'AlTAIR'
I've always wondered why those mad scientists bothered inventing time machines. What's the point in dwelling on the past? You mess up, you move on. We're all human, and humans are just a bunch of walking mistakes.
But right now, I'd sell my soul for a time machine. All because, I'm itching to rewind and give my past self a good slap across the face.
Ha! I can't believe I completely botched my meeting with Dalia, and it's all thanks to my boneheaded sister. I asked her to hire Dalia, so we could use her useless husband as bait. Then, I'd swoop in, shower her with gratitude over a steaming cup of joe, and the moment her memory jogged back to our shared history, we'd reignite that spark once again and from there, it's just a matter of charming my way back into her good graces. Piece of cake, right?
But lo and behold, my dear sister, in her infinite wisdom, decided to jump the gun and hire Dalia a whole week early. On the exact day I'm supposed to be starring in a horror movie, no less!
And when I say 'infinite wisdom,' I mean 'total lack of common sense.' She didn't even bother to give me a heads-up that it was Dalia. And when I saw my crush, right in front of me, well… you know the not-so-good life choices I made.
For those who are curious why I would check off every item on the "What Not to Do" list with the love of my life, I can't answer you, okay? My heart's throwing a pity party right now, and my brain's pulling a "Don't ask, don't remember" maneuver to avoid an existential meltdown.
For now, I've got to find a way to make things right, and that's why I'm checking her work schedule right now. Yep, I've got all the deets on her. So, yeah, sure scream, "What a creepy stalker!" Whatever, I'll take it as a compliment.
"Let's not pretend we're all angels here – who among us hasn't bent the rules in the name of love? Don't give me those side-eye glances, Sharon. I know you cyber-stalk your crush on every social media platform known to mankind. My tactics might be a tad more... criminal, but, we're sailing the same sketchy waters here, so show some solidarity."
"Enough already—seriously, stop. You're creeping me out," Jojo's voice from behind shattered my dramatic soliloquy. And as I turned to face him, I realized I was stark naked, and my secretary had just—Oh my god! We both shrieked like a pair of schoolgirls who'd spotted a bat in their boudoir.
"Jojo! What... why... how?" Once I'd managed to regain a modicum of composure, I stuttered out the words, desperately attempting to shield my modesty with a towel.
"You want to ask for how long I've been staring at your why-so-round butt?"
"Ewww! Are you a pervert? Why would you stare at my derrière?"
"Because I didn't want to look at your monster. That thing gives me an existential crisis."
"My boy, Jojo, only the chosen ones get to wield something this mighty. But don't worry, even a tiny wand can cast mighty spells with the right technique." My words elicited a grimace from Jojo, as if he'd just swallowed a lemon whole.
"Ohhh please, Boss, I don't need advice from a virgin maiden on my sex life." Okay, now I'm feeling a little stung.
"Pardon my lack of interest in the 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' routine followed by an epic love story with a virgin mate like your average male lead. I'm reserving my chastity for Dalia, if you don't mind."
"And by the way, I assure you, my talents rival those of any so-called 'fuckboy'." I interjected, fixing Jojo with a steely gaze.
"Honey, living out your fantasies in your dreams doesn't exactly earn you a gold medal in the bedroom. You need some real-world practice for that." Now he's giving me that 'bless your heart' look.
"Just so you know, I have field experience. I kissed Dalia 10 years ago." I announced proudly.
"Yep, the kiss she doesn't remember, Mr. Delulu." Jojo quipped, delivering the final blow, leaving me with nothing but a bruised ego and a shoulder pat from my victorious secretary.
*JOJO - 1/Altair - 0*
"Whatever, someday she's gonna remember everything, and I'll give readers a smut-fueled journey that'll make Fifty Shades look like a kid's bedtime story."
"Sure, you'd be dishing out smutty tales left and right if you could win her back. But I'd say her feelings towards you are more 'get thee to a nunnery' than 'let's pen our love saga."Jojo smirked.
"Stop, I get it, you won. I'm not paying you to make me depressed; I'm paying you to help me, so get ready, we're going to the strip club."I ordered him while getting dressed myself.
"Nope, you're going to the strip club. I've had enough of Altair time these past 4 days. Now I'm going to get some good sleep while you figure out how humans without secretaries navigate their lives."
With those parting words, my secretary waltzed out of my penthouse, leaving me with no option but to pencil in a 'you're fired' memo for our next meeting.
*******
In the most exclusive strip club in the heart of New York City, neon lights grooved to the sultry beats, setting the stage for a night of debauchery fit for royalty. With luxurious seating areas, a bar stocked with the most expensive drinks one could find, and a large center stage filled with the sexiest women imaginable, this place certainly screamed 'made for elites.' Every guy in there had some level of fame, and a shared passion for, well, you know, pervy stuff.
Amidst the haze of smoke and flickering lights, my attention was captivated by my bronze-haired beauty. Unlike the others, she didn't wear a wig. With minimal makeup and the most modest lingerie a stripper could wear among a group of women barely clothed, she still commanded the room with every sway of her hips, making it seem like she was the only one in the spotlight. In that moment, she exuded pure liberation, as if she had the room all to herself. Her body became one with the music, with one hand firmly on the pole and the other gracefully tracing along her curves as she descended.
When the beat dropped, so did she. Now on all fours, her a*s dancing in the air, she swayed and twirled, then looped around the pole once more. This time, her breasts embraced either side of the pole, moving in a way that made you imagine the pole as your member, sliding between her breasts. With each fluid motion, she teased and tantalized, making it impossible to tear my gaze away. I couldn't help but gulp nervously as my libido went into overdrive. My eager member stood at attention, trying hard to be free from my pants.
Ha! If only we were alone in the room, where she was doing that dance just for my eyes. I swear, she wouldn't have been able to dance like that for a week after I was done with her. And I'm not exactly thrilled about the fact that every other guy in here is probably having the same X-rated thoughts.
If it were up to me, I would've made half of them blind for looking at my Dalia's beautiful body. But, I know she wouldn't like me to do that.
Despite all the high-paying jobs I anonymously offered her, she still chose to be a pole dancer. I will never understand why she would do that, but if my girl wants to do it, I'll just support her. So, like any decent bloke, I greased the palms of those lecherous club owners to ensure they treat her right and never pressure her into anything she's not keen on. The way I see it, as long as all they're doing is looking, and the only one getting handsy is me (with her permission, of course), I'll hold onto what's left of my sanity.
Just when I was engrossed in her performance, our eyes met. She frowned, not looking happy to see me here, if only for a moment before plastering that fake smile once again. Along with the music, her dance became more sensual, and I'm not exactly proud of how damn aroused I am, like a teenager making their first visit to a strip club. Luckily, before I lost my mind due to the seductress in front of me, the performance ended with Dalia flipping her middle finger and spelling out "F*CK YOU" in my direction.
Her final act left me chuckling, and an idea sparked in my mind. I waved down one of a waitress busy oggling me, slipped her a note with a secret message for Dalia, and made sure to sweeten the deal with a little cash on the side.
Let the love game begin!