Cousins
A single villa on Long Beach was our home for the night. It's a convenient location close to the shore. After never having seen a beach before, I was really taken aback by the sight. Here I am, standing on a beach similar to those I've only ever seen on TV.
”You should rest first. We’ll meet my colleagues later.” he said, still salty. I pursed my lips to stop my little smirk. He reached for the knob of the room
”Where are you going?”
”In my room, beside yours.”
A tiny shock went through me. Each of us was silently waiting for the other to speak, but neither of us felt moved to do so.
”I’ll go now.”
A small nod of my head was all I could muster. As soon as he went, my mind began to wander. That's right, I assumed we'd share a bed. Rather than assuming anything, I just expected that it would be like this since that's what I've always done before. One would not assume that sex slave owners would provide a private quarters for their slave.
Because I was too bewildered, I reached for my phone and sent a message to Lulu.
Me:
Lulu, we’re in Long Beach.
I was surprised by how quickly she responded.
Lulu:
Long Beach? What is that? Some sort of getaway?
Me:
For his friend’s wedding, he said.
Lulu:
Oh, alright. But where is he? Won’t he not suspect if you’re texting me?
Me:
He’s in the other room. Just beside mine.
Lulu:
What? You’re not in the same room? That’s unusual.
After taking in her response, I found myself at a loss for words. Lip biting involuntarily, I left the balcony. Even from only a few meters away, you can hear the beach's hiss.
Lulu:
Whatever the case may be, that's a perk. And yet, you're aware that that's not without potential drawbacks, right?
The obvious fact is that I already knew it. So you see why I'm so baffled by it all. I quickly replied to Lulu's message by saying I'd get back to her as soon as I could. For my part, I cleaned up and altered my attire. Luckily, I had something that would work in the room. I still have a lot of the clothes that Aciel's secretary bought me that I haven't worn.
I still have a lot of the clothes that Aciel's secretary bought me that I haven't worn.
I wore wide leg pants that had slits on both sides. I paired it with a crochet top that’s showing my collar bones and my shoulders. The back is a bit overwhelming though, showing my bare back.
It was close to four o'clock when I got a visitor. I put out a hand and pushed it open. Aciel, decked out in a graphic muscle tee and holding a mobile phone, is waiting on the doorstep. When our gazes connected, I took a deep breath. Thankfully, he doesn't appear to notice that I'm staring at him. Simply put, he is staring at my body with a crazed expression on his face.
”What are you wearing?”
”Uhm, clothes?”
”Was that from Dorothy?”
With a nod, I agreed. I could see the tension in his jaw and the way his eyes shifted away from mine.
”Let’s go.” he walked. I closed my door to tail him. He still had this salty look which made me giggle.
”What are you giggling about?”
”Cause you’re salty, Mr. Evans.”
”Really, Ms. Hampton?” he raised a brow.
When my smile got too big, I bit my lip. I don't want to make things worse before we meet his coworkers. The beach was immediately visible from the villa's exterior. It made my heart jump in excitement.
"What, you've never gone to a beach before?" he asked.
”What do you expect? I grew up in a city.”
To my nose, nothing compares to the warm, salty air of the seaside. As I gaze out towards the beach, I can't help but be happy. These conditions are very similar to those at an isolated beach. Because of the lack of people and lack of innovation, the natural beauty of the beach has been maintained.
Aciel's hand touched the exposed skin of my back. Because of my startle, my natural reaction was to stare at him. Aiming his gaze forward, he appears focused. I looked ahead and noticed a large group of people heading in the same general direction as us. Men make up the vast majority of this group. I gave him another glance, expecting a response because, obviously. Please elaborate a little for me. However, that's fantastic! He remained silent throughout.
”Bro!”
Everyone is watching us. Men in front of me are all shirtless. One young lady was occupying herself with a toddler while seated on the sand. In addition, she has a grin on her face as she looks at me.
”The busy mighty CEO is here!” They all laughed at the man’s statement.
I glanced at Aciel and he had this grin on his face. I’m a bit puzzled. Suddenly, I’m feeling a bit shy meeting them. He made greetings with his friends, fist bombing and all the men’s greetings.
”Hi, I’m Coli. You are?” A topless man towered over me.
”Uhm, I’m Alia.”
”Nice to meet you, Alia.” He smiled and offered his hand. I received his hand as well.
Aciel’s clearing of the throat steals our attention. Coli smirked and punched Aciel’s chest jokingly. I fixed my hair because of the wind while watching his serious face. He side eyed me and I stopped my smirking. He talked to his friends so I came near the woman with the toddler.
”Hi, baby.” I greeted. The boy smiled at me. I pinched his cheeks and smiled at her mother.
”I’m Molly. You’re Alia, I heard.”
I nodded and smiled back. “Yes. Nice meeting you, Molly.”
”You look young. How old are you?”
”Eighteen.” I answered.
”You’re Aciel’s?” she hung her words waiting for my answer.
”U-uhm no, w-were just…” I glanced at Aciel’s who’s talking to his friends but his eyes are on me.
Me, myself, couldn't answer. Right. What am I supposed to say?
”Don’t put her on a hot seat, honey. You know what kind of an asshole he is.” said the guy popped out of nowhere. He sat beside Molly and encircled his hands into her waist.
”I’m Hugh. Molly’s husband.” he said and offered his hands.
”So how was your life being with that motherfucker?”
My eyes widened by how blunt he is. Molly slapped his chest jokingly.
”Kidding. So what are you and Aciel?” he asked as if he didn’t defend me a while ago.
”U-uhm… uh… w-were cousins.” I smiled fake. I don’t care anymore. Elijah didn’t inform me about this question.
They both looked at each other then soon laughed. I was puzzled looking at them. The guy named Hugh stood and reached for the toddler's hand which I think was their son and ran to the water to have a dip.
Molly then smiled and turned to me.
“What do you mean you’re his cousin? Aciel is an orphan. He doesn’t know any of his relatives. Unless he found some?”
My lips parted. No words came out of me. I'm choked with my own words. I let out a raw laugh while my eyes unconsciously went to Aciel’s and saw that he still had his eyes on me.
