The overwater villa was a masterclass in luxury. The bungalow, perched on silts above the lagoon overlooking the ocean, had a sprawling of polished teak and floor-to-ceiling glass. The space had been meticulously designed for intimacy, but inside, the atmosphere was anything but romantic. It was tense with a silent rift between Victoria and Alex.
They had arrived barely hours ago and after a much needed sleep, Victoria stood in the kitchen working the blender as she made some green smoothies.
Alex stood motionless by the window overlooking the deck as the sun began to rise, bruising the horizon with shades of reddish orange. He wasn't looking at the beauty; his gaze was fixed on the dark, infinite expanse of the Indian Ocean, his mind a thousand miles away.
In the corner, the television hummed. An International News channel played on a loop. Alex didn't have to wait long for the hammer to drop.
