The elevator doors slid open and Sarah walked in, her heels clicking against the stone floor. She was early today and the lift, which was usually full of people, only had one other occupant.
“Ninth floor, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Sarah said, surprised, turning to the gentleman who had spoken.
“I work on the fifteenth. Lawyer.” He grinned, half apologetically, half proudly. “I’ve seen you around.”
“Oh?” Sarah raised a carefully manicured eyebrow. She liked this game. He was undeniably handsome and had the self confidence that came from wearing a perfectly tailored suit and expensive aftershave.
They stared at the changing numbers above the door, casting sidelong glances and pretending to ignore each other until the lift reached Sarah’s floor. She gave him a smile before turning to walk towards her office.
“Hey,” he called after her, “do you want to get a drink tonight?”
She looked back to see his foot jammed against the door to stop it closing. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m actually seeing someone.” Or at least I will be soon, she thought, as soon as he gets over his bitch of an ex.
The guy shrugged and grinned easily again. Sarah noted he didn’t let the door close straight away, and she could feel his eyes on her as she sashayed down the hall in her figure-hugging tailored skirt and shirt. A smile played around the corners of her mouth, knowing that her strategically chosen outfit was doing its job.
All she had to do now was get the person she wanted to notice her to see it.
***
She stuck her head into Tom’s office before going to her own desk. She knew he’d be there. He was always there.
“You look exhausted,” she said.
“Haven’t been sleeping well,” Tom said, rubbing his eyes.
She noted the three empty coffee cups already on his desk. “What’s up?” she said lightly, knowing exactly what it was. Always the same shit. Ana, Ana, fucking Ana.
“I don’t know,” he said, sighing. “This whole Ana situation… I just don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.”
Sarah feigned concern and, gritting her teeth, made an appropriate generic comment. She’d run out of original things to say on this particular topic a while ago. It dawned on her that Tom was never going to realise everything he needed was right in front of him.
I think it’s time for a little… encouragement, she thought.
“Tell you what,” she said. “Everyone is out tonight. You should come over and I’ll cook you dinner. You can have a few drinks and relax. Take a night off being stressed.”
“I don’t know,” Tom said. “I’m not great company at the moment. I’m sure you’re sick of listening to me whinge”
“Of course not,” Sarah said. “After all, isn’t that what friends are for?”
“Well…”
“I won’t take no for an answer,” she said. “Come at seven. We’ll have fun, I promise.”
***
Sarah turned back and forth in front of the mirror. The La Perla black lace underwear set caressed her soft curves. She was relieved that she had been wearing the underwear the day Ana decided to ransack her room. Ever since then she’d kept it very carefully hidden, which was lucky given that Ana had broken into her room again, looking for it.
She pulled an oversized white men’s shirt over her bra, opening the buttons at her throat until a hint of lace showed through when she bent over. She pulled on a pair of tight blue jeans that clung in all the right places and emphasised her small waist. She mussed up her hair so it fell around her face in a wild tangle of waves. She looked good; effortlessly sexy.
***
Tom arrived at exactly seven. She let him in and padded down the hall in bare feet, making sure her hips moved just a little more than normal.
“I like your jeans,” Tom said.
Sarah suppressed a smile. “Wine?”
“Sure,” he said. “Better make it a small one though. I’m driving.”
“You could always crash here,” she said. “On the couch. You need a night off, Tom. You need to let go.”
He smiled sadly and shook his head. “Think I’d prefer my own bed.”
***
Sarah settled him in the back garden before seeing to their drinks. The weather was perfect for an outdoor dinner. It was a little bit muggy, the air heavy from the rain of the previous day, but the sun was still out and there was the lightest whisper of a breeze. Sarah had put together a tapas style dinner, the pièce de résistance being a dozen fresh oysters she’d picked up on the way home from work. These were to be complimented by a homemade lime and chilli sauce and a very nice crisp white she’d selected.
Tom’s nod towards sobriety was a bit of a spanner in the works. It was a hell of a lot harder to seduce a sober man, especially one who was still moping over his ex.
But all was not lost. Sarah had a plan B. She was sick of waiting and tonight nothing was going to stand in her way. She was finally going to get her man.
She made sure that Tom was still seated on the patio before extracting a small vial of clear liquid from her handbag. She put a few drops into his glass of wine. She paused and then added a few more.
Better to be safe than sorry, she thought grinning wickedly.
***
“Wow,” Tom said. He was already slurring ever so slightly. “That wine has gone to my head.”
“Just relax,” Sarah said. “Here, let me help you take your shoes off.”
Tom didn’t protest as Sarah knelt on the grass and pulled off his shoes and socks. She glanced back up at him and noticed that he was looking at her with a strange expression.
“What?” she said, smiling.
“You’re really shexy,” he said, his voice thick. “I mean, sexy.”
Sarah batted her eyelashes and giggled shyly. Now this was more like it.
“Oh Tom,” she purred. “You don’t mean that.”
“No, you are,” he said. “Why don’t you haveaboyfriend?”
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” she said. “There actually is someone that I’m interested in, but I don’t think he likes me in that way.”
“Ridiculous!” Tom exclaimed. “How could he not? Wantmetotalktohim?”
“The thing is,” Sarah said softly, leaning forward and resting her chin on Tom’s knee. “It’s you.”
“Me?”
She nodded.
“Why would someone like you like me like that?” He thought about the sentence for a second, knowing that it wasn’t quite right, but having neither the ability nor inclination to improve it.
“Oh Tom,” said Sarah breathlessly. “You the most wonderful man I’ve ever met.”
She leant in and kissed him softly. He closed his eyes, letting his lips melt into hers. It felt so nice, but…
“No!” he said suddenly, clawing at a memory that was deep in his brain. “I love Ana!”
Sarah sighed, trying to remain calm. “No you don’t,” she said gently, taking his hand and putting it on her breast.
He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. Somewhere deep down he knew that whatever was happening probably shouldn’t be, although the reason why was getting fuzzier and fuzzier. A… Ana. “Are you Ana?”
Sarah unbuttoned her shirt slowly, revealing the black lace bra. She brought Tom’s mouth to her nipple, her body shuddering as he licked it, moaning gently under his breath “Tonight,” she said, leaning in further and rubbing her body between his legs, “I’m anything you want me to be.”
***
Tom awoke early the next day. His head was pounding and he had no idea where he was. He looked around him. The room looked familiar but… it wasn’t his, was it? He turned and saw Sarah, still asleep next to him.
It took a couple of seconds for the situation to register.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. Tom felt tears spring into his eyes. You idiot, he cursed inwardly. He must have had way more than the one drink he’d planned too. He literally couldn’t remember anything from last night, although the available evidence gave him a pretty good idea of what had happened.
Fuck! If Ana ever found out about this then there would be no chance of ever working things out.
He very carefully slid out of the bed. He found his boxers and pulled them on, bundling up the rest of his clothes. He’d put them on in the bathroom, so he didn’t wake Sarah up. He silently opened the door and let himself into the hallway, breathing a sigh of relief that he’d escaped.
Just as he closed the door the Sarah’s room, Mia’s bedroom door opened. She was fully dressed for work. She did a double take when she saw him.
“Tom…?” She looked from Tom’s semi-naked body, to the bundle of clothes in his hand, to Sarah’s bedroom door. The penny dropped.
“What the…?”
“Shhhhh!” he said, pleading. “I can explain,”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Mia hissed. “You men. You’re all the same.”
Before Tom could stop her, she stalked past him and left the house.