Dimitri reclined in his chair and flipped his thoughts back to a few moments ago. His mind encircled what Valarie had written. If her words referred to him then he could not help but to notice that he had never seen himself in that light before. Surely women hunted him down but he always thought it had something to do with his wealth or who his father was. He had never really given much attention to physical attraction. Did she really think him to be some dark lord? Some demon? As bad as it might sound, it stroked his ego sincerely. His sub-conscious laid back on cloud nine and smiled satisfyingly. It was an analogy he appreciated only because it didn't make him seem weak and because she challenged him so much.

Her opinion of him in the case with women didn't seem to bother him either. It was just that, her opinion. There were two equal ends to the rope. If he was at fault, then the women he toyed with were at fault too. Besides, how bad could it be if it was based entirely on the grounds of pleasure? It wasn't as if he forced them into it. They wanted him as much as he wanted them. It wasn't a surprise that she didn't entirely think highly of him anyway. First impressions tend to last and she clearly didn't like him much and it was there he was going to put his foot and make his stance.

Valarie handed the sketchbook over to Kyle. He did the same routine as before.

"You are really good. How come they didn't send you across to Design earlier?"

"I don't really draw. I just don't have much of a choice lately."

"Oh yeah, Prince Charming is in town now. What is he like?"

"An ass" she responded before walking off. Kyle chuckled and shook his head.

"Don't be a stranger Valarie."

"I won't. I'll be back again pretty soon.

She headed back to the office to complete the rest of designs.

Valarie didn't even look at Dimitri when she entered the room. She kept her eyes to herself and walked straight to the sofa where she sat and immediately began working on the designs. Dimitri observed her closely. It was like he didn't even exist. Her neck remained bent as if there were no muscles to hold it up. He'd hope that she lifted her eyes just once to grasp her attention but that clearly wasn't going to happen on its own.

He cleared his throat in hope that she'd look up but she didn't. She kept her focus on her sketch book. He cleared his throat a second time, this time louder. Valarie paused and slowly lifted her eyes to look at him.

"So are you incapable of multitasking?"

"What?"

"You have two jobs to do. Working on the designs, and tending to me. Seems like you can focus only on one at a time. Maybe I should tell my father to find someone who's a bit more capable."

Valarie rolled her eyes and sighed. She closed her notepad down a bit and fixed her eyes on him. "I'm all ears."

"I think I'm doing a much better job than you here."

"What?" Valarie was on full alert.

"You got me two women and none satisfied my urges. I found myself one and I feel like a renewed man again."

"Hmm, maybe I still thought too highly of you then. Gave you the benefit of the doubt that a gentleman might be deep in there somewhere."

"Gentleman? Ha! I'm not even a man. I am a monster."

She cocked her neck backwards. "Hmm, your sex life must be pretty electrifying. I didn't think much women were into bestiality."

A slow smile played across his face. "Oh you have no idea."

Valarie shook her head. "So I'm guessing that's the highlight of this chick then?"

He smiled. "She is exciting, spontaneous.

"Exciting and spontaneous" she recited. "Okay so when are you going to meet her again?"

"Hmm, I was thinking maybe tonight. I don't want to go to dinner again though. Where else do women like to go?"

"Really? You are asking me?"

"There is no one else in the room and I'm looking right at you. Isn't it pretty obvious?"

"Ugh! I just meant with the amount of women you've been around, that's something you should know."

"I've never really formally dated a woman before. Most were just flings so we've ventured to my apartment, her apartment, my car, public restroom, parking lot, my desk, the-"

"Okay, okay that's enough." Valarie stood up and brushed her hand over her hair. "I got the picture. Don't want to know about any place else you've sinned."

"Haha good. Then help me find a place before I continue the list."

"Hmm...movies?"

"Ahh yes, movies. Some good ones were released lately."

Dimitri took out his phone and dialed in Adrianna's number.

"Hey, it's Dimitri" he spoke into the phone. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Hmm, how about the movies?"

"Good, meet me there at seven then."

He hung up the phone. "At seven tonight, if that answers your previous question in full."

"Good. Keep me posted. I'll finish the other designs and take them to Kyle today. You should be able to see them on the models by tomorrow."

"Good, you better finish them or else..."

"Or else what?" she folded her arms.

Dimitri darkened his eyes and smiled a sinister one. "You have work to do. I suggest you get to It." he changed his game quickly.

Valarie scuffed and rolled her eyes and returned to working on her designs.

>>>

Dimitri was growing impatient. Adrianna was already an hour late and she still hadn't answered her phone after he had called more than one hundred times. He paced the floor frantically. Was she going to ditch him? The thought made his blood heat beneath his skin. He didn't like wasting his time, especially in light of a woman.

He was a second away from leaving when a taxi pulled up front and she walked out. Adrianna walked boldly towards him, one leg crossing in front the next. She reached up and kissed him gently on his cheek.

"You're late" he voiced while her lips still touched his skin. She slowly pulled away and caught his eyes.

"Oh please forgive me. Fashion stole my time. A girl's got to look good right?"

Dimitri observed her carefully. "Yet still you didn't have enough time for your lips?"

"What?" she questioned, tracing her fingers over her lips.

"You have lipstick all over your face" Dimitri pointed out.

Adrianna hurriedly searched through her bag for a mirror to observe. Her eyes widened as she saw her reflection.

"Oh haha. I tried to reapply while I was in the taxi and the driver was a total jerk. He kept swerving and probably went over every bump there was. It was pretty dark in there so it was like pinning the tail on the donkey."

He narrowed his eyes "I see. Well I guess it seems like he was a clown trying to get you to join his circus."

She smiled excessively "Oh yes haha. I know right! Don't worry I will make it up to you."

They headed inside and settled in for whatever show was available at the time. Dimitri settled into the corner seat and Adrianna snuggled next to him. Her eyes shifted frequently between him and the screen. He could see her from the corner of his eye. He turned to face her and looked at her quizzically.

"Not enjoying the movie?"

"I'm cold" she responded.

"Hmm but you have your sweater on. Not warm enough?"

"No. You make me warm."

He paused "How?"

"I don't know. Do what other guys do. Hold my hands, hug me."

"Oh no, no, no. I'm not other guys on this one. I don't cuddle."

"What?"

"I never cuddle."

"Ever?"

"Ever."

"But you must feel to cradle your girlfriend sometimes?"

"No, never. Some people need cuddle, but I don't. Not going to happen."

"But why?"

"Because I just don't want to!" he snapped.

"Hmm you're the aggressive one. I like that tiger."

He raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. She reached over and bit down on his ear. Her hand moved slowly across his chest and down his abdomen.

"What are you doing?" he asked

"Getting warm and making it up to you."

"What? Here?"

"Yes, why not?"

He looked down the length of the row. Only one seat separated them from the next person.

"There are people around."

"So?"

"So they'll see."

"Good."

She buried her nose into his neck and he froze.

Dimitri felt as though he was being stifled. He looked across the row again but nobody seemed to be paying them any mind. He observed the couple in front of them but they too seemed engrossed in the movie. Then a thought suddenly crossed his mind and crippled him. The people behind!

Dimitri spun around swiftly. To his greatest delight, no one filled the seats directly behind him. He exhaled a sharp breath. His chest felt tight and he struggled to control his breathing.

"Adrianna stop" he almost whispered.

"You know you don't want me to stop" she teased.

He growled beneath his breath and the guy next to her turned to face them. Dimitri stilled and kept his eyes glued to the screen. He clenched his jaw to mask his facial expression.

"He stopped looking, you can breathe now" Adrianna chuckled. Dimitri released a slow unsteady breath. Adrenaline pumped through veins as pleasure entwined with fear. Just the idea of getting caught excited him more and a smile played across his face.

Valarie sat on the sofa munching on some crackers she had in the cupboard. It was the only thing she had eaten for the day. She needed to restock groceries but the whole circumstance made her cancel. She hated owing people, far-less the bank. The sooner she paid them off, the more at ease she would feel. If it meant sacrificing some necessities to let the money build faster, then that was the length she was willing to go.

A particular thought brought her realization and she frowned. The new woman Dimitri had met, she hadn't seen her. It was the only way she could really pass her judgement. To observe her physically. Follow her actions and traits to uncover what she was really like. The fact that he was so worked up over her made her want to see her even more. It might give her a better idea of the type of woman exactly he was attracted to. She mentally reminded herself to ask him to see her tomorrow.

Valarie snuggled in and en-wrapped herself in her own world until sleep consumed her.