Chapter One

Ana sighed as she got back from the break room. Before she could even take a seat in her cubicle, she heard, “You’re going to cover for me, yeah?”

Obviously, it was Tasha. One of her colleagues and one of the biggest collective pain in her ass. This was what she always did. Put Ana on the spot since she knew the latter didn’t like too mich attention, just for her to agree to whatever she had to propose.

Ana sighed again and sat in her cubicle. She knew she was going to say no already and Tasha’s imminent response was getting her nervous. And the fact that everyone else was focused on what she was going to say made her even more nervous.

With the way there was a collective gasp when she said no, Ana almost thought she was in a live action movie. She shook her head and put it down, waiting for the brutal reply that was going to come from Tasha.

“Excuse me,what?” Tasha asked, raising a perfect brow and looking down at Ana. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Tasha had indeed heard Ana already and was just trying to bully her into another response.

“I said no,” Ana repeated quietly. This was the first time she was saying no to Tasha and it felt like some sort of victory.

“You said no? I don’t think I’m hearing that well because we both know today is Friday and everyone in this office knows Pence and I go on a date every Friday,” she said.

The “Pence” in question was Tasha’s billionaire boyfriend who supposedly spoiled her with gifts and trips to the most exotic places in the world. But any sane person in the office knew it was nothing but a lie, just like all the others Tasha had told to remain the center of attraction. It was so weird that she behaved like she was in high school.

Ana had turned on her computer and zoned Tasha out a little and she looked up when the latter stopped speaking. 

“I told you I couldn’t,” she said with a shrug. She couldn’t explain where this confidence was coming from but she was living for it. It felt like such a relief to stand up to this woman.

“Oh guess who finally got a life on the same day I have to have my date,” Tasha drawled mockingly. It was no secret that Ana’s entire life revolved around work. So that jab had been easy to make.

But Ana wasn’t going to let it slide so easily.

“Tasha, at this point you’re being annoying. Just go ask someone else to fill in for you so you can go meet your imaginary billionaire boyfriend.”

Ana didn’t have to look up at Tasha to know that the latter was shocked at her retort. Ana had mostly been a doormat simply because she had never liked being the center of attention. But that ended today.

She looked up just in time to see Tasha flip her hair angrily and move away. Ana let out a sigh of relief and decided to concentrate on the article she had to finish, while trying to ignore all of the whispers of how she had finally grown a pair, whatever that meant. 

This was how it was everyday when you worked at an editorial office. These people were in everybody’s business and the more it went on, the more it aggravated the hell out of Ana. These people were ridiculous, in the most extreme way. 

***

“So you’re telling me you embarrassed her to the hearing of the entire office?” Landon, Ana’s best friend asked. He had called her sometime ago because he wanted to know all about her day. And that was his response to her telling him about all the drama.

“I did Landon. Oh my goodness, you needed to see her face when I told her Pence was just imaginary. I don’t know where I took the courage from. But I’m sure she’s already plotting my death. Create a fake identity for me so I can leave the country,” she said, all the while applying mascara to her false lashes.

Landon laughed. “You put yourself in this situation, so you’re going to get yourself out of it. Plus, it will be so fun to watch Tasha kill you with all her death glares.”

Ana rolled her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she put her phone down so she could get lipstick on her mouth perfectly.

Her silence got Landon worried so he asked, “Are you mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad?” Ana asked. Landon could be so dumb sometimes. “I put my phone down to get ready?”

“Get ready?” Landon echoed. “It’s ten thirty pm. Where are you getting ready to go? And all alone? You didn’t even bother to tell me anything.” 

“Bye Landon. Love you,” Ana said, then she turned the call off. Landon was, as weird as it sounded, the father figure in her life. And he acted just like she imagined a dad would. Overprotective and honestly, it was very stifling at times. She knew he loved her. But she wanted freedom sometimes. Especially since she was almost always at work.

Okay, now it was time to make sure that everything was perfect. Ana scrutinized her makeup until she was sure it looked amazing. Then she stared at herself in the full length mirror, then bent over and did a tentative whine to make sure that her dress wouldn’t ride up if she wanted to grind on someone (yup, that was part of the plan). 

Everything was perfect so Ana called an Uber to Nöje, one of the biggest and most popular clubs in the city and one of the most expensive as well. Whoever said money didn’t buy happiness clearly didn’t have enough money.

The ride to Nöje was a long one, so Ana slept off for a while until her driver woke her up. With a thank you, she stepped out of the car and headed towards the line at the entrance. Of course it was a long line. But it helped that Ana had been the one to interview the bouncer for an article that was published in their magazine, so after a quick talk, she was let in.

It was just as she had expected and even more. The flashing lights were blinding, and if she was being honest, Ana wanted to be blinded. She went towards the bar, because she knew without a little bit of alcohol in her, she would not be able to do anything out of her comfort zone. 

The first thing she ordered was a gin and tonic. She sipped on it while watching whatever was going on on the dance floor, until someone whistled directly behind her. Ana turned her head towards him and she had to admit that she was impressed. Even with the lights of the club, she could see that he was almost perfect. He was taller than her, even with her heels on and the smirk playing around his lips was attractive.

“Can I get you a drink, beautiful?” he asked, with that same smirk on his face. Ana felt her face heat up and she nodded. She couldn’t look away from the man even when he signaled the bartender to double her order. She knew she should be watching so that nothing was slipped in her drink. But this man was a way more interesting sight. 

The only time Ana looked away from the man was when the bartender brought her drink. She downed it in seconds then turned and looked at the man who also had a drink in his hand.

He laughed, then did same as her; downed the remainder of his drink in a matter of seconds. About an hour and three rounds of drinks lated, both of them were tipsy and were on the dance floor. It was almost voyeuristic to look at them with the way they were dancing so provocatively. It seemed like sex… almost.

It made Ana wonder how the real thing would be… and she blushed at her own thoughts. She wasn’t going to go home with this man. She didn’t know him. She couldn’t go home with a stranger and she was doing a piss poor job of convincing herself. She knew if the stranger offered for her to go home with him, she would accept. And she probably wouldn’t regret it. 

As if after some kind of silent accord, both of them walked to the bar when the song they were dancing to was switched. They stared at each other and the chemistry between them was honestly suffocating. 

“Do you come here often?” Ana asked, with what she assumed was seductive stance. But all it did was make the man laugh.

Ana laughed along with him. She was drunk enough to make fun of herself and not care about embarrassing herself in front of this hot man.

“Want to leave?” He finally asked the question Ana had been waiting for and her nod was almost immediate. She watched as he pulled his phone out to text someone.

His movements were just as clumsy as hers, so she wondered how he was able to type whatever he was typing on his phone. She decided not to ask. After all, the only thing that interested her was where they were going and how quick they were going to get there. After keeping his phone away, Ana’s stranger held his hand out to her. She took it with little to no hesitation then they walked out together. It was a little chilly and it didn’t even cross Ana’s mind to ask what they were doing outside.

A car stopped in front of them a few minutes later and a middle aged man in a suit came out to open the door for them. Ana looked at her stranger and wondered who he was that he had people opening doors for him. But all rational thought flew out of the window quite literally when both of them were sitting in the car.

He placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her softly. Ana resounded eagerly and let out a small mewl of dissatisfaction when he pulled away. Then all of a sudden, her stranger was holding a small bottle of whiskey in his hand and two shot glasses. He poured the whiskey into the glasses and extended one to her. Ana drank it disgustingly fast, and waited for the man to be done with his.

It was Ana who made the first move this time around. She put the shot glass away then she straddled the man as steadily as she could, then looked at him through her lashes in an unintentional sultry look. Her stranger’s hands went straight to her waist and gripped it tight as she kissed him.

He quickly took control of the kiss, deepened it and pulled her closer to him, molding their bodies together. Ana moaned into the kiss and found herself grinding on him unconsciously. She could feel his erection pointing quite literally at her panty covered pussy and it was making her wet.

She pulled away from the kiss this time, out of breath. Ana leaned on his chest to catch her breath and let out a small giggle. She heard her stranger let out an answering chuckle and she looked up at him. 

“Where are we going?” she finally thought to ask.

She tried to wriggle herself out of his grasp, but his grip was firm and it was obvious he didn’t want to let her go.

“We’re going to my place,” the man said. Then he went straight to Ana’s neck and kissed it, trying to get to her soft spot.

Ana let out a small moan when he finally found it. With a triumphant grin, the man laved the spot with kisses and suckles. Ana’s hands found themselves on seat as she tried to keep herself upright. 

The guy's hands left her waist and trailed up slowly to her boobs. He squeezed them softly and Ana moaned, not caring who was hearing.

Their lips met again in a clash of passion. Ana's hands were no longer on the stranger's neck. They were now in his hair, pulling with the same intensity she was feeling.

"We're here sir," was what made them scramble away from each other. They looked at each other and laughed weirdly.

The stranger got out of the car and held his hand out for an unstable Ana. She took his hand and followed him. The building looked really nice, but that was not Ana's concern at the moment. All she wanted in the moment was to reach the stranger's apartment fast enough so they could finish what they had started.

They were holding each other's hands and Ana giggled when she almost fell with her heels on. She slipped them off, and as she was about to kiss the stranger, someone got into the elevator.

She was drunk, yes. But it was literally a pain to stop herself from jumping all over the stranger and ravaging the fuck out of him. And apparently he was thinking the same thing because he put his hand on her ass and squeezed.

Both of them laughed, making the man in front of them turn back and shoot them a strange look. They paid him no mind.

Soon, he went off. Strangely enough, Ana and her stranger kept their hands to themselves, preferring to exchange fierce and needy looks. The space between them was not a lot. But it felt like a million miles when all they were itching to do was to tear each other's clothes off.

As soon as the elevator stopped at the penthouse, it was like a dam had burst. Both of them fell on each other, kissing like there was no tomorrow. At that point, Ana knew she was going to be sore the next day. But she didn't even mind. It was going to be worth it. Hopefully.