𝟏𝟒- 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Different Setting.

❂

SATURDAY rolled by in a breezily manner.

After the unsuspecting events on Wednesday night, the rest of Aria's week was uneventful.

Kiera and her sent one another sweet texts throughout the days, the topic brought up by Memphis never addressed.

Kiera was away in Japan and wouldn't be back for a few weeks, giving the redhead more time to debate with herself. Kiera's mom was originally from Japan, so they visited frequently when the woman got homesick. Ken Malon, Kiera's father, had passed around this same time last year which is why Kiera and her mother were away visiting family.

The two women were currently experiencing about a seven hour time difference, so their different schedules were much difficult to keep up with. They seemed to manage it well so far.

Aria sent one last text to Kiera before sliding her phone into her pocket.

The redhead stood outside of Opia, the music from inside a stark contrast to the outside scenery.

Upon her arrival from home, she had received a message from Memphis, instructing her to simply wait outside of the venue.

Aria was confused and nearly disobeyed Memphis' instructions until she remembered how well off she currently was.

Just a few more months, She encouraged herself.

As many times the woman pondered on resigning from her position at Barnes and Noble, knowing that it would better her mental health, she couldn't imagine the mistake it would be once the big bills from Memphis stopped rolling in.

Achieving her future aspirations called for serious sacrifices— ones that would benefit her later on in life.

Aria's focus shifted back to real life when a sleek, black limo approached her.

With furrowed eyebrows, Aria watch as the vehicle rolled to a stop in front of her. Her feet shifted before she could think, beginning to carry her backwards.

The situation was far too sketchy.

It wasn't until the back window shifted downwards, revealing Memphis, did Aria let out a huge breath.

"You scared the shit out of me." she scowled, leaning down slightly to make direct eye contact with the brunette.

Memphis was dressed comfortably in matching sweats and a hoodie, her face bare of any makeup.

"What have I told you about that mouth of yours?" Memphis asked, raising an eyebrow at Aria.

Aria huffed, "It's my mouth. Therefore I will use it as I please—"

She was cut off before she could finish her sentence.

"Get in." Memphis spoke with no room for rejection, slipping further into the vehicle to make room.

"And why should I?" Aria challenged.

"Because if you don't, you can say bye to whatever money I owe you tonight." Memphis assured, opening the door for Aria to enter through.

The redhead mumbled phrases such as 'manipulative whore' and 'crazy bitch' under her breath as she slid into the limo.

"Shouldn't we be like inside of the club?" she sighed once sat in the warm limousine.

Memphis handed a glass of champagne over to Aria, "I'm sick of being cramped up in that office. A different setting is a must."

Aria plucked the thin glass from Memphis' fingers but didn't dare take a sip, wanting nothing more than to be aware of her surroundings.

Memphis noticed Aria's reluctant behavior and chuckled, "Loosen up, fleur."

"Not until I know where we're going." the redhead finalized, turning her head away from Memphis to watch the buildings pass by.

The taller woman only shook her head, unbothered by Aria's actions. She slid her phone from her coat pocket and began to busy herself on it, sipping from her glass as she did so.

It didn't take long for the two to reach their destination nor was the building anything secretive.

"You seriously brought me to your condo?" Aria groaned, throwing her head back.

Memphis ignored Aria's huffs and puffs, exiting the limousine with her hands in her pockets.

Aria remained seated in her original spot with her legs crossed and eyes closed out of irritation.

"Get out of the car." Memphis demanded.

Aria peeked an eye open, observing the stern face of Memphis, "I already told you that we're not fucking."

Memphis attempted to hold in a laugh, "Is that what you think this is?"

Aria hummed groggily, slouching further into her heated seat.

Memphis didn't wait for Aria to magically decide to obey. She reached inside for the shorter woman and carried her in her arms.

Aria's face flushed from the unexpected action, glaring at the brunette with slight embarrassment.

"Put me down." she grumbled, kicking her legs as an act of rebellion.

"Will you behave like an adult?" Memphis questioned, her face entirely nonchalant.

Aria rolled her eyes, "As long as you don't try to hold me hostage in your bedroom, yes."

The brunette placed Aria onto her feet, her fluffy slippers hitting the ground with a light thump.

The way up to Memphis' home was unproblematic, people only seemed to acknowledge the taller woman with respectable smiles and head nods.

There it was again— that authority that radiated off of the brown skinned woman wherever she stood.

Aria took notice of the interactions but did not speak on it.

Memphis' identity was a mystery that desperately needing unraveling.

The ride on the elevator was quiet, Memphis tended to her phone while Aria continued to observe the expensive details of the building.

The ceilings were high and bold, the floors sparkled, and it all looked well taken care of.

The moment they entered Memphis' home, they were greeted with the heavy scent of cinnamon and sandalwood.

It was hard to decipher where the two stood until Memphis flicked on a switch, illuminating the entire room with a warm light.

The area was open, tall windows lining the walls of the condo. Aria expected an all black interior but instead was shocked to see cream and multiple shades of brown: the kitchen was spacey with velvety barstools and a marbled countertop; her sitting area nursed a large couch and plants that lined the floors; and artwork was placed on nearly every empty wall, the pieces portraying classical scenes.

Aria furrowed her eyebrows upon seeing a blonde lazing around. She faced away from the couple, a finger twirling in her hair as she looked at the city lights from above.

She twisted around suddenly, a smile growing on her face.

Her face and body were slender, her features soft and delicate. She was only wearing a red matching bra and panty set, her straightened hair tucked behind her ears. Upon the two women's arrival, the girl scurried away somewhere while giggling.

Memphis hadn't yelled or attempted to question her existence, making the redhead believe that this encounter was extremely natural.

"Who's she?" Aria let the curiosity get the better of her, nodding her head toward where the blonde once stood.

"No one important." Memphis declared, removing her coat and shoes to settle in.

Aria sighed, tired of Memphis' secrecy, "Where can I change?"

The brunette smirked, "Follow me."

She led the shorter woman away from the front of the home and down a hallway. Aria looked around the condo with a more relaxed eye, trying her hardest to not show her amazement.

They entered a door to the right, an office.

The low thump of music welcomed the women the moment the door opened. Like the rest of the decor, the office was all tall windows, plush seating, and consumed with reflective artwork.

Aria took notice of the stabilized pole that stood in front of Memphis' desk.

"You really went out of your way." she stated softly, reaching for the oversized sweater that she wore.

"What makes you think I had this specially brought in for you?" Memphis mumbled from behind.

Aria looked over her shoulder, "Then you're more of a freak than I thought."

Memphis laughed, pulling her bottom lip into her mouth out of habit.

Realizing that the brunette made no effort to leave, Aria rolled her eyes, "You want a strip tease or what?"

Memphis hummed, walking pass the shorter woman to the mini bar. She grabbed a glass cup and a few bottles from below, preparing herself a cocktail.

Aria clicked her tongue in thought, It's nothing she's never seen before.

The redhead lifted her top over her head, throwing it at her feet once the material of her blinged out bra was shown. She didn't look up from the floor until her feet stepped out of her leggings, dropping atop her stripped sweater.

Memphis was sat behind the desk by the time Aria finished, seeming to unwind with the glass of alcohol in her hand.

Aria took that as a sign to gravitate towards the pole, wrapping her hands around it to feel its unfamiliarity.

The room's light seemed to have dimmed and the music seemed louder, eliciting confidence from Aria.

Her smooth legs wrapped around the cold pole, waking up her alter ego, Maeve.

Maeve arched against the steel as if it was a person, squeezing her thighs around it with intensity.

Memphis watched the redhead, sliding down further into her seat with a low sigh.

The music engulfed them both, empowering Maeve's ego and masking Memphis' quiet breaths.

Maeve barely glanced Memphis' way, focusing on her practiced movements of working the pole.

When she did happen to eye the brunette, she noticed her mouth slightly agape, her right hand hidden underneath the desk.

Maeve tilted her head, "You really are a horny fuck."

The brunette's facial expressions— not much but obviously pleased— and attention on her lower body was enough for Maeve to identify what she was doing.

Memphis made eye contact with Maeve, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

The redhead was upside down, her strong legs holding up her frame from above. Her curly hair nearly reached the bare floor, long and appealing. Her red lips puckered before delivering a cheeky kiss toward the taller woman, a wink forming just after.

Memphis visibly exhaled, reaching underneath her desk for something while holding eye contact with Maeve.

The redhead watched as the blonde woman from earlier appeared from underneath the marbled desk, her hair frizzy and cheeks reddened.

Maeve could only smile at Memphis' self pleasuring activities, flexing her body back to its original position.

She didn't pay any mind to the sound of kissing that echoed from ahead. It was obvious that the two women were making out— aggressively at that.

Maeve simply continued to perform.

What Memphis did was nothing for her to take personally.

Their situation was nothing but business after all.

❂