The line looks long and menacing and I don't know how we'll ever get through.
In truth, this is not my scene. I go out to the clubs sometimes, but usually, I'm more of an intimate bar kind of gal. I like to hang at the lounge of an upscale hotel, like the Ritz and be able to relax with a martini.
I prefer to hear the conversation and not have to scream over the noise in order to be heard.
Nonetheless, we're here. And noise is exactly what I need to get my mind off Liam. I'm determined to drown him out no matter what it takes, even if that means dancing at the hottest club in town and standing in line for an hour.
Luckily for me, Charlotte darts to the head of the line, whispers something in the bouncer's ear, and he pulls back the velvet rope and lets us right in.
"How'd you do that?" I ask.
"Are you kidding me? I know every bouncer in town. I make it my mission to get on their good side so that I can always get into whatever club I want."
"You are unbelievable."
"Yeah well, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I don't want to miss out on any of the action. It's all about who you know," she says.
I knew there was a reason I'm best friends with Charlotte. She's very crafty. And she's also known around town as somewhat of an ‘It’ girl. It makes me look good to be with her.
Even though I feel out of my element, I'm determined to make the most of it. I slip off my little shawl and put it in my purse so that I expose as much skin as possible. Tonight, I want to attract a guy—a guy who is not Liam.
He just gets under my skin and I can't pinpoint why. Maybe it's his arrogance or the way he was staring at me with reckless abandon, not even trying to hide it. Something about him simultaneously attracts and infuriates me. It's a dangerous combination.
Charlotte takes my hand and leads me to the bar.
"What will you have?" the bartender asks.
"Two shots of Patron and two Coronas please," Charlotte says.
She always knows exactly what to order in order to loosen things up. She's like a connoisseur of cocktails.
The tequila shots arrive and we toast to our friendship before gulping down the harsh liquid. I immediately chase it with my beer and am feeling better already. It's gonna be a good night.
More and more people are starting to filter into the club and it's becoming pretty packed.
I guzzle down my beer and Charlotte looks at me in surprise.
"Wow, you're really going for it tonight, huh?"
"Go big or go home," I say as I pull her away from the bar and onto the dance floor.
Dancing in a club is such a dizzying experience. With the DJ's vibrating music and so many people around, I feel like I can finally let loose. I feel like my real life doesn't exist and the only thing that matters is this moment and my ability to let go.
I pull her to the center of the dance floor and, before long, there are various guys surrounding us. None of them attract me, of course. Like I said, I have high standards.
But tonight, it's not about that. Tonight, it's about escapism. I'm trying to escape the memory of one hot guy. I'm trying to escape my feelings for someone that I know I shouldn't be with. And because of that, I'll dance with anyone who's offering.
One guy comes up close and he seems good enough.
"You look nice tonight," he says over the loud thumping of the music.
"What?" I say to him over the heavy music.
"I said you look nice tonight."
"Oh, thank you."
Charlotte is eyeing our exchange and I can tell she knows exactly what I'm thinking. This guy is not worth my time. But I don't care. I just need to dance with someone.
There are so many people around us that he presses up against me. The encounter makes me uncomfortable. I don't like to be touched by strangers. But I try to dance with him and I try to make it fun.
We stay on the floor for a few songs and I have to admit the DJ's really good. New York has the best nightlife in the country. That's for sure.
Charlotte has found her own guy to dance with and for a while, it's really fun to just forget about real life.
My concerns about the precarious financial position of my company and about needing to land the Velvet Luxe campaign all go on the back burner. For now it's just me and her, these random guys, and the dance floor. That's all I need.
After a while I feel exhausted. Charlotte and I are both hot and sweaty. I decide it's time to break away from these guys.
"Want to get a drink?" I yell to her over the music.
"Yes, let's get out of here," she says.
I follow her through the crowd and, at last, we break free and get to the bar. I definitely need a drink and a breather.
We find a couple of seats in the corner.
This time I order for the both of us. "Two vodka sodas, please."
As soon I do, I look up and see him...Liam’s at the bar.
Liam
My limousine pulls right up to the club’s VIP entrance.
I get out of the car and escape into an unmarked alleyway door, hoping not to be noticed.
I try to keep a low profile but pretty much everyone in this town knows who I am. It's hard to be successful and not garner some attention.
Thank God for VIP areas where prying eyes can't get ahold of me. Privacy is everything.
Evan’s waiting. It's the usual crowd. We surround ourselves with the most wealthy and successful people in the city.
Normally, I travel in this pack of other successful men because it's nice to have a wingman when I'm trying to get girls. Granted, with me there's no trying. I always win over whoever I want. My square jaw, dark green eyes, and large stature make it easy to hunt.
"Hey man," I say to Evan who looks like he's a few drinks in already.
"Oh, look who's finally here. Liam has finally deemed it time to grace us with his presence," he says, eyes dancing with humor. “I’m not like you. I don't need to go out every night of the week. I prefer to actually get things done in life," I say to him.
He laughs and slaps his hand on my shoulder while offering me a shot of vodka. It's top shelf and the right way to get this night going.
"Thanks," I say. "Now, where are the women?"
He flashes me a shady grin. He knows exactly what I'm talking about. My boy here is as much of a player as I am. We have kind of a system of looking out for each other.
Neither one of us would be caught dead settling down with one girlfriend. In fact, I don't think anyone in this crowd has a girlfriend. We travel light, so to speak. It makes it easier having no strings attached.
"Well, the club is starting to fill out. But from the balcony, you can see virtually every girl in here. I suggest you take a look," he says showing me the way upstairs.
I climb the stairs to the VIP balcony and he's right; there's a perfect view of nearly everyone in the place. I peruse the offerings and try to find the prettiest girl in the crowd to make my conquest.
And that's when I see her...Claire.
She’s dancing right in the center of the room.
I watch her intently, gaining satisfaction in knowing that I see her but she doesn’t know I’m here. I can see her in her element and damn does she look amazing.
What is it about Claire that makes me both love and hate her?
Is it because she's my competition? Is it because she's so damn beautiful that it makes me feel things for her that I'm dead set against?
For her, I want to break all my rules. I want to abandon the single life and make sure I'm the last guy she tastes for the rest of her life.
I watch her very carefully. My cock hardens against my pants despite my best intentions to keep a low libido. I try not to care about her, but I’m failing spectacularly.
I take a long swig of my vodka and try to discern my next step.
She's wearing practically nothing. Her small lace dress is barely covering anything. I’m itching to go down there and cover her up. But I can't do that. She's n
ot mine. I barely even know her.
And yet being possessive is in my nature. When there's someone as stunning as her at the receiving end of it, it’s hard to be indifferent.
I don't care if I bed her tonight or for all of eternity, I just know I have to get inside her soon or I’ll likely explode with desire.
At a shadowy distance on the balcony, I can just watch the way she moves, the way her slim hips sway to the music. I imagine I'm down there with her, fingering her under that little lace dress, making her want me.
I see the guy she's dancing with is getting a little too close. His hand grazes her arm and it ignites fury within me. I feel like going down there and punching his lights out.
This girl is mine. And he looks like a scumbag, not worth one second of her time.
Even if my claim to her is only fleeting, I feel like I have rights to her already. The idea of her with another guy angers me.
"You see her, too, don't you?" Evan says as he comes up behind me. "Little does she know we’re about to steal everything she has right out from under her.”
His plan is not a bad one, especially if it means Claire will have to work for me. Then I can fuck her every day at work just like I’ve been fucking Trish as of late.
“It’s not gonna be hard to get close to her,” I tell Evan. “She’s fucking gorgeous.”
He looks satisfied. "So, you’re down with mixing business and pleasure? That’s good, Liam because we really need her and her people on board.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, annoyed by the fact that he keeps mentioning my role in this plan.
I wonder about the ethical dilemma of fucking her for her ideas. What Evan doesn’t know is that I was planning to lay claim to her anyway. Now, I just have an added element of illicit behavior to adhere to.
I know we don’t need her in my firm, but I’m willing to indulge Evan because I want her in the firm. I want to have eyes on her every day. I want to know what she’s up to at every moment.
I want to own her and to be her boss. I want her answering only to me.
If Claire is so good at her job that she gives my company the added bonus of creative potential, then so be it. But for me, this spy game is entirely personal. I will make sure that she’s unable to resist me.
Then I see her walking off the dance floor with her friend. I'm thankful that she's gotten away from that scummy guy. I'm the only guy she should have eyes for.
The girls cuts through the crowd to get a drink at the bar. I think it would be the perfect opportunity to reemerge into her life.
I give it a few moments before I make my way out of the VIP section and towards the main bar. I'll be the surprise of her night.
It’s crowded at the main bar, but I find a place in the corner where I order Jack Daniels straight up.
Then, I watch and wait for her to appear. Soon, she does. She and her friend sit across from me. Her blue eyes are piercing and I imagine them peering up at me while she’s on her knees, sucking my cock.
I sit up straight, knowing that I appear aloof. I take a sip of my drink and wait for the games to begin.
Claire
Oh my God, he's looking right at me.
What is Liam doing here?
I came here to escape him, to banish thoughts of him. Instead, I'm laid bare in front of that penetrating gaze once again. When Liam looks at me, it's as if he's staring into the depths of my soul and there's no hiding from it.
"Shit, Charlotte. Um, that guy is here. Remember Liam from Dignity Creative? He's right over there," I mutter and turn my head in the opposite direction, pretending not to have seen him.
Charlotte looks over in a blatant manner and I scold her. "Don't look! He'll think we're talking about him."
"Um," she begins, "we are talking about him. Besides, he is fine. I can definitely see why you like him."
"I do not like him," I lie. "I just think he's hot. He's our competition, remember? I would never date someone in the business or someone who is a known player, for that matter."
She giggles and I wonder at her levity during such a dire situation. Maybe it's only critical to me because I'm the one he seems to have set his sights on.
"Charlotte, it's not funny. He keeps staring at me in an intense way that makes me feel uncomfortable."
"Claire, he is so good-looking I wish it was me he's looking at. Let's go over and say hello."
She's pulling me away from our spot at the bar before I have time to protest.
"Charlotte, wait, no. We can't say hello. I can't be the one to make the first move," I say in a harsh whisper.
"Oh my gosh, you are so into him," she says, beaming widely.
Fuck. We're almost there. I attempt to regain my composure, gearing up for an incredibly awkward meeting.
He sees us coming and, again, those eyes are all over me.
"Hi, are you Liam? I'm Charlotte and this is Claire. We're also working on the Velvet Luxe campaign."
He flashes us a radiant grin that would melt any woman. It’s enough to make me want to become his.
In a cool tone, he says, "I'm delighted to meet you. It's always good to know the competition."
I toss my hair over my shoulder in defiance. I will not crumble under the weight of his rugged handsomeness. He's my competition and I need to keep the end in sight.
I offer my hand. "We represent Epica. I think you'll find our little firm is a force to be reckoned with."
He takes my hand and grazes soft lips over it in a gentle kiss. "You're Claire, right?"
"How do you know my name?"
"I make it my mission to know everything that has to do with my business. Apparently, you're our great contender."
Charlotte can sense that sparks are flying because she quickly finds an excuse to leave.
"Oh, I see my friend over there. Liam, it was nice to meet you. I'm Charlotte, by the way. Claire's best friend and business associate. I guess I'll see you in the boardroom when this all goes down."
"May the best man win," he says to her with a wink and a smile as she takes her leave.
Knots form in the pit of my stomach as I realize I'm now alone with this guy. He's so tall and imposing I wonder how I'll keep my wits about me.
"So Claire, what are your ideas for the campaign?" he asks so brazenly.
"Well, sir, I certainly can't reveal them to you. You're the enemy."
"Am I?" His eyes light up with fire.
"You own Dignity Creative, right?"
"Ah, so you've also heard of me?"
"I make it my mission to know everything about my business, including potential threats," I say, mirroring his previous response.
His eyes are dancing. "Is that right? Well, then you should certainly know me. We're gonna win Velvet Luxe, you'll see."
God, his arrogance is infuriating. At the same time, just being in his charismatic presence is making me weak at the knees.
I find myself staring at his mouth, at his lush, full lips and wondering what they would feel like pressed against my own.
"Liam, I think you underestimate me," I say, staring directly into his eyes.
What Liam doesn't know about me is that I'm a fighter. I'm scrappy and I make it my mission to beat corporate suits like him. He represents everything I'm not.
"I've heard about your abilities," he says.
"You have? Well, that's a nice compliment," I say, knowing he's just fed me a line. "I am more into the creative side of things than into business."
"Is that why you're struggling?"
His question makes me flush red with anger.
"What are you talking about? What have you heard?"
The nerve of him to bring up my precarious financial position on our very first meeting is unbelievable. His cockiness is starting to really annoy me.
"I can't even believe you just said that," I say, turning to leave.
He grabs my arm and with the touch comes a sense of heat that radiates between us. I want him bad, de
spite his arrogance and the way he's treating me.
Maybe his egotism is turning me on. I don't know. I suddenly feel very confused and dizzy, like I need air.
"Let go of me," I exclaim, pulling my arm away.
"Come on, stay. I'm sorry. Just stay with me and we can talk about it. Let me take you to the VIP area where it's quieter."
I turn around and study him, trying to judge his position. I know his type. Cocky, bad boy, used to one-night stands. I don't know what he thinks he'll get from me, but it won't be that.
"Please," he says, his eyes imploring.
In the end, I can't resist.
"Okay,” I begin, “maybe just for one drink."
He takes my hand and leads me through the club to the VIP area. I text Charlotte on the way and tell her to meet me there. There's no reason I should enjoy the exclusive perks alone.
She's there before we are and Liam leads both of us in. It's definitely nicer on this side of the velvet rope. But I care less about the money than I do about the man.
He introduces us to his friends and Charlotte takes an instant liking to one of them. He takes her upstairs to the VIP balcony while Liam and I tuck into a low-lit booth.
"I'm sorry I said that about your company," he says with sincerity.
"My finances are none of your business," I snap, brows furrowed.
"I know." He sighs heavily. "It's just that I want to know everything there is to know about you."
I look up at him. "Why?"
He pours us both some vodka over ice and twists a lemon into it.
"Because I think you're gorgeous," he says. "And I think you know it."
I say nothing while sipping the cold liquid. At least it’s something to take the edge off in this heated encounter.
"Well, I'm not your type," I say.
"Why is that? Is gorgeous not my type?"
"I'm not some bimbo you can fuck tonight and then forget all about the next morning," I say wryly.
My words seem to have taken him aback.
"I could never forget about you," he says. "Not for one moment."
He leans in close and I can smell his musky cologne. Every part of him is sexy and yet I know I shouldn't go there. His magnetic appeal is just too good. I know this is how he scores tons of women and I fear I might become his next victim.
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