At the mention of love, Ruan glanced at Jax and then quickly looked away. He didn't know why he had looked at him when he knew there was no way he could ever love anyone.
"The Spring of Life," Cal's voice brought him out of a thought he hoped he would never have throughout their stay on the island. "There's also the Lovers' Bridge where you can take a romantic stroll, and of course, our famous karaoke parties, where everyone lets loose and has the time of their lives."
Ruan groaned as if tired of hearing him talk about love, but the truth was that he just wanted to get rid of his useless thoughts about Jax. "Is there anything else?" he asked impatiently.
Cal nodded and continued. "But what really sets us apart is the sense of community here. Everyone is equal, and no one cares about your reputation or what you've done outside these shores. You're free to be yourself, without judgment or expectations."
Jax nodded thoughtfully, but Ruan said nothing and folded his arms, frowning because he felt like he was losing his mind.
"So, gentlemen," Cal turned to look at them with a smile on his face, "leave your worries behind and indulge in the Azure Island experience. Let us take care of you, and help you discover a new, happier you."
None of them spoke for the rest of the ride. Ruan shifted uncomfortably in his seat every few seconds. They eventually arrived at the reception building minutes later.
"Let's go," Ruan said and tried to climb out of the buggy, but Jax stopped him.
"I'll take care of the registration," he said. "It's part of my job."
Ruan's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, but he held back and sat down. Cal gave him a questioning look, but when Ruan glared at him, he quickly looked away.
They waited in silence for Jax, who returned minutes later with a warm smile. "Alright, we're all set. Villa 22 is ready for us."
Cal nodded and started the buggy, expertly navigating the paths as they made their way to the villa. Jax tried to engage Ruan in conversation, but Ruan ignored him, staring out at the ocean views instead.
When they finally arrived at the villa, Ruan's eyes widened in surprise. The villa was stunning, perched on a hill overlooking the ocean.
"You can head into the house," Jax said, handing him the key card. "Cal and I will bring the luggage over."
Ruan frowned and, without a word, snatched the card from his hand, grabbed one of the luggage bags, and walked off, leaving Jax and Cal to follow behind.
Inside, he was met with a lavish sitting room with plush furnishings, a beautiful rose artwork on the wall, and a stunning chandelier that refracted the sunlight streaming through the windows. A beautiful staircase curved upward leading to the rooms above. He quickly sat down and crossed his legs just as he heard them approaching.
"You'll find the villa fully stocked with food and amenities," Cal said. "If you don't feel like cooking, you can join the others for meals at the communal dining area or have food delivered to your doorstep."
Jax nodded thoughtfully and pulled out his phone to check for messages, but his face fell. "No service."
Cal sighed. "I forgot to mention—the island is cut off from the outside world. No networks, no internet. You can only make calls at the phone booth every Saturday."
That piqued Ruan's interest. He raised his head, a smile spreading across his face. Without the network, there was no way he could contact Lucas—and that made things easier for him.
"Thanks for letting us know, Cal," Jax said, tucking his phone back into his pocket.
"Anytime," Cal said. "If you need anything, just press the buttons on the wall. I'll be here to help. Enjoy your stay on Azure Island." He smiled and walked away.
As soon as Cal left, Ruan stood up, grabbed his luggage, and headed for the stairs. But before he could take a step, Jax stopped him by standing in front of him.
"Hey, why are you ignoring me?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Ruan chuckled and turned around. "You're the one to talk—acting like I'm a child and making it obvious what your job is. You make me seem like some delinquent sent here while you're my babysitter. And then you completely forgot what we said on the plane."
Jax sighed. "It's not…" He ran a hand through his curly hair. "I wasn't the one who started this. You ignored me because you suddenly got defensive when I asked a simple question."
"Go ahead and blame me now for not wanting to tell you about my personal life!"
"But I told you about mine."
Ruan gritted his teeth. "Whatever. Let's just keep it professional like you wanted. Manager and client, just like you said!"
"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"
Ruan stared at him for a few seconds without saying anything, then headed up the stairs, luggage in tow, and walked toward the first room.
Jax followed him, his voice rising. "You're just going to walk away without resolving this?"
He stopped in his tracks, his back still turned to Jax. "I'm tired of explaining everything to you! I'm not the one who forgot what we talked about on the plane."
"I'm…" Jax sighed. "I didn't forget. But you have to know it's still part of my job to take care of you!"
Ruan spun around, his eyes blazing with anger—he didn't expect that answer. "I already told you I don't need a babysitter!" he yelled, then turned and slammed the door behind him.
Once in the room, he walked straight to the king-sized bed and collapsed onto it, his eyes closing as he let out a deep breath. His body relaxed on the bed, but his mind was racing. He wondered why he suddenly felt so angry when he shouldn't. Everything had been going smoothly, and yet that conversation with Jax had left him frustrated and irritable.
As he lay there, he realized it wasn't just the conversation that had upset him. It was the feeling that no one truly listened to him. That no one understood what he was going through. He felt like he was just a client—even though that's all he was to Jax.
But he wanted more.
And he knew he was playing with fire. Still, he wanted to get burned.