by Layla Arts
“I-I am with my own car.” I looked utterly poor compared to Hadrian when I pointed at my little Mini-Cooper.
“Then I will give you a ride another time,” Hadrian told me. I looked at him with a death glare. “I meant in driving you back home. Wow, don't be such a pervert, Vicky.” Hadrian joked around, and I slapped his arm.
I grabbed my keys out of my bag and saw that Hadrian was standing in front of me.
“Thank you for the coffee, and I will see you tomorrow morning,” Hadrian spoke.
I couldn't protest at his next actions. He leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on my cheek. I was stunned, and I froze on the spot I was positioned. Hadrian winked and turned around to walk over to his car. I blinked a few times before I realized I shouldn't be standing here in an empty parking lot.
***
I was late - oh my God, Hadrian was going to kill me. I snatched my keys from the table, rushed out of my apartment, and unlocked my car. I slammed roughly against the radio. Because no, I didn't need to hear Roar by Katy Perry in the morning when my mood was a total disaster. No offense, I love that woman, but this was horrific timing.
I parked the car – way too slantwise – and pushed the doors open from the Empire. I saw Judy sitting on the stage, checking her watch. I threw my bag on the table, kicked my shoes somewhere in the room, stripped my clothes off, and walked to her.
“I am so sorry.” I apologized immediately.
“Ten minutes late,” She said through gritted teeth. “We will not be able to take that time back.”
“No shit.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I totally understand,” I babbled with a bright smile.
When she turned around, I rolled my eyes out of frustration. She wasn't an easy woman, so I better befriend her. I didn’t think she wanted that, but at least I could try my best. She was ready for the routine, but we got interrupted by manly coughs. I jerked my head towards my right and saw Hadrian sitting there on the side.
“Judy, just use the songs I have told you to use.”
Judy frowned. “But sir, I have already planned everything.”
“Just do it.” He demanded her, unfriendly.
Judy – how the woman was called – nodded her head in agreement. I saw her marching away apace, making sure a different playlist was on. I walked over to Hadrian and folded my arms against my chest. Then I saw him smirking, and I realized I pressed my boobs up high by doing that.
“What are you doing? What is on that playlist?”
Hadrian snickered slightly, and I already knew this was bad news.
“On this playlist are some of my favorite songs. Judy did once a whole routine on it, and I want her to do it again. It makes it easier for me to watch.”
I didn't have something I could say, and turned around back to the spot. At the same time, Judy moved towards me – saying the routine would be spicy. But me being the good employee, I held my temper. I stiffened when I heard the beat of the song. I locked gazes with Hadrian, and he was smirking. He was going to enjoy this.
“Eyes up here, Vicky,” Judy demanded.
“Sorry Judy, let's get this over with.”
“We start with stretching.”
Baby dear, this feeling here can't be described, but I'mma try. Nails in my back, grabbing your ass. Grinding slow, hearts beating fast.
I followed Judy's movements. Wasn't she bothered to do this? I mean, I wanted to slap Hadrian for forcing us into dancing to this music. He was doing all of this on purpose, with the moans, heavy sighs, and groans coming throughout the song.
She got her legs on my shoulders, looking into my eyes. Not the bed or the sofa, getting it in outside.
I squinted my eyes shut when I sat on the ground, stretching my body. This better be over soon. It looked like Judy didn't feel uncomfortable to stand in this ridiculous position in front of Hadrian and I. Of course, she could care less about me. But, Hadrian. . . come on you just don't do that.
Deep inside you love, deep inside you love.
“I have done enough stretching.” I stood up.
“Oh, but we just started,” Judy said, still sitting on the ground.
“My body gets warm very quickly.” I lied.
“Well, then we can move on to the first warming-up.”
Hadrian reached out a bottle of water, and I ran towards him. I grasped it out of his hand and drank from it.
“What do you think about my music taste?”
“Awful.” I threw the bottle at him. “You're already the boss, you don't need to control the music. You employed Charles – He has proper knowledge about music. Besides that, you could have thought about more suitable music for a warming-up.” I added angrily.
“This is just the beginning,” Hadrian said as I walked away.
Judy cleaned her forehead with a white towel and told me that the next song would go faster. But we would still do some parts with stretching, since she thought I wasn't warm enough.
Well, woman, I was sweating on the in and outside.
I showed Hadrian my middle finger when Judy wasn't looking. He laughed silently at me and shot a quick wink. Perchance, I should kick his brain out and rip those irritatingly beautiful emerald eyes out of his face.
So why don't you come over to my place? Put a smile on my face.
The routine was absolutely lovely to dance. However, the song was a bit less exciting. Judy was exceptionally talented, even at the age of thirty–seven. She was in better shape than me. I, most definitely, needed to work out more. But, right now, I was praying silently to hear another song.
You already know what time it is.
I wondered what Judy thought of Hadrian's choice of music. Obviously, she needed to get paid very well, would she do these kinds of dances. Perchance, she was fond of this music.
I didn't need to think twice to understand that this was an indirect to me. Sometimes I could see Hadrian sitting there, enjoying the whole show. I just wanted to go further with the routine for the real show than this utter shit. I knew if there would come a new early training for me, it was mostly for Hadrian's pleasure. And I started to contemplate in my mind whether he was worth it or not.
When you leavin' the club. I just want you to come over, girl.
The song was finally over, and I could start with the rehearsal for the show. When I thought I could lock eyes with Hadrian again, he was missing all at once. I didn't know where he was right now, but I was somewhat hoping to get a cheeky remark or something else from him.
“We're going further with where we left off yesterday,” Judy said while clapping loudly to get my attention. “As you know, the theme is Black Friday, so we have a particular new dance. Since it's the start of a new season here at the Empire, we need to leave a mark. So Mr. Smith came up with the idea to make it extra seductive this time. Are you okay with that?”
“I wouldn't have wanted it any other way,” I lied.
“Well, let's start then.”
***
Finally, I had a break. I couldn't wait to head home and clean this body. I had so many things to do: buy groceries, get some gas, and clean up the apartment. It was a task to even start with cleaning my messy apartment, by cause of everything I had to do.
I stuffed my mouth full with the fruit I had brought along. I drank pineapple juice, and it was wholly refreshing. I just wanted to sit here and never leave. But obviously, work always called at times I didn't want it.
“Judy,” I called her over as she walked past me. She gave me a slight nod, encouraging me to continue. “I was wondering; do you happen to know where Hadrian is?” I implored her friendly.
“In his office, I assume.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Knock before you enter, he can get pretty pissed at people who don’t,” she warned me.
At least she didn't want me to be murdered by Hadrian.
I walked to the spiral stairs and got up. My shoes touching the metal can be hea
rd – I wondered if everyone was annoyed by the loud noise I was causing. I cleared my throat and knocked a few times on the door from Hadrian's office. I didn't hear any response, so I thought he could be somewhere else. I had a couple of questions which were waiting for an answer he only could give me.
I pushed the door open and walked inside. “Hadrian I wanted to ask– Oh my fucking God,” I said and slapped my hand in front of my mouth, and the other one against my eyes. I tried to search for the door handle, but I couldn't feel or see it. This was horrendous, I needed to get out as soon as I could.
Perhaps, I knocked a few things over when I was searching for the exit.
“Vicky, wait.”
“No, no, no, no,” I spoke in panic.
Then I heard someone locking the door – I knew it was Hadrian. I just couldn't look at him right now. This was disgusting. I felt his hands holding my shoulders.
“Get those hands off me! Wash them, right now!”
I heard Hadrian running over to the other side of the room, and the sound of water streaming down was detected. After a few seconds, it was probably safe, but I just couldn't look right now. I was in shock – in a major shock.
“You can look, Vicky.”
I slowly placed my hand beside me and peeked through my eyes. It was indeed safe, but I just didn't know for how long. I took my other hand away from my mouth and looked in disbelief at Hadrian. I walked carefully over to the leather couch and fell on it. I sighed deeply when I started to evaluate what just happened.
“Vicky-”
“Don't.” I hissed through my gritted teeth and held my hand up.
I had never ever experienced something like this before – hell, I didn't even know how to react to this. I had a glimpse of Hadrian, who was leaning with his body against his desk. I wondered how many times he had done this already.
“You weren't jerking yourself off because of me, right?” I asked him seriously, with a raised eyebrow. Internally panicking that the answer in my head was the correct one.
“I–I,” Hadrian stuttered.
“Oh God.” I breathed out. I was right.
“I can explain.”
“Please, just don't.” I shut him up. “I am not some kind of guilty pleasure, Hadrian.”
“I just couldn't hold it anymore when you made those grinding moves on the ground.” I saw him drifting away for a moment before he realized he had to continue with his explanation. “It was just too much at that moment. And it grew, so I had to go away immediately.”
“You just could have calmed yourself down here, instead of touching yourself because of me.” I breathed out angrily. “This is so disgusting.”
Disappointment bubbled up from nowhere.
“If you don't give me something, how do I get pleasure then?” He asked me furiously.
“Maybe because I don't want to do it with you right now!” I exclaimed.
Then a smile appeared on Hadrian's face. “So that means you would do me another time?”
“Don't even start about that right now, Hadrian.” I closed my eyes and groaned. I didn't know what I could do now. Everything was quite – how do you say that right? – overwhelming. “I am going to ask you a question, so be a hundred percent honest with me.” I made him clear.
“Always,” Hadrian spoke.
“Did this happen before too?” My voice was thick with judgment.
“I guess, like, one other time?” Hadrian answered me uncertainly.
I sat down. “Jesus.” I sighed.
“It was the day everyone had to prepare a choreography.” Hadrian opened up, remembering that morning clearly. “I don’t know if it was during or after your performance?” He questioned himself in all conscience.
I was already getting ready for a horrid answer.
“When you were dancing,” he started carefully. “You managed to make me go insane. At some point, I just closed my eyes for a moment and squeezed the chair. I coulnd’t bare it,” he spoke. “Wait, there is more,” Hadrian said randomly. “After the auditions, I was gone for a while to meet my team and discuss all the opportunities. When we finished choosing the dancers, I saw you in the dressing room and thought why not? I was already desperate at that time for you, as you noticed. So when I slammed the mirror out of rage and headed back to my office, I thought: if she isn’t giving me that pleasure, I need to give it to myself.”
“Why are you such a lightweight about all of this?” I questioned.
“There is nothing to lie about,” Hadrian informed me. “Plus, I can hardly say you don't make me go wild.”
“I just don't know what to do or say.”
“Don’t feel bad about yourself,” Hadrian assured me. “I know it is not a compliment that you’d like to receive on a daily basis. But I don’t think negatively of you.”
What Hadrian told me was puzzling. Evidently, it wasn’t the worst case scenario when it came to giving me a compliment. But Hadrian explained everything to me so inconsiderately. Yet, I couldn’t be mad at him for telling me this, because I did ask him more about it. I pulled the hem of my shirt nervously and gestured Hadrian that I was going to go back to Judy. She probably needed me back there by now.
As my hand reached for the doorknob, Hadrian’s voice echoed through his office. “Vicky,” Hadrian started. “Let me take you out to a fancy restaurant to make it up to you.”
“Why do you want that so bad?” I wondered sincerely.
Not understanding why a fancy restaurant would be the solution to this.
Hadrian raised an eyebrow – clearly taken aback by my response. He expected an immediate yes for sure. It seemed like he struggled with finding the right words. After a while of complete silence, he knew what to say. Even so, it weren’t the most exciting words I ever heard. “Because I want to.”
I nodded my head in understanding. I hoped he was going to give me a valid, long, and meaningful explanation. But like the other times, it was because he wanted it. “Whatever floats your boat,” I spoke tediously.
“I will pick you up at seven. Don’t wear something too sexy, because you know what will happen next.” Hadrian obliged me.
“You're officially sick,” Kent declared after my announcement about tonight.
“Ah, Kent, we're all a little crazy sometimes.” I assured him and nudged him playfully.
But he didn’t seem to enjoy my playfulness at the moment. He turned around, and he wasn’t close to showing a joyous expression. “But this is different,” Kent retorted. “You're going on a date with Hadrian Smith after his hideous behavior toward you.”
I lifted myself on the counter and got behind it. I took two bottles of Pepsi – handing Kent one.
“I call it more of a friendly dinner.”
“That isn’t his intention,” Kent scolded.
“Kent,” I pleaded. “I wouldn't do this if there wasn't a good reason for it.”
“What is the reason then?” Kent asked me curiously, determined to get the answer.
Well, I could hardly say that I interrupted Hadrian at his office today. If I told Kent about that, he would already be at the Empire, beating the shit out of Hadrian. He may look like an innocent blond guy, but he’s someone you shouldn't mess around with.
“I lost a bet,” I lied.
“What kind of bet?”
“The last person who showed up for practice needed to ask him out, and I overslept.”
“You did that on purpose!” Kent exclaimed.
“Of course not!” I defended myself instantly.
It felt like he was disappointed in me after my plans for tonight – It was harmless, it really was. I was not planning on going to bed with Hadrian whatsoever any time soon. I was not even going to share the same bed with him because he would just roam with his hands all over my body, if he had the chance.
“Don't be mad at me,” I mumbled.
“I'm not mad.” Kent made me clear kindly, but the kindness disappeared hurriedly when he spoke the follow
ing words; “I thought you could do better than that.” I wanted to respond, but he shut me up. “One day he is going to hurt you with his asshole attitude, and then I need to fix you again. If you let him in soon, he will not find a way out of your heart. And after all, he doesn't deserve your heart.”
I didn't know how to respond back at him.
Was Kent right?
I sighed and stared down at the tiles. I heard shoes touching the floor, and glanced up to see Kent walking away. He surely meant every word he said. But no one ever told him that I was letting Hadrian in, not even close to it.
I threw my apron away and took my bag. I was done working, and I needed to get ready for my small get together with Hadrian. I didn't know what kind of fancy restaurant Hadrian was thinking of, but I surely knew it was expensive. He needed to make everything up after his previous actions from today – A shiver went down my spine as I thought back at the moment I caught him.
I got inside my apartment and made my way to the shower. I smelled because of the dance practice and work. I stripped down my clothes and stood under the running water. It felt good, just to stand here and to not think about anything else. I washed my body and stepped out of the shower cabin. I dried my body and went to my closet with a towel wrapped around me.
“Don't wear something too sexy, because you know what will happen next.”
And I definitely preferred to not make that happen. I wanted to look good, but not too sexy so that nothing extremely uncomfortable will eventuate underneath the table. I pushed those thoughts away and focused on my outfit for now.
It didn't take that long to decide what I wanted to wear – a black cocktail dress. The cleavage was deep, but it wasn't revealing too much skin. I slipped my black pumps on. I didn't know how Hadrian would be dressed, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be any different than the usual.
When I was ready, I went to the mirror to check my appearance for the last time. I heard the doorbell rang. I took a deep breath and grabbed my clutch from the bed. I unlocked the door and opened it slowly.
There he was – leaning against the door frame with one hand, and he was stunning. He wore his usual black skinny jeans, but these weren't ripped for once. With a black see-through shirt, he revealed a few tattoos. I never thought he was the type of guy to have tattoos, but it suited him.
