Desire Play

Let the game begin!

Alexander let himself inside the club. It wasn’t the opening time yet and only the employees were present. The club was empty and a gloomy light was lit, tracing only the silhouettes of the employees walking around and immersed in their works.

He looked around the bar counter, hoping to see Rosella. She walked from the kitchen holding a tub full of ice cubes and placed it on the lower shelf of the bar counter. Alexander moved closer to the bar counter.

He cleared his throat to grab her attention, and he succeeded in it. She looked up at him.

“Can I get a drink?” he asked her, trying to make some small talk.

“The club isn’t open yet,” she replied with a straight face and got back to her work.

“I’m sure your boss won’t mind you making me a drink before the club opens.”

“But I don’t think I can make an exception for you,” she said without looking at him.

Although her attitude got him on his nerves, he ignored it. This girl had all the qualities to top from the bottom. He wondered if he was okay to have someone like that.

He stood there immersed in his thoughts and didn’t notice Marvin calling his name.

His shoulder shook, “Back to earth!” Marvin said.

Alexander turned to his friend and said, “I’m sorry. I was just…”

“You were just. Say it.” Marvin demanded, folding his arms and waited for an answer from his friend.

Alexander tried to frame an answer, but nothing came to his mind.

“Man! You look like a smitten teenager!” Marvin laughed loudly.

Alexander breathed out a tremendous sigh, “Your employee is denying me a drink citing the club isn’t operating yet.”

Marvin pointed his finger upwards telling Alexander to move to his office and started walking with Alexander following behind.

Unlike Alexander’s office, Marvin had a lively atmosphere in his office. Leather couches and a desk and a wet bar. Paintings and photographs hanging on the wall. One photo frame on his desk, he and his wife, Alyssa.

Alexander sat on the couch, and Marvin came to him with a drink.

“Well, firstly Rose is a treasured employee of mine. And she is very strict and disciplined with her work.”

Alexander gulped down his drink and looked at his friend who was taking his employee’s side.

“And she doesn’t give an exception for anyone. And you should probably try someone else,” Marvin said, placing his glass on the table.

“Says someone who introduced her to me,” Alexander snorted.

“I didn’t know you would come back here again for her,” Marvin tried to defend himself.

“I’m not trying for anyone else. I want her.” Alexander’s voice was straight and onto the point.

At this point, Marvin was convinced that his Dom of a friend was ready to conquer a sub. And that was his spunky employee, Rosella. After all, opposites do attract each other.

“Tell me about her,” Alexander asked.

Marvin nodded and spoke, “I can only give you an overview. I have no idea about her love life though.”

Alexander nodded and signaled Marvin to continue.

“Well, she is an orphan and grew up in an orphanage until she graduated from high school. And now, for 2 years or so, she is working multiple jobs to save up for college tuition. And she lives in a studio apartment in the next neighborhood.”

Alexander felt bad for Rosella being an orphan. He also felt proud of her for trying her best to make a better life for herself. Now it made sense to him why she was rude at times. She is an independent woman who is all alone in this wild world. She had only her to protect herself.

Alexander exited Marvin’s office after the small chat with his friend. The club was already filled with people and more were coming in. The club had also started operating. He glanced at the bar counter and found Rosella handing over drinks for a bunch of boys. They seemed to be trying to get her to talk to them. But Rosella showed no interest.

Alexander got alerted and walked towards the bar counter.

“Hey Rose,” he tried to begin from greeting her, which he had not done when he first arrived at the club.

Rosella was glad about Alexander’s arrival this time. She immediately rushed to him and asked for his order. He gave her the same drink. Whiskey sour. She didn’t question anything about his choice of order and just went to get it for him. She was just relieved that she got away from the group of boys who were bothering her earlier.

“Hey,” she said to him after some time.

“That was quick,” he teased her, only to get a stare from her.

He chuckled and said, “Till what time you are working?”

“Why?”

“I’ll drop you home.”

“Why?”

“I just feel like.”

“Why?”

“Are you bipolar or something! One moment you say hi and the next you keep questioning why why why!”

“You think it’s alright for me to just have anyone drop me home?” she asked, pissed off by his behavior.

“Am I anyone?” he asked, as he leaned front to get closer to her.

“Except for being my boss’ friend, what else are you to me?” she asked raising her brows.

Alexander thought for a moment. Yes! They hardly knew each other, and he only knew brief information about her past. She knew null things about him.

“We can become friends, you know!” he mumbled.

Rosella’s eyes softened at his response.

“Friends?” she asked.

“Yeah. Friends,”

She looked around the crowd in the club and turned back to Alexander, “I might run late today. The club is fuller than usual.”

“I’ll wait for you,” he said, suddenly his spirit lifted.

“Don’t you have any other work?” she asked, wondering if he was planning to adjust his schedule.

“Don’t worry about it,” he assured her.

“Okay,” she said and got back to work.

Alexander was skeptical about her response. He didn’t understand if she said ok to have him drop her home or ok to his response. He kept looking at her and she felt the eyes on her.

She turned to him and smiled, “Okay. You can drop me home.”

A wide smile plastered itself on Alexander’s face. A genuine smile, after a long time.