Ramirez’s drinks and offer

“Hello ma’am, do you need a hand?”

Vi’s attention is torn away from her phone, glancing up at the staff member who has approached her. A kind-looking man, a bit of a belly, the tight green polo tucked into his brown pants.

“Uhmm… Yes actually, please. If that’s okay.”

The man’s nod is friendly, putting his hands behind his back as he asks. “Of course it is. What are you looking for? Wines?” He nods at her phone.

“Well, that’s what I was thinking, a bottle of wine, something a bit fancier.”

“Is it for yourself?”

Vi shakes her head. “No. It’s for a friend of mine. He’s an older man. A professor at my University.”

The man’s eyebrow cocks slightly as he turns to the shelves.

“I’m his TA.” She clarifies, she stammers for a valid excuse. “It’s his birthday coming up, I wanted to get him something nice.”

The man nods, jaw twitching as he suppresses a cheeky smile. “I see. Is he a wine drinker?”

Vi hesistates. “I’m not sure.” She sucks on her teeth. “Actually, I think he’s not.” She chuckles. “He’s not that sophisticated actually. Wine feels like the kind of gift you get a teacher though.”

The staff nods, turning again to face her. “That’s a fair assumption. A good spirit bottle can also be a good gift?”

Vi thinks for a moment, eventually having a eureka moment. “Oh, he mentioned that when he was younger, he loved drinking scotch, he said it was the only drink he wouldn’t mix with cola. He says it’s disrespectful to the drink.”

The man chuckles, “Smart man. Follow me. I’ll show you some bottles, what’s your budget?”

“Heeeelllllllloooooooo!” Vi calls, sticking her head around his office door, covering her eyes playfully. “Are you decent in thereeee?”

“Very funny, Vi. One of these days you’re going to get me in trouble.” He waves her in as she uncovers her eyes, grinning. “Come on. I don’t want to explain your silly jokes, get in here.” He chuckles, watching the girl bounce into the room, closing the door behind her.

Vi had quickly gone home after buying the bottle of fancy scotch, a much more expensive bottle than she would usually get.

She’s been… ‘wearing him down’ over the last few weeks. ‘Coming straight from the gym’ in workout gear, ‘spilling her drink on her in front of him, taking it off on instinct’ (RIP Shirt), a fairly thin tee on a cold day, ‘forgetting to wear a bra’.

He’s definitely gotten less careful with his perving, his favourite seems to be the workout wear that Vi wears. Vi deduced that it was likely due to the general type he had when he was in college. Despite being the quieter type, the few girls he did have ‘relations’ (As he put it) with were always on the fitter gym rat side of the fence. And judging by his reaction today, opting for a pair of grey leggings (Thanks Heidi, if only she knew what they were being used for — fitting even tighter around Vi than they do her) and just a black sports bra — the unconscious lick of his lips and scanning of her lithe body — she’s picked another favourite.

She was proud the day that she dragged out the info that, despite never having a proper long-term girlfriend — he had only told a half-truth, in that he had hookups and short-lived situationships.

“You said you never had a girlfriend!!” She had complained, putting her hand over her breast. “I cannot believe you could lie to me like that! I thought we were friends!”

He had chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve worn me down, okay? I didn't think it was appropriate to say that.”

“Ooooooh, the pain!!!”

…

She sits down in front of his desk. She usually does show up, ready to work, and actually do her job, and today, it’s a little different.

‘Time to lock in. We’re rushing this.’

Vi stands up and yawns, bending over to touch her toes, Mr Ramirez, looks up and this time, doesn’t glance away, he takes a long look at her cleavage, her breasts jiggling with each movement as she twists, touching each foot. Standing back up she grins and puts her hands on her hips. “Holy shit, we killed that.”

He smirks and nods. “Language. But. Yes. That went by smoothly.” He meets her eyes and smiles. “You have somewhere to be?”

She shakes her head, sitting back down again. “Damn, use me and abuse me and then you try to kick me to the curb. Here, I thought you were a different kind of man.”

Mr Ramirez sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’ll be the death of me Vi.” He looks up. “Though… That does remind me.”

He leans over to the side, rummaging through a drawer, he pulls out piece after piece of paper. “Did I not print it out?” He asks, rummaging.

“What is it?” She asks, eyes curious as she leans on her crossed knee, giving him another view of her breasts.

He pushes his glasses up his nose as he shrugs. “Well, I wanted to give it to you so you could review it, but…” He grabs his monitor and turns it, the lean muscles in his forearm flex.

Pointing at an email, he reads aloud; “Faculty are invited to a weekend-long conference; ‘The future of modern education: The encroachment of AI in teaching and learning.’ Faculty are welcome to bring a plus-one — TA’s, Honour Roll students, or trainee teachers. Please report to [email protected] with your confirmation and any plus-ones.”

Vi’s eyes go wide slightly. Glancing from the monitor to him, she asks. “Are you asking me if I want to come?”

Mr Ramirez lifts his hands up, turning his monitor back. “Yes. No pressure of course. These conferences can be a bit dry, but I figured you would appreciate the content, seeing as AI may interest you with your own career aspirations.”

She smirks. “That’s the only reason?”

Mr Ramirez rolls his eyes — and much to her pleasure, the slightest hint of a blush? “Vi…”

She laughs and nods. “I’ll think about it.”

“Let me know. You have heaps of time.” He sighs. “If you like, I don’t have anything else I need your help with. So you’re welcome to stay and study or you can head off.” Nodding at her outfit, the first time he’s ever openly acknowledged her fits. “You’ve got a session at the gym planned?”

She grins. “No actually! I came early — Sorry, went early.” She smirks. “Because, I have this for you!” She opens her bag and slides the bottle out.

“For me?” He asks, eyes going wide, fixing his glasses as he leans forward to read the label. “This is an incredible bottle. Did you really get this for me?”

She nods, jutting it toward him. “Of course! I know you’re a real fancy alcoholic spirit man, and I wanted to thank you for the opportunity you gave me.” She points at the monitor as he gingerly takes the bottle. “And, clearly, you fuck with me too, hence the invite.”

Mr Ramirez can only nod, the cussing going over his head as he turns the bottle in his hand.

“Well, I insist in that case. That you try a bit with me. If only you have nothing else planned, and aren’t planning on driving.”

Vi grins victoriously.

“PLlllllllllleaaaasssssssssseeeee!!! I want to see it soooooooo bad!!! Stop being so mean to me!!!”

“Vi! — hiccup — I can’t…. It’s not appropriate.”

“I won’t tell anyone if you don’t!!!”

A long sigh. “Fine.”

….

“OH MY GOD??!!” She exclaims, leaning forward, face flushed from alcohol. “You were so hot???” She looks up at him. “Like! You’re hot now! But wow! You were a heartthrob!”

Mr Ramirez takes his phone back, finishing his third glass of the night already. “Okay, okay, calm it down now Vi.” He says, smirking, a completely different side of him. “But thank you.”

She innocently bats her eyelashes. “You have to return the compliment now! It’s social standards!”

He bites his bottom lip, eyes a bit unfocused as he sighs, holding the empty glass up near his face. “Okay. One time. You are a very pretty lady.”

“That’s not what I said!!” She teases, leaning forward, sensually licking her lips, pushing his buttons. “Has to be equal.”

He pouts and sighs. “You are dangerous. Fine. You are…. Hot.”

She raises her fists into the air in celebration. “Yes! Success!!”

Mr Ramirez rolls his eyes, he checks the time on his monitor. “Okay okay. I think that’s enough for one night. I think it’s time to head out.”

“Oooh, kick-ons?” Vi asks, narrowing her eyes playfully. “My place or yours?”

Mr Ramirez chuckles, his face flushed with alcohol, rubbing his fingers into his temple.

She grins, licking her lips. “Sir, you have to be honest with me. I swear I’ll never ask a crazy thing again.”

He closes his eyes. “I have such a bad feeling about this.”

“Do you still look like that? Like, fitness-wise?”

Mr Ramirez looks up. “I’m definitely not answering that.”

“PLLLLLLLEEEEAASSSEEEEEEEE!!!” She whines, putting her arms on the desk, looking up at him.

His eyes flash with hunger as he looks down at her and scoffs. “I plead the fifth.”

She groans and pulls back, crossing her arms, causing her breasts to pop. “I thought we were friends!”

Mr Ramire… Juan, laughs, he hesitates, and then shakes his head. Mr Ramirez sighs and adjusts his sitting position. “It’s very late Vi. I think it’s time to head home.”

Vi knows that voice, she knows that tone. She’s pushed it as far as she can…. For now.

“Fine. Did you like the bottle?” Vi asks, running her hands down her body casually.

Juan grins, fixing his glasses, his eyes follow her hands, if just a little. “Very, very much so.”