Chapter 4: Chloe And Her Sexcapades

   I'm exhausted by the time I manage to pull myself through my apartment's front door. I can't get the interaction with Mr. Hotshot out of my head; it makes me angry again. I head straight for the shower because the mud has dried into a disgusting, crusty film on my clothes. I feel like a human again as the hot water removes the dirt and annoyance.

I feel as though all the negativity that the day had thrown at me is washed away when I take a nice shower. I let the water run over me for a little longer than usual, enjoying the warmth and the little escape from the outer world. Felix peeks his head as I'm leaving the restroom, still covered in a towel. “Hey, June, can I borrow your laptop for a bit? Mine’s being a pain.”  

  I roll my eyes but can’t help smiling. “Sure, just don’t break it. I need it for work, you know.”  

  He grins. “Thanks. And try not to fall for any more jerks on your way to work tomorrow, okay?”  

  “Ha-ha, very funny,” I said, tossing a damp towel at him. He ducks out of the way, laughing as he leaves.  

  With Felix gone, I turned my attention to my closet. Chloe’s party is exactly what I need to shake off this day. I search through my wardrobe for anything that exudes confidence and sexiness.I finally decide on a form-fitting red dress that perfectly enhances my curves. I wear it with some stunning heels and pause to look at myself in the mirror.

  “Alright, June,” I told myself. “Tonight’s going to be different. No more thinking about that jerk.”  

  With one last look in the mirror, I grab my bag and head out. Time to meet Chloe and, hopefully, have a night that doesn’t involve mud, arrogant guys, or any more bad luck.  

  The bar is buzzing when I walk in, music thumping and people laughing, all blissfully unaware of the rough day I’ve had. I scan the crowd for Chloe and spot her waving at me from a corner booth, our usual spot. She’s already got a drink in her hand and a mischievous grin on her face.  

  “June! Over here!” she calls out, drawing a few glances from nearby tables.  

  I weave my way through the crowd and slid into the booth across from her. “Hey, Chloe. You look like you’re up to no good.”  

  She laughs and pushes a drink towards me. “You know me too well. The week was hectic! Cheers to surviving chile..”  

  I clink my glass against hers and take a sip, the fruity concoction a welcome distraction from my day. “Cheers! So, what’s new with you?”  

  Chloe leans in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Oh, you won’t believe the night I had yesterday. I’ve been waiting to tell you, oh my God.”  

  I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Spill the tea babes.”  

  She grins, clearly eager to share. “Alright, so remember that guy I’ve been seeing? The one with the dreamy eyes? We finally hooked up, and let me tell you, it was mind-blowing.”  

  I laughed, shaking my head. “You always manage to find the most interesting guys. What happened?”  

  Chloe’s voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper. “We were at his place, and things were getting hot and heavy. Next thing I know, we’re in the kitchen, and he’s lifting me onto the counter. Let’s just say, it wasn’t just the stove that was heating up.”  

  I choked on my drink, laughing. “Oh my God, Chloe. You and your adventures.”  

  She shrugs, clearly pleased with herself. “What can I say? I have a knack for finding excitement. But seriously, it was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time. The guy was a complete animal. You need to get out there more, June. When’s the last time you had any fun?”  

  I sigh, knowing she’s right but not wanting to admit it. “It’s been a while. But tonight’s about having fun, right? So, let’s make the most of it.”  

  Chloe nods enthusiastically. “Absolutely. Tonight’s going to be legendary, hopefully, because the crowd is looking depressing, but we’ll see.”  

  Chloe takes a long sip of her drink, looking way too pleased with herself. "So, besides my sexcapades, guess what else I've been up to?"  

  I raised an eyebrow. "What now? More scandalous stories?"  

  She chuckles. "Not quite, but close. I’m writing this huge article on a superstar in the racing world."  

  I perk up, genuinely interested. "Really? Who’s the lucky guy?"  

  "Ever heard of Asher Astor?" she asks, her eyes twinkling with excitement.  

  The name rings a bell, but I can’t quite place it. "Asher Astor? Like the same last name as my boss, Jude Astor?"  

  Chloe nods, grinning. "Exactly. He’s this hotshot racer, super famous. And get this, he’s related to your CEO."  

  I scoff, thinking it must be a coincidence. "You’re kidding, right? Jude has never mentioned anything about racing or a famous son."  

  Chloe looks at me like I’ve grown two heads. "June, how do you not know this? Do you live under a rock? Asher is Jude Astor’s eldest son. It’s common knowledge."  

  I blink, processing this new information. "No way! I mean, Jude is so... proper and businesslike. It’s hard to picture him with a son tearing up the racetrack."  

  Chloe shakes her head, laughing. "You really need to get out from behind those binders more often. Asher’s a big deal. And he’s insanely hot, by the way."  

  I roll my eyes, though I can’t help but be a bit intrigued. "Of course he is. Is every guy named Astor just genetically blessed?"  

  Chloe smirks. "Seems like it. You should see him, June. He’s something else."  

  I take a sip of my drink, trying to imagine this Asher guy. "Great, another Astor to add to my list of unattainable men."  

  Chloe nudges me playfully. "Hey, you never know. Maybe you’ll get to meet him one day. Could make for an interesting story."  

  I laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, right. My life’s not that exciting. But thanks for the scoop. Now I know who to blame for making Jude so d*mn rich."