The Boss's Proposal (Billionaire Bad Boy BBW Romance)(17)

Her musings were not confirmed when he continued speaking, '' You wanna  know why I'm at this stupid cheerleader party? Well, you cheerleaders  might be dumb-ass bitches. But you sure are hot as hell! Come on baby,  dance for me. Kiss me again, you know you liked it!'' and he winked.

As he was speaking his eyes had hesitated on the tight sweater that  emphasized her large breasts, and then wandered down past her tiny waist  finally resting on her long legs.

She felt objectified, insulted and taken advantage of and the anger rose  inside her, as it occasionally did. ''I didn't kiss you. You kissed me!  Leave me alone you sexist pig of a man,'' she screamed and she threw  her red plastic cup of beer all over him.

Everyone around them started laughing at the sight of him and he looked  shocked and then started to shout but a couple of guys came up to him  and held his shoulders. ''Time to leave dude,'' one of them said, ''No  more beer for you tonight.''

''I'll get you back for this'' he sneered at her as his teammates  dragged him out. His eyes were black and Laurel felt a quiver of regret.  Had she overreacted? It wasn't a great start to fresher's week.







Jennifer quickly appeared at Laurel's side, ''Jeez, what was all that about?'' she asked, looking concerned.

''Oh he's just some douche I met at orientation'' she sighed, the anger  dissipating from her body slowly. ''He's got a serious chip on his  shoulder about cheerleaders and he's just a typical arrogant ice hockey  jerk that needs to be put in his place.''

''Laurel he's not just any ice hockey player. That's Ben Jackson. He's  the star of the school. He's already got a position in the first team  which is unheard of for a fresher.''

''So?'' Laurel snapped back, exasperated, "That means he can insult  people however he wants with no repercussions? Not with me!''

''Just be careful ok, sweetie. He's not someone you want to have as an  enemy from what I've heard. He beat a kid up real bad at his high  school; he almost didn't get accepted here because of it. But of course  his talent and wealth won the school directors round.''

''All I know is that he insulted me in orientation and he insulted me  again tonight. Do you know, he nearly ran me over with that ridiculous  big car of his and when I shouted at him to watch where he was going he  laughed and said that having one less cheerleader in the world wouldn't  be a tragedy. What an idiot!''

''How did he know you were a cheerleader?''

''He sat next to me in one of the orientation classes and we started  talking. He seemed nice at first, if a bit cocky. I mean he's hot, even I  can't deny that. But as soon as I told him I was a cheerleader his  attitude changed and he spoke to me like trash. I mean, I was trying to  concentrate and he was whispering lewd remarks about what he wanted to  do to me in my ear. And then he tried to run me over in the parking  lot!''

''Wow, it sounds hot. What was he whispering?'' Jennifer said, smiling ''I wish he sat next to me in orientation!''

Laurel gave her friend a disapproving look and rolled her eyes. ''Come  on, let's enjoy the party'' she said, ''I've wasted enough time thinking  about that loser for one night!''

Just then she saw another familiar face. ''Paul!'' she smiled happily  and gave him a big hug. ''Jen, this is Paul the guy I was telling you  about who is also studying law. It's crazy but we're in almost all the  same classes. Coincidence, huh?''

Jennifer introduced herself to the tall, lean, smart looking guy and the  three of them chatted amiably about their new college life and  experiences so far.



Fresher's week was a blur of meetings, events and parties that flew by  before Laurel even realized it. She had made a nice bunch of friends,  comprised of a close-knit foursome including her and Jennifer and two  other girls called Mindy and Amy. Paul had also become an honorary  member of their group, his witty remarks often causing the girls to  double up in laughter. Her fellow law student had become a good friend  and they often stopped by the local diner for a bite to eat or a  milkshake while pondering over some law problem they had been assigned.  She admired his exceptional intelligence and logical mind and knew he  was going to be a great lawyer. She wasn't sure she could say the same  about herself.

Apart from a couple of minor shouting matches in the hallway, she had  managed to mostly avoid her archenemy Ben. Not only had he spread the  word that she was frigid, he had also put a price on her head. He had  offered an attractive sum of money to the first of his teammates who  managed to bed her.

However, she had quickly realized his game when ice hockey players  started following her everywhere, giving her compliments, sending her  flowers, offering to pay for her lunch, asking her out on dates. It had  the opposite effect of what he wanted. She quickly became the most  popular cheerleader in college due to her following of persistent  admirers. Of course she didn't succumb to their transparent gestures.

She enjoyed her new popularity and even more so because it annoyed Ben.  His plan couldn't have worked out better she chuckled to herself. She  was sitting in the college restaurant surrounded by a merry group of  cheerleaders, as well as some of the ice hockey players who had  continued to enjoy her company even after Ben had pulled out of his  stupid bet. She glanced over to the corner where he was sitting alone  and smiled sweetly at him. He scowled back and continued eating.

What is his problem, she wondered? But her thoughts strayed quickly to  what she was doing. Enough time wasted on popularity contests she  decided. There was a reason this college had been one of her top  choices, and it wasn't the law program, the ice hockey boys, the  cheerleading, or even her best friend Jennifer. She made up her mind to  change her priorities that very night.







''Earth to Laurel,'' she suddenly heard and realized that Jennifer was  waving her hand in front her eyes. ''Sorry, I was just thinking about  something.'' she muttered.

''I could tell! What's up?''

''Well you know why I really chose this college don't you?'' she  confided to her friend, ''and I feel like the time is going by and I  haven't even had the guts to go to the rink yet. With all the parties  and events, I think I've forgotten how to skate!''

''Nonsense,'' her friend replied, '' You signed up to join the figure skating team, right?''

''Yeah, the first practice session isn't 'til next month though. I'd  really like to get on the ice for a bit before then. I'm already gonna  be way out of my league. I just hope they think I have enough talent to  keep me on.''

''You'll be fine! Look, if you're that worried, why don't we head to the  rink tonight? Blow off the party and spend some time just you and me.  Treat me to a show on ice, and then you can take me for a milkshake  afterwards. Deal?''

Laurel smiled and hugged her friend. ''You're the best!'' she grinned. A bit of moral support was just what she needed.

As they entered the college ice rink later that evening, the friendly  old security guard informed them that he would need to close up the  building shortly. ''Oh really? You always close this early?'' Laurel  enquired anxiously.

''How long are we planning on staying?'' Jennifer teased. ''I promised Mindy and Amy we'd meet them later.''

''I just usually like to practice late, you know, when no-one's around. I  used to spend hours skating at night at our local rink, you remember?  All the other girls had expensive coaching and would look down on me  with my old tattered skates and unpolished skills. And I just feel like  it's gonna be even worse here. I just need a chance. I just need someone  to train me properly and I know I can be really good, just like my  grandmother was.

''Oh sweetie, I'm sorry, I'm sure we can sort something out.''  Jennifer's smile was kind and sincere but somewhere in her eyes Laurel  could see a speck of doubt that startled her. Maybe her dream would  never become reality. Maybe she just wasn't good enough.

''Look, I'm here all night,'' the security guard cut in with a friendly  smile, ''And the only reason we close the rink is to stop all those  crazy ice hockey players from having parties in here. If you want to  come and practice on your own, then be my guest. But don't tell anyone,  ok?'' he winked.

'' Thank you so much!'' said Laurel grinning and hugging him. She had  hoped her sob story would work. But it was all completely true so she  didn't think it was wrong to use it to her advantage and appeal to the  goodwill of this sweet old man.

''I won't whisper a thing to anyone!'' she promised as she hurried  happily into the arena with her friend, and brushed her negative  thoughts away. She would just have to prove everyone, wouldn't she?  Especially that brutish excuse for a human being. She imagined his face  scowling at her success and giggled to herself. Then wondered why on  earth she was thinking about him, and why something stirred deep inside  of her at the thought of his mocking but beautifully sculptured face.  She glanced at her friend guiltily, as if Jennifer could read her  thoughts, but she was unaware, gazing at the multitude of screens and  audio visual equipment hooked up everywhere around the rink.