And Then There Was One (2019)

Chapter 5 - Ben Thomas

Syracuse, New York

July 1, 2019

Ben Thomas, a curly haired blond man with a neatly groomed villainous stache and stubble beard, runs on a treadmill at the local Crunch Gym in Downtown Syracuse. He shoots glances across the gym toward a group of blonde ladies, who are dressed in yoga pants. He smirks cloyingly and ups his tempo, tossing his head in a sexy, manly way.

The ladies giggle and murmur amongst themselves, before one of them with an obvious boob job steps forward. She has on a cleavage-showing bright pink tank top and proceeds to bend over as though stretching out and warming up her back and legs. He can see her white bra barely poke out as he boobs spill over the top.

Ben trips over his legs and almost loses himself, but quickly turns the machine off and staggers off it, sweating and chuckling nervously.

The woman straightens up, putting her hands on her hips and flashes a wink at him before turning back to her friends.

"Told you. Just another horny dude wanting these," he overhears the woman tell her friends with a giggle.

Ben gathers himself and storms over to them. He grabs the woman by the shoulder and spins her around. "Hey! What's the big idea flashing those in here..." His eyes drop to her chest, unable to keep himself from staring.

"My eyes are up here, SIR." The woman forces his head up from his chin where their eyes meet.

"You're beautiful, I mean. You shouldn't need to come in here to work out..." Ben trails off. Get it together, Benjamin Thomas!

The woman giggles, blushing nervously.

Got her! Reel it in, Mr. Thomas!

"Would you maybe, uh, like to go out for lunch?" Ben questions, rubbing his muscular arm purposefully turning it to show her.

She glances at him and seems to give an 'I'm rather impressed' facial expression. "Where are we going...?" She grabs him by the collar of his sweaty shirt, pulling him closer to her.

Ben gulps. "Wherever you'd like to go, Dearie. I take it you're not a fast foodie, nor into large, expensive restaurants, I'm guessing something as simple and healthy like First Watch suits you."

The woman releases him and looks at her friends, a smug grin creeping on her face. "Impressive. I like him. He's got game, this gorgeous lion."

"And afterwards, we'll head to my place and I can undress you and make love to those luscious fake melons of yours?" Ben remarks, giving a sly chuckle and sassy smirk. He puts his hands on her boobs and gives them a squeeze.

The woman gasps and slaps him across the face, stepping back from him. "Nevermind!" She spins on her heels and storms off with her friends, who all give him a disgusted look. Now he can see all the plastic surgery done to their faces and the over-use of makeup to cover up their ugliness.

Ben laughs. "I like my women real and natural! You try too hard to play against me in my OWN game, Fake Boobs!"

He spins around and mutters to himself, "As if Rossling Colton can figure that out with his drunk ass..." He heads back toward the treadmill, picking his water up and squirting some into his mouth.

Suddenly an attractive flaming redheaded woman struts by him, flicking her hair at him and chewing on gum. He sets the water back down, eyeing her as she walks around. "Now THAT is a woman." His eyes rest on her natural butt that is shaped with her yoga pants. "Ways to get back at Matt Spencer, Taylor Raddysh, Rossling Colton and Jonne Tammela in revenge will have to wait."

He walks over to her, getting hard in his pants and makes to tap on her shoulder, when she sighs and spins to him.

"Can I help you, sir?"

Ben bites his lip. "Are you--?"

"--Available tonight for dinner?" she cuts him off, finishing his sentence with ease. She smiles at him, her emerald green eyes shimmering under the neon lights of the workout center. Then she sticks her hand out to him and exclaims, "The name's Arielle. That's Arrr, like a pirate, ree, like Scooby Doo exclaiming 'wee', l, like the letter in the alphabet. Pronounce it like the Little Mermaid from Disney and I'll walk away."

Ben rubs his arm nervously. She was playing him. BUT she was legit.

Arielle (Ar-ree-el) pulls her black tank top with a built in bra down some. "It's not down far enough!"

Ben bites his lip harder, getting more hard in his pants at the sight of her obvious d-size breasts spilling out the collar of the top. "Okay! Okay! DAMN! Fucking love coming here for the boob show!"

Arielle grins at him and puts her hands on her hips. "Oh you like...this...huh?" She then motions him to her. "Come here, I have something for ya."

Ben does so, almost in a trance.

She jams a piece of paper into his hand. "That's my number. And this..." She withdraws an envelope with the familiar sticker on it. "This is an invitation from someone very important! I'm curious to get to know you more, Mr. Thomas."

Ben blinks. He ignores the fact that she knows his last name without him even saying anything but he finds her eyes absolutely stunning to look into. "I'll-I'll give you a call in a little bit."

"Oh, I know you will."

With that, she walks off from him, tossing glances back behind her shoulder. She pushes open the door and remarks, "It's done. He's too easy to manipulate!" And she flicks her hair and vanishes from sight around a corner.

Ben gathers himself and staggers over to a bench to sit down. He tucks the number away and moves to the envelope, which he tears open and digs out the two letter. Thinking this was part of her ploy, he packs his stuff and heads to his house to gather the rest of what he will need.

It is time to head to Orlando.

To Masquerade Island!