She took me through the garden that was decorated with sculptures and paintings and furnished with a love seat and two chaise lounges in between several pots of flowers, ferns, and monsteras.

The fountain in the middle provided rhythmic relaxing sounds of water pouring nonstop. It was a perfect place to rest and I instantly fell in love with it.

When we reached the end of the garden, Elena pushed a hidden button behind a tall plant and the wall in front of us shifted slightly.

She pressed her palms against it and opened the secret door that led to a corridor. She entered and I followed her obediently.

After...