Maybe, Baby

Eleven

The view from my room faced directly towards the open sea. I saw how the blue-green of the water touched the sky blue on the horizon with scattered white fluffy clouds, the softest shaped ones I had ever seen. I couldn't help but gape at every single thing around me.

The luxurious resort was enormous. On our arrival, a small cart awaited us in the lobby. With complimentary tubes of Champagne and warm smiles, a few members of the staff explained the tour. The thickly accented voices were friendly and welcoming. I think I saw a few blushes whenever Mr. Westbrook's attention turned to the female present. Even at night, the lights and flowers stand out through the rustic feel of the stone against the wood. The water of the massive central pool shone with the moonlight and ambient light around it. Tropical music blasted through the speakers in certain areas, and bars and small stands were explicitly placed around the room.

We had been the lasts one's of our party to arrive; the others were already inside one of the many restaurants having dinner before the first day of business for the resort. Good thing I had a good sense of wearing long pants. Even in the Caribbean, the temperature dropped a few degrees and added the wind. It turned a little chilly, not like one of the companions of the other businessmen, who had opted for a skimpy dress and now shivered without control beside him. Candice, was her name, had introduced herself by trying to hold the shivers off her shoulder. I found it odd that her companion hadn't offered his jacket or anything else. Mr. Westbrook had stood up in the middle of the speech that one of the men was giving, walked towards the waitress standing quietly in the corner. I watched from my seat as the woman nodded frantically. She proceeded to the farthest table in the room. She started setting apart the complicated table to take off the mantel and pass it to my boss, who walked directly to Candice and placed it over her shoulders.

I knew he was a decent man. I knew he was a gentleman, but he didn't like to put himself inside people's business or call attention towards him. That was why he had numerous assistants. He didn't like being out in the open. It was precisely how Jameson had described him. He didn't want to have anyone invading his privacy. Which brought me to the thought; what was I doing here?

When we all had been introduced, I silently thanked the gods that at least three women accompanied us. Older than me but yet women, maybe more would be added to the party at the opening tomorrow. Still, right now, all three of us had stayed mute throughout the whole evening, well counting out the introduction and handshakes. Just like Sandra said, I glued myself to Mr. Westbrook's hip and didn't separate until he left me in front of my bedroom door.

All the hidden excitement was able to finally break through once the door closed behind me. I couldn't quite grasp the fact that I was so damn lucky to be here, working.

I woke up at first light, thanks to the alarm on my phone, and I was ready before he knocked on my door. Breakfast would be served from early morning until eleven-thirty, but the earliest was best since we were set up with more people. The rest of the first group trying out the resort would start coming at noon, and I assumed that we'd be familiarized with half the central area around that time.

I had chosen to wear white capris and a powder blue top and sandals with a beautiful design. Comfortable and straightforward and yet nothing revealing. I didn't want anyone to think I was there for anything less than work, including my boss.

"Morning Dolores."

"Good morning sir." His eyebrows lifted at the use of the word he hated, but I couldn't help it. It was an automatic response to whatever he talked to me.

"I hope you had a good night rest, today is going to be longer than yesterday."

"Sir?" I didn't quite understand the use or dryness of his words. If he didn't like this kind of thing, why had he come in the first place?

"Where is breakfast again?" I was sure he remembered. He hardly forgets anything. If it was a way to make me stop wondering about what he had just said, I couldn't care less. All that was in my mind was not messing up or embarrassing him in front of these people.

Our party had started coming in. Again, sitting at a big round table, we ate amicably and exchanged thoughts. Well, they did. I just sat quietly beside my boss and listened to their comments and foolish complaints about; AC, water pressure, and the softness of the mattress. The woman Candice wasn't present and when I asked about her the man that had brought her just replied that she was 'exhausted' with a cat-like smile. I felt immediately repulsed by Paul Chambers when he looked up and down at me before even knowing my name. His eyes on me made me want to gag, and he was doing it again as we all walked for our first visit down the beach.

"Dolores."

"Yes." My head snapped towards the soft voice calling my name, and my heart stopped racing inside my chest.

"Hold my hand."

"What?"

He didn't wait for my brain to unfreeze. His hand held mine. He even lazed our fingers together. I stared down at our hands for the longest, well, until he pulled me forward, making me walk.

"Sir I don't think we should do this."

"Quiet Kirby and smile." I turned to the others; a few had noticed our arrival. Which had also taken in our linked hands. I tried smiling, I really did, but I felt the corners of my mouth trembling every single time I tried to. At least I was blushing, or it felt like my face was on fire. Maybe it was the fact that the day was getting warmer with every minute that passed. At least it helped to make me see as 'the shy girlfriend.'

We sat down with drinks under the shade of tall palm trees and warm white sand on our feet. The waves crashed continuously, turning the sand a few shades darker made me zoom out and just look away, turning my attention to the open sea. I should have been paying attention. I should have noticed the set of eyes on me. I should have not stood up and walked away from when the sexists jokes started. I was the only woman in the group. I had only done it because of the warm feeling on his hand on mine or when the fine hairs of his bare arms brushed mine. I felt electricity, but that was just me. I was sure of that, so I had to move away before I grew accustomed and missed it later.

The beach was empty, so it was just me and my thoughts as I sauntered under the warm sun. It was still a little bit early for the water to turn warm, but the feeling of it brushing my feet was refreshing. I could quickly get used to all this and accompany him to events like this, where I could indulge myself with things I could have never imagined.

"Miss Kirby." I turned to find the smug smile of Paul Chambers too close to me. I stumbled back, almost falling down on the water, but he moved fast and held me just in time. "Are you ok?" I amused him. My sense of self-preservation told me to run, and I would have if his hand weren't grabbing me by the waist.

"Yes. Yes thank you." I stepped back, and he followed me.

"Don't run away from me," he said c*****g his head to the side. I guess he was trying to look innocent. "I just want to have a nice chat with you." It wasn't even eleven in the morning, and his breath smelled like he had two full bottles of rum. I tried not to scrunch at the foul smell of body sweat and alcohol coming from him.

"Sorry. I have to go back."

"To cold Westbrook? You're with him?" His fingers were digging on my hips painfully, I don't know if he noticed my pain face, but he wasn't stopping. "Answer me girl."

"Y-yes!"

He pulled me more closely, making his hips almost touch mine. I started to push him back away from me. I didn't want to make a scene by screaming, but as time passed and he didn't budge, it felt like I would have to do it soon if he didn't stop. The more significant issue was that I had walked far away from the hotel, too far. We were still on the property, but no one but us and the seaweed on the floor.

"Let go, please."

"I'm not hurting you."

"I'm not going to say anything to Liam," I had to say his name to make him believe we were together. "You're hurting me." I kept pushing and trying to get him to loosen up his grip. He held harder, and I bit my lip, trying to control a cry of pain. All I could think of was the word r**e and how stupid I had been to just assume that I would be safe. And all I could think was 'Mr. Westbrook is going to kill me'.

“Let me go."

"I will if you let me do something."