by Mia Mills
“I’m honestly glad your love life is really colorful…How is the sex by the way?” She excitedly asks.
I choke on my food and immediately grabs a bottle of water and gulps it down. Khloe laughs so hard and rubs my back.
“I bet the sex is great isn’t it?” She teases.
“Why do you have to ask that? I almost died here.” I chuckle and cough in between my words.
She laughs almost falling off her chair.
“I have to! It’s essential you know.” She continues to laugh.
“Yeah, the sex is great, and he’s very rough but caring at the same time,” I reply and places the water bottle back on the table.
“That’s really great for you Maya. I’m happy you found the love of your life even in our busy schedule.” She smiles.
I smile back.
“By the way, do you have any plans of sending your usual extravagant gifts to your friends and family way back home?” She adds.
“Yes, actually. Although I wish I can just send then myself this time.” I frown.
“Me too. When are you planning to buy gifts? Let’s buy them together.” She replies and grabs another bottle of water on the table.
“Of course I agree with that. I’m going to need your help since I am not good at playing tug-of-war with a lot of people especially it is already a Christmas rush.”
“Ha! I remember last Christmas that you lost a pair of gloves to a child.” She laughs.
“Yeah, I distinctly remember that…and it’s embarrassing.” I cover my face as I feel my cheeks heat up.
“Do you have any wishlist? Mine is still not complete yet.” Khloe complains.
“I don’t even have the time to start making wishlists, but I actually have a good idea of what I will give my loved ones this year.” I confidently reply.
“Lucky you.” She says as she finishes her food.
“I don’t know why, but somehow I feel like I’m bad at buying gifts for my loved ones.” She says as she stands to put the boxes in the trash bin.
“Well, you just got to think hard about what they really want for Christmas,” I reply and finishes my food as well.
“What do you want to receive this Christmas, Maya?”
“Hmm…” I look at the ceiling and cup my chin using my thumb and index finger. “Quite frankly, I want to receive new skiing boots. Mine are kind of crappy now.” I reply while looking at Khloe in the eye.
“What do you want to receive this Christmas?” I scrunch my eyebrows.
This is actually my style to drop this question towards the people I want to give gifts every Christmas. If I want to know what they want, I just have to ask casually, so they won’t notice that I’m actually adding that to my wish list inside my head.
“Hmm…I think I need a brand new phone.” She surely says.
“But that’s expensive don’t you think, Khloe?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Yeah, but my phone is getting crappy too. I know that it’s expensive, but it’s worth a shot.”
“Do you have other things you want to receive?” I ask diverting her attention to other things.
Of course, a brand new phone is quite expensive to give to a friend. I’m a generous person, but that’s just too expensive for my budget.
“Well, I can’t think of anything right now. I can accept anything, to be honest. Why are you asking, Maya? Will you give me a brand new phone this year?” She teases.
“No, I can’t afford a phone, but I can just give you a hug.” I chuckle.
She walks towards me and tickles my sides, and I wiggle like a worm.
“Stop it!” I laugh.
She laughs as well, sitting beside me on the couch and resting her back.
“Oh, and I better warn you about burning yourself too much this peak season.” She says positioning herself properly on the chair.
“I always do my best. Why?” I raise an eyebrow being stuck in confusion.
Damn, Khloe sure knows where to get the latest news around her.
“I hear that the owner of this ski resort is just around the place.” She lowers her voice.
I drag my chair close to her to keep our conversation discreet.
“Really? How come they don’t visit the ski resort?” I ask while whispering.
“Well the original owners of the ski resort is a medallist couple, but apparently they got separated, and they passed the business on to their only son—which is our actual boss by the way.”
“Oh, so it is a he?” I emphasize the word he.
“Yes, and he’s really handsome.” She places her palms on her chin.
“What? You already saw our boss before?” I push my head back out of surprise.
“Well duh, of course.” She brags.
“Do you at least know his name?” I ask and raises an eyebrow.
“His name is…um…” She scratches her head and looks up at the ceiling.
“What?” I excitedly ask while leaning forward to her.
“I think his name starts with letter A. Or S?”
“Oh come on, I hate guessing games,” I complain.
“No, I’m not making you guess. It’s just my memory is not as sharp as before.” She says while looking down.
There’s a silence for a moment, and I burst out laughing.
“You’re not that old Khloe, and no matter how old and forgetful you get, I will still be your friend.” I lean on her shoulder and wraps my arms around her waist from the side making her lean sideways.
She laughs and wraps her arms around my shoulders as she hugs me as tight as she can.
“I guess I spend too much time submerging myself in the snow that it actually freezes my brain.” She cracks.
Our laughs echo the room as we take our lunch break. I grab a big bar of chocolate from my bag and hand some to her.
“Here. Eat some chocolate to refresh your memory, you silly girl.” I tease and lets out a chuckle.
“Thanks, Maya.” She says as she takes a bite of the chocolate.
“After you finish your chocolate, let’s head back to work immediately since I don’t want to leave the guests in the snow outside alone, and they might need my help.” I stand up from the couch.
“Of course, you’re the workaholic.” Khloe teases while wiping the sweets from her mouth.
“I just love my job that’s all,” I reply as I go outside in the freezing snow.
Chapter 21
Sean
I manage to pull over my car in front of the ski resort even with snow covering the whole ground. I open the door of my car and put the keys in my pocket as I head towards the entrance to the resort. I scan the place and looks up to see the beauty of the whole resort which gives a great view of the entire mountain.
My feet almost can’t get through the thick snow on the ground as a trail on the ski resort just to see Maya. It’s actually my intention to tell her the truth about me today.
The truth that I lied to protect myself.
As I go inside the resort, I open the door to the entrance and see an employee who is bowing his head, trying to welcome me.
“Good day Mr. Harrington, what brings you here at the resort?” His warm and calm voice soothes the whole area.
“Hi, is Miss Goodwin around?” I politely ask.
“Oh, Maya and her friend Khloe is on top of the mountains with some guests. I believe it’s their last guest for the day, sir.” He replies.
“Oh, she’s with a friend?” I ask.
“Yes sir, she and her co-worker Khloe is teaming up since Maya can’t handle that large number of people to accommodate all at once.” He responds.
I am expecting her to be alone tonight, but I guess shit happens. Well, especially for me.
“Okay then, I guess I’ll just wait for her outside.” I march across the room and head to the entrance door.
“Thank you.” I wave my hand goodbye as I reach the doorknob, twisting it open.
I turn my head to the side of
the resort and I spot a small shack supply that looked cozy as an instructor’s lodge. I make my way inside.
It’s not heavily decorated like most parts of the hotel, but I bet Maya does her best to tidy up the place to make it seem better than it actually is. After all, it’s still part of the resort and should match with its overall vibe. Nice thinking Maya.
She might still be busy on top of the mountains, guiding and teaching the guests on how to ski. I’m very proud that she is helping and inspiring people with her passion for skiing.
I think I’ll just wait for her here outside. She is bound to return soon since her shift is nearing its end. A stream of positive and negative thoughts race inside my head as I sit on the wooden stairs right in front of the entrance to the door as patiently wait for Maya’s return.
My mind is battling with telling the truth to Maya. If I tell her, she might get angry at me for making her look like a fool. Even worse, that she might get the impression that other employees will think badly of her.
Her being branded as someone who is smooching her boss just to rise up in power is not exactly ideal.
On the other hand, if I don’t tell her that I am her boss, someone will eventually tell her, and she might get upset about why I didn’t just tell her who I am.
I just wanted to keep a low profile. I just wanted to be that regular guy who likes to ski during the cold, winter months. What I fear the most is to meet a woman who is just after my money then we’ll break up when I don’t have enough money to sustain her needs.
Fine—maybe I’m overreacting with the whole losing money scenario. But, I’m definitely not overreacting when it comes to gold-digging bitches leeching off of my money. That’s exactly how my parents fucked up their marriage.
I don’t need have time for anyone who will just use me for my money. If that’s all that women are going to be, then I’ll pass, thank you very much.
But Mariah is not hopefully like that.
I sigh and tilt my head to look at the sky. The small flakes continue to fall down, promising a long winter season ahead. Sometimes, I wish the snow would stop to make way for the lush green landscape to take over. Then, I can take Maya out for picnics over the mountains.
Still, if the winter season will be long, more people will get to enjoy the snow, including Maya. Not to mention, I earn more profit from it.
Even if I don’t tell Maya often, she means the world to me. Countless women had already walked in and out of my life—most, if not all, out of my volition. No one has ever come close to making me feel anything as Maya has.
You can say that I will be forever grateful that I met someone like Mariah Goodwin.
I chuckle as I reminisce about the first time that we met each other. Mariah was confident. She knew she loved to ski and did everything she could to keep on doing what she loves.
I remember when I went out in the freezing snow just to keep me sane, away from the boring things that came with owning this resort. It just so happened skiing outside is a great way to take my mind off of things.
I will always be thankful for skiing on that fateful day.
My conscience can’t take it anymore. I need to tell Maya the truth. I’m sure she will take no offense even if I am her boss. It may be weird for others, but frankly, I don’t give a fuck.
I love Maya. That’s all that matters.
I don’t want to disappoint her by not telling her the truth. I don’t owe anyone an explanation except Maya. I want to tell her everything about me because that’s kind of how trust works, right?
She trusts me, so I need to trust her too.
Maya is not like other women I’ve been with before. She doesn’t get intimidated by how financially stable I am. She just wants to be with someone who she enjoys hanging out with someone who cares and gives her a good time. And that someone is me.
But she needs someone who is real. She’s a strong woman who wants to make her dreams and goals resonate with her work.
I am excited to see her today, as I always am. She makes me happy even though I don’t tell her every day. She deserves all the best things in life, and I hope that I can give it all to her.
My mind-boggling thoughts suddenly disappear when I see a group of people heading towards the resort. I squint my eyes to get a better look.
I see Maya, all clad in her skiing gear, walking with who I presume is her good friend, Khloe, while talking to their guests. I’m sure they’ve done an excellent job even with that large number of guests under their wing. We won’t have patrons without them.
I wanted Maya all to myself tonight, but I guess I’m just unlucky today. I honestly just want to talk to her and wrap my arms around her waist like we always do, this very instant. Unfortunately, the co-worker is cock-blocking me from doing that right now.
I observe them from afar, sitting in front of the supply shack where I think Maya loves hanging out. Good thing no one still notices me—blending in with casual clothes seems like the best decision.
Don’t get me wrong; all my clothes are still as expensive as it can get. They’re just not as flashy as the ones I typically wear. That will just defeat the purpose of camouflaging, right?
I take a better look at her friend. I’m sure I’ve met her friend, Khloe, before. Perhaps during one of the company parties or some other gathering that wasn’t all that interesting to remember. If I recall correctly, she’s been here for far longer than Maya has.
I recall from the reports that Khloe is also a very accomplished ski instructor, but not as popular with our crowd as Maya. Still, the mere fact she’s still here means she does her job well enough for her to keep it.
I’m thankful Maya has someone like Khloe to help her with the guests. I’m sure it can get taxing at times.
The guests are now entering the ski resort, finally turning in for the day. I can finally approach Maya. I sigh and take the initiative to walk towards her.
I try to calm the hastened beating of my heart with a hand over my chest. Why do I suddenly feel so anxious? It’s not like anything bad will happen, right?
Their faces get clearer as they make their way towards the shack. My eyes immediately fixate upon Maya, unable to look at anyone else.
She’s just that kind of woman that you simply notice first. That wave of confidence just sucks you in, and it’s so hard to pull away from it.
I feel this weird sensation in my stomach—think butterflies or constipation? God! I don’t even know. I breathe in and muster up the courage to finally make my presence known.
“Maya!” I call out her name, waving my hand in the air to catch her attention.
“Hey, Sean!” She responds with a smile that radiates like the sun.
Her angelic voice echoes inside my head. I suddenly stop and stare, feeling a sense of euphoria just from that. All my thoughts are just—
Gone.
Chapter 22
Mariah
Thank God this shift is over! The mountains are starting to frost up heavily as we make our way down to the resort via the cable cars. It’s getting dark, and it’s necessary that we get back down before it gets too dark to see.
Disembarking from the cars was done with relative ease. Our group was already tired from all the skiing earlier. They made their way back to the safety of the resort with haste, eager to get their much-deserved rest.
I, for one, am not tired at all. My heart is longing so much for Sean right now. I just want him to hold me in his warmth and kiss the stress of the day away.
I’m aware that he’s quite the busy man. Perhaps he’s still working right now, as I finish my shift. No matter, I’ll just prepare to surprise him in his room! I know just the perfect lace and latex look that’ll catch his attention.
But first, Khloe and I need to close up the shack.
For the first time, I genuinely feel all this is a hassle. I just want to get this over and done with so I can see Sean already.
“Let’s pick up the pace, Khloe! I really wa
nt to go wash up!” I say as I tug on her arm.
She starts laughing at me and pushing me to the side, “Geez, lover girl! Get a grip! We’re almost there.”
I start trotting towards the shack, only to find myself seeing a glimpse of a man in front of my favorite spot. I squint my eyes, unable to make out the face. Could it be another customer? At this hour?
“Maya!” I hear a familiar voice coming from the figure. It starts waving presumably at us.
It takes a while before I finally make out just who the mystery man was. My body heats up, and I run towards the figure. A wide smile paints on my face.
“Hey, Sean!” I exclaim before throwing my arms around his neck.
I feel so elated right now! I didn’t expect him to be free, let alone be here to fetch me. It’s a rare occurrence, and I’m thrilled he’s here. Sean is such a sweetheart!
God, he’s so perfect!
My lips find their way to his skin as I start to pepper his cheeks with love kisses. I will never get tired of kissing Sean like this. My hands cover his cheeks, and I give him a big smooch directly on his lips.
I teasingly lick his bottom lip, away from Khloe’s direct line of sight, of course. She’ll tease me non-stop if she saw how I shower Sean with smooches. Not that I’d mind though.
I stare into his eyes as it twinkles under the sunset’s light. I feel like I’m being baptized in the warmth of the sunset’s rays. Being with Sean like this feels like magic.
“Sean, what the hell are you doing here??” I ask, excitedly.
A smile creeps across his face as he lifts me into his arms, twirling me around. Laughter erupts from my mouth as I get whisked in the air.
“Sean! Put me down! Come on!” I yell happily, hitting him playfully on the arms.
He sets me down before kissing me gently. “I just came by to say hello. And ummmm,” he stops, lowering his voice. “Uhhh, I want to talk to you in private.”
“Wait! Before that, I want to introduce you to someone super important to me!” I happily exclaim.
