''Looks like the market is in for a rough week.'' Olivia said, casually sipping her Mimosa and glancing at the tide rising in the distance. Her maxi dress and unpacked hair blowing in the wind.
Alexander Westmore is bemused. ''You follow the market?''
She removed her gaze from the inviting water in the distance and glanced at her companion who had been ignoring her since they had arrived at the beach house. Her eyes danced with a mischievous glint. ''I analyze the market when I have a lot of time on my hands,'' she said. She saw the confusion in his eyes. She was a Literature major, and his research into her life wouldn't have contained her various certifications in business and financial analytics which had earned studying online. ''I've picked up a few things here and there,'' she ventured, her eyes on the horizon.
He made no response.
Olivia donned her straw hat and stood up. She was bored to death and the beach was calling to her.
''I'll be by the ocean,'' she said to no-one in particular and strolled barefooted into the beach, her feet digging into the warm sand as she walked.
Melissa watched her briefly as she walked into the beach.
''You could try to keep a conversation with her,'' she said, her face not hiding her displeasure. ''She's a sweet girl.''
Alex raised his head from his papers. ''I'm paying her well for her services. Do I also need to entertain her?''
Melissa shrugged. ''If anyone is going to believe she's Miss Carter, you have to at least, get used to each other.''
He considered the house keeper's words. ''That's the whole idea of bringing her to the beach house.''
She wanted to say he was defeating the purpose by ignoring her, but she pursed her lips. She knew when not to push too far.
Alex glanced at Olivia who was now running in the water. She might have access to his life right now, but she'll never be more than a pawn in his game.
''Even a pawn can become a game-changer,'' Melissa said, reading his mind. Alex's head remained buried in his paper.
***
He noticed her too much that evening as he sat on the couch, pretending to be busy with his phone. His eyes seemed to have found a new delight in her face as time and again, they found their way to Olivia. She sat just across the room, her smile captivating, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight. Sometimes
their eyes met and he felt a jolt of electricity race through him, as if his heart had suddenly skipped a beat.
His irritation grew proportionally to the frequency with which his gaze returned to Olivia. He knew it was irrational; he had more important things to think about. But he couldn't deny the effect she had on him - this effect that had begun subtly since the day she ran into him in the kitchen.
He watched her laugh, and the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear drove him to distraction.
She sat with perfect posture, one hand patting her cat on her lap, the other holding a wine glass. The candlelight cast a soft glow on her skin causing it to radiate with brilliance.
He watched the exchange between both women, straining to catch their words.
"It must be the wine," he thought to himself, his gaze darting back to Olivia and the half-empty glass in her hand.
He had to clear his head. He tossed his phone on the couch, downed this glass of wine and walked out of the house. The air was still outside but cool. The quiet solitude of the beach was exactly what he needed. For a few minutes, he just stood there, letting the beauty of the moment soothe his troubled mind.
For a man like Alex, attraction was the enemy of focus. It was a weakness that could cloud judgment and compromise his ability to achieve his goals. He had always prided himself on his discipline and single-mindedness, traits that had allowed him to rise from the lower rungs of the ladder to the top of his industry.
Could he maintain this discipline in the face of such a powerful attraction?
For the last few years, Alex had been consumed by his wealth and power. But in the face of his feelings for Olivia, all those sensations seemed pale in comparison. There was something about her, something indefinable, that set her apart from the hordes of beautiful women he had always encountered.
He wandered on for several minutes, his thoughts lingering on this new dilemma.
The sight of something sparkling in the moonlight caught his attention. It was a necklace. He had seen Olivia wearing it that afternoon. He picked it up and examined the gemstones. It was a simple but beautiful piece.
''I have to return it,'' he said, although it was actually just an excuse to see her.
His strides quickened as he approached the house. The rational part of his mind was arguing against what he was about to do but his heart wasn't listening.
He approached her room and tapped softly on the door, waiting for any sign that she was awake.
After a moment, he heard movement within the room, the rustle of bedclothes, and then the click of the door unlocking. She stood there, wearing a large top that fell halfway across her thigh, her hair packed up in a neat bun.
"Mr Westmore..''
"I'm sorry for waking you," he said, his voice gentler than he intended. "But I found this outside. I think it might be yours."
She reached out to collect the necklace, but instead he reached out to her waist, pulling her against his body and devoured her lips in a passionate kiss. Her initial surprise gave way to something deeper, something more primal. Her hands found their way to his shoulders, drawing him closer still, and he lost himself in the embrace, the night and the world beyond their little bubble of heat and desire fading away.