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1112 Words
His hands naturally reached out to the space next to him and his eyebrows pulled into a frown when he felt nothing but sheets.
He shot his eyes open, sitting up in bed and that's when he saw it, the empty space next to him.
Looking around the corner room with a view of the city, he saw nothing but shattered lamps, broken tables, mugs and clothes spread on the floor.
He swiped his hands through his hair as memories of last night swept through his mind.
The passionate kiss in the car as they drove here. The way he'd lifted her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist, her hands over his neck, the way he'd ripped her clothes to shreds, her back pressed to the wall, his face buried in her neck, drawing passionate kisses along her skin. The sounds of their breaths, her fingers digging into his skin, the crashing sounds of glass and wood as they moved around the room, their lips never pulling apart until the rough layer of the green mask on her eyes grazed his skin, and he attempted to take it off until she warned him, ‘the mask stays on’ in that soft voice that sent goosebumps trailing down his skin.
His eyes found his clothes still scattered on the floor, while he sat there in disbelief by how she had disappeared before he even woke up.
Getting to his feet, he wrapped the blanket around his lower naked half.
He found his phone barely dangling from the bedside drawer and dialed Derek immediately.
"Where is she?" He frowned, commanding through the phone.
"What do you mean sir?" A confused Derek called back.
"She's not here anymore," he was starting to raise his voice by now. "Who was she?"
"Lady Bliss? Sir she's -"
"f**k, her real name."
"I have no idea sir," Derek said in a low voice.
"Find out, everything you can about her, and now."
"Yes sir," Derek noted immediately, "should I come pick you up sir, it's almost time for your meeting sir."
*
"Woah, if it isn't our ray of sunshine!" Ariel's boss waved her hands in front of her as she clocked in.
Ariel forced a small smile, "you're still as bright as ever Cantrell."
Cantrell drew out a long sigh, "just because we are on the edge of bankruptcy, doesn't mean I should lose my joy now, should I?"
Ariel nodded, regretting the action almost immediately as she was greeted by a sharp headache. She blamed it on the wine she had last night, that must have been what was wrong with her. There was no way she was in her right mind last night. She closed her eyes as she thought about it, never in her career as an exotic dancer, had she ever given attention to the guests, she had no idea what had come over her. Maybe it was the hurt from her break up with Mike, but she'd completely lost her mind.
"Ariel, you here?" She jerked out of her thoughts at Cantrell's voice.
"Hm?" She raised her brows, startled.
"I said, here are the files."
Ariel looked down at the file stacked in Cantrell's hands and then back at her, waiting for an explanation.
"It's the proposal for the project collaboration with Tectone Inc." Cantrell's face shifted into a sad frown, "it's our last hope, if they agree to this project, we might be saved from losing it all."
"And if they don't?" Ariel felt a lump in the back of her throat.
Cantrell sighed, leaning against the desk in the room, "we have no choice but to pack things up."
Ariel shook her head fast, that could never happen. There was no telling what she would do if her company went under, working here was her last bit of hope, she needed that money, not even her secret occupation could save her.
"But nothing to worry about," Cantrell's face brightened as she held Ariel's shoulders, "that's why we are sending our best soldier, give it your best pitch Ariel, we are counting on you."
Ariel pressed one hand to her chest, smiling, "really? Your best soldier? I'm honoured."
"That, and you're the most beautiful thing to walk the earth, I'm hoping that can count for something, for Triston Lakes." Cantrell chuckled.
Ariel let out a small laugh, "who's that? The CEO?"
"Hm, something of the sort, he's the chairman's son, but he has the final say. If we get his stamp of yes, then we are good to go."
Ariel put on a more serious stance, "I promise I won't mess this up, we will get that collaboration, I promise with all of me," she said in assurance. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about a one night stand, it was just a honest mistake that would never repeat itself, she would likely never even see him again, she thought to herself.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Cantrell clapped in joy watching as Ariel took her leave.
Once she was outside, she looked at the tall building, starting out as the Assistant manager, she never expected 'Blueprint industries' to go as far as it did, but now that they were swimming in debt, she could really lose everything.
She closed her eyes tight, "that will never happen, I'll make sure of it."
With that, she waved the nearest cab over, and headed straight for Tectone Inc.
The company was in a skyscraper like she had expected. Once she got in that elevator, she tightened her ponytail holder, brushed invisible dust off her brown suit and checked her white stilettos to see they were clean. Pulling out her phone, she inspected her reflection, "okay we're perfect."
Once she was out of that elevator, she put on her best smile, "hello!" She greeted the secretary at the desk, "Ariel Sunday, appointment for nine a.m with Mr Lakes."
"Alright, I'll check you right in," the secretary called back.
Ariel looked around her, the marble floors, the bright lights, the air conditioning, all she felt was good energy.
"... I'll send her right in sir," the Secretary concluded her phone call. She offered Ariel a smile, "alright he's waiting for you Ms. Sunday, you can head right in," she pointed her hands in the direction of the giant brown doors.
She clutched the documents in her hand to her chest, smiling from ear to ear as she walked into the office.
Her smile faded just as fast when she came face to face with Triston Lakes.
Why on earth was her one night stand from last night, sitting in his desk?
- Writer
