Wild Cards of Desire

CHAPTER 1 OFFICE TO SHOTS The monotonous hum of the office air conditioner usually grounded Ariella, but today it just amplified her frantic heartbeat. She was wading through biodata forms when a shadow fell over her desk, followed by a warm whisper and the brush of lips: "Damn, you look fine." It was him, the online flirt she'd dared to be "wild," never expecting he'd show up at her office during work hours. "I’m innocent, Mr.," she gasped, pushing against his chest. He just grinned, a slow, knowing curve that sent a shiver down her spine. "I see. Now, be a good girl for me, alright?" Her feigned demureness vanished as he forcefully pulled her swivel chair flush against him, his mouth claiming hers in a torrid kiss. His hand slipped expertly under her skirt, warm against her thigh. Her fingers instinctively went to his chest, ready to pull him closer… Knock, knock. The sudden sound was a shock, shattering the haze of desire. Instead of pulling him closer, she pushed him away with surprising force. "Come in," she called out, her voice strained, as she frantically smoothed her dress and fumbled with papers, pretending deep engrossment. Aeina entered with a stack of biodata forms, a timely distraction. Ariella, grateful for the reprieve, quickly dismissed her. She risked a glance at the guy; he was now casually perusing documents, a master of disguise, looking utterly harmless. "Have you finished these yet?" he asked, gesturing to her workload. She shook her head, still trying to regain composure. He was pushing his luck. "You want me to help you with these? I’m used to paperwork," he offered, a glint of amusement in his eye. "I used to be a Council President." The audacity! Ariella turned back to her papers, ignoring the phantom warmth of his touch. "So, where were we?" he prompted, leaning casually on her desk. She sighed, the weight of pending reports pressing down. The illicit thrill had evaporated, replaced by the stark reality of her inbox. "Actually, you can go now." "Seriously?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. She nodded, not looking up. The mood was gone; she just wanted to focus. He gathered his things, his departure silent and almost reluctant. The click of the door was the final punctuation mark on their office escapade. Ariella pulled out her compact. Her flushed face and disheveled hair stared back. A cold wave of shame washed over her. She'd almost done something reckless, unprofessional, in her workplace. Thank goodness for Aeina. Her conscience, usually a whisper, would have screamed. The rest of the day blurred into reports and penalty summaries. Her friends, ever thoughtful, dropped by with lunch, their vibrant energy a stark contrast to her drained state. She shooed them away, the aroma of their food a fleeting comfort against the mountain of paperwork. But before they left, they reminded her of the party tonight at Bar None, a much-needed escape. As five o'clock approached, anticipation stirred. Tonight, she could shed her corporate shell. She needed to look and feel good. Maybe she’d finally attract someone not just looking for an office fling. Despite the promise of a night out, elaborate dressing felt like too much effort. She settled on a simple, elegant red silk dress that clung in all the right places, a silent promise of confidence. Her friends greeted her with whoops and cheers, their animated chatter filling the drive to the bar. Stepping into Bar None, the throbbing bass vibrated through her bones. The air was thick with spilled beer and cheap perfume. Usually, this energized her, but tonight, Ariella was in nonchalant mode, a silent observer in the swirling chaos. Her friends, already paired off, were engrossed with their boyfriends, leaving her to nurse a drink in a corner booth. "You okay, girl? You seem like you’re not in the mood," Aeina observed, sliding in beside her. "I’m alright, just a little tired," Ariella offered, forcing a smile. Yesha and Vina approached, scanning her weary posture. "Chill, ladies, I’m all good, okay? You go have some fun." She tried to sound convincing, but they exchanged knowing glances. "That’s exactly why we’re here, to have some fun. You should join us," Vina insisted. "Yeah, look at Yara. She seems to be having the night of her life," Yesha pointed out. Yara was a whirlwind on the dance floor, dancing with a guy, drink in hand. As if on cue, Yara spotted them, her eyes lighting up. She weaved through the crowd and descended upon them. "What are you girls doing here? Why are you all sitting instead of being wild on the dance floor?" Before Ariella could protest, Yara pulled her towards the dance floor, launching into an uninhibited dance. The others, spurred on, joined in with their boyfriends trailing close behind. Ariella rolled her eyes; it was just her and Yara, the perpetually single ones, navigating coupledom. "Let’s go grab some drinks first," Yara shouted, pulling Ariella past their table towards another with two guys. "Would you mind if we ask for some drinks?" She settled beside the guy she'd been dancing with. "It’s on him," the guy gestured to his companion next to Ariella. "I don’t mind," the other guy replied, his voice cold yet smooth. "That means you can grab as much as you want," the first guy added, pushing bottles towards them. They thanked him. Yara, ever the strategist, whispered, "Ariella, me and Renz are gonna go, you know." She winked. "You stay here and accompany his friend for a while. It would be rude if we leave him alone when he offered us drinks. And by the way, he seemed interested in you. Entertain him, will you?" Ariella rolled her eyes, but nodded in resignation. Yara, with a triumphant grin, dragged Renz away, leaving Ariella stranded with a stranger. "Do you realize where your friend is going?" he asked, offering her a shot. "Yeah, make-out session with your friend." Ariella downed the shot, the burn a welcome distraction. "Easy there," he chuckled, a low rumble. "So, you’re with your friends?" She nodded, glancing at her distant friends. "They seem to be having fun. Why don’t you join them?" he asked, his gaze attentive. She shook her head. "They can have fun without me. They’re with their boyfriends." He took a shot, his eyes meeting hers. "Isn’t yours coming?" Ariella laughed, a genuine one this time. "I don’t have one." He looked at her, his expression shifting as he poured more. "Well, that’s a surprise." She shrugged, a familiar defense. "Yeah, rumors say I have one and change them like changing clothes." He laughed then, a full, uninhibited sound that cut through the din. "Honestly, you look pretty. That’s probably why people had that kind of assumption. Even I thought you have a boyfriend." Ariella stared, unsure how to respond. He was undeniably attractive, glasses giving him that "hot-nerd" vibe – her type. She pushed the thought away. "Guys are just in for lust. When lust takes over, they forget love." The words, fueled by liquor, felt too honest. A wave of dizziness washed over her, the bar lights blurring. An irrepressible urge to move, to dance, to lose herself, surged through her. She pushed up from the table, swaying slightly.