This is a
simple
story that I'd submitted under another name and another title, so if it's familiar, you know why.
I was initially going to publish this as a lesbian novella, but decided against it. So⦠you guys get to read this for free (: Don't forget to vote and comment!
~L.
*
Ohh fuck, that hurt.
I stared into the enraged blue eyes of my lover, glancing absently at the perfectly manicured hand that was still partially raised in the air. My left cheek was sore from the spot where she hit me and I wondered if it would leave a bruise.
Monica's chest was heaving, the indecently large mass of her breasts pushing against the low neckline, pink dress. She looked like the perfect Miss Barbie; it was just too bad that I'd cheated on her.
"Thanks for that, Monica. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave now," I said, lifting a hand to my stinging cheek.
"Leave? You want me to leave?" she sputtered, her disbelieving eyes locking with mine.
'She had probably expected an apology,' I thought inwardly with a sneer.
"Yeah. Tell Marie to buzz me when the five o'clock is in, would you?" I said, turning away to light a cigarette, leaning against the railing of the twenty-fifth story's balcony.
A sudden, surprisingly strong hand clamped on my shoulder and pushed me against the railing, holding me in place. The cigarette dangled precariously from between my fingers. Monica pushed against me, making me back up against the black steel that dug into my ass.
"Why'd you do it?" she hissed. Her eyes had become red and mascara trailed black goop down her cheek. "Why, Jessie?"
I blew a puff of smoke into her face. "Payback's a bitch, honey."
I think she slapped me again, but I couldn't feel it. My cheek had gone numb. Through a haze of cigarette smoke, I saw a satin encased ass making its way into the office and disappear from sight. A distant click of the sliding door confirmed that she was gone.
Finally.
Monica had been a good lover and all, but under all that make-up, she was just as dumb-ass stupid as they came. I never liked her, but she'd made a good bedmate and I'd dumped her when she'd worn on me. She wasn't any different from the rest of the women I'd dated.
I flicked the remains of the cig over the side of the building and made my way into the office. A quick glimpse in the mirror told me that Monica hadn't done any real damage to my cheek -- there wasn't a handprint or anything -- just a little redness was all. I rubbed at the spot soothingly before taking a seat behind the mahogany desk. A file was already open and the numbers and figures were a welcome distraction from my newly lover-less state.
It was probably about ten minutes later when there was a buzz at the door. I growled, for I hated being distracted when I was in the middle of calculating something or the other.
"What?" I snapped into the speaker that connected me to the person who was on the other side of the door. I knew it wasn't a client or Marie would have buzzed me first. It was probably one of those pesky attachment trainees, sent by the execs to get me to sign stuff.
"Uh, Miss Carter? I have some files for you," came the feminine voice.
Without replying, I buzzed her in, returning my attention to the figures at hand.
In the back of my mind, I knew that someone was flitting about the office, placing files in the 'to be signed' folder and withdrawing the ones in the 'signed' folder. The girl made little noise, but it was still a distraction and I looked up.
'She's unbelievably young,' was the first thing that came to my mind.
Coffee-coloured skin and dark hair accentuated with blonde highlights. Her back was to me and that was all I could see. I watched her as she worked, taking in the simple black hipster slacks and white office blouse. Normally, one wouldn't be able to tell that she was young from what she was wearing, but I knew better.
She turned from the file cabinet and caught my eye. I saw her eyes widen a little when she found me watching her.
"Uh, I'm sorry for disturbing. I was trying to make as little noise as possible," she stuttered and I found her child-like fear quite amusing. A small smile tugged at my lips.
"Nah, that's all right. You new here?"
"Yes. I'm here for the attachment program with St. Michael's College."
Ahh, yes. College girl. Yummy.
"What's your name?"
I noticed that her blouse was unbuttoned to reveal a bit of cleavage. Yes, definitely sexy, I thought. A small stud glinted on her nose, making her look almost exotic. I wondered if she had other delicious piercings.
"Eva, Miss Carter. Eva Smith-Johnson." She smiled, clutching the small stack of files to her chest.
"Well, Eva. It's nice to have met you. How long is your attachment?"
"Two months, Miss."
"Very good." I tapped the heavy ballpoint pen on my desk, a signal that I wanted to resume my work. She understood.
I watched her with interest as she made her away across the plush carpet and left the room.
Hmmm.
Eva.
This should be interesting.
*
I didn't see her throughout the week.
Planning for the company party kept me busy and I had a dozen more files to look through before the weekend. I'd been driven crazy throughout the week with so many things to see to. Just the thought of the things left undone was enough to make me tear out what was left of my short-cropped blonde hair. I'd yet to order the alcohol, deejay (yes, one of the old, boring ones) and get myself a suit. By Thursday, I knew I needed to visit the shopping district or else I'd just have to wear one of my old suits to the party -- a strict no-no for me.
It was Thursday night, cold and eerily quiet as I left the office. Marie, my PA, had checked out earlier and so had almost everyone else. I said a quick good-bye to Quinn, a workaholic, before stepping onto the elevator and punching in the code to the parking lot.
The first thing I heard when I stepped out of the elevator made me pause.