AN: New week. Let's aim for the top 10. I will release 1 extra chapter around midnight, depending on the power stones.
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[Next Day – Waikīkī Beach – 9:40 AM] [Turtle Canyon Snorkel Adventure]
Caroline adjusted her snorkel mask, squinting through the early morning sun. Her wetsuit was halfway on, clinging tight around her waist. Alex, already suited up.
"You're sweating like you're in bootcamp."
Caroline adjusted her suit. "You try pulling this over a wet bikini. It's like wrestling a python made of rubber."
He chuckled, slipping on his flippers. Behind them, the catamaran rocked gently at anchor, the crew prepping gear while other tourists murmured excitedly along the deck.
She finally zipped up and looked around. The water stretched out endlessly, a deep sapphire blue that seemed to glow from beneath. And further out, just past the reef break?
That's where the sea turtles were.
The guide stood up front with a mic. "Alright, everyone. Welcome to Turtle Canyon! This is one of Oahu's natural sanctuaries for green sea turtles. We'll be snorkeling above reef platforms where turtles often swim up to be cleaned by reef fish."
Alex leaned into Caroline's ear. "So basically, turtle spa day."
She grinned. "Let's not interrupt their massage. Just admire from a distance like polite turtle paparazzi."
The crew started helping people down into the water. Caroline gave Alex a quick side-eye. "No holding hands underwater. You swim like a sea god. I swim like a tipsy flamingo."
"You underestimate your aquatic elegance," he replied.
"I dog-paddle and flail. Elegantly."
Then...
They hit the water together. It was warm. Clear. And as Caroline's face dipped beneath the surface, the world changed.
[Underwater]
The ocean opened like a silent cathedral.
Schools of vibrant yellow tangs and butterflyfish darted between coral. Rays of sunlight cut down through the surface, painting moving patterns on the reef. And just ahead…
A giant green sea turtle glided by like it owned the world.
Caroline froze. Her heart jumped. She looked to her left. Alex was hovering beside her, just watching the turtle with a reverence she'd only seen in him during certain movie premieres and maybe that one sunrise on the jet.
Caroline swam forward, keeping her distance, then turned over and floated on her back, grinning behind her snorkel. Bubbles drifted up like champagne.
Another turtle passed beneath her.
Then another.
Turtle Canyon lived up to its name.
Caroline and Alex swam side by side now, pointing out little eels nestled in rock cracks, a parrotfish chewing noisily on coral, and even a pair of manta rays deeper down, their wings flapping like underwater ghosts.
After exploring long enough, they surfaced together.
Caroline pulled off her snorkel, breathless. "I just swam over a turtle. A real, wild turtle. I am so bragging about this in front of Max."
Alex lifted his mask. "You were great."
"I was flailing."
"You flailed with poise."
She flicked water at him. "You're such a liar."
He kissed her.
Back on the boat, they stripped off their wetsuits and collapsed on the deck towels. Caroline flopped onto her back, towel under her head, hair still dripping.
"I need a tattoo of that turtle. Or a shirt. Or a coffee mug."
Alex lay beside her, one hand behind his head, the other reaching for hers.
"I got video. You can rewatch it anytime." He took out the underwater recorder from his mask.
"Not the same," she said. "I want to feel this again. This day. This ocean. You next to me. That one turtle that side-eyed me like I was intruding on his breakfast."
He turned to her.
"You'll feel it again. We'll keep making moments like this."
She turned to face him.
"Promise?"
His answer wasn't a word. He rolled slightly, pressed a kiss to her damp hairline, and whispered, "Always."
...
[Later – Back to Shore]
Back at Waikīkī, barefoot on the beach, Caroline looked out at the boats still dotting the waves.
Then she looked at Alex, who was checking his phone. A few business messages. An update from Rachel. A photo from Max's boobs. Alex quickly saved and swiped the pic.
She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.
"Let's walk the beach before lunch."
He turned, smiled, and slid his hand into hers.
They wandered the shoreline, ankle-deep in foam.
And just before they left, Caroline turned back toward the water.
Another turtle surfaced far out.
She pointed. "That's my guy. That's my therapy turtle."
Alex squeezed her hand. "Next time we bring Max. See what the turtle thinks of her."
Caroline laughed. "Turtle's going to need therapy after meeting Max."
And with the sun climbing higher above the Pacific, they kept walking.
...
[1:20 PM] [Seafood Lunch Spot: Ola Kai Grill]
The ocean breeze flowed through the open-air restaurant, accompanied by the soft sound of waves just a few yards away. Sunlight filtered through the slats of the thatched roof, creating patterns on the white tablecloths. Ola Kai Grill was famous for three things: its butter-seared mahi, overpriced cocktails, and a seafood platter so large it could sink small ships.
Caroline slipped into her seat in a strappy sundress, damp hair still drying in waves over her shoulders. Alex sat across from her and began to look through the menu. [They changed and came back]
"Okay," she said, flipping open her own menu. "Let's go full island mode. I'm thinking oysters, shrimp, poke."
Alex looked up, lowering his sunglasses just enough to glare across the table. "No."
She paused. "No to what?"
"To the raw parade you're about to order. That stuff's been sitting on crushed ice under the sun for who knows how long."
"You eat sushi."
"I eat sushi sometimes when I want to look like I have refined taste. Secret truth? I hate raw fish. I hate raw meat. I hate raw anything unless it's fruit or revenge."
Caroline blinked, then broke into laughter. "You're such a fraud."
"Proudly," he said, shutting the menu. "Get your ocean slime. I'll have grilled snapper and garlic rice. Cooked. Flame-seared. Dead."
A waiter arrived. Orders were placed. Caroline added a giant platter of chilled oysters, raw lemon-marinated shrimp, and ahi poke just to spite him. Alex's expression didn't change.
Just as the waiter walked off, Caroline's eyes drifted across the terrace...
...and caught sight of her.
Sitting alone at a table tucked near the edge of the patio. Large sunglasses. Flowing tan blouse. Diamond studs. And a half-finished mocktail sweating in the shade.
Jennifer Lopez.
Alex saw her too.
His eyes narrowed, not in judgment, but recognition. He leaned forward slightly, murmuring low enough for only Caroline to hear.
"J.Lo. And she looks like she's one headline away from lighting a cigar with her album."
Caroline blinked. "Wait! Seriously?"
Alex gave a small nod. "Breakup with Affleck. Album didn't hit. Films stalled. Studios labeling her 'past her prime.' Classic Hollywood crap."
Caroline looked over again. Jennifer was staring down into her drink like she was trying to solve it for answers.
"She's... alone," Caroline said. "That's sad."
"She's not the kind of woman who wants to be alone," Alex replied, watching her quietly. "But she's the kind who can't afford to look like she needs anyone either."
Jennifer looked up just then.
Saw them.
Saw him.
Her expression flickered with recognition, then disbelief, then something almost wary. But her eyes lingered on Caroline a little longer than expected.
Alex leaned back. "She recognized you."
Caroline blinked. "Huh?"
He smiled faintly. "Max and your names have been echoing in rooms you don't even know exist yet. Ever since I made Titan's food product line exclusive to your store, the branding alone has made you low-key famous."
Caroline looked stunned. "I thought those emails from Vogue were spam."
Alex smirked. "They weren't."
Across the patio, Jennifer set her glass down.
"You want to meet her?" He asked Caroline.
"Can I? I mean, I remember receiving a mail from her and thought someone was pranking, so Max kinda went wild on it. So, you know..." Caroline whispered, trying not to meet JLo's eyes.
Alex pushed back his chair, calm and smooth as always. "Stay here," he said to Caroline, "and don't panic. I'm going to poke the popstar bear."
Caroline sat frozen, one hand halfway to her water glass. "Wait, you're? You're just going over there?!"
But he was already walking.
Jennifer Lopez looked up the moment he approached. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Not out of rudeness, just the kind of reflex you build when you've been burned by press, producers, and three publicists in a row.
"Alex Wilson," she said, voice low and composed. "Either I'm hallucinating from this lukewarm drink, or you just walked out of Forbes."
Alex smiled, extending a hand. "Not hallucinating. Mind if I join you for a second?"
She shook his hand and gestured to the chair across from her. "I've got nothing but time and a ruined lunch to spare."
He sat. "Good to see you, Jennifer."
"Been a while," she replied. "I figured the next time I saw you, it'd be at a premiere. Or on a yacht with three European models."
"I left the models at the hotel," he deadpanned. "They needed a nap."
'Darn it! I should have taken that offer three years ago. If only I had signed that contract,' She smirked. "Still funny. Still annoyingly composed."
Well, three years ago, Alex was still under the Blackstar studios and just started to do his own things on the side, like a little music studio. It was his first personal startup. Then he opened a modeling agency. Alex was still a rising talent in Hollywood. He and Jennifer collaborated for a clothing brand shoot. That's when Alex asked her if she'd like to do a music collaboration. That would've helped his career to rise even faster, but she refused, giving 'schedule conflict' as an excuse. The truth is, she didn't trust him back then. He was just in the industry for like 2 years. So, she backed out.
He tilted his head toward Caroline, who was now pretending to read the cocktail menu upside down. "That girl over there? That's Caroline."
Jennifer nodded. "I've noticed you date. One of the Cupcake girls."
Alex nodded. "That's the one. You emailed her once. Got flamed by Max. She's still emotionally scarred."
Jennifer blinked again. Then her expression cracked into a small, amused smile. "Oh my god. That was her? I thought she was a publicist on a caffeine bender."
"She thought your email was a prank. You were right. It was her."
Jennifer leaned forward, intrigued now. "Don't tell me?"
"Yup! She's feeling bad now when I told her it wasn't spam but you," He stood again. "Come join us? Maybe put her mind at ease?"
Jennifer hesitated for half a second. Then she picked up her drink and stood, sliding her sunglasses back on like armor. "Let's go meet the cupcake diplomat."
[Back at Caroline's Table]
Caroline sat straight-backed like she was bracing for impact. Her brain was screaming through every pop song lyric J.Lo ever sang.
Alex reappeared, sliding back into his seat... with Jennifer Lopez following behind.
Caroline's soul nearly left her body.
"Hi," J.Lo said, smoothly settling into the chair beside her. "We haven't met officially. I'm Jennifer."
Caroline stood abruptly. Too abruptly. Her chair made an embarrassing screech across the floor.
"HI. I MEAN. YES. HELLO. CAROLINE. I'M... I'M CAROLINE."
Alex's lips twitched.
Jennifer blinked. "Nice to meet you, Caroline."
"I... I got your email once!" Caroline blurted. "And I thought it was fake. And I told Max. And Max kind of... uh... told you to shove a stiletto where the... the sun... never..." She trailed off.
Jennifer slowly sipped her drink. "Ah. So you are the reason I almost threw my phone off a balcony."
Caroline paled. "I'm so sorry. I... I thought someone was messing with me. I swear I'm not usually this dumb."
Jennifer leaned back, expression unreadable.
Then she burst out laughing.
Caroline blinked. "Wait, you're not mad?"
"I was. For a day," Jennifer said. "Then I realized I probably would've done the same thing. It was a very suspiciously enthusiastic email."
Caroline laughed nervously. "Max wrote it while eating cake out of a blender. That may have factored in."
Alex, relaxed as ever, picked up his water glass. "Should I leave you two to clear the cupcake tension?"
Jennifer waved him off. "Stay. This is fun. Besides, I heard your seafood opinions. We're going to talk about that."
Caroline finally sat back down, cheeks pink, but visibly calming.
"So..." Jennifer continued, folding her arms. "Are you still running the store? Or, you have people running it for you?"
"Yes!" Caroline said. "We are still running our first store together. Though I think Alex has kind of... forcibly upgraded me and Max into a lifestyle brand."
"She's being modest," Alex added. "We're scaling her store. She's now the face of Titan's entire dessert and drinks division. We are planning to expand the business by the New Year."
Jennifer raised a brow. "Wow. You came up fast."
"I had help," Caroline said, glancing at Alex. "And some aggressively loyal friends. And really good frosting."
Jennifer tilted her head. "You know... I could still use a campaign partner."
Caroline blinked. "Wait. Seriously?"
"I was thinking of doing a new beauty line launch this year. Something stripped down. Real. You'd be perfect."
Alex smirked. "Looks like the email chain lives again."
Caroline reached for her water and almost knocked it over. "I... yes. I mean, if you're serious... yes. A hundred percent. But I will triple-check all emails next time."
Jennifer laughed. "Deal."
The food arrived moments later, and the table warmed quickly into conversation, laughing over Caroline's flailing swim techniques, debating raw fish ethics, and teasing Alex about his "grilled fish only" life.
By the time dessert came, Caroline was fully relaxed again, spooning coconut cream pie and already trading mocktail recipes with J.Lo.
Jennifer raised her glass again. "To mistaken identities, email disasters, and the best lunch I've had in months."
"To new friendships," Caroline added.
Alex raised his as well. "To girls who flame pop icons and still walk away with deals."
Caroline groaned.
Jennifer just winked. "Iconic, really."
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