15
Amanda was still frozen in shock, rereading Ericka's message over and over as if the words might magically change.
Is that an invitation, Amanda?
WHAT DID THAT EVEN MEAN?!
Before Amanda could form a single coherent thought, Samantha STRUCK AGAIN.
With zero hesitation, she snatched Amanda's phone right out of her hands for the second time that night.
Amanda yelled in horror. "SAMANTHA, NO—"
Samantha was already typing like a menace, giggling like a villain in a rom-com.
Amanda lunged for her phone, but Samantha was one step ahead, dodging her with impressive agility.
"Aaaaand sent."
Amanda GASPED. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
Samantha just smirked and held up the phone.
Amanda snatched it back, praying it wasn't as bad as she thought.
But it was worse.
Amanda: I dare you to find out. ?? We're at Tipsies. Let's see if you can handle a real night out, Matthews.
AND THEN SHE ATTACHED THE LOCATION.
Amanda screamed. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
Samantha was beaming. "I just set the wheels of destiny in motion."
Amanda frantically tried to unsend it, but it was too late.
The text had already been delivered.
She whipped around to Samantha, panic etched across her face.
"She's going to think I'm INSANE."
Samantha took a dramatic sip of her drink. "Or... she's going to show up."
Amanda laughed humorlessly. "You're delusional. There is no way Ericka Matthews is coming to a club at midnight because of a dare."
Samantha's grin widened. "Then why do you look so nervous?"
Amanda tossed back another sip of her cocktail, letting the sweet burn of tequila settle in her chest. The club was alive, the bass vibrating through the floors as the DJ switched to an even more electrifying beat.
Samantha grabbed her wrist, pulling her back onto the dance floor. "Okay, no more overthinking. No more staring at your phone. We are officially getting wasted and dancing until our feet hate us."
Amanda laughed, letting the alcohol blur away the reckless text, the ridiculous dare, and the impossible idea that Ericka would actually show up.
Because Ericka wouldn't.
She never would.
Amanda let the music take over, closing her eyes as she moved with the rhythm. The world was a blur of lights, heat, and pure freedom as she and Samantha twirled, swayed, and lost themselves in the moment.
One drink turned into two.
Two turned into just one more.
Amanda felt light, alive, untouchable.
Until she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Her body froze.
It was probably some random guy. It happened all the time in clubs. She'd turn around, say not interested, and get back to her night.
But something deep in her gut told her it wasn't a random guy.
Slowly, she turned around—
And her breath hitched.
Ericka Matthews stood there, completely out of place yet somehow fitting in perfectly.
But it wasn't the Ericka Amanda knew from the office.
Gone was the structured power suit, the strict posture, the impenetrable CEO mask.
Instead, Ericka was in a fitted black dress, hugging her in a way that made Amanda's very drunk brain short-circuit. The dress was simple but elegant, stopping mid-thigh, showing just enough leg to be distracting.
And the heels?
High. Dangerous. Confidence incarnate.
But the biggest difference?
Her hair—normally sleek and controlled—was styled in soft, loose waves, framing her face in a way that made her look effortlessly untouchable and magnetic all at once.
Amanda forgot how to breathe.
Samantha gasped audibly, gripping Amanda's arm so hard she nearly lost circulation.
Amanda, still processing, blinked.
"...You came?"
Ericka's lips curved into the slightest smirk.
"You dared me."
Amanda was still recovering from the fact that Ericka Matthews, CEO of Matthews Couture, was standing in the middle of Tipsies in a fitted black dress, heels, and loose waves that made her look like she belonged on the cover of a magazine.
She had to be hallucinating.
The tequila had officially won.
There was no way this was real life.
But then Ericka stepped closer, her smirk still in place, and Amanda felt the reality of the situation sink in.
Nope. This was happening.
Ericka leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough that only Amanda could hear.
"There's just one rule for tonight," she said smoothly.
Amanda blinked. "What?"
Ericka's gaze held hers, steady, unreadable, but with the faintest glimmer of mischief.
"You can't tell anyone at work how I act when I'm drunk."
Amanda stared.
Samantha gasped. "Wait. HOLD ON. Are you saying... you actually get drunk?"
Ericka tilted her head. "I am a person, Samantha."
Samantha grabbed Amanda's arm dramatically. "Amanda. Bestie. Babe. We are about to witness something that NO ONE ELSE has ever seen."
Amanda, still trying to process what was happening, just exhaled. "So, let me get this straight. You—Ericka Matthews—are telling me that you actually plan to let loose tonight?"
Ericka's smirk deepened. "That depends."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "On?"
Ericka stepped back slightly, scanning the room before casually gesturing toward the bar.
"Drinks on me."
Samantha SCREAMED.
"OH. MY. GOD." She threw her arms around Amanda. "THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE."
Amanda, still in absolute shock, just shook her head with a bewildered laugh. "I... I don't even know what's happening right now."
Ericka?
She just smirked.
"Then I suggest you keep up."
And with that, she turned on her heel and started toward the bar—as if she hadn't just dropped the biggest plot twist of Amanda's entire life.
Samantha grabbed Amanda's hands and JUMPED up and down like an excited child. "OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. Do you understand what's happening?!"
Amanda deadpanned. "No, Samantha. I have absolutely no idea."
Samantha shook her. "AMANDA. WE JUST UNLOCKED A SECRET VERSION OF YOUR CEO."
Amanda ran a hand down her face. "I swear to God, if I get fired because of this—"
Samantha cut her off. "BABE. YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET FREE DRINKS FROM A HOT, RICH WOMAN. SHUT UP AND ENJOY IT."
Amanda sighed.
Samantha was right.
She was absolutely right.
With that, Amanda grabbed Samantha's hand, took a deep breath, and followed Ericka toward the bar.
Amanda and Samantha barely had time to process what was happening before the bartender lined up three shots of tequila in front of them, each glass filled to the brim with liquid courage.
Samantha clapped her hands together in pure excitement. "Oh, this is gonna be so good."
Amanda, still a little dazed from the fact that Ericka was even here, just shook her head. "I can't believe this is happening."
Ericka, completely unbothered, reached for her glass, giving Amanda a pointed look. "Are you backing out already?"
Amanda scoffed. "Absolutely not."
Samantha grinned. "Good. Because I fully expect us to get wrecked."
The three of them clinked glasses together, and then—down the hatch.
The first shot burned in the best way, sending a rush of heat through Amanda's chest.
Samantha cheered. "Another!"
The bartender poured the second round.
Again, they knocked them back.
Amanda felt the buzz hit almost immediately. Tequila was dangerous, but damn did it make the night feel even better.
By the time the third shot landed in front of them, Amanda was already laughing for no reason. Samantha was giggling uncontrollably, and Ericka—
Ericka was still cool as ever.
They raised their third glasses, tapped them against the bar, and downed them again, the warmth spreading even deeper.
Amanda shook her head, laughing. "Okay. Okay. I think that's—"
But then—
Ericka signaled to the bartender for another.
Amanda and Samantha both froze.
The bartender poured.
And before either of them could even process what was happening, Ericka grabbed the shot—and took it.
Just like that.
Amanda and Samantha just stared.
Mouths open. Speechless. Absolutely dumbfounded.
Samantha was the first to break the silence.
"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!"
Amanda was still staring. "Did you just—did you just take an extra shot?"
Ericka set the glass down calmly, looking completely unaffected as she smirked. "I had to catch up."
Samantha SQUEALED.
"Oh, I love her," she declared, grabbing Amanda's arm in pure excitement. "I LOVE HER SO MUCH."
Amanda was still in shock. "You're telling me... that Ericka Matthews, CEO, the woman who breathes contracts and power moves... just took FOUR SHOTS OF TEQUILA LIKE IT WAS NOTHING?"
Ericka simply arched a brow.
Samantha grabbed Amanda's shoulders. "BESTIE. WE HAVE TO TEST HER LIMITS."
Amanda laughed, half-drunk, half-stunned. "Oh my God. I think we just unleashed a monster."
Ericka?
She just smirked and leaned against the bar.
"You two talk a lot," she mused. "Shouldn't we be dancing?"
Amanda and Samantha both screamed.
Because Ericka Matthews was officially no longer in CEO mode.
And that?
That was dangerous.