Left her childhood home, again. And swore that she is never coming back. Starting a new job in a different country sounded perfect. Until she met her boss, and now they have to figure out what are the feelings that they have for each other. The cher...
As soon as the elevator door opened, Cynthea noticed the sweet smell. The foyer was lit nicely with dim lights and there was incense in the air. She went straight to the front desk and asked where she would find the hotel bar. The young man pointed toward the other side where an almost hidden dark door was lit in a warm light coming from some hidden light fixtures behind decorative columns. She thanked him and turned toward the door. There was a muffled sound of instruments coming from that direction. However, it was not too loud and the music in the foyer was overshadowing it. Her shiny low ankle platform boots were making heavy sounds as she walked. She thought of putting on her sneakers. And then she changed her mind, as she was supposed to meet the leader of her team for the first time. Before she pushed on the door, she took a deep breath. She could feel how her ribcage expanded, and she tried not to think about how she would be more comfortable in her hoodie rather than in this thin satin blouse.
The first impression of hotel bars is always different. Some people might say that if they have seen one, they have seen them all. However, Cynthea found out that each hotel tries to sell its character in the design of the bar. This was no exception. When she looked around, she noticed that there were big windows on one side of the bar. Although right now it was dark outside, the lights from the street were shining inside and creating a colourful hue. Dark red sofas were pushed toward the windows and tables with chairs were placed closer to the bar. The area was separated by a panel with water bubbles lit in a warm light. The bartenders were moving quickly, delivering drinks and having conversations with the customers sitting there. Cynthea decided to move toward the bar, and then she noticed a green jacket that was shimmering in the lights of the nearest lamp. She looked around and made sure that there was no other person that could be Gala. The bar was not filled with many customers, so it was not hard to decide.
When she was only a couple of steps away from the person sitting at the very end of the bar in the green jacket with long wavy chestnut hair, their head turned and their eyes met. For a moment, Cynthea thought that she is looking at a picture. She has seen some beautiful faces during her life. Under the warm light of the lamp and the colourful hue coming from the outside, their skin glowed in a way that Cynthea only saw in movies. A smile suddenly appeared as soon as the person realized who finally showed up. It was so warm, and dark brown eyes had an attractive twinkle in them. She realized that she stopped breathing. A quick thought flew through her mind, as it did outside of the house earlier. It appeared and disappeared as quickly as lighting. She saw herself sitting in a classroom next to her close friend and holding her hand as she was drawing something into her palm with a pen. Her shin was soft and under the direct afternoon sun, it was more warm than usual.
She made a step toward the first acquaintance she is about to make in this new city when a bartender put two drinks on the counter. Their eye contact broke off as the person turned towards the glasses. For an instant, Cynthea wished that the eye contact was longer. Again, her heart rate sped up the closer she was getting towards the bar and the drinks.
"Welcome to Athens! I'm Gala," said the smiley face while holding both drinks and offering one to her. Cynthea smiled back and looked at the drink hesitantly.
"Oh, sorry. I should have waited for you with the order." Gala then put the drinks on the counter. Cynthea now had a chance for a better look at them and realized that not only the face was extraordinarily beautiful, the delicate hands with a perfect manicure and golden rings that only accentuated the long fingers were almost like a work of the finest sculptor in the world. There was another warm feeling like the one before when their eyes met. She cleared her throat.
"I'm Cynthea. Um, call me Thea. Nice to meet you," she offered a hand for a handshake. She wanted to touch the elegant hand and squeeze it for a moment. She wanted to see if it will feel in her hand as lovely as it looks. Gala slid their hand inside Cynthea's and shook it slightly. She was right. The hand was soft, and it felt like the two hands fit together as two pieces of some intricate puzzle which was long forgotten. A cosy feeling settled inside her chest. She then took a seat next to Gala. Her hand brushed momentarily against their jacket. It was made from a velvet-like material, and it made her think of the soft sofa that was now behind them. She could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks as she pictured them sitting there together and drinking while having a conversation about everything and nothing.
"So, what are you drinking?" Their voice sounded like a symphony. Cynthea looked around quickly and nervously because surely someone must have noticed how lovely it sounds whenever the words leave their mouth. But nobody paid them any attention.
"Aperol Spritz," Cynthea answered while looking at her hands resting on the counter. She felt nervous. And not only because of the warm feelings that were dancing inside her, but also because this was technically her boss that was sitting next to her. It's just a friendly drink, she thought and tried to calm herself.
"How was the flight?" Cynthea turned her head to look at the stunning face. Gala was leaning on their left hand and resting the other hand on the back support of the bar stool. They looked so relaxed. Cynthea wanted to look away when her eyes involuntarily stopped at Gala's chest. The elegant green jacket had a deep neck and where Cynthea was expecting a blouse or any other type of fabric, she only saw skin and two crescents which were neatly tucked under the jacket. She tried to smoothly move her eyes to some other target. She rested her gaze on the rings of Gala's right hand.
"It was all right, nothing exciting," she answered slowly. Her voice was a bit strangled.
"Here's your drink," a voice somewhere behind Cynthea announced. She turned and smiled at the bartender as she was taking the drink into her hand. Gala took hers and rose it up with a smile.
"Cheers to new beginnings?" They asked. Cynthea was taken aback. But she nodded and said: "To new beginnings."
...
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