I let my gaze carefully drift across the sun-soaked surroundings. Behind my sleek, black shades, no one could tell exactly where I was looking. I'd been assigned a very important task, and hell, I was determined to prove myself. My mission? Find that guy--the one who left a one-star review after just a single day at the resort where I work and didn't even leave a reason why. My manager took it personally, and when we take things seriously, it usually means a low-paid worker like me gets stuck cleaning up the shit.
I decided to take a different approach. There was no way in hell I was going to march up and talk to a pissed-off customer--confrontation just wasn't my thing. Nope, I was going to be creative. That's how I ended up lounging by the pool in my tight bikini, pretending to be just another carefree guest.
I strolled around, doing my best to look casual--not suspicious in the slightest. Just another girl in a thong, flaunting a sculpted ass that still had its charm. Sure, my modeling career fizzled out after a brief five minutes of fame about two years ago, but hey, the assets are still working overtime.
As I wandered around the sunlit pool area, I spotted him, at least I assumed it was judging by his looks. Sitting on one of the lounge chairs, utterly absorbed in whatever was happening on his phone. My target. My problem. My victim.
I took a breath, adjusted my tiny towel, and moved in a little closer, careful not to draw attention. Slowly, I perched myself at the edge of the pool, letting my feet slip into the cool water. The view in front of me was postcard-perfect--a vast, azure ocean stretching endlessly under the clear sky, the sun perched high and bright. The air was thick with the blend of salt and chlorine, that classic vacation aroma that almost had me convinced I was on holiday. Almost. But let's not get distracted--I wasn't here for the palm trees or the postcard-perfect skies. My real focus was the male in his 30s, lounging right behind me.
Settling into my spot, I kept my gaze fixed on the ocean, all while sneaking glances in his direction. I was trying to figure him out. What was his deal? What made him tick? I've always been good at reading people--better than most, actually. And the best part? I didn't have to say a word. Talking wasn't exactly my strong suit anyway; my anxiety made sure of that.
He raised his gaze from his phone and his eyes drifted over me, lingering just a moment longer on my body than I expected. I froze. Wait... was he checking me out? Did I blow my cover already?
Without giving it much thought, I tried to get up and shift away, hoping to avoid any attention. But of course, the ground was slick, my body was sweaty, and next thing I knew, my clumsy ass slipped out from under me. I took a dive, letting out a high-pitched squeak that luckily was quickly drowned out by the water that followed.
That's it. I failed. I thought to myself, sinking further into the water. Let it swallow me. I didn't even know how to swim. How was I supposed to finish the mission if I couldn't even stay afloat? I've really messed up this time, haven't I, manager? I've failed you.
I closed my eyes, ready to just sink into my humiliation. But then, someone grabbed my arm and hauled me up to the surface. I gasped for air, my lungs desperate, and when I opened my eyes, everything was bright. I couldn't make out the blurry silhouette of a man in front of me since the sun was hitting my eyes.
βHey! Are you okay?" He asked with worry, and a slight gentleness that made me shiver. I nodded and tried to smile. He looked lower, lower than my eyes. And I felt it too. My bikini top was all over the place and well. I unintentionally have given him a full view of my perky boobs.
That's it. It can't get worse. I want to go back underwater.
βD-don't look!" I yelped, hastily covering my breasts with my hands as he hauled me out of the water. He couldn't stop grinning, not even hiding that he enjoyed what he saw.
I coughed, my cheeks blazing as I fumbled for composure. "Thank you... I--I don't know what happened. I can't explain it," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper, all the while adjusting the tight triangles of fabric clinging precariously to my chest.
He nodded, grabbing a towel and handing it to me with an easy smirk. "You looked a little distracted back there. Happens to the best of us," he teased, settling himself beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I swallowed hard, suddenly more nervous than wet.
"I'm Jean. Jean Moreau," he said smoothly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "And you are?"
Jean. Of course. My target had walked right into my trap. All part of the master plan, obviously. The slip? The wardrobe malfunction? Totally scripted. Executed to perfection.
"I'm... I'm Zofia," I replied, figuring honesty was the safest play. No point in lying; there was no way he'd recognize me from the reception desk--there, I was just another overworked employee, not this exaggerated caricature of a poolside sexbomb I was trying to pull off.
"Zofia, huh?" he repeated, the faint curiosity in his tone immediately making my overthinking brain spiral. Was he confused? Judging me? Did I look too ordinary, too out of place for a place like this? Before he could say anything else, my nerves took over.
"Ah, you know! I came here for a little break. I, uh, usually work as a model--things have been rough lately, so I figured a holiday might help." The words spilled out faster than I could stop them, and as soon as I saw his raised eyebrow, I knew I'd overdone it.
"A model?" he repeated, chuckling. "I was actually just going to ask if you're enjoying your holiday, but thanks for the life story, I guess!"
My face turned red as the sting of embarrassment hit. Did I just completely misread him? Of course, I had. Damn it, I wasn't used to talking to hot guys.
He must have noticed my flustered state because he placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch unexpectedly gentle. His smile softened, and I felt my skin burn under his fingers--not in a bad way, though.
"Why so nervous? Are you here alone, or have you got some friends with you?"
I sighed, twirling a strand of my hair around my finger as a distraction. "Ah, life's so hectic that I barely have time for friends. This holiday was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. How about you?"
He smiled knowingly. "Needed a breather. Work's been a real pain in the ass lately." He sighed, his gaze shifting to the view in front of us for a moment before looking back at me.
A spark of excitement ran through me. He seemed genuine, and he didn't know who I really was. I decided to test the waters. 'So, are you enjoying your stay? You look a little... bored,' I said, squinting at him as I took a guess--though he didn't seem to notice.
"Bored?" He smirked, shaking his head. "Not exactly. But I've got nothing to do right now. Maybe you'd like to keep me company? We could grab a drink."
Got it. Nothing to do. Clearly, that was the reason for his bad review. I smiled, nibbling on my nail as if I were considering his offer.
"Hm, I mean, it doesn't sound bad..." My voice trailed off as my brain caught up with the situation. Drinks at the bar were outrageously expensive, and the bartender would instantly recognize me as staff. That'd blow my cover before I even got a chance to salvage this situation.
He tilted his head, a mischievous chuckle escaping his lips. "Oh? I know it's not. It's my treat." He winked.
My heart skipped a beat. Great, now he's flirting.
"Oh, no need to. But if you insist..." I stood up, wrapping the towel around my shoulders, trying to act casual even though my pulse was racing. I forced a smirk, hoping it looked confident. "Do you have a favorite bar? I could recommend something! The one on the top floor has a pretty view."
Smooth, Zofia. Real smooth. I didn't know anyone from the top floor bar, so no one would recognise me.
He swept his gaze over my body, completely unbothered by how obvious he was being. It was clear as day he was interested in me. And I was more than willing to use that to my advantage. I watched as he grabbed his things from the lounge chair, glancing back at me over his shoulder. "No, I haven't been there. I just arrived yesterday, so I haven't had much time to explore." He ran his fingers through his hair, giving me a lingering look. "We can check it out. But first, would you like to stop by my apartment? I need to drop off my stuff."
I blinked, my mind racing for a second, before I nodded. "Sure... your apartment. Please, lead the way."
And he did. I followed him through the familiar corridors, nothing about the path feeling out of the ordinary. But the moment we stepped into his suite, I couldn't help but smile. It was stunning--luxurious, even. A large window framed a breathtaking view of the ocean, a king-sized bed sat elegantly in the center of the room, and a small but modern kitchen was tucked away in one corner.
He quickly moved to put his belongings away, and I took the opportunity to pace slowly around the room, letting myself soak in the details. Everything about the space felt special, far removed from what I was used to. Usually, I wasn't allowed in places like this--my job kept me at the edges, not in the heart of luxury. To actually take it all in without rushing felt like a guilty pleasure.
My gaze drifted to his nightstand, one of the drawers slightly ajar. Inside, I noticed a wallet and, tucked beside it, a small ring. It was striking--large diamond glimmering in the soft light. My stomach churned. I couldn't help but snort, shaking my head. Being rich really makes you weird, I thought. Who keeps a ring like that in a wallet? It was a strange choice. And yet, there it was, like it had just been carelessly tossed aside. I bit the inside of my cheek thinking that I wouldn't mind having it...