by Rhea Wilde
Chapter 13
I took another gulp of coffee to try and perk myself up even though I knew it wouldn’t help very much. Thankfully, my head wasn’t throbbing as it would if I had a hangover. I didn’t drink as much as Dante suggested but the taste of the wine was still lingering somewhere between my stomach and tongue.
Instead of the old men and women from the conference, Dante and I spent the rest of the night surrounded by the younger beachgoers who were enjoying the surf and sand. We sat there on the beach and had pointless conversations. It was all just a reason to relax underneath the stars and enjoy the atmosphere. I would have fallen asleep right there on the beach if it hadn’t been for Dante reminding me to come to his presentation the next morning.
And here I was. I dragged myself out of bed and cleaned myself up to look like the representative for Barnett Industries that Rafael wanted me to be. I had to force myself to look away from the water. It had been three days since we arrived and I still had not experienced what the beach was like during the day. Today wasn’t looking any different.
My schedule was completely loaded with presentations and workshops I needed to attend. The responsibility of an impending report for Rafael and the board of directors was always looming over me. I thought I made a mistake in tacking-on another presentation to attend but Dante seemed appreciative as he stood in front of the conference room. He smiled and winked at me before beginning his presentation to all of the executives and representatives in the room.
Despite how friendly I was with him, the presentation was little different from everything else I was forced to sit through. Dante was charismatic and enthusiastic as he talked about all of the latest developments his company was making. It made it all a little easier to stomach. But while I took my notes, I was still waiting for the moment when it would finally end. No man could make discussing business more entertaining than it actually was.
I sat there in my seat next to Wesley. He was actually scheduled to be at this presentation, so my being there was redundant. But he wasn’t the only other person from Barnett Industries that showed up. In the middle of the presentation, I looked to the side of the room and saw Rafael step through the door. Cheryl walked in right after he did and the two of them stood off to the side. I noticed that I wasn’t the only one who noticed him. He was getting an unusual amount of attention I chalked up to his notoriety. Rafael was the only CEO that was under 40 and he was barely 30.
Rafael looked at me from across the room for a second but he didn’t have any expression on his face. I thought it was curious as to why he would show-up. My focus was being taken away from Dante and his colleagues’ presentation. Instead, I was thinking about what Rafael was doing here.
He’s not actually here to see the presentation, is he? Wesley was the only person he assigned it to.
I was too tired and too bored to think about it any longer. I took another big gulp of coffee then scribbled my notes down, hoping that the presentation would finally end. When it did, the audience applauded then slowly started to file out of the room.
I made my way up to the front of the room to say hello to Dante.
“I’m glad you could make it,” he greeted me with a smile on his face.
“Hey, I said I would be here,” I replied. “I think you guys might have something here.”
“Maybe. That’s up to the investors to decide. Speaking of… Mr. Barnett. I’m glad you decided to attend.”
Dante shook Rafael’s hand as he approached him with Cheryl trailing just behind him.
“It was my pleasure,” Rafael said to him. “I gave it a second-thought and decided that maybe it would be a good idea to check it out for myself. I spoke to some people and they said that Detit is doing some revolutionary things. That’s what I like to hear.”
“We haven’t done anything yet. We just have ideas.”
“It all starts with an idea. That’s more important than anything else.”
“Yeah, well, we still have a long way to go. I do appreciate your consideration, Mr. Barnett.”
I stood there silently with Dante, Rafael, Cheryl and Wesley. While Dante packed his things together, I waited to see what was next.
“So, what do you have planned?” Dante asked me bluntly. “I just gave the presentation, so I’m sure there are a few people that want to ask me about these things. I’m sure you have a few more things you need to attend.”
“I do,” I nodded.
“Maybe we can meet-up again when you’re done. What do you say?”
I shifted my eyes to Rafael as I started talking.
“It’s going to be a long time,” I said as I laughed. “There are a few people that I need to talk to and—”
“You know what?” Rafael interrupted me. “There’s been a change of plans.”
“A change?”
“Yes, Alice. Cheryl had me thinking a bit. It’s such a nice day. And there are only a couple of days left in the conference. I say we enjoy it.”
“Sir?”
I looked at Rafael, confused. I couldn’t tell if it were Cheryl or another reason behind his sudden change of heart. But his suggestion to enjoy the rest of the day came out of left field and I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“You heard me,” Rafael said. “Go to your next scheduled assignment and then you’re done for the rest of the day. I’m sure you can glean something together from the other presentations with their press releases after. There’s no need to be stuck inside of this building. The same goes for you, Wesley. Let Travis know when you run into him. You can have the day off.”
“You’re the boss,” Wesley said with an undeniable smile on his face.
I didn’t share Wesley’s enthusiasm. I wasn’t upset, just curious as to what his reasoning would be. Cheryl was nonchalant about matters but Dante seemed equally taken aback.
“That’s… good to hear,” Dante said with a chuckle. “It looks like you’ve got the rest of the day off, Alice.”
“After the next presentation,” I said to him. “You’ll be joining us, too, won’t you?”
“I’m sure that I’ll be done talking with the investors as soon as your next assignment is finished.”
“Then it’s settled,” Cheryl said. “We’ll all meet out on the beach as soon as we’re done. If we don’t find each other, I’m sure some of the beachgoers will be more than happy to entertain us with their company. Frankly, I don’t know why you didn’t think of this sooner, Rafael.”
“I guess I was a little caught-up in my work,” Rafael said with a shrug.
“Aren’t there people you need to talk to?” I asked him. “Any meetings you need to attend?”
“They’ll wait for me,” he said. “I’m sure we’re all a little worn-out from the conference at this point. Letting off a little steam will help us be more productive when we’re back here.”
Rafael’s reasoning was sound. It helped that I wasn’t in any mood to argue with him. I said my goodbyes to all of them as I headed toward the next conference I was scheduled to attend.
I sat there and wrote down notes like I was a college student attending a boring lecture. The prospects of finally getting out in the sun made it all that much easier to stomach. The next few hours couldn’t pass by soon enough.
* * *
I got into my swimsuit and stepped out of the hotel onto the beach. I had felt the rush of the warm breeze blowing in through my window before but this was different. The weather was the perfect combination of warm without being too hot. The sun rays against my skin were invigorating. I inhaled a deep breath and cleared my lungs. Finally, I could enjoy the Hawaii that was painted on the canvas in my head.
The beach was crowded with people enjoying every aspect of it. They were the same people I saw when I came out here at night to relax. There were people of every age but still considerably younger than the older men and women I had to sit around with in the hotel. I didn’t imagine that any of them would make their way out here any time soon.<
br />
I held my hand up to my forehead to block the glaring sunlight as I searched for anybody I knew. I took a few steps forward and just a few meters away I was greeted with an odd scene. Rafael stood there in a pair of swim trunks while Cheryl rubbed his back down.
Cheryl looked just as magnificent in her neon green bikini as she did in a dress. Her top strained to hold the two perfect circles on her chest. I giggled to myself as I thought about the enhancement she might have paid for. The rest of her body was nothing to scoff at. Her stomach was firm and her waist was slim. Her long legs looked like they were stretching down into the sand from high up on her waist. She was already an attractive blonde woman that would have drawn attention from any man she passed by. Seeing her in a bikini with her tan skin on display only accentuated all of her features.
It was so distracting that I almost didn’t notice Rafael. I had seen him completely naked but this was different. I had never seen him shirtless in the light of day and out in public. Usually he was wearing a suit and tie or a nice shirt. Even when I first met him, he was still wearing a t-shirt to cover his physique. As he stretched his body out in the sun while Cheryl continued to rub him down, I could see all of the striations of his muscles on his light skin in a way that made me appreciate all of the intimate moments I shared with him.
Rafael looked slightly out of place standing there on the beach. His posture was still rigid like he stood during the business meetings. As I approached them, I chuckled at the thought of a suit looking more appropriate on him at this time.
“Hey, Alice,” Cheryl said to me. “That’s a nice outfit. It looks good on you.”
“Thanks. You look good yourself.”
Cheryl smiled at me as she continued to rub Rafael’s back. The floral print bikini I was wearing was more modest than the outfit Cheryl had on. It was a good idea I didn’t try to be more daring because there was no way I could compete with her in the body department. I didn’t look awful but her assets gave her an advantage over every other woman on the beach.
Rafael looked at me with a smile on his face. I tried not to say too much to him even though I knew what he was probably thinking. Instead of staring, I searched the beach for anybody else I recognized.
“Is it just you two?” I asked. “Where is everybody?”
“Wesley and Travis are getting themselves a drink at the bar over there,” Cheryl explained. “Rafael and I just got out here. Do you need some sunscreen, too?”
“Um… Yeah, I could use some.”
“We’re going to be out here for a long time. There is such a thing as too much of a tan.”
Cheryl made her way over from my boss then began rubbing me down. She worked her hands up and down my arms and across my back. She put her hands upon my waist and I was slightly embarrassed that my stomach wasn’t as tight or slim as hers. Cheryl was thorough with the sunblock. I looked at Rafael in the middle of the process and saw that he was captivated by what he was seeing. It was obvious what was running through his head. I didn’t know if it were me or Cheryl but I was positive he was thinking about something devious. The smirk on his face confirmed it. When he smiled at me, I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh that was building in my stomach. Rafael was holding back like he always did around me. The admission of his cravings and desires was always done behind closed doors.
After Cheryl finished, Wesley and Travis arrived with a drink in their hands. The four of us that had made this trip were finally on the beach together and we were all ready to enjoy ourselves.
“This is what I’m talking about,” Wesley said. “Beautiful sand. Beautiful water. Beautiful women. This is why I love working for you, Mr. Barnett. I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity.”
“Just do your job, Wesley,” he said with a laugh. “That will be thanks enough.”
“You got it. Now if you don’t mind, I think there are some women who are seeking my company. They can’t enjoy the beach without me.”
Wesley made his way to a couple of women a few meters away from us. The way he flirted was borderline harassment but the ladies didn’t seem to mind his presence. After a few exchanges, he motioned for Travis to come over, once again leaving me alone with Cheryl and Rafael. I looked back at the hotel and saw Dante heading toward us.
“This is nice,” I said. “Just relaxing and enjoying the sun and the sand. I almost feel guilty about everything. I feel like I should be getting some work done.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Alice,” Rafael said to me. “You’re going to work today.”
“What?”
“You’ll still get the chance to enjoy the sun and the sand. But I didn’t give you the day off just so you could lie on the beach and get a tan.”
“So… What are we going to do?”
Rafael and Cheryl looked at one another with grins on their faces. I wasn’t sure what to think, my curiosity now piqued more than ever. Dante arrived and stood right next to me. Rafael and Cheryl looked at the two of us and laughed softly.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Dante said. “Did I miss anything, Alice?”
“No, you didn’t. I think the fun’s just about to get started.”
Chapter 14
I pushed myself up to my feet and balanced myself as best I could. My knees started to wobble uncontrollably. I flapped my arms around in circles before I tumbled into the water. I was submerged for just a few seconds then popped back up to the surface. I gasped a deep breath then exhaled a sigh of frustration.
“It’s okay,” Rafael said to me. “Nobody gets it the first time.”
“This isn’t the first time,” I said. “It’s more like the hundredth time.”
I grabbed the surfboard and picked myself up back onto it. Rafael sat on his board just a meter away. Cheryl and Dante had more experience than I did, so I was the only clueless one.
“Whose idea was this again?” I asked Rafael. “Yours or Cheryl’s?”
“Both of us,” Cheryl said. “Rafael and I took lessons the first time we met. It wasn’t here in Maui but they offered lessons just the same. And now it’s a bit of a routine.”
I didn’t know whether to thank them for inviting me or complain about looking like a fool after falling into the water over and over again. We weren’t far from the coast, so the waves were gentle compared to what everybody else was surfing on. But it was still enough to give me more than I could handle.
I was growing more and more frustrated with every failed attempt. Their encouragement didn’t help me. I just couldn’t figure it out. I splashed into the water again and Dante paddled his way over to me.
“Just relax,” he said. “There’s no need to hurry.”
“I know that,” I told him. “We’ve been here out for a long time though. I should have gotten it by now. Why don’t you guys go out there and surf without me while I practice?”
Cheryl didn’t hesitate. She looked over at Rafael and motioned for him to follow her.
“Don’t tire yourself out,” Rafael said to me. “Just do what Dante said to do. Just relax.”
I nodded to him and he paddled his way out to the ocean just behind Cheryl. I watched them in the distance as I remained frustrated on my board.
“This was a dumb idea,” I said.
“It’s only dumb because you haven’t gotten it yet. It will come, Alice. You just need to keep trying.”
“Don’t patronize me, Dante. I’m not a little kid.”
“All right…”
Dante stared at me and didn’t say another word. The way he looked at me made me realize what I’d said.
“I’m sorry. That’s just the frustration talking.”
“Take a break. There’s no need for you to get it right now.”
“Yeah, I guess I will. Permanently.”
“I don’t think so. But you should take some time to breathe.”
The two of us sat on our boards and watched all of the people out in the deeper water. Rafael stood up on his board and rode the wave like a
professional. Cheryl did the same with seemingly less effort. I sighed at the sight of the two of them, frustrated at more than just my failed attempts at trying to stand on a board.
“This isn’t how I thought it was going to be,” I said.
“What do you mean?” Dante asked.
“I just expected to sit on the beach and lie in the sun. Maybe I would have a drink or two and just get a nice tan. And now I’m floating out here in the water and working harder than I did inside of the conference.”
“But you’re still having fun though, aren’t you?”
I watched Rafael succeed at catching another wave. When his board came to a halt, Cheryl was there to greet him with a high-five. Even from far away, I could see the smiles on their faces as they enjoyed one another’s company. I was already jealous of what she looked like and how much time she was spending with him. Surfing was just one more thing they had in common. It was another fact about Rafael that I never learned about him.
“I don’t know,” I sighed.
“Of course, you are, Alice. Think about it. You’re on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you were back home, what would you be doing? You would be stuck inside of your office. You would be looking at numbers and filing papers and every other boring task you could think of on your computer.”
“Thanks. I’m looking forward to heading back home now.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said with a laugh. “What I’m saying is that you need to forget about how things really are. Even if it’s just for a moment. You need to enjoy this right now. You can still appreciate the water we’re sitting in. The warmth of the sun. The beautiful view. The people you’re with…”
I looked over at Dante and saw the friendly smile on his face. I thought about what he said for a second then slowly began to nod my head.
“You’re right,” I sighed.
“Of course, I’m right.”
“Yeah,” I said as I laughed along with him. “There are people all over the world who would kill to switch places with me right now. Why the hell am I complaining? What do I have to be upset about?”
