ACQUIANTANCE
1980 Words
Tanya yawns turning onto her back, boredom getting to her.
It’s been a day since she and Alexander left Roman & Partner, Attorney at Law and he hasn’t contacted her since. She figures he’s too busy playing kiss-ass to his fiancée and father to think of her and honestly it doesn’t faze her.
Leaving a woman alone in an unfamiliar city by herself…such a smart idea.
At least he had the decency to leave her in one of the most popular hotels in the city…yet she’s been in her room watching TV like the inner introvert she is… she should be taking advantage of this opportunity and not stay locked away in her room.
She’s almost a hundred percent sure her husband is out and about with his fiancée.
Looking at the booklet they have in the room, Tanya browses the activity page and her eyes zoom in on the words Olympic size pool. That sounds fun.
Getting out of bed, Tanya walks towards her bags at the corner of the room and searches through it for the swimsuit she packed. She wasn’t too sure what could happen in Atlanta but her mother has always told her to be prepared, so whenever she leaves home an outfit for almost every occasion is packed.
Tanya pulls out the Ziploc with five pairs of swimsuits and starts going through it. She finally decides on a black bikini with thick silver straps, a French cut bottom and a top with a diagonal cut. It’s a TanRhode original, created in the living room of her apartment.
She puts on the suit, smiling as it fits like a glove before pulling on a floral tent dress and flip flops. She grabs a bag, her card and her cellphone on the way out deciding she might be at the pool for a while and Carmen will be off in roughly an hour.
Once Tanya had awoken yesterday, she immediately informed Carmen that she was there safely and early this morning Carmen had replied, saying she’ll call in the afternoon when she’s off.
The time difference is just three hours so it’s not that taxing on them.
It’s ten minutes later when she finds the indoor pool and her mouth drops at the size of it. They aren’t joking when they say Olympic size.
The area is lit with bright yellow lights and it almost looks like the sun is shining in the area. People move about, the buzz of conversation echoing around the room and she raises a brow watching the attractive males that prance around.
Now she knows why the does flock to the watering hole…the bucks here have some mighty fine antlers…Damn…
Tanya finds herself a lounge chair as a pair of blonde girls exit the pool area, leaving their spaces up for grabs. As Tanya perches herself on the chair, a shadow falls upon her.
Tanya looks up, her eyes trailing from a pair of tight-fitting red trunks to a firm and ripped abdomen to a broad chest and finally landing on a handsome face. She tries hard not to look back down on the front of his trunks, because let's be honest he’s packing mighty fine antlers… not as much as Alexander but let’s be honest Alexander’s obviously part alien.
I mean it’s so bi…wait, why am I thinking of that jerk when a fine specimen is standing right in front of me? Priorities, Tanya. Tanya mentally scolds herself.
“Hello,” she says at the man, taking note of his shaggy brown hair and mischievous green eyes.
“Bonjour, belle ... Puis-je m'asseoir à côté de toi?” he asks with a thick and seductive French accent…
“Huh?” is her reply coming out a little husky and he chuckles, before translating.
“I asked if I may sit beside you?” he says gesturing to the chair and she nods, before gulping as he bends forward to put down his belongings and his muscles ripple.
“I am Louis,” he introduces sitting beside her. “…and what’s your name, belle?”
“Tanya,” she says holding out my hand for him to shake and he surprises her by bringing it to his lips, planting a kiss on it instead.
Oh la la…
“Well, Tanya,” he says, caressing her name gently with his voice which causes Tanya to flush. “If, you are not waiting on anyone…I’d love if you could take a dip in the pool with me…”
Her subconscious tells her to decline the offer because the look in his eyes telltale of heated, erotic intentions, after all, she’s married she shouldn’t be doing this… Then again, as Alexander says this is a shame of marriage so it’s not legit. She isn’t even wearing her ring anymore, after all, it has no symbolic meaning.
Looking at Louis, she bites her lip and decides to hell with it. If Alexander can have a fiancée, why can’t she have an acquaintance?
“Ye—” she goes to answer when her phone rings, causing her to pause.
“Give me a minute,” she says before looking at her phone screen to see an incoming facetime from Carmen.
Had it been any other person she would’ve said to hell and take Louis up on his offer but this isn’t just anyone.
“I’m sorry Louis. I have to get this,” she says to him and he nods, caressing her hand.
“I understand, belle… Perhaps when you’ve finished your call,” he says standing and making his way to the edge of the crowded pool.
“Perhaps,” she sighs as he dives into the pool, giving her a good look at his physique…damn!
“Hey T...” Carmen says from the camera screen as she accepts the call.
“Hey Car,” Tanya replies, her eyes glancing over to Louis who strokes through the water, muscles rippling and all.
“What are you watching or should I ask who since you’re drooling?” Carmen asks in amusement, her tired face appearing blurry on screen. “Is it that hunk of a husband of yours?”
At the mention of Alexander, Tanya looks at the screen with a roll of her eyes and Carmen frowns. “Uh-oh. I know that look. What has el gringo done now?”
Tanya sighs before explaining to Carmen what took place over the trip to Atlanta and she listens attentively, unable to withhold her shocked, knowing and disgusted looks as the story progresses.
“Es muy tanto,” Carmen says, heatedly after hearing the words Alexander said to Tanya. “I warned that gringo, it seems to me he wouldn’t like to keep his balls intact.” He is very stupid.
“Don’t even worry over him, Car,” Tanya says with a sigh as she relaxes on the cotton lounge chair legs bent. “I’m not. I just want this marriage to be over so I can move on with my life…”
“I hear you, T,” Carmen says with a sigh, relaxing in her sofa, face free of makeup and her body covered by a huge T-shirt.
“Hm. So, how is my little buddy?” Tanya asks, eager to see James.
“He’s on a school trip, so I have complete silence until six this evening. Estoy muy cansada… Necesito domir…” I am very tired… I need to sleep.
Tanya chuckles as Carmen makes a funny face, snoring dramatically to further prove her point of being tired.
“Go get some sleep,” Tanya urges her friend with a smile. “…and tell James I said hi and that I miss him very much.”
“So don’t you miss me too? Or are you just using me to get close to my son?” Carmen asks with a pout causing Tanya to giggle, loudly.
“Yes, I do miss you…Now go to bed… Later Car.”
“I will,” she says yawning before blowing a kiss at Tanya. “…kick that soon-to-be ex-husband of yours’ ass for me, won’t you? Laters babe.”
With that, she ends the call and Tanya huffs as Alexander’s dismissive behaviour plays over and over again in her head. He doesn’t deserve her nor should she even think of his cheating ass.
“Pig…” she mutters under her breath in disgust.
“Are you referring to that the soon-to-be ex-husband your friend mentioned?” a voice asks from beside her and Tanya nearly falls off the chair in surprise.
Louis is now seated beside her, wet from head to toe and the sight of water droplets dripping down his body looks really yummy…
“I’m sorry for scaring you. I just happened to overhear your friend’s parting words,” Louis says, a sympathetic look on his face. “I’m sorry to hear about your divorce.”
Funny, how his tone doesn’t fit his words…
“I’m not, we were doomed from the start anyhow,” Tanya replies with a shrug, looking at the handsome man in front of her.
“Well, I am sorry that soon-to-be ex-husband doesn’t notice what a beautiful woman, both inside and out, he’s losing…” Louis says turning up the charm and Tanya bites her lip, raising a brow.
“I agree but that’s a bit farfetched, isn’t it? Seeing as though you don’t know me?” Tanya counters, wanting to see what he will say next.
“Well, that is my hypothesis. Why not allow me the chance to know you better and either prove my hypothesis wrong or right?” Louis smirks and Tanya finds herself intrigued.
Fuck Alexander and this half-assed marriage. There’s a guy right here ready to get to know her, when her husband may be balls deep in Priscella St. Lieu right now.
“Sure, why not?” Tanya shrugs before standing to her feet. “…but first I need to take a dip.”
With that, she slips the dress over her head and she hears his sharp intake of breath. Smiling, Tanya walks towards the pool, diving into the water. The coolness surrounding her and Tanya’s nerves relax… a dip is what she needed.
Pushing to the surface, she whips her wet hair about and looks towards Louis who watches her with darkened eyes.
“Why don’t you come in? The water is fine…” she suggests and he nods rapidly, diving into the water evoking giggles from Tanya.
***
Their laughter fills the halls as they exit the elevator and make their way to Tanya’s suite.
“I didn’t know they had an arcade here,” Tanya smiles, as they walk down the hall. “I had so much fun and I owned your ass on dance revolution.”
“Yes, you did. I have to say you’re light on your feet,” Louis complements as Tanya stops in front of her room door. “You are a great dancer.”
“Thank you, it’s my passion,” Tanya says with a wink, pushing her frizzy hair from her face. “Well, this is me…”
Louis looks over her head at the room number and nods. “235…right…Well, you have my number. I’d love to take you out tomorrow if you’d permit it?”
“Is Mr. Pierre asking me out?” Tanya teases before smiling with a nod. “I’d love to.”
“Great Ms. Rhode,” Louis grins in triumph before taking Tanya’s hand, raising it to his lips. “Shall we say noon tomorrow?”
“Sur—”
“What’s going on here?”
They both turn their heads simultaneously to gaze at Alexander who stands a few feet away from them.
He’s in a grey suit, his hair is messy and has a pissed off look on his face. Alexander’s eyes wander over the pair, taking in Tanya’s short dress and frizzy hair and Louis’ muscle shirt and red swimming trunks. His eyes zone in on her hand in Louis’ and Alexander’s eyes seem to darken.
Not wanting to be in his presence any longer, Tanya moves to end the stare-off.
“Thanks for following me to my door,” Tanya says attracting Louis’ attention before stepping forward and kissing his cheek. “I’ll text you.”
Alexander’s temper starts to rise and Tanya can almost see steam rising from his ears. Louis looks at her in question ‘Will you be okay?’ his eyes read and Tanya nods, reassuringly.
“Okay, I’ll be looking out for that text, belle. Au revoir.”
With that, he walks away, passing Alexander who stays frozen in his position, staring at her. Tanya waits until Louis has disappeared around the corner to roll her eyes and swipe her card, stepping to her room.
“Tanya,” she hears Alexander growl, his footsteps coming towards her door and she rolls her eyes for the umpteenth time.
What’s his problem now?
- Writer
