A Girl Named Roxanne
1916 Words
Daxon
I hurried out of my car to check on who I had just hit.
A woman was on her back, just staring at the sky. It was kind of an inappropriate time, but I couldn’t help but notice how pretty she was. Though she looked kind of a mess, there was something hypnotic about her.
Her hazel eyes, though misty and teary, were stunning and she had full pink lips that were in a pout. The sun was dancing on her warm brown skin as she sat up and her wavy hair fell on her shoulders almost perfectly. She looked like someone you’d see in a movie or something.
“Are you okay?” I asked, kneeling next to her.
Her lip trembled as she broke into tears. I felt like such an asshole. I probably broke her leg or something.
“Tell me where it hurts,” I urged.
She weakly tapped her chest. “Here,”
“Like you’re having a heart attack or something?”
“No, my heart is broken. This is the worst day of my life!”
“But are you physically hurt?” I questioned.
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Why were you driving so fast?” She sniffled.
“I’ve had the worst day ever and I got distracted by my phone-"
"Oh no!” She looked around desperately until she found her phone. She turned it over and the screen was completely destroyed. “Now I need a new phone too?”
She fell back on the ground as tears spilled out of her eyes. I had never been good around crying, but this was incredibly uncomfortable.
“I um…I’ll buy you a new phone! An even better one.” I offered.
“Thanks…it’s still the worst day of my life though.” She whined.
“I understand, my day has been pretty horrible.”
“Were you dumped and fired?”
“No, I lied about something and it’s going to cost me my company.” I sighed.
“That’s pretty bad too,” She admitted.
“Is there anything else I can do for you? I could give you a ride or something.” I said.
“It’s okay,”
“At least let me buy you a drink,”
She sat up once again. “I could use a drink.”
--
“So uh…didn’t get your name.” I said as she sat down. After taking off my suit jacket and loosening my tie I sat across from her. “I’m Daxon Vaughn.”
“Vaughn! Of course, that’s where I’ve seen you. The famous Vaughn family. You guys own like thirteen companies, right?”
“Sixteen actually,” I grinned.
“Oh the irony of this day! The movie I got fired from today was probably gonna be picked up by your film company.”
“Yikes, um sorry to hear that.”
“I finally thought I was on the right track,” She shook her head. “This was going to finally make everything I’d done to get to this point worth it.”
“So, you’re an actress, that’s really cool.” I smiled.
“No, it’s really not. I’ve been in short films and plays that no one comes to. I almost got a television show, but it didn’t work out. And then I met Tyson and he was brilliant and passionate about everything that I was and he told me he could make me a star. And then when it’s time for that suddenly he has some new girlfriend a-and a new muse. And now I’m sitting here with a very handsome man who probably thinks I’m a lunatic and I have no place to even sleep tonight!”
She did seem like kind of a lunatic. But I didn't think it was her fault. That did sound like a pretty horrible day. Being cheated on sucked.
“That’s rough, I’m sorry,” I winced, as a familiar waitress approached us.
“Hi, Daxon,” Marissa smiled flirtatiously. “Did you lose my number or something? You never called me back.”
“You know I actually did, I’m so frazzled. But I definitely have been thinking about you,” I gave her my most charming smile.
I loved the way women melted when I turned on the charm. It made me feel powerful.
“I’ll make sure to write it down again then. Dirty martini?”
“No, I think a Scotch and double it please.” I winked.
Marissa turned to the woman and I realized I still didn’t know her name. “And you?”
“I will have double whiskey sour with the best whiskey you have here. Daxon is paying so might as well take advantage.”
I could tell Marissa didn’t like that I was with another woman, but she remained professional. “Coming right up!”
“So you sleep with waitresses,” The woman chuckled.
“I sleep with any attractive woman,” I shrugged.
“Must be nice,” She muttered.
“I’m sorry you still haven’t told me your name.”
“Oh right. I’m Roxanne, like the song.”
No way.
Roxanne
This was by far the strangest day of my life.
I was sitting across from possibly the most handsome man I’d ever met. Daxon Vaughn was in one word: stunning. His dark brown hair looked soft and perfect for getting your fingers tangled in. He had intense blue eyes that also had a strange gentleness to them and his smile could turn a room full of women to puddles. Don’t even get me started on that jaw.
He was everything I imagined a CEO to be.
After telling him my name he stared at me like I grew a second head.
“What?” I asked.
“Is this a…that’s your real name?” Daxon asked me.
“Yeah…why?”
“Remember that lie I mentioned?” I nodded. “I told my Gramps that I was engaged to a woman named Roxanne.”
“Why?” I snorted.
“Because that was the only way I could keep the company, if I get married so it can seem like I’ll actually have kids one day to pass the company down to.”
“Oh, you’re screwed!”
“Yeah, I’m all too aware.”
“Drinks,” The waitress set our glasses down. “And my phone number. Don’t lose it this time Daxon.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” He winked at her.
“Your family actually believes you’re getting married when this is how you act with women?” I questioned.
“My brother knows I’m lying, he just can’t prove it yet. But when I show up with no one tomorrow night, everyone will know and I will lose everything.”
“That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think? You’re still a billionaire, go be CEO of one of the other companies.”
“I like asset management. It’s interesting. Nothing else will fulfill me. Besides when my parents died, it’s what they left me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I mumbled. “That must be hard.”
“Yeah, it happened so quickly. First mom and a week later dad. I still don’t think I’ve properly processed it. I mean how do you ever really process the death of your parents?” He rambled.
“Mine are still alive and…probably hate me. Well my mom anyway. Dad is…well he went to the store one day and let’s just say he never came back.”
“Ouch. So you’ve got daddy issues?”
“No, my father has estranged daughter issues.” I grinned.
“I’ll drink to that,” We clinked our glasses together and finished our drinks. “Want another round?”
“How about three?”
--
I didn’t know how long Daxon and I sat there drinking and trying to one up each other on who had the worst life. Obviously I won. I was a poor actress and he was a billionaire CEO.
“We should start a club,” I laughed. “A My Life's Falling Apart club.”
“We could have t-shirts.” Daxon grinned.
“And sweatshirts,”
“And shot glasses,”
“We’ll be the best club ever,” I proclaimed.
“Daxon, is that you?”
I almost wasn’t surprised when I saw a busty blonde girl approach us.
“Hey…don’t tell me…Ashley?”
“Amanda,” She corrected him.
“I’m so bad with names,” He chuckled. “How have you been?”
“Well I had really amazing s*x with a hot man and he never called me back so…I’ve been better.”
Daxon ran his fingers through his hair as an apologetic look came across his face. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I got so caught up with work and I neglected everything. Even things I really like.”
I rolled my eyes as she smiled and twirled her hair. How did these women fall for these lines?
“Well if that’s the case let’s do something.” She touched his arm before looking over at me. “Unless you’re busy?”
I flashed her a condescending smile in return.
“Actually Amanda, I am, but give me your number. I’ll definitely give you a call. I’m sure we can have more fun.” Daxon smiled.
“Don’t lose it okay?” Amanda warned.
“Oh I wouldn’t dream of it,”
Now where had I heard that before?
“You’re disgusting,” I stated as Amanda walked away. “You’re not going to call that girl.”
“I could,” He shrugged. “But she’s a cuddler and I hate that, so probably not.”
“And you’re not calling our waitress back either,”
“Nah, I’m not interested.”
“The tabloids are right! You’re a womanizer!” I exclaimed.
“I can’t help it. It’s like I become fascinated with a woman and I have to have her and then…I just don’t want her anymore. It’s a vicious cycle.” Daxon sighed.
“Ah, poor you, constantly sleeping with women and then tossing them aside. Must be hard for you to be handsome and appealing.”
“You think I’m handsome?”
“Yes, I have eyes,” I declared.
“I think you’re kind of appealing too, even though you’re kinda crazy,” His blue eyes looked me over, causing me to squirm. Those eyes were powerful. “What are you doing tonight?”
“You need to be worried about tomorrow night, buddy.”
“I’d rather be distracted.”
“You know what-”
“Daxon!” Shockingly enough it was actually a man coming over to us.
He looked quite similar to Daxon, except there was something kind of smarmy about him. I got really bad vibes off of this guy.
“Gideon,” Daxon said dully. “You found me.”
“Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” Gideon questioned.
“I’ve been busy,”
“With wh-oh, hello.” Gideon smiled at me. “I’m Gideon, you are?”
“Roxanne,” I replied.
He looked shocked. “Well nice to meet you! I thought I wouldn’t see you until tomorrow!”
“Huh?”
“You are my brother’s fiancee, aren't you?”
- Writer
