Marteen van Rooyen spent his entire first morning doing what he did best: working in silence.
No greetings. No grand announcement. Just a clipboard in hand, a digital tablet in the other, and a long list of systems to review. He moved from department to department finance, operations, kitchen supply inventory, staff scheduling taking notes, cross-checking reports, running quiet audits.
He wasn't here for photos.He was here to understand the bones of the place he now owned.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the resort, the energy was buzzing.
Nick van Loon, bright-eyed despite the jet lag, had just pulled off his hoodie and slipped into a fresh navy shirt. His hair was effortlessly tousled, his smile sharp and charming. With sleeves casually rolled up, he looked more like a movie star on vacation than a corporate executive.
He stood at the front of the grand meeting hall its high ceilings and elegant chandeliers gleaming above dozens of tables set with warm pastries, fresh juice, and coffee brewed strong enough to revive the dead.
Nearly a hundred staff members had gathered, filling the space with quiet curiosity and chatter. Most of them had never heard the name Nick van Loon before. And now, he was their new boss.
The announcement came with breakfast. A long table of croissants, nasi goreng, and cut tropical fruits had already begun to distract some of the night-shift crew especially Leea and Nia, who had only slept for about two hours before being asked to attend the meeting.
Leea blinked, yawned, and leaned her head on Nia's shoulder. "I swear if this guy starts with a corporate speech, I'm walking into the ocean."
Nia stifled a laugh. "I just want iced coffee and to not fall asleep in front of HR."
They didn't even look up when Nick took the microphone.
But the rest of the room did.
Especially Dessy, who nearly choked on her pineapple skewer. "Who is that?!"
One of the spa therapists whispered, "Is he a model? He looks like someone from a perfume ad."
Nick stepped up, flashing a grin that melted half the room on contact. "Good morning, everyone. I won't keep you long I know the coffee is more important than I am."
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
"I'm Nick van Loon," he continued. "Starting today, I'll be stepping in as CEO of De Haven Bali. I know I've got big shoes to fill, and I won't pretend I understand everything yet but I promise I'll do the work, listen to your insights, and make sure this place keeps growing while keeping its heart."
There were nods. A few polite claps.
And one loud whisper from the male staff corner:
"Is he... gay?"
That came from Joe, one of the VIP room housekeeping staff, who had walked in a bit late and immediately leaned toward his friend in security.
"You didn't hear?" Joe murmured. "This morning when I went to clean his room, I saw him hugging that other tall guy. They were laughing like crazy and literally holding each other. Like, holding. Arms. Full-on."
The security guy raised an eyebrow. "They're friends, Joe."
"Too close," Joe insisted. "I'm just saying. I've seen that energy before."
Within minutes, the rumor had started to spread. Housekeeping talked to kitchen. Kitchen passed it to the bellboys. Bellboys told the spa staff. And by the time Nick finished his short, warm speech and stepped down to mingle... he was being admired and speculated upon in equal measure.
Leea, still groggy and unaware of the stir, finally looked up when Dessy nudged her hard.
"You weren't kidding. He's insanely good-looking."
Leea blinked, trying to focus. "Huh? Oh. Yeah. Okay."
Nia narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even see him until just now?"
Leea shrugged. "I was more interested in not faceplanting into my danish."
From the back of the room, Nick looked up sensing the eyes, the stares, the subtle buzz around him.
He smiled, cool and calm.
Let them talk.
The sun was already high by the time Leea unlocked the front door of her modest house. Her legs were tired, her brain even more so. After the staff gathering and almost zero sleep the night before, she was running on caffeine, fumes, and sheer social obligation.
But the moment she stepped into the house, something shifted.
The familiar smell of jasmine from the tiny garden out front. The creak of the old wooden floor. And then
"Mrrrrow."
A fatty black cat trotted out from the living room, tail high like a parade flag, eyes wide and glowing green.
Leea dropped her bag and crouched. "Hey, Dogg. Miss me?"
The cat stretched dramatically, then headbutted her knee like a gentle battering ram.
Leea smiled, scooping him up and pressing her face into his warm fur. "You have no idea what kind of morning I just had."
Dogg, in typical feline fashion, purred once then began licking her cheek.
She carried him into the living room and collapsed onto the couch, placing Dogg gently on her chest. He instantly curled up like he owned the place.
She chuckled to herself, then glanced at his little name tag a simple silver disc that read:DOGG.
"People always laugh when I tell them your name," she murmured. "'Why would you name a cat Dogg?'"
She smiled at the memory.
It had started as a joke. Years ago, a neighbor's dog had chased a kitten into her yard. The kitten refused to leave and in an act of sheer defiance, she named him after the enemy. Dogg stuck. It felt ironic, a little rebellious, and somehow perfect.
Leea ran her fingers through his soft fur. "At least you never judge me."
***
Meanwhile, at De Haven Bali
The suite was quiet, filled only with the soft hum of the air conditioner and the distant splash of water from the private pool outside.
Marteen sat on the sofa in a linen shirt, tablet propped on the low table in front of him. The video call had just connected, and his parents' familiar faces appeared on the screen Eduard, sharp as ever in his reading glasses, and Sofia, wrapped in a light floral shawl, seated on their sunlit terrace in Rotterdam.
"Well," Sofia began with a teasing smile, "you look like you've survived day one."
Marteen exhaled. "Barely."
Eduard leaned in. "What's the state of the books?"
"Clean," Marteen said. "Too clean. I think someone wanted to impress me before I even opened the ledgers."
Sofia sipped her tea. "And the staff?"
"Professional. A little sleepy. There was a company gathering this morning. Nick did most of the talking."
Eduard smiled. "He was always good at that."
Marteen hesitated. Then added, "I haven't introduced myself to most of them yet. Figured it's better to observe first."
"That's wise," said Sofia. "Let them get used to you. Then you lead."
They talked for a few more minutes about weather, flights, and schedules before the conversation began to wind down.
Right before they ended the call, Sofia tilted her head. "Have you met her yet?"
Marteen blinked. "Met who?"
Sofia grinned. "I don't know. Someone."
Marteen chuckled. "It's only been a day, Mam. I've barely met the lizards."
Eduard laughed from his seat. "Don't let them bite you. Especially the charming ones."
The call ended, leaving the suite in silence again.
***
Nights at De Haven Bali always felt like stepping into another world. Soft lighting bathed the marble floors, golden chandeliers glowed overhead, and gentle instrumental music blended with the quiet trickle of the lobby fountain.
But tonight, there was tension in the air.
An Indian guest was raising his voice at the front office, clearly frustrated. Something about a missing extra bed. The night receptionist was doing her best, but it wasn't working.
That's when Leea stepped in.
She had just finished logging a room service request when she noticed the commotion. Calmly removing her headset, she walked over.
"Good evening, sir. I'm Leea from night services. Can I assist you directly?"
The man a tired-looking gentleman with a thick mustache looked at her, frowning. "I requested an extra bed ten minutes ago. My mother can't sleep on a sofa!"
Leea nodded with understanding. "I see. Let me handle that right away." She pressed the intercom, rearranged the request, and called housekeeping herself, asking for the fastest possible response. "While we wait, may I offer your mother some warm ginger tea? On the house."
The man paused. Then, with a grunt, nodded. "That's... appreciated."
And just like that, the tension melted. The lobby softened again.
From the far side of the room, near the quiet lounge bar, Nick had seen the entire thing.
He'd only come down for a late-night snack, hoping to wander a bit before bed. But halfway across the lobby, his steps slowed.
She caught his attention instantly not because she was loud or dramatic, but because she wasn't. The way she handled the problem: calm, kind, efficient. No panic. No ego.
Just warmth.
Nick couldn't help but smile.
And then she turned around. And he saw her face.
Not flashy. Not polished. Just... real. And so damn radiant.
He walked toward her.
Leea had just started heading back to her desk when she sensed someone stopping nearby. She looked up and nearly lost her footing.
Tall. Blonde. Gorgeous.
Jacket slightly undone. Blue eyes that were sharp, yet soft. And the lobby's night breeze, flowing in gently behind him, made her hair lift just slightly, like the world was being overly cinematic on purpose.
"Nice work back there," he said.
She blinked. "Uh... sorry?"
Nick smiled. Then looked at her name tag.
Leea.
"Leea," he repeated. "I'm Nick."
Her mouth opened slightly. "Oh! Yes. You're uh, the CEO. I mean... good evening, sir."
Nick chuckled.
"I'm, uh... night shift. Call service operator," she added, trying to recover her voice.
"I figured." His smile didn't fade. "And honestly, I'm impressed."
Leea swallowed. "Thank you... I was just doing my job."
Nick paused, eyes lingering just a second longer than necessary. "Keep doing it."
Then, just like that, he stepped away, waving a casual goodbye before disappearing down the hallway.
The air felt... changed.
Leea stood frozen for a moment.
"Did I just talk to him?" she whispered to herself.
From behind the desk, Nia popped up, eyes sparkling. "Girl. You flirted with him. In uniform. At midnight."
"I did not".
Sure, Nick was handsome obnoxiously so. The kind of handsome that made women drop forks in slow motion. But Leea had trained herself well. She could appreciate a good jawline and move on with her night.
He was her boss. A CEO. Nothing more.
Still... that smile lingered in her head a bit longer than she liked.
In his suite, Nick lay sprawled on the edge of his king-sized bed, still shirtless, his laptop open beside him.
He should've been asleep. But sleep wasn't coming.
Instead, curiosity crept in.
He opened the internal HR portal something he usually ignored unless reviewing promotions or conducting interviews. His fingers hovered for a second before typing her name.
Leea Lestari.
There she was.
The file opened.
29 years old.Bachelor of Arts.Freelance illustrator for two years.Joined De Haven last year as Call Service Operator.Status: Active. Performance: Excellent.
Her ID photo appeared in the corner. Sweet smile. Neat blouse. Hair pulled back.
Nick tilted his head. "She's even prettier in real life."
He scrolled again, frowning. "Art school? Why is she in hospitality?"
The question hung in the air like the ocean breeze sneaking through the slightly open window.
He stared at the screen for a few seconds more. Then smirked.
Well.She did say she was working tonight.
And it was midnight.
A perfect time for... a totally unnecessary call.
Nick reached for the room phone, dialed the internal extension. The screen on Leea's side blinked to life.
At the call desk, Leea stretched her arms above her head, stifling a yawn. The night was quiet, the system was stable, and for once, no one was complaining about lizards or missing towels.
Then the line blinked.Suite 903.
She straightened in her chair and picked up the headset. "De Haven call service. Good evening. This is Leea speaking."
"Hey," said a familiar voice, smooth and far too casual for a midnight request. "Sorry. Did I wake you?"
She blinked. "No, sir. I'm on shift."
"Right," Nick said, acting as though he'd just remembered. "I, uh... was wondering. Do you happen to know what time the waves are highest at Echo Beach?"
Leea frowned slightly. "For surfing?"
"Yeah," he said. "Thinking of trying it tomorrow."
There was a pause.
"I believe that's more of a question for the activity desk," she replied gently. "Which opens at 7 a.m."
Nick laughed softly. "Fair. I guess I just figured you'd know everything by now."
"I try," she said, smiling despite herself. "But I'm more of a land person. No ocean adventures for me."
"Noted," Nick said, clearly not in a rush to hang up. "So what do you usually do at this hour?"
Leea paused. "Mostly wait for calls like this one."
He chuckled. "Well, I'm happy to break the silence."
And for a few seconds, there was silence again. Not awkward just that strange kind of quiet where neither person felt the need to fill it with noise.
Eventually, Leea added, "Is there anything else I can assist you with, Mr. Nick?"
He could hear the professionalism returning to her voice. The wall gently rising again.
Nick leaned back on the pillows. "Not at the moment. Just wanted to hear a helpful voice before I crash."
Leea's voice was calm. "You've got one. Sleep well, Mr. Nick."
He didn't respond right away.
Then softly, he said, "You too, Leea."
The line clicked.