Chapter 16 Brianna
Brianna
How does he know about tropes?
That. Was. Incredible. The way Asher just took charge and dominated me?
New kink unlocked. But it’s been thirty minutes, and I have to pee.
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, listening to the faint murmuring of voices from the other side of the door.
I know people heard me—heard us—but I’ve held off for as long as I can.
I either say screw the embarrassment and walk out of the office, or face the wrath of a UTI. Yeah, fuck that.
I get up from the desk, grabbing my clothes off the floor, and get dressed as fast as humanly possible. I open the door and peek around the corner to make sure Asher is occupied. He might not want me leaving this office, but I can’t hold it in anymore.
Balanced on the balls of my feet, I hurriedly rush toward the bathroom, praying my heels don’t make any noise.
There’s nothing more satisfying right now than emptying my bladder.
I let out a sigh of relief before finishing up in the stall.
I’m just pulling my pants back up when I hear the door open.
I don’t think much of it, but the second I step out of the stall, I freeze.
Standing before me is a five-foot-ten blonde goddess with the kind of curves a supermodel would envy.
Her blonde tresses are styled in old Hollywood waves, resting against her mid-back.
Perfect bee-stung lips any man would have wet dreams about, that also spit pure venom at anyone who dares to get in her way.
Eyes so blue and sharp, she could cut you down to size with just one look.
Giselle. My friend turned nemesis. We used to be friends…
a long time ago. Before Avery came into my life in college, Giselle and I were attached at the hip.
Many summers were spent going to the community pool or spending all day at the beach.
But then middle school hit and, well, it’s a tale as old as time: girl dates popular boy, girl abandons friends.
I no longer lived up to Giselle's newly curated image, so she left me high and dry with zero explanation. We were content to pretend the other didn’t exist. I thought maybe we could be friends again.
I had stupidly hoped we would, but then said boyfriend went and fucked it all up, leaving our friendship broken beyond repair.
I peer into my former best friend's eyes, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Of course she’d be here. It’s where she stalks her prey.
“Brianna. It’s sooooo good to see you.” Her voice is coated with venom—get too close and you’ll get poisoned.
“Giselle.”
The whooshing of the water flowing from the sink isn’t enough to drown out her shrill voice.
The soap lathers between my hands as my focus becomes obsessed with watching the tiny bubbles pop.
The warmth from the spout isn’t enough to distract me from the sinking feeling in my stomach. Conversations with her are never good.
Her gaze feels like tiny spiders crawling beneath my skin. The blood drains from my face when her eyes trace every curve of my body, nausea clawing at my gut. My mouth feels like I ate a giant spoonful of peanut butter, and there’s no water to cut through the thickness.
I can’t stay in this bathroom forever. It’s a decent-sized bathroom, but with Giselle being in here, it feels like it’s been slashed in half. I dry off my now pruney fingers with a paper towel, making a beeline for the door, only to have her step in between me and the exit.
“That was quite the little performance you gave back there. I hope you got paid well.” She smirks, and the insinuation isn’t lost on me.
Either I’m a porn star or an escort. Normally, I wouldn’t let her get to me.
The old version of me would refuse to let her lack of self-worth get the better of me.
Now, I can’t seem to muster up the courage to fight back.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I attempt to push past her again, but she stands firm in her spot.
“Asher really is good with his hands, isn’t he? Has been since high school, especially at parties. You remember that one party, right?” Giselle’s villainous grin turns my stomach sour.
How could I forget? It’s the reason for my hatred for her.
And Asher.
Sophomore year of high school
Damn, Asher looks good. I stand up from the couch; my body sways and my head feels dizzy.
How much have I had to drink? I look down at the red Solo cup, then back at Asher.
If I’m going to follow through with my plan, I need as much liquid courage as possible.
I toss the remainder of the drink back and paste on a confident smile before making my way toward him.
I make sure to add an extra sway to my hips, hoping that he’ll notice and want to pull me away from the party to do not so safe for work things.
I search for my brother, making sure he’s nowhere near his best friend.
If I’m going to embarrass myself, I’d rather him not be around to witness it.
And I don’t think he wants to hear his little sister whisper dirty, dirty things to his best friend.
“Asher,” I slur my words, throwing my arms around him. I can’t believe I’m acting on my years-long crush.
“Woah. Hi, bear.” Asher stumbles back from the force of my hug. I don’t care. His arms are around my waist, and I feel his touch everywhere.
“How much have you had to drink? Maybe we need to cool it a little, huh?” Asher laughs.
“I’m not that drunk. There is something I want, though.” I whisper in his ear, and I swear I hear him groan. Excellent, my plan is working.
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
I lean in closer so that I’m right next to his ear when I whisper, “I want your dick inside me, painting my pussy with your cum.” I feel Asher’s arms tighten around my body as he takes a sharp inhale.
“Bri, I–” he starts, but I interrupt him.
“Hold that thought. I need to pee.” I run to the bathroom. When I finish and come out, I am stopped by the queen bitch herself.
Giselle.
“I think it’s cute, your little crush on Asher. Guys like him don’t go for plain girls like you. I would know.” Giselle grins at me as she wipes the corners of her mouth.
“That man sure knows what to do with his dick.” Giselle winks, cackling as she walks away.
And just like that, my plan is ruined. And I’m now sober as fuck. I finish my business before I walk out. I notice Asher trying to capture my attention, but I ignore him. He thinks he can do shit like that and continue what we were about to do? Ha. Think again, pretty boy.
“What do you want, Giselle?” I ask, blinking back the tears that are threatening to come.
“Why would I ever need anything from you? You’ll just take what you want anyway.” Giselle finally steps out of my way, but not before sending her final blow.
“I hope you know we fucked the other day. He may call you when he wants a good time, but I’m the one they call when they want to be satisfied the right way.
That shirt is a little too tight, don’t ya think?
” She wiggles her fingers at me before flipping her hair over her shoulders and walking out the door.
See? Everyone can see how pathetic you are.
Asher only fucked you because he feels sorry for you.
Laughter from outside the door briefly interrupts my internal dialogue, only to use it against me seconds later.
You hear that? I bet Asher is telling everyone about how gross your body is.
If it weren’t for Avery asking for his help, he wouldn’t be hanging around you.
Tears are freefalling over my cheeks now, and my breath lodges in my throat, suffocating me as if I swallowed a softball. I need to get out of here. I make it about halfway to the bar’s exit, my phone open to the Uber app, before I feel a hand gripping my arm.
“What are you doing? I thought I told you to stay in the office.” Asher. Of course he would spot me. I don’t answer him, but any attempts to shake myself free are thwarted when he turns me around.
“Bear, what happened?” Asher’s face is distorted with concern.
“Don’t call me that.” Hurt laces my tone. I really don’t want him to see me cry. “Let me go.”
“No.”
“No? Asher, I-I can’t be here. I n-need to go.” My voice cracks with each word.
“No, you’re gonna stay here and we’re gonna talk about it.
You know how dumb the miscommunication trope is in books.
We aren’t going to play those games when we can have a conversation.
You can either walk into my office willingly, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and bring you in there myself. What’s it gonna be?”
Asher is completely serious. Also, how the hell does he know about book tropes? I’ll have to ask him about that. I have no choice but to talk to him, but I’m terrified of the answers I might get. I yank my arm out of his hold and walk back to his office, but not before hearing him murmur good girl.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll join you.” I try not to flinch when he kisses my forehead by the door of the office, but I can’t help it. Asher notices, and a hurt expression flashes across his face before he pastes on a smile. This is going to be a fun conversation.