by Rhea Wilde
“I don’t know, Alice. That’s what makes you so curious.”
“What?”
“I’m still trying to figure you out. But I think I’m getting an idea. I understand. I’m the same way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t get everything on the first try. When I don’t, I do everything I can to make sure I get it.”
Dante and I floated in the water with the waves gently rocking each of our boards. I didn’t know how it happened but I wasn’t thinking about Rafael and Cheryl out there having fun. Instead, I was thinking about how nice this moment was here, with this guy I just met. I was enjoying myself even if I was doing nothing at all.
“So, are you going to give up?” he asked me.
“No… I’m going to keep trying.”
“That’s what I figured. Don’t worry. I’ll be right here with you.”
Dante’s smile was more than enough encouragement. I followed his instructions and did everything I could to try standing on the board. As the sun’s rays beat down upon me, the sweat covering my body replaced the saltwater. My muscles strained. My skin wrinkled. But with every failed attempt, I got closer and closer to balancing myself. I was at it for so long that I could see the sun descending from the sky.
“All right, Alice,” Dante said as he sat there on his board next to me the entire time. “You’ve almost got it. Don’t fight the motion of the water. Move your body to the same rhythm. It’s nothing you haven’t experienced already.”
I pushed myself up from the board and on my feet. I extended my arms out to balance myself. I didn’t overdo it. I loosened my muscles and stood firmly on the board without moving too much. The board rocked back and forth but I managed to stay on my feet.
“That’s it, Alice! You got it!”
“I do! I got it! I—”
I yelped as I lost my footing and tumbled into the water. I popped my head back to the surface and spit out a mouthful of the ocean. Dante began snickering at me and I couldn’t help but do the same.
“So close,” he said.
“I think that’s enough progress for today.”
“Agreed. We should get out of the water. Just for a little bit, at least.”
Dante and I paddled back to the beach, which didn’t look any different from how we had left it. There were still people enjoying themselves and relaxing in every manner you could think of. I dragged the rented board back to the man who owned it.
“So, now what?” I said.
“Do you always have an agenda?” Dante asked me.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You spend too much time in your office,” he laughed. “You don’t have to be so task-oriented with everything. Sometimes, you just have to let whatever happens happen. You don’t always need a plan.”
“If you don’t know what we’re doing next, you could have just said so.”
I shrugged at him and he began to laugh even harder.
“Come on,” he said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Let me buy you a drink. We can relax while Cheryl and Rafael enjoy themselves out on the water.”
Dante and I relaxed at the bar on the beach. I looked out into the water and saw that Cheryl and Rafael were still going strong. The bartender regained my attention as he placed the exotic drink down in front of me.
“What did you order me?” I asked Dante.
“You’ll love it, Alice. Trust me.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question. It looks really… tropical. Don’t you think it’s a little cliche to be drinking something like this on the beach in Hawaii?”
“What’s the matter? Afraid you might like it?”
He smirked at me and I rolled my eyes at him. I held the tall glass in my hand then took a sip from the straw. The alcohol was sweet and fruity but undeniably refreshing. The entire time I drank it, Dante had his eyes on me and waited for a response.
“Well?” he said.
“Well what?”
“Well, do you like it?”
“It’s good,” I said with a shrug. “Blend a bunch of pineapples and strawberries together and it will go with anything.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“Why is that such a surprise?”
“I don’t know. There’s something distracting you, that’s all. It wasn’t like when I first met you. It almost seems like you’re pre-occupied. Especially when we’re around Rafael and Cheryl.”
I didn’t say anything. I took another sip of the drink then placed the glass down back on the bar. I couldn’t let Dante even suspect that Rafael and I had something between us. Rafael would get in more trouble than I would, as he constantly reminded me.
“Is it because he’s your boss?” he asked me. “It must be kind of weird to be in a place like this and have a man who’s only a few years older than you telling you what to do.”
“Yeah, it is a little weird,” I admitted. “But once you get to know Rafael, you realize that he does things a little differently.”
“I can imagine. He’s handling the pressure well. I don’t know the guy too well. I’ve heard a lot of stories about him. But I can tell you this much. I’m glad to see him enjoying himself out there. He seems like a man who works too hard at times.”
I looked out into the water and saw Rafael sitting on his board next to Cheryl, who was doing the same. They were laughing and smiling at one another in a way that made it obvious they were having a good time together. But I wasn’t as jealous now. I didn’t see Rafael. I saw my boss. A man who spent late nights in his office because he was trying to live-up to the impossible expectations he placed upon himself. And I was happy for him.
“Do you remember what I said earlier?” Dante asked me. “About being out here and enjoying yourself?”
“Yeah, I do…”
“You might never get a chance like this again. This sand. This water. This sky. This weather. These people… It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Alice. I’m glad I got to spend this time with you.”
I looked at Dante and saw the sincere smile upon his face. I wasn’t sure what to think exactly. But I could feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was strange.
I’m not attracted to this man, am I? I barely know him…
It was hard to reason with myself. Dante was handsome, charming and charismatic. When he smiled, I realized that he was better-looking than the average guy I would hook-up with when I was out at a club. But he was intelligent, too. He was hard-working and encouraging. He had all of the best qualities I thought I had myself.
“The day’s not over,” I said. “And there are a few more days left of the conference.”
“So, that means I’ll be seeing more of you?”
“Yeah. You still have to teach me how to surf.”
We laughed and smiled at one another. I sat there with Dante at the bar on the beach and had a few drinks. We sat there for the rest of the day until the sun went down and Rafael and Cheryl swam back in from the ocean. Then we headed back into the hotel to get ready for another dinner reception in the ballroom.
Chapter 15
It would take more than a single shower to get all of the saltwater out of my hair. I spent so much time falling off of my surfboard that I might as well have been swimming. After cleaning myself off the best I could, I put on a black skirt and white blouse that was more comfortable than fashionable. As I headed down to the ballroom for dinner, I realized how famished I really was.
When I got there, Cheryl was standing just outside of the ballroom. Her black dress was as form-fitting and fancy as everything else she wore. The effects of the sun on her skin was apparent and gave her a provocative glow. I greeted her then searched for anybody else I knew.
“Where is Rafael?” I asked her.
“Something came up,” she said. “He forgot that he was scheduled to have dinner with some executives tonight. He couldn’t put it off.”
“Oh… An
d what about you?”
“What about me, dear?”
“You’re still having dinner… with me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Is that going to be a problem?”
“No. No, of course not.”
I shook my head and laughed nervously. I didn’t know Cheryl very well. I just knew that she had a past with Rafael and she was spending a lot of time with him. For some reason, I was concerned about having dinner with her without Rafael’s presence.
“Alice!”
I turned and saw Dante pacing his way toward me.
“Hello,” I greeted him. “Are you ready to have dinner with us?”
“I’m afraid I won’t be joining you tonight. Something just came up.”
“Just now? What is it? Is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing like that. But there are some serious investors who want to have dinner with some of the representatives at Detit. They want me to be there and talk business.”
“Right. Of course. You should go.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you company tonight, Alice.”
“Go. And good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Dante leaned-in close to me and kissed me on the cheek. He then nodded to Cheryl and excused himself. I watched him walk away then found myself standing alone with Cheryl once again.
“Well, Alice,” she said. “It looks like you and I will be dining together.”
“It would seem that way. You know, I haven’t seen Wesley and Travis—”
“Don’t worry about them. I’m sure my brother is keeping them entertained. Come on. I know that spending that much time out in the water has worked up your appetite.”
Cheryl smirked at me then made her way into the ballroom. I anxiously followed her with slow and measured footsteps.
I didn’t know if I could do this. With the little I knew about Rafael and Cheryl’s relationship with him, I was worried that something might slip. I didn’t want my feelings or emotions get the best of me and say something I might regret.
Cheryl was popular, for reasons I wasn’t aware of. She was greeted by several people, most of them men, as she passed by each one of them. The two of us made our way to a secluded table off to the side of the room. The small table made it feel like she was right in my face. I looked down at the glass in front of me and watched as the waiter filled it with red wine. The alcohol swirled around before my eyes.
“So, tell me something, Alice. Are you enjoying the conference?”
I sipped the wine then smacked my lips as I thought about the best response.
“I’m enjoying it as much as any person could,” I said. “Sitting around in conferences and workshops isn’t my idea of a good time. It’s work. But we’re in a beautiful place, so that makes things much easier.”
“Indeed. The promise of getting to spend your free time on a beach as gorgeous as this is always a great motivation.”
The large doors of the ballroom were open and displayed a view of the beach just a few meters away from us. The warm weather from outside wafted and created an atmosphere that was more comfortable than any dinner I’d ever sat through.
I took another sip of wine and locked my eyes on all of the empty plates on the table. I could feel Cheryl looking me over.
“So, tell me about yourself, Alice.”
“There’s… not really much to tell.”
“Don’t be modest now. You don’t get to the position you’re in without there being a story behind it.”
I looked up at her and saw the curious smile upon her face. She hugged the rim of her glass with her lips as she took a long and slow sip of wine.
“How did you end up at Barnett?” she asked me after swallowing. “They have hundreds of graduates applying every quarter.”
“I’ve heard. After I graduated, I filled out as many applications as I could. I think every company in the city has my resume. As chance would have it, Barnett was one of the first places to grant me an interview.”
“You must have nailed that interview.”
“…In a manner of speaking. I wasn’t even aware the position was open.”
“And in a few short months, here you are at the International Business Conference on behalf of Barnett Industries. That’s a remarkable story, Alice, don’t you think?”
“I’m lucky,” I scoffed. “There are plenty of college graduates capable of handling my position.”
“But you’re one of the lucky ones.”
“Yeah…”
Cheryl looked at me with the same grin she always had. It always seemed like she was hiding something. There was some hidden meaning I couldn’t pick up on. Or maybe it was just in my head. Whatever it was, I made my dinner with her tonight more nerve-wracking than it should have been.
The waiter arrived with our food and I wasted my nervous energy by poking and prodding at my meal with my fork. Cheryl didn’t say anything as she dived right into her dinner. She grinned at me every time I looked up from the table at her.
“Tell me something, Alice,” she said with her mouth half-full of food. “Now that we’re alone. What do you really think about Rafael?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Oh, come now, Alice. You’re not that oblivious. We’re two women just talking about your boss. I’m sure you have some opinion of him.”
“He’s… a great boss.”
“Yes, I’m sure he is. But what exactly do you mean by that? I mean, what specifically makes him such a great boss? Or for that matter, a great man?”
“He’s… an amazing man. He’s accomplished a lot.”
“That’s an understatement. Rafael’s done more in a few years than most men will accomplish in their lives. But we’re sitting in a room full of men with great accomplishments. One day Rafael will be no different from them. Until then, he has one thing on all of them.”
“What’s that?”
“Isn’t it obvious? His youth. His energy. His attractiveness…”
I distracted myself from Cheryl’s comments by cutting my food like I was working a saw. I shoved enough food into my mouth to fill it up entirely then proceeded to prepare another bite. I nodded to her to show that I was listening but didn’t look at her.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed,” she said. “It’s the first thing everyone says. Even the men. Rafael is quite handsome, don’t you think?”
Cheryl wasn’t paying attention to her dinner at this point. Instead, she held the glass of wine up next to her face. I looked into her eyes and her grin was just as suspicious as it always was.
Does she know something? Rafael said something to her. Is it that obvious?
She stared at me and waited for my response. I wasn’t sure what the right thing to say was, so I decided to just be honest.
“Yes,” I said. “He’s handsome. It might be the money. It might be the suits. It might be because he knows how to run his company. I’m sure any woman would find that attractive.”
“Indeed. I’m not an exception. I find Rafael quite fascinating, in more ways than one. Alice, I’m going to tell you something and I want you to keep this between you and me. You know, woman to woman.”
“Of course.”
What was she going to tell me? I’m not ready for this…
I braced myself for anything she could tell me. I already knew about the past she had with him. I didn’t want to hear that there was something more. Her voice was dripping with an enthusiasm that made it clear she was still fascinated with him. I was jealous and I wasn’t sure I could contain myself.
“Rafael and I, we had a thing in the past,” she said. “It was nothing serious. I was a bored young woman who was dragged to a conference by her brother. He was a young CEO trying to make his mark in a world full of stubborn old men. We found refuge in one another. We never saw each other outside of the conferences. But it became a regular thing.”
I listened intently to all of the details she was giving me but pretended to be
disinterested. I nodded my head and chewed on my food, constantly reminding myself to remain cool.
“Every single time the International Business Conference would roll around, I would pack all of my things and prepare for the best sex I ever had.”
I grabbed the glass of wine and gulped it, hoping that it would calm me down. I didn’t want to hear the details of their most intimate moments. But I just had to know. I remained silent and hung on every word she said.
“But something is different this time around,” she said. “We haven’t done a single thing since he’s arrived.”
“Is that so?”
I tried to contain my excitement. I had to stop myself from smiling. It was childish of me to appreciate this and treat it like good news. I was partly ashamed of my jealousy. But it was the truth. That’s just how I felt.
“Yes, he hasn’t so much as touched me,” she said. “It’s curious. We never openly discussed it. We agreed that whatever we did would be just that and nothing more. But for some reason, we haven’t done anything.”
“Maybe he’s just busy. Maybe he just hasn’t had the time.”
I was throwing out excuses for Rafael even though I knew they weren’t true. I had already been with him once this trip. I was the only one. While I contained my amusement at Cheryl’s dilemma, she pondered the reasons I had given her.
“You’re right,” she said suddenly.
“Right about what?”
“Rafael being busy. Every night, he’s been up late conducting meetings with representatives with every company in sight. But he’ll make time. I can see it.”
“See what?”
“That look in his eyes. That look of desire. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed it before. I don’t see how you would have, since you’re just his employee. But Rafael gets this look. He stares at you so intensely that it’s unmistakable. It’s a look of lust and desire. And I’ve seen it burning inside of him when he stares at me. He’s just biding his time. I’m sure I’ll get him to see things my way and remind him of all of the fun we used to have.”
“Maybe. I… I don’t know what Rafael’s thinking.”
