She gets a phone call. I sit up even straighter, turning the volume all the way up to make sure I can hear what is said.
Unfortunately, I can't hear who's on the other end of the line, but I hear Elena's soft voice. "Yes, I'm ready. I'll be down in just a minute."
My frown deepens at her words. Whomever she's going with is apparently picking her up.
She's not using my driver like I instructed her.
I quickly down the last of my blood and then stand and straighten out my cuffs before putting my suit jacket on.
It looks like Elena and I are going out.
Twelve
Elena
I've never really beenbig on the party scene, but when Kate, one of my coworkers, cornered me in the break room and invited me out with her and a few of the other women from work, I couldn't say no. I don't want to alienate myself from my coworkers or appear snobbish.
And besides, my life is so mundane. I mean, for a woman of my age, I'm really lame. I go to work, and I go home.
And that's it.
Don't get me wrong. I love being all comfy and by myself in my place, but that's not normal, is it? Shouldn't I be out doing something with some friends? Of course, I have to have some friends first for that to happen.
And this is the first step to getting there, I suppose.
So here I am. At some club downtown with Kate, Mary, and Ashley. I've seen them all around the office, but Kate is the one I've spoken to the most, so she's playing the intermediary, helping all of us get more acquainted with one another.
So far, all the girls have been really nice. They're all wearing way more risqué outfits than I am, though. I suppose their clothes are more club appropriate than mine, but honestly, even if I had clothes like theirs, there's no way I'd feel comfortable wearing the stuff they're wearing.
Not that I'm bashing what they're wearing or judging them. They look gorgeous. I just don't have the personality to wear that kind of stuff. This dress that comes mid-thigh is about as revealing as I'm comfortable getting. I certainly don't think I have the confidence to pull off a miniskirt or a tube top. Plus, I don't really have the assets to pull off a tube top. My girls need all the help they can get with a push-up bra.
We're sitting there enjoying a few drinks whenever the girls finally announce that it's time to get up and dance.
I follow them half-heartedly to the dance floor. I've never been much of a dancer either, but I just follow their lead.
They're letting loose and having fun, and I'm pleasantly surprised when I find that it's easy for me to just follow the beat of the music and allow myself to let loose and have fun with them.
I'm dancing with them and actually enjoying myself when I suddenly feel hands on the back of my hips.
I jump at the sudden contact and turn around to see a huge guy with a bald head grinning down at me.
"Hey, babe. Let me buy you a drink," he offers.
I shake my head and step away from him. I realize this is a dance floor, but I wasn't expecting someone I didn't know to come up to me and start dancing with me and hitting on me like this.
"No, thanks!" I have to scream up at him to be heard over the boom of the music.
But he's one of those who is apparently not going to take no for an answer. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and begins steering me through the crowd. I'm too small and it's too crowded for me to protest much.
I try to wiggle out of his hold when suddenly there's a deep voice right behind me, a voice that I would recognize anywhere, a voice that instantly has me relaxing.
"I think she said she's not interested." The words come out icy, the voice dripping with danger. It sends a shiver running up my spine—though it's not a shiver of fear. I think…I think it's a shiver ofdesire. God, Stephan's voice sounds so hot all growly like that.
The man instantly drops his arm from around me and turns to look at the source of the voice. His eyes widen, and he holds up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Yeah, of course, Mr. Argyle. No problem, man. I didn't realize she was yours."
I've never seen Stephan in person, and I'm burning with curiosity. What does he look like?
My heart is thumping rapidly in my chest as I turn around to face him, but by the time I turn, he's already gone.