Free Discipline (Scott & Mariana) by Vera Roberts Page A

looked over the Got Milk? ad with her several times, trying to figure out what was wrong with it. With Elissa’s suggestions, Scott had made several changes already, but there was still something missing. That IT factor.
    “You’re going to drive yourself mad, Boss,” Elissa warned as she stifled a yawn. “Whatever you’re looking for, you’re not seeing with tired eyes.”
    “Maybe I should go home,” he glanced at his watch. It was too late for trick-or-treaters and Mariana already had plans. “Maybe I can catch SportsCenter.”
    “Wow, you really are showing your age,” Elissa kidded, “I remember a time you couldn’t wait to get out of here to catch up with some chick at the local dive.”
    “Yeah, well, those days are long gone,” Scott briefly thought of his girlfriend. He only wished he was seeing her tonight instead of working on some advertising piece.
    “So how is it?”
    “How’s what?” Scott asked.
    “Monogamy,” Elissa replied, “how’s it working out for you?”
    Scott tightened his lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Oh, okay,” Elissa smiled. The rest of the office may not have known the details between the executive creative director and the new intern who had just started, but Elissa was well aware of the secret games Scott and Mariana played. They always stole glances at each other, and Scott seemed to be in a happier mood on her internship days. It wasn’t a coincidence that her desk was in direct view of his office door.
    But Scott was intensely private. Ever since a horrible breakup years prior, Scott went to great lengths to make sure not much of his personal life was made public. He confided in Elissa about some things but was silent regarding his relationship with Mariana. But Elissa knew what the deal was. He was in love with the woman and was fighting tooth and nail to deny it.
    “Anyway, you go ahead and go home. I’m sure Adam is wondering where his wife is,” Scott smiled.
    “I will tell him the same thing I always tell him,” Elissa got up and dusted off her suit, “I was with my younger and much richer boyfriend. Good night, Boss.”
    “Night, Elissa,” Scott waved her out the door. He turned back to the ad and stared at it once again. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t the celebrity they used; she was a delight to work with. It wasn’t the lighting in the background; it was perfect. It was something, and it bugged him that he couldn’t figure it out.
    Whatever it was, it was going to wait until the next morning. He was going to head to the nearest bar and drown his sorrows in a Samuel Adams. That always cheered him up.
    He went home and briefly turned on the TV as he checked messages on his answer machine. He walked to his bedroom and passed by the infamous top drawer when he stopped in his tracks. It was slightly ajar. Oh…
    Scott walked over to the drawer and noticed a pair of handcuffs was missing. It didn’t take him long to figure out where they had gone. His second thought wondered what she was planning to do with those handcuffs and if she was going to use them on someone else. A twinge of jealousy tugged at his heart, and he felt his fists clench up. No, it couldn’t be someone else. Mariana promised herself to him, and she was his. All His.
    “Mari, Mari, Mari,” he shook his head, “you’ve been a very bad girl. I need to punish you.”

Three
    “Good lord!” Mariana felt claustrophobic in the crowd. “I can’t believe it’s so crowded here!”
    “Girl, what did you expect?” Sarah led Mariana through the crowd. “It’s Halloween! Everybody and their mama are out celebrating!”
    “I know, but this is crazy!” Mariana shook her head. “I can’t believe this.”
    “What I can’t believe is how you didn’t get arrested for indecent exposure for that tight-ass outfit you have on,” Sarah’s boyfriend, Eric, commented. “Girl, is that shit painted on you?”
    Mariana winked. The police