Lisa
I'd often wondered what it would be like to wake up next to Jennie Kim. Even though I wasn't in the same bed as her, I felt like I was floating as I looked over to see her sleeping peacefully in my bed. Every ounce of me pulled me towards her, including my morning blood rush, but I simply covered myself with a pillow, in case she woke up, and padded across the carpet toward the bathroom.
After a much needed, ice cold shower, I slid into a pair of boxers and tank top while stepping back into the bedroom. She was awake now and rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning." I said and her eyes snapped to me as if she'd forgotten that I was here. I couldn't help but smile as her eyes unabashedly roved over my body, from my triceps to my calves. Then she blinked and looked away, totally embarrassed.
"I was going to go grab some breakfast." she told me. "Then maybe head over to my old room for a shower and to help Prija with my things."
I nodded and she rose to go. I tried to ignore the swing of her hips in those tiny little shorts but called out to her as she reached the door.
"Wait." I said and then I strode over to her. I reached up and placed a hand in her hair, mussing it up a little with a smile.
"What was that for?"
"You want to put on a show?" I asked. "Let's give the maids something to talk about."
Her eyes widened when she understood what I'd done and then she scurried out of my room to fetch herself some morning nourishment. I chuckled to myself as I headed to my closet and located my favourite navy suit. I took my time getting dressed, pulling on my shirt and tie, fastening my cufflinks, while straightening my collar. I checked my phone as I stepped into my shoes. One missed call from Irene and about a dozen texts from Danny. I sighed and slipped my phone into my pocket before heading to the door.
"Morning Nan." I said once I arrived in the kitchen, going to the cupboard for my mug and heading for the coffee pot.
"Good morning, Ms. Manoban." she replied, with her lips quirked up in a knowing smile. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I poured myself a mug of coffee and then turned to face her, while leaning on the counter behind me.
"Out with it, then."
But she only smiled.
"It's just nice to see you so happy, Ms. Manoban." she told me with a shrug and then returned to tidying up the kitchen after having made breakfast.
My smile faltered and my shoulders fell slightly at her words. Happy. Was I happy? Was that all it took for me to forget about the stress of the last five years? Just for Jennie Kim to walk through my door again? If that was the case, I thought with a frown, what would it feel like when she walked back out?
"Thank you, Prija." Jennie's voice called suddenly from the hall just outside the kitchen and I got a peek of Prija striding down the hall toward my room, with a pile of clothes in her arms. I smiled as I started to fill my to-go coffee cup and Jennie entered the kitchen, smiling at Nan before her eyes landed on me. "Lisa."
"Happy Anniversary, darling." I said, while striding around the counter and heading straight for her where she stood in the doorway. When I reached her, she gazed up at me, totally wide eyed and on edge.
There was something about the way she looked at me. Something about the adoration that always laid just beneath the abject fascination. There was desire there, of course, a heavy attraction between us. But there was something else there too. A deep fondness for Lisa Manoban that no other woman in this country had ever shown me.
It softened me towards her but it also made me more bold around her, more comfortable. I knew we had rules and I would never be the first to break any one of them. But it had been her idea to make things more believable around Prija and Nan, one of whom was watching us now, watching a happily wedded couple greet each other in the morning of their sixth wedding anniversary.
So I reached down, placed two fingers under her chin, and pulled her face up toward me. Then I leaned down and kissed her, just a soft brush of my lips against hers. But I felt her tense up all the same, heard her breathing halt. Her eyes were closed but, after I pulled away, they fluttered open and locked onto mine. I simply gave her a smirk and breezed past her into the hall beyond.
"Stay on your toes today, thī̀rạk." I called back to her as I headed for the door. "Anniversaries are full of surprises."
Then I strode from the house, leaving her to think on that, and headed for Kevin awaiting me outside of the limo.
"Is everything arranged, Kevin?" I asked as I reached him.
"Sure is, boss." he replied with a knowing smile.
"Nan told you." I said, amazed at how quickly gossip made its rounds in my own home.
"Prija." he corrected, while opening my door for me.
"Ah, well, news travels fast."
"When it's good, Ms. Manoban."
With that, he shut my door and headed around to the driver's seat. I settled in for the ride to my office, already scrolling through my email before we left the driveway. I had nearly fifty to catch up on. The price of taking an evening off to enjoy with my lovely wife.
