The Unspoken

Chapter 6: Two Forces Collide

The glow of their phones cast faint light over the quiet hotel rooms. Jordan sat at the edge of the bed in Montura, a city nestled between concrete jungle. His suitcase lay open by the side, untouched since he checked in. 

In another city, in a different part of the world, Antalya was seated on a plush chair by the window of her hotel room in Jasura. The curtains were half-drawn, giving her a view of the city's skyline, but her attention was fixed on her phone.

They had matched on Tinder earlier that evening. It was a swipe neither of them expected to go anywhere. Jordan, passing time after another long day of meetings, had swiped right with little thought. Antalya, after a day of travel, had done the same more out of boredom than interest.

But then, his message arrived.

"Hi."

"Hi." She typed back, curious but cautious. 

Jordan wasted no time. "So, what brings a girl like you to this little app? Bored, or just looking for some excitement?"

Antalya rolling her eyes. Typical opener, but she could sense the playful undertone. "Maybe a little of both. And you? What's your excuse for swiping at this hour?"

"Would it surprise you if I said I'm just here for conversation? Deep, meaningful conversation?" Jordan's reply came swiftly, but even through the screen, she could sense the smirk behind his words.

Antalya grinned, tapping her fingers on her phone as she thought of her response. "Right. Because Tinder's famous for its intellectual discussions."

Jordan leaned back, enjoying the banter. "You'd be surprised. Some of the most meaningful conversations happen after midnight, especially on this app."

Antalya smiled, sensing a charm that was smooth but not sleazy. She wasn't sure what to make of him yet, "So, is this where you hit me with a deep philosophical question, or should I brace for a line about my eyes?"

Jordan couldn't help but chuckle. She was sharper than most women he'd matched with. That made her interesting, but it also fueled a quiet arrogance inside him. He could sense her interest—it was subtle, but there. He'd seen it a hundred times before.

"Depends," he typed. "Do you want deep or fun? I can do both, but I won't lie, fun's a lot easier."

"I bet it is," she shot back. "But you don't seem like the type who's here for 'fun,' right? What are you really looking for, Mr. NoNine Rider?"

There it was. His username. He could feel the conversation shifting. The way she said it felt intentional.

"So, business or pleasure in Jasura?" Jordan asked, leaning into the casual vibe but still testing the waters, when he saw her current location is Jasura City. 

"Business," she replied, leaving it at that.

"Same here. Just wrapped up a long day, all work, no play. PNatoil can be like that—high stakes, high pay, and a lot of pressure." He tossed it out there casually, knowing that most people found his work impressive. He waited for her to ask more.

But Antalya didn't bite. Instead, she played it cool, letting his words sit for a moment. "Sounds intense. But I guess that's what you thrive on?" she replied, careful to keep the focus on him without offering up too much about herself.

Jordan smiled at her response. She was sharp. Instead of showing interest in his career, she redirected it back to him, subtly challenging him to offer more.

"Yeah, you could say that. I've always liked solving problems, managing teams, troubleshooting when things go sideways. But there's a lot of freedom in it too—high pay, travel, being in control of things. Keeps life interesting." He let the last part linger, knowing it was a bit of a boast. But if she was anything like he thought, she'd catch it and throw something back.