What Could Have Been

Chapter One

Thirteen Years Later

The penthouse apartment was huge and modern, with gleaming hardwood floors, delicate features and a panoramic view of the bay. The whole city looked like Christmas had omitted on it, but not a single holiday decoration sat inside the expensive and tastefully decorated home.

Everything was meticulously maintained and of the highest quality. The kitchen appliances alone cost a small fortune, but only the coffee machine had been used.

A smattering of huge abstract art canvas' lined the floor to ceiling white walls, following along the corridor and opening up to a massive master bedroom with a raised king sized bed sitting in the centre of the obsessively neat room.

Rebecca shifted underneath her satin sheets contentedly, blinking open her eyes as the filter of light cascaded through the windows and onto her face, warming her awake.

She opened her eyes slowly, watching the dart of movement at the bare shoulders of a black-haired woman, wrapped in a towel.

The businesswoman sat up slowly, watching the woman's movement with a sly grin as her eyes traced the curves slightly hidden by the towel.

The woman turned to face her, seeming to sense her eyes, holding a toothbrush.

"I hope you don't mind," the woman husked out, a voice that sent a spike of pleasure in memory of last night through Rebecca's mind. "There were like ten new ones in the cabinet."

She smiled coyly, and Rebecca amusedly realised that she didn't even remember the woman's name. Only, that they had met last night at a bar, had a fascinating conversation and proceeded to have marathon sex well into the small hours of the morning.

"It's not what you think," Rebecca answered. "I lost a bet to a friend who helped take a toothpaste company public."

The younger woman smiled, before dropping her toothbrush in the waste backed and walking towards the wing-backed armchair in the corner of the room, grabbing the sleek black dress draped over it. She dropped the towel and stepped into it, zipping it up slowly while Rebecca followed every movement.

"Did you mean what you said about Tuscany?" The woman asked.

Rebecca recalled that she had whispered promises of things she would do to her in Italy with a spoonful of gelato in the New Year.

"Of course I did," Rebecca replied, envisioning the sure to be fun trip already.

The other woman hummed, reading for her shoes.

"Last night was great..."

Rebecca gave her a smug grin, noticing the raised hickey she had left on the younger woman's tanned shoulder.

"You are an amazing lover," the brunette said in a happy voice. "You should be giving motivational seminars."

The other woman laughed.

"Thanks. You're not bad yourself..."

Rebecca smiled, reaching for her gold inlaid watch on the nightstand, slipping it on and closing the clasp.

"I want to see you again," she hummed out.

"I'd like that, too," the woman answered.

Rebecca jutted her chin forward.

"Tonight."

She let out a light scoff.

"It's Christmas Eve, Rebecca."