The Unique Hawaiian Resort

Part 1:8

Eliza returned to her office for a period of quiet reflection. As she gently settled into her office chair, a smile flickered across her lips; she was musing over her latest employee's animated recounting of her budding romance with Darren.

"She seems so happy," Eliza thought, her smile broadening. "And that's not a bad thing, considering the hurt she's endured in past years." She sighed. 

"I hope you're going to treat Cece well, Mr. Rust. She won't be able to cope with any more heartache in her life," she murmured to herself as if addressing Darren directly. 

"But you both seem happy and in love, so may it long continue," she concluded her thoughts on that hopeful note. She then turned her thoughts to her little sister. Seeing Erin and Adam getting cozy at a corner table during lunch made Eliza happy. Her little sister hadn't felt the need for a relationship since the last so-called love of her life said he needed time. 

He left to 'find himself and travel the world,' but he didn't specify how long he would be gone, and Erin hadn't heard a thing from him since. Eliza shook her head in frustration at the audacity of the man. She never liked him, but she kept her feelings from Erin because Erin was in love with him—at least, she was at that time. Eliza suppressed her disdain for Erin's past love and focused on the potential of this new one. She truly hoped a strong bond was forming between them, as it would devastate her to see Erin's heart shattered as it had been before. 

Then there were Elena, Emilie, Desiree, and Delilah, alongside Chance and Austin. Eliza felt a strong bond of friendship among them, which she continued to encourage. As she observed, she noticed the other girls had joined tables together, creating one long table where people sat around laughing, joking, and talking, with Austin and Chance at the center of it all. The burning question in Eliza's mind was, 

"Will any of my girls at that table end up connecting with Chance and Austin?" Only time would tell as the time progressed. She felt a lot of love in the room at dinner time though & then her thoughts drifted to Luke 

"Oh Luke," she mused, "what is it about you that captivates me so?" Eliza had experienced her share of heartaches, with the latest just five months prior, and she hadn't expected to feel drawn to another man so quickly. However, as the band's manager made his entrance, she once again felt that unmistakable tug of connection.

"Curse you, Luke Pearce," she mused, "You've plunged me back into that treacherous descent of emotions. I implore you, promise me you won't cause too much pain. I truly couldn't bear it so soon again."

After pondering for a moment, she resolved to ask about Luke's personal life. By doing this, if he was involved with someone, his partner would realize the importance of not pursuing her feelings for him, thereby preventing potential heartache. 

The girls arrived from diverse backgrounds; some were satisfied, others not as much. Several had been abandoned, considered unworthy, while a few had escaped to her with no other refuge. She embraced them all, offering work, shelter, and a degree of stability they seemed to have never encountered before. Occasionally, she would reminisce about the instant each girl first entered her establishment.