Stephanie left Bill Webber's office and went to the conference room to join in the meeting which was set to begin at any moment. As she walked in, she could feel the gaze of everyone falling on her, and it was a feeling of being not wanted.
“Since Stephanie Bradford decided to show up, it looks like we can get started,” said Kevin, the attractive, young attorney who had taken over as the lead prosecutor on the Hutchinson case.
The room filled with the shock as Stephanie replied, “Fuck you, Kevin,” and walked out of the meeting.
Karen, who was also in the meeting, chased Stephanie into the hallway and asked, “Steph, what the hell? What are you doing?”
Stephanie stood in the hallway, wearing a silk white blouse under a black suit jacket, a black skirt with black heels. She answered, “I'm not listening to that. If no one wants me in there, that's fine, but he doesn't need to be an asshole about it. And you don't have to sit there and just watch.”
“I don't have to sit there and watch? You want me to start fighting with my co-workers because you can't keep it together long enough to get through one case? Trust me, I understand this new-love thing you're going through, but it's no excuse to let your work go to shit. Whatever you do, is because you choose to do it, so don't go blaming that on me.” Karen paused and ended with, “It's your career, throw it away if you want.”
Stephanie walked away, and didn't go back to the meeting. Instead, she walked out of work all together. She clutched her purse in her left hand as her right hand feverishly texted Derrick, “I need you to take my mind off of the world today.”
She walked to her car, holding her phone and waiting for Derrick's response. She reached her car, and not hearing back yet, she thought not today Derrick, please not today.
“Taking your mind off the world is my specialty,” Derrick replied as Stephanie was sitting in the driver's seat of her car. “What were you in the mood for?”
“Anything to make me smile,” she answered.
Stephanie met Derrick about an hour later at the entrance to the Franklin Park Zoo. She shouted, “This is the best idea ever,” as she wrapped her arms around him.
Stephanie looked oddly out of place, walking through the zoo in her business attire, but she didn't care. In fact, she didn't have a care in the world while her hand was in Derrick's and the two walked together talking about Stephanie's worries.
They stopped in front of the orangutan exhibit, and they watched the apes play. A large male sat behind a younger female, grooming her burnt red hair, and picking bugs from her. The male groomed and petted the female, and Stephanie said, “They're just amazing. They're so much like us, but their lives are so much simpler.”
“They live in a glass cage,” Derrick sarcastically replied. “How much more simple can you get?”
“Look at them, they're just so happy. Why do our lives need to be so complicated?”
He answered, “Because we choose to make them complicated. People are never happy with what they have – we always want more and more. In some ways, it's good. It keeps us moving forward and makes us want to improve our lives. We just need to learn when to stop and realize when we have enough.” He gently squeezed Stephanie’s hand and said, “We need to realize when we have what we really need to make us happy.”
“Are you falling in love with me, Derrick?”
Derrick stared Stephanie directly in her beautiful brown eyes as he replied, “I'm trying not to. God knows, I'm trying not to. But yes, more and more every day.”
“Why are you trying not to?” she asked.
“You know why.”
“No, I honestly don't,” she said.
“You're married, Stephanie.”
“I know, Derrick. Please don't let that change the way you feel about me. I'm trying to figure out what to do. I really am.”
“Are you getting any closer to knowing?”
“I am. I so am,” she said as she gently squeezed his hand back and smiled.
Stephanie and Derrick walked hand-in-hand through the rest of the park, and by the end, Stephanie had forgotten everything. Derrick had a magic about him that made Stephanie feel safe, and her worries, fears, and even her cares always melted away while she was with him.
Derrick walked Stephanie back to her car and said, “Meet me at my place at five?”
“Where are you going until then?”
“I have to stop by work for a little bit. I just have a few things I need to get done, and then I'll meet you at the coffee shop when I get home.”
She leaned back against her car as the two held one another. “You're absolutely amazing. You know that, right?” she asked.
Derrick gently kissed her lips and answered, “Not even half as amazing as you.” He kissed her and said, “See you at five.”
Stephanie struggled to pass the time until five o'clock, but as it always does, the time passed, and she saw Derrick walking to the coffee shop to meet her. With her bag slung over her shoulder, Stephanie walked to Derrick. “Ready for a fun night?” he asked her.
“You have no idea!” she said with a gasp of relief. “But remember our promise. I have to leave kind of early. I cannot be late tomorrow. I'm probably in enough trouble at work as it is for leaving today.”
“I promise! I promise!” Derrick said, putting his hands up in a joking manner.
Derrick walked Stephanie to his apartment, and he told her, “We need to hurry. The show starts at six, and parking is going to be a bitch over there.”
“Why does it start so early?” she asked.
“The bar does mid-week shows a little earlier than on the weekends. I think they try to appeal to the after-work crowd. Now get in there, and get that cute little ass ready.”
While Stephanie was in the bathroom, Derrick got changed in his bedroom. He put on his typical deep-v T-shirt with jeans. Derrick's style was simple, but he wore it extremely well. His white tee, worn jeans, and meticulous grooming came together perfectly with his tattooed arms and faint cologne.
Derrick waited patiently until Stephanie finally emerged from the bathroom. She had her hair parted down the middle and split into two perfectly divided pigtails. Her white, low cut, button down shirt barely covered her midriff, and a loose, pink, pleated, plaid skirt fell just above her mid-thigh. Her white stockings came just above her knee, and they were matched with a pair of pink heels.
Derrick looked at her in awe as he asked, “And you just happened to have this laying around your house?”
“A girl needs to be ready for anything,” she slyly winked as she answered. “But there's no way we're taking your bike tonight!”
“I'm not eighteen,” Derrick laughed. “I do have a car.”
“You're not eighteen, huh?” Stephanie asked as she strutted over to Derrick with her heels clicking on the floor with each step. As she reached him, she continued, “Good, because this schoolgirl loves older men.”
Derrick's right hand instantly went to the back of her thigh and slid under her skirt. Her left hand quickly pushed downward on his wrist, and she said, “Oh no you don't. That's for later.”
They walked to the lobby where Derrick told her to wait. “I'll bring the car around so you don't have to walk down the street in that.”
“Such a gentleman,” she said as Derrick left to get the car.
A few minutes later, She saw Derrick pull up in a gorgeous, very new, black BMW seven series. “Being a security guard obviously pays very well,” She said to Derrick as she walked passed him opening the car door for her.
“I'm not a security guard, I'm a....whatever, just get in, smart ass!”
Stephanie and Derrick arrived at the bar just a few minutes before the band was set to begin, and no sooner had they walked through the door that the drinks started flowing. The houselights came down, the stage lights lit up, and the band started to play. The old-style bar was packed, wall-to-wall, with patrons ready for a fun night, and Stephanie was no exception. She was ready to have fun. To he
r surprise, there were a number of girls in schoolgirl outfits, and she no longer felt out of place. To the contrary, she was glad Derrick made the suggestion – she felt sexy and fun.
“Woohoo!” Stephanie yelled as the band started playing, and the guitarist belted out the first licks of the strings.
Knowing she had to work in the morning, Stephanie carefully avoided drinking too much. She saw Derrick look around the room and raise his hand to his mouth, sneaking a pill in without anyone noticing. Stephanie pulled in close to Derrick and said, “I want one, too!”
“Why?” he asked. “Just have a few drinks.”
“I can't drink too much tonight, I have to work in the morning. One of those will make it more fun for me -- please?” she begged with an exaggerated pouting lower lip.
Derrick dug his hand into his pocket and he then covertly placed two pills in the palm of Stephanie's hand. “Not out here, though, you'll be way too obvious. Go in the bathroom.”
“Okay, I'll be right back.”
Stephanie walked into the bathroom, with the pills in one hand and her drink in the other. She was planning on waiting for a stall to open up, but she was surprised to see she was the only woman in the bathroom. She quickly placed the pills in her mouth and washed them down with her Sex on the Beach. As she did so, she realized she was not alone.
“Don't bring any treats if you don't have enough to share with the rest of the class,” a woman said in an obvious reference to Stephanie's attire.
“Excuse me?” Stephanie said as she turned to the stranger.
Stephanie saw an attractive woman in her late twenties with tanned skin and brown hair with highlights standing before her. She was very petite, at barely more than five feet tall, with a seductively curvy body type. She was wearing dark skinny jeans, cream-colored pumps, and a loose fitting cream sweater top.
“It's okay, I won't tell the teacher,” said the woman. “But only if you share.”
“I'm not sure what you're talking about,” Stephanie nervously said.
“I saw you take a pill, and I'm just wondering if you have any more.”
“I don't even know you,” said Stephanie.
“I'm Kristin,” the woman said. “Now you do know me.”
“Who are you here with?” asked Stephanie.
Kristin answered, “Some girls from work, but they're being so lame. What's your name?”
“I'm Stephanie. I'm here with my boyfriend.”
“So that explains the schoolgirl look,” Kristin joked.
“Yeah, it does. He wanted me to look the part tonight, so I figured why not?”
“Very cool! So do you have any more?” Kristin casually asked.
“Any more what?” Stephanie replied.
Kristin looked around secretively and said, “Pills.”
“Oh,” Stephanie laughed nervously. “That wasn't what it looked like. It's a prescription I take.”
“Okay, now I'm just embarrassed,” Kristin said with a red glow over her face.
“Don't be,” said Stephanie. “Come hang out with us, when you're done, and have a drink. We'll be over by the side bar.”
“I'll find you!” Kristin said.
Stephanie returned to Derrick, and the two danced as the band rocked on. Derrick stood behind her, holding her hips with both facing the stage, and she was grinding back into him, teasing him just enough for her to feel him begin to get hard. The Vicodin racing through Stephanie's veins began to take its hold, and she started to feel that elated feeling she was growing to love.
“Hey, girl!” Kristin shouted as she found Stephanie. “Who's this hot guy?”
Stephanie replied, “This is Derrick, and his butt is all mine!”
“I want to dance, so bad!” Kristin announced. “But every time I do, I get swarmed by guys. Come dance with me!”
Stephanie looked to Derrick and asked, “Do you mind if I go dance?”
“I was just about to go grab another drink, so you go right ahead. What do you ladies want to drink?”
Stephanie said she didn't want another drink and Kristin shouted “Rum and cola!” while pulling Stephanie's hand to the dance floor.
The two ran out and started drawing the eyes of every man within sight. A small part of Stephanie loved the attention, but the larger majority of her couldn't care less as she just wanted to let go and have fun. While she was dancing with Kristin, Stephanie was reminded of her night in Las Vegas, dancing for Jacob and being rejected. She looked to her side and saw Derrick watching her, and she could feel how much Derrick was enjoying watching her dance with Kristin. Knowing Derrick was watching only made Stephanie want to dance more.
As the hour approached ten o'clock, Stephanie told Derrick it was time to leave.
“Oh no, don't leave!” pleaded Kristin.
“I want to stay, I do, but I have work in the morning. Want to exchange numbers?”
“Does a tissue dance if you put a little boogie in it?” Kristin replied with a drunken joke.
The girls exchanged numbers, and Stephanie said, “Text me this weekend. Maybe we can meet up.”
“I will,” replied Kristin as the two parted ways.
Stephanie and Derrick walked to his car, and he held the passenger side door open for her. As she entered the car, Derrick gave her a light slap on the ass and said, “Get in there, you.”
Derrick walked around to the driver side, and once in the car with the door closed, Stephanie said, “Remember the last time we were alone in the car? Get me to your place fast enough, and maybe you can have a little fun with me in my outfit.”
Derrick replied, “Make sure that seat belt is nice and tight, because I drive fast.”
Stephanie leaned her seat back slightly, and her hands pulled her skirt up to barely reveal her black, silk panties. She slouched in the seat and said, “I'm not sure I can wait that long,” as she lightly caressed her fingers across her thigh.
“Holy shit, I need to drive fast,” Derrick said as Stephanie's phone alerted to an incoming text.
She checked the phone and saw a text from Kristin. “Please tell me you haven't left yet,” Kristin said.
“We're just leaving now. What's wrong.” Stephanie replied. She said to Derrick, “Hang on, don't pull out yet.”
“Is everything alright?” he asked.
A second text came from Kristin. “I lost my friends, and one of them is my ride. I hate to ask you, but is there any way I can get a ride from you guys? I promise I don't live far.”
“Of course,” Stephanie replied. “We'll be in a black BMW right out front.”
“So much for getting home early,” said Derrick after Stephanie explained the situation.
“Are you sure you don't mind giving her a ride?”
“I'm sure. It's kind of a pain in the ass, but I'd feel horrible if something happened to her.”
Stephanie saw Kristin exiting the bar, and she reached across Derrick to press on the horn. Kristin looked up and walked toward the car with a smile. She approached the rear driver's side, and a loud clunk sound could be heard as Derrick unlocked the door.
“Thank you so much, you guys!” said Kristin as she closed the door.
Kristin gave Derrick directions to her apartment, and he was relieved it was only a ten-minute drive. Stephanie turned up the radio, and the car drove off with the loud thump of techno music playing inside.
“Thank you again,” Kristin said as Derrick parked in front of the multifamily home where Kristin lived. “Do you two want to come up for a few?”
Derrick started to answer that they were in a hurry to get home when Stephanie interrupted, “Let's just run up for a minute. I have to pee so bad.”
Derrick parked the car, and the three walked up the flights of stairs to Kristin's third floor apartment. She opened the door to a modest but older apartment with a hodgepodge of mixed furniture and minimal décor.
“It's not much, but it's all mine,” Kristin said as they entered her place. She looked t
o Stephanie and said, “The bathroom is just past the bedroom on the left.”
While Stephanie was in the bathroom, Kristin offered Derrick a drink. He replied, “A beer would be perfect.”
“What kind?” Kristin asked as she leaned into the refrigerator. As she did, she could feel Derrick staring at her curvy ass being accentuated by her skinny jeans. She responded by only bending further forward.
“Anything cold,” he answered without shifting his gaze.
She turned and handed him a bottle of beer, and as he twisted the cap off, she slid one foot from her heels and started to remove the other.
“Leave the heels on,” Derrick said with an authoritative yet seductive tone.
“Really?” Kristin asked.
“I like them. Leave them on.”
“Okay,” she said with a smile as she stepped back into her tall shoes. “You're bad, aren't you?”
“Only time will tell,” he answered.
They heard the toilet flush and the faucet running for a moment when Kristin said, “Hold that thought. It's my turn now,” as she walked to the bathroom.
Stephanie opened the door and walked past Kristin as she walked into the bathroom. Stephanie went to Derrick in the kitchen and said, “Finish that beer, and then we have to go.”
“Before I finish it, I think we have a few seconds alone.”
“Oh yeah?” Stephanie asked as she pressed her body against Derrick's. “And just what do you want to do with these few seconds?”
Without saying a word, Derrick answered by wrapping his hands around Stephanie’s waist and kissing her. His lips moved away from her own as they glided towards her ear and neck. Derrick's right hand was pulling her in by the small of her back, and his left hand found its way up her skirt. She raised her right leg, and rubbed the inside of her thigh against him as he continued to kiss her neck.
Neither Stephanie nor Derrick heard Kristin exit the bathroom, and they only knew she was there when they heard her heels enter the kitchen. Stephanie quickly pulled her leg down and stepped back from Derrick. Stephanie, obviously embarrassed by being caught, said, “I'm so sorry.”
“Why?” Kristin asked as she walked to Stephanie. “Don't let me interrupt.”
The Suicide Princess Page 13