A hundred hot summers

One summer in provence

The taxi jolted to a stop in front of the secluded villa, its tires crunching on the gravel driveway. Sophie took a deep breath, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She had been looking forward to this vacation for months, but now that she was here, she felt a bit confident.

As she stepped out of the taxi with her suit case, the warm breeze carried the scent of lavender and pine, mingling with the distant sound of cicadas. The villa stood before her, a grand stone mansion with ivy-covered walls and a tiled roof that glinted in the afternoon sun. She paused to take in the scent of flowers and herbs. Just then, the front door swung open, and a tall, dark-haired man emerged, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

"Welcome, mademoiselle," he said, his voice smooth and inviting. "I'm Luc, a friend of the villa's owner. Please, come in", and then helped her with her suitcase.

Sophie followed him into the villa, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with high ceilings, elegant furnishings, and paintings that seemed to gaze down at her with a watchful eye.

"I hope you'll find the villa to your liking," Luc said, as they climbed up the stairs leading her to her room. "If there's anything you need, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask", he said again, when they arrived at her door. He handed her the keys and a card which had his name and number only, turned and departed without a word.

Finally!... Sophie breathed in sweet relief as she got into the room. This vacation was much needed in her life. She had been working hectic for the past year on a case she had lost hopes on winning. But then a miracle appeared and she got the much needed evidence to prove her point. This was enough reward for a job well done.

Inside her room was simple yet elegant. She wondered how something could even be so. She pounced on the bed, enjoying the bouncy feeling it gave off. With a smile on her face she laid down on the bed spreading her arms and legs . like a butterfly in motion, she fluttered into a dream of exquisite beauty.

Before Luc arrived at his friends' villa in Provence, his life had been a tumultuous journey of love and loss, success and failure. He was born into a wealthy family, with a prestigious lineage that traced back centuries. But despite the privilege and opulence that surrounded him, Luc's life was far from perfect.

From a young age, Luc showed promise and talent in medicine. He was a brilliant student, excelling in his studies and earning accolades for his skill and dedication. But beneath his outward success, Luc harbored a deep sense of loneliness and longing. His parents were distant and preoccupied with their own affairs, leaving him to navigate the complexities of life on his own.

As he grew older, Luc's longing for love and connection only grew stronger. He had several relationships, but none of them fulfilled him. He yearned for a love that was pure and true, a love that would stand the test of time.

It was during this time of searching that Luc met Stephanie. She was unlike anyone he had ever met—beautiful, charming, and full of life. They fell in love quickly, their passion consuming them both. For a time, it seemed like they were destined to be together forever.

But as with all things too good to be true, their love affair came crashing down. Luc discovered that Stephanie had been unfaithful, betraying him in the most painful way possible. Heartbroken and disillusioned, Luc ended the relationship, vowing never to trust so blindly again.

It was this heartbreak that led Luc to his friends' villa in Provence. He needed a change of scenery, a chance to heal and find himself again. Little did he know that his life was about to take a new turn, one that would lead him to the love of his life and a future filled with hope and happiness.

Over the next few days, Sophie settled into life at the villa, exploring the sprawling gardens and getting to know the other guests. They discussed their lives and their aspirations for this vacation. But they shared a bit more. One evening while sitting in the garden having tea, some older guests who had been here long talked about stories of scary ghosts, ghosts with their haunting presence, wandering the corridors in the dead of night. She sat in her chair listening, but feigning disinterest. The story appeared to unsettle some of the other guests, but she sought to reassure them, lending her voice and insisting that ghosts were merely figments of imagination, nothing more than tales spun out of thin air. However, they were determined not to heed her words.

Just then she remembered that the 'villa's keeper' had given her his number. To further prove her point to the people, she got out the little black card the man who introduced himself as luc had handed her some days ago from her little purse. She dialed the number. Again and again it rang but there was no response. Disappointed, she tucked the card back into her purse. She hurriedly finished her tea, got up and left heading to a more secluded area of the garden, leaving the guests in their delusions.

Luc was rudely awakened by the annoying, incessant ringing of his phone. He hadn't had a decent rest in a while and it angered him that it was interrupted. He switched off his phone immediately, in the hopes of going back to sleep. He laid on the bed trying to fall right back into sleep, but he only ended up tossing and turning. He cursed out loudly on whoever called to disturb his much needed sleep. He decided to go for a walk.