LATER THAT NIGHT
Melissa stood in her walk in wardrobe, deciding what to wear. She doesn’t want to dress up too much but she doesn’t want to wear her casual clothes.Deciding to play it safe Melissa wore her winter dress, a thigh length wool dress, with thick black and grey hoops, with a small turtle neck long sleeves, and pantyhose, on her feet she wore Cuban heeled black knee high boots. The boots hugged her calves. It was warm and sexy all rolled into one. Melissa grabbed her wide belt and fixed it around her waist.Leaving her hair down she curled it, and put on smoky eyes and winged eyeliner, mascara a bit of foundation and concealer to hide the grey tinge to her skin from lack of sleep and food.Melissa’s personal mobile rang as she was at the front door.“Yeah I was just letting the dogs in and I will come to you.” Getting towards the door the dogs ran in. Melissa frowned as she thought she saw something flash in the garden, not having time to investigate, she shrugged and locked the back door. Going towards the front she called “Be good Sully, Storm and Ebony.” And with that disappeared and locked the door.Brock was waiting in his Prius when he saw her. She was wearing a dress, she looked amazing. Getting out of the car he opened the passenger door for Melissa.“Oh a true gentleman.” As she passed him he caught the nice smell of her perfume. Lily and vanilla. Getting back in the car he smiled starting the engine“Ok so there’s this bar I know. It’s a nice place and there’s dancing if you’re up for it. They also serve food if you’re hungry.” Brock raised one eyebrow at her looking her straight in the eye.“Ok. Let’s go.” Melissa said as they started of the driveway.Two cars behind was the black SUV following on. The driver was cursing Brock’s sudden appearance had put paid to his plans.Their phone rang “Yes?” He said slightly annoyed.The disembodied voice came through the phone “Not yet. We need more pictures and more I need to manipulate the voice recordings. Just keep gathering intel at the minute.”The driver hung up, he had masturbated three times up the tree, he’d brought binoculars to get a better look. His irritation was growing, he just wanted Melissa and her business, the other voice wanted money, power and fame and to fuck Melissa’s life up, leaving her destitute and broken and hopefully pregnant as well.Their life had been hard, growing up in an orphanage, they’d tried to study hard but got nowhere. Now they wanted what Melissa and her family had.That notoriety was what the two men craved. This plan had been put in motion since they learned of Melissa taking over.The two guys had applied to Hartford industries as executives only to be told they weren’t qualified, they had been offered a course to take to help but both wanted it without trying too hard.Brock pulled into the car park, getting out he went round to the passenger side and opened the door for Melissa. Stepping out she blushed slightly Brock really was a gentleman. Unknowingly she compared the two both guys were so different Brock was a gentleman from what she could tell so far whereas Blake was a “bad boy” he didn’t open doors and he was pushy, and yet in bed he was gentle, making sure she was satisfied.Melissa found herself wondering if Brock was the same in bed or out of it. Blushing slightly as they walked towards the door Brock gave her a questioning look and asked “Are you okay? Feeling alright?” Melissa smiled and replied “Yeah just coming out of the warm car into the cold night y’know.”Opening the door to the bar, Blake stood against it, allowing Melissa to go first saying “Ladies first.” Getting to the little booth, fronted with glass, a hole in the middle, and a semi circle at the bottom the guy who sat there had a cigarette hanging in his mouth.“Five dollars each, you need your hand stamped to show you’ve paid, it’s an extra $2 for coat check in.” The guys deep southern accent came out through the hole.Brock took out his wallet and handed over $12 and gave his coat to the built security guy who stood at the coat check in door.“Have a good night.” The check in guy said in a bored voiceOnce they walked away up the stairs Melissa said in a low whisper “Smile if you like your job.” Giggling the two of them made their way into the first level of the bar.It was quiet and had tables there were lots of middle aged and young couples, drinking and talking quietly, shutting the door Brock gently took Melissa’s elbow and guided her upstairs to where there was a booming bass line.Opening the door Brock tilted his head and said “You want to dance?”Melissa laughed and said “I dance like a drunk baby giraffe” both of them cracked up. “But yeah come on show me your drunk baby giraffe.”Melissa led Brock onto the dancefloor.Swaying her hips, the beat changed to a hot, sultry beat, Brock was a surprisingly good dancer and didn’t appear to have two left feet.Brock made a hand gesture for “drink” and Melissa smiled and they walked over to the bar.Brock saw Melissa going to take out her bank card to pay.“Oh no. This is on me. A thank you.” Besides my mother raised a gentleman, I could never ask you to pay not when I was the one who asked you out.“Erm....ok. But you have to let me buy you one beer at least.” Melissa said coyly“We’ll see.” Brock said mysteriously.Brock had a plan to get Melissa drunk to try and help her get over her heartbreak. He wouldn’t take advantage just take her home.“What would you like?” He asked for the details to help“Um.....I don’t usually drink anything other bourbon or red wine so what do you recommend?” Melissa asked“Well because of where we are and holding it I recommend a bottle of beer.”Brock suggested.“Ok whatever you have I will.” Melissa said finality in her voice“2 beers please” Brock said to the bartender and passed him some cash although Melissa didn’t see how muchHanding her the cold beer he took a swallow and watched Melissa as she drank some of hers.Pulling a face she said “What’s this?”Laughing Brock said “It’s beer, I’m sorry your refined pallet isn’t used to high quality bourbon or high classes red wine, us working class guys drink beer.”Melissa picked up on the friendly teasing saying “Well you will bring me to a low class nightclub what did you expect.”Laughing he responded quickly “Oooh shots fired.”The evening wore on and it was full of laughing, drinking lots of drinking, goofing around, and dancing.Melissa was feeling the buzz of the beer she had drunk, which was quite a lot, having had nothing to eat for a few days she got drunk quite quickly.Dancing with Brock she had her back to him and started grinding her hips up against his, he was struggling to keep his hands off her.She grabbed his hands and placed them on her hips, as she grinded against him.Swallowing thickly he pulled her close, he wasn’t drunk, in fact he’d only had a couple, and then moved onto water, Melissa had called him a spoilsport, but she carried on drinking.She was so close and smelt so good.“You’re making this hard for me to just be a friend.” He whispered in her ear.Winking over her shoulder she pulled away from him. She knew she was teasing him and right now she didn’t care.She turned to face him, and placed a kiss on his lips. He was shocked but pulled away begrudgingly.‘I won’t take advantage of her. She’s hurting. No matter how much I want to. I won’t be a rebound. If she wants me when she’s healed then that’s fine/ I want nothing more than to take her right now, but I can’t do that to her.’ Brock though as a shocked Melissa looked at him.“I’m sorry.” She started to say“Hey it’s okay. Forget it. Let’s just do the drunk baby giraffe.” He continued with a smile.The goofiness continued long into the night. Eventually Melissa needed to sit down.Taking a booth they sat with drinks Melissa drinking beer, Brock drinking water.“You know Brock.” Melissa was slurring her words “You’re a good fiend.”“A fiend? Oh you mean friend.” Brock corrected.“Thas wut I zed. Fiend.” Melissa slurred“Come on drunky. Let’s get you home.” Brock said standing and taking her gently by the arm, grabbing his coat and leading her to his car.Holding her up and unlocking the car was easy for Brock “If this keeps happening I’m going to have to add more weights to my routine.” He chuckled as Melissa started to fall asleep.Sitting down the sleepy girl and strapping her in. He got in the drivers seat, unaware their entire night had been caught on camera.Brock walked in through the door, and met with Blake who was getting a drink.“Late night?” Blake said as Brock hung up his coat, when he heard the door go.Brock went to him, and punched him straight in the face.“What the hell dude?” Blake asked shocked as he held his cheek.“That one was for Melissa, sleeping with her and then dumping her.” Brock snarled.“I didn’t dump her.” Blake said“So you’re planning on texting her? Or even seeing her again?” Brock asked folding his arms across his chest.Blake yelled at his older brother “I tried. I lost her personal cell number when my phone slipped out of my pocket at the bar when it flooded, then I brought another one with a new number. I found her business card and rang it but for some reason that stupid secretary told me Melissa was busy then the number was blocked.”Brock was taken back to the evening and the chat they had.Melissa and Brock are sitting in a booth. Melissa turned to Brock and said “Why? Why
Melissa carried the yellow roses into her office.“Hey Sam” she greeted the secretary cheerily.“What are you looking for?” Sam asked when she bent down to look in the cupboard.“A vase. For these flowers.” Melissa said. “Aha!” Grabbing a glass vase with cracked glass effect, Melissa disappeared into the bathroom to put water and flowers in.When she returned to the office Elaine had joined Sam, sidelong glances were exchanged between the two.“Everything okay?” Melissa asked. Placing the flowers on her desk, Elaine spoke to her “Can I speak to you in private please?”“Of course. Sam we can have our meeting in a few minutes. Go take a break or something.” Melissa said well aware that conversations could be heard through the door of someone listened hard enough.“Sit down Elaine, is everything okay? You can speak openly here.” Melissa asked clearly worried.“Listen I know I made it this big secret, but I wanted to ask you this privately. I know you normally sh
Melissa walked into the house, she felt shocked and numb, she hoped that Brock wouldn’t be too much longer.Sitting on the couch, she just stared into space. A knock at the door came 30 minutes later. Brock stood there with a bottle of wine and a paper bag.“Hey.” He said softly. “Have you fed Storm and Sully?” Brock asked gently.“Oh. Oh no. I forgot.” Melissa said.“It’s okay. Tell me where their food is I will feed them.”She showed him the cupboard under the stairs. “Go sit.” He said quietly.Sitting back on the couch, Melissa was feeling sad.Brock joined her quickly, the wine and the bag he placed on the table.“My friend said he will ring you when Ebony is ready to collect, or I can collect her for you.” Brock said sitting on the couch next to Melissa who had now put her legs up and folded them.“Yeah.” Melissa murmured.“I though I would buy you something to cheer you up.” Brock said this while putting his hand in the bag.Pulling out a tub o
A WEEK GOES BYMelissa sits at the wheel of her car, quite still at traffic lights. Noticing the black car two cars behind her. She’d started to notice it on Monday, didn’t think anything of it at the time. But then it was parked across the road, then it was there everyday as she shopped and took the dogs on walks.Sully and Storm were getting restless in the back. They hated being in the car. Melissa had overslept and it was almost 10:30. The time she had arranged to be at Elaine’s.Melissa’s phone rings and it come through the Bluetooth speaker in the car.“Hello?” Melissa said while waiting for the lights to turn green.“Hello Melissa, Happy Christmas.” Shane, Suzanna and Ryan all say into the speaker.“I hope you’re not spending it alone.” Suzanna comments“No. Honest. I’m spending it with Elaine and her family.” Melissa said touched at the concern of her stepmother.“Good we just rang to wish you Happy Christmas, Grandpa is doing okay. But when are you b
Brock left the bathroom and bumped into Blake.“You asshole.” He whisper yelled. What did you say to her?”“I asked her if she slept with you.” He stated.“Douchebag.” Brock said. “No we haven’t slept together. You could have just asked me. And if we ever do it’s none of your business, you made that perfectly plain, when we spoke about it, the next day.”Just as Blake was about to say something, Elaine interrupted the whispering boys.“What are you two up to? Where’s Melissa? I’m preparing lunch for us all. Then afterwards I thought we could play some games. Oh Blake will you go and help your father. And remind him of Melissa’s name. He keeps referring to her as Melinda. Honestly that man.”Blake nodded and walked off to find his father.“Brock” Elaine said pulling her son into the living room.“I’m kind of hoping that you and Melissa will get together. That’s one reason I invited her.” Elaine said to her elder son.“Mom. Seriously? Did you set this up?” B
Elaine clapped her hands together gently. “Right now lunch is finished, I’ve got some games I’d like to play.”Blake rolled his eyes and said “Mom aren’t we a bit old for games?”“Come on Blake.” Elaine said “You’re never too old for games.”As Melissa helped Brock to clear the table and loaded the dishwasher, Elaine, Blake, Tony and Andrea moved into the living room to discuss games.“My mom is so obvious.” Brock said suddenly, snapping Melissa back into the present, she'd be lost in her thoughts about what happened at the dinner table, did Blake still want her? But what about Brock? She found herself starting to fall for him the same way she did his brother. "Brock, what do you mean?" She asked, giving Brock a conflicted look. Brock paused, he was going to tell her about what his mother said, he knew what Elaine was up to, his mother had a big heart, she invited Melissa for two reasons, one was because she was alone at Christmas, Elaine hated the idea of anyone being a
Brock and Melissa walk down the street. Sully and Storm slightly out in front of them. Sniffing at all the new smells occasionally lifting their legs on the lampposts which bring the couple to a stop, only for them to carry on, after a few seconds of the dogs deciding that the smell is not worth following up.There is a comfortable silence between them, as they pass nicely decorated houses and now closed stores, it’s only broken when Brock tells Melissa about certain things that happened in specific places.“This is where I broke my leg when i was 15.” Brock said pointing at a plaza that had a statue of a unicorn in bronze, rearing up, on a plinth, surrounding it is stairs that lead down to a fountain, and railings.Brock continued on “I was a bit of a skater when I was younger. And I was trying to do an Ollie, and instead I fell, landing on my leg. It snapped in two places. I was in plaster for 8 weeks.” He chuckled at the memory.They walked a bit further “Oh this used
It was getting close to seven pm when the two walked in. Getting in out of the cold December air, the two took off their coats, and the leads off the dogs, Brock shut them in the small living room, that was separate to the one the family were sitting in.Elaine looked over to them when they walked in, “Hello lovely’s, are the dogs okay?”“Yeah they enjoyed their walk and even chased a squirrel.” Melissa said laughing.“It’s okay for you Sully pulled me into a bush.” Brock said with a smile.“So we thought we’d have a few drinks, and perhaps play a few more games?” Elaine said.“Before you do I have something for you.” Melissa disappeared into the kitchen and then returned five minutes later with the mince pies. “I Erm...... I made these for you guys, they are kind of a tradition in the U.K. we have them at Christmas and in my opinion they are delicious.” She said opening the biscuit tin, that she was holding, to show mince pies with icing sugar on top.“You can eat