Chapter 4

Michael couldn't help but admire how Anelise managed to keep Ollie entertained as they collected their luggage, waiting for the company representative to pick them up and take them to their summer hotel.

Their driver, Edward, was a hoot. He had them all laughing as he pointed out sights along the way. Anelise was particularly taken with the older man's accent.

Eventually, they arrived at a swanky hotel in Kensington, one of London's business districts. Edward gave them a rundown of must-see spots, including the museums, gardens, and the Royal Albert Hall.

“Ani, you seem like a sweet girl; make sure to visit Princess Diana’s memorial fountain. It’s beautiful,” Edward suggested.

“Oh, that sounds wonderful! I'll definitely add that to our to-do list!” Anelise replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The bellhops assisted them with their luggage and kept everything organized while they checked in. Ken and Craig were assigned small rooms on the third floor, while Michael was given a spacious suite on the fifth floor.

The suite was stunning, complete with three rooms and a small kitchenette. Anelise was smitten, snapping photos to send to Leslie. Michael claimed the master bedroom, leaving Anelise and Ollie the smaller rooms on the other side of the suite.

“Ani, is this arrangement okay? I feel like I’m miles away, and I’m not sure if I’ll hear Ollie if he wakes up,” Michael confessed, guilt creeping into his voice.

“Michael, you mentioned your schedule might be erratic. We don’t want to disturb Ollie, so don’t worry. We’ll manage,” she reassured him.

Michael nodded and went to hang up his work clothes. He also set up his computer and other work devices to charge. Meanwhile, Anelise was in Ollie’s room, helping him arrange his clothes and toys just the way he wanted.

The unpacking took about an hour, filled with Anelise’s laughter. She and Ollie were having a blast. The little boy was already worming his way into her heart, and she had a feeling they were going to be fast friends.

Once they were settled, they met up with Craig and Ken in the lobby to head to a nearby pub for dinner. Michael also planned to do some grocery shopping.

They didn’t want to eat out every day, and Anelise was more than happy to cook for herself and Ollie. Michael would be out most days until late, so it would be just her and Ollie. But he assured her she could take Ollie out for meals whenever she wanted.

Over dinner, the four adults got to know each other better, sharing laughs and stories. Anelise found them all to be good company and felt at ease around them.

On the way back, they let Ollie run around and play, hoping to tire him out and help him adjust to the local time.

That’s when Anelise’s phone rang. Seeing it was her parents, she muttered a curse under her breath and licked her lips.

“It’s my parents. I have my key. I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit.”

“Ani, take your time! You’re not on the clock yet.” Michael chuckled. “You can talk to your parents whenever you want.”

She gave him a weak smile, nodded, and answered the call.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Anelise! You were supposed to call us once you were settled!”

“Again. Hi, Mom. We just got back to the hotel after dinner,” Ani replied, trying to keep her frustration in check.

“Don’t get sassy, young lady!” Her father chimed in from the speakerphone, causing her to roll her eyes.

“How was the flight? Is the hotel up to standard? Do you have your own room?” Kim fired off questions.

“The flight was fine. Ollie slept for a few hours, and Michael and I got to know each other better. Yes, the hotel is great, and of course I have my own room! Where else would I be sleeping?” Ani retorted, barely concealing her annoyance.

“Well, things happen, and even though Michael promised you’d have your own room, I—”

“~Mom!~ Michael is not that kind of guy, and you know it! If you had any doubts, you wouldn’t have given him my number!”

“You don’t raise your voice at your mother!” Neil interjected. “If you continue with this attitude, you’ll be on the next flight home, young lady!”

“Actually Dad, no I won’t,” Ani responded quietly.

“What did you say?!”

“I said, ‘No I won’t.’ I’m an adult, and I chose to be here and work for Michael, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

She continued, “I’m sorry if you don’t like that, or think I’m being disrespectful. I’m not trying to be. I just don’t think you realize that I’m almost twenty-one and about to graduate from college.”

There was a pause before her mother asked, “You think we don’t treat you like an adult?”

“Not really. But I don’t want to have this conversation when we’re so far apart. Can you both just trust that everything is going well and that I’m okay?” she pleaded.

“Fine. We’ll continue this conversation when you get home. You’re planning to come home for a few days before going back to school, right?” Neil asked.

“That’s the plan for now. Michael said the end date might change depending on how negotiations go. I’ll keep you updated,” she promised.

“But Anelise, we haven’t seen you in months!” Kim sniffled.

She rolled her eyes. “I know, Mom. School and work got in the way during breaks.” She kept to herself that she had spent the holidays with Leslie and the Rothchilds because she didn’t want to go home and be treated like a child.

She felt a pang of guilt, being their only child, but she needed to maintain the progress she had made in losing weight, coming out of her shell, and living an independent life.

“I love you both, and I’ll be sure to send pictures and updates, ~okay~?” Anelise promised. They said their goodbyes, and she headed back to the hotel, her mind wandering back to the past few years.

She remembered the shock of her first days at college, the way she’d quickly bonded with Leslie, and how she’d discovered the world was so much bigger than she’d ever known. She’d been so sheltered, living in a bubble her parents had created.

She’d never really dated or hung out with friends; she’d always been more interested in her books. College was a whole new world, and she was both thrilled and terrified to be a part of it. She’d had no idea life could be so...vibrant!

Leslie had been patient with her, understanding how sheltered Anelise had been, and had slowly introduced her to the world. Once Anelise had a taste, she was hooked.

The two girls had spent countless hours binge-watching shows and movies Anelise hadn’t even known existed. ~Game of Thrones~, ~Sons of Anarchy~, ~Breaking Bad~, and ~The Walking Dead~ quickly became her favorites, and she loved re-watching episodes.

The first time Leslie showed her a sex scene, Anelise was mortified! She was so embarrassed that she knew nothing about sex beyond the basics. But Leslie was cool about it, and they spent hours talking about it.

That’s when they came up with the “Matt Douglas Scale.” Matt was the campus heartthrob—handsome, smart, charismatic, friendly, and wealthy.

They’d noticed him early on, along with every other girl on campus, and they’d often giggled and daydreamed about him. Leslie had created a scale to rate other guys against Matt, who was a perfect ten in their eyes.

Both Leslie and Anelise had a science class with Matt their sophomore year. They were lab partners and had a blast together. No one had ever compared to Matt for Anelise. That was, until she met Michael.

Michael was amazing! He had rich brown hair, sparkling green eyes, and a smile that made her weak in the knees. And those dimples were just the cherry on top. He was tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms.

She hadn’t seen his legs outside of jeans, but he had a perfectly squeezable ass. She could almost feel the heat in her hand just thinking about touching it, and the thought made her blush.

He was also incredibly smart, which Anelise found incredibly attractive. When he talked about his work, she had to hope she wasn’t visibly drooling!

Just as the elevator doors opened on their floor, Anelise’s phone pinged. She let out a soft groan, but was relieved to see Leslie’s name on the screen.

~“Everything okay? You landed and at the hotel?”~

She smiled as she replied, ~“All good! Flight was fine, and the hotel is amazing!”~

~“Remember to wear a raincoat if you’re going to play in the rain!”~

Anelise’s eyes widened as she typed back, ~“Are you crazy?! I’m not going to sleep with him!”~

~“Why not? Hot, available guy who’s blown our ‘Matt Douglas Scale’ out of the water is perfect to pop your cherry!”~

Anelise groaned again.

~“Not gonna happen! He doesn’t see me that way, and I’m too scared to do anything about it.”~

~“Put on your big-girl panties and just do it!”~

She sighed and typed as she unlocked the door, ~“Goodnight, Lulu, love you.”~

~“Love you too.”~

As Anelise opened the door, a little boy ran past her, naked and laughing, with his father chasing after him, his shirt soaked. She could see the outline of his chest through the wet fabric.

Michael caught Ollie, wrapped him in a towel, and gave her a smile. “Bathtime got a little out of hand!”

She laughed. “I can see that! Should I be prepared for this every bathtime? Do I need to pack a swimsuit?” Michael instantly pictured her full breasts in a bikini top and had to swallow back a moan. He managed a smile.

“Not usually. I let him get a little wild to try and tire him out. Plus, have you seen the size of the tub? I think all three of us could fit in there together!”

Anelise loved the thought of her and Michael in there, naked and slippery, but she pushed the desire away by squeezing her thighs together. “I can’t wait to check it out. Can I help with anything?”

“Not yet, but in about twenty minutes, you could help with his bedtime routine so you know it,” he suggested, and she agreed with a smile.

“Everything okay at home?”

Her face fell at the mention of home, but she nodded. “Yeah…”

Deciding not to push it, Michael took Ollie to get him diapered and into his pajamas. Anelise kicked off her shoes, plugged in her phone, and settled down to watch some TV before Ollie crawled into her lap and demanded her attention.

She was more than happy to give it to him until he started to get sleepy. She helped Michael put him to bed. He closed the door partly and looked at her. “I’m gonna get some work done. The rest of the night is yours, Ani. Enjoy and sleep well.”

“Goodnight, Michael…” she replied, watching his perfect ass as he walked down the hall to the master suite.

“Shit, I’m gonna dream about him for years to come!” she muttered as she went into her room and pulled out her books and notes to start working.