Taming the playboy

Chapter Five

“How do you feel about spending every night with a different woman eager to worship your body?”

Derek Donovan stared at his best friend across the desk in his posh office as if he’d lost his mind. “Is this a trick question?”

With a rueful smile, Ben said, “Are you ever going to settle down, my friend?”

“Funny you should ask, coming from someone who doesn't even have a girlfriend". Derek scoffs.

“Really? Well I don't sleep around playing with people's hearts". Ben retorts.

"Ben, I don't force the women to be with me. Neither do I promise them commitment. They're fully aware is a fling". Derek says in his defence. “And it's not my fault I look this way". He brags, striking a pose on his seat, and Ben rolls his eyes at him.

"What about Cassandra?" Ben inquires.

"What about her?"

"It's your longest fling ever". Ben says, probing further. He has always had a soft spot for Cassandra. She was his type of woman, but he clearly wasn't her type as she quickly went for Derek from the first day they both met her. He has been secretly jealous ever since then.

"Well, Cassie knows how to keep things exciting," Derek replies, then pauses a bit as his mind drifts for a second, remembering how she has professed her feelings to him the other day, “But I plan on ending things with her soon". He added.

“She no more excites you?" Ben asked anxiously. How can he lose interest in someone as beautiful as Cassandra Davids? He thought angrily. Some people just have it all.

“The relationship has stayed longer than it should, and she's getting all in her feelings".

There's a brief silence, as both kept mute lost in their thoughts.

"Cassandra doesn't look like the type of woman you can just dump easily". Ben finally said.

“I'm not getting tied up to any woman". Derek says with a slight frown forming on his face as he leaned backward into his chair. He was thirty five and happily single, he had no plans of changing his status. He had made his decision to remain an unrepentant bachelor after his parents had gotten divorced when he was younger. He has seen how much his mother was hurt from the situation and how it slowly killed her. One thing he was very sure of was that he was a replica of his father, and the last person a woman should want in her life. So he was doing the women a favour and saving them from a bigger heart break. “I am the most unsuitable man for any woman". He added, looking across at his friend, in the eyes.

“So you're never going to get married?" Ben asked, shocked by his friend's stance. He has known Derek for five years now and he was surprised that he still stood by his choice of being an incurable flirt.

Derek shakes his head, “Never".

“Never say never". Ben quickly says with a cocky smile.

“Now you sound like my brother". Derek tells him. Then smiles as the thought of his younger brother flashes through his mind.

“How's Michael doing?"

“You know we're not that close, but I am sure he is fine".

“Is he married?"

“No Ben. What's with you and marriage?" Derek shouts, obviously getting pissed about the marriage topic.

“Marriage is a beautiful thing". Ben insisted.

“Then go ahead and get married and leave those who want to be single alone". He replies angrily, then gets up from his seat and stares out the window in his office, looking at nothing in particular. “Not everyone is marriage material Ben". He adds, gently this time.

“Don't tell me your brother is just like you". Ben asked, not a bit shaken from Derek's earlier angry responses.

“No chance. We're totally opposite". Derek answers, turning around to look at his friend. “We are nothing alike".

Cassandra tapped on a door a little hesitantly. Last night she had followed Derek to this apartment. This must be where ‘Miss sexy voice over the phone' leaves. She thought within herself jealously. She had come by herself today to warn whoever she was to stay away from Derek. Derek was all hers.

The door slipped open and reveals a petite beautiful woman behind it. She stared at the stranger at her doorstep with confusion written clearly on her face. “How can I help you?"

Cassandra gave the petite woman a long stare as she thought within herself for few seconds. What on earth did this woman have that she doesn't? Why is Derek cheating on her with this woman?

“Who are you?" Came another interrogating question from the woman, snapping Cassandra out of her thoughts.

Rather than answer her question, Cassandra asked hers. “Do you know what it means to toy with a viper?"

The petite woman swallowed hard, obviously scared by her comment. “Uh...sorry, do I know you?" She stammered.

“Do you know Derek Donovan?" Cassandra asks her.

She nods in reply.

“Well, I am his girlfriend and also the viper that I spoke of earlier". Cassandra informed, her eyes flickering with anger.

“Derek has never mentioned anything about another woman". The petite lady spoke up in her defence.

“That's because you're just a fling to him. But I am not pardoning that anymore". Cassandra moves closer to her and gives her a hard stare.“Stay away from Derek".

“You just want to have him all to yourself. I'll rather we let him choose". The petite woman said boldly now.

“I and Derek have been dating for eight months now. I won't like to visit you again but if I am forced to, you won't like it". Cassandra warns, as they both hold each other's gaze, as if in a contest.

“Are you threatening me?"

“I don't do threats darling. Only promises, and I never fail to keep them". Cassandra says with a devilish smirk forming on her lips.“A word is enough for the wise". She adds, then walks off.