*The wind whistled and her skin cracked. Her body shook upon impact. Red marks appearing on her back. She lay on the bed while he towered behind her, standing over her. He picked another spot, and another. She lay still. Not getting him the reaction he wanted, he ran his tool across her skin gently and teased her with a few softer swipes. Then he let loose with a few swift blows. She squealed like a stuck pig. A cute woman pig hybrid of course. She bled. His smile was cold and his eyes were on fire.*
-The Line-
Ava woke up on someone else's couch. Omg. Bits and pieces of last night came back to her. The dancing, the sweating, the grinding, the groping; a stranger's hands on her body, his lips on her ear. An impeccable statue with an expensive belt and piercing eyes. What was behind those eyes? The way they stayed locked on her like a jaguar on his prey...alcohol. Emma. Omg.
Ava sat up sharply and looked for her phone, finding it on the coffee table beside her.
There was a message from Emma sent a few minutes prior. It must have woken her up.
Emma: Good morning slut!
Ava: omg what happened last night? Plz tell me u made it home...i didn't. Im on some dude's couch. It smells like Axe up in here.
Ava rubbed her temples and groaned.
Emma: do you remember all of us dancing together? You were pretty trashed by then. So you're on his couch? Huh wonder what happened...how much do you remember?
Ava: bits n pieces...did u go home with that guy?
Emma: yeah i did. Dont worry we got the guys to give us their numbers and addresses before we parted so we each would know where the other ended up. We shared a cab part way.
Ava: slut! i dont remember talking 2 Mr. Rack...did i?
Emma: he was there???!!! I didnt see him!!!
Ava heard a gallop and barely had time to shield herself from a large dog that jumped up to taste her face.
"Bosco! Down!"
The voice came from a muscularly stocky man with kind eyes who asked Ava how she took her coffee.
He brought over a tray with coffee, scrambled eggs, toast, butter, and jam. Enough for 3 people.
Ava gingerly took a plate. "This is so sweet of you. Thank you." She took a sip of her coffee and spread some jam on the toast.
"It's really no problem. I feel kind of bad. You seemed so uncomfortable last night when we got back here, it's the least I can do to make up for it." He held some egg out towards Bosco. "Sit."
"So we didn't..."
"No. GOOD BOY!" He brought the egg closer to Bosco's mouth and the dog gently welcomed it into his mouth.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember your name..."
"I'm Frank, Ava."
She grew quiet and nibbled on her toast.
"You feeling okay chicky?"
"Yeah. Sorry for the disappointing New Years."
He took a large bite of eggs and barely chewed before swallowing.
"What? No! It's a good new year. I met some cool people, got lit. And helped a drunk girl get somewhere safe. Good night in my book." He shoveled some more eggs into his mouth.
Ava ate some eggs slowly and washed it down with the coffee, keeping her head low. She sighed. It was a quiet morning even though Frank was a loud eater.
Ava checked her email as soon as she got into work. There was a company wide message from Mr. Rack:
/Endeavour welcomes you into the new year! I brought the table, and I'm looking forward to seeing what each of you can bring to it.
John Jacob Rack
CEO Endevour/
There was also an email he sent to just Ava.
/Ms. Werner,
If you need a cure for your hangover, I do not have one.
But I suggest you take preventative measures by not drinking and dancing with strangers.
Come see me tomorrow in my office at 11. Email me back to confirm.
John Jacob Rack
CEO Endevour/
Oh my goodness. Ava sucked in her breath.
She began a reply questioning the reason why he wanted to see her. She deleted it. Too unprofessional.
/Mr. Rack,
I've received your request for a meeting, and will see you tomorrow at 11 am.
Ava Werner
Client Relations Agent/
Ava went through the rest of her emails in a daze and before she knew it, the day had passed.