Chapter 1
Aiah raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sun, squinting at the imposing structure of the Paradise Hotel. Its towering exterior gleamed in the light, pristine and polished; a place far removed from the modest surroundings she was more accustomed to. For the next two weeks, this would be her home. Beside her, a weathered suitcase sat on the ground, its scuffed edges covered in a patchwork of stickers; each one a memento from jobs she had taken over the years, fan art designs from supporters who loved her work, and reminders of the paths her career had traveled.
With a deep breath, she lowered her hand and adjusted the strap of the large bag slung over her shoulder, which rested comfortably against her hip. Her fingers brushed the fabric of the worn bag as she walked towards the entrance, and the automatic doors swung open, not the standard sliding mechanism, but an elegant, fluid motion that caught her by surprise.
Fancy, she thought with a smirk. Rui always had a taste for the unconventional, the deliberate choices that set something apart from the ordinary.
Stepping inside, Aiah was immediately struck by the opulence that greeted her. The lobby stretched out like a scene from an old Hollywood movie; grand, refined, and meticulously designed. Every surface gleamed with wealth, from the polished marble floors to the soft golden glow emanating from crystal chandeliers. To her right, a line of guests waited to check in, while a flurry of activity buzzed through the space, voices blending into a symphony of movement.
It felt overwhelming. The grandeur of the Paradise was a far cry from the more understated, practical places she’d often stayed for work. It was meant to impress, no doubt, a venue worthy of the kind of high-profile event that Rui Beshan would orchestrate. Aiah’s gaze drifted to her left, where a group of photographers surrounded a man, their camera flashes a constant, rhythmic burst of light.
Oh great, celebrities, she thought, slightly rolling her eyes. It made sense, though. Rui wouldn’t choose anything less than a place that catered to the elite, particularly for something as important as the Artisan Gala.
According to the email she had received, the gala wasn’t just an art exhibition, it was a showcase of rising talents from across the globe. Each room was meticulously designed to reflect the personality of the artists it housed, an immersive experience for both the creators and the attendees. Aiah had been invited, though she didn’t feel like she fit the mold of the young, bright-eyed talent the event was targeting. Still, Rui had insisted.
Her mind wandered to him as she approached the check-in line.
He never did take “no” for an answer, she thought, a small smile pulling at her lips. Their friendship ran deep, beyond the professional ties they shared. He had been there through the hardest moments of her life, especially after June’s death.
Her smile faded at the memory of June. He had taken her place on that ill-fated trip, saying her work was too important to interrupt. The guilt had consumed her when she learned that the plane had never made it to its destination, lost to the sea. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she should have been on that flight, not him. In the wake of the tragedy, she’d walked away from the company, from everything they had built together.
Those were dark times. Aiah had isolated herself, barely functioning in the world, weighed down by grief and guilt. She sought refuge with June’s family, staying with them as they collectively tried to heal. It wasn’t until much later, when the formalities of mourning began to fade, that she found the strength to liquidate his assets, setting aside only a few precious keepsakes for his loved ones. Only then had she reached out to Rui, tentatively stepping back into a world she had once been so integral to.
Now, here she was, standing in the Paradise Hotel, about to face a future she wasn’t sure she was ready for. Pulling the embossed invitation to the Artisan Gala from her bag, she ran her fingers over the smooth surface. To anyone else, it was just an invitation. But to her, it was a reminder, a way to open doors she had closed herself off from. Doors she hadn’t been ready to face before, not even before June’s passing.
Her fingers tapped against the handle of her suitcase again, grounding her as she moved forward in line, her eyes darting once more to the cameras and flashing lights. Whoever was at the entrance, they were commanding attention, but Aiah couldn’t be bothered to investigate. She had her own reason for being here.
Rui had arranged to meet her at the hotel café after check-in. There was something important he wanted to talk about, something he hadn’t been willing to discuss over the phone. It made her nervous, but also curious. Knowing Rui, it could be anything. He’d been so understanding about her sudden departure from the company, never pressuring her, though she knew he had suffered just as much after losing June.
Aiah meticulously arranged her belongings, folding and refolding a sweater before placing it in the hotel dresser. Her hands moved with the mechanical precision of someone trying to distract herself from the flood of emotions coursing through her. Every movement was familiar, comforting even, but her mind was elsewhere, on Rui, on the weight of the past year, and on what this reunion might mean.
Once the final item was settled, she took a breath and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She had changed since the last time Rui had seen her, not just physically, but in ways she wasn’t sure he’d notice or understand. Could he see the cracks beneath her calm exterior? The guilt, the grief, the rebuilding?
Brushing the thought aside, she left her room and made her way downstairs. As she entered the lobby, the earlier commotion had died down. Photographers and guests had dissipated, leaving a quieter, more subdued atmosphere. The opulence of the place was still hard to ignore, but Aiah barely registered it now. Her focus was ahead, on the man she had come to see.
The café was bathed in the late afternoon light, casting a warm, almost nostalgic glow over the space. And there he was, Rui Beshan, sitting by the window. He was poised, the way he always was, looking out at the city with that familiar sharpness in his eyes. He hadn’t changed much, still impeccably dressed, still carrying that air of quiet authority; but there was a subtle weariness in his expression, as though the past year had left its own mark on him too.
Aiah hesitated at the entrance, her heart beating a little faster than she’d anticipated. She took a steadying breath and stepped forward. The sound of her shoes against the polished floor seemed to echo louder than it should.
When Rui’s gaze lifted to meet hers, time seemed to slow. His sharpness softened for a moment, the edges of his demeanor blurring as a flicker of something, relief maybe, crossed his face.
“Rui,” she said softly, feeling a lump in her throat.
“Aiah.” His voice was steady, but there was a warmth in it that hadn’t always been there. He stood up, crossing the distance between them. And then, in a gesture that caught her off guard, he pulled her into a gentle hug.
It wasn’t a long embrace, just enough to remind her that despite everything, they were still connected by more than just work or shared history. When he pulled back, he gestured to the seat across from him, his expression easing into something more familiar.
“I’m glad you came,” he said simply as they both sat down. “It’s been too long.”
Aiah managed a small smile, though her nerves hadn’t completely settled. “It has. I wasn’t sure... Well, I wasn’t sure if I would have come this far.”
Rui’s brow lifted slightly, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “It’s never simple, but it’s good to see you.”
They fell into a momentary silence, but it wasn’t awkward. The air between them was filled with the weight of the past, but also the unspoken understanding that neither of them needed to say everything. Rui didn’t push, and Aiah appreciated that. He didn’t probe her with a hundred questions about how she was, or ask for a detailed recount of the months she’d spent grieving and healing. Instead, he asked simply, with genuine concern.
“How are you holding up?” His voice was gentle, but there was a carefulness to it, as though he knew she might not want to dive too deep.
Aiah wrapped her hands around the coffee cup that had been placed before her. She exhaled slowly. “I’ve been... managing,” she admitted. “It’s been hard, but I’m trying to find a new normal. Something that feels stable.”
Rui nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “That’s all anyone can ask.”
He didn’t press for more, and she was grateful. Instead, after a beat of comfortable silence, he reached into the sleek bag beside him, pulling out a polished folder. Setting it on the table, he slid it toward her.
“I have something for you,” he said, his tone shifting to business but remaining gentle. “A commission. I need it done within seventy-two hours.”
Aiah’s brow furrowed as she stared at the folder. Three days? It seemed intense, especially after such a long hiatus. But when she looked up at Rui, she didn’t see doubt in his eyes. He wasn’t trying to overwhelm her; he was trying to challenge her, in the way that only someone who truly believed in her could.
She lifted the folder, her fingers running along the edges. “Seventy-two hours,” she repeated, a slight smile forming. “You always did like pushing me.”
Rui smiled, though there was something more than humor behind it. “I know you’ve been out of the game for a while. But I also know what you’re capable of. This isn’t just about the work, it’s about reminding yourself who you are.”
Aiah opened the folder and began flipping through the pages. The commission was detailed and demanding, far from a simple project. It required precision, creativity, and a level of dedication she hadn’t tapped into in a long time. Yet, as she studied it, something stirred within her; an old spark, something she thought she had lost. Rui was right. This wasn’t just a commission. It was a test, not of her abilities, but of whether she was ready to step back into the world she had distanced herself from.
“This is a lot,” she said finally, glancing up at him. “But I’ll get it done.”
Rui’s smile widened, a flicker of pride in his eyes. “I knew you would.”
As she closed the folder, Rui leaned back in his chair, his demeanor shifting slightly, less formal now. “You know, this gala isn’t just about young talent. There are people here from all over, some with decades of experience. This venue is expensive for a reason: we’re bringing in talent from everywhere, trying to find the hidden gems.”
Aiah nodded, her fingers still resting on the folder. “I guess I’m one of the ‘hidden gems’ now, huh?”
Rui chuckled softly. “You’ve always been a gem. Now it’s time for the rest of the world to see it again.”
For the first time in a long while, Aiah felt a glimmer of hope. Not everything had to be perfect right away, but this commission, this meeting, was a step forward, a step toward rediscovering herself.
They finished their meeting with a few more words, but the silence between them felt lighter now. There was no need for over-explaining or dredging up the past. In the space of that brief reunion, they had reconnected; not as colleagues or collaborators, but as two people who had shared a loss, and were now finding a way forward.
