I did not see Juliette the weekend following our fun in the hallway. She had a lot of work to catch up on and during the week she had school meetings. I was horny and in a foul mood which made my employees even more scared of me. I snapped at everyone and found faults with every document that was put on my desk.

« Nathalie, please come pick the file. »

I shout on the phone. She arrives running in my office. She knows I hate waiting.

« Mrs Sheffield ? »

« Your team has to come up with another idea or we won't win the contract. And it's a several million dollar contract. So no bonus for any of you if you fail ! »

« You seem tense. Can I get you anything ? A back massage maybe ? »

« Nathalie, please. Just go. »

« Sorry Mrs Sheffield. It's only...you look more snappy and bossy than usual. »

« Maybe if my employees weren't fucking everything up I could relax a bit more!"

« Sorry again Mrs Sheffield. I'll do as you ask. »

« I really hope so. Your team never gets anything right. It's about time you do as I order ! » I snap.

I decide to phone Juliette at lunch time but she doesn't pick up. Instead I get a text telling me she is having a lunch meeting. I thought teachers had an easy life with a light working schedule but she seems to be working non stop these days. Her text makes me smile.

I decide to play hard to catch a little and not answer that I am totally free and so desperate to see her...but she doesn't bite.

Shit, she took me to my proper game. That girl is definitely something else.

....................

So here I am on a Saturday night, doing exactly what I am not very comfortable with : going dancing. But what wouldn't I do for that girl ? And she seems to love dancing a lot so better be with me than with one of her horny lesbian teammates.

I meet Juliette inside a bar. She is having a gin and tonic of course. It is not the large party I had imagined. Lea is there with her boyfriend ! What the fuck ! I thought she was into Juliette and 100 % into girls.

There are two other team mates. The pitcher, if I remember, and her girlfriend. Ah, softball is still a gay sport ! And another girl, single.

I attract the waitress's attention and order a beer and another round of drinks for everyone and some snacks.

Juliette is a bit tipsy after her second gin and tonic. She has her hands all over me and can't stop kissing me. She excuses herself to go to the restroom and Lea comes to sit closer to me.

« Juliette is in a very cheerful state, I have to thank you for that. »

« She is usually a very cheerful girl I noticed. »

« Yes she is always in a good mood and it's always contagious, like her laugh. But this past month I have found my Juliette back. She is carefree, and I know she is head over hills in love with you. »

I don't know what to say, I don't want to confess I'm in love too but I should say something to let her know my feelings. But before I have time to answer, her eyes become serious and she adds :

« If you hurt her, I'll break your legs. »

« So you said already. And like I said the first time : I'm not going anywhere. »

As juliette comes back, we all stand and head for the club. The music is loud and I hate it. How can someone have a decent conversation in a club ? But Juliette is not here to talk. She takes my hands and drags me to the dance floor immediately. I feel the beat in my stomach and I certainly don't want her to grind her hips against her coach so I'm more than happy to comply.

She amazes me. She knows how to dance to anything, any rythm. She can dance to salsa, to rock, to house music.... And she knows most of the lyrics.

After about an hour, she decides to grant me a break and we sit at the booth where her other friends are already drinking. I go to the bar and order gin and tonics for the two of us. There is a line at the bar and it takes me a good ten minutes to get the drinks.

When I arrive at the table, I see Lea being dragged to the dancefloor by a drunk and eager Juliette as I hear another song by Cascada : Everytime we touch, the remix version.

Juliette and Lea are dancing in rythm, touching, singing, too close to my liking and I start pouting. I don't like it and I feel jealous and neglected. Lea's boyfriend approaches me and shouts in my ear :

« Don't you worry. They do that all the time. »

« How is that supposed to make me feel better? » I ask dumbfounded.

« They have known each other for many years. I get it that it makes you uncomfortable. It was the same for me when I started dating Lea. »

« Have long have you two been together ?"

« Four years now. And nothing has ever happened between them two. »

« That you know of. » I empty my glass in one large gulp and stand to get another drink.

I am very angry now, Juliette does not even bother wondering where I am. I decide to give her some space as I sit on a bar stool, drinking another gin tonic. I'm positive I'm drunk by now.

I feel breasts behing my back and smile, thinking it is Juliette. I turn around but instead of the beautiful brunette is Nathalie, my intern.

« Hey boss, I didn't picture you as a party girl. »

« Don't call me boss, you know it's inappropriate. »

« You know what else is inappropriate ? »

I raise my eyebrows, not understanding what she is getting at and she explains.

« You, sitting alone at a bar, pouting. You should be dancing with some hot piece of ass. Come on, dance with me. »

Before I have the time to tell her no, she grabs me by the shirt and takes my hips in her hands.

We start dancing to Basshunter. In the corner of my eyes I can see Juliette, her hands still resting around Lea's neck and I feel more jealous.

Nathalie's finger move from my hips to my ass, squeezing lightly.

The alcohol in my system makes me react slowly and before I realize, Nathalie's lips are on mine, and her tongue quickly tracing the lines of my bottom lip. I don't give her access and break the kiss. Too late. Juliette has seen it all.

I push Nathalie away. She's like an octopus, her hands all over me. She doesn't even notice I have not kissed her back and am trying to push her away. And when I am finally rid of her, Juliette is nowhere to be found. Fuck.

Lea finds me instead, a murderous look in her eyes. Her fists are clenched hard and it seems like she is about to beat the shit out of me.

Maybe now would be a good idea to hide. No I deserve everything she is about to do to me and I close my eyes, expecting a blow. But nothing comes. Lea's boyfriend is restraining her and all she can do is shout at me, swaying her fists in the air.

« What the fuck !! We can't even leave you for two minutes before you start kissing the first slut you see !! What is wrong with you ! »

« I know I fucked up. Where is Juliette ? I need to talk to her. »

« I told you not to hurt her and see what you do! »

« I didn't kiss her back ! »

« I don't give a fucking fuck, you let her kiss you. And don't even dare blame it on the booze ! »

« Where is she ? »

« She took a cab home. I advise you not to chase after her if you want to live. »

« I need to explain what happened. »

« She's not blind you know ! »

« Oh for fuck's sake. » I dash to the door and leave the club.

I hail the first cab I see and give the driver Juliette's address. I ring the bell but she doesn't let me in. After a furious 5 minutes of ringing, I decide to ring all the doorbells on her floor. It's 2 in the morning but I don't care. I need someone to let me in. Finally some neighbour opens the door for me as I hear it clicking.

I take the lift to the 10th floor and knock at her door.

« Go away » I hear behind the closed door.

« Please Juliette, let me in, I need to explain. »

« There is nothing to explain, I saw everything. »

A door opens in the hallway and an angry and sleepy neighbour suggests we take it inside. Juliette finally opens the door and lets me in, more concerned about her neighbour than my explainations.

Is see the sadness in her glossy eyes and my heart aches for causing the state she is in.

« I'm so sorry. Yes she kissed me, and I didn't see it coming. I would never have left her kiss me otherwise. If it makes my case any less worse, I didn't kiss her back. » I know it's a lame excuse.

« I don't care. After just a month of dating you let a stranger kiss you when you're drunk. So what. Next time you have too much alcohol in you you fuck some random slut ?»

« Of course not, I have feelings for you. »

« You have a funny way to show them. Get out. »

« Please, forgive me. I know I hurt you and that you'll need some time to trust me again. But please, let me prove to you I deserve another chance. »

« Get out. » she whispers, not looking at me anymore.

She is too angry to hear me out, I leave but I know I'll be back. I have to fight for her.