After a quick shower, I'm in my room searching for the perfect outfit to wear. I don't know why I bother though, as a pair of jeans and a sweater would do just fine for getting wasted. Yup. That's my plan. I'm getting wasted. Me, lil' old Ana Steele. And I'm going to dress up, like I've never done before, just to show Mr. Dominant what I think of his stupid contract, and it's clauses for acceptable clothing.
Ha ha! I pick a black set of Agent Provocateur lingerie that Christian has bought for me, and allow myself only a few seconds to think about the sweet note he sent with it.
I go through my dresses with little luck. The blue one, nope. The other one, bland. Next, blah. Well, that'd be suitable for a nun… Fudge it. I have nothing that comes even close... Thankfully, I have Kate's wardrobe at hand.
I sneak to Kate's bedroom wearing only the underwear and a towel. Knowing exactly which of her dresses I'm going for, I'm out of her room in no time, carrying with me a black dress with golden sequins and mesh top.
"Honey, I'm home," Kate yells as she walks in carrying a grocery bag in her arms. Without looking at me she drops the bag onto the counter, grabs a lime and pulls out a bottle of tequila. "I thought we could start at ho... Holy shit Ana!" Her jaw drops as she sees me. "Double dang, girl!" She whistles.
I grin at her reaction, as I walk to the cupboard for a couple of shot glasses.
"I thought, since we're going out, I might as well go the full nine yards. I hope you don't mind, I borrowed your dress."
I place the glasses on the counter, and Kate waves her hand.
"Turn around, let me look at you." She tells me and I oblige, feeling super self-conscious as I do a full 360.
"Wow. Just wow. That dress is like made for you, Ana. You look amazing! The guys at the bar will go crazy."
I laugh, but don't feel half as confident as I'm pretending to be. The only one guy I want being crazy about me, is on the other side of the globe and comes with darn contract.
Kate opens the tequila and pours our shots.
"Straight up, or with lime?" She asks.
I shrug, hard liquor really not being my forte.
"I've never had tequila, so I'm thinking… with lime?"
"Really?! Ok, I'll show you how it's done." Kate rummages the drawers for a knife; slices up the lemon and brings the salt shaker.
"First, lick you hand, between your thumb and forefinger, like this. And then sprinkle on salt." Kate explains, and I follow her lead.
My phone starts ringing in my bag, but I ignore it. I know exactly whom that ringtone belongs to. It's Rihanna's S&M, for crying out loud. The irony has become clear to me, Mr. Whips and chains.
"Um..." Kate hesitates, before continuing, "Then you lick the salt, shoot the tequila and suck on the lime... Aren't you going to get that?"
I lick the salt off my hand, grab the tequila shot and down the liquor. I take the lime wedge and suck on it, my eyes squeezed shut from the sourness. The myriad of tastes leave me gasping for air. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
"No. I'm not answering that."
"Oh... Okay?" Kate empties her glass and bangs her hand against the table as she sucks on the lime. "Fuck! I forgot how strong this is."
The phone stops ringing, just to start all over again.
"I guess you're still not going to take that?" Kate looks at me.
"Nope. Do you want another?" I lift the bottle to pour myself another shot.
"I'll pass, thanks." Kate frowns as she watches me down the second drink, that doesn't burn nearly as much as the first one.
"Is this about that mystery man of yours? Did you fight or something?"
"What man?" I feign ignorance.
"The one who keeps on sending you lingerie, and whom I assume you keep on texting with that other phone of yours all the time."
I smile and shake my head. I thought Kate had been too preoccupied with Elliot to notice.
"You've noticed?"
"Well, duh! I know you're working and all... But all that lingerie, those jewels and that phone, are not things that the Ana I know would buy for herself. So, who is it? And what the hell did he do to deserve this?" She waves in my and the tequila's direction.
"It's really complicated, Kate... And you know. I don't want to think about it right now. I just want to go out, and let my hair down."
Hours and umpteen drinks later we are at the Mile high, dancing the night away. The beat of the music and the alcohol has melted the sharpest edge of my anger away. By the time Rihanna's S&M starts playing I'm done. I miss him.
"I'm going to call him." I yell to Kate over the music.
"We said no men tonight!" She yells back.
"I know, I know. Just a call. Because this is our song, Kate."
She feigns shock and then a pout. "I thought this was our song."
"It is but... It's him... Kate... You wouldn't understand."
She giggles. "Whips and chains Ana... Is there something you're not telling me?"
I wave her off and grab my phone and dance my way to the dim lit hallway leading to the VIP booths.
Christian answers at the first ring.
"Ana. Are you alright? I've been worried out of my mind."
"Really? Aww... That's so sweet of you" I slur.
"Where are you? Are you drinking?"
"Yes, sir-ee. We're Mile high, and I'm breaking at least five of your stupid rules. But you are over there and I'm over here and I don't know what we are. Or if we even are anything. And then our song played and it made me think of you again and." I hiccup between the words. "I'm so angry at you. And it's even stupider, but I miss you so fudging much, and I know that's stupid and against the rule five paragraph seven, or whatever, and you can kiss my tiny hiney Christian." The words flood out of my mouth without much thought, and considering my beyond tipsy state, I think I manage to keep to the point fairly well.
"Ana. What. The. Fuck. Are you talking about?"
"Well, that. Exactly. For a smart man you are surprisingly stupid, Christian." I nod my head, agreeing fully with my own statement. "Stupid, stupider." I laugh. "That's just like Jupiter."
"Ana. How much have you had to drink?"
"Pfft. I don't know. A lot I think." I giggle. "We did tequila with Kate." I tell him, and then realize I've left Kate all alone. "Oh my god. Kate! I left her on the dance floor. I got to go."
"Ana!" I hear Christian yelling. "Please Ana, for the love of God. Don't drink any more tonight."
"Fine. Or should I say Yes, Master." I giggle at my own joke.
"What did you say?" He asks.
"Bye Chris." I end the call.
AN: You guys rock! Thank you so much for reading, following and reviewing.
H xx