Chapter 7 😉 To-do list...bed a stranger! 😉

Jessica left her boss' office without a word, too angry to say anything. So, that was what this was about. Her boss had felt threatened by the simple talk she had given and used that to get back at her. She walked back into her office, grabbed her bag and left for her meeting with a client.

It was just a few minutes past 10 a.m., and the meeting wasn't due till 11 a.m., but she couldn't stay in that office, not with that man right there. If she stayed, he'd find one way or another to make her life miserable. Sitting in her car, she rested there a while till it was time to leave. Her teammates, the few of them that were still around, started to leave hurriedly. She had no doubt Mr. McCarthy must have said or done something to make them start running out that way. Sighing, she ran through her proposal before driving down to the place.

She was meeting with the staff of SMARK company. Ainsley had introduced both of them at an event she had accompanied her to last week when she kept complaining about poor sales. The woman had been kind to extend the business deal to her staff since it was something that could benefit them too. The drive to the place was long but she didn't mind. Whatever it was going to take to make her numbers go up.

A lady dressed in a grey suit welcomed her and showed her to the room. "Hello" she greeted the people seated and waiting for what she had to offer. She quickly did a count of the people seated. About fifteen of them. If she could see ten of them sign up, she'd be satisfied to have accomplished something today.

"I'm Jessica Gilbert, and I'm a digital marketer" she introduced herself and showed them her card. "What we do is introduce to you to products from our company. These products are usable as well as sellable. Using them gets you points since you're buying. Selling them also fetches you some cool money. You get profits on the sales and make some points alongside". She proceeded to show them the items available.

An hour later, she was walking out of the room all smiles. She made a mental note to thank her friend for setting up the meeting. At least twelve members had indicated an interest in the items. They had all signed up for the offer and asked for a follow-up. Hopefully, this was good. She would call them again during the week to be sure they signed up for it. As she exited the building, she received a call from the office secretary, Fanny. For a fleeting second, she wanted to ignore it, knowing it was her boss having his secretary call since she wouldn't pick his call if he dared call her himself.

"Hello, Fanny" she said, hoping she wasn't going to regret picking up.

"Jessie." the lady said, "Mr. McCarthy wants you at the office immediately." she said

"Okay." Jessie replied and sighed, "I'm on my way" she disconnected the call and drove hurriedly back to the office. When she got there, she went straight to see her boss, who looked like he had just had an encounter with a ghost.

The Jessie who went in wasn't the one who came out a few minutes later. It wasn't anything strange. Her boss knew just how to kill someone's vibe. But today, he had gone out of his way to dampen her spirit. She even cried! And it's been a while, she cried. As she got out, the secretary who had heard everything tried to calm her down, but Jessie was in no mood to listen. The tears kept flooding, and she just wanted to be alone. She left the building and went to her car. As she sat, she wept.

Tiredly, she drove out of the park and went to her favourite restaurant, where she had a special spot. Thankfully, the spot was well shaded, and there was nobody there. The waiter came, and she placed her order. When he brought it over, she gave him her card, which he slotted in, and she punches in her code, and the bill was sorted, then he left her. She rested her head on the table and got lost in thought. Her boss had just ruined her day, again.

A gentle tap on the table made her look up, and she found herself staring into the most handsome blue eyes she's ever seen. She got lost staring into those lovely eyes.

"Hey." the man said

"Hey" she replied, wondering what he wanted.

"You've been here all by yourself, and I just wanted to know if you're okay."

Even the way he spoke made her drawn to him. She looked at him wordlessly, not quite following what he was saying. He appeared well dressed. Rich, very rich! He oozed riches. His neck was adorned with a glistening gold chain which was partly hidden by his turtle neck white top. She had only caught a glimpse of it because he leaned over her and the chain sparkled.

"Are you listening to me at all?' the man asked, looking very concerned, "Are you okay?"

Why did he look worried? He must have been asking her something. Girl, get it together! she scolded herself and replied, "I'm fine." before realising she hadn't heard the question right. But then again, what else could he be asking?

"Okay, you've been awfully here alone." he said and asked, "May I?"

She nodded that he could seat, then checked her wristwatch. He was right. It was late in the evening already. He ordered and asked that her food be replaced as the one she had ordered was cold already. "Thank you." she said as the waiter brought in a fresh plate of county fried steaks and gravy. He also ordered for fine wine. 'Sure knows how to please a woman.'

As they chatted here and there, Jessie felt more and more drawn to the man. Before she realised what she was doing, she walked out of the restaurant with the gorgeous man. The instant they were alone, she jumped him, kissing him and running her hands all over him. He was a gentleman and didn't push her away. Instead, he whispered in her ears, "If this is what you want, my dear" before sinking his teeth in her neck. She moaned ecstatically.

Here she was, a young woman in her late twenties getting romped in a dark alley inside her car, and she didn't care. It was a first. Something indeed was wrong with her. And this had been all her. She had made a move. She had asked the man to do this. She had wanted this. But why does it feel like she was losing something when it felt so good. The car bounced up and down at their escapade.

She lost count of how long they were at it. But when her phone rang, and she peered at the outside world from her car glass, everywhere was dark. And it was Ainsley calling. Oh! The birthday party.

"Said what?" the man asked, "A party? Where?"

Quickly adjusting her strap, she asked, "Did I say that loud?"

He nodded and asked, "Whose party, I'm free."

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Jessie looked at him weirdly. Fine, the sex had been good, but who wants to see the stranger they just hit at her friend's party? Not even when the man was good looking and staring at you with those lovely blue eyes. "I don't even know your name" she replied, trying to keep him occupied while she thinks. Did she want him at the party with her?

"I'm Damian" he replied, looking at her. He hoped the name wouldn't change anything. But the look in her eyes shows she doesn't know him. Now, he found that intriguing. Who doesn't know Damian?

"Still, wouldn't it be weird?" Jessie asked, still not so sure she wanted to do this.

Okay, he could play this, he thought. He needed to prime her up to get her to let him come with her. "Look, I like you. I like a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it. I'd like us to go further, get to know ourselves." he smiled. It was the sexy smile that sways most women. And this woman right here was feeling swayed. "More so, I'm bored. Got nothing to go home to". This wasn't entirely a lie. He had nowhere to go. His girlfriend was currently in his loft, doing only what God knows what. If he goes home now, he had a feeling the consequences would be bad. She had just discovered she wasn't the only girlfriend and was quite pissed about it. Judging by the swearing and curses she had texted him, she would be having a fit. He could have her thrown out, but tonight wasn't the night. Today, he would let her rant and vex. Tomorrow, she better be in better shape, or he would be forced to be irrational too.

"Okay" Jessie replied, looking at him. He did look sincere. She should be able to do this.

"First, I need to get changed." she said, pulling down her dress. "So do you" she nodded at the stains on his white turtle-neck shirt. He smiled sheepishly at her. "My house is down the block. We can get you something along the way."

And so they stopped at a store to get some clothes then drove to her house to get changed. While in the shower, they had another quickie before stepping out. Ainsley, by then, had almost blown her phone to pieces with series of calls. The two rushed out to join the party. And not once did the thought that she had just cheated on her boyfriend crossed her mind. She completely forgot about him. Neither did she remember she was to pick him up for the party.

The instant they walked into the party, everything changed. All the women began to look at her man dreamily. Jessie, who had always been a shy lady, found out she wanted to claw out their eyes. She immediately went full lady gaga on them, hands out to wade them off her path. The party had started before they got there, so they simply blended in with the crowd. The place was packed full of faces she didn't even know. Everyone had a drink, and some were dancing happily.

Looking around, she tried to get Ainsley and wish her a happy birthday. She soon sighted the birthday girl at the bar. She had changed to her tube shorts which meant she had danced with everyone. Her hands still locked with Damian, she walked towards her friend. Her wicked smile was plastered permanently as everyone stared at them. The women were really swooning. Jessie wondered what it was with the man that made all the women looked bewitched. Some of her friends stopped by to say hello. And for some protective reason, she didn't introduce the man beside her. She also didn't wait unnecessarily long so they wouldn't exchange pleasantries with him.

"Hey, birthday girl" she called out as even her friend was stunned to see the gorgeous hunk she had with her. She started to trip.

"Easy." Damian quickly swept in for the save. He easily caught Ainsley, so she didn't fall. Then he had looked at her amused. He knew that face. They had met at several events but never bothered with each other. They were okay to admire each other from afar. He let his eyes take in her sumptuous body. "Lovely." he said and held her hand.

Jessie looked at them both. Her friend was smiling like a fool at the man. Wait, is she drunk! The Ainsley she knew would never trip over a man. But then again, Damian was no man. He's a god! Looking at him now, she felt like hitting him. He was undressing her friend. The ease with which he quickly jumped in to save her friend made her raise her brow. Thinking of what to do to break this stupid lustful gaze on their faces, she moved towards them. And before she could introduce them, he smiled and did that himself.

"Don't I know you?" she heard him ask Ainsley.

Her friend acknowledged it. They have indeed met many times. "I know you" she replied. Jessie looked at them both. They were both rich and must have been seeing each other at their rich functions. It made sense. Still, it doesn't explain why they were still locked in each other's embrace this way. She moved towards them.

"You're the celebrant" she heard her say again, looking at her friend like she was a fairy princess. It was all wrong.

Ainsley smiled and replied that she was, "Welcome to the party."

But he had kept on holding her friend's hand, and she looked from the hand to their faces as the two seemed lost in a locked battle of some sort. She had coughed and stylishly separated them by stepping in firmly between them. "Ainsley, meet..." and the lights went off before she could make a formal introduction. When the lights came back on, he had moved to a corner in the room to sip wine. She wanted to go there and talk some sense. But they just met some couple of hours ago, and perhaps she had no legit right to question who looked at and who he didn't.

The MC called everyone over for the cake cutting. She stood at Ainsley's right hand, and the MC, Mabel, another friend of theirs, stayed at the left. After the cake was cut, Jessie went in to get some chops served around. The waiters were given the snacks to get around. As everyone snacked on that and drank, the MC announced that it was time for the lap dance for the celebrant. Jessie screamed again. She had forgotten that too.

Ainsley had put all her friends in charge of simple tasks the party planner couldn't do. Mable was to handle the MC part and hers was to get the male stripper for the lap dance. She rushed to Mabel to let her know the stripper wasn't available. "What can we do, quickly" she pleaded guiltily.

"Honestly, have no idea." Mabel said before her face brightened suddenly. She looked around at the men in the hall.

"What?" asked Jessie looking round too

"I have an idea" announced the MC, grabbing the mic. "It appears we need strippers for this pretty lady here" she announced finally as Ainsley walked up the stage.

"We have men here to fill in" shouted a man, who walked up the stage and flexed his muscle. "We can do it" he teased, twisting his waist.

"Yes. Yes." echoed others as five more men joined him on stage.

Dreamily, Jessie watched as Damian joined the last three men standing. He was shirtless. As she opened her mouth, shocked at what he was doing, she heard the ladies scream. He would doubtlessly be picked for the lap dance. She wondered how she could stop this. Nothing came to mind as she walked off the stage angrily. Like a horrible dream, he was the last man standing.

It was no longer in her hands to stop this anymore. She sat down, too shocked to say anything but look on. The MC too spoilt the whole thing by asking the ladies to come have him. she endured it all. She closed her eyes firmly as they touched him and rubbed him while she mentally told herself it was okay. He was just her date, not her man. But she was mad. What was she doing? Who was this man to make her lose her cool this way? She felt an inner struggle within herself. This has got to stop. She stood up walk away from the show. But by then, Ainsley was walking towards them

Wait, she wasn't going to wait her turn? Even her friend was bewitched. Jessie stood angrily, watching the screen. She saw Mabel leaned towards Ainsley to caution her. They exchanged glances, and she shook her head. Ainsley wasn't listening to whatever Mabel was saying. She warily watched as her friend poured the drink in Damian's brief and saw how he reacted. She endured the torture as Ainsley leaned down to kiss his nipple and continue to tease him. and when she thought she'd seen enough, Ainsley stood up to go with her man.

Of course, it was time to put a stop to the nonsense. So, she followed them. Her friend needed to be told that the man she picked this night wasn't hers. He was her date, and she wasn't giving him up. The stupid light went off then, again. And she stood on the spot, blind. When the lights came back on, they were gone. She went searching everywhere. All the rooms were occupied by the ladies whose hormones were high and running, groping their men. Some were blatantly hitting each other everywhere. Tired, she turned back. It was pointless. She had lost them. By now, she was sure they would have undressed, and she didn't want to think about what they would be doing.

She went back to the room and sat down. Mabel walked up to her, "I'm sorry" she said, "You came with Damian" she said, "He's a playboy."

"What?" she said, but before she could ask for anything, a guy came to ask her to dance. She willingly let herself go. Dance was all she needed to feel better. Later, she saw her friend coming out with her date and slapped him. It was something she had never done before. The slap carried all her pent up anger, and she felt relieved.

The day may not have started well for Jessica Gilbert. She had dreaded even walking into the office. But tonight, as she strolled home with her boyfriend, she knew this day would change everything. She had cheated on her boyfriend, had a nasty fight with her best friend, and Damian was hanging somewhere in between all the mess. No, the day might have started roughly for her, but she ended it on a good note. If nothing, it felt good to be able to stand up to Ainsley Jones for once. As she smiled at her boyfriend, she knew she has to tell him about tonight. But not today. She was contented letting the day end this way.