48 Play

The sun was up the following day when the ship was anchored at sea and tenders had transported guests to shore.

Riley woke up to find missed calls on his phone from the CEO. Opening her single message, he blushed.

"I don't know what you did last night. You can sleep in all you want. You can find me at the shore excursion."

He looked out from the porthole and saw a strip of white sand at the edge of a seemingly tropical island. However, the ship was not docked and there were smaller boats ashore instead.

"Michelle!" He tapped on the sleeping beauty while hurriedly dressing himself.

She opened one eye to look back at him. "Hmmm...why are you up so early, Riley?"

Hmmm...at least she remembers him. "The bosses are off the boat."

She pulled herself out of the sheets, exposing her upper body. "What?!"

Riley cleared his throat and looked away.

"What? You're still shy after everything you did to me? Mr. Adams, we're both adults here." Her playful tone made him more uncomfortable.

"I...I better head back to my room." He picked up the rest of his clothes and briskly walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Michelle had a sly smile on her face. Then it hit her. Boss!

She rummaged in the room for some time before she found her phone. It had a single missed call and a message from the CEO.

"I'll be at the excursion." Dan did not mind if she was doing her own business, after all, he has his own matter.

_________

At the beachfront, the rich and powerful executives from different corporations released their fun side by deciding to play beach volleyball. Since it's just for fun, they made the teams consist of six players each, just like in indoor volleyball.

"CEO Xiu, won't you be on my team? Tang Jinxuan, with an open shirt, held out his hand to make the offer more dramatic. Last night, he saw the side of this beautiful but aloof CEO when she genuinely smiled while dancing. He wanted to create an opportunity so she would also show him the smile or even more.

Midori's lips lifted a little, but it can barely pass for a smile. Then she shook her head saying, "Sorry. I don't play."

It was such a big rejection, not some ploy to look cute. She did not even say that she does not know how to play. If that was the case, it could be reinforced by an offer to teach her, but no! She clearly said that she does not play. It equates to 'I don't want to play with you,' making some people snicker and shoot the young heir a look of contempt.

Consequently, female executives and socialites swarmed towards Dan's seat.

"CEO Zhou, would you like to play on our team?" A woman with curvy body barely covered by a two-piece string bikini asked while leaning down to offer him a view of the upper half her breasts.

"CEO Zhou, please join us! It'll be fun!" Another lady in a less revealing tankini and boyleg bottoms tried to reinforce the offer.

Shooting Midori a glance as she was being convinced by the opposing team, he stood up.

"Sure. Why not." It was a statement made in his poker face.

If they think it was delightful enough to have him in the team, they were in for a bigger treat.

Without breaking his stare on Midori, he unbuttoned his casual shirt and mindlessly threw it on his seat.

Concurrently, Midori was getting pissed by the annoying bug that would not shut up. She stood from her seat to get herself a drink at the bar. As she elevated her gaze, her eyes feasted on the toned pile of muscles that is Verdan Zhou.

Her mouth gaped just a little bit then she regained herself and walked to the bar. Her reaction was too subtle for others to notice, but since he kept staring at her, he had a slight smile on after seeing the change on her face.

While Midori was aware, Dan looked indifferent in the game. His teammates were mostly girls so they were at a disadvantage both on spikes and blocks due to incomparable height and strength against the other team of mostly guys. He half-heartedly raised his arms when their rotation brought him to the front row, but he had really no intention to block attacks.

These earned tauntings from the other team as they lead 15-5.

"CEO Zhou, are those muscles just for show? Or are you too old to have reflexes?" Tang Jinxuan chuckled.

Truth was, Dan did not build up his body. He just went on to tone his muscles, training in mixed martial arts on the side.

He never bothered to reply. Just then, Midori went back with a mocktail in hand after sitting at the bar for some time.

Let's just say that she was just a bit curious as to why Dan was performing badly. He has always been athletic, excelling in sports when they were in high school...or maybe she had yet to appreciate those toned muscles.

When he noticed that she is back, he had a glint in his eyes. It was his turn to serve.

He walked back a few meters from the line, making the audience curious.

"He does know how to serve, right?"

"Why serve too far from the line? Could he even get it in?"

Midori could not help but get annoyed of the murmurs people were exchanging. She clenched her glass.

With the movement of melting ice in her drink, he tossed the ball up, moved a few steps, then made a jump serve. His topspin was too fast that he scored an ace while disturbing the sand on the opponent's court.

From then on, his team began to catch up. At 15-10, he decided to give them face after consecutive service aces so he gave them a floater to receive.

This change boosted his team, revealing that even the ladies can get their spikes over the blockers. He also helped them by executing back row attack hits and off-speed spikes.

Midori was so focused on the game that she did not notice finishing her drink until she made a sound while sipping on her straw.

Just as she took her eyes off the court, a familiar voice shouted.

"Watch out!"

In a flash, she was tumbling down on the sand...in an embrace!

Even the audience did not see how it happened.

Actually, Tang Jinxuan tried to block off Dan's spike, but the ball still made it through the net. A teammate hit it but it went out flying towards Midori's face.

Dan dashed from his place towards her, his motion pushed her off of the beach chair and the two of them tumbled and rolled on the sand while he tried to protect her in his arms.

Dan brushed off hairstrands on her face with his hands as Midori opens her eyes.

They stared to each other's eyes like they were in a trance. They only snapped back someone tried to talk to them.

"Hey, are you okay?" A lady went to check on them while others surround them as onlookers.

Dan looked up to the lady and nodded. He propped himself up to sit, still keeping Midori in his arms.

"They're okay? Yey! We won! We won!" His teammates rejoiced on gaining the final point.

As Midori got distracted over their voices, she did not notice him checking her whole body for bruises or scratches.

She was wearing a white loosely knitted cover up dress over her olive green bustier bikini top with matching low-waist bottoms.

It was so enticing, but he kept his mind on checking her for injuries.

Seeing that there was none, he suddenly carried the unaware her like a bride away from all of them.