𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

ένα ; 1

song of the chapter:
CHANGES ; a$ap rocky

Margarita woke early, as usual, the sun barely peeking over the horizon, casting a soft orange glow across the sprawling property. The ocean breeze gently rustled the curtains in her room, but instead of its usual calming effect, it felt stifling. Something was different today. There was a strange tension in the air, something she couldn't quite place.

She pulled herself out of bed, her feet sinking into the plush carpet beneath her. Another day in the Outerbanks, another day of pretending this was the life she wanted. From her window, she could see the distant outline of the hotel her family had built—the place that had become both a point of pride and a weight pressing down on her chest.

The wind carried a faint smell of salt, mingling with the sun's warmth as Margarita sat on the edge of the dock, her feet dangling above the water. She loved mornings like this—quiet, before the world fully woke up, when she could almost convince herself that she was back in Greece, where the mornings smelled like thyme and earth, not sea and sand.

But even here, in the stillness, something tugged at her. It was subtle, like a whisper in the wind she couldn't quite understand, but it was there."Lost in thought again?"

The voice startled her, pulling her from her reverie. Margarita looked up to see Sarah Cameron standing beside her, brown hair tousled by the breeze. She grinned at Margarita, though there was something unspoken in her eyes.

"Always," Margarita replied with a small smile. "You know me."Sarah sat down next to her, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Yeah, I do. Which is why I know when something's up."

Margarita felt her pulse quicken. Sarah had a way of reading her too easily, of knowing when she was trying to bury something deep inside.

"I'm fine," Margarita said, though she knew Sarah wouldn't buy it.Sarah sighed and bumped her shoulder gently against Margarita's. "You're a terrible liar."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the water shimmer under the early morning sun. It was always like this with Sarah—no need for words when there was so much unsaid. But today, it felt heavier.

"I miss home," Margarita admitted finally, her voice quiet. "I miss everything about it."Sarah nodded, her expression softening. "I know you do. But... the Outerbanks is home now. It might not feel like it yet, but it will. You've got us. You've got me. Kiara. We're in this together, no matter what."

Margarita smiled, grateful for Sarah's loyalty. But even with Sarah's friendship, something still didn't feel right. The new life her family had built here was a world away from the simplicity of Greece. Here, everything was bigger, louder, and more complicated—and increasingly, she felt like she was just going through the motions.

"I'm supposed to be helping my parents tonight," Margarita said, staring out at the ocean. "They're hosting some investors at the hotel. Big meeting. I guess it's important."Sarah's expression shifted ever so slightly, but enough for Margarita to notice."What?" Margarita asked.

Sarah hesitated, then shook her head. "It's nothing. Just... my dad's been talking about that meeting too. He said something about new investors trying to buy up a lot of property around here. It seems like a big deal."

Margarita frowned. She hadn't heard much about it, but then again, her parents kept her out of most of the business discussions. She was just expected to show up, smile, and be part of the family image.

"I didn't know it was that big," Margarita muttered. "But it feels like they're always meeting with someone these days. It's different now. We're different."

Sarah looked at her, concern flickering across her face. "Do you think something's wrong? I mean... like with your family?"

Margarita shook her head, though she wasn't entirely sure. "No, not wrong. Just... I don't know. Ever since we moved here, it feels like my parents are chasing something I don't understand. I used to think the money was supposed to make everything easier, but now it's like there's always more at stake. I just don't get it."

"Maybe they don't either," Sarah said softly. "Sometimes I think my dad's the same way—always pushing for more, but I don't know what he's really trying to get. It's like... the more you have, the more you're afraid to lose."

Margarita considered this, her mind drifting back to her old life in Greece. Things had been so simple there. It hadn't mattered that they didn't have much; they had each other, and that had been enough. Now, with all the wealth and success, it seemed like nothing was ever enough.Before Margarita could respond, they heard a voice behind them.

"You guys planning to sit here all day, or what?"Margarita and Sarah both turned to see Kiara Carrera strolling toward them, hands shoved into her jean pockets. She gave them a quick smile before dropping onto the dock beside them."Morning," Kiara said, stretching out her legs. "What's the big topic of the day?"

"Just talking about tonight's meeting at the hotel," Sarah replied, giving Margarita a look. "You heard about it?"

Kiara's brow furrowed. "Yeah, a little. My dad mentioned something about the investors coming in. Some of the locals are worried. There's been a lot of talk about people buying up land, and pushing out smaller businesses. It's making people nervous."

Margarita felt a pit form in her stomach. She had no idea it was affecting the locals like that. She had always thought the hotel was just part of her family's success, something positive. But if people were being pushed out because of it...

"I didn't know," Margarita said softly, guilt creeping into her voice.

Kiara gave her a sympathetic look. "It's not your fault. This is bigger than you. But maybe we should start paying attention, you know? The Outerbanks is changing. We need to know who's pulling the strings."

Margarita nodded, her thoughts swirling. She felt torn—between her loyalty to her family and her sense of right and wrong, between the life she was trying to build here and the pieces of herself she feared were slipping away.

"Maybe we should find out more," she said quietly. "About what's going on with these investors."

Sarah and Kiara exchanged a look, and then Sarah nodded. "Yeah. I think it's time we did some digging."