by Ana Starling
“Motherfucking loser!” I roar. “You couldn’t take the fact that I just might crush all you’ve built, you shamelessly tried to steal her from me!”
I am so happy with myself right now. It’s as if the lion in me has risen to tear Derek into shreds.
“And there you go again!” Derek replies, his face a total blaze of fury. “Talking about her like she’s an object! Oh, grow up, you fucking child! Girls are not toys you play with.”
And the argument intensifies.
We only stop when Diana slams two cards on the nearby desk. I’m startled by her spunk—it almost gets me hard, if I’m being honest.
“Who the hell do you guys think I am, asking for nudes like this?” she screams.
Her voice immediately makes me realize that she must be a screamer in bed.
Believe me, that’s all I can think of right now. That’s how bothered this chick has made me. She’s got a really loud, slightly high-pitched voice—good for moaning and screaming her head off as I grind into her like a fucking tireless steam engine.
But, after a second, it dawns on me.
I frown. Wait, what the fuck? Derek asked for nudes, too?
Holy fucking shit!
That’s what I almost say, but I manage to keep quiet. At times like this, I can be very diplomatic. You know, poker face, hide your cards, show no emotion and shit.
Other times, all I want to do is break some fucker’s head. Now, I’m sort of in between.
Even though I’m shocked by the revelation, my brain is already working out the puzzle. It means either one of two things: first, someone has spied on me and revealed my ploy to Derek, who realized it’s a master plan—why wouldn’t it be, it did originate from me after all—then went ahead and replicated it.
This reasoning is flawed since the only person I told was my second in command, the guy I trust the most.
He’d never fucking betray me. He knows best.
I’m left with the only other option, the second one, which I don’t want to admit at all. Maybe Derek and I are more alike than I care to admit. Maybe we’ve thought of the same idea.
Fuck.
This can’t fucking be. He’s a fucking spineless twat. I don’t want anything to do with him, let alone think the way he does.
The thought just pains me to my very core. Fuck, I even feel like he’d bend me over and fuck me hard.
Derek, being the pussy that he is, begins raising his hands in surrender.
“I’m sorry if you felt offended, Diana,” he says in a conciliatory tone, “I didn’t mean it that way. You see, it was only meant to get your attention. I knew a lot of firms would be gunning for you, and that you’d be overwhelmed by the attention you were getting. I thought that the only way I could get your attention was to do something outrageous. Hell, maybe even illegal. I don’t know, I didn’t consult the guys in legal.” Then, the fucker shows her his million-dollar smile. “Believe me, all I want is for you to work with me.”
As soon as Derek shuts it, Diana glances at me for my own explanation.
I didn’t know I was supposed to have one, so all I do is flash my billion-dollar smile and say, “What he said”—I point at Derek—“but I wouldn’t mind having those nudes anyway.”
“What the fuck, man?” Derek gasps.
“Fucking asshole!” I shoot back. “As if you don’t want them, too.”
Before I know it, we’re both involved in another round of arguments. This time the gap closes between us, and I feel my fingernails digging deep into the palm of my hands. I even impress myself with the range of names I call Derek.
I notice that he especially cringes when I call him a motherfucking pussy, so I call him that again, watching with glee as his face turns red with rage.
We’re about to start trading fists. I can feel it. I’m fucking ready.
My hands are flexed. My fists are tightened. Fuck, they can even break concrete right now.
They’re my fists, after all.
Kane fucking Stone’s motherfucking badass fists!
It’s been awhile since I bashed Derek’s face in. I wouldn’t mind doing it again, too. Especially in front of Diana, so she can see who’s fucking king around here.
Plus, when I K.O. Derek, I’ll pull out my cock and piss all over him for good measure.
One, to humiliate Derek once and for all. Two, to show off just how long I am down there.
Call me arrogant or whatever, but don’t pretend like you wouldn’t enjoy it if you were standing in Diana’s panties.
We’re a hair’s breadth away from exchanging blows when Diana’s shrill voice cuts through the fog in my mind.
“I’ve had it with you, two!” she brawls, stamping her feet on the ground to get our full attention. “If this is how you are, then I don’t think I want to have anything to do with both of you!”
Before either Derek or I can say anything to change her mind, she turns and begins marching toward the elevator.
“Look what you’ve done, fucking dimwit,” I say.
Derek doesn’t even reply. He’s focused on what’s happening by the elevator.
I turn to see that the girl who came with Diana has managed to stop her from leaving. She’s pulled Diana to the side of the foyer to have a private conversation.
It’s not really private since we can hear their voices. We act as though we aren’t listening, but I am holding on to every word of the exchange as though my life depended on it. Which it fucking might—if Derek signs Diana, I’m practically finished.
“Honey, don’t you think you might be making a mistake?” Diana’s friend says.
“Sophia, look at them!” Diana whispers back to the girl, Sophia. “They’re about to fight each other.”
“They are fighting for you, honey,” Sophia replies. “I’d say that’s a good thing. Perhaps, Lush and Sinful might be good options for you. Think about it. We can pit them against each other. Whoever brings the best deal wins.”
“A bidding war?” Diana says, buying into the idea.
“We’ll make them put their money where their mouth is,” Sophia says, sneaking a glance at me and Derek.
I wink at her. Probably getting her wet just now. She frowns and looks away.
Diana sighs. She walks over to us.
I want to be the first to speak, but she anticipates it, and raises a finger at me to shut me up.
And I actually do. That’s a fucking first. But, what am I supposed to do?
She’s so fucking impressive up close.
And I have to be fucking careful not to scare her away. With Derek in the mix, I’ll have to work harder to make her submit. Otherwise, if I push her away, she’ll just run right into Derek’s waiting arms.
“I need time to think about it,” she simply says. “You’ll hear from me.”
Diana doesn’t wait for a reply. She simply turns around and leaves, her friend in tow.
“It’s war, motherfucker,” I tell Derek, and now I’m the one fucking leaving.
This is war, and I’m going to fucking nuke Derek out of existence.
You can mark my words.
11
Diana
Oh my God! What just happened? I ask myself the moment my mind is calm enough for me to think.
Even after we’ve left the office, I’m still freaking out! Even Sophia looks shocked, although I think it might be for a different reason…a more reasonable and professional reason.
My God, they’re so hot! I can’t even think…I can’t even breathe.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not a lustful person…okay, maybe I am, but not as much as you’re thinking. But there’s just something about being in the same room as two fucking hot guys both fighting for your attention.
It made me feel heady. It still makes me feel heady.
I’m not even sure how I kept my cool in there. I felt choked, I must tell you. Thank God, I decided to come with Sophia…wait, okay I think it was her idea to come with me.
I’m not sure anymore; I can’t remember shit in this state.
Even thinking of something other than the calm and calculated Derek or the fierce and boisterous Kane is difficult.
My entire body burns with the desire to go right back up to the office and…
STOP IT! I scream in my mind. Don’t even think about thinking about it!
To my right, Sophia looks deep in thought. She hasn’t said anything since we left the office. Thanks to her, I still have a chance to see Derek and Kane again.
If not for her, I probably would have shot those two down and screwed up my chances of a second meet.
But telling them I’d think about their offers gives me another opportunity—another excuse, actually, to see them again.
Who knows? Maybe something’ll happen.
A voice asks in my mind, Do you want something to happen?
I think about it for a moment.
This was exactly what I was complaining about with Maurice. He’s always harassing me. But now, I’m considering a job with either Lush or Sinful, not because of their merits as modelling companies, nor because I want to advance my career as a model…no, I’m considering them because of their hot as fuck CEOs—men who are ready to go toe-to-toe for me.
I fan my neck with my fingers.
Gosh, it’s so hot in here! Or not really, it’s just me. I’m hot because of a tingling mix of arousal and excitement burning through my body.
Yeah, so Maurice is a different case entirely. Dude’s an unattractive big oaf. Nothing in or on him to be desired. But, Derek … or even Kane!
OMG!
I shake my head in a bid to banish any fantasies from taking root in my mind. It’s never a good thing to fantasize about your boss—or would-be boss—especially when you’re not yet employed. You’ll end up looking like a fool when you meet him next.
Trust me, I know. I speak from experience.
“Are you okay, Dee?” Sophia asks.
Her voice startles me even though I’ve known she’s right beside me in the elevator all this time. It’s just that since she convinced me to think about their offers, she hasn’t spoken a word. Before I get the chance to answer her, the elevator reaches the ground floor and chimes open.
Sophia leads me straight to the service stairwell, where we descend to the underground parking lot. Now, inside her car, Sophia glances at me fully.
“You’re acting all strange, Dee,” she comments.
Leave it to Sophia to observe everything.
I swallow hard, trying to hide what’s happening. My arousal. My excitement, my anticipation. Even my thoughts. I know she probably can’t hear them, but who knows.
I’m probably screaming Derek and Kane’s names in my head so loudly that she can hear them.
Shit! Calm the fuck down! I scream at myself…in my mind, of course.
I’m beginning to ramble again. Believe me, you would, too, if it had been you standing there watching two heavyweights in the world of men and business fight for your attention.
Indeed, I have Lady Luck on my side.
For a few moments, I try my best to calm down. When I’m sure I can speak to Sophia without sounding like a junkie doped up on adrenaline, I speak.
“I know I’m acting strange,” I reply as we get inside her car. “It’s been a heck of a day. I certainly didn’t expect what I got, you know?”
Sophia shakes her head. “Nope. Don’t know.”
She flashes me a curious eye before turning on the engine and driving out of her parking spot.
I consider telling her to drive to Lush just to see how posh their garage is.
Yep, that’s what I consider telling her. Fucking stupid, I know. But like I said, I’m still trying to get a grip on myself. Though, you know, I’m trying to focus on business now.
If Lush’s garage is as posh, or even more so than Sinful’s, then it stands to reason that they’d be a more profitable choice since they spend more money on their garages.
Oh, forgive me. Even I know I sound like a fool.
I’m not like this on normal days. It’s just that meeting Derek and Kane has me thinking like a fucking child. So, I’m just going to zip it right this fucking moment.
The drive back to my apartment is silent and uneventful. Sophia doesn’t say much. Neither do I.
We stop by a drive thru to get some takeout and then we stop beside a city park to eat.
We eat in silence. At least, Sophia does.
Me? I’m having difficulty eating simply because I have no appetite. Still, I force the food into my mouth because I know if I don’t eat, I’ll probably wake up in the night bone hungry, and, I’ll curse myself for being foolish enough to neglect food. By then, the adrenaline would have worn off.
When we’re done, we dump the trash in the nearest garbage can and head on home.
A lot of times Sophia spends the night in my apartment. Other times, I spend the night in hers. Her apartment isn’t so far from mine, so it’s a distance that can be trekked.
From the looks of it, Sophia plans on spending the night. She doesn’t need to tell me, though. My apartment is like her apartment…and her apartment is like mine.
In fact, we exchanged spares a couple of months back.
By the time we’re settled in for the night, Sophia begins to pick up the mail, packages, and whatnot littering my living room.
“I guess we don’t need these mail anymore,” she says offhandedly. After a brief pause, she says, “I see you’ve taken a liking to the two CEOs we met today. No wonder, though,” she whistles.
I don’t reply immediately, which you have to give me credit for. Because my initial planned response was to jump into the air and squeal YES!
I know it wouldn’t have helped my case, so I didn’t.
“Oh, come one, Sophia,” I reply in an incredulous tone. “Don’t tell me you don’t think they’re hot!”
That part comes out as a squeal. My bad!
“I knew it, you slut!” Sophia booms with a rocking laugh. “I knew you’re hot for them. Shit!”
I join her in laughing. Well, what can I say?
I’m glad the secret is out in the open. Now that she knows, at least one of us can be objective about their offer and make a decision that will benefit the other. You probably know who’s who in that last statement.
“I’m so sorry, Sophie,” I say through my laugh. “They’re so drop dead gorgeous. I couldn’t help it!”
“Well, that’s just perfect,” Sophia says. “No way you can remain objective, then.”
I shrug. “It’s why I have you, baby!”
Sophia rolls her eyes. She throws one of the enveloped letters at me, which I bat away effortlessly.
She sighs and falls into the couch beside me. “Anyway, we gotta evaluate the two of them, right?”
I nod vigorously.
“Right. Can’t go choosing one because he’s got more abs than the other. Wait…Do you think Derek is more…?”
Sophia glares at me, and I shut up, my face cracking with a smile.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“Let’s hope you’re more sensible when you wake up tomorrow…because of what you have to do next,” Sophia says.
“What do you want me to do next?” I say. Then a thought pops into my mind and I panic. I say, “Please don’t tell me to ignore their offers. You’re the one who asked me to consider them in the first place. Plus, I’ve already told them I’ll think about it. I can’t go back on my word. It’s—”
“Cool your horses, Diana!” Sophia cuts me off.
I obey.
“I’m not suggesting you ignore their offers,” Sophia clarifies. “I was going to say that you should probably get to know the two men separately before you make a decision. Jeez, is it that bad?”
There’s silence as I consider her proposition.
“Okay, I guess,” I reply.
“Well, at least you didn’t jump on me at the chance of seeing those fucked up ass
holes again,” Sophia says with a grin.
I nod in agreement. “Hey, just because I’m attracted to them doesn’t mean I don’t agree with you. They’re both assholes.”
She looks at me, her eyes piercing my soul.
“Okay,” I say, “two hot as hell assholes.”
12
Derek
The door clicks open behind me. I’m so deep in thought that I don’t turn to look at who it is. Maybe that’s because I already know.
“And?” I say coolly in spite of the nervous energy racking my body.
“Everything is set, sir,” the woman replies.
“And the guys?” I ask, still keeping my eyes on the distant harbor.
The floor-to-ceiling window in my corner office offers me one of the most astonishing views of the city. I can see everything from as far as the harbor sweeping all the way across downtown to the upscale residential neighborhoods on the south.
A lot of times, looking past the harbor to the sea helps me calm my nerves. I’ve built my life around being calm and laser-focused that when something happens to upset this delicate balance, it troubles me. And then I need something to help me regain that balance, and that’s the sea.
It’s one of the reasons why I chose to set up shop in this building, because of the view.
It’s so refreshing and relaxing seeing the birds swoop on the docks from the sky to pick up stray scraps on the ground. To see the sun rise from the watery horizon, casting a golden tint on the silvery surface of the water. To watch the sailors laze about, relaxed and unperturbed by anything.
Most importantly, the calm waves help me reset the balance in my mind, steadying me. Or rather, it should. But I’ve been staring at the harbor for the past hour since I arrived in my office, and I still can’t get Diana out of my mind.
I crane my neck to bring my assistant into my peripheral view. I realize that she hasn’t answered my last question.
“The guys?” I ask again.
“The guys are ready, sir,” my assistant replies. “As soon as she arrives, everything will go as planned, sir.”
