A Beautiful Misunderstanding

"No... I didn't..." Suddenly tongue-tied, Essie desperately scrabbled for a coherent response to Zac's loaded question, but her
brain seemed to have stopped functioning at that moment.
"The way you looked at me revealed what you were thinking. You want me." Amusement and dark promise tinted his voice. His
fingers slowly, deliberately slid down from her neck to rest on her sleep shirt placket, which was placed directly over her
pounding chest. The warmth of his fingertips seemed to burn a hole in her pajamas. The heat started to burn her skin and
transfer to her heart, which seemed to spontaneously combust.
"I'm sleepy," she announced to the room at large. All of the fight drained out of her. She could only close her eyes and feign
sleep.
With a mischievous smile on his lips, Zac slowly lowered his head to kiss her lightly on the lips. With him that close, Essie could
smell the refreshing aroma of his body wash pervading the air that she breathed. He had always used a shower gel that smelled
like magnolia flowers. The elegant, pure scent wafted from his warm skin to her nose to awaken her senses and fan the current
coursing through her.
She felt dizzy and weak, and her mind was a blank. She had no strength to resist and think. Zac took advantage of Essie's
stillness and kissed her lips while he skillfully undid her pajama top, one button at a time.
A draft of cold air touched her bare chest, but it was immediately chased away by the warmth of Zac's body against hers.
When Essie felt Zac's hands wander to her waist, she suddenly regained her senses.
"Are men all like this?" she whispered bemusedly. "Can you all have sex without any feelings involved?" she added. Zac stopped
his exploration. After a few heartbeats, he let out a helpless sigh.
The flame burning in his bright eyes dissipated as if doused by a cold current until only an unfathomable darkness remained.
No feelings?
Did she mean on her end or his?
He released a deep, pent-up breath, let go of Essie, and turned to lie on his back on the bed. Without a light in the room, his
handsome profile was obscured by shadows. There was a slight frown on his eyebrows, and the expression in his eyes was
inscrutable.

A silence, thick and fraught with tension, descended upon the occupants of the room. Between them, the air of hopelessness
was so palpable. They could not see each other clearly through the thick fog of emotion. It was like their hearts were thousands
of miles apart even though their bodies were separated by mere inches.
Essie could feel her emotions crashing down on her in waves, with all their ups and downs.
Once again, his silence proved that he had no feelings for her. In his eyes, she was only a momentary plaything to divert him
from his boredom.
Resolutely, she told herself that she did not care one whit about what Zac thought of her. His feelings and opinions were of no
consequence.
Simply put, their relationship was one of convenience, which suited them both. Once they separated, they would no longer be of
any concern to each other. Just two ships passing each other in the night.
The next day arrived.
Essie officially moved into the new house. After seeing their daughter and son-in-law's stable married life and steady
relationship, Lucy and Bob headed back home secure in the knowledge that the couple would be just fine.
As soon as they had left, Essie packed up Zac's belongings and immediately transferred them into his bedroom.
Their days of cohabiting and sleeping together in the same room had finally come to an end. The ever-present threat of
triggering that danger alarm was finally lifted.
Everything went on as usual. At last, they did not have to put on a show or pretend to be in love with each other to reassure
Essie's parents.
This return to normalcy appeared to have liberated Zac. He disappeared without a trace early that morning.
As for herself? She headed to Ikea to shop for home decors.
On the way to the store, she passed by a five-star hotel. Unexpectedly, her eyes landed on a familiar handsome figure.
Zac?
She was shocked.

That morning, she was confused at his mysterious disappearance, and she became curious regarding his whereabouts. Little did
she know that the luxurious hotel was his destination.
What could he be doing in a five-star hotel? Was he perhaps closing a deal with a rich business partner?
She was so deep in thought that she almost missed it when a beautiful woman made an appearance. When the woman saw
Zac, she approached him with a bright smile and linked her arm through the crook of his, looking cozy and intimate with him.
Essie's eyes widened.
What was going on?
Perhaps... was the rich woman his sugar mommy?