Daisy’s Secret Crush

***Daisy’s POV.***

“Not this. Definitely not this one, too. Where do you find a perfect swimsuit when you want one?” I ask myself as I surf through the shop for a swimsuit for Toby’s upcoming pool party.

I had a busy schedule during the first week in Bristol and didn’t have time to buy a good swimsuit. It is not like I didn’t bring one with me as I am a water baby and swimming is in my soul. It is just that the one I brought with me is not sexy or cute in any manner.

I had to tell Toby to postpone the pool party to next weekend so it would give me enough time to buy one a day before the party. I had literally run from my work. The reason is Theo is keeping me way too busy on purpose, so I won’t be able to meet Toby. Olivia is doing the same. As a fellow investor, she would hang around Toby for other properties he should invest in.

Last weekend, Toby and I were out somehow from their seducing clutches. Seducing how? Theo would give importance to my every word like I am a dictating goddess, but the minute I give the work away to the team, he would take me aside and ask me a million questions.

Well, you would be thinking how this could be seducing. Well, he would touch. He would touch me so casually or bump into me like it was nothing. Little does he know or, as if he exactly knows, he is making me turn mushy from the inside. But I refused to give in.

Toby, on the other hand, faced major onsolts. As they both already had done it, it was even harder for Toby to resist. But I didn’t think he would be brave enough to deny Olivia. He told me that he said no and put forth his condition that until she thinks of him as her boyfriend and accepts in front of everyone, he would not even touch her.

They are really very serious about taking us down. But we stood strong. We only met on weekends to buy artefacts and paintings for the interiors of the hotel. And obviously, an investor and the boss wouldn’t want to be left behind. Theo and Olivia invaded us there, too.

Ever since Olivia stopped our fake almost kiss, they have upped their game a lot more. Now the only weapon we have is a pool party where four of us would be involved in a battle of strength. Toby and I have planned about it a lot through messages.

But the only peril I am in right now is a swimsuit. I have to find something which would make Theo’s eye pop out from his head, not literally. But wait, wouldn’t it become too obvious if I tried hard? No, I have to buy something which would attract him but also won’t seem too sexy.

And I find just the right fit for me. I buy it and come back to the villa and go straight to my room so I don’t cross paths with anyone while still holding my swimsuit.

Next day, I wear a dusty blue shirred bodice dress with short flounce sleeves and a square neck. I pack up my swimsuit and other necessary things. When I come out, I see Theo waiting for me.

“You are early.” He complains.

“Then why are you complaining? Don’t men hate waiting around for women?” I ask.

“Not for a beautiful one.” He says, and I try my best to keep a blank face. I will take a compliment when he actually means it is for me. No indirect comments are accepted.

“I don’t want to be late. I want to swim while the sun is up.” I say as I sit in the car.

“I should have known. You were always a water baby. Remember when you threw a fit for the first and that too for swimming lessons.” Theo says and starts driving.

“Yes. I remember the look on my Dad’s face to see her little angel throwing her smoothie away. I was literally angry to see you guys play in the water while I was kept away like a precious doll.” I say.

“You loved playing in the water. I still remember your first swimming trip to our private beach. You ran towards it and fell face first. We thought you would start crying, but as usual, you surprised me and started laughing, saying the beach loves you and wants kisses from you.” He said and started laughing.

I just look at him because it has been a while since I saw him laugh so heartily, and then I get embarrassed about getting caught staring at him. I put a strand of hair behind my ear.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“I did that because I didn’t want Dad to take me away thinking I got hurt, which I didn’t because of the soft sand.” I say.

“Did you know Wyatt removed stones from that area before you arrived with Viola? He was worried you would get hurt somehow. He was right.” He says and I feel a rush of love for my Dad.

“I am so lucky to have him. He is the best I could get as a father. I love him.” I say.

“We are here.” Theo says after a few minutes.

“We are?” I say and my voice sounds disappointed to me. Maybe because I didn’t want this journey to end so soon.

“Come.” Theo says after opening my side of the car door.

He takes my bag for me and I walk behind him to enter Toby’s house. He welcomes me with open arms and swings me around. If things were different and Theo would stop playing this stupid game, I would be in his arms.

I go to a room and get changed into my swimsuit. It is of teal blue colour, one piece with cut out design around the waist and front knot. I take my sunscreen, sunglasses and long sandy brown beach hat and go out in front of the outdoor pool.

The pool area is quite big with a hot tub jacuzzi on one side and lounging chairs on the other side. People are already gathering around the bar more and some are taking in the sun.

I sit down on one chair with a shade as I don’t want to tan and apply sunscreen and get a non-alcoholic fruity drink and just relax. I need this right now for the upcoming battle. I sip at the drink and sigh out in relief. I have to wait thirty minutes till the sunscreen settles in and I will be finished with my drink soon.

But my peace is disturbed by an ogling man. He has taken a seat right next to me, and I can feel him leering at me. After ten minutes, he still doesn’t stop and moves his chair closer to me. As I don’t want to create a scene, I get up and leave to walk around and mingle with others.

I enjoy myself after that as I meet some very nice people. Toby takes my arm to dance for a few minutes after he is done with welcoming people and mingling with them. I have not seen Theo and Olivia yet. Maybe they are around here somewhere.

“Have you seen them?” I ask Toby.

“Yes. Olivia is with some of her mutual friends, and Theo is surrounded by those friends.” Toby says as he points in one direction and I see Theo literally surrounded by hordes of women.

“Great. He is enjoying himself.” I say when I see him laughing with those girls like he did earlier with me.

Is there no difference between them and me? Am I not special in his eyes at all? I try to look away, but my mood has been dampened already and it could only get better after a good swim.

So I excuse myself from Toby and jump straight into the pool which showers water over those girls who are here to show their swimsuit, not actually swim, and also Theo. I swim away without looking back and do so for a few minutes without giving mind to anyone.

I swim to the end of the pool, which looks over the city as it is on the edge. I look in the distance and sulk. My thoughts go to Theo and I come to a harsh conclusion that what Theo feels for me might be just physical and nothing else.

If that is the case, then whatever I do would not mean anything to him, but just a desperate plea to sleep with him. If he doesn’t feel anything for me romantically, then there is no point in pursuing him at all. What would I do? Be his bedmate like any other girl could be? No. I can’t. I want more from him. I want more for myself. But why am I expecting things far more than I thought in the beginning?

I bite my lips and come to another conclusion that I might not just like him and have a simple crush. I might have started to fall for him. And if that is the case, then I am doomed. Because then my heart would expect to deserve more from him.

“Please feel something.” I plea to Theo.

“I would love to.” A voice says from behind me and I turn around to see it is that man who was earlier ogling me and he is closing in on me and I am pushed to a corner.

What should I do?