THREE - DEREK

Derek

As I finished fixing my hair in front of the mirror, my thoughts drifted back to my time with Skye at the pool. I never expected my Saturday afternoon swim to turn out like that, but I couldn't deny the strong attraction I felt towards her. She had an amazing body, with curves, bouncing breasts, and a wicked smile that captivated me. Despite feeling guilty, I couldn't resist being drawn to her like a moth to a flame. And even after being intimate with her, my desire for her only grew stronger instead of fading away like it usually did.

As I cleaned up my apartment and grabbed my toothbrush to brush my teeth, I thought about getting lunch at a nearby café. I wasn't good at cooking, and the passionate encounter with Skye had left me starving. Coincidentally, Skye was working there, earning some extra money while figuring out her future plans. I couldn't resist the idea of getting a hot cup of coffee from a barista who was incredibly attractive.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I chatted with two older ladies who were in the elevator with me from the thirty-first floor. After a pleasant conversation, I let them leave first and took a deep breath, adjusting my shirt as I eagerly anticipated seeing Skye. Walking through the lobby, I scanned the café to find her. Finally, I spotted her helping a customer, and I couldn't help but admire her. As I reached for my wallet to pay for my coffee, my attention was suddenly caught by the door, and I froze, turning to look.

To my disappointment, I saw Spencer standing in the lobby, waving at me with a set of golf clubs. I let out a groan, glancing back at Skye before reluctantly heading towards Spencer. I wasn't excited about meeting him at that moment, but it seemed like I had no choice. Although he greeted me with a smile and a nod, showing no sign of knowing anything, my heart was racing. Despite my unease, I shook his hand, trying to appear calm.

"Hey Derek," he greeted me enthusiastically. "I was hoping to see you!"

"Really? Why?" I asked, curious about his intentions.

"For golf, of course!" he replied, grinning widely. "I was actually on my way to the golf club just outside of town to play a few rounds. It's such a beautiful day, and I thought it would be great to spend some time on the course. How about it, want to join me?"

I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to spend the day playing golf. "Honestly, I didn't have any plans for today," I said.

"Ah, feeling tired on a Sunday, huh?" he joked. "Did your exciting date last night leave you exhausted?"

I couldn't help but smile at his teasing. "Something like that," I replied, my mind briefly wandering to thoughts of Skye.

"Well, when are we going to hit the golf course together?" he asked eagerly, his excitement palpable. "Come on, grab your clubs and let's go. It'll be an absolute blast, I assure you."

I found it impossible to resist his infectious enthusiasm. "Are you absolutely certain that you'll make it to the course this time?" I asked, my skepticism evident.

"I give you my word, my friend," he promised with a mischievous grin.

Feeling a sense of resignation, I came to the realization that there was no escaping our golfing adventure. "Alright," I reluctantly relented. "Just give me a moment to change into a collared shirt, and I'll be ready."

He casually slung his arm around my shoulders, offering reassurance. "No need for that trouble, my friend. I've got a few spare shirts stashed away in the car, just for occasions like this."

With a mixture of resignation and curiosity, I followed him out of the lobby, stealing a brief glance back at Skye in the café. Our eyes met, and she flashed me a knowing grin before returning to her work. A surge of excitement coursed through my veins, only to be tempered by the presence of her father standing beside me.

Although golfing hadn't been on my agenda for the day, we climbed into his car and embarked on our journey to the golf course. There was an undeniable feeling in the air, a sense that something unexpected was on the horizon.

As Spencer reclined in the car seat, he turned his gaze towards me and inquired about the state of my business. I shared that things were going well, but the recent events in our nation had kept us busy, resulting in an increased workload in the aftermath of the incident involving David. Intrigued, Spencer shook his head and mentioned that he had spotted David at a local bar recently, although he had deliberately avoided any interaction. This revelation prompted him to delve further, seeking details about the situation between David and me.

I proceeded to explain that David, an indolent individual, had been hell-bent on undermining our business ever since we joined forces early on. His lack of dedication and penchant for extended vacations, all conveniently charged to the company, combined with incessant complaints, had been a constant thorn in my side. When his inappropriate behavior escalated behind my back, I resolved to take action, discreetly summoning a board meeting. The decision was unanimous - we terminated his employment. Although he still retained a small percentage of shares, it was insufficient to wield any significant influence.

Spencer expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that he had never held David in high regard. "What? You've always harbored a disdain for him," I interjected jovially. He conceded that he considered David to be somewhat of a fool, yet he still believed that the man had managed to leave some impact on our business.

"Indeed," I concurred, nodding along with Spencer. "We couldn't afford any negative publicity tarnishing our hard-earned reputation and success." I felt a sense of relief that the situation with David hadn't escalated further, and we had been able to handle it discreetly. Preserving the integrity of our business and safeguarding our well-deserved achievements held paramount importance to me.

The scenic road leading to the country club unfolded before us, adorned with majestic trees lining its sides, while the sun's rays gently filtered through the branches. Spencer seemed lost in contemplation, prompting me to inquire, "What's on your mind, Spence?"

He turned towards me, his gaze filled with introspection. "I can't help but ponder the potential consequences if that situation with David had spiraled out of control. We've poured our heart and soul into building what we have, and a single misstep could have catastrophic repercussions."

I empathized with his concerns, but I refused to dwell on the negative possibilities. "While we cannot alter the past, we can always learn from our mistakes and forge ahead. Moreover, we have an exceptional team that is devoted to our shared success," I reassured him, hoping to alleviate his anxieties.

As we neared the entrance of the prestigious country club, the staff warmly greeted us, offering their assistance in carrying our golf clubs to the awaiting cart stationed just beyond the building's threshold. After completing the necessary check-in procedures at the front desk, we decided to indulge in a well-deserved whiskey from the service cart as we made our way towards the first tee. While Spencer took his turn, I swiftly adorned my golf glove and firmly grasped the club, readying myself to take my shot. His initial swing veered off course, pulling to the right and finding itself nestled in the unruly rough.

"Hey, do you recall catching a glimpse of Skye at the café?" Spencer queried, retracing his steps to retrieve his tee fromthe ground.

"Yes, I do. How is she faring in her role there?" I responded, curious to know more.

Spencer let out a chuckle, bending down to retrieve his tee. As he straightened up, he proceeded to share that Skye wasn't finding much fulfillment in her current job and felt uncertain about her future aspirations. He believed she needed to take charge of her own life and sort things out without any distractions. Furthermore, he mentioned that Skye's desire to find a romantic partner had become a significant source of diversion for her, but he had made it clear that she couldn't pursue any romantic relationships until she secured a stable job.

"I agree, it does seem like a pretty big expectation," I nodded in agreement. "It can be really tough to control who we develop feelings for, and that kind of pressure might actually push Skye away from us."

Spencer's voice took on a slightly paternal tone as he questioned me, "Wait, are you suddenly trying to be a father figure?"

I let out a laugh and responded, "No, not at all. But I come from a family that had a lot of rules and expectations. And whenever they wanted me to do something, I would usually end up doing the complete opposite."

Spencer shook his head, his expression serious. "Skye isn't a little kid anymore. The stakes are higher now, and she knows that if she crosses a line or disobeys, she'll lose certain privileges. She needs to understand that if she wants to be a part of this, she has to put in the effort. But I have my doubts about whether she's ready for that. Even though she's usually responsible, she seems to be going through a rebellious phase right now."

As I watched the golf ball I had just hit soar through the air, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief. It had been such a long time since I last played golf, yet my shot seemed to flow effortlessly, causing Spencer to let out a chuckle.

"Only you could stay away from the golf course for so long and still play like a professional," he chuckled, giving me credit for my skills.

We headed towards our respective golf balls, and as I casually shrugged my shoulders and hopped back onto the golf cart, Spencer began to open up about his concerns regarding Skye. His words hit me like a sudden gust of wind, momentarily leaving me speechless. It seemed a tad dramatic, enforcing such rigid rules on her love life and instilling in her the belief that any romantic involvement would result in severe consequences. However, I found myself caught in a dilemma, unsure of whether to express my own opinion. After all, he was her father, and I respected his authority in her life. At the same time, I couldn't deny that my own emotions were starting to influence my thoughts on the matter, especially as my desire to spend more time with Skye began to grow unexpectedly stronger than I had ever anticipated.