AMB~she~OUS

TWENTY THREE

I went for my third lap.

It had been a while since I had been in a swimming pool so I was slightly rusty.

I had spent so much time in the office working my ass off that I didn't remember the last time I had time to relax. But now that I wasn't needed anyway, I could take a much-needed breather.

The inside pool was empty but I could hear the chatter of dozens of people at a nearby pool bar.

I shot up from the water and moved to the edge of the pool to grab a towel. Some of the tension I held earlier had vanished, now all I needed was full body massage and I would be all good. I knew the spa here was one of the best on the planet, I wasn't going to let that pass me by.

"Bonjour!"

A young gentleman dressed in some green trunks greeted from across the pool. He was deeply tan and was good looking, not nearly as good looking as Nick was. I rolled my eyes at that thought and turned my attention to the gentleman.

"Umm Salut?"

"Ah, an American. What's a beautiful woman like yourself doing so far from home, vacationing?" He inquired dipping his feet into the pool.

I scoffed.

"I wish. Unfortunately, this is a business trip, no time to vacation."

"Business?" He asked, passing me a funny look, the kind of look the annoyed the shit out of me.

"What? You look so surprised, don't tell me you're one of those misogynistic characters that think women should leave the business to the men?"

My eyes narrowed in his direction but he let out a boisterous laugh instead.

"No, quite the contrary. I think women are excellent in business, just don't tell my COO that, I don't want her head getting any bigger than it already is." He said winking in my direction.

I let out a chuckle.

"You seem like you've dealt with a lot of men who you're not so fond of."

"Let's just say I was in a meeting that left a sour taste in my mouth." I told him, thinking back to this afternoon's events.

"Well in our defence, men have been calling the shots for a long time now and doing all the business dealings. It's not easy for them to see women who could already do it all try to steal the one thing men are good at."

When he put it like that, it sounded slightly comical but I knew he was just trying to humour me and it worked.

"How about I buy you a drink then we can talk about what a bunch of assholes men in suits are."

I laughed at that and grabbed my kimono from one of the plush benches.

"I must have you know I'm a married woman." I threw at him.

"So am i. I'm married I mean not that I'm a married woman." He joked lifting his hand where a silver band shone on the ring finger.

"Then a drink doesn't sound so bad. As long as you don't try to hit on me."

It wasn't uncommon for even the married men to hit on me but I had a feeling that this man wasn't the type but I just threw it out there.

"I would never hit on a married woman...not until I know her name first." He grinned.

I just rolled my eyes and laughed.

"Katherine. Katherine Daniels."

"Josh. Josh Montgomery. Now shall we?"