FALLING FOR THE ENEMY

You're on the verge of closing the biggest deal of your life and there's this volcano of joy erupting from within, causing you to almost be the life of the party—you’ve never felt that before? Then, you've also never had a company party held and part of it was in your honor to celebrate a successfully signed contract and the expectation of another being signed tomorrow—yeah, you heard me….I made all that possible, Karissa Mark. Music loud, wine being passed around and a grand hall filled with people who had the foundation of the business world in the palm of their hands. Global Finances was holding a huge party to celebrate a closed deal that I had gotten as one of the best Managers this company has ever had. I was lost in the moment, I was lost in the music, I was lost in the fun and I was lost in the praises, my mind completely shutting out the fact that I had the most important meeting of my life by 8:00am tomorrow and I was still having drinks by 10:00pm at night. Was I drunk already? Kind of, yes, but a party meant to celebrate me and my achievement is worth losing control in, right? “You've really done a lot for Global Finances, Miss Mark. How have you lost your touch over the years?” I let out a small chuckle, sweeping my chocolate colored hair back, revealing my bare shoulders in my breast tube like a dress…. “These things are a part of me. I don't know how, but I always manage to seal the deal” “Well, a lady as beautiful as you will definitely close a deal with me” The only gentle man in our conversation said. There's little to no benefits in signing a deal with his company, so a contract shouldn't even be thought of…..but, so that I wasn't rude, I just gave him a small smile and ended it at that. My phone began to buzz as I had to excuse myself. I almost stagger on my way out, but I had too much of a reputation to embarrass myself because I was tipsy. “Hello?” I finally made my way out the hall “Karissa, where are you? It's past 10:00pm” I let out a groan “what is it, Melody?” was it a crime to have your little sister living with you? “Are you looking at the time? The weather? And hope you're not drunk?” I rolled my eyes, grabbing on to a pillar—i was dizzy as hell. “I'm not drunk” “I'm sure as hell not believing that. You should be home by now” “Why exactly are you trying to get me to come home?” My brain wasn't working at that point. My head was all fogged up. “Are you forgetting about…..” the conversation immediately went off. I took my phone away to check what happened and….great, my phone died. “Just great” I sighed. I stuff the phone back in the purse and lean backwards on the stone pillar. The wind hitting my face made me a bit nauseous, but what could I do? I couldn't leave the party yet. I put my hair back in place, ready to return back to the party. On my way towards the entrance, I stumbled, almost falling to the ground, but ended up being caught by a masked stranger in suit. Did I mention it was a masked party? “Careful, you seem a bit tipsy” his deep voice and Spanish accent went straight to my ears, causing me to be more cautious of my composure. “I'm not…. I'm not drunk” I let go of his hand and straightened my posture He let out a small chuckle, that deep voice sounding so unreal—can someone really sound like that? I felt goosebumps on my hands while he stared am “sure, you're not drunk” he sarcastically agreed with me. “I'm sorry, do I know you?” I knew a lot of people at this event, some, I had seen multiple times, and some I had only encountered once—but this man? He doesn't physically look nor sound like someone I've ever met. I observed him in his maroon colored suit jacket and black suit trouser—there was something about his aura I couldn't place my finger on. “I don't stay in the states much” I nodded “it's clear from the accent” His eyes ran from my face to my outfit then up my face again which was slightly covered with my mask. “Don't you wish to leave, Miss Mark? It's pretty late and you must be terribly tired” “How do you know my name?” “Anyone in this building right now, knows your name. Don't try to pin me as a creep” I folded my lips in because I was definitely about to pin him a creep—a creep who had dazzlingly blue eyes glowing through his mask “Let's have a few more drinks, shall we?” he broke my concentration, bringing my focus back to the fun. Why not? He's definitely someone I hope to close a deal with, so why not start with a friendship? “Just one more, please” I tried to take the glass from the stranger, but he handed it to one of the waiters passing. “ That's enough for tonight, I should take you home” “No….why….why would you take me home” I stuttered, complete wasted at a party I was meant to be supervising while enjoying. “Miss Mark, you're very drunk. Come, I'll take you where you can rest” Without any attempt to wait for my reply, he grabbed on to my hand and slowly but harshly pulled me out of the hall. For someone that seemed ‘worried’ that I was drunk, he was the one who put me in that position in the first place—if only I knew something was off. Everything happened so fast. One minute, I was in a black SUV, seated at the back with the stranger I still didn't know. I was too drunk to think straight, my eyes were dropping already and I felt nauseous every step of the way. The next minute, I was in a hotel room. “We'll rest here since you clearly can't remember your house address” I fell lazily on the bed, my face upward. I felt my head spinning and my eyes dropping. I sat up straight on the bed, staring at the stranger who was seated on the couch opposite the bed, staring straight at me. “You're actually really handsome” I'm a mess when I'm drunk. “You don't say” a small smile formed on his face I nodded “are you staying here with me?” “If you want, Miss” “I do” I tapped the space beside me on the bed “come seat” If only I knew that, it was a huge mistake.