*not edited*

Omg. I'm so excited.

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   "And then-" she paused, her face turning beetroot red as she tried to hold back her laugh, "-and then we did it on the couch!"

The deafening cackling of their laughter erupted around me, as they burst into hyena-like cheers, knocking over our very expensive cups of coffee, as they jumped around, slapping each others arms and bending over, clutching their stomachs as they roared in laughter.

I desperately fought back the urge to roll my eyes, almost failing when my left eye twitched frantically. The people I sat with already assumed that I was posh and stuck up. Rolling my eyes would just add 'rude' to that list and even though my patience was literally hanging on by a thread, I didn't want to taint their perception of me any further.

But that didn't stop me from looking up at the ceiling with closed eyes, sending a prayer to God above.

Please, I beg, please just save me from this torture.

I'm pulled out of my moment of prayer when I feel a sharp kick to my legs. My eyes dart over to the opposite side of the table where my best friend, Amelia Sanders (or Millie as she usually goes by) sat watching me with clear amusement.

Her eyes twinkled, a wide smile illuminating her dark chocolate skin. She, however couldn't care less what people thought of her so didn't hold back from rolling her eyes at the childish antics of these women in their late twenties.

'I hate you.' I mouth at her, shaking my head slowly. Thinking about all the productive things I could have been doing, instead of wasting my time 'socialising' with these airheads, almost brings a tear to my eyes.

Don't get me wrong- I'm all for 'socialising' and having fun. But don't hate me for thinking that talking about faviourite sex positions at morning coffee with four overly enthusiastic blondes is more 'heres a dagger, please stab me with it' than what I would consider fun.

But hey, each to their own I suppose.

I was seriously thinking about getting up and just leaving when the same woman who had just given us a very detailed description of what she did last Saturday, turned to me, her perfectly plucked eyebrows raised.

I saw the look in her eyes before she even opened her mouth and I almost groaned out loud.

Clearly God wasn't feeling particularly merciful this morning.

"What about you, Kessiya? Any interesting sex stories you would like to share?" She asks, curiosity sparkling in her heavily lined eyes.

I see Millie sit forward suddenly, attempting to change the conversation but to no luck. The hyenas have a new prey now and they were ready to rip me apart. They all positioned themselves to face me, eye glinting in predatory anticipation.

"Well?" Another woman, I think her name was Lindsey, pushes.

Well first of all Lindsey, fuck off.

And secondly;

"I'm a virgin." I state.

There's a silence that continues for a while. The ladies look at each other in what I assume to be shock and then their eyes dart back to mine.

Lindsey starts to laugh awkwardly, trying to break the tension.

"Oh, that's funny." She says, her cheeks flaming slightly once she realizes she's the only one laughing.

This time I rolled my eyes. Fuck being rude, I've had enough of this bullshit.

"It wasn't a joke," I tell her, shrugging my shoulders. I reach over and stir my fifteen dollar coffee (I told you, it's bloody expensive) and then bring it to my lips. It also tastes like absolute shit. Not only did I waste my time, I also lost fifteen dollars too. Brilliant.

"I'm a virgin." I tell them once again, leaning back in my chair so I can watch all their faces more carefully.

Lindsey seems mortified, Sandra (the nosey bitch) looks like I just told her I keep my dead cat in my purse, Vanessa- Millie's secretary (also blonde) looks like she wants to be anywhere but here and Juliet, Millies co-worker, was currently trying to hide behind her own cup of coffee.

The only person who looked like she couldn't care less was Millie, who apart from failing to hide her massive grin, was eating her chocolate cupcake, with no care in the world.

The silence continues and just when I think it couldn't get any more awkward-

"Why?" Sandra asks, her tone sounding like she couldn't comprehend for the life of her, why I haven't had sex yet at the ripe old age of twenty three.

God give me patience. My dark eyes meet her and she almost flinches from the hostility I didn't bother to hide.

From the corner of my eyes, I can see Mille shake her head, almost sympathetically. She knows me better than anyone else and so she knew exactly what I was going to say before I even opened my mouth.

"Why?" I repeat, my teeth practically grinding together. Anger bubbles underneath the surface of my skin, like an about to erupt volcano but I try to remain as professional as possible.

Try being the key word, since I can't help the un-ladylike snort that escapes me. "You're asking me why I haven't had sex yet, when only thirty years ago the topic of sex was so taboo that even married couples didn't speak about it?" My tone is just as exasperated as hers was a few seconds ago.

The women remain rendered silent. Sandra flushes red, but I'm not finished yet.

"Sandra, darlin'," There's no way this woman in front of me resembles anything 'darling' but I use the term more to patronise than endear, "I think the real 'why' should be; why does the society that only a few years ago, critised sex before marriage now judge so easily the same people they once praised? Why is it so shocking and shameful for a woman to admit to not having had sex, when a woman who is promicous and proud, is practically raised on a pedestal?"

I hear her gulp, her hands shake as she reaches for her own hot drink.

Everyone else remains just as stunned- barring Millie of course. She just winks at me, a proud smile on her face that screams 'you tell her girl!'

"Of course," I can almost taste the awkwardness in the air, "I don't care whether your a virgin or whether you've had sex with a whole football team." I shoot a look in Sandras direction, though she doesn't meet my eyes. "I just think no girl or woman should ever feel ashamed or forced by society and her peers to feel that she needs to have sex in order to fit in."

I take a sip of my coffee, the usual bitterness seems more sweet now.

"And that's why, while I am not ashamed of my sexual status, it is my business and mine alone." I make it clear, taking another sip.

Once again the silence is overwhelming and we all sit silently. At this point, it would have been appropriate for me to walk away. Do a 'mic drop' and with head held tall, leave and save us all from sitting here in this painful silence.

But I don't, because I've only drank half of my coffee and no matter how utterly disgusting it is, I paid fifteen fucking dollars for the thing. So I'm going to sit here and finish every bloody last drop, even if in the meantime I die from the awkwardness suffocating me.

Thankfully, the rest of the women aren't as money pinching as myself and they dart off as soon as they can, rushing so fast they all headbutted each other when they stood up.

Giving Millie a quick hug and me a forced smile, they all shot off before I could give them another lecture. As soon as the cafe door closed, Millie practically jumped on me, her slenders arms grabbing me into a headlock.

"Oh my fucking god!" She screeched, "That was brilliant!"

I push her away and run my fingers through my now messed hair.

"If you ever," I growl, pointing a manicured finger at her smirking face, "force me to come to one of these stupid morning get togethers again," I look around and grab a butter knife and hold it threateningly in her direction, "I will stab you to death." I warn, my eyes probably showing her how serious I really was.

She grabs the knife and muffles her laugh with her hand.

"My sexual status in my business and mine only..." Millie mocks, her brown eyes swimming in the tears she was trying to hold back. I sighed and rolled my eyes. At least she was finding this so fucking hilarious.

"I'm done." I state, standing up. My coffee was now finished and I can feel all the nerves in my body standing on edge, just thinking about all the work I had to do when I got home.

"Oh come on-" Millie grabs me by the forearm, pulling me back down onto the plush chair. "It wasn't that bad, was it?" She asks, to which my only immediate reply is to roll my eyes.

"This is exactly why I am happy just having you as my friend." I tell her, "I think I've lost about thirty brain cells just listening to them." A shudder leaves my body, making another shit eating grin spread across Millies face.

"God, you were so brutal!" She reminds me as we both stand up. I cast a dubious look at the styrofoam cup and wonder if I should take the cup home with me as well. Surely it would be a waste of fifteen dollars if I just throw it in the bin?

Almost as if she could read my mind, Millie grabs her handbag and quickly pushes me away from our booth and to the door.

"Seriously though, did you see Sandra's face when you told her off? It was fucking hilarious!" She continues as we both step out of the quaint little cafe and into the hustle and bustle of a New York city morning.

I shoot her a dark look, "Yeah, thanks to you I've seen her face and heard enough about her thrilling sex life to last me a lifetime."

Millie giggles and links her arm through mine as we keep walking; so used to the frantic rushing of Mannhatians, that we simply glide past them, ignoring when we are occasionally ran into.

"Hey don't blame me. I mean what was I supposed to do when Sandra pretty much forced me into meeting with her and her friends for coffee before work?" She asked, making what looks like her attempt at a puppy face at me.

I have no sympathy for the woman, "Well I've got an idea! Don't force me to come along, hmmm?"

Today was my day off and I had so much work that I had planned to get done. But instead, I wasted a good two hours listening to the sexual escapades of Sandra and her groupies.

We kept walking side by side, the icy cold air of the fresh morning harsh against our skin, but a welcome sensation. With one arm still linked through mine, Millie scrolled through her phone. Suddenly an incoming call flashes on her screen and I see Vanessa's name pop up.

With a grunt, Millie answers and straight away her pretty face morphs into shock and then annoyance. After speaking for a bit longer she puts the phone down.

"Oh for goodness sake..." She moans, unlinking our arms. She sighs and quickly fires a few more messages before turning to face me.

"I think all the caffeine got to Vanessa's head," She says annoyed, "The girl forgot to tell me I had an early morning meeting today."

"What time?" I ask, glancing down at my Apple watch. It read 09:15 am.

"At half nine." Millie replies.

"If you run for it, I'm sure you could make it." I reassure.

Millie was part of a communications team for this big IT company which was about five blocks away from where we were.

I glanced down at the three inch heels that she was wearing and winced. At the risk of a twisted ankle, she could definitely make it in time.

She looks conflicted for a second and then looks once more at her phone, before her face becomes determined.

"Yeah, you're right." She says. Of course I am. I'm always right. "I'm just gonna run for it." She tells me and I nod in support.

Clutching her handbag tight, she looks at me for a final time. I give a big smile and then she's off, turning around one last time to shout "call me when you get home!"

I give her an 'ok' sign just as she collides with another commuter, sending him sprawling to the ground. She apologizes profusely but doesn't stop to help him up, sprinting off quickly as he hurls abuse at her.

I just shake my head and turn in the opposite direction to where we were heading. Since I had assumed Millie had a late start today, I was going to walk her to work. But clearly that wasn't true, so with a sigh I headed back home, already creating a mental list of all the work I had planned to do when I got back to the apartment.

It was only when I was standing at the bus stop, searching for my purse, that I realised something.

I don't have my keys.

I kept digging around the inside of my handbag, desperately hoping that any second now I would hear the tell-tale jingling of the metal, but I don't. I closed my eyes and leaned against the plastic shelter, my mind tracing back to the bowl near our front door where we kept our keys. With almost photographic memory, I could picture my apartment keys...in the bowl- exactly where I left it.

Urgggh!

I sighed, exhaling a deep angry breath and started my journey back in the direction of Millies company. My only saving grace was the hope that Millie would answer her phone and meet me with her keys.

But today was clearly not my day because half way on the torturous trek back, the heaven opened and rain hailed down mercilessly, drenching me head to toe with icy water. And that wasn't the worst part- Millie (my only hope) was not answering her bloody phone. I mean I get that she could be in the meeting, but I left fifty missed calls and thirteen voicemails and yet, when I finally made it to the front entrance of her company, she still hadn't answered any of my calls or messages.

I gave up and decided that the only option now was to go inside and ask at the reception for her.

I mean it was a smart and plausible plan of action. The only tiny problem was the not so tiny door man standing outside the towering grey building.

"Sir, I told you already." I repeated for the 100th time in the last minute, " I just need to see my friend for like two seconds. I've been locked out of my apartment and she has the spare keys."

The bald, navy blue uniformed man just shook his head. He didn't even bother to show a sliver of sympathy for my drowned state.

"Ma'am," He starts, "I've already explained to you that it's impossible to get into the building without a pass or appointment."

I growled and stamped my foot like a five year old throwing a tantrum.

"Bloody hell man! I'm not here to rob the fucking company. I just need my keys!" My patience is long gone and I explode in anger. I'm cold, wet and hungry. I still haven't had breakfast and I could literally feel my blood sugar dropping as my blood pressure rocketed with stress.

I find myself looking up at the grey sky. The rain had stopped earlier, but it had already done enough damage. My clothes stuck to me like second skin, my makeup smudged, my hair plastered to my face and neck.

God, are you punishing me for what I said to Sandra? Are you?!

I want to fist my hands and shake them at the sky, but I don't because 1. The door man already thought I was bonkers and belonged in a psych hospital and 2. If God really was punishing me, I didn't want to push him any further. Who knows what the big man would do next. I really didn't feel like dying today.

I promise I will go to church on Sunday. I promise, Just please let me go home.

"Ma'am, I think you should leave now." My eyes darted back from the sky and I glowered at the man in front of me. He wore a stone cold expression, crossing his arms over so his muscles flexed, warning me when he caught my hands twitching at my side.

I really wanted to reach over and throttle the bastard, but one more look at the way his uniform stretched over his large body, I decided against it.

I squinted at him, forcing the most menacing look onto my own face, which in reality wasn't that hard because I always had a resting bitch face.

"I hope you have a really, really bad day." I curse, before turning on my feet and getting ready to walk away.

I took one step forward when I heard someone shout my name.

"Kessiya?!"

Omg! Is that Millie? Did she finally see my calls and come down?

I spin back on my feet in the direction of the voice and suddenly what ever excited anticipation I had on my face dropped like an anchor in the ocean.

It wasn't Millie.

Unless in the last hour, my beautiful, female, 5ft 7 African American best friend had somehow magically turned into a 6ft, decently handsome, Indian man.

"Yeah- hey! I thought it was you." The said Indian man approaches me, smiling warmly, a black briefcase in his left hand. He was wearing a black suit and looked completely dry and warm, meaning he probably just came out from work.

The closer he got, the more frantic my mind raced. Shit! What was his name? I know his name!

My mind blanked completely.

I laugh nervously, "Uh- hey! Um-" Shit. Come on Kes, think fast.

Was it Alex? Allan? Albin? It was something starting with 'A'.

It's too late. He stands directly in front of me, a friendly smile on his face, though his eyes flash knowingly.

He goes to re introduce himself, but luckily my brain clicks and like a light bulb turning on, I quickly greet him.

"Damn Aaron, it looks like you missed the rain." I joked, half nervous, half relieved I finally remembered.

I mean it would have been really tragic if I couldn't remember his name.

After all... he was my fiancé.

So, Dark Intentions is finally underway.

What did you think of this chapter?

What do you think of Kessiya?

Just a little sidenote- I will be adding pictures of what I imagine certain side characters to look like, but I wont be adding any pictures of the main characters, mainly because I just can't find any models/ actresses that resemble how I imagine them in my head. Therefore, I will really try my best to describe them as best as I can.

Amelia "Millie" Sanders

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please show it some love x

Love

Rose xx