The Perfect Seduction

CHAPTER FIVE: UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION

If there was one thing that Semi had never dreamt of doing, it was oversleeping and it seemed as though the long flight to Kenya had done its job. After taking yet another shower, of course, this shower being her fastest shower, Semi took the elevator down with haste.

 The receptionist had called her line nearly six times, informing Semi that her shuttle was ready to leave.

Deciding that it was too hot for jeans, Semi wore her yellow knee-length sundress, her summer hat, and brown sandals. Semi did all that, without even looking at herself in the mirror as she walked out. The trip down felt like a long ride, even though she was on the third level of the hotel.

As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, her heart dropped. Less than twenty meters away from her was none other than Neil Droviski, his back facing her, as he seemed to be engaged in a heavy conversation on his phone. 

Surely, she had wanted to get more information on Neil Droviski but the plan was not to meet him, and the thought of Neil seeing her sparked fear into Semi. Semi knew that she had never personally interviewed Neil Droviski, other than following him around, snapping damming pictures of him, and then writing what she thought was going on. 

Trying her best to dodge Neil at any cost, her legs moving before she could realize what she was doing, that was until she realized that she had walked to the reception desk.

“Good morning Mrs. Aloye” Semi turned her attention toward the reception area and luckily the receptionist was talking to her. Choosing to turn her front away from Neil, Semi smiled at the receptionist.

“Good morning, I am here for the shuttle to the game reserve” Semi informed the receptionist, trying her best not to seem nervous at all.

“Yes Mrs. Aloye, your shuttle is here and you will be sharing a shuttle with Mr. Neil Droviski” The receptionist informed Semi and this had her heart dropping into her stomach in disbelief.

“Excuse me but who did you say I will be sharing a shuttle with?” Semi asked the receptionist once more.

“You are sharing a shuttle with Mr. Neil Droviski— is there anything the matter madam?” The receptionist asked Semi. She wanted to yell out that there was no way that she could share the shuttle with Neil Droviski but she could not say such a thing. Semi knew that she could not draw attention to herself; rather she flashed a smile at the receptionist, trying not to raise any suspicion.

“No, there is nothing wrong. I guess I will just head to the shuttle then. Thank you” Semi thanked the receptionist and walked away, just then Neil turned around and so did Semi, she quickly ran into the small hotel store and brought herself some oversized sunglasses.

Taking one last deep breath in and then out, she was ready, or at least she convinced herself that she was indeed ready. Semi walked towards the shuttle and Mr. Andy was at the door, holding the door open for her to walk into the car. Semi entered into the back of the vehicle and there was no sign of Neil, for just a second she was relieved that Neil had probably canceled his trip until the door unlocked and he stepped into the car.

Semi’s heart dropped into her stomach as she looked away from him, opting to look out of her side of the window rather than look at him.

**

Neil could not understand what was wrong with the woman beside him, she was late, had not apologized, and to make matters worse she had not thought it respectful to greet him.

“Good morning my name is Neil— Neil Johnson” Neil told her. Neil hated lying and in his line of work, honestly was always best when it came to selling his high-end tech.

The longer Neil thought about it, the both of them were simply sharing a shuttle and they might never even set their eyes on each other again after this day.

Semi turned her head and smiled at Neil, deep down she knew that he had just lied about his name. Her line of work had exposed Semi to men like Neil, who enjoyed keeping their identities a secret but she knew him too well. Semi flashed a smile at Neil and reached out her hand to shake his.

“My name is Semi— Semi Robinson,” She told Neil, a small part of her feeling bad that she had not acknowledged her real surname, given to her by her father but another part of her pleased that she was playing the same game that he was playing.

Remember that is just a job and nothing else. Semi had to remind herself not to take his behavior personally, she was one-step away from her promotion and she would not allow someone like Neil to ruin those plans for her.

“Nice to meet you then, Mrs. Semi,” Neil told Semi and she flashed a smile at him, the entire time not letting go of her hand as if he was studying her.

“Nice to meet you too Mr. Neil Johnson” Semi responded, the name Johnson rolling off her tongue like silk.

“I could swear I have heard that first name before,” Neil told Semi, and immediately panic set in, Neil could not find out who she was; otherwise her job would end before it even started. Semi flashed an even bigger smile at Neil, hoping that her action would deter him from digging further.

“I am sure that you are mistaken, see I have heard of many people with the same name as myself” Semi lied; the light smile on Neil’s face settled her, a sign that he believed her.

“Yes— I must be mistaken” Neil responded to Semi as he went back to scrolling on his cellular device.

“Are you two ready to go?” Papa Andy asked both Semi and Neil.

“Yes!” Both Semi and Neil answered in unison, surprised by their action both of them stared at one another and then quickly looked away.

Papa Andy started the car and the sound of the engine coming to life-soothed both Neil and Semi’s ears, they might not talk to one another but at least the sound of the engine might cause a less awkward atmosphere in the car.

The drive to the game park was far away but all that Semi could think of was how she would get the information she needed out of Neil and as soon as possible. Sitting inside the car with him had its disadvantages and one of them was that Neil’s presence was one felt throughout the interior. The heat radiating off his body set off something inside Semi that she could not quite explain herself.

Neil kept scrolling on his phone, although there was nothing much for him to do on his device. Semi, he liked that name and it was catchy but he still kept thinking that he had heard or read of her somewhere. Her presence largely felt in the small car and he wished he would build up the courage to talk to her. 

The country of Kenya was a remarkable sight, every part of the city and driving into the more deserted areas was more beautiful than the next until they arrived at the game park. Neil and Semi stepped out of the car into the scorching heat, Semi and Neil were used to heat but this was far beyond what the pair were accustomed to. 

“Come on in, I will get the two of you registered for the tour” Papa Andy informed them, both Neil and Semi followed him into the building for their registration, deep down, Semi hoped that the trip would end before it even began.

The drive through the game reserve was unlike anything that Semi had ever imagined it would be. Her entire life she had always seen wild animals on TV and watching as each animal wondered about left Semi with great appreciation and respect for the animals.

“Beautiful is it not?” Neil leaned in closer to Semi and whispered into her ear, she turned to face him, and both their noses touched.

“I am sorry” Both Neil and Semi apologized in unison as they both stared at each other with looks of surprise written over their faces. Semi looked away, embarrassed she had come close to kissing Neil Droviski of all people.

“I am sorry, I just saw how mesmerized you were by looking at these animals” Neil tried to explain but it seemed as though Semi chose to ignore him therefore Neil kept quiet and continued admiring the landscape. 

As much as Semi tried, she could not ignore the heat flaring up in her body and that was not all due to the hot Kenyan sun but rather the pull she felt toward Neil.

“Get it together Semi, you are here to get the truth out of Neil and not to entertain him” Semi mentally told herself, hoping that deep down she was not showing too much of what it was that she was feeling.

From time to time, Semi would steal glances at Neil, even she had to admit that seeing Neil up close was much more different than snapping pictures of him from afar. The man sitting beside her looked relaxed and he respected her personal space—much different from the man she had written about countless times as being a womanizer.

 A part of Semi kept guessing that maybe she might have been wrong about him the entire time and that he truly was a good man but the other part of her fought off this argument, viewing Neil’s behavior as just his way of drawing women in until he slept with them.

“Just do your job, men like Neil Droviski are not to be trusted” She reassured herself once more of this.

Their safari trip ended, both Neil, Semi along the other guests were directed to the safari’s restaurant. Unfortunately, for Semi the other tourists had already taken their seats by the time that she had arrived, therefore she had no choice other than to share a table with Neil, a table that only capacitated the two of them.

Seated at the very edge of the balcony, Semi looked everywhere else except at Neil who could not shake the thought that Semi was avoiding him but he could not put together how he had offended her and when the incident had occurred.

“If you are angry at me over what happened during the tour then I must apologize, it was not intentional” Neil’s voice broke through the busy restaurant and it sent chills down Semi’s spine.

She turned her head, now face to face with the man she had criticized for as long as she had been a reporter.

Now that she looked closer at Neil, she saw his features in his face that she thought were amusing. Neil’s steel grey eyes burnt into her soul; truly, the eyes were the door to the soul.

“Earth to Semi” Neil waved his hands in front of Semi and it was only then that she snapped out of her deep trance-like state. Realizing that she had been staring at Neil for a long period, she shook her head, embarrassed that she like other women was falling for his looks.

“I am sorry—I was thinking of something. What were you saying again?” Semi asked Neil, forgetting what it was that he had asked of her. Neil flashed a smile at her, showing off his delicious dimples on both sides of his face.

“I was apologizing for the incident on the tour, I did not mean to offend you and for that, I am deeply sorry” Neil apologized, sounding sincere about his apology.

Semi swallowed the lump in her throat, fixing herself in her seat so that she appeared confident and not like some lovesick puppy.

“I—No need to apologize, it was not your fault” Semi replied and looked back at the landscape