Chapter 7

The hinges groaned slightly as the front door creaked open, revealing Darryl stepping wearily into his house. The remnants of his date with Vanessa lingered in his mind. He didn't know if he should just laugh and get over it. The dim glow from the hallway lamp cast long shadows across his tired face.

Tania, perched on the edge of the sofa, her posture tense despite her casual attire, perked up at the sound. She had been waiting for him all night, clinging to the hope of a romantic evening. She had called him countless times before coming over to his place. She got there only to find the house empty and Darryl unreachable.

"Hey babe, where have you been?" she inquired, her voice laced with a hint of playful accusation, masking the undercurrent of worry. “I've been trying to reach you over the phone, but you were not responding.”

Darryl, however, seemed oblivious to the playful tone. His brow furrowed in what could be interpreted as either confusion or annoyance. "Why are you here? He countered, his voice flat. Darryl was not surprised to meet Tania at his place, he was not just not in the mood to have fun with her tonight.

He could not place if it was his date with Vanessa or meeting Tania in his house that had ruined his mood. He was just not in the mood to have Tania around him.

Tania's smile faltered for a brief moment, then she recovered quickly. "To be with you, my love," she replied sweetly, her voice a touch softer this time.

This was not the first time she had visited him unannounced. In fact, he was the one who gave her spare keys so she could visit him whenever she wanted. Why was he questioning her now? Tania pondered.

Darryl sighed, a deep breath that spoke volumes about his current state. "You should go home, Tania," he said calmly, though his eyes held a weariness that belied his composed tone. "I'm busy.”

Tania refused to let the conversation drop even if she had noticed he was acting weird tonight. Maybe he was drinking, she thought. Stepping closer to confirm her curiosity, she tilted her head up and planted a quick kiss on Darryl's lips. It was a playful gesture, laced with a subtle invitation, but she could smell nothing but his seducing cologne.

"Too busy for me?" Tania purred, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. The playful accusation had morphed into a seductive challenge.

Darryl needed her to spend the night and to get over Vanessa, but the thought about Vanessa wouldn't let him do anything with Tania. Instead, Darryl held his ground. He knew he should send her home.

Darryl remained rooted to the spot, sending a pointed look at her, he articulated what he hoped would be a clear dismissal. "Don't you have work tomorrow?" he asked, hoping the reminder of responsibility would nudge her towards the door.

Tania, however, seemed oblivious to the hint. A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. "Who cares about that?" she countered, her voice laced with amusement. She leaned in even closer, her body brushing suggestively against his.

"Besides," she continued, a playful smile tugging at her lips, "that's the benefit of dating the boss, isn't it?" Her words were a teasing reminder of their power dynamic, a playful jab that held an unspoken question: wouldn't he bend the rules just a little for her?

“Foremost, we are not dating. And secondly, you can't miss work just because you have a thing with me.” Tania's attempt to inject humor by mentioning missing work for a "thing" with Darryl backfired spectacularly.

“What if I decided to cut your pay because I'm already sponsoring your rich girl lifestyle? Would that make any sense?” His response felt laced with resentment.

Vanessa's comment about his money got to him. He didn't know why he was bothered about her opinion in the first place. Now Tania was the one paying for it.

“Why are you saying that? I didn't imply that I don't work. I was just teasing you, Darryl. Tania, bewildered by his defensiveness, tried to explain her lightheartedness.

“I'm one if not the most hardworking project managers in your company. I earned it by diligence, not because I was fucking you.” She emphasized her dedication to her work.

Darryl knew he had overreated by saying those mean things, and this made him seem on edge.

“I'm sorry Tania. I shouldn't have said those words to you.” He apologized to her. Darryl remained rooted to the spot.

His short answers and vague apology indicated a deeper issue simmering beneath the surface of the conversation. And the only reason was Vanessa.

The date with Vanessa must not have gone as he planned it, but that was not the only reason for his foul mood. Though Vanessa's attempts to provoke him couldn't fully explain his sour mood.

He knew she was playing hard to get. That was the most frustrating thing about his date with her. How can someone be playing hard to get at this age? That's ridiculous.

A shadow of discontent lingered over Darryl despite Tania's presence in his arms. Darryl squeezed his eyes shut, pulling Tania closer in a gesture that seemed more placating than passionate.

Tania, for example, understood that he wasn't interested in a serious relationship, but she still stuck with him because of the mutual benefits their relationship offered.

Vanessa might have thought that her coy behavior would chase him away, but he was not ready to give up on her until he got her on her knees, begging him to touch her. The thought made him feel something as he readjusted himself on the bed, pulling Tania closer to him.

He glanced at Tania's body wrapped up in his arms as he gave a wry smile. Women are all the same, so Vanessa couldn't be different from others, he thought. Maybe he should do more to impress her. One day, she would definitely fall for his tricks.

Tania, oblivious to the internal battle Darryl fought, thought she had finally conquered Darryl tonight just like the other night. She didn't know her presence offered only physical comfort while Vanessa remained persistent in Darryl's thoughts.