“That’s quite nice,” I said.
“Of course, if you get tired of it all, you’re welcome to leave whenever you see fit. I won’t stop you,” he said.
I nodded and continued to gorge myself on the delectable food in front of me. If this was what it was like living with the wealthy, I figured it was something I could get used to.
“I think I might head out for a dip. All are welcome,” he said.
I would have responded, but my mouth was too full of food, so I just nodded in affirmation instead. He smiled back at me and left the room.
The chef set a glass of brandy down on the table in front of me and poured a second, which he held aloft as a toast. I picked up the glass and clinked it with his before taking a large sip.
“It might not be perfect, but it’s home,” he said.
“It seems prefect to me,” I replied.
“Give it a month before you see the cracks.”
I didn’t know what he meant by that, but I was glad to be where I was. I finished my brandy and replaced the glass. The chef smiled a big, toothy smile at me as I left the kitchen for my room to change.
I needed to talk to someone right now; maybe Janey was up.
4.
“So you’re getting changed to spend time with a billionaire in his pool? Are you a call girl or something?” she asked.
“No, Janey, I’m not a call girl. I’m just having an evening swim with a billionaire,” I replied. “Okay, it does sound pretty bad now that I say it out loud.”
“So you’re still going to swim with him?” she asked.
“Well, I can’t say no to him now. I already said I’d be there. What should I say? Hey, boss, I think it’s odd swimming with you on my first day of work, and I don’t want to feel like a hooker?”
“That’s not a bad start, but the delivery could use some work,” she said with a laugh.
“I’m honestly wishing that I had a different swimsuit than my normal one. I can’t believe you talked me into this skimpy thing,” I said.
“When you go to the Bahamas, Erica, people expect you to wear the most revealing thing you can.”
“I’m not complaining about the Bahamas. I’m complaining about how you threw away my one-piece bathing suit. You could have at least let me keep it,” I said.
“Just tell him you need to get a proper swimsuit before you can swim. Sounds like a good excuse to me,” she said.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll tell him that,” I said. “Gotta go, Janey. Talk soon.”
I clicked the phone off and started toward the backyard swimming pool. I could hear the water lapping against the edge of the pool. Each step that brought me closer heightened my anxiety.
William was swimming laps, dipping beneath the water only to spring back out and whip his arms out in front of him. I watched from the doorway as he continued to exercise. It seemed he either didn’t notice me watching or didn’t care that I did.
After a time, he burst from the water and sat along the edge of the pool to relax. I took it as an invite. He stood up tall and began to stretch. I noticed the lean swimmer’s muscles he had built. His long, skinny torso appeared to be chiseled out of marble, with taut abs and lean, strong arms. I felt myself swoon, if only for a moment, before I came to my senses.
“I think I’ll have to decline for the evening,” I said. “I’ve nothing to wear in the pool.”
He smiled and adjusted his swimsuit, which left almost nothing to the imagination. I did my best to avoid staring, but I had to sneak a peek.
“That’s all right. I wouldn’t expect to make you do anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with. Perhaps another time,” he said.
“You do this often?” I asked.
“Every day,” he said. “I thought you were a swimmer in high school.”
“I was,” I said, “but it was difficult finding the time to continue when I didn’t have a pool to use.”
“You have one now. Use it as you see fit,” he said. He started to walk off toward the house with a towel in hand, blotting the water from his skin.
“Thank you, Mist—”
“You can just call me William,” he interjected.
“Okay, William. Thank you for your hospitality, but I think I’m off to bed.”
“I’ll be gone the next couple weeks. Perhaps we can get to know each other better when I return,” he said.
“Of course,” I squeaked, still trying my hardest not to stare.
“Good night, Erica,” he said as he walked off.
“Good night,” I replied.
I could have stared at him walking away forever. His back was just as toned as his front, and his perfectly shaped behind left me wanting more of it.