Summer's Surprise || MaAn ||

Chapter 2 | Anupama

My family's always called me the life of the party, and I've always blamed my upbringing for it. When you're dragged into endless business meetings and trips with your dad from a young age, you learn the fine art of striking up conversations with just about anyone.

I've never been the shy type around strangers, but I don't usually go out of my way to seek their company either. Yet there was something about the guy sitting in front of me that made me feel like taking a leap into the unknown.

Anuj.

I can't help but avert my gaze as he takes another swig from the champagne I snagged from my hotel room. Being dragged along on my dad's work trip wasn't how I'd pictured spending the last weeks of my summer before trading freedom for college and my so-called "grown-up" job.

Well, if working for your dad for a year counts as a "grown-up" job. It's all for the experience; I don't plan on being his lackey forever. I practically begged and pleaded with him not to drag me along on this trip. Instead, I had dreams of heading to the coast with my college pals for one last hurrah before we all embraced our adult lives. We had just graduated and were about to dive headfirst into the world of responsibilities. But it seemed like my dad had other plans, ones that involved me growing up a tad too soon.

The moment I spotted Anuj, I didn't mind being forced on this trip, at least not for a moment. He was exactly the kind of guy I usually avoided, the type my dad would approve of for me to date.

Something about the way Anuj glared at the couple across the pool drew me in. It was a mix of disdain and envy in his gaze, like he was repulsed yet fascinated by the way they interacted.

I had come down to the pool for some alone time, but that desire quickly faded when I stumbled upon him. It wasn't my style to boldly insert myself into someone's life, but with him, it felt different. I needed to know what was eating at him, why he looked like that. I was desperate to uncover the mystery behind a man who dressed as if he were attending a high-society dinner but was sitting alone by the pool.

"Cat got your tongue?" His deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Startled, I flashed him an apologetic smile. "Something like that."

Without thinking, I brought my hand to my lips and licked the sweet champagne residue from my skin. Some stickiness remained, but I'd managed to clean most of it off.

Anuj's eyes remained locked on me, the bottle hanging loosely in his hand. His intense gaze sent warmth coursing through my veins, and it wasn't from the humid air.

After a few moments, he shook his head, running his free hand over his face.

The bottle found its way to the space between us, and I seized it, grateful for another swig to ease the growing tension in the air.

"You know, I could ask you the same question," he finally spoke up.

Shifting in my chair, I felt the rubbery seat digging into the backs of my thighs. "And why do you say that?"

He cocked his head, causing the perfectly tousled chestnut locks atop his head to cascade to one side. "You're here alone at a pool with a bottle of champagne," he observed. It was as if the path of his eyes left a scorching trail on my skin as he leisurely surveyed my body. "Well, at least you're dressed for the occasion."

My eyes darted down to my outfit. I had thrown on a bikini top and a pair of cutoff shorts, not caring much about my attire as I rebelled against having dinner with my dad and his stuffy work associates.

The liquid was sweet as I poured it down my throat, wiping away the excess with the back of my hand. "Avoiding my family, a little rebellion, you know, the usual," I added with a toss of my hair over my shoulder.