Playing the Game of Temptation

"Amy, I need the sales report for this month before lunch." Cameron Messner, team leader of the marketing department, demanded as he walked out of his office. "Yes, sir. I'll leave it at your desk." I replied politely. "Good," he muttered. "And cancel my meeting for tomorrow morning. There'll be an assembly for all the employees in the marketing department. I guess you've already heard about the arrival of the new CEO tomorrow." I nodded. "Yes, sir. I've heard of that from the other female employees." He chuckled. “Looks like the new CEO’s already popular here. I’ve heard he's a bachelor.” Cameron, as a boss, is strict and compliant, but outside work he’s friendly and charming. I've been working for this company for about 2 years and it's been about 6 months since I was luckily promoted to be the secretary of our department's team leader. Actually, I've known Cameron since we were in college. He’s three years older than me and, as a matter of fact, he’s the boyfriend of Kelly, my best friend. They’ve been together since college and are pretty much the most adorable couple I’ve ever met. "I'll be at my meeting now." Cameron said. "Oh and Amy, please call Madam Song and remind her of the roses I ordered yesterday. I requested delivery to Kelly’s office.” I smiled at him. “I will, Mr. Messner.” He winked at me before he walked out of the door. Don’t get me wrong. I’m extremely happy for my best friend and for Cameron, but I couldn’t help but get envious sometimes, especially as I haven’t been able to date anyone properly ever since. I just felt like all those random guys I’ve tried dating before just didn’t pass the standard. And that’s obviously the main reason why I’m probably the only 24-year-old virgin in town with no boyfriend since birth. I sighed with that thought as I began dialing Madam Song's number and told her exactly what Cameron instructed. Kelly actually also works in the same company as ours but she's assigned to the finance department. As a matter of fact, it’s forbidden by the company to date anyone who works in this building. It’s written on the contract we signed before we were hired but Kelly and Cameron had been dating each other even before we joined the company. So technically, aside from me, no one in the company knows about their relationship or else both of them will get fired. I jumped a bit when I felt my phone vibrate inside my coat’s pocket. I fished it out and saw my sister's name flashing on the screen. "Hey." "Amy! I can't believe he just broke up with me and left me like that." My older, and only sister, cried out on the other line. She was sobbing hard. My God. I knew this day would come. I hate to tell her ‘I told you so’ but this was the perfect time to say it. "I told you he's a total jerk, Aria." I paused and sighed. "Plus, it's only been two months since you started dating him. It shouldn't hurt that badly." She cried some more. "Well it does. It hurts so goddamned much I think I'm going to die." I rolled my eyes. "Sis, if my memory serves me right, I think you also said that with your other ex-boyfriends. Come on, Aria. It's not the end of the world." "You're right. Boys are all ruthless and don't deserve to be loved at all." I could picture my sister's stern face while she's saying that but I don't think she means it. Why? Because those were her exact words after breaking up with the other men she’s dated before, but whenever she meets another attractive guy, she forgets about everything and falls in love all over again. It's scary that it’s starting to become her habit. I heard her sniffling from the other line. "You know what, let’s forget about that jerk and join me tonight after work. Let's drink and maybe get some sister bonding." I let out a defeated sigh. As if I had a choice. Even though she's a slight dumbass sometimes, she's still my sister. "Okay. Where?" -- "Will you please stop tugging down your skirt? It’s making you look less sexy and beautiful." Aria spoke directly to my ears so I could hear her above the loud music in the club. I actually hate going to clubs like this or any clubs. I don’t like that it’s loud and full of strangers, especially men who would ogle you like if you’re on the club’s menu waiting to be served at their table. Shit. I need to get out of here. I inched closer to my sister and whispered to her. "Aria, I don’t think this is a good idea." My sister scowled at me. "What? No. We're going to have fun tonight! Come on, Amy. Loosen up!" And before I could utter another protest, my sister was already dragging me through the crowd and leading me to the bar. "Hey. What can I get for the two beautiful ladies here?" The barista grinned cockily at us as he leaned forward. "Whatever you have for us, honey." My sister blinked at him prettily, that I wanted to throw up on the spot and I haven’t had my drinks yet. My gosh! She's obviously not getting over men! "Well then, be my guests." He rummaged through the bar and went back with two drinks in his hands. "Help yourselves, beauties." He winked as he handed our drinks to my sister and I swear I felt like she was going to make out with him right where they stood. Aria nudged the glass towards me. "Here, Amy. Bottom's up!" I shook my head and Aria glared at me, and like an oh-so-obedient sister like I always am, took it and emptied the glass in one shot. I’m not a heavy drinker and I will drink occasionally, but I can handle alcohol. Well, at least moderately. I cringed at the bitter taste of it. I don't even know what kind of alcohol was put in it and I suddenly started to feel hot. "Give us some more, cutesy." My sister winked at the barista. Oh no. She's totally getting drunk tonight. Including me! s**t. I'd lost count on how many glasses I'd emptied and I was starting to feel a little dizzy. I stood on my wobbly legs as my sister began dragging me to the dance floor. I didn’t really want to dance, but I was already a little too drunk to care. Aria started swaying her body to the music and I just followed her moves, not caring about the people around us. This was one of those one in a million moments when I let go of my insecurities and I had to admit that alcohol helped me to do that. I stopped dancing when I felt a pair of hands on my waist. I looked over at the man standing behind me. He’s a few inches taller than I was and looked pretty decent with his dirty blonde hair. At first, I didn’t try to push him away as we were just dancing, but when I felt one of his hands move down my legs, I tried to wiggle out of his grasp. I tried to find my sister in the crowd when the bastard didn’t even budge, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. I nudged him using my elbow and the asshole just chuckled right at my ear. “Ooh, you’re a feisty one. How about we test just how feisty you are somewhere else?” “No thanks, a**hole.” I gritted my teeth and glared at him but he still wouldn’t take a hint. I stepped on his foot as hard as I could and that’s the only time he finally let go of me. “What the f*ck!” he exclaimed and a few club goers began noticing us. “You nasty little b-” Before he could advance on me, a man blocked him and stood between us. “That’s enough for tonight.” The pervert snarled at him. “Move away. This is none of your business.” The man in front of me stood still. “It’ll be your business once I call the security and ask them to escort you out of this club.” “Just who do you think you are?” The pervert scoffed. I wasn’t able to hear what the man said to that pervert because he walked towards him and whispered something to his ear. Whatever it was, it made the pervert crawl into a scaredy puppy and walked away like nothing happened. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until the pervert disappeared from my sight. The man finally turned to look at me and I had to shut my mouth properly so I wouldn’t drool in front of him. By god, this man’s probably the most attractive man in this club or even the most good looking man I’ve ever seen in my life. Dark hair that matched the color of his eyes, perfectly tanned skin and well-defined muscles. “Are you alright?” He asked me, offering a small smile. “Yeah, just fine.” I almost choked. “Thank you.” “No problem. Are you with someone?” I nodded at him and suddenly remembered looking for Aria. “I’m here with my sister but I can’t find her.” He stood closer to me, I could already smell him. He even smelled good. A heady mix of man’s perfume, cigarette and alcohol. “Do you need help? You seemed a little tipsy already.” “No, that’s alright. I’m fine.” As if on cue, my legs wobbled as soon as I said that. Mr. Good-Looking Stranger caught me by my arm. “Whoa, there. You want to sit for a while?” The stranger offered and I waited for all the warning signs so I could tell him to f*ck off but they never came, so I found myself nodding and following the stranger to the far side of the club.