Chapter Three
1442 Words
Cautiously, I follow the sounds of deep kisses and hushed moans. They lead me to a private balcony. It overlooks a lush, beautiful valley; one of the things this resort is famous for. The stars twinkle softly, a bit outshined by the lights of the resort itself, but still making for a picturesque scene. But that's not my focus. My focus is my boyfriend. Or more so the way he and the woman, Linda, he has up against the wall, smacking his lips against hers like there's no tomorrow.
The glass slips from my hand and crashes to the floor. The sound is loud enough that the two jerk away from each other and look at it. Then they look at me. I just stare back with wide eyes.
"Tyler…"
He laughs, running a hand through his short messy hair. "You almost gave me a heart attack. Thought you were one of the VPs."
I continue staring at him, still too stunned to make more words.
"What?" he sneers. "Are you stalking me now too?"
That brings my voice back. "Sta-sta-stalking y-you?" It's difficult to form words with so many things going through my mind. "I've been s-searching EVERYWHERE for you. And you… We haven't even broken up yet…"
The look on his face shows my words don't have any effect on him whatsoever. In fact, his sneer only grows and all I can see in his eyes is…nothing. Not love, not hate, nothing. Like I’m no different from the gum at the bottom of his shoe.
"Since you obviously didn't get it last time, let me spell it out for you." Tyler leans in closer. "You mean nothing to me. And I don't want to be with some 'once was' FRAUD like you."
I feel the sting of incoming tears. "After all we've—"
He stops me with a hand. "Just don't. It's no use playing the victim card after you jeopardized the company."
Linda smirks, clinging on to him. And Tyler wraps his hand around her WAIST. My eyes stare wide at that arm. I imagine ripping it off and shoving it up his—
"No need to feel too highly about yourself, manager~" She laughs at her own joke.
My lips tremble in shame. I try to take deep breaths to settle myself, biting my lip to stop any tears. I glare at them both with all the hate I can muster. "We're over, Tyler. And I hope you both get STIs."
With that I leave.
But I can't wipe the image of them from my mind. It keeps replaying like a broken record. His hands running over her body, their lips connected, the intensity, the…passion. They were about to have…
I take a deep breath, clenching my eyes shut.
Why me? I thought he loved me…or was I just the fool to think so? 'Oh what a foolish girl you've been, Anastasia,' Madame Rose would say… And I wouldn't be able to argue with her this time. Because she'd be right. But even so, Tyler tricked me, used me, then abandoned me. That can't possibly be my fault, right? RIGHT?!
I look up. "Right, Mom?"
God, I need a drink.
My legs take me to a bar; any bar, not sure what directions I took, or if I even recognize anyone around me. It's like my body just went on autopilot, and I'm sat on a stool in front of the bartender. He pours me a shot. I chug it down, the burn far less painful than how my heart feels right now. I continue chugging down shots without restraint. It's when my headache clears and my mind is thoroughly fuzzed that it finally hits me.
My boyfriend cheated on me. And I…I think I even loved him too.
So, I cry. I sob and wail and cry my eyes out of tears. Then when I'm done, the anger sets in.
"That f*****g bastard hic cheated on me…" I sniffle, wiping my nose and chug down another shot. "I wish I could make him hic suffer…but I still need to be thin-hic-king about how to prove my hic innocence… ARGH!" I take another shot.
Why does life have to suck so much…? Why does MY life have to suck so much?
"I think you should take it easy, darling~" I feel a hand rake through my dark locks. I glance towards the source of that smooth voice and gulp down any dirty thoughts that threaten to surface.
Why does he look kind of hot?
"See something you like?" His smile turns more teasing, and it makes my face warm up. But I don't stop squinting at him.
"You're hot."
The chuckle he lets out makes my form tremble.
"Glad you think so, darling. I try~" He grins at me.
My hazy eyes struggle to get a good look at his face, but I do manage to register his large, broad-shouldered frame, and that enticing fresh scent of citrus and something spicy.
I can't help but take a breath of it. "You must try hard if you smell so good…"
He orders a drink, his smile definitely widening. "Can't tell if I should feel insulted or flattered."
I try to order a drink too, but a veiny hand grabs mine, pulling it up to thin lips that peck my smooth skin. The man turns his head to me, black eyes pinning me down. "I'll have to stop you there, Miss. You've already had way too much alcohol."
"I-I'm…" I start speaking, planning to argue, but the way those dark eyes look at me leaves my resolve feeling weak. "I'm hic an adult…" And this only comes out a whisper.
"I'll have to agree with him, dear." Large hands place themselves above my hips. "You're drunk." A baritone voice whispers right by my ear, tickling the shell. My body shudders involuntarily.
"Alright… I hic I won't drink anymore."
I turn around in my stool so I can see all of them clearly. Three tall men, dark suits and graying hair. And the subtle smell of men's cologne. The middle one gives me a closed-eyed smile, and my waist still tingles from the place where his hand touched. Or…at least I think it was him…
"Mind if we keep you company, dear?"
I nod quickly, not realizing how eagerly it comes off. Though I don't really care. I could use the company.
They take me to a private lounge area I never knew existed—and surely won't remember the directions to—and soon, I'm seated in the midst of three men. I'm glad I'm drunk, because I'm sure their oppressive auras would've made me too nervous to speak if I wasn't. As I take the arm of the man beside me, the gray-eyed man among them takes my chin between his fingers. It's dark, but I can still see him subtly frown.
"Why were you crying?" He wipes my cheek of drying tears.
"Is it about work?"
The question threatens to conjure up fresh tears, so I hide my face in the arm I still unknowingly have clutched in my hands. "My boyfriend cheated on me…" My voice is muffled by the man's arm.
One of them scoffs. "Boys these days never cease to surprise me with their utter lack of respect for women. Especially a partner."
"Especially one this beautiful~"
"Do you want to speak about it?"
I'm silent for a while, but then I nod. "Yes."
So I tell them about catching Tyler with Linda, tell them how mean he was to me, and even tell them about my demotion. I end up venting out all my frustrations to these three strangers, all while playing with one of their watches. It's hard telling which is which because it's so dark, and my mind is so foggy. But I could still feel them. The two beside me, warm, present, like pillars I could trust to catch me if I fell, and the one in front of me, holding my hand, patient, kind, understanding.
What's wrong with me? Why am I kissing one of them? Why am I letting another trail kisses down my neck, his stubble tickling and electrifying me at the same time? Why is another running his rough, strong hands over the gentle, plush skin of my thighs? Why are we going to another room? Why are we taking off our clothes?
Why am I getting such pleasure from this?
A moan escapes my lips, muffled when another's mouth kisses mine.
I don't know. But I don't want it to stop, at least for tonight.
- Writer
