C3: Fireplace Musings

A couple of hours later, just before they were due to land, Elias woke Zara as the jet flew over the northern parts of the country.

She stirred slowly, rubbing at her eyes, then looked up and found his face hovering in her view. For a moment she just stared. Sleep had made her softer somehow, and she took her time looking at him, at the strong line of his jaw, the steady grey of his eyes, the easy way he watched her without saying anything.

“What’s up?” she asked at last, her voice still thick with sleep.

“We are about to reach,” he said.

She sat up a little and turned toward the window.

The view outside was enough to steal her attention completely. White clouds sat low over the mountains like a soft blanket. Rivers curved through the land below, silver in the light, and waterfalls broke through the green in bright streams that caught the sun as they fell. The whole place looked untouched, vast, and almost unreal.

“This is beautiful,” she whispered as another waterfall came into view.

“Indeed, beautiful,” Elias murmured.

Zara glanced at him then, only to find him looking at her with a gentleness she had not expected.

She turned back to the window quickly, not realizing he had been speaking as much about her as about the view.

The jet moved lower, and the land opened up beneath them in layers of green and gold. From up here, everything looked calm. Peaceful. Far removed from boardrooms, deadlines, and the strange pull that kept tightening between them.

Zara rested her hand against the window for a moment, still staring out at the hills below. “I had no idea the country had places like this.”

Elias leaned back in his seat. “Most people do not.”

She looked at him over her shoulder. “And you do?”

“I know a few places.”

That answer made her smile a little.

The jet continued its smooth descent, and Zara let herself enjoy the view until the landing area came into sight. Even then, she stayed turned toward the window a little longer, unwilling to let the moment end too quickly.

When the plane finally touched down, the quiet beauty of the land stayed with her.

And so did the way Elias had looked at her when he said the word beautiful.

They changed helicopters after landing.

The second chopper took them higher into the hills, cutting through the air toward Elias’s newly built camp. Zara sat beside the window and watched the land open up beneath them, green and wide and untouched in places that still looked too wild to belong to anyone. The camp came into view slowly, set against the mountain ridge like it had always been there.

It was stunning.

Modern glass and clean lines, built into the landscape without ruining it. The whole place looked like something out of a movie, all sharp edges and open space, with panoramic views that stretched far into the distance. Zara stared before she could stop herself.

Elias caught her looking. “You like it.”

She gave a small shrug, though she was still looking out. “It is hard not to.”

The helicopter landed, and when they stepped out, the air was cooler than she expected. The sky had already shifted, and rain was starting to fall in soft sheets beyond the glass walls of the camp.

Inside, everything was warm, polished, and quiet. The space was designed to show off the view rather than compete with it. Zara moved closer to the glass and looked out at the rain rolling over the hills.

Elias came up behind her a moment later and placed a shawl over her shoulders.

“It is cold. Keep warm.”

The gesture startled her a little more than she wanted to admit. Then he handed her a cup of coffee, and she took it with both hands.

“Thanks,” she said quietly.

He stood beside her with his hands in the pockets of his trousers, looking out at the rain as though he had all the time in the world.

“Been hiking before?” he asked.

Zara gave him a quick look. “Nope. Not my kind of scene.”

He turned his head slightly, studying her. “Why not?”

She took a sip of the coffee before answering. “Too much work. Too much dirt. Too much pretending to enjoy suffering.”

That earned a low chuckle from him.

He stayed beside her, the two of them watching the rain wash over the hills in silence for a while. The camp felt far removed from everything else, private and still, and Zara found herself relaxing in spite of herself.

After a moment, Elias said, “How about, if it does not rain, we go hiking tomorrow?”

Zara looked at him, surprised.

He was still watching the rain, his voice calm, almost casual, but there was something in the suggestion that felt more personal than he meant it to sound.

She lifted a brow. “You are really determined to turn me into an outdoors person.”

“No,” he said. “Just curious.”

She watched him for a second, then looked back at the storm outside.

“We’ll see,” she said.

His mouth curved slightly, like he had expected nothing else.

*_*_*_*

Later that evening, they sat by the fire.

The rain had eased into a soft drizzle. Inside the camp the fire crackled gently in the hearth, filling the room with warm light. Zara sat on the sofa with her legs tucked beneath her. She held a cup of coffee in both hands. Elias’s shawl was still around her shoulders. It smelled like him, and she had not taken it off.

Elias sat in the low chair across from her. His eyes stayed on her, steady and calm.

Zara took a sip and looked at him. “This is still crazy, you know. You kissed me last night at a party I crashed. Today you put me on a jet and brought me here. Most people would call that kidnapping.”

His mouth curved into a small smile. “I prefer to call it a second chance. And you kissed me back, Zara.”

Heat climbed up her neck. She remembered the kiss too clearly. The way it had started sudden and hungry in that quiet corner of the gala. The way she had not wanted it to end.

“I should not have,” she said quietly.

“But you did.” His voice was low. “And I have not stopped thinking about it since.”

Zara looked down at her coffee. Her heart beat faster than she liked. This man was dangerous. Too direct. Too used to getting what he wanted. Yet something about him pulled at her anyway.

She glanced up again. “I am an event planner. I organise other people’s nights. I do not get swept away by strangers who own diamond mines.”

“You are not swept away yet,” he said. “But I would like the chance to change that.”

The fire popped softly. For a moment only the sound of the flames filled the room. Zara studied him. In the warm light his face looked less hard, more open.

“Why me?” she asked. “You could have any woman you want.”

“I know.” He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees. “But last night I saw you across the room and everything else disappeared. I do not make impulsive decisions, Zara. That kiss was not planned. Neither was bringing you here. But I do not regret either.”

She felt a flutter in her chest. Part of her wanted to be angry at how easily he had taken control. Another part liked it more than she wanted to admit.

“You are very sure of yourself,” she said.

“No,” he replied. “I am sure about very few things. But when I look at you, I am sure I want more time. Just like this. No parties. No crowds. Only us.”

Zara pulled the shawl tighter around her. The fire had burned lower now, casting a soft glow over everything. She could feel herself softening toward him, and it scared her a little.

“This is moving too fast,” she whispered.

“Maybe,” he said. “Or maybe it started last night and we are simply catching up.”

He stood and crossed to the side table. When he came back he held out a fresh cup of coffee. She took it, and for a second their fingers brushed. The small touch sent warmth through her that had nothing to do with the fire.

“You drink too much coffee,” she said, trying to lighten the moment.

Elias smiled. “Comes with the job. Diamond mines do not run themselves, and the time zones never sleep.”

Zara gave a small laugh. “So you stay awake with coffee and kidnap event planners in your spare time?”

“Only the ones who kiss me like you did last night.”

She looked up at him. The firelight made his face softer than before. She could still feel the pull from the party the night before, only stronger now.

“Get some rest,” he said quietly. “Tomorrow I will show you the mountains properly. No more surprises. Just us and the view.”

Zara nodded. “Okay.”

Elias looked at her for a long moment, then turned toward the hallway.

She watched him go. When he had disappeared down the corridor she let out a long breath and stared into the glowing embers.

She was definitely in trouble.