Elara
For several long seconds, I simply stared at Kenna.
I was convinced I had heard her wrong.
“Excuse me?”
Kenna held my gaze before suddenly laughing, the bright sound breaking the strange silence that had settled over the lounge.
“You should see your face.” She lifted both hands in surrender.
“I’m joking, Elara.
Relax.”
The tightness in my shoulders eased immediately.
“I almost believed you.”
”I know,” she replied with a grin.
“That’s what made it fun.”
Across from us, Damian quietly picked up his coffee, but I noticed the way his expression softened almost imperceptibly.
Kenna noticed it too.
Her smile became even more mischievous.
“You two are surprisingly entertaining.”
Neither of us answered.
Fortunately, she decided to change the subject.
“You’ve never played golf before, have you?”
I shook my head.
“No.
I’ve only seen it on television.”
”Then that’s unacceptable.” She stood up and picked up an extra club from the rack beside her.
“Come on.
I’ll teach you.”
Our manager immediately looked delighted.
“That’s a wonderful opportunity, Elara.”
Sasha’s smile stiffened.
“She’s very lucky.”
I stood and accepted the golf club Kenna handed me.
“I’ll probably be terrible.”
Kenna laughed.
“That’s exactly why it’ll be fun.”
We walked toward the practice area while everyone else remained near the lounge.
Kenna positioned a golf ball on the tee before turning toward me.
“First lesson,” she said.
“Don’t fight the club.
Let it move naturally.”
I awkwardly copied her stance.
“Like this?”
She circled behind me and gently adjusted my shoulders.
“A little straighter.” Then she lightly touched my elbow.
“Relax this arm.”
My entire body stiffened.
“I’m trying.”
Kenna touched my waist and scooted even closer to me.
“I noticed,” she whispered and smiled.
“You’re adorable when you’re nervous.”
Heat immediately climbed into my face.
“I-I’m just afraid of embarrassing myself.”
”Impossible.” She stepped closer again and adjusted my grip.
“Besides, I’m enjoying this.”
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Sasha watching us.
Her expression had become noticeably darker.
I pretended not to see it.
Kenna guided the club downward.
“Keep your eyes on the ball.”
I swung.
The club completely missed.
Kenna burst into laughter.
“Well…
at least nobody got injured.”
Even I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
“I told you I’d be terrible.”
”And I told you that’s perfectly fine.” She reached over and lightly brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“We’ll get there.”
The small gesture immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Sasha crossed her arms.
“What exactly are they doing?”
Our manager chuckled.
“I think Miss Kenna likes Elara.”
Sasha’s expression darkened even more.
A few minutes later, Kenna’s phone rang.
She glanced at the screen before sighing.
“I need to use the restroom.” She handed me the golf club.
“Don’t run away while I’m gone.”
The moment she disappeared into the clubhouse, another familiar figure approached.
Damian stopped beside me.
Neither of us spoke immediately.
Finally, he looked at me.
“You don’t have a boyfriend.”
It wasn’t a question.
I tightened my grip on the club.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
”So you’ve been lying.”
I looked around nervously.
“The important thing is that nobody here knows we’ve met before.”
His eyebrows drew together.
“That’s your concern?”
”Yes,” I replied.
“If people find out we’re acquainted, unnecessary rumors will start.”
He studied me for a long moment.
Then I quietly stepped past him.
“I don’t want anyone misunderstanding.”
Without waiting for his reply, I walked toward the practice area.
Unfortunately, Sasha chose that exact moment to approach Kenna as she returned.
Her smile was overly bright.
“Miss Kenna, would you teach me too?
I’ve always wanted to learn golf.”
Kenna looked at her politely.
“I’m not the best teacher,” she said and pointed casually at Damian.
“But Damian is excellent.
Ask him.”
Sasha immediately turned toward him.
“Sir Damian, would you mind teaching me?”
Damian didn’t hesitate.
“No.
I’m not interested in teaching anyone.”
The rejection was so direct that even our manager looked uncomfortable.
Kenna, however, seemed thoroughly amused.
She returned to my side as though nothing unusual had happened.
“Now, let’s fix that swing,” she said.
I obediently picked up the club again.
Kenna was in the middle of explaining my posture when another pair of hands suddenly closed over mine.
I froze when I saw that Damian had stepped behind me, technically cornering me with his big body.
Then he whispered calmly.
“Your grip is wrong.”
Kenna looked at him before smiling knowingly.
“I’ll leave this lesson to you.”
Without waiting for permission, Damian adjusted my fingers around the club.
“No wonder you’re missing.
You’re holding it too tightly.” His hand lightly guided my wrist.
“Relax your shoulders.”
I became painfully aware of how close he was.
“I am relaxed.”
”No, you’re not,” he said.
“If you were any tenser, the club would snap.”
Kenna laughed openly.
“I agree with him.”
My face burned.
Damian ignored both of us.
“Keep your eyes forward.” Then, in a lower voice that only I could hear, he added, “And stop thinking about who’s watching.”
Somehow, that only made me more nervous.
He guided my swing and the club connected perfectly.
The ball flew through the air in a smooth arc before dropping directly into the hole.
Silence followed.
Then Kenna clapped enthusiastically.
“Hole in one!”
I stared in disbelief.
“That…
that was an accident.”
Damian’s expression finally softened.
“Maybe.”
After several more practice shots, Kenna stretched her arms.
“I think we’ve earned a break.”
She looked at me with playful eyes.
“Elara, would you like to take a shower with me?”
I nearly dropped the golf club.
“W-What?”
She laughed so hard she had to hold her side.
“I’m kidding.” She winked.
“But your reaction is priceless.”
Still smiling, she walked toward the clubhouse.
The moment she disappeared, Damian let out a quiet breath.
“You shouldn’t let your guard down around her.”
I looked at him in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
He slipped both hands into his pockets.
“Kenna is a lesbian.”
My eyes widened.
“She’s serious about flirting?”
”Very.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or panic.
“I thought she was just being friendly.”
Damian looked directly at me.
“No.
She likes you.”
An awkward silence settled between us.
Then he spoke again.
His voice was quieter than before.
“If you’re considering your options…” he trailed, his gaze never left mine.
“You could consider being with me instead.”
For a moment, the entire golf course seemed to disappear.
All I could hear was the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat.