Chapter 9

It was a perfect sunny day in Solara Bay. Standing by the window, Tyler didn't even notice the cigarette burning down to the filter between his fingers. The view outside the window was all turquoise sea and white sandy beaches. Wearing a bikini, Janice lay at the edge of the pool, the water tracing the curve of her slim waist. She glanced back at him with a playful smile. "Aren't you going to join me, Tyler?" He didn't budge, his eyes glued to his phone. Three days had passed, and Emma still hadn't replied to his message. A butler respectfully handed Tyler a glass of whiskey. "Your drink, Mr. Manning." Tyler accepted the glass and took a swig, feeling the burn in his throat. But it did nothing to ease the irritation gnawing at him. How could Emma ignore his message? When had she ever kept him waiting like this before? An emotion he couldn't quite put into words welled up inside him, leaving him more and more on edge. Janice wrapped her arms around Tyler from behind, her damp