Between Drinks and Deadlines

CHAPTER ONE

Selene

"Holy blood of the lamb! This cannot be real." I scream. Springing up from the one seater I was occupying and almost knocking down my laptop.

"Bitch, if you don't get your fucking voice down in this shitty apartment and quit all that jumping around, I swear to you, I'm going on a killing spree, starting from you." Maya screams back. There everyone, my best friend, Maya Reynolds, a diagnosed sociopath. Okay, so the diagnosis is mine, but it counts.

"I got the job. Stones Technology gave me the job. Considering the fact that I choked on my saliva when asked what I could do for the company." I say in utter disbelief as the memory of that embarrassing moment plagued me. I knew I fucked it all up then. But I guess I can only have bad luck for so long.

"Uhm, I know I am meant to be the creepy one here but girl, that smile is giving Anabelle vibes, dial it down." Maya says, while shifting on the couch. She picks up the throw pillow by her side and throws it at my face making me burst out laughing.

Falling back on the couch, I sigh. Finally, I feel like I can breathe. I feel like every single burden that has weighed me down has lessened. I feel like that last string tying me to the rest of my family is finally severed. While also feeling like I can't do enough for this newly acquired position, as if I am not worth it like my parents say. Like I am not worth anything good.

Smiling, Maya looks over at me and says "You are worth it. You are worth more. Look at me. Look me in the eyes, you two-colored eyed bitch. You are worth this and so much more. Shame on your dad for being too weak, for lacking a backbone to speak up to your mum and sister. Shame on your mom for being a stuck up and discriminating creature. And mind you, I use 'creature' not for lack of choice words but out of respect to you."

I smile at her because I know if no one has my back in the world, I can always trust her to be there for me despite her cold posterior.

"Maya, I-"

"Don't even get me started on your sister. That spawn of the very devil. If only I could get my hands on her, I'd wring her so much nobody would doubt it if they said a washing machine did that to her stifling ass."

I can see she was getting heated as she always does whenever there is talk about those I share blood ties with.

"Aliyah, I am so grateful to have you in my life. Thank you." I say.

"Okay. That's enough joy dampening talk. We have a celebration to get started. Go get dressed. Tonight, it's on me." She says wiggling her eyebrows at me, shaking her shoulders while pushing me towards the bathroom.

"Maya, you outdid yourself. Club Belair? Now, I didn't know you had that kind of money." I say, smacking her ass as we come down from the uber we took downtown. Looking down at myself and looking at Maya, I know we were going to turn heads with me in a black leather bodycon suit reaching midthighs with emerald coloured heels to match my mismatched eyes, which if I am not going to lie makes me look alluring coupled with my raven coloured straight as a pin hair and Maya in a bodycon dress reaching just underneath her ass with heels that puts her a good 5 inches above me. In other words, we looked delectable.

Entering the club, I quickly realized why they charged more than regular clubs. The air was infused with sophistication, the atmosphere buzzing with energy, and the surroundings exuded an undeniable elegance. As if parting the Red Sea, Maya effortlessly cleared a path through the crowd, leading us to the bar.

"Mama Mia, would you look at that?" Maya whispers, which was really not a whisper considering she was short of shouting that in my ear. I looked to where she was staring. I saw the bartender making two drinks at a time with smooth and precise movements and he is undeniably good-looking which adds to the whole appeal.

"Go for it. You need some in your life." I encourage her to make her move fully aware of the irony of what I said.

"You need plenty in your life, if I need some." She retorted as if reading my mind. We laughed it off.

She stepped forward, leaning against the bar, fusing her arms together to accentuate her cleavage, "One sex on the beach and a screaming orgasm."

I looked at her and raised an eyebrow and mouthed "Really?" She grinned and winked at me. I rolled my eyes and laughed under my breath.

He glanced at her and resumed the order he was making, not more than a millisecond, he did a double take and smiled at her. Sliding the orders he was making to the owners, he turned his whole body and attention towards us. He barely spared me a glance but took his time staring at Maya, who is killing her looks with a smokey eye and engine red lips.

And just as she anticipated, he falls for it, hook, line and sinker.

"Sex on the beach and a screaming orgasm, uhn?"

"Yes. Can you provide that?" She says staring him straight in the eyes.

"Sure can." He winked at her. While he made our order, he never took his eyes off hers, which was kind of hot, if I'm being honest.

"On the house." He handed us the drinks while making sure his hand brushed hers. I laughed under my breath and shook my head. We downed the drinks and Maya dragged us to the dance floor.

Knowing I don't get in the mood to dance without a few shots, she went to the bar and got us shots.

"Drink up." She pushes two shots in my hands, only to replace them after I'd downed them with another two. And now, I am buzzed, well on the way to being very tipsy.

As I was rocking on Maya, grinding my ass on her with her roaming her hands all over my body, I could feel eyes on me. The intensity of it made my skin prickle in a good way. I looked around without stopping dancing but I saw nobody. I disregarded it and kept on dancing.

After thirty minutes on the dance floor, I got thirsty. I needed to drink water or tequila because at this point, my taste bud is dead. I took Maya's hands and dragged her over to the bar to order for more shots and to take a rest.

"You look good behind that bar." Maya says with a husky voice.

"You think so?" "I know so. But I know you'd like even better on it with your shirts off." She ended off with a wink.

I cringed so hard even though I could see it was having an effect on the bartender. Knowing Maya, she'd continue flirting with the man regardless of whoever's looking, so I left them at the bar to go dance, relinquishing my thirst in place of being a good wingwoman.

I went back on the dance floor and I had that feeling again. The feeling of being stared at. I looked around and this time, I made eye contact with a tall man, standing in shadows by the walls. Even in the dimmed light, I could feel the intensity of his stare. I watched him approach me as I kept on dancing, moving my hands over my body sensually without breaking eye contacts. The music pulsed softly in the background as he moved closer, his gaze never leaving mine.

Every step was deliberate, slow, a silent promise hanging in the air between them. I could feel the warmth of his presence as he drew near, the space between us shrinking with each heartbeat. His eyes, dark and intense, held me captive. He reached out, the tips of his fingers brushing lightly against my arm, sending a ripple of electricity through me. His touch was featherlight, teasing, as if testing the waters before diving in. My body swaying to the rhythm, with neither of us breaking the gaze, the pull between us magnetic, inevitable. I could feel his breath, warm and steady, as he leaned in just a little more, the air thickening with anticipation.

"Hello."