24

"Marry me."

"Excuse me? I'm sorry, I must have heard you wrong, say that again."

"I said, marry me."

"No."

"It wasn't a question."

***

A one-night stand that would never be forgotten.

She slept with a billionaire. Only Jessica didn't know it at the time, another thing she didn't know is that as she left that penthouse suite, she would be carrying the heir to a multi-billion dollar company.

***

"Yeah,I know, two year anniversary, I'm so excited." I tell my sister Jasmine over the phone.

"I know, I am so happy for you guys. How are you celebrating?"

"I'm going over to his house to surprise him, then we could spend the rest of the day together, doing whatever." I shrug my shoulders even though she can't see me.

"Well then don't let me keep you waiting, hang up, go to your man."

"Alright fine, tell everyone I say hey."

"I wouldn't have to if you came and visited us."

"I will soon, I promise."

"Yeah whatever. Love you."

"Love you, bye." I hang up the phone and lie down on the couch in my apartment. Eventually finding the energy I get up and walk to my room getting ready.

I plug the curling iron in, the bathroom so it will be ready for me to use by the time I'm dressed. I put on a blue t-shirt that has a lace design covering my whole back, pairing the shirt with some denim jean shorts and a few bracelets I move to the bathroom and make loose curls with my light blonde hair.

Going light on the makeup, I just put on some eyeliner, mascara and light pink lip gloss. I grab my phone and the the gift I got for him, slip on some beige sandal heels, grab the keys to the car I got for graduating and I'm out the door.

I pull up to his apartment building and find a parking spot. I walk straight to the elevator, gift in hand and press his floor number. The elevator dings as the doors slid open, stepping out I make my way to his front door and let myself in.

"Hello? Derek?" His shoes are at the front so he must be here, somewhere.

I walk past the kitchen and living room, going towards the bedrooms.

As I get closer to his room, I hear grunts, groans, and moaning. I don't have to open the door to know what's going on in there. Honestly, I'm pissed and hurt, but my dad taught me not to show weakness in front of your enemy.

I don't get upset, I get revenge.

I silently walk out of his apartment and make my way to the parking lot, walking towards his car. I'm pulling a Carrie Underwood, to an extent trying to keep it legal, only instead of using a bat I use my heels.

I step back and admire my work for a while before walking over to my car but not before taking a picture; time to start phase two of my revenge. Cue evil laughter.

I walk into the apartment and put my keys on the kitchen counter, taking his gifts out of the bag; his favourite picture of us it was taken at the beach last year and a pair of front row tickets to see the New York Knicks. I got a picture of us and a lighter and lit it burning the shape of his body, cutting the picture in half, then I take a picture of it. I would rip up the tickets or something, but that's just a waste of money.

Pausing I start to rethink my actions thing I might've gone to far, but then remember how much time of my life I put into our relationship while he was probably out cheating on me with some whore. The thoughts just fuel my anger.

Making the pictures into a collage, a few tears slide down my face onto my phone, I send it to him then delete his number and turn off my phone.

A few hours later at seven o'clock, Adriana my, best friend, came bustling through the door, her brown hair flying behind her as she sat herself on the couch I am currently residing on.

"What are you doing here? Wait, how did you get in here?" It was weird because she lives in California, and this is New York.

"Vacation and I was in the neighbourhood and wanted to stop by and the door was unlocked, guess what?" she asks not even waiting for me to answer, "I got us on the list for the opening of this new club called The Inferno, it's gonna be so much fun, you have to go with me."

"I don't know Ri, not really in the mood to go anywhere." I sigh facing her properly, her eyes roam my face as her expression turns concerned.

"Oh babe what happened?"

"Derek is a cheating bastard." I raged sharply.

"I knew he was no good from the minute you introduced him to me, but you know that's why we need to go clubbing, you especially, find yourself a hot guy, let loose for one night."

Running my hand down my face I contemplate her idea. After a few minutes I give her the answer she wants, "Let's party and get drunk."

"I knew you would come to your senses." She states dragging me off to my room to pick our outfits.

Two hours later at nine thirty we are finally leaving the apartment because of Adriana and her need for perfection.

Ten minutes later we pull up to a club with neon lights reading The Inferno. Hopping out of the cab, giving the driver his money Adriana and I walk to the front entrance, completely bypassing the long line of people waiting to get in.

"Adriana Delfina, plus one, I'm on the list." she says not missing a beat.

The bouncer looks over the paper attached to the clipboard he's holding and lets us inside.

Let the fun begin.

Little did I know how true that statement would come to be.

I could feel the music pumping from the speakers and the strong smell of sweat. Looking at the dance floor, it was like a sea of grinding and making out.

"I'm gonna go get a drink..." I say to Adriana who has already left me, probably to go dance with some random dude.

I walk towards the bar and sit on a stool, "I'll have a Cuba Libre." I'm going to get drunk tonight and nobody can stop me.

As the bartender hands me my drink a gorgeous hunk of man sits on the stool on my left, ordering a Heineken.

Slyly I take a few glances while sipping my drink.

Glance: He has a little stubble making him look kind of rugged.

Sip.

Glance: Nice natural looking tan; kinda unrealistic for New York, but whatever.

Sip.

Glance: Brown hair styled in that I-just-woks-up kind of way; but it works.

Sip.

Glance: button up white collared shirt, from the fit it seems he's really fit. I wonder what it would be like to lick his abs?

NO! Bad Jess.

Sip.

Glance: He's looking at me! Abort mission! I repeat abort mission!

Sip.

Sip.

Drain rest of drink.

Choke a little bit.

Die of embarrassment.

"Are you alright?"

Oh my God he's talking to me! What the hell do I do? Deep breath, calm and collected.

"Hmm? Oh yeah I'm fine, just went down the wrong pipe." Jessica you idiot, people don't have pipes! Do we? I'll Google it later.

"I'm Luke." He puts his hand out for me to shake.

Taking it I smile and give my name, "Jessica."

After many drinks and hours of talking he asks me if I wanted to go to his place. Agreeing I find Adriana telling her I'm leaving.

"Hey I'm getting out of here."

"Oh already?" she pouts, "We didn't even get to spend time together."

"Yeah, next time, but I really gotta go now." I reply pointing back to Luke whose still waiting for me.

"Oh, OH. Well get out of here and tap that." She smiles shooing me away. I walk across the crowded dance floor back to Luke, at the front by the door.

"You ready to go?" He smiles; I melt.

"Yeah, take me away." I giggle stumbling out of The Inferno.

About fifteen minutes later we arrive at one of the most expensive apartment buildings in New York. "You live here?"

"Yeah, cool right." He chuckles walking us both towards the elevators. The doors close leaving the two of us alone. I start dancing to the elevator music, twirling around and swaying my hips, I think I even twerked a little bit. Stumbling I fell onto Luke's chest, "Sorry." I giggled.

Rising on my tippy toes I aim to kiss him as his head lowers towards mine, our lips touch in a drunken spur, we separate as the elevator dings and the door opens. He leads me to his door briefly letting go of my hand to open the door to a beautiful penthouse suite.

"Wow." I utter. I barely have enough time to turn around before Luke smashed his lips on mine, both of us moving backwards, I hit what feels like a door and start feeling around for a doorknob without breaking the kiss. Finally finding it I open the door and move back until the back of my knees hit the bedframe and we tumble onto the bed.

"Are you sure you want this?" Luke asks breathlessly in-between kisses.

"Definitely." That one word with four syllables was all he needed to take me to heaven and back.

I wake to the sound of a shower running and the feeling like my head is about to split in two. Groggily I sit up in the comfortable bed, my mouth feels like I swallowed a bunch of cotton balls, stretching I wince at the discomfort in my southern area.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God, what the happened last night?" Clutching the bed sheet around my body I slip on my clothes that were conviniantly placed on the chair in the corner.

Silently I open and close the door passing the living room into the foyer, I walk out never looking back with my heels dangling in my hand. I make it to the front lobby without any interruptions and hail a cab.

I walk into my apartment going straight towards the shower. Stripping I turn on the water and hop in letting the rapid pounding of water on my back sooth my tense muscles. The water soon turns cold so I turn the water off and wrap myself in a towel along with my hair.

Getting dressed I put on black yoga pants, a blue tank top and my pink fuzzy socks. Walking into the kitchen/ living room I swallow down two tablets of Tylenol to help with the nausea and headache.

Sluggishly I made my way to the couch and flipped myself on it from the back and fell into a dreamless sleep.

It's already been about a month and a half since the 'incident' happened, unfortunately Adriana left a few days ago and to make it worse I have been vomiting at random times of the day, thankfully the doctors at the walk in clinic said it was just a stomach bug and gave me some medication to take and now I'm good.

Also my mother has been badgering me to visit her and the rest of the family, which is why I'm currently stuck in-between a very large a sweating man who thinks my shoulder is his own personal pillow and a very old and very perverted man on a nonstop trip to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Probably the longest hour and forty minutes of my life the plane lands and he step out, but not before the old man slips me his number a blows me a kiss.

Resisting the urge to throw up, I shudder and make my way to baggage claim. Waiting at the belt until my faded red suitcase made way and I snatched it before it went around the cycle again and I had to wait even longer.

Making way to the front I hail a taxi and give directions to my mother's house. Watching the scenery pass by I wonder if anything has changed from the last time I visited. Soon enough the cab stops in front of my childhood home. Stepping out I pay the nice man and walk up the walk way with my suitcase, to the stairs, and ring the door-bell.

The door was opened by a very pregnant Jasmine, "What are you doing here? Oh my gosh, come inside!" She exclaimed dragging me inside along with my baggage.

"Who's here right now, and should you be dragging me like this while pregnant?"

"It's just Michael, ma, grandma, Jason, me and now you and I'm pregnant not disabled." She smiled. Walking passed the living room into the kitchen the smell of mom's famous beef stew, freshly baked bread rolls, and an apple pie going into the oven.

"Hey mama, how's it going?"

"Better now that you're here. How come it took so long to come visit me, little missy?"

"Oh please mama, you were happy to have me gone with the extra room now available."

"Nope, I didn't even touch you room." She says proudly.

"Wow, good for you because if I recall correctly, as soon as Jas went to Uni, you redecorated her room."

"Yeah ma, and Jessie's already moved out and you haven't done anything yet!" Jasmine exclaimed playfully.

"Oh hush your mouth, Jessica go and set the table." She says to Jasmine while opening her arms to hug me.

Setting the table and helping place the food down, I sit in the chair I always sat at when I still lived here. When everyone was seated we said grace and helped ourselves to moms delicious cooking.

Conversations easily flew across the table not one bit of silence even to chew, unless you got caught by mom, or in Michael's case wife, and scolded. If you ask me it's pretty funny to see grown men being scolded by women, like half their size.

By the time night fell, the dishes were done, Michael, Jasmine and Jason, their son, had left. I lay in my childhood bedroom, the feeling of nostalgia overcomes me.

Letting my thoughts swirl around in my head, I drift off to a dreamless sleep.