Owen
“This party is rad.”
“Hmm?” I toss a disinterested glance Melissa’s way.
Melissa Anderson, my secretary, is a genius. I’d be fucking lost without her. She organized this whole affair, the second anniversary party for Lone Wolfe Productions.
It’s chic and swank and everyone who’s anyone is here.
The Hollywood set, models, socialites, investors...the most important people in New York are all here. And I have Melissa to thank for it.
But there’s one person who’s conspicuously absent.
Where the fuck is Molly?
I find my eyes scanning the room, looking for her.
Why do I feel like this girl is mine already?
“Look, boss,” she says, as she affectionately likes to call me. “People are pouring in from the entrance to the bar.”
“Oh, right,” I say vaguely as I stare across the crowds of people, looking for that fucking luminous face.
Melissa works her ass off and part of the reason this party is so incredible is because of her diligent dedication to not only me, but to her job as a whole as well, but I just can’t fucking concentrate on anything right now.
We’re in the lounge of a restaurant of mine called Urban Fusion. It’s upscale and modern, just like everything I own. I like to kept my investments strong and varied over several fields of interest...real estate, restaurants, clubs, and of course, my studio.
I hate to brag but my portfolio is expansive.
Melissa’s sitting next to me on a black leather couch in the VIP lounge area.
She’s trying to give me a run-through of the program for tonight, but unfortunately, my mind is somewhere else.
I have more important issues to deal with right now, and the biggest one is whether or not Molly Quinn is going to show up and be my ‘date.’
“Are you ignoring me?” Melissa cuts through my hazy concentration once again.
“Huh? No, sorry, please continue.” I wave my hand at her, but she’s right; it’s a hopeless cause trying to keep me on track.
My eyes won’t leave the entrance. I need to see her and to have her by my side. I feel possessive over her, like she’s mine already, and I want her near me or the night will be a bust.
I’m waiting for Molly, looking with rapt attention to anyone who walks through that door, hoping that the next time I glance in that direction, I’ll see her coming towards me.
She better get here soon or I might have to deliver a punishment in more ways than one.
My cock strains uncomfortably against my pants at the idea of taking Molly in the office at the back of the restaurant. I envision bending her over the desk and making her mine and making her pay for being late, and for becoming my new obsession.
“Owen?”
This time I recognize the voice, and it’s male. I glance up to see Victor standing directly in front of me, blocking my view.
“I have drinks, man,” he announces, and I nod when I notice two whiskeys in his hand.
“Thanks,” I say and crane my neck to peer past him.
Melissa’s talking about something but I don’t hear.
Victor sits down next to me and says impatiently, “Dude, where’s your head at?”
I pull myself back into the moment long enough to say, “What are you talking about?”
Victor ignores me and addresses Melissa directly. “I can take this from here,” he tells her. “Owen is distracted to say the least.”
She looks at me as if it’s all finally registering.
“I can take a hint,” she says, pouring another drink.
I can’t tear my eyes away from the entrance for one fucking millisecond.
Obsessed doesn’t even begin to describe the way I’m acting right now, but I don’t fucking care.
Is she okay? What if she got hurt or something?
“He’ll be alright.” Victor nudges me again. “Right, man?”
“Huh?” I stare at him in a daze.
Victor smiles at Melissa. “See?” he says confidently, although his story is unconvincing.
I’m not selling it because I am indeed fucking distracted. I can’t seem to rip my thoughts away from her and that’s very unlike me.
“What about his speech?” Melissa’s eyes dart nervously between us.
“He’ll wing it.” Victor shoots her a wink and a smile.
Melissa is like the fucking queen bee, guarding the hive. She looks reluctant to leave my side, but Victor nods reassuringly at her again.
“Don’t worry, I can take care of Owen. He just needs some TLC from his best friend.”
“Okay,” she says reluctantly.
Melissa gives him a nervous glance, but she stands up and hesitantly moves away from us, most likely to do something else behind the scenes. I don’t fucking know, secretary and assistant type shit.
Victor takes a sip of his whiskey and stares at me.
I drink the whole fucking thing down like a shot, hoping it will quell my desire for her. I stare at the door some more, and I’ll keep staring forever if that’s what it takes.
“Dude, are you alright?” he asks, and waves his hand in front of my face as if he’s trying to break my trance.
“Yeah,” I respond robotically.
“Then what the fuck is wrong with you?”
I look at him and laugh. “Nothing.” I pour another drink from the bottle of high-end vodka sitting at our table.
“You seem really distracted, Owen,” he says.
“I’m not,” I deny, although I don’t really have a valid fucking point to back myself up with either.
“Does this have anything to do with your fail-safe plan?” Victor asks.
I don’t look at him, I merely stare straight ahead. “Eye on the prize my friend, eye on the fucking prize.”
“Do you want me to give the toast then?” Victor looks at me.
“Maybe.” I shrug.
“Well, it’s time,” he says.
“How the hell do you know?” I look up and scan the room.
I notice Melissa waving at Victor, indicating that he needs to help get me ready for the speech.
“Sure, go ahead,” I say, and give a defeated look to Victor. “You’ll do great.”
The last thing on my mind is giving a damn poetic speech to this room of money-laden people. I don’t care about investments. I don’t care about business. All I want is to see her.
Victor takes a deep breath. “Okay, no problem, dude.”
He gestures for me to stand up, which is the least I can do. This is my fucking party after all.
When Victor is sure he can grab everyone’s attention, he clears his throat and clinks a spoon against the side of his glass.
Everyone stares at him, and at me because I’m standing right there beside him. I know they’re expecting me to say a few words, but I don’t have it in me right now. I still have time to kill before my big speech at dinner.
Victor directs every film I make, so he’s more than worthy for the task at hand.
“Good evening, everyone.” Victor’s voice bellows in the room, capturing the moment.
“I’ll keep this short and sweet, because I’m not good with the words like Owen here.” He chuckles and points a thumb at me.
I put on my best charming smile and wave to the crowd. “Thank you all for coming.” At least I’m able to say that much to the room full of my friends, peers, and coworkers.
“Anyway,” Victor says and holds up his glass, “I would like to propose a toast. We are at the two-year mark for Lone Wolfe Productions. Our success is broad and growing like wildfire. We would just like to thank each and every one of you, members and investors alike, for all of you play an intricate part in the role of keeping this operation successful. So, this party is for you, because together, we are one.”
Victor raises his glass high and proud, and the crowd joins him, clapping and roaring with their congratulations and joy.
Once the chatter begins again, Victor and I sit down next to each other again on the couch.
“Thanks for saving my ass.” I give him a chagrined look.
“Anytime.” He slaps my back. “That’s what friends are for.”
“I know I’m still going to have to go on the stage later when everyone sits down for dinner,” I say begrudgingly.
“You’ll do fine,” Victor reassures me.
I know I’ll do fine. Talking in front of a crowd is no big thing. But my distraction is at an all-time high. And instead of perusing the crowd for potential models to fuck, there is only one woman on my mind.
Fucking Molly.
She has a hold on me.