14. Bianca
14
BIANCA
I t's been three weeks since I started messing around with Liam and Alex. They’ve been wearing me out, but I’m having a blast. When I first propositioned them, I never thought it would turn into an ongoing thing. A shiver runs through me as I think of last night, sandwiched between them as they took turns spanking me and making me come undone.
I’m in the office now, sketching out ideas for the resort’s lobby when my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Alex.
Alex: Lunch break?
I smirk and type back quickly.
Bianca: Can't today. Maybe later?
He responds almost immediately.
Alex: Fine, but you owe me.
I roll my eyes and put my phone down.
My thoughts turn to James. He’s been spoiling me lately, taking me shopping and planning extravagant dates. Just last week, he whisked me away to a private wine tasting in Temecula. It’s impossible not to feel a bit guilty about not telling him about Liam and Alex. Every time I think about coming clean, my stomach twists into knots.
I glance at my phone again, wondering if James will text me before my meeting starts. My mind drifts back to our last date. His smile, his touch—it’s like he never left. But how do I tell him I’m also seeing Liam and Alex?
“Hey, Bianca!” one of my coworkers calls out as she passes by my desk. “Ready for the meeting?”
I force a smile and nod. “Yeah, just finishing up some sketches.”
As soon as she’s out of earshot, I let out a sigh. I can’t keep juggling all three of them forever. But damn, the thought of stopping... It's like asking me to give up chocolate or wine.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, closing my sketchbook and grabbing my tablet. I’m becoming addicted to these men all over again.
The conference room is buzzing with chatter when I walk in. Liam and Alex are already seated, deep in conversation with the rest of the team. They don’t even look up when I sit down, which makes the tension in my shoulders ease just a little.
“Alright,” says Sarah, clapping her hands together. “Let’s get started.”
As the meeting progresses, I present my sketches with confidence, but my mind keeps wandering back to James. The way he looked at me the other night when we were dancing under the stars… It’s been years since anyone looked at me like that.
“Bianca?” Sarah interrupts my thoughts.
“Yes?”
She raises an eyebrow. “I asked if you had any suggestions for the lobby layout.”
“Oh, right,” I say quickly, pulling up the design on my tablet and explaining my vision.
Out of the corner of my eye, Liam watches me intently, his expression unreadable. My pulse quickens as our eyes meet for a split second before he looks away.
The meeting wraps up, and I gather my things, mentally preparing for the whirlwind ahead.
I step out into the hallway, already planning my escape route when a hand grabs my arm. I turn to Alex, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Hey," he says, pulling me closer. "Got a minute?"
Before I can answer, Liam appears on my other side, effectively boxing me in. My heart races as their proximity overwhelms me.
"What's this about?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
Liam smirks. "Just wanted to make sure you remember who you're dealing with."
The air between us crackles with unspoken tension. Before I can respond, Alex’s lips crash into mine, his kiss urgent and demanding. His hand tangles in my braids, Grasping them tight and pulling me closer as he deepens the kiss.
Just as I’m starting to lose myself in the sensation, Alex pulls back, and Liam takes his place. His kiss is rougher, more possessive. It’s like he’s staking his claim.
They both step back, leaving me breathless and disoriented.
"See you later," Liam says casually, as if nothing happened.
I nod numbly and make a beeline for the exit. As soon as I’m outside, I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.
Damn them both. They always know how to get under my skin.
At home, my thoughts drift back to James. Butterflies dance in my stomach at the thought of our date tonight. The nervous excitement is almost overwhelming. What the hell am I doing? I groan inwardly as I slip into a form-fitting dress that hugs every curve.
I’m just applying lipstick when my phone rings. Mom’s name flashes on the screen. Oh great.
“Hi, Mom,” I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Bia! Guess what? I’m in town! Surprise!” Her enthusiasm is palpable through the phone.
My heart skips a beat. “Wait what? How?”
“I missed you so much, honey. I just needed to see you. How about we grab dinner tonight? Unless you have plans?” Her voice softens, sounding almost pleading.
Fuck. I close my eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of her disapproval from years ago crashing back down on me. Remembering how against my relationship with the three men she was, lying seems like the easiest option.
“No plans at all,” I lie smoothly. “Dinner sounds great.”
“Oh good! Can’t wait to see you.” She sounds genuinely happy.
“Me too, Mom.” As soon as we hang up, I drop onto my bed and stare at the ceiling. This day just keeps getting more complicated by the minute.
I reluctantly pull off the dress and toss it aside before rummaging through my closet for something more mom appropriate.
I pick up my phone and type out a quick message to James.
Bianca: Hey, I’m really sorry, but something came up. Can we reschedule for tomorrow?
A moment later, his reply pings back.
James: Of course. Tomorrow night then?
Bianca: Definitely. Thanks for understanding.
I toss my phone on the bed and quickly change into something for dinner—a simple navy dress with a matching cardigan.
The restaurant we picked is cozy, with warm lighting and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. I spot Mom at a corner table, already sipping on her favorite Pinot Grigio.
"Hey, Mom," I greet her, leaning in for a quick hug before sitting down.
"Bia! You look lovely," she says, beaming. "How’s the new job treating you?"
"Great," I say, forcing a smile. "It's challenging but rewarding."
She nods approvingly. "Good to hear. So, tell me about this big project you’re working on."
I force a smile, trying to focus on the breadbasket instead of the minefield of my current job situation. "Well, it's a resort hotel. Really high-end, lots of potential. I’ve been sketching out ideas for the lobby and common areas."
She nods, clearly interested. "And how’s it going so far?"
"It’s... going well," I say cautiously. "The clients seem happy with my concepts so far."
"That’s wonderful, Bia! Who’s the client?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I take a sip of water to buy myself some time. "Oh, just a real estate company based here in San Diego. They’re pretty well-known."
She narrows her eyes slightly. "Do I know them?"
I shake my head quickly. "I doubt it. They’re more in the commercial sector, not really in the news much."
"Still," she muses, "it sounds like an exciting opportunity."
"It is," I agree, feeling the tension ease a bit. "The project has a lot of moving parts, but it’s really pushing me creatively."
"And your colleagues? How are they?"
My heart skips a beat. Colleagues? More like former lovers who now complicate every aspect of my life.
"They’re... fine," I say slowly. "Professional and talented. We get along well enough."
"Good to hear," she says, taking another sip of wine. "You know how important it is to have a good working relationship with your team."
"Absolutely," I reply, my mind racing back to the last time Liam and Alex had me pinned against the conference room wall.
"But enough about work," she says suddenly. "How's your personal life? Met anyone interesting?"
Oh boy. Here we go.
"Not really," I lie through my teeth. "I've been so busy with work that I haven't had much time for anything else."
Mom looks at me skeptically but doesn’t push further. Thank God.
“Well,” she says after a moment of silence, “just remember to take care of yourself too.”
“I will,” I assure her.
We spend the rest of dinner talking about safer topics—family updates, old friends from back home, and her plans while she's in town. But beneath it all, I can’t stop thinking about the tangled web of relationships I've found myself in.
As we finish dessert and get ready to leave, Mom gives me a hug and whispers, “I’m so proud of you, Bia.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say softly.
Walking to my car, I can’t help but feel like I'm juggling flaming torches—and one wrong move could burn everything down.
As I drive back home, the weight of my tangled relationships presses down on me. When did everything get so damn complicated? I think about Liam and Alex, their confident smirks, their touch that sets my skin on fire. It’s impossible to ignore the magnetic pull they have on me. But then there’s James, with his brooding intensity and the way he makes me feel like the only woman in the world.
I’m lying to my mom now, trying to keep everything under wraps. She’d flip if she knew I was back with any of them, let alone all three. I sigh, gripping the steering wheel as I pull into my driveway. I walk into my apartment, kick off my shoes and flop onto the couch as the weight of the day settles on my shoulders like an unwelcome guest.