Propositioning Love

“The first thing he always does is fire the entire marketing staff so he can bring his own people in.”

After saying that, I have to down the shot I’m holding.

I’m so fucked.

Mason frowns skeptically and pulls out his phone. “I’m going to look this guy up.”

“You do that,” I sigh, and set my empty glass down on the table.

I could do another shot, but I know it would probably put me on my ass. I’m more than half-way to wasted as it is. If I hadn’t been drinking ever since I heard the news the company was bought, my tolerance wouldn’t be high enough for what I’ve already downed.

I glance around at the others that came out to the club with us tonight. The liquor seems to be loosening everyone up. There’s a couple of others from marketing, but they don’t seem to be nearly as worried as I am. Dan is in digital marketing, so he’s probably out with me if the department gets flushed. But Amber is a graphic designer, so she’ll probably just be reassigned.

“Wow,” Mason says, staring down at his phone. “You’re right. His reputation is notorious. Damn. I wouldn’t want to get on the bad side of him.”

I nod my head and resist the urge to pick up and down the other shots in front of me.

“But hey, he’s not bad looking, and apparently he’s single.” Mason looks up and waggles his eyebrows playfully at me. “Maybe you can flirt your way into keeping your position, Zoe.”

“Zoe, flirt?” Clara snorts.

“Wait,” I jolt as his words sink in. “You actually found a picture of him?”

I’ve searched and searched for a picture of the elusive Bryce Ericsson, but only came up empty-handed.

“Yeah,” Mason smirks and then his eyes gleam playfully. “You want to see it?”

“Yes!” Clara and I both say at the same time then giggle.

I move closer to look at Mason’s phone and Clara lifts up on her tiptoes.

“Here you go, baby,” Mason says, tipping his phone down for her.

I swallow back my sigh. If only I had a guy who was as sweet and good to me as Mason is to Clara. I hate to admit this, but sometimes I get a little jealous over their relationship. They’re just so perfect together, and he’s so good to her. If I could design my perfect guy, he’d be a lot like Mason. But apparently Mason is one-of-a-kind. I’ve been dating off and on for over a year now, and I haven’t found any princes yet.

Just frog after frog.

And don’t even get me started on the dick pics.

“Oh yeah, wow. He’s pretty hot,” Clara sighs, and Mason frowns. “But not nearly as hot as you, baby,” she quickly corrects when she catches the look on Mason’s face.

Mason scowls and yanks his phone back before I can get a good look. All I got was a glimpse of dark hair and a smirking smile.

“Oh my god!” Clara suddenly shoots me a look as the song booming through the club changes. “It’s my favorite song.”

She slips out from under Mason’s arm and bounces over to me. Grabbing me by the hand, she begins to drag me toward the dance floor before I can get a better glimpse of the man who has become my number one enemy. “We are so dancing.”

I stumble after her, the buzz from all the shots messing with my coordination. Perhaps it was a bad idea to wear stiletto heels when I planned on doing so much drinking.

The bass of the song pumps through my veins and all the swirling, colored lights illuminating the dance floor are too bright and too dazzling.

Clara pushes her way through the crowd until we’re squeezed in the middle. Then she drops my hand and throws herself into the song. It takes me a few seconds to get into it and find my rhythm, but once I do I get lost in the music with her.

We dance through three or so songs, shaking our butts and rolling our hips, before all those shots catch up to me.

“Hey!” I call out over the booming music and grab her hand.

She stops her elaborate, but fluid, rolling drop of her hips to blink up at me.

“I really gotta pee!”

“Want me to go with you?”

I shake my head and drop her hand. Clara is in her moment and I don’t want to ruin it.

She nods, flips her hair back, and starts shaking her booty again. I can’t help but smile as I turn and push my way through the crowd. It’s been a long time since Clara and I have been out together, and it feels good. I kind of missed this.

I’ve been lonely without my best friend.

Before she hooked up with Mason, we were out five nights a week. But ever since she and Mason have gotten serious, she seems to be turning into a bit of homebody. Always wanting to stay in.