I led them to the restaurant adjacent to the guest building, where I noticed some people enjoying the fresh sea breeze on the sand.
“This place is beautiful, Miss,” Anya observed, looking around. “It’s crowded but peaceful.”
I nodded in agreement. We entered a brightly lit restaurant that momentarily dazzled me. When I opened my eyes, I saw a few diners inside. The waiter guided us to a spacious table overlooking the resort’s scenic view. I smiled.
I chose a seat facing the glass wall so I could admire the view outside. The waiter handed us menus, which I gladly accepted. I placed my order and let the two of them decide what they wanted.
It wasn’t extravagant, but it was enough for me to feel that the place was perfect for a vacation.
“Miss,” Anya called out.
I looked at her. She seemed uneasy, discomfort evident on her face. “Yes?”
“Can I use the restroom? I’ve needed to go for a while.”
I smiled at her. “Of course. Just ask the waiter where it is.”
“Thank you, Miss.” With that, she hurried off, disappearing in an instant.
I turned to Robert, who appeared lost in thought. I smirked. “Do you like this place?”
He straightened up and nodded. “It’s a beautiful place, Ma’am.” Then he took a deep breath. “It just reminded me of my daughter. The last time I saw her, she was smiling and happy by the sea before she drowned.”
I coughed slightly. Robert quickly handed me a glass of water that was on the table. I took several sips and placed the glass back down.
“Your daughter… drowned?” I asked cautiously, hesitant to bring up such a painful topic.
I hadn’t known he had a daughter. With his appearance and demeanor, I hadn’t imagined him as a father. In fact, Robert looked quite good in that polo shirt that gave him a youthful appearance.
Robert offered a sheepish smile. “I was married, Ma’am. But we separated after our only child passed away.”
I stared at him. “That must have been incredibly difficult for you.”
“Something like that, Ma’am.”
“It must be hard for you to be here with me and Anya.”
Robert fell silent for a few moments, then smiled shyly. He didn’t say anything, but I sensed I had touched a nerve. It must have been tough for him to sit there, where just a few meters away, the sea stretched wide and glistened under the sun-the place where his daughter had lost her life.
But I couldn’t just get up and leave the resort. After all, this was my plan. I sighed. “Don’t worry. After we finish lunch, I won’t keep you any longer so you can leave this place.”
Robert nodded. A few minutes passed, and our food arrived at the table. Still, Anya hadn’t returned. I wondered briefly if she had gotten lost, but the resort staff were everywhere, so she could easily ask one of them for directions. I decided not to go looking for her and focused on eating my lunch.
I also wanted to finish quickly so Robert could leave the resort. I couldn’t bear to keep him in a place where painful memories lingered. I understood how difficult it must be for him, so I did my best to hasten our meal.
After a few minutes of quiet between us, both Robert and I finished eating. Anya still hadn’t come back, so I called the waiter and asked him to find her. The waiter politely declined and instead informed the security inside the restaurant. I didn’t mind the refusal; I knew it wasn’t the waiter’s responsibility to search for someone, and there were other guests to attend to.
“Thank you for the meal, Ma’am.”
I looked at Robert. He was smiling at me, so I returned the smile. “Let’s go. I’ll walk you out.”
I instructed the waiter to keep an eye on our table and not clear anything except for the two used plates and utensils. I intended to return to the table later. My plan was just to escort Robert outside the resort.
“If I need your services in the future, I’ll call you, okay?” I said, grinning broadly.
Robert nodded and waved goodbye. “Take care, Ma’am.”
I nodded and watched his taxi leave the area. I sighed deeply. I needed to return to the restaurant; perhaps Anya was waiting there for me.
I went back inside. The staff greeted me, which I found odd, but it was probably standard hospitality for the resort’s guests, so I didn’t think much of it. I passed the reception and headed back to the restaurant.
Suddenly, I heard someone shouting, “You pervert! You were peeping at me!”
I furrowed my brow upon hearing Anya’s voice. Who was she shouting at?
“What? I wasn’t peeping at you! You’re the one who barged into my cottage without permission!” a man’s voice responded.
Curious, I quickened my pace towards the restaurant’s entrance. Stepping inside, I found a commotion: two resort staff members stood behind Anya and a man.
The man was taller than Anya and exuded a domineering aura. Yet, I could see he was holding back, restraining himself from losing control. I approached them cautiously.
“You don’t owe her any money. She doesn’t need your money, boy,” I interjected.
Both turned to look at me simultaneously. The man’s face still bore an angry expression, while Anya’s face lit up with relief upon seeing me.
“Miss!” she exclaimed happily, rushing over to stand behind me. “That man was peeping at me! Such a pervert!”
The man furrowed his brow. “You’re the one who entered my cottage. If I did see you, it’s not my fault.”
“You!” Anya retorted, visibly upset.