Four's a party

Jack stepped into his apartment later that afternoon, feeling the buzz of the day still lingering in his chest. He’d been wondering how long it would take Lucia to send over the Nuvola Palace contract, but as the door clicked shut behind him, his focus shifted. Something was off. The lights were on, dimmed, and a faint rustling sound carried from the living room. His pulse quickened...

... but then he remembered the spare key he had given Veronica that morning. Right. Nikki.

He quietly made his way down the hallway until he reached the living room’s threshold. And there she was. Nikki was perched on the couch in a pair of delicate panties and a plain white undershirt, conforming demurely to the dress code he had imposed.

Her long, bare legs stretched out before her, comfortably crossed at the ankles, as she tapped away on her phone, entirely engrossed in whatever was on her screen. Despite the simplicity of her outfit, the sight was far from modest—the fabric hugged her curves in all the right ways, and Jack couldn’t help but admire the transformation she had undergone. This once fierce, independent woman was now waiting for him in a way that could only be described as submissive.

“Nikki,” Jack muttered, more to himself than anything.

Her head snapped up at his voice, her face lighting up with an eager smile. She straightened, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear with a flicker of nervous energy.

“You’re home,” she said softly. Though concisely worded, her tone was far removed from the commanding one she used at work.

“Yeah, I’m home,” Jack replied, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the armchair. He let his eyes linger on her form a moment longer before adding, “You’re here early. Everything okay?”

Nikki shifted, uncrossing and then re-crossing her legs as if unsure what to do with herself. “I, um, talked to my managing director today. I told him I wasn’t really feeling like myself, you know, since the break-in,” she began, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I said I needed some time, and well, since I’ve been smashing targets left and right last week, he agreed to let me have a sabbatical. Until I feel... up to it again.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. A sabbatical? That was unexpected. “Oh, for how long?” he asked, taking a step closer.

She shrugged, “He said to take as long as I need,” her voice barely above a whisper. “Which is why... I wanted to ask you something,” Nikki continued, her voice trembling slightly. “You said I could stay in the spare room after the break-in, but now that I’m off work, I was wondering... would you also be okay with me being here, like, all the time?” She swallowed, bit her lip, her eyes darting nervously. “Could I just be Nikki with you for a bit?

Jack’s mind raced. She had caught him off guard, the situation had evolved much more quickly than anticipated. He didn’t want Veronica’s drive, her ambition, completely extinguished. Maybe that was a problem to consider in the near future. More presently, however, this was a rare opportunity. She’d be out of the office, away from her routine. And she wanted to be here with him—fully immersed in his world. He looked at her, his gaze sharp as he measured her words. She wasn’t just asking to stay—she was asking to be Nikki, completely in his space, under his influence. Admittedly, that was what he had been working toward. He just hadn’t expected her to get on board so quickly.

“You want to stay here with me, full-time,” he said slowly, testing her resolve.

Nikki nodded, her wide eyes looking up at him, so unlike the dismissive, powerful Veronica he had met so many years ago. “Yes, I mean, if you’d have me. I could help out around the apartment, or... return the favor in other ways. Whatever you need.” Her voice broke slightly at the end, revealing a vulnerability that thrilled him. “I just want to feel okay again, but I don’t know how. I don’t know if I can be, uh, the old me.” For a short moment, it looked like she was about to cry—but then she bit her lip and steeled herself again.

Jack’s heart thudded in his chest, his mind spinning through the implications, the power dynamic between them almost fully reversed from how it had started. Although a big part of him felt bad for Veronica, another part guiltily felt giddy. The previously haughty woman that would barely give him the time of day was sitting here, half-dressed, asking him to let her submit to him. She was opening the door—no, begging—to be let in deeper under his influence.

Jack took a deep breath, letting the silence hang in the air for a moment, watching her squirm under his gaze. Of course, he'd help her, but he also couldn’t stop himself from taking advantage of her unprecedentedly pliable attitude. He moved to stand right next to the couch, towering over her. “Okay. But if you stay here, you’ll follow my lead. No more of yesterday’s hesitation. You’ll do as I ask, when I ask. I’ll gladly help you, Nikki, guide you to feeling whole again, but you’ll have to trust me—and you’ll have to obey. No fuss. No second-guessing.”

Nikki hands twisted in her lap. He watched the conflict play out behind her pensive expression. For a moment, he thought she might back out, that the implied gravity of his demand would scare her off. But after what felt like an eternity, she nodded. “I’ll follow your lead, Jack. I... trust you.”

A deep, dark satisfaction bloomed in his chest. He smiled. “Good. You’re going to be fine, Nikki.”

Before he could push the moment any further, a sudden knock echoed down the hallway. Jack glanced at his watch, silently cursing. Leah. She’s early.

He hadn’t forgotten his plans with her, but now the timing was... complicated. The knock came again, louder this time, snapping Nikki out of her daze. Panic flashed across her face as she perked up and glanced down at her barely-there outfit. She swallowed hard, clearly not comfortable being seen like this by someone she didn’t know.

“Jack, I’m not wearing—”

“In my house, you don’t need pants, Nikki,” Jack cut in, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.

She stared at him, looking torn, lips parted in protest. But after a tense pause, she slowly nodded and sank back into the couch, uncomfortable but unwilling to disobey so soon after she’d promised not to.

After casting her an approving look, Jack strode to the door. He opened it to find Leah standing there, as expected. She was wearing a yellow sundress that was both adorable and, to put it mildly, provocative. When light fell on it in a certain way, the thin, flowery fabric was practically see-through, leaving little to the imagination. She twirled playfully in the doorway with a mischievous grin, making the short skirt of her dress flare up to tease a glimpse of her buttocks. “Hey, Jack,” she purred, stepping inside. “What do you think? I figured I’d dress up for dinner.”

Jack's eyes skimmed her alluring outfit, a smile tugging at his lips. “Nice to see you, Leah. I like it.” Before he could say anything else to introduce what she'd find inside, Leah sauntered past him into the apartment, and her eyes immediately landed on Nikki—half-naked and wide-eyed, sitting awkwardly on the couch.

Leah froze, the smile slipping from her face as confusion, then suspicion, crept in. The confident girl that arrived seemed to momentarily slip back into her old, shy habits. Her eyes flicked from Jack to Nikki, trying to assess the situation.

Is this Jack's girlfriend? she wondered silently, her eyes narrowing at Nikki's scantily clad form. She’s… barely dressed?

Nikki’s thoughts ironically mirrored Leah’s, her stomach twisting as she watched the other woman. Is this his girlfriend? she wondered, equally uncertain. That's a pretty slutty dress for just being friends...

Jack cleared his throat, determined to retake control of the situation. “Leah, this is Nikki,” he said, stepping between the two women, his voice smooth, calming. “Nikki’s been staying here for a bit after... well, some things happened. She’s a friend.”

Leah raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but she didn’t say anything outright. She simply looked between Jack and Nikki, still piecing together the puzzle in her mind. “Friend,” she repeated slowly. “Right.”

“And, Nikki, this is Leah,” Jack continued, turning back to Nikki, who was now sitting on the edge of the couch, her hands folded over her lap. “She’s here to catch up over dinner.”

The two women exchanged glances, clearly unsure of how to navigate the situation. Jack felt the tension tighten around him—he needed to diffuse the situation before it spiraled.

“How about we get some wine?” he suggested, flashing a disarming smile as he motioned the girls toward the kitchen. “I’ll pour us a glass while we get comfortable.”

Leah followed him, though her gaze lingered on Nikki for a beat longer. Jack caught Nikki’s eye as he led Leah into the kitchen, and gave her a pointed look meant to remind her of their agreement. Nikki hesitated, then slowly rose from the couch, unsure but compliant as she trailed behind.

Jack couldn't help but grin to himself. This was going to be interesting.

---

The early evening was starting to take a turn for the better. Jack, seated at the head of his kitchen table, watched Leah and Nikki awkwardly engaging in conversation. The tension that had initially hovered between them had eased a bit over the last hour, mostly thanks to a few glasses of wine and a deliberate effort from Jack to steer things into neutral, safer topics.

Nikki, still dressed in just her panties and undershirt, was noticeably more reserved, her eyes flitting between Leah and Jack, occasionally betraying her uncertainty. Leah, meanwhile, seemed more curious than anything else, though her flirtatious attitude never fully masked the calculating looks she kept casting at Nikki. Jack could tell she was trying to figure out exactly what was going on between him and this other woman, but she hadn’t pushed it... yet.

They’d ordered pizza, and Jack was thankful for the brief reprieve the wait had given him. As the doorbell rang, he stood up, ready to grab the food and give everyone a moment to decompress. The atmosphere, while not exactly hostile, had become a delicate balance he needed to maintain.

Jack swung open the door with a nonchalant grin, expecting to see a pizza delivery guy. But that grin froze in place as he came face-to-face with Rachel.

Her familiar hazel eyes sparkled despite the dim hallway light, and her broad smile said she was excited to see him. She held up a bottle of wine in one hand, and in the other, a bag of their usual late-night takeaway noodles.

“Hey!” Rachel said brightly, stepping forward before Jack could even process what was happening. “I thought I’d surprise you—no cooking tonight!”

Jack’s brain scrambled for words as Rachel slipped past him into the apartment. “Uh, hey, Rachel... um, I—”

Before he could finish, she breezed towards the kitchen with her usual confident stride. Jack shut the door, dread pooling in his stomach. This was about to get complicated.

As Rachel stepped into the kitchen, her eyes first fell on Nikki, sitting at the table, wine glass in hand, wearing nothing but her underwear and a tight white top. Then her gaze shifted to Leah, dressed provocatively in a sexy little sundress. They both—but mostly Nikki—turned to Rachel in synchronized shock, eyes wide and frozen, like deer caught in the headlights.

Nikki—normally Veronica, and as far as Rachel knew, the unstoppable strategic powerhouse of the corporate marketing world—was utterly speechless, her face flushing as she realized that her colleague, her ambitious 'work bestie', was suddenly standing in Jack’s kitchen, piecing together a scenario neither of them had been prepared to explain.

Leah raised an eyebrow, her eyes scanning Rachel and Nikki with light apprehension, not entirely sure what to make of the situation. She might not have understood the full picture yet, but that didn’t stop her from observing the show—and quietly taking stock of what it might mean for her.

Time stood still.

Rachel blinked once, twice, as if the scene was taking longer than usual to compute. Jack, standing awkwardly near the door, felt his chest tighten as the silence stretched on, suffocating and heavy. He was desperately scrambling to find something to say, something that could diffuse the situation… but he drew a blank.

Finally, Rachel broke the tension with a soft, breathless laugh. “So… I definitely walked into something here, huh?” She placed the wine and noodles on the counter, and for a moment, Jack thought she might just laugh it off, grab a seat, and try to pretend like everything was normal.

But then, without a single word of explanation, Rachel reached down, her fingers deftly unbuttoning the clasp of her skirt. She wasn’t about to stand on the sidelines—not after everything she’d already shared with Jack. The sound of fabric sliding down her legs was the only noise in the room. If these women thought they could keep his attention, she was determined to show them she was still very much in the game.

And then, there it was—Rachel, standing in nothing but her lacy underwear and a half-unbuttoned work blouse, gazing confidently at the stunned women in front of her.

Leah stared, mouth slightly open in disbelief. Nikki’s jaw had practically dropped. No one said a word.

Rachel smiled—a strangely excited grin that made Jack’s heart race for entirely different reasons. “Well, you know,” she said, placing her hands on her hips, “if this is how things are done here tonight, I may as well join in.” Rachel’s smile was confident, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper—something ****, with a spark of determination to prove she could be more than just an uninitiated visitor.

The room was suspended in utter disbelief, a charged silence electrifying the space. Rachel just stood there, seemingly unfazed except for a blush rapidly developing across her lightly freckled cheeks, her eyes now locking on Jack’s as if daring him to say something.

Jack’s mind scrambled for an explanation, for a way to navigate this spiraling situation. He had never imagined Rachel would react like this. He had anticipated shock, anger, maybe a bit of awkward jealousy—but this? Stripping down and putting herself on the same level of undress as Nikki? Wow. His mind raced, a mix of excitement and panic swirling as he struggled to decide whether to reel the situation back or let it unfold. One thing was certain: Rachel’s move had raised the stakes. Now, he had to make sure it didn’t spiral out of control.

His inner voice urged him to take control, to seize the opportunity in front of him, but even he hadn’t even been slightly prepared for this bold, unexpected turn of events.

Somehow, Nikki was the first to break the silence, her voice barely a whisper. “Rachel… hello.”

Rachel turned to her, a light blush forming on her cheeks as she realized there was no way back. “Hi, Veronica. Nice to… see you,” she replied, eyes glancing down to Nikki’s legs, as if to emphasize what it really was that she was seeing. Her tone was teasing but layered with something deeper—solidarity? Competition? The thrill of pushing boundaries? Jack couldn’t quite tell, and it intrigued him.

“Wow,” Leah said, finally finding her voice, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of wine, her eyes suddenly glinting with fascination as she looked at Jack. “I didn’t expect *this* for dinner.”

Rachel laughed softly, her body language full of practiced confidence despite her unusual amount of exposed skin. “Surprise,” she murmured melodically under her breath, just loud enough for everyone to hear.

Jack swallowed, his mind whirling as he was still trying to gauge Rachel’s intentions. He couldn’t pick, his thoughts looping over the various possible explanations he'd come up with. Was this solidarity with the other women? A competitive display, showing she could match them in confidence? Or something deeper, more personal?

Whatever it was, though, it was working. The tension in the room, though still heavy, had shifted. Leah’s increasingly playful attitude signaled she was on board with the twist, and Nikki—well, Nikki still kind of looked like she was about to implode, but at least she wasn’t fleeing the scene.

Jack, **** to do something but not yet having landed on anything to say, began pouring Rachel a glass of wine. He still had some control here, or at least the appearance of it. But was this going too far? Rachel had given the night another intense twist, one he hadn’t expected, and he couldn’t shake the sense that the delicate balance he had created over the last hour was slipping through his fingers—though at the same time, an unmistakable thrill of chaos surged within him. Maybe the evening was no longer just about navigating awkward introductions and avoiding jealousy—it had become an intricate play of new experiences, and he was at the center of it.

Jack finally smirked to himself, deciding that, once again, the situation seemed to be playing into his hands.

“Rachel,” he said, the tone of his voice soft, deliberate, and welcoming. “I didn’t expect you to join in so… enthusiastically.” His eyes darted over her form, as if assessing a new game piece on his board, lingering momentarily on her legs, a glint of approval in his gaze. “But I’m glad you did. Welcome.”

Rachel raised an eyebrow, teasingly, seemingly enjoying the attention. “I guess I’m full of surprises, Jack.”

Nikki, still frozen in place, cleared her throat awkwardly. Leah laughed softly, almost unnoticeably shaking her head.

Rachel took her glass of wine and sat at the table, her movements slow and deliberate, as if to stake her claim in this new, unpredictable dynamic. She emphatically crossed her legs, the gesture casual yet charged with meaning, a silent challenge lingering in the air. “So, sorry, what did I walk in on then—what are we doing next?” she asked tentatively, her tone light, a smirk dancing on her lips.

Jack chuckled. “Well, we’ve got noodles, wine, and… pizza on the way,” he said, leaning back against the counter. His heart raced as he surveyed the room—the three women all sitting there, basically half-naked, sipping wine, and, most surprisingly, increasingly comfortable with it. The twist had fully landed, and now the game was his to play.

“Sounds like that's a party to me,” Leah replied, lifting her glass in a toast.

Rachel grinned, raising her own glass in response, happy to participate. Nikki, while clearly still processing the awkward position she’d found herself in, gingerly followed suit, lifting her glass with a slightly watery smile.

Jack cautiously looked at the girls, one by one, one last time, before committing to the moment. He grabbed his own drink and moved towards the table. “Cheers to a party, then.”

---

Several hours later, the atmosphere in Jack’s apartment had shifted completely. What had started as an awkward collision of worlds, had morphed into something unexpected and oddly comfortable.

The table was cluttered with empty wine glasses, pizza boxes, and noodle cartons, a testament to the evening’s indulgence. Leah, Nikki, and Rachel had bonded in a way none of them could have anticipated. Shared embarrassment had become a bridge between them, and the cautious tension from earlier had melted away. They had moved to the living room and were lounging on and around the couch. Now, spirited conversation filled the room, punctuated by laughter and the occasional playful teasing as stories were exchanged.

Rachel and Nikki, especially, seemed to have discovered an unexpected camaraderie. When Rachel had finally pressed Veronica for an explanation for her half-dressed state, Nikki had, surprisingly confidently, asserted that she simply preferred dressing down at home—and Jack, of course, didn't mind her getting comfortable. Rachel had studied her for a moment, and had shot a knowing glance at Jack. But then, to Nikki's—and Jack's—relief, she had apparently accepted the explanation, enthusiastically moving the conversation along with an unrelated story.

After that, it was like the lingering awkwardness between them had evaporated. Gone was the work-based professional dynamic, replaced by something far more intimate and raw. They briefly discussed the break-in and Nikki’s sabbatical, and Jack was treated to a delightful view of Rachel’s panty-clad backside as she leaned over to give her friend a supportive hug. They went on to share stories that had nothing to do with work, deadlines or presentations, speaking with the ease of two familiar women who had never seen each other quite so personally—half-dressed and beautiful in a way that transcended the physical.

Leah, for her part, was glowing. The shy barista who had always seemed slightly out of place in groups was basking in the playful, carefree energy that the night had taken on. She seemed more confident than ever, more willing to engage, clearly enjoying this new type of interaction that Jack had curated.

Jack, for his part, was taking it all in. He sat shirtless now, having been playfully convinced by the girls to join them in their casual state of undress as a show of solidarity. He had no complaints. Surrounded by three gorgeous, scantily-clad women—each captivating in their own right—Jack was in his element, though the evening had evolved beyond mere surface-level enjoyment. He knew this was a pivotal moment.

As they lounged around the living room, the conversation ebbed and flowed between playful and deep. At just the right moment, Jack saw his opportunity to steer the night toward something productive.

“So,” Jack said, leaning back and stretching his arms, letting his voice take on a casual tone, “I’ve got this big project coming up.”

The girls turned to him, intrigued. He had been tactically dropping small hints all night about his upcoming gig, but now was the time to lay it out in more detail.

“Are you finally ready to tell us what kind of project?” Leah asked, her curiosity piqued.

Jack smiled, pretending to be a bit modest. “Well, fine. I’m about to start working on a sound installation at Nuvola Palace. It’s an estate, like, a massive estate. The owner wants this high-end, invisible, omnipresent sound system installed for these exclusive events he’s hosting. It’s a pretty big deal.”

“Nuvola Palace?” Rachel repeated, impressed, her eyes widening. “That place is insane. I’ve heard of it.”

“Yeah, it’s a huge opportunity,” Jack continued, letting his excitement come through, but keeping a subtle undercurrent of hesitation in his voice. “Thing is… the job’s massive too, and I can’t really do it alone. I usually have a couple of guys I can count on, but they’re either not the right fit for this, or they’re already booked up.”

He intentionally let the statement hang in the air for a moment, watching the gears turn in their heads. Leah was the first to bite.

“So you need help?” she asked, her tone shifting from curious to eager. “I mean… I could help out if you just need an extra pair of hands. I don’t know much about sound systems, but I can learn.”

Jack grinned, letting a hint of surprise touch his face, as if the thought had just occurred to him. “You’d do that?”

Leah shrugged, trying to play it cool, but there was no mistaking the glint of interest in her eyes. “Yeah, why not? I mean, I’d have to think about it, but it sounds like a fun challenge. And it would probably pay better than my coffee shop gig, right?”

Jack nodded, pretending to mull it over. “I think you’d be great at it. It’s mostly about being organized and keeping things running smoothly. I’d pay you more than your current job for sure, and if you want it's only temporary until the project’s done. But yeah, take some time to think it over.”

Leah smiled, looking pleased with the prospect, and Jack could tell she was already half-sold.

To his left, Nikki shifted in her seat, her expression more contemplative. “I’ve got my sabbatical now,” she began slowly, as if testing the waters. “If you need more help… I could pitch in too, here and there. Not that I’d expect you to pay me. I mean, I’d just be happy to stay busy until I’m ready to get back to work.”

Jack turned to her, the excitement in his chest rising, but he played it cool. “You sure? I wouldn’t want you to overextend yourself.”

Nikki nodded, her lips curling into a slight smile. “It might be good for me. Keep my mind off things, you know?”

Jack smiled warmly, trying to hold back the satisfaction growing inside him. This was exactly what he’d wanted. Leah was practically on board, and now Nikki was offering herself up as well, albeit for different reasons. The fact that both women were now willing to embed themselves into his life and work without raising any suspicion of his deeper intentions was more than he could have hoped for.

“That means a lot, Nikki,” Jack said, giving her a look that showed genuine appreciation. “And Leah, seriously, thank you. I’ll make sure to give you both more details in the next few days. But honestly, if I can get you two helping from day one, we’ll knock this project out of the park.”

The women exchanged glances, the earlier tension between them replaced with a sense of shared purpose and growing excitement. Even Rachel, who hadn’t directly offered to help, seemed to be caught up in the energy of the moment, her eyes bright with interest.

As the conversation slowly shifted back to lighter topics, Jack sat back, the pieces of his plan falling neatly into place. He could already picture the girls at the Nuvola Palace estate with him—each playing their part, helping him, trusting him, sound testing for him... and ultimately, becoming further entwined in his long-term goals.

He lifted his glass and gave the women a smile. “Here’s to new adventures.”

They clinked glasses, their laughter filling the room once again. But Jack’s mind was silently racing ahead, mapping out the next steps. The groundwork had been laid, and now it was only a matter of time before they all followed his lead.

The night had turned into something bigger than just shared wine and pizza. It had become a gateway to something more—and Jack, surrounded by his beautiful, half-dressed team, knew exactly where it was leading.