Ariana's Game of Choice Ch. 01
*Premise*
This story is a companion piece to Tammy's Debatable Journey. It's a shoutout to my favorite group of readers and a special request they had. The central themes are male dominance and female submission at the workplace. It's set in a heightened reality with over-the-top characters. This story plays with clichés and stereotypes in a satirical, ironic way. It shouldn't be taken too seriously or extrapolated to real life. The characters' actions and statements don't reflect the author's opinion. They're not intended as generalizations for any group of people. Always remember to keep it safe, sane, and consensual in real life.
---Payback Is a Bitch---
One last look in the mirror... I smoothed out my outfit. Oh gosh... this was so not me! I'd never wear something like this... not by choice. But this wasn't a normal situation, it was an exception. And sometimes... well... sometimes things just had to be done!
I stepped out of my dorm room, my heart already pounding. No idea what lay ahead... this was new to me... and it left me nervous... tense... on edge. As an IT student, I never worried too much about clothes. Practical and comfy... that was my style! Wide pants, slouchy jeans, samba kicks... that was my everyday gear. A simple crop top in summer, a hoodie in winter. Easy and efficient! I only ever dressed up for special occasions... like that end-of-semester party at Yamos House... which I went to with my bestie Tammy.
But today? Today was different. I'd made a choice... and now I had to follow through with it. My date thought it funny to suggest an outfit inspired by my famous namesake, Ariana. That was especially hilarious because we were so different. Okay... fine... I can't deny a distant resemblance, but that's where the similarities ended. Her family roots traced back to Italy, mine to South America. Her hair was warm brown, mine pitch black. She was a popstar, I was a low-maintenance techie.
Instead of my usual comfy clothes, I was squeezed into a bold, slinky outfit... a black-and-white color-block ensemble. The strapless crop top and matching high-waisted miniskirt hugged my curves... way more than I was used to... leaving a midriff gap that felt a little too... saucy. And don't even get me started on the over-the-knee platform boots. They looked so glossy and flashy! Just the kinda thing people wore for a night out and not for... whatever this was.
At least, it was summer break. There were only few people on campus, so I managed to avoid running into anyone I knew. But it still took me twice as long to reach my crappy old car because... wow... walking in these platform boots was almost impossible. My poor feet already missed my sambas.
By the time I arrived at the hotel, my nerves were shredded. Before last week, I'd never been to this part of the city... and I can tell you why. It was a whole different world, nothing like the nice, lively college district with its polished bookstores and overpriced coffee shops. Instead, the buildings were covered in graffiti, and most of the storefronts were boarded up.
The hotel? Don't even get me started! It was not what I expected. The 'Red Carpet Realm' sounded fancy... but in reality, it looked like the kinda place where people checked in for reasons I didn't even want to think about. The decor was dingy, the plastic stained, and everything felt frozen in time since the '70s. The other guests weren't vacationers either... just weary travelers or low-wage workers.
And then there was the front desk clerk. A burly slob of a man in his 50s... with greasy long hair and a gray beard... fitting right into this seedy place. There wasn't even a computer in the office... just an old-school sign-in book. When he slapped it on the counter, I got a good look at his gut. Years of beers and burgers had literally turned it into a shelf where he could balance his soda can. Jesus!
He took one look at me and a sleazy grin spread over his face. It was clear what he thought. And yeah... renting a room for a few hours didn't really help my case. But seriously? He thought I was some kinda... escort. Or even worse... a lot lizard picking up clients at the nearby truck stop. You've got to be kidding me!
My phone buzzed when the creepy desk clerk handed me the key. My date had been watching me. The audacity! Reading the text, my face turned red. This was too much! I'd already stepped way out of my comfort zone. But this? This was a whole new level. And yet, I kept going. Because sometimes... well... sometimes things just had to be done!
I shot the fat slob one last look... unimpressed... disdainful. Then I marched off to my room. The motel was a u-shaped building, all the doors facing the parking lot. And... of course... my room was on the second floor... which meant I had to climb a rickety staircase in these ridiculous boots. Sure thing!
At the bottom step, I hesitated, my heart racing. I closed my eyes... took a breath... and then I reached for one of my silver hoop earrings. With shaky fingers, I pulled it off and let it drop to the floor. Yep... that was the instruction! I wasn't allowed to send the room number. I had to leave a trail with whatever I had on me. And ugh... I should've worn more jewelry. Too late now!
Climbing the shaky stairs, some of the loose steps rattled under my feet... every creaking sending a shiver up my spine. At the top, I let the second earring fall... and that was it. I was officially out of jewelry!
But at least... I was on the walkway. About that... it wasn't just sketchy but terrifying! The beige doors were faded and peeling, the handles either scratched up or missing altogether... some had even been replaced with chains! A TV blared from one room. And from another? That was definitely the sound of moaning and fucking. Gosh... I hurried past the rooms as fast as my heels allowed. But one door was hanging open... and jeez... I caught a full-on glimpse of a naked man in a trucker hat getting a blowjob. This was the last place I wanted to be!
But the real problem? That hit when I reached the end of the walkway. I still hadn't found the room... which meant I had a choice to make... go back down or turn the corner. Either way, I had to leave a breadcrumb. Panic gripped me! Glancing around, I made sure no one was watching... but how sure could you really be in a place like this?
And then I reached under my miniskirt. The slit made it so much easier than it should have been... a brownie point for saucy outfits... I guess. Hooking my fingers into the waistband, I hastily pulled my white lace thong down. Stepping out of it, I turned the corner.
The left wing? Even worse! Most of the door numbers were missing, making it a guessing game. Half way down the walkway I saw the creepy desk clerk step out of his office... lighting a cigarette... looking up... staring right at me. Oh... come on... just go away!
I prayed he wouldn't notice the earring at the bottom of the stairs. What if he figured out what I was doing here? Nope... not thinking about that! Still, I was so flustered I lost count of the doors. I had to double back. Oh, crap on a cracker!
Finally, I found the right room, but the clerk's eyes followed my every move. Standing in front of the door, I froze. I knew exactly what I had to do, but the fat bastard was still watching me. I needed to stall. But how? I rummaged through my purse and... oh... oh no... the only thing I had was a lollipop.
This was so stupid... but it was all I had! Standing on the rusty walkway... sucking on a lollipop... while the sleazy desk jockey leered at me like I was a fresh piece of meat. No idea how to deal with this kind of attention. I wasn't used to men like him... it left me completely out of my depth.
Finally, he flicked his cigarette to the ground, snorted, and went back inside... oh... and he looked disappointed. Guess I hadn't put on the show he was hoping for. What did he think I was gonna do? Nope... not thinking about that!
I had one last thing left to do... and one last thing to drop. Reaching behind my back, I unhooked my strapless bra and slipped it down. Again, the bandeau style helped because the top stayed put... another brownie point for slinky outfits.
The moment the bra hit the floor, I bolted into the room. The second the door clicked shut, I leaned against it... and exhaled. Oh my god... did I just do that? I was already out of breath... like I'd just run a marathon. And yet, this was just the beginning.
I swallowed hard. More than anything, I wanted to run back to my car and drive away, never to be seen again. But I knew I had to bring this thing to an end... and yet... that wasn't the only reason that kept me going. There was also the memory of our last encounter. It made my breath hitch and my knees shake. Turning around, I knelt on the floor and grabbed the hem of my crop top. Pulling it down, I let my tits pop free. I was ready. For... whatever was coming next.
---Warm Up to Win---
A week earlier marked the first day of summer break. I'd made a choice. Instead of going on vacation with my best friend, I'd decided to take a chance and get ahead in my studies. But I wasn't looking for some easy, resume-padding internship... oh no... on the contrary! I had something to prove, and there was no better place than Aetherhead Factory... the top tech company in town. There was a ton of applicants and the selection process was intense. Only two applicants would make the cut... and I was determined to be one of them.
Day one! I stepped into the conference room... and yep... exactly what I expected. There was a bunch of guys already hunched over their keyboards, typing away. I was the only woman in sight. It was basically a locker room for nerds. The only difference? The smell of energy drinks filled the air... not sweat. But this was nothing new to me. My computer science classes looked the same.
The guys barely acknowledged me... until I made my way over to a desk. That's when they looked up, confusion all over their faces... like I'd accidentally stumbled into the wrong room. What a warm welcome! We'd work so well together... not.
Just as I sat down at a computer, I let out a groan. The last applicant entered the room... and I knew him from college. We'd taken the same courses... and in every single one, he'd made it his business to contradict me at every turn. It seemed like it was his life's work to mansplain things to me.
His name was Colton and he was different from the other guys, because he was a total frat boy... which meant he was tall, tan, and built like he'd play football... not write code. He was smart and he knew it. Even worse, he let everyone know it. His arrogance was unbearable.
"Oh, hun, you sure you're right here?" he greeted me as soon as he spotted me. "You must have taken a wrong turn."
"You're looking for the beauty influencer workshop, don't you?" he added, clasping his hands behind his head like he'd already won the competition. "That's a few buildings down the block."
