Page 12 of Vacation with the Ice Queen

Lila had learned that controlling executives often relaxed more when given choices rather than prescriptions. The appearance of autonomy mattered, even in something as simple as meal selection.

Outside on the terrace, she positioned comfortable loungers to capture both sun and shade, angling them for optimal viewing of both sunrise and sunset. A small table held a carafe offiltered water infused with subtle hints of cucumber and mint, refreshing without being intrusive.

"Water, not coconut juice?" Nanise questioned, adjusting the position of the carafe slightly.

"From her file, I suspect she prefers clarity to sweetness." Lila smiled. "In beverages and in conversation."

Lila stepped back, mentally reviewing her preparations through Serena's eyes. Would the CEO see these touches as thoughtful consideration or presumptuous familiarity? The line between personalization and invasion sometimes blurred with particularly private individuals.

"I think we should move these," she decided, repositioning several decorative pillows to create a cleaner line. "Less is more for someone who values precision."

Nanise nodded in approval. "You have good instincts for matching spaces to people."

"It's about creating an environment where they can hear themselves think," Lila explained, making a final adjustment to the orchid's position. "Especially for someone whose mind rarely gets quiet."

Her final touch was perhaps the most important: a small wooden box placed discreetly on the desk in the villa's study area. Inside lay a resort-provided smartphone with limited functionality. No email, no news apps, no social media, only a direct line to the wellness center, dining services, and a carefully curated selection of meditation and sleep assistance tools.

A note beside it acknowledged the reality most staff members recognized but never mentioned aloud: "We understand you may have brought your own devices despite our technology-free policy. This phone provides essential resort services when you're ready to disconnect from external demands. No judgment, just an option."

The honesty would likely be appreciated more than the pretense that high-powered executives actually surrendered all their technology upon arrival.

With the preparations complete, Lila stood on the terrace, taking a moment to absorb the view that would greet Serena. The turquoise waters stretched to the horizon, small waves crashing on the shore. Frigatebirds soared on thermal currents high above, their distinctive red throat pouch visible even from a distance. The air carried the complex perfume of the island: salt spray, flowering jasmine, and the subtle earthiness of the jungle beyond.

"It feels right," Nanise said, joining her at the railing. "Balanced."

"I hope she thinks so too." Lila smiled, though uncertainty flickered beneath her confident exterior. Creating the environment was the easy part; guiding Serena to actually inhabit it—not just physically but mentally and emotionally—would be the true challenge.

Her thoughts drifted to that broken shell in her pocket, how the fracture had created an opening for light. Some people arrived at Solara Island already cracked open by life's pressures, ready to receive healing. Others, like Serena, came with their protective barriers intact, polished to a perfect, impenetrable gleam. Her challenge was in helping them discover that controlled vulnerability could become a source of strength rather than weakness.

"Will you be meeting her at the helipad?" Nanise asked, breaking the momentary silence.

"Yes. In about an hour." Lila glanced at her watch, calculating the time needed to finish her preparations. "I want to review her file once more before she arrives."

"Good luck," Nanise offered, her expression warm with understanding. "Remember what Elara always says about the most difficult guests."

"That they're usually just frightened beneath their demands," Lila finished with a smile. "I know."

As they descended the stone steps to return to the main resort, Lila found herself already anticipating the initial meeting. First impressions mattered tremendously with skeptical clients. The helicopter would arrive in just over an hour, bringing with it a woman who had likely already formulated a dozen reasons why this retreat was a waste of her valuable time.

Reaching the garden path, she paused to pluck a single perfect hibiscus blossom, its vibrant red petals unfurled in the afternoon sun. She tucked it behind her ear—a small gesture of island tradition and a personal reminder that beauty emerged most powerfully when fully expressed. Perhaps that would be her greatest lesson for Serena Frost: that authentic vulnerability contained more strength than any armor ever could.

With this thought, Lila continued toward the wellness center. Her job would be to meet Serena's resistance not with force but with steady, patient awareness. Like water shaping stone—not through confrontation but through persistent, gentle presence over time.

"Good luck," Nanise called as they parted ways. "And remember, even the most guarded souls have depths waiting to be discovered."

Lila waved in acknowledgment, appreciating the reminder that applied to all guests, regardless of reputation or resistance. Fear manifested in countless ways—as rigidity, as control, as dismissal. Recognizing the emotion beneath the behavior was key to creating genuine connection.

With one final glance back at the villa, now prepared to receive its reluctant occupant, Lila continued toward the helipad. Whatever version of Serena arrived on that helicopter—the formidable CEO, the wounded divorcée, or something in between—she would find a space designed to support rather than confront her boundaries.

The real work would begin once those carefully constructed walls had room to breathe, to expand, and perhaps, eventually, to open just enough to let healing light pass through.

The helipad occupied the highest point of Solara Island, a circular concrete platform jutting from a cliffside that provided unobstructed approaches from all directions. While practical in design, the location offered visitors their first breathtaking view of the resort: the emerald jungle to pristine beaches, the crystalline waters displaying their full spectrum of blues against the protective reef.

Lila arrived fifteen minutes early, preferring unhurried preparation to rushed introductions. The afternoon sun beat down with tropical intensity, and she was grateful for the small shelter that provided shade for waiting staff. A light breeze stirred the air, carrying the mingled scents of salt and flowering moko-moko from the gardens below.

Marcus appeared beside her, two chilled bottles of water in hand. "Thought you might need hydration before facing the formidable Ms. Frost."

"You're incorrigible," Lila said, accepting the water with a grateful smile. "And shouldn't you be leading the couples' meditation right now?"

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