by Nicole Hite
"Vivienne Harper, you will not walk away from me when I am speaking with you," he affirmed, while asserting himself in an oddly authoritative voice she wasn't prepared for.
She was immediately taken off guard by his command. She didn't expect for her body to have the kind of reaction it did. She swore he could hear her heart beating from within her chest. Her panties seemed to melt away, and her gut reaction to backtalk ceased to exist. What was wrong with her?
As she stopped mid stride, she turned to look him in the eyes –those beautiful brown eyes. Luca released her elbow, as his demeanor began to shift in an unusual way. This was certainly not the man that was just addressing the entire staff. This was strict, corporate, no bullshit, Luca Manning. A Luca Manning she desperately wanted to see more of, but needed to push far down into her subconscious.
"I'm sorry, but you are the most stubborn woman I've ever met. It does something inside of me..." he trailed off.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Manning, I have work to do." She began to walk out of the room again, a little less agitated and a little more intrigued than before.
"I know you are mad at me, and I know I can't make up for that, but please give me a chance. A chance to prove to you that I'm a decent guy."
"We'll see." She left with little remorse for her curt departure.
Making her way into Ariel's office, she tossed herself on the couch. She needed time to think where no one could interrupt her from her thoughts.
"Knock, knock," Sam tapped on the door, expecting to see Ariel. "Viv, where's Ariel? Why are you on her couch?"
"Super schmuck took my office," she declared, as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Which super schmuck? We have several in the office, if I'm not mistaken." She giggled.
"Luca Manning." Viv joined her in laughing.
"Did I miss something because super schmuck seemed like a pretty outstanding guy?"
"I'm sorry. It's inappropriate to talk about him like that. Forget I said anything," Viv turned her head to see a sideways Sam.
"Hey, Harper...," Luca's face came creeping through the door as he drummed his fingers across the wood. "My apologies, I didn't realize you had company. I'll come back."
"Nonsense, Luca, come in," Sam offered. Viv needed to remember to reprimand her for that.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?" he asked, as Vivienne sat up on the couch. Trying to adjust herself, she stood to push down her already short skirt. She had worn it to drive Luca crazy.
"What did you need, Luca?" Viv asked, a little annoyed.
"I was hoping we could talk in private." He eyed Sam.
"I'll leave you to it," she began to make her way out of the room.
"You'll do no such thing, Samantha. Stay," Viv barked. "What you have to say to me, you can say it to Sam. And be very careful of what your next words are going to be."
Sam stood stiff as a board as the altercation ensued.
"I'm going over a few spreadsheets, and wanted to see if you wanted to go over them with me. Perhaps at dinner?" He tried to avoid looking Sam's way.
"I can't," she shaft immediately. "I'm going out with the girls tonight. Isn't that right, Sam?" Seems Sam needed to make up for her earlier actions. It felt like a comparable solution.
"Yep. That's exactly right. Good ol' girls night alright." She stared at Vivienne, wide eyed, shaking her head in agreement with Viv.
"I suppose you'll have to email me those docs. You do have my email address, don't you?" she asked, disdain dripping off her perfect lips.
"Another time, then," he grimaced as he turned to leave. "Samantha. Harper."
Clearing the door, Vivienne crashed into the couch. Sam gazed at her, just as confused as to when he walked into the office.
"Um, should I even ask?" Sam looked at her with a perplexed expression on her face.
"Not now," Viv avowed as she lay back on the couch, pinching the bridge on her nose again.
"Fair enough."
"Thank you for covering for me back there. You don't need to make good on the offer." She slouched in the couch.
"No. It'll be fun. Let's go out," Sam offered apprehensively.
"Are you sure?" she asked, slightly excited she didn't have to spend her night with a bottle of red and McSteamy.
"Sure. I'll round up Quinn and Ariel. It'll be fun."
"Thank you, Sam. I really appreciate this." She cracked a smile.
"How about nine thirty, ten o'clock at Club Star?" Sam offered.
"Do you have a more specific time? That seems a little vague."
"Let's say nine-thirty. Sound good?" Sam grinned.
"Deal. Nine-thirty. I'll be there," she quantified somewhat awkwardly.
"See you then, Viv," Sam turned to walk out.
Stopping before she crossed the threshold, "What does one wear to a club now-a-days?"
"You came to the right person," Sam stated, as she grabbed a hold of Vivienne's arm.
"Where are we going, Samantha?" Viv squawked as her tip-toe run skirted across the floor.
"Tell me you've raided the designer closest before," Sam questioned with perked eyebrows.
"Not really. I broke a heel one time, and had to borrow a pair of heels, but nothing more," she affirmed, somewhat ashamed, especially coming from the Editor in Chief of a fashion magazine.
"Well, you're in for a treat. This is my sanctuary when I need to get away..." She trailed off, grimacing at Viv.
"...From me?" she frowned. "It's okay, I get it. I can be a little belligerent at times."
"That's putting it nicely."
4
"I've got moves you're never seen."
At preciously nine-twenty three, Vivienne Harper arrived at Club Star. Standing on the curb, she crossed her arms across her chest to hide the chill snaking its way up her arms and down her spine. Sam had stuck her in a black number by Alexander McQueen. The romper had a plunging v-neck to showcase her voluptuous breasts. She had never felt so exposed, and yet sexy, before. She paired them with a pair of red heels and a tiny, black sequin clutch. Her long brown hair was swept to the side in a side pony at the nape of her neck. She was simplistic with her jewelry, and opted for diamond studs.
Popping open her clutch, she checked her phone to see what time it was. She wasn't used to waiting on anyone, and now she was waiting on the curb… alone. While placing her phone back in her clutch, she heard a familiar voice approach.
"Vivienne Harper?" a sweet voice chirped.
"Alexa, what are you doing here?" Vivienne asked, shocked to see one of her employees out during the week.
"I'm here with a date. He wanted to dance, and I wasn't about to say no to him," she cooed.
"Sounds spicy. Where is your guy?" she asked, wanting to see the mystery man.
"Oh, you know him actually..." she started to speak.
"Luca Manning," she finished.
"Yeah, how did you know?" She looked confused, as the devil himself appeared behind Alexa's back.
"Harper. You look ravishing tonight," he enticed, as he kissed her hand. "We were just going to head in. Care to join?"
"I'm waiting for the girls, but thank you," she protested.
"Viv! Luca!" Sam yelled from across the street.
Following her lead were Ariel and Quinn.
"Slow down, tiger. I can't run in these heels!" Quinn screamed as she hobbled across the pavement.
"That's why you should be wearing kitten heels... kitten," Ariel answered.
"There you guys are!" Viv hollered, as she took a deep breath of relief. "Guess we'll see you in there, Luca."
"Suit yourself," he responded, as he eyed her from head to toe, giving her a smile to end the world.
Scrutinizing Luca and Alexa as they walked away, Viv saw him wrap his arm around her waist. Walking into the guarded doors, Luca turned his head to give Viv one last wink of approval.
"Someone has a crush on you," Sam spoke up, taunting her like a child.
&n
bsp; "What is she talking about?" Quinn asked, as she finally reached the sidewalk with the others.
"Luca seems to be stalking Viv here," Sam spoke up.
"What are you talking about?" Ariel asked.
"The man can't take a hint," Viv spoke up, like they had been girlfriends their whole lives.
"I need details, but, first, drinks!" Quinn cheered.
Vivienne had never been so happy to change topics. She was hoping no one would remember after a handful of cocktails and a few turns on the dance floor.
Approaching the door, "Hey, Danny! Me and my girls good?"
"Hey, Sami. Yeah, y'all are good. Go on in," Danny declared, as he lifted the red velvet rope.
"How did you do that?" Vivienne asked Sam.
Passing Danny, he gave Viv the once over before letting her go in.
"Thank you." She smiled at Danny.
"Any time, sweetheart. Any. Time."
"Danny and I became friends when Declan had his "ordeal" with Ashley and Demi. He was grateful we ended his relationship with Ashley and her illegal gambling, and now we get in free anytime we want. Drinks are on Danny tonight, ladies. Drink up!"
The four girls curled up in the booth marked off for VIP only. Taking a seat, her eyes immediately roamed the room for sexy himself. Crash landing on the brown-eyed God across the room, she spotted Luca, intertwined in the arms of Alexa. Like a spotlight had been dropped above her head, he immediately locked eyes with Vivienne.
Deterring her eyes away, "So what are we drinking?"
"I say amaretto sours, or even gin and tonic?" Ariel offered. "They're my favorite."
"Hell, no. Beam and Coke for me," Quinn spoke up.
"Kitten, you surprise me everyday," Ariel laughed.
"You come across as..." Vivienne started, not wanting to offend Quinn and ruin girls night. She never had nights like these; she wanted them more often.
"...a priss, goody-goody, girl next door?" She laughed out loud. "Trust me. I get it a lot."
"I didn't mean anything. God, everyone must think I'm the biggest bitch. I see how people look at me as they run away. I hear the mumbles," she said, letting her voice fade into the music.
"There's nothing wrong with being a bitch, Viv. You just need to know when to unleash her. You need to loosen up. Take risks. You're already doing that by going out with us tonight," Sam spoke up.
"She's right. The woman in front of me right now is not the woman who nearly fought me on the Catfish story," Ariel interrupted.
"No shit. The woman in front of us now is a bad ass," Quinn joined in.
"What if we compromise on the drinks and get cosmopolitans?" Viv suggested with a smile.
"There you go!" Sam shouted.
"Now, that we have that settled, are you going to tell us what's going on with Luca?" Ariel questioned.
"I'm not great at this..." Viv started.
"Good at what? Gossiping?" Quinn asked.
"This is embarrassing to admit."
"Go on..." Sam pushed.
"I don't have girls who are friends. I don't know how to... gossip." She actually giggled.
"Here. I'll go first if that helps,” Quinn started. "I'm kinda seeing someone."
"And, by seeing someone, she means screwing one of my best friends," Sam laughed hysterically.
"Big Mike?" Ariel spun in her seat, mouth agape.
"Soooo, Viv, that's how it works," she giggled.
"Luca asked her to dinner tonight,” Sam spoke up. “ She said no, and now we're here.”
"Wait, you had a chance to have dinner with that hunk and you opted for drinks with us? No offense, but that's crazy talk," Ariel offered, as she received her drink from her waiter.
"He came to my apartment last night," she admitted, as she sipped her drink.
"Did you sleep together? No, that man would fuck. He's a closet freak, I can tell," Quinn announced.
"He wanted to, but I sent him home. It was unprofessional," she chugged her cocktail. "Another?"
"Why the hell would you kick him out? He is sexy as hell," Ariel spoke up.
"Screw professionalism. Sorry, Viv, but he's not going to be around for long. Have some fun," Sam added.
"It's not like people aren't sleeping together at the office anyway," Quinn chuckled as Sam bumped her elbow, giving her a look.
"Somehow, I had a feeling," she laughed, taking down her second drink. "It doesn't matter, though. He came with Alexa. I'm sure she will be happy to entertain him."
"Is that honestly how you are going to justify this?" Ariel pushed.
"What do you want me to say? Yes, I think he is exceptionally attractive, but he knows it. He's cocky, arrogant, completely full of himself, narcissistic and manipulative. Besides, he's with Suzy Q over there."
"Did you ever stop to think that he only asked her out to get under your skin? Chicks do that shit all the time. Trust me, I'm the queen at that game," Quinn added.
"I'll admit. I kinda agree with Kitten over here. Dude is hypnotized by you. Just look at him."
They all stopped to stare at Luca from across the club, who was snuggled up nice and cozy with Ms. Alexa. Nibbling on her ear, he refused to remove his eyes from Viv. His eyes bore into her like lasers. He had her right in the palm of his hand, and right where he wanted her.
"I think shots are in order," Viv spoke up, quaking in her heels.
"I think I like this version of you more and more," Ariel cheered.
"We came here to have a good time, not talk about that hot mess over there," Viv said, as she waved over the personal waiter. "Quinn, you'll love these. Can I get four shots of 3 Wise Men?"
"Going hard tonight, I see," the waiter asked with a chuckle.
"My there favorite men – Jim, Jack, and Johnny." She winked at the cute waiter.
"Coming right up, sweetheart.
"Can I get a pass tomorrow when I'm face down on my desk?" Sam joked.
"HA, no," she smiled and winked at Sam.
Feeling the buzz of her cosmopolitans, Viv eyed Luca, who was now dancing with Alexa. Their bodies rocked together as a Jason Derulo's, "Want to Want Me" came on. She stared him down, trying to decide what his game was. Last night, he was all but ready to jump her bones and, now, he was grinding his pecker into his coworker. What the fuck? The song sang, as the waiter delivered their shots.
"Thanks, sweet cheeks. Bring us another round in ten minutes." She winked at the man.
"You really are trying to get us drunk," Ariel giggled.
"Go hard or go home," Viv preached, as she slung her shot back.
After her third shot, Viv was ready to let loose. She didn't want to think or speak about Luca, only dance the feelings away. Watching Luca and Alexa leave the dance floor, Viv stood from the booth.
"Alright, girls. Time to show these boys how to do it."
The group hooted and hollered as they made their way to the dance floor. As soon as Rihanna's song, "Work" came blaring through the speakers, the girls were ready to cut loose. The bass from the amps thumped through her body, making her feet vibrate. Shimmying her body, she swiveled her hips from side to side like a pro.
Before she knew it, she felt the manly grip grasp her waist. Viv took the looks on the girls’ faces to indicate the gentleman was extremely good looking. Enjoying the bumping and grinding, Viv stepped back in the stranger’s body to get closer.
Just as she felt at ease with her dancing, she noticed Alexa had darted out of the club, minus Luca. He probably pissed her off, just like he had done to her. She retracted her arched neck, and chuckled at his stupidity.
The song changed tempos as the melody slowed down to Zayn's, "Pillowtalk." The grinding was slow and methodical, as it hit each beat with precision. Viv reached behind her back to circle her arms around the gentleman's neck as she leaned into him. She hoped Luca was watching her enjoy herself right now.
The rhythm of the song pumped through her, as the lyrics excited her body. The tune ignited the sexual melody with
in her body. All her inhibitions were gone for the night and all wreck less behavior was acceptable. Pure. Dirty. Raw. The chords were a push and pull mixer of love and hate all rolled into 3 minutes and 15 seconds. She was connected to the chords, as the strokes from the drum, coursed within her.
The song immediately reminded her of Luca and their tug-of-war relationship. Love and hate. Ice and fire. She swiveled her body down his, letting her arms drape across his body. Feeling the grip of his hands on her wrist tighten, he pulled her up slowly, grazing every inch of his erect cock. The confidence made her body sing and nipples perks up in delight.
Wrapping her arms around his neck again, she leaned her head to the side as his hot breath circled her neck. Making his way up her neck, he laid a simple kiss on her neck, just behind her ear.
"Can we go somewhere? You're driving me crazy right now," the voice sounded faint over the music.
"Sure," she mumbled, as she turned to see her mystery man.
Of course it would have been Luca. His sensual touches and smooth moves screamed player. Then, it suddenly clicked as to why Alexa would be mad. She hoped Alexa didn't feel that she did it on purpose though.
"I should have known," she huffed, as she stormed off leaving Luca stranded on the dance floor.
Nearly making it to the ladies room, Luca grabbed her wrist much like before and spun her around. Pushing her up against the wall, he pinned her there with one completely ripped arm.
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Luca, but it's getting old," she struggled to stay angry.
"I'm not playing a game, Harper," he alleged, as he stepped closer to her, leaning in to kiss her neck. Reminding her of what turned her on so much in the first place.
"You know what I'm talking about, Luca," she sighed, as he ran his tongue across her collarbone.
'I don't need to play games, Harper." He ran his tongue down the plunging neckline of her romper. With his free hand, he pushed aside the black fabric, exposing her breast. He gently made his way to her nipple, sucking and biting the peak.
"And... Why is that?" she stammered.
"Because I've already won. Now, stop trying to resist me and let it happen," he persuaded.
