veinteuno

"Plan Gone Wrong"

Risa prided herself on being composed. Professional. Rational.

But rationality had officially left the fucking building.

Because Alice? Alice fucking?

Was flirting. Right in front of her.

With Loren.

And laughing.

Like she wasn’t currently driving Risa to the brink of insanity.

Risa clenched her jaw, fingers tightening around her pen as she pretended to focus on her laptop. Except she wasn’t reading a single goddamn thing. She was too busy watching.

Loren leaned on Alice’s desk, grinning. "Oh, Guo, I didn’t know you had a dimple. Cute."

Alice tilted her head, smirking. "Only for people who deserve to see it."

Risa nearly snapped her pen in half.

What the fuck was happening?

The plan. The fucking plan.

The one she came up with.

They were supposed to act normal, flirt with other people a little—just enough to make the office second-guess the rumors. But it was supposed to be harmless.

Then why the hell did it feel like someone was stabbing her in the chest?

Loren chuckled, nudging Alice’s arm. "If I’d known you were this charming, I would’ve placed my bet on you making the first move on Ms. Hontiveros."

Alice laughed. "Oh, you underestimate me, Lo. I’m very patient. I like to let people come to me."

Risa felt that. Direct hit. Critical damage.

She slammed her laptop shut. "Alice. My office. Now."

Alice blinked at her sudden shift in tone but covered it with a lazy grin. "Yes, ma’am."

Risa didn’t wait. She turned on her heel and walked back to her office, barely managing not to fucking stomp.

The moment Alice stepped inside, Risa shut the door. "What the fuck was that?"

Alice blinked. "What?"

"That!" Risa gestured wildly. "Flirting! With Loren!"

Alice raised an eyebrow. "You told me to flirt with other people."

"Not that well!"

Alice smirked. "Ohhh. I see what this is."

Risa crossed her arms. "No, you don’t."

Alice took a step closer. "You’re jealous."

Risa scoffed. "I am not jealous."

Alice took another step, closing the space between them. "Then why are you all worked up, Ms. Hontiveros?"

Risa opened her mouth—then snapped it shut.

Because there was no fucking excuse.

Alice grinned, leaning in. "You really thought you could handle me flirting with other people?"

Risa hated how smug she sounded.

"It was a stupid plan," Risa muttered. "I take it back."

Alice chuckled. "Oh, no, no, no. You started this. I’m just following orders."

Risa glared. "I will kill you."

Alice smirked, pressing her hands against the desk, caging Risa in. "That’s not what you said last night."

Risa’s breath hitched.

"You’re playing dirty," she whispered.

Alice leaned in until their noses brushed. "And you love it."

Risa clenched her fists. "You’re such a brat."

Alice’s grin widened. "And you’re absolutely fucking jealous."

Risa groaned, slamming her head back against the door. "This is your fault."*

Alice hummed. "I should flirt with Loren more often."

Risa grabbed Alice’s collar and yanked her forward. "Try it and see what happens."

Alice’s smirk deepened. "Now that sounds like a challenge."

Risa lost.

She fucking lost.

And she was going to fix it.

Alice was still smirking like she owned this office, like she owned Risa, and fuck—maybe she did, because Risa had never felt this out of control in her life.

It was a fucking disaster.

She thought she could handle it.

Thought she could sit back and let Alice play her little game. But every time she saw Alice laughing, flirting with someone else—her blood fucking boiled.

So she made a decision.

"Enough."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Enough what?"

"Enough of this stupid plan."

Risa exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "No more flirting with other people."

Alice tilted her head, amused. "Oh? But I was having fun, ma’am."

Risa glared. "I mean it, Alice. No more flirting."

Alice smirked, stepping closer. "And why is that?"

"Because I hate it." The words came out before Risa could stop them.

"I fucking hate it."

Alice blinked.

And for the first time since this started, she actually looked surprised.

Risa inhaled deeply. "I don’t want to keep pretending like this isn’t happening. I don’t want you flirting with other people, and I don’t give a fuck if the whole office finds out—"

Alice’s lips parted slightly, as if processing what she just heard. "Risa—"

"We’ve been doing this since before you even came here," Risa continued, voice firm. "I don’t care who knows. I don’t care what they say. I just—" She exhaled sharply.

"I just want you to be mine without all this bullshit."

Silence.

Alice stared at her, expression unreadable.

Then—

A slow, dangerous smile spread across her face.

"Oh," Alice murmured, stepping into Risa’s space. "You are fucking jealous."

Risa clenched her jaw. "Alice—"

"Say it." Alice’s voice was barely above a whisper. "Say you want me."

Risa gritted her teeth, every ounce of pride fighting against her—

But she had already lost.

"I want you."

Alice’s breath hitched.

And then she was on her, kissing her like she had been waiting for this, like she had won.

And fuck—

Maybe she had.

Maybe she had always known Risa would break first.

Because the moment their lips met, the frustration, the jealousy, the goddamn tension that had been boiling over for weeks—all of it exploded into something neither of them could control.

Alice wasn’t teasing anymore. She wasn’t playing.

She was devouring.

Risa barely had time to breathe before Alice’s hands were in her hair, yanking her closer, pressing her against the door like she was making sure she couldn’t run even if she wanted to.

(Not that she would. Not anymore.)

The taste of victory was sweet on Alice’s tongue, and Risa, despite every ounce of stubbornness in her body, gave in to it.

To her.

Because she had always been weak for Alice.

Alice, who pulled away just enough to whisper, "Took you long enough, ma’am."

Risa would have snapped at her. Would have made some smartass remark.

But then Alice kissed her again, and—

Yeah.

She fucking lost.