A Gangster's Wife || Shallura ||

.Papa Loves Mambo.

"Looking to have a good time, gorgeous?"

Allura doesn't bother to look up from her drink to acknowledge the man that was bold enough to approach her, but she could tell by his tone that he reeked of unbridled arrogance. She picks up her martini glass and swirled its pink-tinted contents before she takes a long sip, careful not to smudge her red lipstick on its rim. When she feels the man lean more into her space to talk over the live band, she finally allows her blue eyes to shift to his so that she can size up her newfound company. The man had expensive taste. She could tell by the flashy jewelry and the designer clothes he wore that he was the type of man who liked to flaunt his wealth in a desperate attempt to get women to fall for the bait that is gilded gold.

Her eyes pierce his and her enchanting gaze only encourages his ego. She resists the urge to make a sour face as her senses are almost overwhelmed by the scent of his cheap cologne when he leans in close to whisper into her ear. "Do you come here often?" His large hand grabs a hold of the back of her chair, and his body cages hers against the bar. It's a cheap tactic to make her feel small and vulnerable. She doesn't so much as bat an eye before she takes another sip of her cosmo.

She can't help the smirk that stretches across her lips at the man's pathetic dedication to woo her. He must not know exactly who she is...or exactly who she belongs to. Part of her pities his ignorance...and the other part of her wants to have some fun.

It's been a while since she's met such an ignorant fool.

She downs the rest of her drink before she fully turns towards him to answer his question. "You can say that," she replies playfully as she toys with the stem of her empty glass, letting her perfectly manicured nails clink against the crystal. "However, I can't say that I come here as often as I should." She finishes her sentence with a bite of her lip and her eyes rake over the features she knows he's most boastful of. She knows her strategy is working when he pulls up a chair to sit next to her and orders her another cosmo. He may think he's a good con artist, but she's a fucking master.

She gives her thanks to the bartender when he gives her another cosmo just the way she likes it; with just a tad of elderflower liqueur and a lime twist that serves as a garnish. The man raises an eyebrow at the scene. "You must come here a lot if he knows exactly how you like your drinks."

She laughs in a tone that she knows men swoon over. "Oh yes. Coran and I go way back." The man behind the bar sends her a wink and continues to expertly shake a martini for another customer. She closes her eyes in bliss as the bittersweet cocktail coats her tongue then slides down her throat, leaving a trail of liquid fire in its wake. She wants to savor the taste of her favorite poison, but the man is already asking her more questions.

"So you got a name, beautiful?" he asked her in a tone full of stolen confidence and it only makes Allura want to knock him down a few pegs.

She crossed her legs at the knee and rested her chin on the palm of her hand as she fiddled with the lime twist on the edge of her glass. "Of course," she humored him with a twirl of her silver hair. "Everyone has a name. Let's start with yours." She sent him a flirty smile and a small giggle. Allura always did like to play with her food.

The man must think he struck gold because his hand starts to wander to places it didn't belong. Allura keeps her face carefully neutral and says nothing when his hand found purchase on her thigh. A sudden movement from her peripheral vision causes her to subtlely shake her head to ward off her guard dogs. She's sure they've been on edge since the man first approached her and by now, they were looking for any reason to pounce on the unsuspecting man. She doesn't need them to fight her battles. She has everything under control.

"Derik Weber," he introduces himself proudly with a boyish grin. Arrogantly, he waits for her to fawn over him.

Allura nods her head, half-amused. "Ah, Derik Weber," she says when she recognizes the name. "The sole heir to Weber Incorporations." Her fingers swirl her drink carelessly in her hand and moved her foot to the beat of the music. This was one of her favorite songs, and she couldn't help that her body reacted to its pull. "It's nice to see that your father's insider trading scandal didn't affect your desire to pick up random women you meet at clubs."