Rival across the hall

[Love2rp]

"Well......maybe that is a little 'Hallmark Movie' but you shouldn't give up completely, I mean what is that?" Chase said as he casually pulled out his phone. He texted his florist to send a small bouquet to Marissa's office with the card reading "Someone will someday" alluding to her romantic fantasy.

"But maybe take it easy on the chocolate cheesecake if you are going to get back into the playing field!" Chase said laughing as the waiter brought both the bill and her cheesecake and Chase inserted his card into the sleeve

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's what gyms are for." Marissa said as she took the cheesecake with a thank you to the waitress, watching as Chase paid their bill.

"Thanks." She said as they exited the restaurant, the door held open for her. "See, you can be a gentleman when the need arises."

 

[Love2rp]

"Hey I can fake sincerity with the best of 'em Missy" he said purposely messing with her. "As for the gym, there's far better ways to get cardio" he said winking before putting on his gold Oliver Peoples aviator sunglasses

 

[heartofcourage]

"Not interested." Marissa said, giving his shoulder a shove as she moved past him to walk back towards the office. "But there are probably a dozen girls out there who would love that offer."

As they walked back to the office, she noticed that Mr. Latino's car was still parked in front of the building. If he was still there, she would just conduct their meeting that afternoon and come in late in the morning. Sleeping in sounded wonderful, she thought to herself as they entered the building and took the elevator to the office.

"Duty calls." She said, glancing at Chase.

 

[Love2rp]

"I've got to go find those dozen girls" Chase said winking. "But I'm actually golfing this afternoon with the Thompson's (one of the firm's biggest clients), it'd be great if you tag along, I mean Latino just wanted to talk to your dad anyway" Chase said, desperate to keep her from Latino. He knew he was a major rival for her affection and that after the party at the yacht club he expressed his interest in her.

As he tries to get Marissa to go with him he gets a notification that the bouquet has been delivered to her office

 

[heartofcourage]

"Chase, I'm not going to a golf course dressed like this. Besides, I'd only be stuck sitting in the cart while you guys played. I'd honestly rather be working." She said, giving him a look. "You go out and work your magic. I'll stay right here."

 

[Love2rp]

"They've got clothes there, my treat. Otherwise I'll be stuck with no one to talk to for four hours.......please?" Chase said laying it on thick. There was truth to this however he also wanted to keep her from Latino's grasp

 

[heartofcourage]

"Chase, I have work to do." Marissa said, giving him a look to ask him why all the strange behavior. "Look, maybe if I can get through some of my files before then, I'll go. Don't count on it though."

She left her cheesecake in the office fridge and then turned to make her way to her office. She paused when she saw the flowers on her desk, a small bouquet of yellow roses. She made her way to her desk and pulled the card from the bouquet, smiling as she read the little message written there. She knew Chase had to be behind it, and it was sweet that he wanted to make her smile.

She glanced up when she heard a knock at her door and saw Anthony standing there. "Hello, Mr. Latino. I'm surprised that you're still hanging around. If you would like, we can go ahead and have our meeting and save you a trip back down here tomorrow morning."

 

[Love2rp]

"Where else would I possibly go Marissa?" Latino said coming into the office "but this is so confining, perhaps, if you have no plans we could have a dinner meeting instead? My treat of course" Latino said crossing his legs casually. "It would be good to talk in a less formal setting don't you think?"

As this was going on Chase was driving his new red Ferrari, a gift to himself after bonus season, to the club to go golfing with the Thompson's. Usually a fast driver it was only made worse by his thoughts of Latino moving in on Marissa. He pulled up to the club and greated Mr and Mrs Thompson, long standing business owners who sat on multiple boards of directors and saw they had brought along their daughter Gwen. A pretty girl to be sure but all of 21 and a completely spoiled trust fund baby. As they went to get changed Chase was dreading this afternoon chaperoning the bratty daughter while Latino tried to seduce Marissa

 

[heartofcourage]

"Dinner?" Marissa asked as she took a seat behind her desk and moved the roses to the side. "I suppose that would be alright. I don't have any plans this evening."

She pulled out his file and sat it on the desk. "What about your daughter? Will she be joining us as well?"

Sarah was a sweet little four year old who always seemed to be smiling. She was happy with her father and it was one of the reasons why Marissa worked so hard on their case. She wanted to keep that little girl as happy as possible.

 

[Love2rp]

"Well I wouldn't want to keep you from any plans you have of course" Latino said nodding towards the flowers "but as for Sarah, no she is with her mother this evening and it appears as though I would be alone otherwise, certainly the company of a beautiful young woman would be welcome!" He said smiling casually

"Not to mention, I had heard some things that I wanted to discuss with you to see what was truth, shall I send the car to pick you up at your house? I was thinking Alioto's about 8pm?"

Alioto's was by far the most expensive and best restaurant in town, no way any couple could get out of that place for less than $1,000.

Across town Chase was checking his phone to see if Marissa had called or texted to the point where the Thompson's had asked if everything was ok "ok? Is everything ok? Are you insane?" He thought but of course said "my apologies, just was finishing up the details of a merger" Chase said putting his phone in his golf bag and trying to focus

 

[heartofcourage]

Marissa blushed as he mentioned that he would enjoy the company of a beautiful young woman that evening as Sarah was with her mother. "Well, in that case, I suppose I can't say no." She said, glancing towards the flowers as he alluded to them. "They're from a friend."

"8 will be fine, but I can drive myself. It's not a problem." She said, struggling to keep this as professional as possible.

Gwen looked completely bored as she sat in the golf cart, staring off into the distance as her parents played a round of golf with their lawyer. Chase was a handsome man, but there were a million other places that she would have rather been in that moment. She idly twisted a piece of her long brunette hair around her finger, watching Chase as he continually checked his phone. He seemed nervous, waiting for something that didn't happen.

 

[Love2rp]

"Please, it is my treat to send the car, that way you can enjoy the wine ebbed more" he said with a calm warmness to his voice. He stood and straightened his suit coat preparing to leave "I look forward to this evening Marissa but, if I may, your friend who sent the flowers. He may either not know he is just a friend or he may want more.....just some unsolicited advice from an old man" he said smiling as he turned to leave

 

[heartofcourage]

Marissa glanced towards the flowers as Anthony regarded them again, telling her that whomever sent them either wanted more or was simply just a friend. He had no idea how profound those words actually were.

Back at the club, Gwen was bored out of her mind as she had made her way to the club house. Chase still seemed incredibly agitated as the round of golf wound down. He still checked his phone every few moments, his attentions elsewhere.

She was sipping on a margarita as he stepped in after the game had ended and she raised an eyebrow at him. "Seems to me like you got dumped." She murmured, brushing her long brown hair over her shoulder. "Oh, come on. No one checks their phone that much without a reason. Whomever was supposed to text you seems to have moved on."

 

[Love2rp]

Chase looked over at Gwen, so confident and pretty for her age "excuse me Gwendolyn but Chase Daniels doesn't get dumped" he said winking at her and taking a sip of her drink "it's just.....business" he said knowing that was a complete lie

 

[heartofcourage]

"Face it. You were dumped." Gwen said with a grin towards Chase as he took a sip of her drink. "But you know what? I'm prepared to let you take me out on the town to drown your sorrows. You have a nice car. You probably know all the good places in this town to eat and dance the night away. Or else...we could go somewhere more private."

 

[Love2rp]

"Oh Gwen" chase said with the panty dropping smile he always used "as much as I'm sure that would be wonderful, your parents are my clients and I can't possibly risk that" he said as he got up and walked over to her parents, ready to play the back nine of their round

 

[heartofcourage]

Gwen watched him walk away with a raised eyebrow, not prepared for a man like Chase to simply walk away. It seemed that he did have ethics after all. She shrugged her shoulders and turned back towards the bar, waiting for the three of them to finish their game.

Later that evening, Marissa was getting ready when she heard the front door bell on her town home ring. Glancing in the mirror one last time, she smoothed out the full skirt of her dress before she grabbed her briefcase and slipped into a comfortable pair of low heels. She wasn't going all out because this was nothing more than a business meeting to her. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a simple twist, showing of the long line of her throat. Her blue dress was lacy with short sleeves and full skirt that went to her knees.

Opening the door, she gave a nod to the man that greeted her, following him out to his car to be driven to the restaurant.

 

[Love2rp]

"Mr Latino apologizes for having to meet you at dinner but hopes you understand" the chauffeur said opening the door. Inside was a brilliant arrangement of roses and tulips the gave a wonderful fragrance to the black Bentley's interior.

Pulling up at the restaurant Marissa was escorted to Mr Latino's personal table. He was in full suit and tie and stood as she approached "Marissa you look stunning as usual" he said giving her a brief hug. "What's this?" He said motioning to the briefcase "I thought I said we were off the clock!" He said sitting down only after the waiter pushes Marissa's chair in for her

 

[heartofcourage]

Marissa was stunned when the back of the car was opened and she found herself face to face with a beautiful arrangement of tulips and roses. She knew then and there that Mr. Latino wasn't about to let this be a professional meeting and that made her stomach hurt slightly. She had always been a professional, so going into a dinner with a client that was anything but professional made her slightly apprehensive.

As she was escorted into the restaurant, she was stunned when she saw Anthony in a full suit and tie, looking incredibly handsome as he stood to hug her. She hugged him back stiffly, glancing down at the briefcase for a moment before she took her seat.

"I assumed we would discuss business this evening instead of in the morning." Marissa said softly. "That was the whole reason for arranging this, wasn't it?"

 

[Love2rp]

"Well Marissa to be honest.......yes some business due to rumors I have heard but that was also a convienent way to get you to dinner!" He said as he ordered a bottle of wine for dinner that cost more than most people make in one month.

Across town Chase had settled into his townhouse after the day of golf and ordered some Chinese food to be delivered. He picked up his phone to text Marissa before putting it back down thinking "damn, Gwen was right....." as Mr Thompson texted him to say what a lovely time they had that afternoon

 

[heartofcourage]

"Rumors?" Marissa asked as he admitted that it was also an excuse to get her to dinner. "Anthony, I'm flattered, really. But you're my client. I don't think that anything further can happen between us."

She watched as he ordered a bottle of wine for the both of them, the cost of it staggering. She knew that he would give it his all and that made her heart race in the most unexpected way.


It was a few moments later that Chase's cell bleeped again, a message from Gwen this time. She had gotten the number from her father's phone and decided to take matters into her own hands where Chase was concerned.

'I've got a bottle of wine and I know you're alone. Give me your address.' The message was short and to the point, full of promise of a fun night.

 

[Love2rp]

"Rumors about your firm Marissa.....we'll deal with the other later but for now, you are friends with Chase no?" Latino said, seeing what the reaction would be

Chase picked up his phone knowing full well who it was but tried to play stupid "who is this?" He replied to her message, trying to figure a way out of this gracefully

 

[heartofcourage]

"We've been friends for a very long time. Since we were children, in fact." Marissa said as Anthony mentioned that he had questions about her firm and Chase. "I would trust him in any situation. He's cocky, but he's good."

She glanced over as the waiter brought their wine, uncorking the bottle and filling their glasses with the deep red liquid. "Thank you." She murmured softly and took a sip of the wine, letting the heady liquid fill her senses.

'You know who it is.' Gwen answered back, preparing to play his little game. 'I mean it. Give me your address. I'll make it worth your while.'

 

[Love2rp]

"So then let me ask any truth to the rumor he is leaving for Olson/Williams? I hear they made him quite the sweetheart offer" Latino said as he drank from his glass, this astounding bottle of wine as standard to him as Aquafina is to most people.

Chase texted back "sorry not sure who this is and I appreciate the offer but I'm ok thanks"