*His pet giggled seductively. This made him angry. She wasn't supposed to laugh at him. She was supposed to be in pain. That's what he wanted. Her pain. And he wasn't going to stop until she gave it to him. She will suffer for making him cross his own boundaries by not undergoing the proper preparation deemed necessary for his comfort for a scene like what was about to happen.
Disgusting.
He'll give her exactly what she asked for.
He spit on her.*
-Baby It's Hot Inside, and we got some pumpkin pie-
Ava woke up to Mr. Snaggletooth Fluffybottom Esq lll nibbling at her toes. She stretched and gently pushed him away with her foot, only to cause him to attack more relentlessly. "Snaggletooth Fluffybottom Esquire the Third! How would you like if I nibbled on your toes! You wouldn't like it no you wouldn't!" She got up to put on the coffee.
Another boring day off with nothing to do except pay bills, and love on The Esquire. At least until later. Later was the company's annual Christmas/New Year party.
When she returned from picking up her mail, the coffee was ready. Ava fixed her bagel, readied her boiled egg, poured a glass of orange juice with no pulp, and set the table.
After she was done eating, she topped off her coffee and began to go through her mail.
One in particular stood out to her. It was missing a return address.
The envelope was so pretty, pink and sparkly; when she opened it a familiar yet unknown scent wafted out.
It smelt of desire: ginger and bergamot.
When she touched the paper inside, she felt a chill travel from her fingers down through her spine.
In the most beautiful calligraphy she'd ever seen were the words:
"The New Year is upon us!
The future in your hands.
Make a list,
Choose your bliss,
Your wish is my command."
Below that were the words:
"New Years Resolutions"
The rest was blank and unlined.
Ava chuckled. How cute. Not to mention mysterious. She set it aside and finished going through the rest of her mail, while thinking how nice it would be to be able to have a Christmas tree. Snaggly-poo wouldn't have it though. When she adopted him as a young cat 4 years ago, he absolutely destroyed her tree. She came home one day to find a terrible massacre. The majority of the tree lay dying on its side; branches chewed up, ornaments everywhere, and a proud beast sitting amidst it all, indifferent to her dismay.
She mindlessly scratched her grown boy's head as he pushed into her hand. She went in to sniff his nose and kiss his forehead. Snaggletooth trilled in response and she trilled back.
Ava put her book down, took a sip of hot cider, and looked out the window. It was still and white, almost blinding. Mr. Fluffybottom, curled up on top of a blanket in her lap, chirped and looked up at the sound of her putting her mug down. He looked at her, kneading his paws and they slow blinked at each other. In this moment, Ava was almost content before she snapped back to reality. She knows she has nothing to complain about. She's comfy, she's fed, she has a home, and love in her lap. But something's missing. She gently removed Snaggletooth from his living throne, went to the bathroom, and looked in the mirror. Guess it's time to get ready for the office Christmas/New Years party.
Ava stepped into the 5 star hotel, handing her coat to the attendant. She was wearing a lacy cream colored dress that stopped above and below the knees, and covered her arms but left her shoulders bare. Her hair was up, with tendrils framing her face and collarbone. She wore 3 inch black heels and her favourite gold-plated necklace, with cubic zirconia of course. If questioned about any of it, she would shrug it off as an obscure, exotic designer, no one you would have heard of, and change the topic to what the other person was wearing; but she doubted it would come to that.
She heard a soft piano before she stepped into the ballroom, and when she did she was promptly handed a glass of champagne. She searched the room quickly for familiar faces. Her eyes glossed over Svetlana, in sleek, black, and slit up the thigh, who was standing in the personal space of a wide-shouldered, barrel-chested tree in a tailored suit.
Ava locked eyes with Emma, who gave her a relieved smile and used her as an excuse to break away from the very drunk man who was grasping at her dress. They met each other and pretend clinked their glasses, took bigger swigs than a lady would, and air kissed each others cheeks. A running joke between the two women for these kinds of things.
"I am so glad you're here Ava. I was this close to throwing my drink in that guy's face." She took a sip and glanced behind her shoulder.
"Ugh. He's so creepy. Great. He probably thinks I'm interested because I looked back at him." Emma rolled her eyes and smiled with her lips at Ava.
"Some men just don't get the message." Ava sighed. "Well enough of him. You look beautiful as always Em."
"Aw this old thing?" Emma chortled with mock modestly, twisting her hips gently to show off her flowy fabric.
"Careful Em. He might think you're flirting with him."
"Well I certainly won't wear a lantern dress on his account! It would be a damn shame to hide these bad girls." She scoffed and roughly hitched her sleeveless sweetheart neckline up like only a lady could.
Ava chuckled. "Is Mr. Rack here yet?"
"I'm not surprised you bring him up so soon. You've been less than infatuated ever since your promotion. I can't blame you though. He's so tall and gorgeous and rich on a whole 'nother level. I would absolutely let him do anything he wanted to me...
...speak of the devil.... No! Ava, don't turn around! Be cool!"
Ava was not cool. At the mention of his name she started feeling hot. Now knowing he was somewhere behind her, her skin flushed and she could feel her heart beating. She finished her champagne quickly. Pace yourself. For god's sake, pace yourself. Emma gently put her hand on Ava's shoulder.
"Here, let's go get you to the bar."
The piano faded, the gentle chatter disappeared. All Ava could hear was the white noise of her blood pumping.
There he was.
He could have been carved of marble. He could have been a god. Tall, broad shoulders, lean yet strong physique covered in ivory. A perfect mixture of dark and light. Sleek, and expensive.
All she could feel was her heartbeat trying to escape her chest; either to join his, or to run and hide, her life be damned.
Then he moved.
From behind him emerged a supermodel.
Thin but curvy, olive skin, flowing dark hair, with caramel painted artistically into her waves. She could have worn a potato sack. Instead she wore an emerald and forest green dress Ava wouldn't bother guessing. Ruby red lips and effortless.
The perfect picture of a Christmas couple.
Her blood stopped pumping and the room came to life again. She floated along with Emma's guidance. Ava was going to pace her drinking. After this one.
Four drinks later and Ava was feeling weightless. That was unacceptable. Emma tried to stop her from getting food on her dress, but stubborn Ava would not wear a napkin, nor had she experienced boar bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp, cheese and walnut stuffed cucumber, or crab and steak crostini with bearnaise sauce. Before she knew it they were in the powder room, Emma furiously scrubbing, hoping the color of the sauce would blend into Ava's dress, while Ava looked down wondering how she got here.
The door opened and in came the supermodel. She gave Ava an exaggerated pout of sympathy as her heels clicked into a stall.
Ava was so done with this party and she let Emma know. She may have to steal one last drink if a waiter was in between her and the exit. She let Emma know this too.
Little did she know the devil was outside the powder room. She stopped in her tracks and let out an embarrassing laugh. His smile was a gift from the gods and it burned through her retinas.
"Are you doing okay, Ava?"
"I'm doing swell Mr. Rack! Thank you for asking! What a keen suit you have! It's so white *hiccup* and clean!"
"It's not Chanel." He teased.
Ava laughed hysterically. "No it's not! But its nice!"
Emma couldn't stand by and watch this. "Honey, it's time to go. You're turning into a pumpkin! Come on sweetie.
I apologize Mr. Rack. Ava's had quite a night. She's a lightweight, she doesn't drink often. I'll make sure she gets home safe. Great party! Nice seeing you!" She practically dragged Ava away.
"But...but Johnny..." Ava hissed.
"Ava no. You will hate yourself tomorrow." Emma whispered.
"Em no, Em wait, one more drinky poo please it's right there look!" She grabbed a glass of champagne, downed it and burped.
Johnny's shoulders shook holding back laughter as he watched Ava waving bye bye, stumbling in her pretty bargain heels.
"Okay honey, here you go." Emma wrapped a blanket around Ava all cozy in her pajamas. "You get some rest now. I'll text you tomorrow."
"MmmmmnnnnuhIlubyou"
"Love you too sweetie."
She kissed Ava on the forehead, pet Mr. Fluffybottom, and left.
"Rrrraooooow! Rrrrrraaaooooooow!"
"What?"
"Rrrraaaaaaaoooooow!"
"Whaaaaaaat?!"
"RAAAOOOOOOW!"
"What do you want from meeee???"
He chewed on Ava's hair.
"Oh my gawd Snaggly stap it."
He didn't.
"What is it? You want food?"
Snaggly licked her face.
Ava stumbled into the kitchen.
"RaaaaOOOOW!"
"You have food! What the hell Snaggle!"
She overfilled the bowl. Snaggly went for the food on the floor first. Gobbling and crunching as if he was starving and the abundance of food would disappear if he didn't eat as much as he physically could as quickly as possible.
Something sparkly caught Ava's eye. It smelled like desire. She filled it out and went to bed. A chill rested in her chest.
New Years Resolutions
1) Have a more exciting life
2) Travel
3) Seduce Johnny
4) Reconcile with mother and daddy
5) Lose weight
6) Move to a nicer place