Chapter Five: A Weekend to Remember

It had been a hectic few months of late nights, project deadlines, and nonstop energy. So when Michelle suggested a weekend getaway to unwind and let loose, Anasha didn’t need convincing.

“Just us. Ocean breeze, fruity drinks, and no emails,” Michelle had said, eyes twinkling with excitement.

Anasha grinned. “You had me at fruity drinks.”

They booked a three-day weekend at a cozy beachside resort a few hours away from the city. It was spontaneous and a little impulsive—but it felt like exactly what they needed.

When they arrived, the salt in the air and the distant crash of waves wrapped around Anasha like a hug. The room overlooked the sea, and the first thing she did was kick off her shoes, open the balcony doors, and breathe in the freedom.

They filled their days with fun and laughter: morning walks on the sand, paddleboarding lessons that ended in dramatic splashes, and lounging by the pool with oversized sunglasses and gossip magazines. At night, they dressed up and went to dinner, treating themselves to seafood, cocktails, and cheesecake.

Michelle had a playlist for every moment, and Anasha hadn’t laughed so much in months. There was no talk of work, no mention of exes, no anxiety about the future—just pure, undiluted joy.

By the final night, they were tan, relaxed, and a little too attached to room service.

“One more adventure before we leave,” Michelle said that afternoon. “We’re going clubbing tonight.”

Anasha hesitated. “Clubbing? Isn’t that... a little much?”

“Exactly,” Michelle said with a wicked grin. “That’s the point. One night to go wild before we go back to normal life.”

So they dressed to impress. Michelle wore a sleek black dress that hugged her curves like a second skin, while Anasha chose a deep red wrap dress that flattered her figure and made her feel bolder than usual. Her curls framed her face, and a touch of gold shimmer highlighted her eyes.

The club pulsed with music, bodies moving in rhythm under dim lights. The air was electric, and the energy contagious. Anasha didn’t expect to dance, but Michelle dragged her onto the floor, and soon she was laughing, moving, and letting go.

That’s when she saw him.

He was leaning against the bar, dressed in a simple white button-down with the sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms and a wristwatch that gleamed in the strobe lights. His hair was dark, slightly tousled, and he had the kind of smile that made people look twice.

Their eyes met across the room.

It wasn’t a game. It wasn’t awkward. It was magnetic.

He made his way toward her, and Michelle, sensing the shift, gave her a knowing smirk and melted into the crowd.

“Hi,” he said, voice low and rich.

“Hi,” Anasha replied, her voice soft but steady.

“I’m Jalen.”

“Anasha.”

He smiled like her name was a secret he planned to keep.

They danced. At first, it was playful—light touches, shared grins. But then something deeper slipped between them, something electric. His hand found the small of her back, and she leaned into him, letting the music carry them.

It wasn’t about needing someone. It was about wanting to feel—seen, touched, desired.

They ended the night with a walk along the beach, shoes in hand, the moon casting silver across the waves.

He listened when she spoke. Asked thoughtful questions. Laughed at her dry humor. There was no pressure, no pretense. Just something real, fleeting and beautiful.

Back at the resort, they shared one night.

It was passionate. Tender. Unexpected.

And in the morning, he was gone—leaving behind only a note on the nightstand:

Last night was magic. No numbers—just the memory.

Anasha folded the note into her journal. She didn’t tell Michelle.

Not because she was ashamed—but because something about it felt like hers alone.

They drove back to the city the next day, singing along to the radio and already planning their next escape. Michelle never pressed for details, and Anasha never volunteered them. She kept that night tucked in her heart like a secret souvenir.

Three weeks later, everything changed.

It was Monday morning. Anasha arrived at work early, coffee in hand, ready to tackle the week. There had been whispers of new leadership, a restructuring of upper management, but she hadn’t given it much thought.

She was in the middle of prepping for a meeting when her manager called everyone into the main conference room.

“I’d like to introduce you all to our new department head,” he said. “He’ll be overseeing the entire strategy division and working closely with your teams.”

And then he walked in.

Tall. Confident. Familiar.

Anasha’s heart dropped.

It was him.

Jalen.

Her one night.

Their eyes met, and for a split second, the room seemed to spin. His expression barely shifted, just the subtlest flicker of recognition. He nodded politely to the group, his gaze lingering on her just a breath longer than necessary.

Anasha sat frozen, pulse racing.

He was her boss.

The man who had held her in his arms under a moonlit sky, who had kissed her like she was something precious—was now her superior.

And she had no idea what that meant.

Michelle leaned toward her and whispered, “Damn, he’s fine.”

Anasha forced a smile. “Yeah... he is.”

But inside, everything was spiraling.

What was she supposed to say?

What could she say?

She didn’t know where this would lead, or what complications it might bring.

All she knew was that Jalen was no longer a memory.

He was her present.