Chapter 19
As Rhys continued smoking in the corridor, his attention was drawn to the figure of Riley approaching. She was engaged in a phone call, her voice animated as she conversed, completely unaware of his presence. Despite the distraction of her call, Rhys couldn’t help but find her captivating.
Her graceful movements and confident demeanor exuded a quiet charm that intrigued him, and he found himself drawn to her almost immediately. There was something about her that stirred a sense of curiosity within him, a desire to unravel the mystery behind the woman who had caught his eye.
As she drew closer, Rhys took a moment to appreciate her beauty. Her features were delicate yet striking, illuminated by the soft glow of the hallway lights. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence and warmth, and her laughter, even from a distance, was infectious.
Rhys couldn’t deny the pull he felt towards her, a magnetic attraction that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment. He was intrigued by the woman before him, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that their encounter was destined to be anything but ordinary.
If looks were enough to trip someone, Riley’s butt would have met with the pavement really hard. He literally couldn’t take his eyes off her. He had never been this attracted to any lady.
At first sight, he thought to himself, “I want her”.
Riley walked past him while he was still lost in his thoughts. He dropped the cigar to the floor and crushed the light off with his boots before hurrying after Riley who still seemed engrossed with the call she was having.
“Hey” He said as he rushed after her. Riley who was still on the car, turned to see a strange figure walking up to her.
“Hey” Rhys said after walking up close to her.
“Hi’ Riley said as she ended the call.
“I’m Rhys, and what’s your name please?” Rhys offered his hand.
“Riley,” Riley said as she accessed his hands, deciding if to accept the handshake or not.
Rhys withdrew his hand when she won’t shake him back. No one her ever turned him down, so it was a bit surprising to him that she wasn’t faded by his looks.
“Do you perhaps, have any time? I want us to hang out, If you do” Rhys said with a smile.
“No, I don’t. Sorry” Riley said, turning him down and then walked away before he could give a response.
Rhys smiled as he watched her walk away.”I like her” He muttered.
***
The second day of the get-together at the banquet was bustling with activity. The grand hall was filled with people mingling, enjoying the various shows and entertainment on offer. The atmosphere was lively, with laughter and conversation filling the air.
As Christian sat among his CEO friends, Rhys included, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. Despite the jovial atmosphere, he couldn’t shake the feeling of tension that seemed to hang in the air.
Suddenly, the conversation around him came to a halt as Laura made her entrance. Dressed in a sleek black silk gown that accentuated her curves, she looked stunningly beautiful. Christian’s breath caught in his throat as he watched her approach, unable to tear his eyes away.
“Wow, your wife’s really pretty, Mr. Asher,” one of his CEO friends remarked, breaking the silence that had fallen over the group. Christian nodded in agreement, his heart pounding in his chest.
Laura finally reached their table, her eyes meeting Christian’s briefly before she interlaced her fingers with his and greeted their friends with a warm smile. The rest of the group couldn’t help but stare in awe at her beauty, including Rhys, who found himself captivated by her presence.
“Hi,” Laura greeted them warmly, her voice melodic as she exchanged pleasantries with their friends. Christian forced himself to tear his gaze away from her, trying to ignore the knot of emotions that had formed in the pit of his stomach.
As the evening progressed, Christian found himself stealing glances at Laura whenever he thought no one was looking. Despite the complicated situation they found themselves in, he couldn’t deny the undeniable attraction he felt towards her, a feeling that only seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
He couldn’t get himself to act right. He had a wife, what was wrong with him? He had never for once, looked at any other woman since he had gotten married to Antonia. He wasn’t a cheater, so at that moment, he didn’t understand what was wrong with him.
“You look really pretty tonight” Christian heard Rhys whisper to Laura beside him. He was standing in between both of them.
“Since when did you two become close?” He said, just enough for Rhys to hear. “We’re not” Rhys responded simply.
***
As the dinner date continued, Laura’s discomfort grew, her tummy twisting with sharp pains. Panic fluttered in her chest as she realized what was happening – her period had arrived unexpectedly. She had calculated for it to start the next day, but it seemed that ovulation had other plans.
Feeling flustered and desperate, Laura quickly composed a message to Riley, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed out the urgent request. “Please get me a pad, I’m doomed,” she sent, hoping that Riley would see the message and come to her aid.
As she waited anxiously for a response, Laura tried to discreetly excuse herself from the table, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She made her way to the restroom, hoping to find some temporary relief from the discomfort she was experiencing.
Once inside the restroom, Laura took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. She quickly checked her purse, but to her dismay, she found that she had forgotten to pack any pads or tampons. Panic threatened to overwhelm her as she realized she had no way to manage the situation.
Just then, she heard a soft knock at the door, followed by Riley’s voice calling out to her. “Laura, are you in there? I got your message,” Riley said, her tone filled with concern.
Relief flooded through Laura as she hurried to unlock the door, grateful for Riley’s timely arrival. “Thank you so much, Riley,” she said, her voice wavering with emotion. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
Riley smiled sympathetically as she handed Laura a pad, her eyes filled with understanding.
“I love you” Laura muttered when she finally came out of the restroom.
As they both returned to the table, Rhys suddenly caught whiff of Riley. “Riley?” He called in surprise. He was surprised to see the woman he had met yesterday again, at the banquet, and with Laura.