The tease

Danya had only to make a choice in her mind and the reality around her swirled. The effect was only mildly disorienting, and she adapted quickly to her new surroundings. She was in a classy bar, the decor and clientele screaming money. She scanned the room and noticed lots of attractive men and women, dressed to impress. Most seemed instantly vapid and uninteresting; carbon copies of each other, no style or personality of their own.

Then her eyes fell on a stunningly beautiful woman who stood out from the crowd. Her cocktail dress was undoubtedly Chanel, but she wore it with an easy, elegant grace that made it seem like the clothes were designed just for her. Her accessories--high-heeled pumps, a small clasp purse, bangle on her wrist, necklace and earrings--enhanced her outfit rather than overshadowed it. Others couldn't help but be attracted to her, and she was currently chatting up two of the dime-a-dozen lawyers or doctors or whatever.

Danya noticed eyes on her and so took a second to take in her own ensemble. She had to admit, she was striking in her own right. She was wearing a dark Armani business suit, mini-skirt, stockings and heels. A mirror was on the wall to her left and she saw that her hair was pulled back and her make-up powerful--she was presenting the image of a **** to be reckoned with. She balanced that fine line between sexy and slutty perfectly.

It must have been her angelic powers, but she sensed that Ariana (the tease) had been studying her. "Probably nervous about the competition," thought Danya to herself. Well, it was time to take some action. She went to the bar to get a drink, and noticed with satisfaction that the hunk behind the bar took her order immediately despite the multitudes who'd been waiting already. She tipped him with a smile (and a twenty) and strutted over to the tease. One of Ariana's suitors had left, leaving her with one very smug-looking man who was trying desperately to charm her with his cavalier wit, perfect teeth, and ten thousand-dollar watch.

"Ariana!" Danya called out, "How have you been, dear?" She rushed over to give the startled woman a kiss on the cheek and was enjoying her obvious discomfort at not recognizing the stranger. "Oh, uhh, well wonderful as usual," was Ariana's lame reply. Danya enjoyed this position of power and decided to exploit it. "Oh, you don't remember me, do you?" Ariana only looked up at her with a blank expression, her mind obviously racing to recall. Ariana thought that surely she would remember such a beautiful coworker, associate, or friend.

"I'm Danya Gabriel, we worked together on the Charter Foundation fundraiser last year." Ariana nodded weakly, remembering her tedious efforts on behalf of a charity she didn't believe in, but still couldn't place the blonde standing over her. The awkwardness finally got to be too much for the boy toy, who took his leave mumbling something about getting a drink. Ariana was quite displeased; now she'd have to work again to send out her signals of availability. She thought that she had already found tonight's prey.

Danya didn't tell her, of course, that for once Ariana WAS the prey...