VANESSA

I never knew two day hangovers were a thing until now. And what makes the symptoms worse is when your body feels like it's been thrown against the wall repeatedly. But of course, I digress in leaving out the absolute carnal pleasure that followed from being shoved not thrown against the wall a couple of times.

Flashes of heavy breathing, searing lips and sensual sounds play out in my mind and the vivid memory of strong hands, sensually pulling, gripping and possessing every inch of my body makes me shiver mid-step. I curse internally after shaking my head to clear the erotic images and sounds that have taken over my thoughts and now the throbbing pulse behind my eyes intensifies to an excruciating level.

Praying the aspirin I inhaled this morning kicks in soon, I lift my dark sunglasses off my face and rub my eyes, careful not to smudge my makeup.

After doing the walk of shame at four thirty in the morning, I spent most of yesterday curled up in bed or on the bathroom floor— having my own personal exorcism, and expelling a frat party-like alcohol bender from my system. I made up for my pristine college experience all in one night.

I force my stiff, tight limbs to cooperate and keep walking, but cold fear sets in when I come to a set of stairs I have to climb to reach the elevator. Clenching my teeth in preparation for the stinging pain that will undoubtedly flare when I lift my foot on the first step I grasp the rail to mitigate my unbalanced movements.

This is what happens when you feed into an animalistic insatiable thirst with a hot stranger you swore you wouldn't go home with. But then again, the whole night was full of a lot of firsts.

I wipe beads of sweat from my forehead after the strenuous workout of climbing six stairs to get to the parking structure's elevator, but I'm ultimately grateful I chose low heels today. Breathing in relief and placing my warm head on the exposed concrete, I swallow the urge to vomit and hit the button for the elevator to open.

What a great way to start your first day in your new position, Vanessa.

The extra obnoxious loud ping signaling the elevator's arrival comes too quickly and I push away from the wall to step in and press the button to the Emerald Properties, corporate office floor—the property management company I work for.

I was ecstatic last week when I learned of the team meeting with Jacqueline, the COO, before going to the new property, but now under the circumstances I'd much rather not be in a meeting, recovering from this alcohol induced sex-over I'm suffering from.

Digging through my new black-brown zip-top tote—a gift to myself after my promotion—I pull my blaring phone to see Jenny's name flashing on the screen. She's probably already here knowing her, bright-eyed, bushy tailed, and all smiles.

"I'm here, in the elevator so I'll probably lose signal soon--"

"OH MY GOD, YOU'RE ALIVE!"

Hissing, I pull the phone away from my ear as she continues rambling in an inhuman high pitch tone. After a moment there's a break in the nonsensical babbling.

"Jenny! Please lower your voice to a human level," I grumble.

"Lower my voice?! Nessa, I've left you voicemails, text, emails! The last I heard from you was the video you sent, dancing in a sketchy looking bar with some guy–who was super cute by the way–but he wasn't Cody! Cody hasn't returned Jason's calls either. Jason said if we didn't hear from either of you by eight this morning, then we would file missing person's reports."

"You two really need to stop watching Dateline."

"That's not funny, Vanessa. I really thought something bad happened to you." The shakiness in her voice is hard to ignore.

"You're right." I sigh. "I'm sorry. And I'm sorry I didn't call you back yesterday. I'll explain everything including why I'm never going on blind dates again."

The elevator stops at the lobby and there's a crowd of people waiting to hop on when the doors open, but I inhale sharply seeing the one chiseled, unforgettable handsome face in particular that makes everything come to a crashing halt. Thankfully, he's too busy thumbing on this phone to look up as he steps in with the others.

I squeeze myself into the corner as if that will prevent anyone from seeing me and whisper into the phone, "Gotta go. See you soon."

"Let's make it interesting and leave our names out of this."

I thought I was being spontaneous and mysterious with my suggestion and now it's biting me in the ass as I stare at the back of the head of my no-name one night stand. He said he was in town for business, and I assumed he was on his way out, not just arriving.

My attempt to slither away to the far end is foiled when more passengers file in, and now I'm behind the man that made me question if I was able to levitate with the multiple orgasms he elicited from me.

Like a moth to a flame, his sexy cologne draws me closer and I inhale deeply, getting lost in sensual memories of our night together. My eyes snap open when the burly businessman next to me clears his throat, lifting his eyes over his phone, one bushy eyebrow raised high. I huddle back into my corner and stop breathing when the hunky man in front turns his head to the side; his broad shoulders rise, and his sharp nose lifts into the air like an animal picking up on a scent.

Don't turn around. Please, don't turn around.

Another wave of panic comes over me, however, when the elevator signals my stop and I have to move past him. Looking to my left, I expect the heavy-set man to step aside, but common courtesy seems to be a foreign concept for him.

Ducking my head I mutter a quiet, "Excuse me." As much as I try to avoid contact, my chest brushes against the arm of my no name Casanova, scurrying past him as if my life was in imminent danger.

After stepping off the elevator I walk a few rushed paces down the hall, and double over, fighting the overwhelming urge to throw up.

Keep it together.

"Vanessa? Are you okay?" Jenny assists me to straighten up.

"Yes...no." I groan, shaking my head. "Cliff note version of Saturday...I was saved from the date from hell with Cody—who's is an emotional train-wreck and still hung up on his ex-fiance by the way—by this gorgeous stranger. He practically dared me to have a drink with him—but that led to several drinks. There was dancing, karaoke—I think, and the night ended with a record number of mind-blowing orgasms–-for me, anyway. Did the walk of shame early Sunday morning, thinking I was never going to see him again. Felt like I was dying yesterday and today I'm certain my one night stand was just in the elevator."

Jenny looks back at the elevator, but I grab her arm, steering her to the office.

"Record number?" Jenny prompts, but I'm focusing on the fact that none of this would have happened, if she didn't talk me into going out in the first place.

"It's your fault you know."

"You're welcome?" She shrugs and I find myself chuckling. "Are you sure it was him?"

"Oh, yeah." There's no mistaking someone like him. "But I need to focus on our meeting with Jacqueline. I'm sure I won't see him again, anyway."

"What's his name?"

I avert my eyes and she gasps. "You had sex with someone without knowing their name?"

"Sshhh!"

Jenny winces. "Sorry!" Her eyes pleading with me and then she looks around as we continue speed walking. "That's just so...surprising...reckless." A slow smile pulls on her red painted lips. "I'm kind of jealous. You have to tell me everything, did you use protection?" She leans into me, whispering the last part.

I side-eye her and she shrugs again and then clamps her mouth on the verge of asking another question as I pull the door open. "We're definitely talking at lunch."

Jacqueline happens to walk past and smiles when she sees us. I lift my sunglasses, fighting the need to scrunch my eyes under the harsh fluorescent lighting.

"Ladies, right on time. Follow me."

Jenny and I share a look and she squeals quietly in excitement. We say hello and offer acknowledgements to other staff as we walk through the hallway leading to Jacqueline's corner office.

I haven't been up here often, but of the few times I have, I'm always surprised by the state of Jacqueline's office.

Organized chaos.

In terms of professional attire, her style is immaculate, but her office organizational upkeep is more of do as I say not as I do. She's very strict when it comes to the property's leasing office look.

There's a few managers who are known to panic when they catch wind of Jacqueline's unannounced drop by visits, but as someone who keeps things tidy, I have never minded.

"Please have a seat." 

Jenny and I sit in the chairs across from her desk covered in different heights of stacks of papers.

"Well, we're excited for you to be the front line at our newest property, Vanessa. You've worked hard for this opportunity and I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, I really appreciate the chance to complete a lease up."

"Do keep in mind there will be challenges and hiccups. New construction comes with its own set of obstacles and setbacks." Jacqueline glances at Jenny and smiles. "But you've got a great assistant coming along and we have a new hire as your leasing agent. He's got a great resume with a strong background in the industry. He will be meeting you at the property around ten."

She hands me his information. "Now, Thompson & Thompson also has their own project underway across the street from our property so we expect traffic will be flowing between the two properties." I ignore my pulse racing hearing my old employer's name. "They are..." She purses her lips. "More on the high end, but you know we value our customer service. And in these times you can't put a price on professionalism and great customer service. With that said, we want you to shop the comps and that includes theirs."

On our way out of the meeting, I let Jenny know that I'll meet her at the property after I scout the comps in the area and will end with the Thompson & Thompson building across from us.

You could say there's an unspoken rivalry between the two management company's, but it goes deeper than that. Ugly divorce between two business tycoons–type of deeper. Ironically, Thompson & Thompson leased out the top floor of the same corporate office building, which might seem like a strange coincidence, but the reality is, it's more a chess move between the two former lovers.

My career actually started with Thompson & Thompson, but that's a time I'd rather not relive.

Four comp shops later and my head is feeling slightly better and less foggy. I observe the sharp, cold lines of the Thompson & Thompson building and the bold name Arbor Pointe in black lettering, stands out against the pale gray exterior.

The valet style entrance leads to glass doors with a security pad that apparently uses hand prints for entry for their residents. I pull the door expecting it not to open but it does and I walk in.

Everything is very transparent with glass wall panels all around. Quiet jazz music plays through the speakers in the lobby, which offers an open coffee bar, sitting area and mail room. I follow the signs toward the office.

A perky brunette with tight curls greets me sitting behind a desk. "Hello, welcome to Arbor Pointe, my name's Lily, what can I do for you?" I smile but then internally groan when someone steps out of the back office.

"Vanessa, I thought that was you outside." Cindy, my old co-worker and once upon a time friend smiles. "Shopping the comps?"

I clear my throat. "Cindy, good to see you. And yes, I am."

"It's cute how Emerald is so predictable." She leans against the door frame, tilting her head in a patronizing way. "You know, I heard you're doing the lease up across the street. Congrats. I'm sure you earned it."

Inhaling and exhaling, I smile as pleasant as I can. "Thanks."

"You heard Keith hired a closer for this lease up though, right?"

"Oh?" Flinching slightly at my old boss's name, I adjust my bag on my shoulder. "I'm sure that has nothing to do with your abilities, I wouldn't take it personally if I were you. "

Her smile morphs into an ugly frown.

I turn to address her leasing agent. "Lily, I'd like a pricing sheet and tour, please." She stands, glancing at Cindy before asking for my ID. I hand it to her, but freeze when a familiar deep voice comes from behind me.

"I've got this one, Lily." 

***