Discipline (Scott & Mariana) by Vera Roberts

One
    “So what do you think?” Sarah paraded around the apartment in her Halloween attire.
    Mariana watched her leggy roommate strut her stuff up and down the makeshift runway from her bedroom to their living room. Sarah was wearing the tightest and tiniest nurse’s outfit Mariana had ever seen. She wasn’t sure if Barbie could squeeze into the outfit, that’s how tight it was. Sarah completed her look with white stripper heels with matching pantyhose and garter.
    “You look like if you decide to breathe , that whole outfit is going to burst off your body,” Mariana replied.
    “So I look cute, right?” Sarah nodded.
    “That’s one way of putting it,” Mariana smiled.
    Sarah kicked off her heels and plopped next to her best friend on the sofa. “So what are your plans for Halloween? Does Mr. Man have anything special for you?”
    “He has to work. Got Milk? has a new ad coming out so he’s directly supervising it,” Ma riana tried not to sound disappointed. She loved Scott’s take-charge attitude and how he worked insane hours to get the job done. She also hated how she wasn’t able to see him as much as she would’ve liked. If it hadn’t been for her internship and the weekends, Mariana wouldn’t see Scott at all.
    “You can always come with us if you want?” Sarah prodded. “Besides, it’s been a while since I hung out with my bestie!”
    “Oh yes,” Mariana sighed, “I surely do miss playing the third wheel.”
    “You know what I mean,” Sarah smiled. “We’re going to go bar-hopping and probably get wasted. We’re taking a cab so no designated driver here! It’ll be fun. Come on, let’s go!”
    “I don’t even have a costume, Sarah!” Mariana whined. “I’m not going to go out looking like a boring college student.”
    “We can go out and get a costume! I’ll pay for it if money is an issue!” Sarah begged. “I just want you to come with. It’ll be fun, just like old times!”
    Sarah gave Mariana an offer she couldn’t refuse. She wouldn’t be able to see Scott because he was going to be working late, and Mariana really wasn’t looking forward to a night alone. It was hard to say no. “Okay, okay. But I’m not going to look like some ghetto hoochie mama, all right?”
    Sarah held up a hand. “Girl Scouts honor.”
    ****
    “And sure enough,” Mariana looked at herself in the mirror at the costume store, “I look like a ghetto hoochie mama.” She was wearing a referee’s costume, and even though it came in her size, Mariana was convinced the sizing was meant for girls who had no curves and no ass.
    “I think you look cute!” Sarah smiled.
    Mariana pinched her stomach. “This isn’t supposed to spill out like this.”
    “Well, maybe if someone would lay off the Del Taco…”
    “I stopped eating that!” Mariana insisted. “I just need to work out more.”
    “Work out more? How much more do you need to work out, Mari? You’ve been steadily losing weight,” Sarah commented.
    Mariana managed a smile. She had been losing weight, but she didn’t have a gym membership. Scott Reed was her personal trainer in more ways than one. “I just need to tone up. Anyway, pick another outfit, please?” She began to take off her costume.
    “Fine.” S arah rummaged through the rack and chose another outfit. “Okay, this will work! It’s all black and will hide extra, ahem, poundage.” Sarah smiled as Mariana shot her a death look. “And it’s super cute and sexy!”
    Mariana eyeballed the outfit. She could pull it off. It was missing one key accessory but she knew where to get it. “I think that one might work.”

Two
    “Ooh, was that a yawn I just saw?” Elissa looked at her boss as he stretched in his chair. “Your age is catching up with you.”
    “You’re lucky you’re a lady I respect,” Scott yawned again, “or I would’ve told you off.”
    It was already nine pm, and Scott Reed was burning the midnight oil with his executive assistant, Elissa. He had