Chapter 3

The swimsuit store smelled like expensive talcum powder and coconut oil.

Steve acted the same way here as he did in the first shop: he nodded to the salesgirl — a young, energetic woman with a deep bronze tan — and immediately looked down at his phone. He put up an invisible wall of “I’m busy” between himself and Helen.

“I need something closed. One-piece. Classic style,” Helen said firmly as soon as they reached the fitting area.

The salesgirl raised one eyebrow and looked at Helen the way a sculptor might look at a block of stone.

“Ma’am, with all respect, a closed swimsuit at your age and with your figure? You’ll look like an old lady on retirement who’s afraid of the sun. Look at your legs, look at your waist! It’s silly to hide what nature gave you so generously. While you’re still young — show your beauty. Trust me, one day there won’t be anything left to show, and you’ll regret that you covered yourself up.”

Those words hit Helen’s weakest spot.

She was used to thinking of her body only as a shell for her mind. But now she suddenly felt a sharp sting of vanity.

The salesgirl started bringing swimsuits: fabrics that looked like reptile scales, very soft microfiber, and even materials that — according to her — became quite see-through when wet.

“Come in, get undressed,” the salesgirl said, leading Helen into a big, softly lit fitting room. “All the way. No underwear — it ruins the fit.”

When Helen stood completely naked in front of the huge mirror, she closed her eyes for a second.

But when she started trying on the swimsuits, completely new feelings came over her.

The fabric felt gentle on her skin, almost weightless, like a second skin.

The peach bikini turned her still-pale New York tan into something elegant and porcelain-like.

The gray one, the color of a stormy sky, made the steel shine in her eyes stand out more.

When she tried on the tiny string bikini bottoms, her ears burned with embarrassment.

It felt almost too much.

But looking in the mirror, she didn’t see just an archaeologist anymore. She saw a woman whose beauty could be a dangerous weapon.

It felt crazy, wrong, and exciting at the same time.

“I’ll take these two,” she said quietly, her heart beating hard in her throat.

When she put her old dress back on and walked out to Steve, her head felt a little light — maybe from the warm fitting room, maybe from realizing what version of herself she had just bought with his money.

Steve looked up, put his phone away, and watched her silently.

There was no question in his eyes — only calm, cold waiting. Like a predator who knows the prey has already started to change color to match his world.

“Ready?” he asked shortly.

“Yes,” she answered, trying to keep her voice steady. “Let’s go back.”

When they got back to the bungalow, Steve gave her a quick look. There was almost boyish excitement in his eyes.

“Night swim, Hel?” He nodded toward the ocean roaring outside the window. “Trust me, it’s special. The water is warmer than the air right now, and the plankton lights up with every move.”

Helen felt an alarm go off inside her. Night. Empty beach. See-through swimsuit. This picture did not fit her survival plan at all.

“No, Steve. I’m tired,” she said firmly. “The day was too long for me.”

He just gave a small laugh, didn’t argue, and disappeared into his bedroom. A minute later he came out with a towel over his shoulder and walked out into the dark terrace.

Helen grabbed her phone right away. Andrew’s voice was her only anchor. She whispered to him that she had held on, that the day was over, and only four more were left. She tried to sound cheerful and hide the fact that her world had just grown as big as Steve’s platinum card.

There was a short knock at the door — hotel service brought a pile of boxes and bags. Still talking to her husband, Helen carried everything into the bedroom and started opening the packages. The sound of expensive paper, the smell of new leather and silk ... At some point excitement and curiosity became stronger than caution.

“Wait a second, Andrew, I just want to look...” she said quietly.

She pressed the phone to her ear with her shoulder and took off her old dress. In a strange, feverish rush she started trying on the new things. First the blue dress that wrapped around her body like a second skin, then the peach bikini.

A sudden chill ran over her skin. Helen froze. The window.

She quickly grabbed the bedsheet, wrapped it around herself, and walked to the glass. Far out on the shallow water, in the strip of moonlight, she saw two figures. Was Steve not alone? Or were they just shadows? The figures moved in the water like ghosts. Helen’s heart beat hard in her throat. She pulled the curtain closed fast and locked the window.