived."

"Hiding from Zev?" Olivia's green eyes sparkled with mischief.

Heat rushed to Chrissy's cheeks. "Not hiding exactly. Just... processing things."

"He has that effect on people. All that alpha energy packed into those muscles." Olivia wiggled her eyebrows. "I've never seen him so thrown off balance by someone before."

"Me? I threw him off balance?" The thought was unexpectedly thrilling.

"Honey, you practically knocked him sideways the moment you stepped off that helicopter." Olivia linked her arm through Chrissy's. "Come on, spa first, then we can dissect the way Zev looks at you like you're the answer to a question he didn't know he was asking."

Chrissy felt her cheeks flush again as they strolled along a winding stone path bordered by vibrant tropical flowers.

The warmth of Olivia's arm against hers felt grounding and real.

When was the last time she'd had genuine female friendship outside of work and without an agenda?

Someone who wasn't afraid to tease her or tell her the truth?

She had Maggie back home, but even that friendship had its limits and restrictions due to Leslie's watchful eye.

"Does he really look at me like that?" Chrissy asked, her loose ponytail swaying with each step.

"Honey, I've known Zev for years, and I've never seen him like this. He watches you when you're not looking—like you're this fascinating puzzle he's desperate to solve."

The spa grotto emerged before them—a natural cave formation with crystal-clear pools steaming gently in the morning light. Bamboo privacy screens sectioned off different areas, and the scent of essential oils perfumed the air.

"This is incredible," Chrissy breathed, taking in the tranquil space. For twelve months, she'd been shuttled from one sterile hotel spa to another for "image maintenance," never allowed to simply enjoy the experience.

"Wait until you try the mineral soak," Olivia grinned, guiding her toward a changing area. "Here, I brought you this." She handed Chrissy a midnight blue bikini.

Chrissy held it up, hesitation flickering across her face. "It's... kind of revealing."

"Honey, you have the body for it—you might as well embrace it and show it off a little. Be proud of it." Olivia squeezed her shoulder gently. "For you, not for album covers or publicity shots."

Something shifted inside Chrissy at those words. Her body belonged to her, not Empire Records or Marty or the public. She changed quickly, emerging to find Olivia already waiting in an emerald bikini.

Within minutes, they were submerged in a private thermal pool, warm water bubbling around them as an attendant placed cucumber slices over their eyes and clay masks on their faces.

"This is heaven," Chrissy sighed, feeling muscles she hadn't even realized were tense begin to unwind.

The attendant's gentle touch on her shoulder suddenly triggered a flash of memory—Leslie's bony fingers digging into her arm, dragging her toward the scale in her bathroom.

"Five pounds? FIVE? Do you know what the internet is saying about your ass already? And you're eating carbs?"

Chrissy's body went rigid, her breathing shallow.

"Chrissy?" Olivia's voice sounded far away. "Are you okay?"

Chrissy tried to nod, but her body trembled. Another memory surfaced—Leslie slapping her hand away from a plate of food at a catered event, hissing that she was getting "too fat for her costumes."

"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears mixing with the cucumber juice on her cheeks.

Olivia removed her own cucumber slices and gently took Chrissy's away. "Don't apologize. Whatever you're feeling is valid."

"Leslie—my handler—she..." Chrissy's voice broke. "She would hit me if I gained weight. Called me disgusting. Said I was ruining everything Marty built."

Olivia's green eyes darkened, something wild flickering behind them. "That's abuse, Chrissy. Plain and simple."

"I know. I just...got used to it, I guess."

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Olivia's voice was gentle but firm. "But I want you to know something right now. You are worthy of love and respect, not the abuse you went through."

Chrissy nodded, tears still falling. There was something freeing about Olivia's approach—no pressure to share more, no forced conversation, just space to feel her emotions.

"Thank you," Chrissy whispered. "For letting me choose what to say. For not pushing me."

"On this island, your choices matter," Olivia said simply. "Especially to Zev."

Chrissy took a deep breath, pushing away the remnants of tears. The spa attendant had tactfully disappeared, giving her time to collect herself.

"Sorry about that," she murmured, dabbing at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Guess I'm carrying more baggage than I realized."

Olivia squeezed her shoulder gently. "Don't ever apologize for healing. That's what this place is for."

They moved from the thermal pool to the mud treatment area, where two attendants waited with clay masks and brushes. The grotto opened to the sky here, sunlight filtering through the natural skylight to illuminate the smooth stone chamber.

"This mud is sourced right from the volcanic deposits on the southern end of the island," Olivia explained as the attendants began applying the warm, mineral-rich clay to their skin. "Zev's grandmother discovered its healing properties decades ago. It's one of our most sought-after treatments."

Chrissy closed her eyes as the clay was brushed across her shoulders. "Speaking of Zev, I've barely seen anyone except you and the staff since I arrived. Is the resort usually this... empty?"

"Actually," Olivia said, looking slightly sheepish, "Zev cleared this entire section for you—the spa grotto, the beachfront near your villa, everything. There are no other guests anywhere near you. He wanted to ensure your privacy after everything you've been through."

Chrissy's eyes flew open. "The whole section? But that must be costing him a fortune in lost revenue."

Olivia shrugged. "Money isn't really an issue for Zev. Your comfort and safety were his primary concerns."