*Alejandro*
Seeing Anna with another man fueled something within me. She had a slight smile on her lips, and she seemed to be having a good time with the man, who couldn’t stop looking at her from time to time as they made their way to the entrance.
My legs moved forward, but a hand held me back, “why the rush? Let’s walk slowly.” Clara said. I had almost forgotten that she was with me. She linked our hands together. She waved at those who waved at her, her smile, which had turned annoying, not leaving her lips.
If I had known earlier that Jane would be in this show, I’d have a ticket, and Anna would have been beside me, not Clara. I didn’t bother to wave at those who waved at me anymore. I feel like my day has been ruined already.
“What happened to you?” Clara asked.
“What?” I asked back, though I knew something had changed. My eyes don’t leave Anna, who now has her hands linked to the man. “You are suddenly quiet. Did something offend you?” She asked.
“No, everything is fine, ” I said. Anna and the man entered. They were out of view. I wanted to push Clara to the side and walk towards them. Maybe pull them apart or something. “Then at least smile a little,” Clara said; she tried to turn to me, but I didn’t spare her a look.
“You don’t tell me what to do, Clara,” I said through gritted teeth. I can’t explain why I was suddenly feeling angry, but Clara’s voice wasn’t anything I wanted to hear.
She didn’t say another word as we walked towards the entrance.
My eyes searched for Anna as we stepped in.
A man in a gray suit walked to us when we stepped in; a glass of wine was in his hand. He wore a smile on his face. It took me a while to recognize him. “Alejandro, I never thought I’d see you here,” he said.
I smiled back, a little pissed that he was obstructing my search for Anna. “How have you been? I heard you came back not quite long,” he said. We shook hands. A woman walked to his side. Her chocolate brown hair cascaded down her neck.
“How long will you be staying?” He asked.
I greeted his wife, whose eyes quickly moved to Clara’s hand wrapped over mine. Clara held me closer, sensing her look, and I was tempted to push her away, but I held back.
“I’ll be staying for quite some time,” I said.
My eyes studied the big hall, which had been beautifully decorated. Round tables were set up, and half had already been occupied. The stage was set, too. “This is Clara, my friend,” I said, moving my hand from her hold.
She smiles and shakes hands with them. I hope my little introduction clears whatever Mrs. Justin has in mind. Mr. Johnson was an old friend of my father. It was safe to say we were like family friends.
They had a daughter who passed away. And once upon a time, everyone thought we’d end up together, though we both knew that would never happen.
We were friends, close friends, before death came to snatch her poor soul from the earth.
“Come home for dinner sometime, son.” Mrs. Justin said.
“Of course. I’ll make sure to. I miss your dishes,” I said, and it was true. Mrs. Justin is a full housewife and cooks well.
We chatted for some time before bidding goodbye.
Clara tried to link her hands to mine after we left, but I stopped her, “Don’t. Or are you too old to walk on your own?” I asked her.
“Come on, you are my date, remember?” She asks. My eyes searched the hall for Anna. But I couldn’t see her. “Don’t take this too far,” I warned sternly.
Everyone here has a date, but no one is clinging to the other as if their life depended on it.
Clara pouted but refrained from wrapping her hands in mine. She pointed to a round table, and we walked towards it. I looked around it, searching for Jane, who was the reason I was here but she wasn’t here yet.
There were four of us at our table. People chatted happily. It was clear that this wasn’t just a show. Like any other elite party, which was not just for fun and merriment, this was another show where people got to know each other.
Businessmen use this opportunity to find those worthy of doing business with. Everyone was mingling and chatting happily.
The host takes the stage and welcomes everyone. That was the moment Jane walked in, taking all the attention for herself, “I think she waited purposely for this moment,” Clara said. She poured herself a glass of wine and twirled it around her finger before bringing it to her lips.
I agreed with her. The host wasn’t given much attention, but he still went on. The muttering of the crowds didn’t stop even when Jane took her seat.
It was clear that this was one of the reasons many people were here, including myself. Jane sat two tables away from ours, “you said she would sit close,” I whispered to Clara.
“Isn’t she close enough?” Clara asked. I wanted to respond, but I knew that would not be futile, so I held myself back. I felt someone looking at me but turned and saw nothing.
After a while, Lisa and her team climbed the stage. She first captured the audience with her beauty. She wore a silver gown, which perfectly accentuated her shape.
Her cleavage was exposed.
She sat behind the piano prepared for her and placed her hands on it. Soon, a sweet sound emanated from the piano. Everyone was awed by not just the beauty of the song but the elegance with which she played the piano.
She was in the spotlight. Others played different instruments behind her.
After she was done, the hall erupted in a clap. She stood up and bowed. Some stood. This was a perfect performance. Now all that was left was finding Anna before she left and also speaking with Jane.
I was conflicted about which to do first.
I chose to find Anna. And just as fate would have it, I saw a familiar stiletto walking toward the restroom when I looked to the side. That was Anna.
“Isn’t that your Secretary? What is she doing here?” Clara asked.
A guy followed her. He held her hands, but she flung it off, turned, and glared at him. “Oh, I think she found someone to latch onto.” Clara said, “Clever girl,” she chucked and sipped from her wine.
I recognized the man who stopped and allowed her to walk without holding her back. I had seen them together earlier.
Who was he to her?
Without a word, I stood and walked in that direction, “where are you going?” Clara whispered, but I walked ahead like I didn’t hear her.
There was a door which led to the balcony. It wasn’t a restroom line, I had assumed. Anna stood there holding the rails. She had her back towards me, “Why are you here?” I asked.
She turned. A look of surprise flashes through her face, “Alejan… I mean, boss,” she said softly.
“I wanted some fresh air, and…” she paused, “Did you follow me?” Her eyes raise slightly.
I cough. How can she ask that blankly, “Not really, I came for some fresh air too.” I said and took a step forward. I held the rail, too. “You came alone?” I asked.
“No. I came with a friend.” She replied.
“Oh, you mean the man that had been standing with you…?” I asked before I could stop myself. It was no business of mine who she came with or stood with. I understood this perfectly, but then.
“You’ve been watching me?” She asked, one side of her lips pulling upwards. Her hair danced in the wind. She had mild makeup on but could easily pass for the most beautiful girl in the hall.
“Not watching per se,” I said, partially true. I couldn’t find her after she stepped into the hall. “But I did see you,” I said. I wanted to say more. Tell her how pissed I was when I saw her with another man.
“Oh…” she said.
We stayed quiet. I didn’t want the conversation to end. I wanted to keep talking, but there was nothing to talk about. I held the rail and watched as she held the rail and moved her body back.
I could still hear music from the room, but that’s none of my business right now, and it seemed Lisa wasn’t done with her show yet.
My hands touched her, and she froze. I turned to her, and she did, too. We stood there watching each other. We see each other daily at work, but it feels different now.
We barely spoke, and it was always work-related. “How are you?” I asked her.
She moved her hands from mine. I missed the warmth of her hands.
“I’m fine,” she said.
My eyes rested on her lips, and I remember the first time I tasted them, the first time we met. “I didn’t know you’d be here today,” she said.
Maybe she felt it was awkward to stand here without speaking, too. “I didn’t know either. It was last night that I…” I stopped. I was talking too much.
“You look beautiful,” I said.
There’s now a pink touch on her cheeks. She bent her head and tucked some loose hair strands behind her ears. “Thank you, boss,” she said.
I frown at the last word.
“It’s Alejandro,” I said.
“What?” She asked.
“Call me by my name, like you’ve always done.” I said; she touched the bridge of her nose, “but how can I? Things have changed, and you are not just any man but my boss,” she said.
That was true. But for some reason, which I couldn’t place my fingers on, I didn’t want to be just a boss to her, “We were friends before you began working for me.” I said.
She nodded and held the rails with one hand.
“Call me Alejandro when we are alone, even at work,” I said.
“Yes, bo… I mean, Alejandro.” She said.
We went back to being quiet.
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. She froze. My eyes met hers. I moved my hands to her cheeks. My heart beat wildly behind my chest. My eyes rested on her lips, and I wanted to taste it right here and right now. She swallowed and parted her lips, and that was all the invitation I needed before I leaned towards her.
Her lips were as soft as I had remembered, and they tasted sweet. I snaked my hands around her waist and pulled her closer to me. She wrapped her hands around my neck.
She kissed me back with the same intensity. Hot, hungry, and wild.
I slid my tongue into her mouth, and she parted her mouth, tasting every corner of her mouth. She moaned. My hands roamed around her body. She pressed her breast into my hard chest.
She has been holding back as much as I was. She wanted and loved this as much as I did. This made me want more. It drove me insane.
She pulled away, and I stared into her eyes. Her lips were slightly swollen. I didn’t release her from my hold, and she did not attempt to move away.
I didn’t want to stop, so I held her hands and pulled her away from the balcony. We need to take this elsewhere.