Vice

36: Drive

Natara slips into the passenger seat of Mr. Vice's pricey sports car, very aware of the fact that her sister is staring at her from the living room window. She leans her head back against the seat and closes her eyes. She'll have to explain herself to Macey the moment she gets back home.

Why did she have to be so blundering? Couldn't she just keep a secret? Or, better yet, couldn't she just not make crazy choices that she'd have to answer for later?

Was this another one of those crazy choices? Are they actually going to a meeting or is this just some excuse for Mr. Vice to take her on a date and then pull her lips to meet his again?

Mr. Vice crushes out his cigarette and slides into the driver seat.

"Parkan Bay is almost five hours away, isn't it?" Natara asks once they've been driving for a few minutes. "Are we really going there?"

She's heard of Parkan Bay but never been there. It was usually a place for concerts, clubs, and parties. It wasn't exactly her kind of hangout. She was honestly much happier staying inside binge watching dramas.

"It is. That's obviously why I'm here early. You make it sound like you don't believe I'm honestly just driving you to a work meeting. Any particular reason why that might be?" A smirk teases the corners of his lips.

Natara rolls her eyes. She can't believe that even after the nights they spent cuddling each other and that make out session they shared, Mr. Vice is still being as bratty and insufferable as ever.

"No, there's no reason. You definitely don't have a history of luring me into coming into dens with you or anything." Natara stares at the pack of cigarettes on his dash and the coffee in his cup holder, then looks down at her dress. "Why'd I have to change into this uncomfortable dress if we're not gonna be there for five hours?"

Other than those two items, his car is completely clean. She wonders if someone is hired to clean it or if Mr. Vice just takes pride in keeping his vehicle well taken care of. She assumes it's the former. She wonders if the chauffeur she met the other day takes care of it.

"Wanted to see you in it," he shrugs. Natara's eyes widen. She sneaks a glance at him and sees a very slight grin teasing at his lips. She then glances down at her very exposed cleavage and crosses her arms over her chest. 

"I'm joking. It's because we're not making any stops on the ride and you won't have anywhere to change otherwise. You can stop crossing your arms like a ten year old." He sighs. 

Natara's face flames. She doesn't uncross her arms. She's not sure if he's flirting with her, toying with her, or purposely trying to fluster her. But it's working. 

"Why do you go to so many big parties?" Natara asks, desperate to change the subject. Mr. Vice's fingertips tap against the wheel. He smoothly merges the car out onto the highway and Natara notices he's actually going the speed limit.

"Not by choice. I only go to these when my father is too busy to attend them. Sometimes he just needs a hollow show of face for the company." His hand twitches for a second, like he needs to grab another cigarette, but he continues driving. "That's where I come in. Mr. Hollow. Always doing whatever the hell he wants me to. Putting on whatever fucking plastic face I need to."

"They don't honestly give a shit what I do or say at the parties. So that's all we're going to do. Show up. Chat a little. Leave as soon as we get the chance," he continues. "Usually I go alone but...this time I wanted company. Your company."

"Why did you kiss me yesterday?" Natara uncrosses her arms and scratches her fingernail against the fancy car's leather armrests, thinking back to the kiss they shared. Surely Mr. Vice had some kind of explanation for suddenly wanting to kiss her like that. It felt so deep. So passionate. Nothing like she'd expected a first kiss to feel.

"Why did you kiss me yesterday?" Mr. Vice glances over as he drives. His green eyes glisten like emerald under the morning sun. His gaze tugs toward her tight dress and pulls away almost as quickly as it reaches it. "I assume it was for a similar reason. Or, at least, I'd hope so."

"What reason would that be?" Natara presses, letting her gaze wander over his suit - tailored closely to his body. The same body that she was pressed against just last morning. If he could glance at her, she could glance at him, too. Or...stare at him for a long time. Her eyes don't leave his body quite as respectfully as his left hers.

"It's not easy to explain." He grips the steering wheel a little tighter. "I feel like I need you. When your skin presses against mine, when you lay beside me, and even just when you're near me..."

"Why are you always saying that? Why are you always asking me to stay and come closer to me and telling me that you need me?" Natara huffs, interrupting him. "I'm not a special person."

"You're not?" He shrugs. If he cares about being interrupted, he doesn't show it. "That's news to me, because you're the first person I've ever wanted to keep around."

"Well, don't. Because I'm not worth it and it's not appropriate." She crosses her arms again and leans back in the seat, staring out the window. If things with Mr. Vice continue the way they are, she's going to get in a lot of trouble. She needs to stay strong like Macey warned her to, and not get into any worse situations with him. And the best way to do that is to turn him down.

And if Mr. Vice is looking for a "special" woman, it certainly isn't Natara, anyway. She's never been special in her entire life. Normal. Average. Unimpressive. But never special. 

She's a failure - not someone destined to be with the heir to a multi-million dollar corporation. This isn't a fantasy story or one of her silly dramas - it's real life. She isn't a strong, unique, or talented female lead. Natara is just a normal and boring girl, struggling her way through the adult life.

Natara closes her eyes, feeling like she could almost cry. Clouds cloak the sun and a shadow slips over the car as they drive, casting Mr. Vice's eyes to a shade of grey as he stares at the road ahead.