Read with BonusRead with Bonus

One Bright Day

Maxwell smiled contently as he ran his skilled fingers through his iron club. Playing golf is his favorite pastime. The lush and trimmed green lawns of the golf course always lifted his spirits. He found the green grass as a source of inspiration. Grow through what you go through. He believed in striving hard, standing still and fighting for your dreams even if the situations are not favourable just like the grass remains green even when many feet step above it. He had a habit of getting inspiration from every animate or inanimate object. He believed this quirk was one of the reasons of his success.

“Things are not going on according to our plans ,Max.” a man grimaced while fixing his tee peg in the ground.

“What  made you worried, Brian ?”

“Blacks have withdrawn their shares from our company and are now planning to make alliance with Starks” Brian bent his torso and positioned his club to hit the ball.

“That’s good.”

“Shit man ! I missed the hole” Brian cursed as his ball went ahead the hole.

“That’s a boogey” the caddie informed behind them.

“Seriously ? The blacks were one of our trusted partners. If they joined their hands with the Starks then it won’t be good for us.” Brian frowned. Maxwell chuckled  and went ahead to make his move. He angled his body slightly holding the golf club in his hands. His sharp eyes calculated the distance between the ball and his goal like an eagle tracing its prey.

Brian shook his head. “You are not taking this serio…….”

“Shh shh..” Maxwell shushed him. He gracefully swung his club and hit the ball. The ball projected in air and directly landed inside the target hole.

“Wow Mr. Harrison you are amazing as always” Maxwell’s PA, Clarrisa, gushed behind him swooned by his golf skills.

“Perfect shot,” the caddie admired along with Clarrisa. Brian stood there unstirred as it was not a new thing to watch Maxwell hitting a perfect shot.

“When I play a game, I only concentrate on winning the game, Brian. I don’t focus on small distractions. Don’t worry, Blacks will eventually realize whom they are messing with and end up with Harrisons only”. He smirked and walked towards Brian.

Brian smiled brightly watching Max's confidence. The hint hidden behind Max’s words was enough to assure him. He trusted his partner's sharp and clever tactics. “You never fail to surprise me Maxwell Harrison, always beyond my expectations” he patted his back “ I’m so proud of you, son”.

“I learned from the best” Max winked. Brian Maugham always wanted to have a son like Max. But not everyone's whises come true. The sixty five years old business expert was Maxwell’s mentor as well as one of his oldest companions.

“Ok, I’m calling the game for today. Meet me outside. We'll have coffee together”. Max nodded and headed towards  the driveway.

“Wow, who is she ?” he heard Clarrisa whispering to the caddie.

“I don’t know" the caddie shrugged. " But damn, she is a hot piece. Maybe she is new here.”

“Uh huh, I will kill to get that perfect figure and black hair” Clarrisa cooed.

Maxwell's interest piqued as he heard black hairs. Is she the Masquerade girl ? He glanced impatiently to find her. It was then he heard a faint giggle coming from a distance. It's the same voice which taunted him in his dreams now a days. He can never forget that nectar like sweet voice. All of a sudden, his eyes caught a exquisite figure standing  near the driveway. She stood facing her back to him. The attendant said something to her and she giggled. Her black hairs cascaded down her waist and the curls swung as she giggled.

“That’s her! The masquerade girl.”He found his heart drumming hardly beneath his chest confirming his prediction. “Damn, how much she made me to wait for her”. The sight of her perfectly toned long legs under her mini skirt immediately turned him on.

Suddenly she turned her head back to see something. He felt the air knocked out of his lungs as he took in her angelic face. Her face looked angelic in the dim lights of the masquerade ball but watching her face in the bright sunlight is something beyond words. Christ ! I knew she was beautiful but I was never prepared for this. Her perfect oval shaped face with rosy white skin shone brightly in the sunlight. And the dazzling smile in her red luscious lips made his heart beat faster every second. Is she really the one I've been searching for?

His attention shifted towards the  attendant who whispered something in her ears and she started giggling again covering her mouth with her conical fingers.

Lucky bastard ! Here I was waiting to catch her glimpse and he already started flirting with her. He noticed a golf club in her hands. She must be a new player. A sudden temptation to impress her erupted in his mind. Lets show her who is the champion of this game.

“Clarrisa, tell the caddie to prepare new set of balls and tees for me.”

“But sir what about Mr. Maugham ?”

“Tell him that I will meet him later. I have a very important work to do right now” he said while his gaze was still fixed on that stunning girl.

~*~

“You seemed to be new here” he stood there leaning on his elbow supported on the golf club. She turned around and smiled at him. “I’m Max.....

“Who doesn’t know about the famous Maxwell Harrison ?” she extended her hand towards him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Harrison. I’m Angela Velasquez.”

Only one word got registered in his mind. Angela…. What a beautiful name ! Perfectly suits her. He shook hands with her. Her soft hands felt as if they were made only to fit in his hard ones. Like a missing part of his body just got completed. The warmth of her hands radiated through his body. He just wanted to hold her hands forever.

His trance was broken by the attendant. “Mr. Harrison, this miss wanted me to show her the golf course” he said hesitatingly.

“You can go. I will show her the golf course” he said boring into her eyes, without letting her hands go. The attendant nodded reluctantly and went away. “Come with me, Ms Velazquez” he took with him holding her hands.

“Let me show you how to play this game” she nodded in response. He placed the ball on the tee and gave a powerful stroke to the ball. The ball sailed in air and landed directly inside the target hole.

“Excellent shot Mr. Harrison” his chest puffed with pride as Angela praised him.

“Now, you try” she smiled and gently placed another ball on the tee. Her eyes scanned the golf course carefully and once again her gaze landed in his face. He was watching her every action intently. He nodded his head in assurance. Then she elegantly swung the club to hit the ball. The ball flew off, neither too high nor too low and landed on the rim of the target hole. It rotated along the rim and sunk into the hole eventually. Being completely baffled, he tried to hide his shock.

“I’ve seen many players but no one was able to do it like this in one try” he gestured towards the hole and she giggled.

“Thanks Mr. Harrison. But I’ve done this many times”

“You’ve played golf before ?” she nodded while grinning. Now, he felt like an idiot. Turns out that she is not only perfect by looks but is perfect   at everything.

“I always played golf when I lived in Brazil. I love playing in the green lawns of the golf courses. I started playing it since I was 14. It kinda gives me a sense of relief” She explained him and once again he was mesmerized by her.

“You are new in California, aren’t you ?” he asked as they strolled along the golf course.

“Yes I just got shifted to California. Nearly one week ago” it was the day of the masquerade ball, he thought.

“Did you attend the masquerade ball that day ?”

“Of course I went to that ball. And I also danced with you” her lips slowly curved into a smirk. “ I must say that was the best dance I ever had”.

“So you knew me before, huh ?” she nodded lightly.

"What was the meaning of those words you said that night?"

"I don't know Mr. Harrison. You tell me" he was complelety unsatisfied by her answer.

“And why did you disappear from the ball suddenly ?” he asked impatiently.

“Well that’s…..,Mr. Harrison,….is a secret” her crystal green eyes shone with a mysterious glint. While talking they didn’t realize that they have reached at the exit of the course.

“I must go now Mr. Harrison” she handed the golf club to the caddie.

“Wait” he called and she turned her head immediately.

“Would you like to have dinner with me tonight  ?” he asked expectantly.

She shook her head. “I would love to have dinner with you”.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter