***

She folded her clothes and placed them on the bed. Presently, she was on a house coat with a swim wear within, she was about to take a swim. Work these days had been hectic. Coupled with her husband not having time for her, she thought she could do what she formally loved doing, swimming.

She opened the direct door that led downstairs to the pool. The pool was just besides their room with only a stair connecting them. They seem to be at advantage because they were closest to the pool and so, they get to spend more time in it than the rest of the family.

She dipped herself carefully into the pool and the only sound she heard were the ripples of the water and her moan of relaxation.

___

(Yesterday, 3pm)

"Hey handsome," A manicured hand was placed on his shoulders feeling his muscles before the figure came to sit before him.

Daniel simply poured himself another round of alcohol before gulping immediately. It wasn't his Intention of getting drunk today but if he couldn't help it, he would.

"Thia?" His voice wasn't laced with shock as she sat across of him crossing one leg over the other.

"Missed me?" He raised a brow at her instead before shaking his head in amusement.

"I thought you were out of the city already. What are you doing here?" He rather said.

"It sure seems like you want me out of the city so quickly Daniel and why is that?" She asked, that smile never leaving her face. "You look really bothered, your wife not treating you well? I can always help out you-"

"If that's why you called me here then forget it, I was better off alone." He told her.

"Fine, but I was only bothered about you, but really you look troubled, is something wrong?" She couldn't help but ask.

"And you think you can solve my problems?" She was silent after his outburst but she refused for her mood to be spoilt so soon.

"Don't feel so bothered Daniel, lucky for you I know what your problem is. I noticed something interesting lately, you seem to move on pretty easily which is surprising for someone that was really in love with her."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't spoil all the fun so soon, I know that Clarissa wasn't the one you were supposed to marry, Clara was and she ran away. Tell me something Daniel, If you really did love her, why didn't you find her?"

He paused twirling with his cup and listened to what she was spilling that was no longer gibberish.

"I don't know where you heard all your gibberish from Cynthia but what I do and don't do shouldn't concern you." Thia scoffed.

"You can't keep hiding it, soon everyone will know the truth, everyone will know that you were attracted to Clarissa even before you got engaged to Clara." Thia blurted out.

"Tell me, is that your conclusion? Is that what this conversation is all about?- my life? You of all people should know, I don't like people meddling in my business." He told her.

"You aren't even denying it!" She barely whispered.

"Have you decided to become a detective from being a stripper? Nice promotion, but you can meddle somewhere else." He poured the drink into his mouth in another gulp before refilling. Just when he was about to take the glass he saw what she slammed on the table. It was a picture of Clara. Everyone could have a picture of Clara, right?

"I know where she is and you can call me if you're interested." With that she stood and walked away from him.

He took the picture from the table gently. It had been a long time, a month ago or so, he couldn't even remember properly. She ran away from him for a reason he did not understand. Now, he had the privilege to see her again, without interruptions, without any body knowing of it. He had a lot of questions to ask her, a little talk would be enough but, he seeing her again would mean a lot of things, could wake a lot of emotions.

He commended Cynthia a little this time. She was a little over persistent, but if she could guess the real reason why he didn't look for Clara, she would get it.

He was almost like an open book, but he preferred the right readers, and re-reading this chapter would mean so much for him...would take so much from him.

And he wasn't ready to lose another.

(Ends)

____

He wondered how she would feel if he went looking for his run away lover. She would be devastated, he didn't even want to think about it. It was evening when he came home but past supper and everyone had gone to bed.

He found the room empty when he got in. Looking around for any sign of her, he raised a brow at the environment nevertheless thinking about where she would be at this time. He remembered her going home with Audora earlier than him. He walked over to his dressing room to take off his coat and tie releasing some buttons of his shirt to get reed of the damn cooperate wear. Still, the silent atmosphere was almost disturbing, but he listened carefully and heard the faint sound of dripping water.

Definitely not the bathroom, he thought.

His attention drifted to her folded clothes laying on the bed and that gave her away.

She was at the pool, he caught her comb her hair backwards with her hands as she was turned away from him. If you carelessly look at him, you would say he was void of emotions and that was because his face gave nothing less than that, but deep within, there was a pool of other emotions and a massive one of them right now was lust.

Damn straight! She had a nice body. She was Slim, long blonde hair and had tiny waist.

"I never knew you swim," He startled her by his words that she turned immediately. She didn't expect him at this hour. Oh what was she thinking, he could arrive anytime, how ignorant of her.

"May I join you?" He took her silence for a yes only that she gaped at him. He went further to take off his shoe then shirt. He wasn't in a hurry so he took his time refusing to take his eyes away from her. When he reached to take off his trousers, she turned away immediately.

Seconds later she felt and heard a dip in the water indicating he was already in and not forgetting very close to her.

"Turn around,"

'Oh lord help me.' She prayed.

___