Our Forbidden First Time

Chapter 3

***

Brenda had been Walter's secretary for only a week when she started her new job. She wasn't offended when Walter made fun of her, but she tried to stay neutral when he did praise her. Brenda knew Walter had a girlfriend, even though it made her heart race. She also knew that she was just a piece of his past. She thought Walter's fun behaviour was a holdover from when she was his student and he was her teacher. Brenda told herself that she still liked Walter the same way she did before. Not at all.

Brenda walked slowly into the office building because she was sure her handsome boss was already sitting down at his desk. She didn't understand why Walter was so focused on his work. He never left the office before 7 p.m. every day. and even past 10 p.m. The previous Saturday, they left the office at 5 p.m., even though most of the other workers had already left at noon. Brenda had to wait for Walter to finish his work every time because she was his secretary. Luckily, her flat was only 500 metres away from the office, which was very helpful. It was easy for her to get there on her bike.

Walter said he was working hard when he heard Brenda's footsteps coming up behind him. He had become even more of a workaholic, and he was even crazy now. He stayed at the office longer on purpose so that he could spend more time with Brenda. He could at least look at her face for a whole day this way.

Brenda entered the office, greeting Walter with a cheerful "Good morning, Mr. Walter!" As she settled into her desk, a wave of apprehension washed over her. The idea of sharing a workspace with her boss, a man she had once harbored deep feelings for, was both unsettling and strangely exhilarating.

She couldn't say no because Walter asked her to. When Julie found out that Brenda and Walter were sharing a room, she was shocked. Walter had never agreed to let his secretaries use his office. Walter didn't like it when people got in his way.

"Good morning, Brenda!" Walter said quickly, but he didn't look up.

Yet, a part of her couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement at his close proximity. The scent of his cologne, a mix of woodsy notes and subtle spice, wafted towards her, stirring a dormant longing within her.

"Please let me read out your schedule for today," Walter asked Brenda after she had been there for about 15 minutes.

"Of course, Mr. Walter!" Brenda said.

Her heart skipped a beat as she reached for her agenda book which she had made the day, her fingers trembling slightly. As she recited Walter's carefully planned day, a sense of admiration mixed with apprehension swelled within her. She couldn't help but be impressed by his meticulous attention to detail and his unwavering focus, yet the prospect of spending the entire day in his close proximity sent a shiver down her spine.

Walter said, "Okay, thank you," after Brenda told him about his plans. He was meeting with two clients that day.

Brenda asked Mr. Walter, "May I have your permission to take a break for lunch?" as her lunch break was coming up. He called her name just as she was about to touch the door handle.

"Let's have lunch here. I've already placed a delivery order. We'll meet with the clients at 2 p.m. so we won't be late, and you can pray in my private room!" Walter offered calmly.

"What? Your room?" Brenda asked in shock. She turned to face Walter and looked angry.

"Yes, my room. Is that okay? It's easier for you to pray here than on the third floor. It will save us time," Walter said, taking a remote control out of the box under his desk.

Brenda’s eyes widened in surprise. The idea of praying in Walter's private room was both unexpected and unsettling. Her mind raced with doubts and questions, but before she could voice her concerns, Walter's calm demeanor and the promise of saving time swayed her decision.

When a cabinet in the room moved, a door appeared behind it, which caught Brenda by surprise. As they entered Walter's private room, Brenda's eyes took in the pristine white décor, the sleek furniture, and the large abstract painting that dominated the wall above the king-sized bed. A wave of nostalgia washed over her, transporting her back to the three unforgettable nights she had spent with Walter in Bali five years ago.

The sound of curtains being drawn snapped Brenda out of her reverie, revealing a breathtaking panoramic view of the bustling city of Surabaya. She could almost picture the city lights twinkling against the night sky, a mesmerizing spectacle that she longed to witness firsthand.

Walter's gentle voice broke the silence,"I spend a lot of time here," woke her up from her dream. Brenda was scared when she heard Walter's soft voice.Brenda felt a pang of longing, a yearning for the intimacy they had once shared.

He gave Brenda a blank look and then took off his jacket and shirt, leaving them on the bed. "Would you like to freshen up first? There's a towel in the cupboard." Brenda's heart beat even faster when she saw Walter's broad chest under his sleeveless shirt.It sent a jolt of electricity through Brenda's body. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

While the shower was running, Walter tried to cool down from the sudden upheaval in his mind. He had planned to do ablutions at first, but when his body got warm all of a sudden, he decided to take a full shower instead. Walter didn't understand why being near Brenda always made him feel this way. He couldn't quite put his finger on the feeling. Walter thought about the love story he had with Brenda in the past, which had never really finished. He really wanted to talk to Brenda about it, but his pride kept him from doing so.

***

It was five years ago...

"Miss Brenda?" Walter yelled as he ran towards Brenda. He screamed a little out of breath and then bent over and put his knees together.

"Why are you here, Walter? Where are you going? Who are you with?" Brenda asked Walter over and over again while he took a deep breath.

When Walter saw Brenda's shocked face, he teased, "Is it fate, Miss? Oh, by the way, now that I'm not Miss's student anymore, can I call you Brenda?"

"Whatever works for you!" Brenda answered, and then she quickly left. It was already hard enough that she had only been her student for a month and a half, and now she ran into Walter at the Ngurah Rai Bali Airport.

Walter said, "I'm serious, Brenda. Will you marry me?" He grabbed Brenda's hand and hugged her.

"You're still talking about marriage? Get your studies done first!" Brenda yelled as she tried to get away from Walter. Brenda tried to push Walter away, but it didn't work. She found herself smiling by accident and enjoying the slight fluttering in her heart.

Walter grabbed Brenda's rucksack, put it on the bed and said, "Here, I'll carry this for you!" He then led her to the airport exit.

Brenda tensed up and tried to get away from Walter's grip. "Let go, Walter. Where are we even going?"

Walter asked with a sly grin, "Just come along, or should I carry you?" This made Brenda shiver with fear and shake her head no.

They finally got to a fancy lodge close to Kuta Beach. Brenda became scared as soon as she realised where they were. Walter led her to a room and put her rucksack on the bed, which calmed her down.

As Walter shut the door behind him, his words, "For the next three days, you're mine, baby!" rang.

Brenda was going to take a three-day break in Bali and then go back to Kalimantan. She thought it would be fun to go on vacation with a past student.

Walter and Brenda walked along the beach that night and watched the sun go down. They held hands like a couple in love. Brenda looked young, and Walter was tall, so they didn't look like a teacher and student. They looked like they were in love.

When they got back to the lodge after dinner, they talked about their school days. Brenda stood up to say goodbye, but Walter pulled her hand out of the blue, making her fall on his chest. They looked at each other and then kissed softly. Brenda's heart didn't want to give in to Walter's hug, but her body did. This sent her into a nightmarish spiral where Walter took something important from her.

A pain in Brenda's lower body showed up when she stretched. She suddenly broke down in tears when she realised she was naked under the blanket.

Brenda's cries shocked Walter. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Walter gave Brenda a hug and told her, "It's okay, you can calm down. I'll take full responsiBality, sweetheart. I really love you!" Late last night, Walter lost control, even though he had planned to date Brenda seriously. He wasn't ready to get married yet, though, because he still had dreams to pursue.

Going back in time...

The bathroom door swung open, revealing Walter, clad only in a towel that barely concealed his muscular physique. Brenda's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of shock and admiration coursing through her veins.

She ran into the bathroom quickly, her heart beating fast from stress.

Brenda rushed out of Walter's private room after she said her prayers. At the same time, Walter was still deep in a long prayer, asking God to forgive him for his sins. Was this a message? Did he have a chance to make up for his mistakes now that Brenda was with him? Walter thought that everything pointed to good things.

Ronald asked Brenda, "Sorry, Miss Brenda is still single, right?" This was after the partnership deal between Ronald's company and Lasmana Company was over. Walter raised an eyebrow because he didn't like how his business partner was treating Brenda.

"Yes, Sir," Brenda said with a polite nod of her head.

"That's good to know. Would you like me to introduce you to my son? He'll be taking over the company soon. I believe you'd be a good match for him," Ronald said with a happy grin. Ronald liked how polite Brenda was and, of course, how elegant she was. This day and age, it's not easy to find a daughter-in-law like Brenda.

Walter was annoyed by what Ronald said, but he tried to keep his cool and not show his feelings. He didn't want to hurt his reputation or the reputation of his business because of a woman who wasn't sure how she felt about him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ronald. We need to go back to the office to get ready for the meeting with the clients later this afternoon. Thank you again for your time and help," Walter said as he walked away, even though he was angry inside.

The car was eerily quiet on the way back to the office. Brenda quickly looked at her boss and saw that he was sad. No matter how cold Walter was, Brenda didn't care. She took earphones out of her bag and put them in her ears. As she closed her eyes, she became lost in the music. Her phone rang all of a sudden. When Brenda saw the name on the screen, she smiled big because it was someone she missed very much.

"Good afternoon?" Brenda asked. As she spoke, her face lit up, and Walter looked at her with interest as he noticed how happy she seemed the moment.

"........"

"Okay, see you on Sunday. I love you too," Brenda said as she closed her eyes again and hummed along with the song. She didn't notice that Walter's face was red as he tried to hold back his feelings. Walter was shocked beyond belief when he heard Brenda's beautiful voice. Her words hypnotised him, making him forget about his anger for a moment. Walter paused because he wanted to hold Brenda's hand and tell her how he felt.

Brain's ego said, "Come on, let that girl chase you. You're good-looking and rich, just charm her." Brainy almost put his hand on Brenda's, but he quickly pulled it away. He hit the driving wheel hard without meaning to, which made Brenda open her eyes. By looking out the window, Brenda tried to take her mind off of the long and uncomfortable trip by seeing Walter's sad face.