Passion unleashed

I didn't cross paths with Mr. Christian again until a few weeks later, during a board meeting. Deborah had asked me to attend and take notes, as Chidinma was on leave. Mr. Christian sat at the head of the table, flanked by other CEOs. He looked stunning in a brown suit, white shirt, and red tie.

As our eyes met, he stared hard, as if trying to recall my face. Then, he quickly looked away. After the meeting, I lingered, wanting to greet Mr. Christian and thank him again for rescuing me from Segun.

As I gathered my things, Mr. Christian walked out of the room, eyes fixed on his phone. "Good afternoon, sir," I greeted, realizing we were alone in the boardroom. He nodded curtly, still not looking up.

Maybe he doesn't remember me, I thought. Or perhaps he only intervened that day because I was an employee in distress. As he reached the exit door, I blurted out, "Sir, I really want to thank you for what you did for me the other day."

This time, he looked up from his phone, hand on the doorknob, and nodded. Then, he walked out. I felt a mix of relief and embarrassment, grateful that no one else had witnessed our brief exchange.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur, but my mind kept wandering back to my brief encounter with Mr. Christian. I couldn't shake off the feeling of his intense gaze, or the way he had nodded curtly, acknowledging my gratitude. Despite the brevity of our exchange, I felt a lingering sense of connection, and I found myself wondering what he was like beyond his formal, CEO persona.

Two months into my tenure at Aderiola and Co., the company organized its annual retreat at a picturesque beach resort on the Island. We all traveled together in staff buses, a leveling experience that brought everyone together, from the most junior to the most senior staff members.

Upon arrival, we were paired up in twos to share accommodation chalets. My partner was Cy, a lively and outspoken lady from the tech department. Although she was boisterous, she was also incredibly kind. As we settled into our chalet, she turned to me and said, "Suzy babe, I love you, but I'd die of boredom if I stayed here. No offense, but I need to be where the action is."

I smiled, unfazed by her comment. With our chalet located on the quieter side of the beach, I understood her desire to be closer to the hub of activity. As she left to join her friends from the tech department, I was happy to have the chalet to myself.

That evening, we gathered as a group for dinner. Since we couldn't fit into any of the restaurants, we had a picnic-style dinner on the beach under the moonlight. It was a lovely sight to see everyone, from the highest to the lowest ranks, relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

Rita Aderiola, one of our Executive Directors, regaled us with humorous stories of her experiences as a single woman in her 30s. Everyone was in stitches, from the youngest interns to the oldest staff members nearing retirement.

Just then, a voice interrupted the laughter. "What did I miss?" Mr. Christian Aderiola appeared, his presence commanding attention. I watched as he sat down beside his sister Rita and the other Executive Directors. The company was family-owned, but Mr. Christian was undoubtedly the head.

As he sat down, I caught a whiff of his masculine fragrance – a woody, sweet scent that left me lightheaded. I stole several glances his way, but his eyes remained fixed on his phone, his expression distant.

I had assumed he wouldn't be attending the retreat, thinking he might be away on one of his many business trips abroad. But here he was, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest.

The next day, after breakfast, we dove into sessions focused on defining our strategy for the upcoming financial year and revisiting the company's mission and vision statements. Post-lunch, we were divided into groups for team-building exercises, including a Scavenger Hunt and Charades. I surprised myself by exceling at Charades, helping my team secure a victory.

Laughter filled the air, and for a moment, office hierarchies and social cliques melted away. We were all equals, clad in our company t-shirts and jeans. Even Mr. Christian joined in, showcasing his impressive agility during the Scavenger Hunt. His fit physique belied his CEO status.

That night, we gathered around a roaring bonfire, celebrating a successful retreat. Music pulsed from someone's speakers, and my colleagues danced with abandon. I sat alone, smiling as I watched the revelry.

"Hi there," a familiar voice said, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach. "Why aren't you dancing with the others?" I looked up to see Mr. Christian standing beside me, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

I glanced around, ensuring he was indeed addressing me. He chuckled, a deep, belly-shaking laugh. "Yes, I'm talking to you. There's no one else here besides us."

I composed myself, trying to sound nonchalant. "Good evening, sir. I'm not much of a dancer. I prefer to watch."

As he sat down beside me on the sand, I felt my breath catch in my throat. It was surreal, having him right next to me.

"Thank you for the other day," I said, turning to look at him.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You've thanked me like a million times already."

My heart skipped a beat. "So you've noticed?" I barely whispered.

"Yes, I have," he replied, nudging me gently.

"But you came off rude," I replied, still in awe of sitting with Mr. Christian on the sand. I had never seen him so carefree.

"Sorry, I'm not usually interactive, and I was stressed that day," he explained.

"Understandable," I murmured.

"I hope your boyfriend isn't disturbing you anymore," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"He's my ex-boyfriend, and no, he's history, all thanks to you," I laughed, feeling a sense of closure.

We sat in comfortable silence, watching the others dance, before he turned to me. "Do you want to take a walk?"

I looked at him in surprise, my words tangling in my throat. He mistook my silence for hesitation.

"If you'd rather stay here, it's okay."

"No, I'd love to walk," I said, scrambling to my feet.

"Easy," he said, pulling me up. I felt a jolt of electricity at his touch.

As we walked, he asked, "Mind if I ask why he accosted you at the gate the other day?"

"He wanted us to get back together," I replied.

Mr. Christian raised an eyebrow. "What a gentleman. Why didn't you take him back, though? He looks very handsome... or is there another man who's caught your attention?" he asked, a sly grin on his face.

I blushed internally, thinking, Not as handsome as you, Mr. Christian.

Aloud, I said, "He cheated on me several times and hit me once."

Mr. Christian's expression turned somber. "Oh, that was inconsiderate of me. I'm so sorry."

I smiled shyly. "It's okay."

"No man should ever have a reason to hit any woman," Mr. Christian said, his voice firm.

I remained quiet, feeling a sense of gratitude toward him.

"Why on earth were you with a guy like that?" he asked.

"I'm not with him anymore," I reminded him. "I guess it was just habit. We met in school and had been together ever since. It's been easier to just keep things going than to walk away."

I turned the tables on him. "So, what about you? Any girl tickling your fancy?"

Mr. Christian's face hardened. "No."

I smiled, feeling emboldened. "You don't get to do that. You had me spill my guts about my abusive relationship, and all I get from you is just a 'no'?"

His face softened. "Well, I'm not in any relationship because my ex was always pushing me to marry her, and I'm not ready yet "I really love her," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "She's my soul mate, and it kills me how she's ready to throw it all away over...what? Marriage?" He scoffed, his tone laced with disdain.

I observed that he still spoke about his feelings for her in the present tense, a subtle hint that his emotions remained raw and unresolved.

 Although my parents have been asking me to get married, I'll be 35 in a few months, and I know they need grandkids, but I'm not ready yet."

I offered words of encouragement. "Well, you'll find someone when you're ready."

Mr. Christian's response was curt. "Sure."

I saw the pain etched deep in his eyes, and my heart went out to him. I reached out and intertwined my hand with his, offering what little comfort I could. He squeezed my hand gently.

"She's everything to me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper as we continued our walk. "I haven't been with another woman since..." His voice trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging in the air.

"She must be really special," I said, trying to offer some solace.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you guys will work things out," I added, hoping to sound reassuring.

He shook his head, his expression somber. "At this point, I no longer know if that's possible. She moved to another country and hasn't spoken to me since."

I couldn't fathom why anyone would willingly give up someone like him. "If that's the case, then she's very foolish," I blurted out. "Who could be a better catch than you?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them. He turned to me, his eyes locking onto mine, and I felt a flutter in my chest.

And then, without warning, he cupped my face and leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. I was taken aback, but as his lips probed mine, I felt myself melting into the kiss.

My hands instinctively went around his neck, deepening the kiss. But as much as I didn't want it to end, I knew we couldn't keep kissing out in the open.

"Is your chalet nearby?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, still reeling from the kiss. We walked in silence to my chalet, the tension between us palpable.

As soon as we were inside, he pulled me back into his arms, his lips devouring mine. His hands roamed under my t-shirt, and I didn't hesitate to explore his body as well.

The rest of our clothes were shed in a flurry of passion, and soon we were entwined on the bed, our bodies moving in perfect sync.

I felt like I was soaring, the pleasure building to a crescendo. I had to bite back a scream, mindful of the other chalets nearby.

As we lay there afterwards, our bodies spent, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction wash over me. Falling asleep in his arms, our bodies still entwined, felt like the most perfect thing in the world.