"You are not welcome here anymore." Mrs. Moyer said after opening the front door.

"Where is he?" I asked her without paying attention to the hate in her eyes.

"I won't tell you where my son is."

"I didn't ask about him."

"You have no shame! Bradford left. And it will be for his own good if he never comes back. Something you should do too! Now, get out of my house! And never dare to come again!"

***

FIVE YEARS LATER

"Mmm... You are a very good kisser." He whispered, and the little man in his pants confirmed what he said.

"I am much more, baby. How about we go to my place and I would show you a few things..."

"Sounds good. What are we waiting for?"

We hurried out of the bar and got into the first taxi we saw. Ten minutes later we were at my quarters.

"Nice place."

"Shhh, don't talk so much," I said, leading him to my room.

I opened my closet and right after that, I turned to him.

"What do you prefer- ropes or handcuffs?"

"You want to tie me?"

"No, idiot! You will tie me."

"You didn't mention that you have such inclinations ..."

"Inclinations?"

"Yeah... tying, BDSM..."

"Aaaand that's a problem because?"

"Because I prefer more standard experiences in bed."

"Ugh..." I muttered as I was closing the closet's door. "Forget it! Get out of here, Josh!"

"It's Jack."

"Whatever! Just get out!"

As Josh, or Jack, or whatever his name was, was leaving, I went into the living room and poured myself a glass of martini.

"Liz? What happened?" Zara asked anxiously as she entered the living room.

"Another idiot happened!" I answered her, rolling my eyes. "I am sorry if we woke you up."

"I was still awake, don't worry."

She poured herself a glass of wine and sat next to me on the couch.

"Since obviously we both are still awake and will drink for a little while, do you want to tell me what didn't you like about this guy?"

"There was nothing to like about him," I replied indifferently, then drank my Martini of ex.

"Liz, Liz..."

"What!? Have you ever heard a man run away from sex?"

She smiled as if deciding to save her words. "You are hopeless, you know that?"

"I am hopeless? Then tell me why are you home on Saturday night?"

"Because..." She took a sip of her wine.

I looked at her questioningly, raising one eyebrow.

"Okay, okay. Because I had to finish my project."

"During the weekend? You are hopeless, Zara, not I." I said, standing up and then I kissed her on the cheek." A hopeless workaholic!"

I set my glass on the table and headed for the door. "Good night."

***

The next night

The next night- the next bar. I didn't care that I was going alone, because I was never leaving alone...

"Hello, sexy. Mind if I join you?" I heard a man voice behind me.

He sat on the bar, in the chair right next to mine. I turned to him and moved my look from his feet up to his face. He was maybe around 30-years-old, nice looking, with dark brown hair and dark blue eyes.

"And buy you a drink?"He continued.

A little silly, since my glass was still full. And after I looked at my Martini and then at him again, he added. "Or another one?"

"Let's make things clear from now." I started, getting up from my chair and stood close against him. "You will buy me a drink. We will dance. After that, you will kiss me. Then you will offer we go to your house? Am I right?"

He looked at me in amazement, perhaps because of my straightforwardness, but he couldn't hide his smirk.

"Yeah, I am right. But I don't want to go to your place, I want you to come to mine. We will go there. And I will want you to tie me. I will want you to do things to me that I love to feel. So," I gave him a second to get himself together. "...to save both of us time - will you run away when this happens?"

"Why would I run away? This sounds like a wet dream come true..."

"Well, let's skip the drinks then."

Twenty minutes later

As soon as we entered my room, I took off my clothes, pressed him against the wall, and started kissing him.

"You are a goddess! What can I use to tie you?"

"Use these," I told him after I opened the closet door with one hand and pulled two ropes out.

I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him toward the bed. I took off my underwear too, and he tied my ankles to the ends of the bed, and then my hands.

"That way? Does it hurt?" He asked.

"No. Good job. Come on, kiss me."

"I am not planning to stop all night long."

"Now I want to feel your tongue between my legs."

He moved his head between my legs and began kissing the inside of my thigh. Then he moved his kisses to my groin.

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah... Just do it faster."

"This way?"

"Roughly. Now, put your fingers in me."

"Yeah, like a dream come true..."

"Move your fingers slower. And coordinate your movements a bit with your tongue, dude."

"Will you let me do it on my way?"

"No, you will do it on my way. Come on, faster!"

"A while ago you wanted to be slower."

"Would you shut up and do what I am telling you to do?"

"You know what? Do it yourself!" He said as he got out of bed.

"Yeah, I am definitely doing it better by myself! Just untie me."

But instead of untying me, he picked up his jacket and headed for the door.

"Hey!" I shouted after him.

"Crazy bitch!"

And he shut the door after he left.

"Fuck! Just a great moment for Zara not to be at home..."

Ten minutes earlier, after I and that jackass walked into the apartment, I noticed that Zara's shoes and bag were not in the hallway.

Two hours later, like two fucking hours, I heard Zara coming back home.

"Zara, Zara, come here!" I shouted loudly.

A few seconds after that, she opened the door to my room.

"Omg, Liz! What happened this time?"

"Damn it, Zara! Untie me!"

"Alright, alright."

After untying me, I rubbed my wrists and ankles.

"Thank you!"

"What happened, Liz?"

"A guy didn't untie me before he left..." I started explaining to her while I was dressing. "I can't believe what jerks all the men I come across are..."

"Honey, do you want us to talk?"

"Um, yeah. Plus, I think I need a drink."

We went to the living room, I sat on the couch and Zara poured us drinks.

"Honey, I've known you for five years now. All this time you keep repeating that you came here to start a new life. To forget about your old one. But I think that the only thing you are trying to do is to find a copy of that Bradford."

Yeah, it's been five years. Five years since Brad left. Five years since I also left my city. Only because I couldn't face the consequences of my actions.

"If he was the one with whom you wanted to be," she continued. "Why didn't you contact him by now?"

"Zara, I already have told you the story multiple times. He slept with Leo's mother. After that, he left. Without saying anything to me. Why does it matter if I wanted to be with him after he showed he didn't want to be with me? He has never cared about me. He got what he wanted and then he simply left."

"Yeah, you have told me that. But the circumstances have been difficult for everyone. Maybe for him the most."

"It doesn't matter anymore. I've long since forgotten him. I just want to find someone who fits my needs."

"Liz, you sabotage all your relationships. You are never happy with any man. You never give a chance to anyone."

"Because no one is..."

"Bradford?"

"No. I mean no one is giving me what I want. That's it."

"Okay. I will not argue with you. I am just trying to help you. But, after all, this is your life. Let's go to sleep now. Tomorrow is Monday and we have to go to work."

"Yeah. I know. And right now a good sleep maybe is better than bad sex... Good night, honey. And thank you!"

"Always. Good night, Liz."

Despite the failure of my personal life, I had achieved a lot of professional success during those years. I became an assistant of Thomas Barlett- the CEO of one of the largest multimedia companies in the country. The company provided full-services in the industry- video production, post-production, broadcast, live events, and much more. My work was very exciting and included many business trips around the world. And I adored it.

The next day

"Good morning, Liz." Mr. Barlett greeted me as he opened the door and entering my office.

"Good morning, Mr. Barlett. How can I help you?"

He sat in the chair on the other side of my desk.

"We are going on a business trip this Thursday. You and Zara will accompany me. My wife will come too."

Zara was the first person I met when I arrived in this city. Thanks to her recommendation, at first, I started working as her assistant in Thomas Barlett's company, where she already worked as a Communications Director. After that, two years later I was promoted to the CEO's assistant.

"That's great!"

"I want you to make a reservation for us at Slater Wellness & Spa."

"What?"