Benson twisted his face and held his lips together after Alita greeted him. They hadn't talked that much in about two weeks, so it surprised him that she came to welcome him and say more than welcome. She asked about his day at work and if he had issues with anybody or not. He missed that warmth. It has only been cold and pale lately.
He was still speechless when he dropped his briefcase on the couch. He saw the bottle on the ground and looked at her, internally blaming the alcohol for the welcome he got, which he was thankful for. She held her fingers in front of her, pursed her lips, and looked away.
"Oops, you caught me," she said while playing with a strand of her hair, slowly swaying her body playfully. You might have been wondering why you are running low on a particular favorite brand of wine. Well, there you have it, "she pointed at the bottle on the ground. "Yep, I might have been drinking one or two bottles a week," she mentally counted, shaking her finger in a twirl before placing it on her haw while she looked upwards. "Maybe more but..." She bit her lower lip and blinked numerous times at him.
"True, I have been wondering not so far from you, but I wanted to see you for myself before talking about it," Benson said, folding his arms across his hands.
Alita leaned forward a bit and bent to pick up the bottle from the ground. The weight of the bottle reminded her that she hadn't finished it before going to get busy with herself. She raised the bottle to her mouth, wrapped her lips around the tip, and jerked her head upward while raising the bottle with her movement to allow just enough of the wine to pour into her mouth. She closed her eyes for a second as she savored the taste of the wine in her mouth. She shook her head and gulped the bottle again.
She sat down as he did.
Ben was intrigued by her statement. He was glad that she had been observing him. He thought it was a good sign that she might be attracted to him too. Why else would she keep tabs on some of his choices?
"Good choices, eh?" Benson smiled proudly. I think I have the best choice. "Good is mediocre," he sneered. I mean, I can't just have a good taste in wine and a good eye for art as I do for scent. I am better than good, and I'm glad that you have noticed. "He slightly bowed his head."
"Oh, there you go, being your usual cocky self," She rolled her eyes. At her boldness, Benson jerked his head backward, "The slightest compliment, and your ego is inflated." He grabbed the bottle of wine away from her and gulped the rest.
"That's enough," he said, gingerly tossing the bottle to his right couch.
I am sorry that is too forward, but you should know you are just as easily egoistical as breathing is easy. Like, I can bet that in a conversation with anybody, you will say something smug to oppress everyone else in the room. "She nodded." Her eyes darted to the bar and back at him. He peered into her eyes and shook his head sideways. "I want another. I need a drink right now." She blinked at him. He threw his face away from hers and nodded against getting another drink.
"I believe you have had too much to drink already," He was alert to the possibility that she might attempt to go get another bottle, and he was ardent about stopping her.
"That feels like an insult," Alita said, screwing her face. "That was barely one bottle." On any given day, I would take three more and still be standing. I bet you can't. A little more now and you will pass out in a bathroom and sleep through the rest of the day and the next. "
"Ouch, wow," he nodded. Is that a challenge or am I hearing things wrongly? I have been drinking at least ten years before you were 21, so you might want to draw back and surrender to a pro. "
It is not how long but how well, " Alita jolted off the chair and held her waist. He looked up at her and studied her curves. He felt chills run down his spine, so he looked downward. He knew he would have to stand up soon enough and a display of his hard cock wasn't a good idea at the moment. For all I know, and from how shitty my life has been compared to yours, I have taken a lot more alcohol than you have and am even stronger. You can't compare street booze and this fancy rich-people stuff, even though this is good." She slapped her hand on her chest; her boobs bounced. Benson noticed and decided to stand off the chair. He was seeing too many graphics sitting down.
"Lady, you don't know a thing about me," He screwed splayed his hands in the air. "Let's put the words aside and get this party started," he said, walking to the bar.
Her eyes bulged. "Wait, this should be a bet, like we should stake something of import to us."
"What then?" Benson said, coming down with three bottles between his fingers on each hand. "I can stake whatever... I know I would win, so I don't have anything to lose. "
"Well..." Alita bit her nails in deep thought. If I win, which I would, I get a raise, twenty-five percent, "she simpered. Benson raised a brow at her and he set down the bottles on the table.
"Who would have thought?" He shrugged and went to get glasses.
"Na, we wouldn't be needing those," She nodded sideways. "It is a competition and it would ruin the oomph tussle."
"Alright, bring your A-game," Benson tightened his jaw. "I have been all about A games since the start of time."
"Say all you want," Alita's eyes creased. "Cheers to the better drinker," She picked a bottle and gulped half of it and then wiped her lips while looking straight into his eyes and making funny faces.
He picked a bottle too and gulped just about half of it. He made a funny face and they shared a laugh.
Alita had never seen him that playful before. She liked the side of him she was competing with at the moment.
They drank, one talking the other down as they did.
After they had both emptied three bottles each. Alita belched and cringe, covering her face. "How do we know who won?" She asked.
"We have both taken three bottles and we are both still standing," Benson rolled his eyes as he thought of a way to choose a winner. His face lit up with an idea. "We both walk to the door and back here. Whoever falls or leans on something for support loses."
"Oh," Alita chuckled as she remembered times when she had had to walk long distances from a bar after drinking herself to stupor and made it home without falling. Well sometimes, she fell and rose and other times, when she was much younger, she'd fall somewhere and fall asleep until the next day. This was a piece of cake for her.
They both tottered towards the door, a few feet apart from each other, each planting firm steady steps into the ground, carefully placing one after the other until they reached the door and came back. Alita was conflicted between being impressed or disappointed. She had hoped to win because she didn't expect much from him. She thinks him to be a petty rich kid who had everything he needed given to him on a platter. One of her life's theories is that everyone who is now wealthy came from a wealthy family. Apple's don't fall far from the tree. What are the odds that someone from a childhood seriously stricken with poverty, lack of every basic need, and arrant hardship will make it to being the wealthiest man in LA in the 21st century? The chances are damn near impossible. Alita believed so, that is why she never really struggles to get too much and just rolls on with whatever she got her way.
"A truce," Benson yelled a little sad that he hadn't won. To say the truth, it had been ages since he had a scuffle like that. No one had challenged him in a while. He loved the experience and missed it a tad bit. He nodded wondering how she was able to withstand all that alcohol.
"Wait," Her eyes lit up and she splayed her hands in the air. "I won!" She yelled.
"Say what," He raised a brow at her.
"I had something of a bottle more than you did. I had one before you came in," She twirled around playfully, sticking her tongue at him.
"No, that should not count."
"Yeah, but it does," She yelled. "In your face!" She exclaimed. "Defeat taste just like this." She slummed into a couch still sticking her tongue at him.
"Stop doing that!" He blurted tottering to the couch she was seated on.
"Or man, big man," She raised her brows at him. "You're going to cry and call for mama," she added.
"This is the wine talking," he said, looking downward as she bent to sit on the arm of the couch.
"Yeah... how does it feel when you can't do anything in a situation just like this one," She played with a lurk of her hair.
"There is no time when I can't do anything," He said looking at her, enjoying the funny faces she was making at him.
"Oh, no…" She pressed her lips together and batted her lashes at him. He grunted and then she stuck her tongue out again.
He dove reaching for her. She tried to get away from him but he was faster. Just as she jolted off the chair, his hands grabbed her waist and held her down on the couch. They went quiet, just staring at each other then suddenly, Julie let out a Shriek and Alita squeezed out of his grip and went for Julie.