JEREMY

The sound of her laugh carries across the room over a cacophony of conversation, strained laughter and clinking glasses. It's smooth and refreshing, like early morning runs. I look around for its owner, intrigued, hoping to spot her amongst the same old faces of agents, friends of friends and girls who somehow find their way to every party I'm at.

I see three new chicks at the far end of the bar, gathered in a circle, lost in conversation. They must be the girls Stephanie hired.

Hmm. Not bad. Maybe buying this store wasn't such a bad idea after all.

One of the girls catches me staring. Her cat eyes hold mine as she flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder and smiles at me dangerously. No... not her.

I turn my attention over to her companion, who is busy chatting animatedly with their third counterpart. This one looks much younger. Probably around Steph's age. She has short, dark hair with severe bangs that give her a very edgy appearance. She's wearing a tight corset and black leather trousers. Nope. It's not her either.

And then I hear it again. The earth-shattering, moon-quaking laugh that wipes the smirk clean off my face.

I focus on the third girl, the one with her back to me. She's throwing her head back and laughing at something Mia Wallace told her.

Fuck me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Everything turns to a blur and all I can hear is her laugh, reverberating like an ethereal echo. My eyes fall to her tiny hands, her graceful fingers delicately wrapped around her glass. I take in her slight body, so delicate it must be made of fine china.

She's wearing white jeans that look like they've been sown on her and a black silk top with spaghetti straps. Her light brown hair is draped casually over her shoulder, revealing a delicate neck and back, so wonderfully compelling that thoughts of running my tongue down her spine flood my head.

Mia Wallace sees me drooling and leans in to whisper something in my girl's ear. She turns around and our eyes meet. 

Fuck me sideways.

It feels like the wind has been knocked out of me. She is hands down the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. Her skin is made from pure light, unobscured by makeup and prosthetics and all the unthinkable shit girls do to their faces. Her lips are well-defined and just plump enough to make me want to suck on them. Her cheekbones are high beneath her peach-coloured cheeks that flush a little as she gives me a shy smile. But her eyes... her eyes are magnificent! A shade of clear, bright and hazel, like pure melted caramel.

She turns back to her friends but her spell lingers on me like a stench. I keep staring at her, unable to take my eyes off her as I wait for my breath to come back. Then, I feel a hand on my chest.

Alissa. She's one of those girls who is somehow always around. I see her clinging on to me, smiling seductively. Her lips move, but I don't catch her words.

"One second," I tell her, peeling her off me.

I down my drink and push through the crowd. Where do all these people come from? I make my way determinedly towards my girl and when I'm a few metres away, she turns her head towards me again. Realising I'm coming for her, she turns around to face me.

Christ, this girl is even prettier up close. There is a genuine beauty about her that outshines everyone around her. I can barely look at her, and yet at the same time, I can't seem to tear my eyes away. It's like seeing a rare species for the first time, like a nymph or a sprite.

But she's young. Really young. I rack my brain to think what Steph told me about the new girls, but I come up with nothing. I should have paid attention to her instead of brushing her off with a quick, whatever, do what the fuck you want.

She looks expectantly at me from beneath her long lashes and I realise I have to focus if I'm going to get a word out to her. But she's very hard to read. Her lips are gently pressed together in a mysterious smile that would put the Monalisa to tears. And her eyes are guarded and wise, calculating, challenging me to make my move.

Come on Cordina, she's just a girl.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Jeremy James Cordina."

"Alison Lewis. Apparently, I work for you," she says, giving me her hand to shake.

Her tone is friendly but businesslike. No hint of flirtation at all. She has a posh British accent you wouldn't here anywhere except on the BBC. Without thinking, I lift her fingers to my lips and gently place a kiss on them. She smells like cotton and coconut and something else. Something sweet. I catch her rolling her eyes and my lips curl involuntarily into a smile.

Alison Lewis has a personality.

"Is chivalry a thing in Malta or is it just you?" she says as she takes a sip from her orange drink.

A low laugh escapes my throat.

"It is very rare," I reply not missing a beat. "Are you impressed?"

She crinkles her nose at me and my heart does a funny little skip. One of her spaghetti straps falls down her exposed shoulder and my mind suddenly decides to get creative. I imagine myself putting the strap back in its place with my teeth, kissing her neck slowly until I reach her earlobe.

Fuck. Just thinking about it makes me hard.

I shake the image out of my head and dig my fists deep into my pockets to stop them from touching her face, her lips, her neck. Christ, I hope she's at least eighteen, otherwise I'm going to be in trouble tonight.

We get to talking and the easier the conversation flows, the more I am entranced by her. So entranced in fact, that I miss about three opportunities to ask her to dance. She tells me she came to Malta a few months ago and is living with her grandmother in Bormla. She tells me that she loves to read, go out with her best friend and listen to music with her Nanna. She tells me how she's still getting used to the culture here. It's a bit suffocating but on the whole, it's okay. I hang on to every word that comes out of her beautiful lips.

Then I notice that the glass in her hand is empty and offer to go get her a drink. Vodka and orange juice.

Okay. Well, at least I know she's of drinking age.

I leave her with a confident wink and head for the bar, feeling excited and a little dizzy. I order a vodka orange for her and a Double Black for me. As I wait for the bartender to make our drinks, Stephanie comes up from behind me.

"Stay away from her!" she orders.

My stomach contracts with disappointment. "Shit! I knew it! How old is she?"

Stephanie narrows her fiery eyes at me. "I'm serious!"

"So am I. The last thing I need is to be charged with unlawful sex with a minor. I don't think the old man can get me out of that one."

"Is everything a joke to you?" she hisses at me.

"Come on, Stephanie. Are you afraid you won't be my favourite girl anymore?"

"She's off-limits. In fact, all my girls are!"

"Your girls?" I say raising my eyebrows at her. "Since when are you signing their pay checks?"

"I hired them. I work with them and I'm the one who will have to patch them up once you're done with them. I'd appreciate it if you don't complicate my life any more than you already have. Besides, I know Ally like the back of my hand. She's smart and way too good for you. She won't go for a heartless womanizer like you, Jeremy. Especially if she finds out what you did to the only friend she has."

I purse my lips, thankful I'm still sober enough to hold my tongue lest I say something I'll regret tomorrow. But I don't appreciate her threats. I didn't help her out so that she can dangle me by my strings like I'm some sort of puppet.

I stare bitterly at the drinks that appear in front of me. I down the whiskey and let the golden liquid burn on my tongue before swallowing it. I look back at Alison, who's engrossed in chatting with her friends again. My heart aches for a brief moment as I chew on Stephanie's words.

"You know what? I am your boss now," I say, turning on her slowly. "I think you should remember that."

Her eyes widen, half challenging, half shocked.

"Jeremy," she starts, but I cut her off.

"That's Mr Cordina to you. Enjoy the free drinks."

I turn my back on her, leaving Alison's drink right there, and walk towards the exit with a very sour taste in my mouth. On my way out, I notice a tall girl with long blonde curls and red lips leaning over the bar, flaunting her impressive cleavage and hoping to get special treatment from the bartender. I don't think I've ever seen her before.

Perfect.

I curl my arm around her tiny waist and she turns to see who the mysterious suitor is. Her eyes travel up to my face and down my expensive suit. They fix momentarily on the Porsche emblem on the keys in my hand. I lean in close so that she can hear my low voice over the music.

"Let's get out of here."

She doesn't even gush. She just gives me a knowing smile and turns on her heels, walking towards the exit like a God damn supermodel. Alison laughs again over on the other side of the room. I turn and see her eyes twinkle as she throws her head back, her long hair falling naturally down over her back.

She's way too good for you.