An advice

Isabella

"Hey, b*tch," Rosetta called loudly as soon as I stepped inside through the door of the elite restaurant. The host waiting to greet us, merely looked confused and raised a brow at her vulgar greeting. Not that Rosetta cared. She had on a black long jacket that shielded her and her outfit from the weather and black stilettos.

It didn't matter that we stood in one of the elite restaurants in New York City filled with light music from the live band stationed in the center of the room and light conversations. She came barreling through like she had when we first met in college.

Loud and uncaring of what others thought, she was the opposite of everything my parents had taught me not to be and everything I never knew I needed in a friend. She took my proper primly dresses and had me switch them out for jeans with holes and cute crop tops. Needless to say, my new fashion choice came entirely from our friendship, and it didn't please my father one bit, but he tolerated the friendship.

"Hey, girlfriend," I said much quieter once I had her in my arms.

She proceeded to smack loud air kisses next to my cheek in the French style. It was how we had always greeted each other outside our schooling days.

"Let the drinking commence." Rosetta declared removing her jacket, holding it in one hand, and walking to our table as she held me by the hand and followed the host.

People seated and standing in the restaurant all stared as she walked by in her fitted pastel-colored dress that held on to her big boobs and curvy waist, the thin spaghetti straps barely staying up on her shoulders. Once we reached the table, we both waited for the host to help us into our seats and hand us our napkins.

Rosetta grew up in the same kind of world I had. One of etiquette schools and charity galas and an extra house in almost every estate. The only difference was that she was born with her freedom. She had zero expectations of who she needed to be as long as she didn't shame the family beyond repair. I was almost jealous of her.

"I hope you're well settled in. Can I get you ladies anything to drink other than water?" The young host asked.

"We'll take a bottle of Armand de Brignac Midas." Rosetta winked at me smiling. "To start."

"I may not be up for the night you have planned," I said fondling with my napkin once the waiter walked away.

"Come on girl. You never are. That's why I came prepared. Although," she said, taking a look at my outfit once again. I had on a strapless white jumper that hugged my curves not revealing too much but just the right amount of flesh and my white pearls. The pearls remind me of my mother.

"You look like you're ready in that jumper. All white looks good on you. And look at those shoulders. Baby, tell me what your secret is. You pull off those strapless well."

"And it has a rope with it," I joked.

"You see. Even better." She chucked. "Well, I am glad that after all those years, you learned something valuable and good from me. Now see you rocking those heels."

The waiter came back with our champagne, filling the champagne flute he brought with three-quarters of the glasses causing the bubbles to almost overflow.

"You know…" Rosetta started the devious glint in her eyes. I tried to brace myself for what would come next, but with Rosetta around, one could rarely prepare for whatever next came out of her mouth. She was unpredictable.

"You should just start hooking up with as many guys as you can. Be the inner hoe you have dreamed of becoming but only in your dreams."

I almost choked on the drink I had down in my mouth.

"Oh, my god. Rosetta," I said in a semi-loud voice. "I do not want to be a hoe. I have never implied I want to be one" I said in a shy whispered voice.

She sighed with disappointment. "I know. You're miss goody-goody. Missing the cardigan you love so much, but rocking the pearls still."

I wanted to argue with her. I wanted to adamantly deny and list off all the ways I challenged the rules, but I couldn't. Like I said I was the rule follower of our group. Even Lisa, the quietest of our trio, broke more rules than I did.

"You know, you could still let loose even if you don't go full bad b*tch."

"I don't know," I said, touching and rubbing the pearls she'd mentioned. "You know I have not had a one-night stand before plus I don't think it's for me."

"Yeah, I know you have never tried it and you have only dated one guy for almost a year. And now that had ended, are you going to slap your chastity belt on and throw away the key? He wasn't even good enough to give you an orgasm, such a d*ck head"

"Oh, my god. Keep your voice down," I said, glaring but still smiling as I thought back to my ex.

She topped off her champagne and leaned back in her seat, looking around the restaurant.

"You know what, let's finish drinking and talking and go to a club down the street where we can actually see guys that are gorgeous"

I stylishly lifted my glass to cheer for that.

Our food arrived, and I explained the argument I had with my father. I'd vaguely explained my "family dynamics" when we met, but I never brought it up in detail. I was away from home and wanted to pretend my life didn't require me to live like we were ancient royals who used their daughters to barter with.

"I just wanted to work. I'd always known I'd eventually get married. I just thought I'd have more time. Maybe find someone on my own."

"Then work," she suggested, like it was the easiest solution in the world. "Maybe Jakob is a slow learner and takes years to get to a place where he can focus on you."

"I wish. My dad promised to blacklist me. If I try anywhere, they'll recognize my last name and go to him for a reference, only to be told not to hire me."

Her lips curled in disgust. "I'll have to be extra careful around your dad now. I have words for him."

"I know you do," I laughed

"Hmmm…" She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, looking around the restaurant, like an idea was hiding behind one of the plants.

"Why don't you apply with a different last name?"

"Hmm, that's a good idea."

"Okay, let's go. We'll revisit the solution I just brought when Lisa is with us."

We nearly finished our champagne and were a bit tipsy but we made it out of the restaurant and into the club Rosetta had mentioned earlier on.

Rosetta had booked a table in the VIP section so we did not have to stand and wait to get in. We give our names to the bouncer and he lets us through.

Walking inside I am instantly hit with the smell of alcohol and sweaty bodies, my ears ache already with the noise of people shouting and the song from the DJ. The song was electric but I could feel the vibe in the room.

I followed Rosetta as we found our way to the VIP section, giving the guy our names again as he let us through. We entered and we saw most of our college friends drinking.

"Finally," Rosetta says picking up two shots of what I presume is tequila from the waiter walking around with it as she hands one over to me. I take it and smell it, yeah it's tequila. I wince as it burns my throat and slams the glass on the table. We all cheer and Rosetta starts another conversation.

"Now let's look around at pretty men's asses. That guy can't be for you, he's in skinny jeans." I shook my head pursuing my lips, avoided prying eyes and slowly looked right before turning left to see who she pointed out. But instead, the second shot I'd close to my face almost slipped from my dropped jaw.

"What about him?" she suggested, nodding her head to the back corner. "The one in the blue suit and no tie. Talking to the man in a metallic lamé shirt, skinny jeans, and sneakers. Who wears that in a club? Ew."

I was about to make a comment when I saw him. Holy. Sh*t.

Holy, mother of nature.

"Goodness"

"Right? Sky Daddy, what I wouldn't do to feel that stubble between my thighs."

I couldn't even look away long enough to reprimand Rosetta.

"You should go talk to him."

"Absolutely not." I shook my head and faced her again. But adjusted my hips in my seat, so I could still sneak a few looks without being too obvious.

"Why not?"

"Because he looks…busy. I don't know. I can't just go up to someone having a conversation in a club and…and…what?"

"You would grab his tie and act like Oliver twist. Please, sir," she said in a British accent. "Can I have some more?"

I laughed, watching his hand drag through his black hair. His long fingers expertly run through the thick strands. When he turned, I caught a fuller and more direct look. I melted a little more as I lingered at his full lips. They were plump and lush and even more pronounced from the surrounding stubble. How could a man look so unbelievably masculine with lips like that?

"I can't." I shook off any ideas Rosetta tried to convince me to follow through on, coming back to reality. "Besides, he's probably taken. He is busy and not exactly putting off welcoming vibes."

She rolled her eyes. "You and your vibes."

"You can tell a lot about a person based on the energy they put off. And not in an aura kind of way, but just the personality they portray. He hasn't even smiled."

He briefly glanced in our direction but was too far away for me to see his eye color; they'd looked like dark pools you'd get lost in. And not in the dreamy, good way. In the, fall into a dark pit of nothingness, hoping to find any light, only to find more darkness, kind of way. The person he was talking to laughed, but the delicious stranger remained just as stoic.

"I'm getting the vibe that he'd put his all into f*ck*ng me until I forgot my name. With that scowl he's working, he probably angry fucks and makes you question how you liked something so rough."

"Uhhh…"

"God, he's hot. Go up to him and just fall into his lap. You're hot enough with all your lush dark hair and perky t*ts. You can blink those doe eyes up at him. He'll be forced to find out if you're as innocent as you look or if it's all a scam to cover the true freak you are."

I choked on an uncomfortable laugh, looking away to hide my blush. "I—I'm not a freak."

At least I didn't think so.

"That's because a man like him hasn't shown you that you'd do anything—even the freakiest sh*t—just to please him."

I watched him a little longer. Taking in the elegant movement of his fingers gripping the glass, bringing it to rest on the lushest lips I'd ever seen. I watched the thick column on his throat move up and down when he swallowed, and I may have even moaned when he pulled the glass away only to be followed by the quick swipe of his tongue.

For a moment, I imagined being the bold woman Rosetta wanted me to be. I imagined strutting over there and falling into his lap, letting his strong arms catch me. I imagined his deep voice asking me if I was okay—asking me if I wanted to go home with him. I imagined saying yes.

"I can't," I said softly, forcing myself to look back at her.

"Ugh, fine. Help me down and finish these shots, head to the dance floor, and I'll make sure you get home with your chastity belt still in place."

"So sweet of you," I deadpanned.