It wasn't until I reached my front door that I realized I had left my keys at the office. Cursing under my breath, I pulled out my phone to contact my landlord, Kristina Monroe, via Facebook.
I lived in a city known as Sevan. Throughout this past year, and even more so in Sevan, my landlady, Kristina, had shown me nothing but kindness.
Kristina, a woman of thirty, was a single mother, and she raised her five-year-old daughter single-handedly. She was a woman of considerable wealth, with numerous properties to her name.
Despite her financial independence, she found a jobless life to be monotonous. Thus, she had taken up a position as an accountant. Kristina was an intellectual woman, blessed with blonde hair, striking beauty, and an enviable physique. Her voice was as soft as a whisper.
However, she often indulged in playful banter with me, teasing, "William, I'm quite fond of you. If you ever grow weary of work, let me know. I'll pay you, and all you'd need to do is sleep with me once a day!"
Each time Kristina uttered these words, I found myself tempted to consider her proposition.
After all, Kristina was a stunning woman. The idea of being intimate with her daily, coupled with monetary compensation, seemed too enticing to be real!
However, I feared she might be jesting, and thus, I refrained from accepting her offer.
I texted Kristina:
William: [Kristina, I seem to have left my room key at the office. Do you happen to have a spare?]
Kristina: [Yes, come and collect it. You've just finished work, haven't you? Why not join me for dinner?]
William: [Okay, thank you!]
My heart was filled with joy. After all, I had yet to have my evening meal!
I had dined at Kristina's home on several occasions. Her culinary skills were impressive, and her meals, delectable! It appeared I was in for a delightful treat that evening!
Kristina resided in the upscale neighborhood adjacent to mine. It was a leisurely twenty-minute stroll away.
Soon enough, I found myself standing at Kristina's doorstep, ringing the doorbell.
Moments later, Kristina, clad in a wide-necked T-shirt, opened the door.
"William, come in, and do take off your shoes!"
As she bent down to retrieve a pair of men's slippers from the shoe rack, my heart fluttered...
Kristina was not wearing a bra!
I caught a glimpse of Kristina's bare, white breasts!
I took a deep breath, attempting to regain my composure.
I was at Kristina's home for dinner, not for any ulterior motives....
However, Kristina's breasts were truly enticing, shaped like droplets of water, and appeared quite appealing.
I found myself sneaking a few more glances.
Just then, a little girl ran over. "Uncle William, did you come to see me?"
I quickly looked away.
The little girl running towards me was called Lily Monroe, Kristina's daughter.
I picked her up, "Lily, did you miss me?"
"Yes!"
Lily nodded and said, "Did Uncle William miss Lily?"
"Of course I did!"
I couldn't resist pinching her soft cheek.
Over a year ago, shortly after I moved in, Lily had once gotten lost.
Kristina was in a state of panic, searching for her. Ultimately, it was I who helped Kristina locate Lily. Consequently, both Lily and Kristina were immensely grateful to me, and our relationship blossomed.
As Kristina headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner, I settled on the sofa to play with Lily.
Suddenly, I noticed a few pieces of freshly laundered lace underwear on the balcony.
It appeared that Kristina had washed all her bras, which explained her lack of one.
However, I also spotted a few pieces of men's clothing on the balcony!
I was somewhat surprised. Wasn't Kristina a single mother?
Why would there be men's clothing at home?
Could it be that a man had moved into Kristina's house?
Could it be that Kristina had a new husband?
A knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. The thought of the man returning and finding me there was unsettling, to say the least. I thought about grabbing the spare key and getting out of there fast, but something stopped me.
After all, my relationship with Kristina was innocent, and even if Kristina had a new husband, I had nothing to fear.
After spending some time playing with Lily, Kristina's voice broke through the laughter, "William, Lily, dinner is ready. Go wash your hands!" I complied, and when I returned, a plate of food was waiting for me. "Thank you," I murmured, touched by her kindness. In this vast world, apart from my family, it seemed that only Kristina cared for me in such a way.
The meal was exquisite, each bite a testament to Kristina's culinary skills. My spirits lifted as we joked around the dinner table. Kristina, noticing Lily's fondness for me, couldn't help but tease. "Lily, you seem to adore Uncle William. Would you like him to be your dad?"
The question caught me off guard, and I could feel sweat trickling down my back. However, Lily's response was even more shocking.
"Yes, I want Uncle William to be my dad. I don't want anyone else!"
Kristina's lips curled into a teasing smile, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "William, did you hear that? How about I marry you?"
I shook my head, flustered. "Kristina, don't joke around, how could I be worthy of you!"
"Is that so?" Kristina's eyes narrowed, and I felt something brush against my foot. Glancing down, I saw Kristina's foot resting on mine. Her boldness took me by surprise, especially with Lily still beside us!
Her foot continued its journey upwards, coming to rest on my knee. I could see her delicate toes, painted a soft pink nail polish.
Despite being thirty, Kristina's feet were as tender as a young woman's. However, what shocked me even more was the fact that her foot kept inching higher.
I glanced at Lily, her innocent face oblivious to the tension at the table. My gaze then shifted to the men's clothes hanging nearby, and a surge of anger extinguished any inappropriate thoughts.
I pulled away from her reach, setting down my bowl and utensils. "Kristina, thanks for the meal, I'm full."
Kristina looked taken aback then asked with a hint of sadness, "William, do you think I'm too old? Don't you like me?"
I shook my head. "No! It's not that!"
"Then, do you think I'm too forward?" Kristina pressed on.
"No! It's not that either." I continued shaking my head.
"Am I not pretty?" Kristina asked.
I answered, "You're beautiful!"
"Then why are you leaving?" She bit her lip, her face etched with confusion.
"Kristina, you already have a new husband. If he came back and saw us being so intimate, how would we explain?" I replied.
"New husband?" Kristina looked confused.
I pointed to the men's clothing hanging on the balcony, and Kristina burst into laughter. She explained that she hadn't been with anyone since her divorce. The men's clothes were a deterrent, a way to ward off any unwanted advances.
I felt a pang of guilt. I had misjudged Kristina.
After dinner, as I prepared to leave, Kristina asked me, "Are you available this weekend?"