Dancing With Fire

- Blue -

I stepped out into the cold Brisbane city air. It had just rained, making the smell of everything from the soaked tarmac to the leaves on the trees rise in a thick, heady cloud. The fine mist hanging in the air seemed to blur the streetlights, turning them to fuzzy yellow halos lining the street. A lone bird cried in the distance.

I pulled my coat tighter over my chest. It had been another taxing day at work and I was exhausted. My long, dark curls were always tucked into a bun for work, but I was eager to get home, shake them out, take my bra off, and make a hot cup of tea. Surprised that it was still this cold so close to spring, I decided it would be faster to catch a bus home.

After a short, brisk walk to the bus stop, I checked the timetable and realised I had just missed the last one. Cursing my luck, all that was left to do is grit my teeth, light a cigarette, put on my big girl pants, and walk home. I couldn't believe I'd stayed so late again. The project was so close to completion, I could taste it. Yet the harder we worked, the more push back we seemed to be getting from the client. Nothing was ever quite good enough. So my work schedule would pile up, doing overtime at the studio to try and figure it all out. Tonight was no exception, but the long, grinding hours took a toll on me and I was finding it difficult to concentrate. After several retakes of the same branding layout, it seemed easier to quit while I was ahead rather than waste more time with my mind drifting.

Imran didn't help either. He was wearing all black today - a mandarin collared soft linen shirt and crisp black denim, complimenting his slim build. He looked sleek, and neat, and even though our deadline was tight, so was Imran's butt. I loved a nice ass on a man...

I snapped myself out of the daydream again. Imran was delicious but this client still had me vexed. Not even the cold bite of the wind as I walked could keep my mind off it. It was my first project at Nova and I wanted to kill it. This kind of work wasn't new to me. My portfolio had impressed enough to get me through the door, but now that I was here why did it feel like I was going back to basics? I went over my design approaches repeatedly until my head hurt. Of all the departments on this project, mine was the one lacking the most. What was I getting wrong?

As I waited to cross the street, my phone rang. I fished it out of my pocket and answered with enthusiasm.

"Besan, my love! How are you?"

"Maya, babe, I'm delightful. How is your night going?" Besan, my best friend, was almost shouting through the phone, like an old person on a long-distance call. I could hear voices and loud music in the background. Social butterfly that she was, she was probably out at some event or function.

"Not as exciting as your night, I'm sure. Where are you at?"

"Oh, babe. I'm at this benefit for the forests..." she trailed off as it sounded like someone on the other end tried to get her attention.

"The forests? Which forests?" I laughed.

"I lost track, babe. We've got plenty that need saving. The band is fantastic, though!" She trilled. I rolled my eyes and stubbed my cigarette out in a nearby bin.

"Where are you?" She asked loudly.

"I'm just walking home right now." The pedestrian light went green and I crossed the road, happy to keep moving and get my blood flowing again.

"From what fabulous event?" Besan sounded a little too excited to ask.

"From my fabulous office, darling."

Besan's exasperated sigh practically travelled through the phone. "It's a Friday night, Maya. What on earth are you doing leaving the office at 11PM? I thought you were finally loosening up!"