Summer's Surprise || MaAn ||

Chapter 1 | Anuj

This is my own personal version of torture, darlin'. In years past, I've managed to dodge that Modern Millennium work retreat with some pretty believable excuses—mostly that I was too darn swamped with work to jet off anywhere.

But this year, my boss wouldn't have it. He insisted I needed to cozy up with my coworkers. Ain't that just peachy? So here I am, stuck in Texas for a week, at some so-called lavish lakeside retreat, even though we've got California right in our backyard. Go figure.

The ice in my glass clinks as I try to squeeze every last drop out of my whiskey and coke. Not my usual choice, but it was the only thing they had ready at the company's welcome shindig. That measly glass of champagne they handed me at check-in wasn't nearly enough to endure this first night.

My coworkers are all mingling in a crowded room, chattering about everything from work to family, munching on fancy appetizers. I forced myself to schmooze for an hour before deciding that was more than enough. Truth be told, it was an hour too long for my liking, but I made my presence known and now I need a breather. We all arrived late tonight, so we should've had the night to ourselves, but nope, they had to throw in a cocktail hour to force some team bonding.

Not my idea of a good time, let me tell ya.

I could only dodge so many questions about my personal life before I felt like I was suffocating. Back at the office, it's all business, and most folks there mind their own beeswax. But there's something about being in a different state, surrounded by lakeside beauty, that makes my colleagues think everything's fair game—including my love life.

It probably doesn't help that they all know I had a little fling with my assistant. I'm usually a stickler for the rules, so I made sure HR knew when things started heating up between us. Riley ain't the type I typically go for, but her quirkiness and bluntness grew on me. I started to develop real feelings for her when I showed up at her place one day and found her with a guy she swore was in her past.

We never had the talk about exclusivity, despite my feelings. In the end, she chose him, and we kept things professional at work. Still stung, especially when my whole team knew something was up. I prefer to keep my personal life private, but I bent the rules for Riley, and all it got me was uncomfortable conversations with my colleagues.

The air in the pool room is a tad humid, making my button-up stick to my skin like glue. I could leave this enclosed space, but that means risking bumping into someone I know. Once they're done socializing in the dining area, they'll likely spill out onto the well-lit patio. I'd love to be far away from all of them, but I'm not quite ready to call it a night and retreat to my room.

As I look up from my empty glass, I catch sight of a young couple emerging from the water. The guy wraps a towel around the gal, and they cozy up to each other. I'm fixated on them when a body plops down in the chair next to mine.

"Do you know them?" a soft voice asks from my side.

Tearing my eyes away from the couple, I focus on the intruder in my personal space. She's giving me a once-over with those raised eyebrows. "Well?" she prods.

I set my empty glass on the nearby table and sit up in my lounge chair. "Why's it matter to you?"

She flashes a smile, her plump lips showcasing a set of pearly whites. "I'm appointing myself as the neighborhood watch, or should I say, the poolside watch. Just making sure you're not some creepy Texas hotel pool murderer or something."

I arch an eyebrow. "That's oddly specific."

She shrugs, her sun-kissed shoulder moving gracefully. "People are into all sorts of weird stuff. I've heard it all."

I can't help but twitch my cheeks to stifle a grin. "Oh, really? How so?"

Her long jet-black hair cascades over her shoulders as she turns toward me. "Podcasts. I'm a sucker for 'em."

"Well, maybe I should be the one concerned here."

She scrunches her nose. It's one of the most adorable things I've seen, and it's coming from a stranger who's invaded my quiet time and accused me of being a serial killer. "If you're not hatching any evil plans, tell me why you're sitting alone at an indoor pool, looking like you're ready to attend a board meeting."

I glance down at my outfit, well aware that my loafers aren't the typical poolside footwear. My crisply ironed khaki shorts and powder blue button-down shirt aren't pool attire either. But hey, I didn't plan on being here; I just needed an escape from the endless small talk, or worse, prying questions about my personal life...or the lack thereof right now.

Her knee grazes against mine. "Your silence is making me consider a quick getaway."

My gaze lingers on the space where our knees touch, and for some reason, I don't pull away, even though I probably should. I fixate on the fact that she doesn't move an inch either.

"I just wanted some alone time," I finally reply, emphasizing the 'alone' part to drive the point home.

If she gets the message, she doesn't seem to care. "So you're out here brooding?"

Turning to face her, I'm no longer gazing into her coal eyes as she grabs something from the other side of her chair. Her slender arm reveals a large bottle of champagne, held high in the air. She presents it proudly, "Well, now you can brood with a side of alcohol."

"Did you miss the part where I said I wanted to brood alone?"

She holds the bottle to her lips and deftly removes the foil, producing a small thud as she sets the trash on the table between us. "I'm Anupama, by the way," she says nonchalantly, completely disregarding my earlier comment.

"Need a hand with that?" I ask, observing her struggle to uncork the champagne.

Her eyes roll, and she bites her lip in concentration as she pushes even harder with both thumbs. To gain better leverage, she clamps the bottle between her toned thighs.

I scoot down on my lounger, attempting to put some distance between me and the impending champagne shower.

Finally, with a loud pop, she releases the cork, sending champagne spraying in every direction, coating both of us. Anupama squeals with laughter as the sticky liquid settles on our skin.

I wipe champagne off my face, shaking my head at her. "Did you really have to aim that thing right at me?"

She chuckles and takes a long swig from the bottle. "Maybe I could've avoided it if you'd told me your name."

Once she's done, she extends the bottle toward me. Deciding to go with the flow, I grab it and take a generous gulp. After putting the bottle back down, I offer her my name. "I'm Anuj."

"Anuj," she repeats, savoring the sound of my name on her lips.

~~~

Before we dive into this, let me set the record straight. This ain't some sprawling epic with a gazillion parts. Nope, it's a short, snappy standalone story with seven parts. Been chillin' in my drafts for a hot minute, and I figured now's the perfect time to unleash it since my other fic updates are taking a snooze.

Happy Readinggg!!! <333