Lunch Date

Marsella sat idly in the restaurant and waited for Matt. He wasn’t late, she had just decided to show up early. Sitting in her bungalow waiting wasn’t exactly a good time so it didn’t hurt to show up already. She had picked a different lunch restaurant on the resort instead of her and Cedric’s usual spot just in case he decided to show up anyway. That wouldn’t happen. He had called her just minutes after texting and she learned why he was so “busy.”

The rich and powerful often gather for “business” meetings that are more about intimate bonding than actual business. The men get drunk and high and just get wild with each other’s wives or whatever women are brought for the occasion. Marsella knew that was happening because he slurred his words on the phone and forgot he had texted her at all. He would be down for the count, most likely, until he was given whatever magic drug cocktail was necessary to sober up and avoid a killer hangover.

That uncomfortable moment was behind her now. She had changed into a simple red dress that hugged her curves tightly and ended in the middle of her thigh. It was rather modest, not revealing any cleavage, but Marsella didn’t want to risk being seen by her husband in something more attractive. Cedric would absolutely consider this little date to be a betrayal of his trust and he’d probably hate it more if she wore something he deemed “immodest.”

Matt came right on time, just as anxious as Marsella, though for different reasons. He had also been too bored to try and be fashionably late so he arrived and quickly took his seat.

“Hey there,” he said with a smile.

Marsella returned the smile, “Yes, hello again.”

“I like your dress,” Matt said.

“Thank you, I wasn’t sure what you had planned for us so I tried to be prepared.”

“Horseback riding,” Matt said, glancing at the menu. “Unless that doesn’t sound fun.”

“No, no! That sounds great!” Marsella instinctively reached out and touched Matt’s hand. She recoiled quickly, but that simple touch seemed to be the most exciting moment in years. She wasn’t allowed to touch other men and she had just done that so... casually.

Matt hardly noticed. “Oh, good. I’ll be honest, I was a little worried.”

“Do I not look like the horse riding type?” Marsella teased.

“I don’t know, I just get anxious about these things!”

Lunch progressed comfortably enough. Food was ordered as the pair made polite small talk. Matt didn’t know what to even talk about. All his stories were about high school, or high school problems, and he couldn’t let Marsella know he wasn’t an absurdly rich tech savant. He just hoped she also knew nothing about tech and computers so he wouldn’t have to talk about it with her. That, of course, was wishful thinking.

“So, tell me,” Marsella said in between bites of her elaborate, and quite tasty, salad, “what did you do to make your money? You’re so young. What’s your secret?”

Matt took a sip of water to try and think of something clever. “Well,” he began, “I made a couple apps and was able to sell them for some cash.”

“Anything I’ve heard of?”

“It’s... server side stuff. Infrastructure related. Mostly to help companies... manage. Things.” Matt stumbled through his answer but Marsella interpreted it as a guru trying to explain something very complicated to a layman.

“That sounds complicated. Any juicy details about who purchased them?” Marsella asked.

“Well, I don’t want to violate my NDA,” Matt said mock-defensively, “but... it starts with A and it’s a very large company.”

Marsella grinned mischievously. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“What about you?” Matt asked, “what do you get up to?”

“Very little, actually,” she replied. “I’ve become a trophy wife and it isn’t as great as it sounds.”

“Well, that’s a bummer,” he said.

Marsella shrugged and took another bite. “It’s life, I guess. Things just don’t always work out the way you want.” She caught the sadness in her voice and immediately reigned it in. “But I do spend lots of time in beautiful places like this, so.”

“Fitting for a beautiful woman,” Matt said.

Marsella blushed. It was impossible not to.

“You’re going to get yourself in trouble, mister,” she scolded him playfully.

“Might be worth it,” he teased.

They locked eyes for a moment before the older blonde turned away. She needed to be careful.

“So, uh,” she coughed, “when does our horseback riding start?”

Matt waited a moment before he answered. “I scheduled it for 1:30 but they said we can show up anytime after noon.”

“Why don’t we get going, then?” She said, standing.

—

The walk to the stable was excruciating for Marsella. Not because Matt was mean or unattractive or anything of that nature, but because he was the opposite. He showed her care and attention that Cedric only showed her when— actually, no, Cedric never treated her like this. She wanted to indulge in this little fling, but she couldn’t. It would be impossible no matter how bad she wanted it and that only made it hurt even more.

She felt oddly attracted to Matt, like she was being pulled through the long spiral of a whirlpool at sea, rotating around him and slowly coming closer. It was a sensation she couldn’t really describe. It just hung at the edges of her consciousness, impossible to ignore but equally impossible to perceive. It all felt rather clumsy.

The stable was immaculate like the rest of the resort. The horses were stunning, as well, tall and in a number of colors. Matt knew nothing about them but that only added to the excitement. The tour began with some orientation and then an assist into their animals before a guide took the pair into a jungle trail. Matt was ahead of Marsella throughout and conversation was almost impossible with the beauty of the landscape and controlling the horses taking all their focus. Matt noticed Marsella take long, deep breaths often, as if drinking in newfound freedom and soaking in every moment.

Marsella nearly cried. She was on the equivalent of a first date with a man with no expectations or requirements. She didn’t have to check in or keep a schedule. She was just on a fun little date with a guy and she was there because she freely chose to do so. She couldn’t completely forget her husband, or course, but he seemed a distant fixture in this moment. In this moment she was free and it made her want to weep.

Matt heard his date sniffle and he looked back, just a glance, and saw her carefully wipe her eye with her palm. He chose to say nothing but promised himself to remember to ask her about it when the time was right.

The ride ended too soon for both of them. Matt hopped from his horse with a wide grin and watched Marsella carefully dismount.

“Well? Fun, right?” He said.

She nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes, I definitely needed that.”

“Everything okay?” Matt asked as they both turned to leave the stable.

Marsella didn’t reply right away, walking slowly next to Matt for a little while. “Yeah, I’m okay,” she said finally.

Matt’s hand accidentally collided with Marsella’s. He didn’t realize how close they were walking. He didn’t say anything and neither did she, but they both knew the other recognized it. He moved away for a few steps and then casually stepped in beside her, just as close but more cognizant of his swinging hand.

“I don’t know if it’s my place but... it seems like something is wrong.”

A lot was wrong. Marsella’s gaze was firmly on the ground in front of her, only registering enough to take one step at a time. Her thoughts were cloudy, conflicted. She was married, yes, but lovelessly. She hadn’t spoken to another man alone in years. Now she was flirting with the idea of holding Matt’s hand and that could get them in serious trouble.

“I’m okay, I promise,” she lied.

Their hands struck again, though they didn’t recoil or move away. Their gait slowed and Marsella let her hand linger against the younger teen’s, limply hanging by her side. One of his fingers slid around her pointer finger, ever so slightly, hardly enough to notice. But Marsella couldn’t miss it.

“Marsella...” Matt said.

She held his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. Her gaze remained on the ground but she couldn’t suppress a slow, soft smile. He accepted her hand, squeezing it once and letting silence wash over them.

Matt glanced down at the older blonde. She hardly seemed to notice. His heart beat echoed in his ears as he pondered his next move. Should he be satisfied with the current state of things or try and press on? He wanted to kiss her, not just to fulfill his bargain, but because he genuinely, desperately, wanted to feel her lips against his. However, her body language was a very clear indication that this wasn’t the time even to Matt who, usually, could pick up women’s social cues like a snake could pick up a brick.

The path opened back from trees and near-jungle to the manicured lawns and spotty palms of the main resort. Marsella’s hand fell away and she walked a little more upright. She knew she had to return to her room, she’d been away too long, but she wanted to linger on this pleasant little date. She wanted to ask to see his bungalow, or offer to grab a drink, or literally anything. Take me to the beach! Let’s go for a swim! Anything! Please!

“That was fun,” she said instead, “but I should get going.”

Matt nodded. “Yeah, it was. Will I see you around?”

Marsella’s mouth curled into a smile that did nothing to hide her sadness. “I hope so.”

She embraced him quickly, tugging him against her for only a second before releasing.

“Just text me if you want to hang out,” Matt offered.

“Of course,” she said, waving politely and splitting away toward her lonely bungalow.

—

Marsella found her suite empty but it didn’t surprise her. She still hadn’t heard anything from her husband. She searched the room for a note or other missive with instructions for the evening but found none. His “meeting” must be... hm. Intense. Marsella rolled her eyes and stepped into the bathroom, stripping her dress and preparing to take a shower. She couldn’t smell like a stable of Cedric came back and it would clear her head.

The hot water danced over her bare flesh and Marsella sighed softly in the steaming bathroom. Nervous excitement still twisted in her stomach. It was the first date she’d enjoyed in years. There was so much more she wished she could do. Matt deserved a better ending to the afternoon.

When Marsella finished she had a text from her husband.

“Late dinner? Finishing meetings”

It only took him all day. She guessed this might continue. Cedric usually brought her here because he didn’t need to worry about where she was while he... did business, or whatever he was doing. She wasn’t allowed at these things because that probably meant his associates could have her and that was absolutely against Cedric’s rules.

“Of course love” she replied with a frown.

She’d have to start getting ready now. She tossed her phone on the bed and dug her makeup out of her bag.

—

Matt fell into the bed in his bungalow. It was a hundred times more comfortable than his bed at home. Things had gone well today, he thought. He spent time with Marsella and she seemed genuinely interested in him. Closing the deal could get complicated, especially if her husband wasn’t always off at some business thing. He was surprised how much he liked her.

Feelings for Marsella would only make an already complicated situation even more indecipherable. He was already juggling multiple women back home, he couldn’t add a billionaire’s wife to the mix. Or... could he?

Matt flipped through the resort information folder again, looking for ideas he could use to further woo Marsella. He checked his phone constantly, ignoring anything from his women back home in hopes Marsella would message him. He sat in this manner for over an hour, slowly growing more hungry. He knew better than to text her out of the blue so he waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

However, finally, a message from Marsella.

“Busy? Dinner? I’m without a date suddenly.”