4'So you really meant it? No more playing around, just you and me?' His voice wavered as my eyes widened innocently.
'Of course baby, anything for you.'
Yes I know, typical cliché. But that's my life and I didn't think it was going to change anytime soon.
Stepping out of the shower, I towel-dried my hair in front of the mirror, examining myself.
Boring brown eyes and hair?
Check.
Curvy but short physique?
Check.
Pissy attitude.
Check.
I tippy-toed around the smashed alarm-clock on my bedroom dresser, eyeing the mess on my floor with a guilty feeling. Tomorrow, I decided with a smirk.
Hurrying down the stairs, I entered my kitchen with a harassed dog at my heels, 'Oh god please don't tell me I forgot to feed you?!'
His gaze dropped to the empty plate. 'Shit,' I muttered, 'so sorry figaro! I'll make it up to you tonight, nice big bone for you ey?' I grinned and fluffed him up.
'Mummy's got to go work, but be a good doggie okay?' I ran out the door, slamming it behind me with a grunt, shimmying in to my Audi R8. It purred to life as I sped out of my drive-way. Shifting gears, I smoothly revved and merged into the heavy traffic.
Yes I own an Audi R8, courtesy of my recently deceased Uncle. Rich old bugger bought the car two weeks before he died, giving me claim over his house, car, property and money.
Everything.
My name is Astrid.
I'll put it this way. I'm a rich chick with an attitude problem.
I had planned to meet up with my current boyfriend last week in Cafe de Luca, but it ended up kind of heart-breaking for the boy.
'So you really meant it? No more playing around, just you and me?' His voice wavered as my eyes widened.
'Of course baby, anything for you.'
Two days later, I had broken his heart and found my next victim. I screwed around a lot because I wasn't a long-term girl. Give me a sexy guy for a week, no problem. Sexy guy for a year, no deal.
I stepped out of my car after arriving at my work place, passing my keys to the valet-boy I slipped my card in the main door and gave the secretary a smile, 'Temper?'
She grimaced and nodded, 'I sent the coffee up with his special cookies but you should drop him a visit just in case he blows up because of the morning news.'
'Again? Lena you're an angel.' I passed her a wave and when reaching his office, I gave a gentle knock and entered.
My boss was staring out of his window at the view from his office. 'The fuckers', he cursed, 'they tried to trick me into the bloody contract!' He turned to face me, anger etched across his face, 'fucking liberals.' I laughed at his rant as he softened after seeing my face, 'Massage?'
Laughing I gestured to his seat and sitting down, I made myself comfortable on the desk behind him, my hands digging into his muscular shoulders. 'If it wasn't for me, I swear you wouldn't have this wretched company.'
Tilting his head back, his dark eyes regarded me and with a smirk, he swivelled and stood, inches from my face. His large hands grasped my hips and pressed my body against the desk. My skin was on fire as his face pressed against my neck. My clothes feeling restricting, I gave a short moan as his hands travelled down my hips towards my thighs.
My voice sounded scratchy to my ears as I breathed, 'Have you got your suit tailored for the masquerade tonight sir?'
His laugh vibrated against my skin as he released my skin and sat back in his chair. 'Anything to escape the situation yet again.'
I collected the folders he gestured to and walked to the door and after stepping out, I faltered and stepped back in. 'I extended the invite to your finance sir.' His eyes widened as my hard gaze met his.
I had gone shopping the day before and now as I faced myself in the mirror, I wondered if it was too risqué. My dress was a deep purple with a low cleavage and almost no back, I inspected the floor-length beauty. 'Fuck the bitches if they have a problem with it.' My face was bitter in the low lighting of the room as my hand clenched. He was just a play-thing, another knob on my bed. He didn't matter.
At all.
Funny how it just had to be my boss of three years that makes my heart ache.
I arrived in style with my head held high. I walked down the red carpet with my mask in its place, detaching the owner from the doll. I smiled, kissed cheeks, shook hands and already I needed my alcohol.
Until he walked in, with her on his arm. He looked like every other guy, in a suit and black mask but his walk and self-assured arrogance just could not be denied. The fiancé was nice in general, except when it came to me. The number of times she had tried to get me fired was tittering on 9 but knowing her, it would probably reach ten tonight.
The pit in my stomach was in turmoil so standing, I walked over to the bar and drained a raspberry vodka. Winking at the guy beside me, I offered my hand. Raising his eyebrow, the handsome stranger led me to the floor as the music hushed. He twirled and dipped me until another stepped in, and another, until I had danced with nearly every guy on the floor. The last dance of the set was coming to an end when a commotion was started near the bar.
'WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M NOT THE ONE, I'M YOUR FUCKING FIANCE YOU IDIOT!'
The fiancé was shuddering as she was gazed at with a bored expression, 'I proposed because I had to save my reputation, now my life is on track, you don't have a purpose,' his voice turned icy, 'I don't want you around.'
Eyes shining from tears, her arm pointed me out and slowly she whispered, 'It's because of her, isn't it?'
I scoffed and walked closer to the fight, as did most of the guests. 'No darling, it isn't. You just became so stuck-up it pissed me off. Please leave.' He didn't lift his eyes as she walked out, head hung low with tears running down her cheeks. I felt kind of bad for her, shame and embarrassment weren't anything to be proud of. I stepped up to him and with placed my hand on his arm, 'Let's take a walk.'
The guests stared at us as we strode out of the ballroom, leaving confused men and women in our wake. 'Care to explain as to what the fuck that was?' My voice was cold as I stared him down.
There was silence as he tiredly sat down on a bench. 'She found out today that she hadn't a chance. That it had been a waste of time for her to sit there and wait for me to come back, while I was sitting in my office thinking about someone else. She said it was useless to love a man that already had his heart taken.'
My voice was barely audible, 'Who took your heart Chase?'
The rustle of the leaves was becoming unbearable to listen to and the trees seemed to grow and hang themselves as I waited. 'I love you; I never admitted it because I was scared you would run, like you did to every other guy that you liked. Has it changed? Should I save you the effort and turn away myself?'
My heart stopped beating and I knelt in front of him. 'I'm a bitch.' I stated, earning a chuckle form him. 'I don't want to be backed out on, if you're in then you're in. No turning out.' My skin was prickling from the tension.
As his face transformed into a cocky grin, he lifted me onto his lap and buried his face in my hair. 'I love you, you know?' My hair whipped around my face and my smirk was covered by his lips as they bushed against mine.
'All mine.'