The hardest obstacle I had ever had to face was to release her from my embrace. Every fiber of my body and mind urged me to claim her as mine, but it was too soon. I wasn’t ready.With a deep breath that filled my lungs with her fragrance, I stepped back. “I have something to take care of.” It hadn’t been a second I release her, and the longing to feel the warmth of her skin was nagging me. I gripped her hands, circling my thumb on her palm.“Okay.” She pushed the loose strands of her hair behind her ear.“I’m sorry about the way she spoke to you.”She shrugged. The corners of her lips lifted. “I don’t care.”She moved to hug me, and my hands encircled her. My chin rested on her head as she pressed her cheek against my heart.We stayed that way for a while before she pulled away. “You had something to do.”“Oh, yes.” I cleared my t

The wind ruffled my hair. The sounds of the beach were so lively and relaxing. After being a workaholic for years, it would be a lie if I said this forced vacation didn’t relax me.It felt like a long time since I’d enjoyed some family time. However, I also missed being at work. The constant itch to check on my emails was still there. I refrained from doing so because I promised Enrique. Another round of laughter caught my attention.Arianna––the mere name gave me a reason and pinned me in place. While everyone drank and chattered away, I sat there on the beach chair, sipping my beer.I let my gaze sweep around the beach. Arianna was in the water with the girls, playing and laughing. The sight of her smiling face brought a smile on my own. A sigh passed my lips. I could watch her smile all day.My hands went to my pockets out of habit, only to realize I was in swim trunks. Reaching for the phone on the table, I made a quick call to

“Here’s your coffee, sir.”I thanked Sheila and sipped the hot heaven, sighing in bliss. There was so much to do before I left for the business trip. The two weeks off had been wonderful. While I would give anything to re-live those two weeks, work consumed me. There were so many proposals and reports that required my attention.Two days had passed, and all I ever did was eat and work. I hardly had time to sleep with everything I had to do. Arianna was constantly at the back of my mind. Her face popped up in my mind in between, and she had called twice, which I missed.My headache returned as I skimmed through the papers. The investors in Europe needed numbers, and fortunately, we covered it already.“Have the reports ready this evening. I––”My cell phone blared for the sixteenth time, ruining my mood as Isabela’s name flashed on the screen. I’d deal with her in court. I turned the phone on sil

The plane touched down at the destination airport, jerking me out of my thoughts. I rubbed my eyes and stretched my aching limbs. Sleep evaded me the entire flight, as I could only think about her.Sheila had booked the tickets in economy since first class was full. First class sure had its perks when compared to economy. But the discomfort mattered less when I thought about the day I got to spend with Arianna.An hour and a long line to immigration later, Sheila greeted me at baggage claim. Her shoulders sagged with relief as she checked the time.“Here.” She handed me a steaming cup of coffee and a sandwich once inside the car. “Your flight arrived on time. We have enough time to make a quick stop at the hotel before heading over to our first meeting.”With a nod, I bit into the sandwich, glad to have something to my liking, unlike the food they served during the flight. The aroma of the coffee lifted my mood considerably. Sheila

Arianna SwansonThe sun’s rays infiltrated through the dark curtains. It did little to lift my spirits. My phone lay on the bedside table. No calls. No messages. Three days had passed, and it killed me from the inside out. Rosie called, complaining I was shutting her out again, but I was barely getting through one day at a time. This morning was no different.My body swayed when I slipped out of the bed. I gripped the wall, steadying myself, and made it to the bathroom. The next thing I knew, I was puking my guts out.“Oh, fuck,” I groaned, reaching for the tissues. I hadn’t puked since my seventeenth birthday. My eyes rolled into my skull as I rested my head on the edge of the bathtub, waiting for the moment to pass.It felt like a great achievement when I finally got dressed for the day. Only I couldn’t make it to work. This was the worst time to catch the stomach flu. Patrick, the bulldog of the office, wo