Her Secret

After leaving the research vessel, Aiden landed the chopper on an island. 

It was near the research vessel, so we were able to reach it before the sky went dark. 

"We will be having our dinner here. The suits were booked in the hotel a mile away from here." Aiden said as they alighted. 

"Sea food here is delicious." Anna said. 

"Yes. Have you been here already?" Aiden asked, surprised. 

This island is not far away from Country A where they are living now. So, she was a few hundred miles away and he didn't know it? 

"I have been here once last year. When this private island was turned into a tourist place, it had quite a hype." 

"So, I was in the neighborhood once. I finished my work a couple of days earlier than scheduled, so I came here to relax a bit." Anna answered. 

"That means, my tomorrow surprise for my 'stranger' friend is ruined. I was planning to take you on a tour around this magnificent island." Aiden told her. 

If marine biology is one of her interests, mythology is her another amusement. 

This island is filled with history. 

Ancient history, the centuries old buildings, the shrines of a lost religion and civilization. This place is a perfect combo of Anna's cup of tea. 

He thought this could make another perfect memory for her. But she has already been here. 

And, he is kind of surprised to hear that. Although this island was hidden from the world till a couple of years back and had only gone public last year, it was not open to everybody. 

Only at the start of this year, it opened up for common folk. 

But Anna said that she visited this place last year and even stayed here for a couple of days which is fine. 

However, the catch here is, the island hasn't allowed night stays until the starting of this year. Not even the most influential and powerful people got a chance to do that. 

'Maybe she stayed in the mainland during the night and returned in the morning to look around.' Aiden thought and didn't probe any further. 

But little did he know that Anna used to come here often before the island was made public to common folks. 

[Author's question: what exactly could Anna's occupation be?]

"How about I take you to a place tomorrow? Today, you hosted me, so let tomorrow be my turn." Anna said. 

"Sure. But leave the dinner venue  and night stay to me." he told her. 

Anna agreed and then they had sumptuous dinner at the seaside hotel and then went to hotel Aiden booked, to rest for the night. 

Before separating, Anna didn't forget to thank him again. 

The next morning, Anna woke up much earlier and went on a run. This time she didn't use the hotel's run track. 

She used a private road which is off the limits for others. After fifteen minutes of running, Anna stopped at a very old building with ancient Greek architecture. 

After authenticating herself, the door opened and Anna went inside. 

In contrast to its outer architecture which is old, the interiors are very futuristic and advanced. 

"Hi Linda!" Anna greeted no one in particular. 

"Miss Anna!" a robotic voice greeted her back. 

"It's been very long, Miss Anna. You look different today." the computerized voice spoke. 

"It has indeed been long, Linda. And, I am the same as last year. Nothing different." Anna answered before punching some buttons on the control panel. 

"Appearance wise, you are beautiful like always, Miss Anna. But your face is glowing with happiness and contentment which I have never noticed before." Linda said. 

"Aww… thanks dear. Would you help me to make preparations on the north east Island fifty nautical miles from here?" 

"Sure, Miss Anna. Name your requirements." the computerized voice asked. 

"I want to spend today there. Get the arrangements done like always but I will be having company." Anna answered. 

"It will be done in an hour, miss Anna. Anything else I can help?" Linda asked. 

"Cancel today's interaction from your database and tamper with the footage of my stay here. No one should know that I was here. No one." Anna ordered. 

"Not even boss?" Linda asked. 

"No. Not even your boss. Especially Allen, Clinton, the triplets, Brianna and yeah, your boss as well.* Anna told the AI. 

"But I am not allowed to lie or hide any information from my boss." Linda said. 

"I can override it. I have access, remember?" Anna asked. 

"Yes, I do." Linda agreed after checking the details. 

"So, are we good?" Anna asked. 

"Yes, miss Anna." Linda answered. 

—----

After their breakfast, Anna asked Aiden to let her fly the chopper, which he unhesitatingly agreed. 

It was an hour journey and Anna landed the chopper at the seaside helipad. 

"What is this island?" Aiden asked. 

"This island is filled with rich flora and fauna. However, we are here not because of that." Anna said. 

"I wanna take you to a place but you need to blindfold yourself." She added. 

Aiden hesitated for a couple of seconds but nodded his head. It's fine. It's just a blind fold. 

He didn't knew from where Anna fished out a car but she helped him into it. After five minutes drive, the engine stopped and they alighted the car. 

He vaguely sensed that they were in the elevator now and after a 'ding' they got out. 

It is when Anna removed the blindfold. Once Aiden realised what exactly he was seeing, he was stunned. 

This floor, which might have spread over more than an acre is filled with highly advanced, futuristic and years ahead technology which is devoted to games. 

"You made my teenage wish come true. I would have done the same but I know that you have fulfilled each and every wish you thought of."

"So, I borrowed this place from a friend of mine who owed me a favor. I know that you love gaming but have given up on it for family business." 

"Let's live this day, immersed in the gaming world you desire. Anything is possible here." Anna said. 

Aiden smiled. He still loves gaming. 

If not for his grandparents who forced him to take over business, he would have become a dame designer or an eSports player. 

"You can even design your own game here by integrating the games that already exist." Anna said. 

Aiden's eyes brightened. He might be a grown up, that too, a cold and intimidating guy but he is a human At the end of the day. 

Even he has hobbies and dreams he couldn't fulfill. 

Eventually, Anna and Aiden lost track of the time and by the time they realised, it was already night. 

So, they had a simple dinner in the building itself and Aiden went to sleep early. 

It's Monday tomorrow. They need to go back. 

But Anna couldn't sleep. 

This place might be a heaven for people like Aiden but for her, this island is a mixture of good and bad memories. 

When she said that she borrowed this place from a friend for a day, she was lying. 

She owns this place. This private, restricted island is hers. 

When it was almost four in the morning, Anna cladded herself in black and picked up the flowers from her garden filled with mutated beautiful flowers. 

Then, she walked to the end of the island where there is a cliff. 

The closer she got, the sadder her mood became. She was holding this heaviness in her heart since yesterday night when they reached the island Aiden took her to. 

At last, it flooded out when she reached a tomb. 

'Edmund' was the name written on it. 

'A loving son' followed in the next line. 

'20XX-20XX' was the timeline. 

Edmund was just 3 three years old when he died. 

"Mommy is here, Ed. Missed me?" Anna asked in a choked tone as she laid the flowers on his tomb and sat beside it.