Seventeen dates to convince him

A smile appeared on Adriana's face as she hit the enter button on her laptop.

" Finally, " she groaned tiredly moving her neck from side to side to remove the kinks and aches from so much bending to work on her laptop.

She just completed the numerous reports she needed for the next managerial meeting coming up next week.

As the new CEO of her father's company, she has a lot on her desk to do. Their company, Starprize Winery was performing below par because her father had been lax with his employees giving them room to do as they please.

Adriana loves her father and respects him a lot, but the man was kind to a fault.

When she took over as the new CEO a few years ago after graduating top of her class from Havard business school, she found their accounts to be in red, and most of all other departments with a lot of mess that had the company in so much dept that she is still fighting till this day to pull them out.

She has managed to pull them out from red but they were barely floating and the efforts it is taking to keep her father's company from going under were beginning to take their toll on her.

She looked out of her ceiling to floor window to find that the sun was completely out, and the sky was covered in darkness.

A look at the golden wristwatch around her wrist told her she was late again getting home.

She sighed tiredly and began to pack up.

If she wanted to be home and be ready for the evening outing with her girls she needs to leave now.

It was Friday, and she and her girlfriends were going clubbing, a tradition they started a few months ago to help them destress from the stress of the weeks.

All her friends were workaholics who needed a way to let out steam and so they devised a means to do that.

Dancing and having fun in the club wasn't enough for Adriana to burn out her stress so she chooses another outlet. Sex with random men she picks up at the club. 

Since she was always busy with work and didn't have time to date these random hooks ups were the only way she could burn out the pent up frustration that plagues her at the end of the week. 

Adriana wasn't surprised to find everywhere deserted when she walked out of her office. It was already past nine so most of the employees were already at home.

She nodded at the night security at the lobby before walking into the night. Her brown Lexus Jeep was the only car in the garage.

She opened the door just as her phone rang.

" Hey girl, what is up? " she answered with a smile when she saw it was Reilly, one of her best friends calling.

" Are you on your way? "

" Ehm, " Adriana stammered not knowing how to tell her friend that she was just leaving work now. They have one rule. To leave work early on Fridays, but these past few days with their company facing an external auditing Adriana has had to do a lot to make sure they pass it which means many late nights at work.

" Don't tell me you are still at work, " Reilly screeched.

Adriana winced as the high-pitched sound grated on her ears. She pulled the device away for a second before bringing it back.

" I won't tell you that, " she joked and then smiled as she imagined her friend rolling her eyes.

" You better not be late tonight again if not Shannon will have your head " Reilly warned with a trace of a smile in her voice.

" Yes, sergeant, " Adriana salutes with her voice as she closed the door. She could almost feel the eye roll through the phone making her chuckle.

" See you tonight dork head, " Reilly muttered and rang off.

With a smile on her face, Adriana drove off.

Walking into her apartment Adriana began to undress leaving a trail of her clothing as she matched towards the bathroom.

Her shower lasted but five minutes and she was out, standing naked dripping in front of her walk-in closet.

" What to wear, " she soliloquized to herself as she ran her aquamarine eyes over the assortment of clothes hanging off the racks.

Her red-painted long-nailed fingers moved recklessly through the pile, moving from the jeans and blouses to the gowns as she continued to contemplate her choice.

A happy grin appeared on her pink full lips when her eyes caught sight of a black backless shiny short gown.

" Perfect, " she outed reaching for the gown.

Adriana walked out of her closet with the gown in hand and went to get ready for the night.

The last item to make it to her body to complete the spectacular sexy look she had going for her tonight was a sexy open-toe four inches black sandals which displayed her red painted toes to perfection and pointed out her straight long legs.

Adriana twirled one more time for the mirror, her eyes glowing with admiration for her perfect stunning appearance this night.

Yep, she was good to go.

She picked up her clutch and headed towards the door. She was meeting her friends at the club.

When Adriana arrived the parking lot was already filled so she had to drive down a bit to find a place to park.

Her blood began to pump as she walked into the club. There were a lot of bodies on the dance floor moving to the strong and upbeat music flowing from the numerous speakers scattered all over the club.

Her heart pounded to the rhythm of the strong beats as the music flowed through her body.

Adriana looked around for her friends and smiled when she caught sight of the three women and she set off towards them.

" Adriana! " One of the women hailed standing up to greet her.

" Hi, Shannon, " Adriana greeted the tall slim brunette as they air-kissed each other. She repeated the same thing with the other two women at the table before taking a seat on the only vacant seat at the table.

" You are late! "

" Not that late, the night is just starting, " Adriana lifted the plump blonde's drink to her lips as she winked at her.

" Get your own drink, " Reilly snatched her glass from her friend glaring at her.

" Haven't you heard Ri, there is love in sharing, " Adriana mocked playfully.

" Haven't you heard, there is STIs in sharing, " Reilly shot back grinning at Adriana.

" Ooh!!!!, " the other two women crooned as they laughed.

" Was that a shot at my sexual proclivities? " Adriana arched her brow.

" It is a shot at you getting your own drink. "

" Whatever, " Adriana stood up to do just that. 

" What is it going to be tonight? " The bartender flashed her a familiar smile.

Adriana and her friends were regulars at the club and were known by most of the bartenders at the club.

" Tonic and Gin, " Adriana returned his smile.

" On the rocks? "

" No, I am going straight tonight. "

" When have you ever been not straight, " the bartender teased?

" Oh, you never can tell Joe, I might meet a hot woman someday who might tempt me into playing for the other team, " Adriana teased with her most awesome flirty grin on display.

The bartender shook his head with light grin, not believing the woman. He knew she was as straight as they come.

" Here, " he placed her order on the counter.

" Thanks, " Adriana accepted her drink with a smile and turned back to her table.

" Flirting with the bartender again? " Helen, the African American woman in the group asked raising her left brow at the tall blonde.

Adriana sighed dreamily as she took her seat.

" If only he was straight, " she turned to run her eyes hungrily over the bartender's form.

" His sexiness is wasted on the men, " Shannon commented eying the bartender.

The other three women nodded their heads before shifting their interest to something else.

" So how is the company coming along? " Reilly asked looking towards Adriana.

" You know the rules Reilly, no work talk here, " Shannon reminded the blonde.

" Sorry, just worried for Rina, what with the auditing and them being on the verge of losing their company. "

Adriana sighed silently wishing her friend didn't have to remind her. The reason for this outing was for them to forget for a few hours the huge responsibilities and work that awaits them in the real world.

Reilly is a defense attorney working for one of the top law firms in the city, Helen is a Pediatric surgeon, and Shannon is a physical therapist who is just starting up her business. They were all packed up with work and huge responsibilities that makes having a life difficult for them. 

They have been friends since high school, despite having drifted to different aspects of the work sphere have remained friends.

" You don't have to worry Reilly I have got everything under control, and Shannon is right. No work talk tonight. I really need a breather from it. "

" Amen sister, " Helen echoed as they raised their glasses together before swallowing them at a go.

The drinks came pouring in as the women talked and laughed among themselves talking about anything and everything except work.

" So who is gonna be the lucky guy tonight? " Shannon asked a little tipsy.

A coquettish grin appeared on Adriana's face as she ran her eyes over the club picking out the eligible men she has had her eyes on since walking into the club.

Every Friday night, Adriana always goes home with a gentleman for a night of hard sex with no strings attached, and the next morning she sends them on their merry way and never to be repeated.

Some of the men she has slept with were in the club and have been giving her the looks but Adriana doesn't do repeats. That is her rule.

She laughed as she and her friends checked out her potential lay for the night.

" What about him? " Shannon pointed.

Adriana followed her hand and froze as her heart leaped off her chest down to her stomach scattering the butterflies nesting down there.

" Wow! " Helen echoed the words in her mind and Adriana could totally agree. She was staring at the most handsome man she has ever laid eyes on. His face was sculpted and reminded Adriana of the Greek god, Adonis she has seen in a painting somewhere.

How on earth had she missed him tonight she wondered gawking at the man.

" I think we have found ourselves a winner tonight, but darling you need to wipe the drool off your lips is making a mess on the table, " Reilly teased.

Adriana ignored her and signaled the bartender to their table.

A few seconds later the bartender was at their table.

" What can I do for you, Rina? "

Adriana beckoned him closer without taking her eyes off the man she was gawking at.

" Please send over that gentleman's drink and tell him is from me. "

The bartender looked where she was pointing and shook his head with a knowing grin.

" I see you have found your mark tonight. "

" Yep, and I can't wait to have him in my bed. " A seductive smirk played across Adriana's lips as she continued to eat up her target.

She and her friends watched intensely as the bartender made his way towards the gentleman's table with his drink on a tray.

The man wasn't alone and had two other gentlemen with him.

Adriana's heartbeat skyrocketed as the bartender placed the drink on the table and leaned in to whisper something to the man while pointing in her direction.

Her heart lurched hard against her chest when the man looked her way and she met his eyes from across the room. His gaze was powerful and made Adriana wet with just a look.

A frown appeared on her forehead when the man turned down her drink sending the bartender back.

" Did a man just say no to you? " Shannon asked in disbelief.

Right from their high school days, Adriana has always been able to get any guy she sets her eyes on, and being as stunning as she is most guys have a had time telling her no, until tonight.

" I guess there is a first time for everything. "

Adriana shook her head. " I am not giving up until I have him, " she promised with an intense look in her eyes and an arrogant seductive smirk on her lips.