บท 10: Time For Work

Arec's POV:

The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was how quiet the room was. I could hear nothing but the faint hum of the air conditioning unit.

The soft sheets brushed against my skin as I shifted slightly, careful not to disturb the woman beside me. She was still asleep, her breathing steady and calm.

The previous night had been a blur of whiskey and passion, and though I couldn't deny that she was stunning.

The way her hair fell in loose waves across the pillow, the curve of her body wrapped in the white sheets, it all painted a picture of perfect serenity. A picture that, on any other day, might have made me reconsider my stance on relationships.

But not today. Not now.

I didn't have time for distractions, no matter how beautiful they might be. My life was too busy, too complicated, to even entertain the thought of something more.

This, whatever "this" was, was meant to be a one-time thing. It had to be. Anything else would be a mistake.

She stirred slightly, her lashes fluttering as she began to wake

Immediately, I shut my eyes, sinking back into the pillow and pretending to be asleep. I could sense her confusion as she blinked, adjusting to the morning light filtering through the curtains. I kept my breathing steady, trying not to smirk as I heard her begin to move.

The morning after is always the most awkward. Especially for women, I imagined.

She shifted in bed, moving slowly and carefully, inch by inch, as if trying not to wake me. I could almost feel her uncertainty, the hesitation in her movements. If only she knew I was wide awake, watching her every move behind closed eyelids.

When she finally sat up on the edge of the bed, I could feel her eyes on me, checking to see if I was still asleep. I kept my breathing slow and deep, fighting the urge to peek at her through my lashes.

Satisfied that I was still out, she got out of bed, moving quietly across the room as she gathered her clothes. Her dress, her underwear, and finally, her heels, all retrieved in silence. I watched as she held her breath, trying to tiptoe her way into the bathroom.

I had to bite back a laugh.

I could almost hear her heart pounding in her chest, probably from the shame of having to sneak out of a one-night stand's room in the morning. It was amusing, in a way. The awkwardness, the silent retreat, it was all part of the unspoken dance that came after nights like these.

After a few minutes, she emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed. She tiptoed toward the door, her heels in one hand as she crept quietly across the floor.

Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment. She hesitated, glancing back at me one last time. I stayed perfectly still, feigning sleep, even though I could feel her gaze on me.

Then, she slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her with barely a sound.

As soon as I was sure she was gone, I let out a loud, uncontrollable laugh. I couldn't help it. The whole situation was absurd in a way that was both hilarious and pathetic. I didn't even know her name, not that it mattered. It wasn't as if I was going to see her again.

"What a shame," I muttered to myself, still chuckling as I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling.

The room was silent again, the soundproof walls ensuring that my laughter didn't carry beyond these four walls. It was almost eerie how still everything was. But I didn't mind. Silence was something I was used to. It gave me time to think.

With a sigh, I reached for my phone on the nightstand. A quick glance at the screen showed two missed calls from Sam and several messages from my grandmother. I ignored the texts, nothing good ever came from opening those, and instead returned Sam's call.

He picked up on the first ring. "How was she? Did you make her scream?"

I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile. Sam's bluntness was one of his more irritating qualities, but it was also what made him so damn entertaining. "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, Sam."

"You're no gentleman, Arec," he retorted, his voice laced with amusement. "Come on, man, tell me something. Seriously, did you do the deed?"

I shook my head, a small smile playing on my lips. Sam's naughtiness never ceased to amaze me. "No kissing and telling, Sam. I've got to get ready for work, but if you must know, I enjoyed myself."

He let out a high-pitched screech, making me pull the phone away from my ear. What a diva, I thought, rolling my eyes.

"Bye, Sam. Got to go." I hung up before he could respond, tossing the phone onto the bed as I stood up.

I stretched, feeling the muscles in my back loosen as I let out a sigh. Last night had been fun, no doubt, but now it was time to get back to reality. There was no point dwelling on what had happened. I had work to do, and today was going to be a long day.

I called my driver, instructing him to bring my briefcase from home and to pick up my car from the club's parking lot. I'd go straight to work from here, no point in making a detour.

As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie, I couldn't help but think about the woman who had just left. She had been beautiful, yes, but beyond that? There was nothing more to it. It was a fleeting encounter, just like all the others.

If I had more time, more room in my life for something other than work, maybe things would be different. Maybe I'd be open to the idea of dating, of getting to know someone on a deeper level. But right now? I didn't have that luxury. Relationships were trivial distractions, and I couldn't afford any distractions.

Today, I had a new assistant starting - one Miss Ella Davis. The thought of training someone new wasn't exactly thrilling, but it was necessary. My last assistant had been incompetent, and I wasn't about to let that happen again.

Yeah, it was time for work. And for now, that was all that mattered.

With one last glance in the mirror, I grabbed my briefcase and headed out the door, leaving the remnants of the night behind.