Chapter Two

“May I?” He gestured towards a seat, but I didn’t respond.

“Isn’t that too many shots for a pretty young girl?” He took the seat across from me.

And how was that any of his concern? I thought to myself.

“I guess so.” I poured another shot.

“This looks a lot like heartbreak.” He sat back comfortably.

“How did you…”

“Most of the people here either came to party or watch the strippers, and you’re doing none of that, so I’m assuming you’re here to drink away your pain.”

I tried to pour another shot but he stopped me and set the glass away from me.

I frowned. “Why are you here?”

“Nice to meet you too.” He sat up with a small smile.

“That’s not what I asked,” I hissed. “Let me have my glass.”

“Not until you tell me who hurt you this way.” His response was unreadable.

“And why would I describe my pain to a total stranger?” I shifted in my seat, already growing impatient.

“Stranger?” He paused, then leaned forward to offer me a hand. “I’m Nick.”

“Sure,” I responded.

“Is that all?”

“What do you want me to say? I don’t know a Nick.” My head was beginning to get heavy.

“It’s fine.” He withdrew his hand. “Want to talk about the man who did this to you?”

I sighed heavily and then sat up. If a conversation would make this “Nick” go away, then I would just talk.

“We dated for five years and he cheated with some girl. Simple.”

“Do you know who she is?” He seemed more interested in this conversation.

“No. He doesn’t even know I went through his phone. This is just… so annoying. I can’t even believe Dan would do this to me.”

He didn’t respond.

I tried to grab my glass but he moved it further away from me. “Don’t you think this is a bit too much?”

“Excuse me?”

“So what do you want to do about Dan now? Confront him?”.

“What? Never. I would just let him go. I hate men now.”

He nodded once. “You seem like a calm lady, and…”

“Yeah, and it’s always the calm ones getting used.” I folded my arms and sank into the chair.

“Sure,” he breathed.

“Okay, conversation’s over. You can leave now.”

He scoffed. “I’ve only been here a minute or two. What’s the rush?”

“I don’t feel like talking to anyone.”

“That’s sad because I don’t think you should be all by yourself, especially when you’re not so stable right now. Anything could happen.”

“Anything like what?” My eyes were getting heavy.

He shrugged. “Just being careful.”

“Go and care about someone else. My friend will be here soon, then we’ll leave.”

“You don’t sound so welcoming for someone who accepted my drink.”

“I didn’t ask for it.”

“Yet you drank it.”

“Because I was thirsty.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Of course.”

He glanced towards the dance floor where Leah was already dancing with a guy who enjoyed spraying money.

Nick sighed. “I don’t think she’ll be back anytime soon, so I guess you’ll have to put up with me a little longer.”

Then he took off his suit. “Here, I can see you’re freezing.”

“I’m not.” I blinked at him, but his hand was still stretched out.

“The tiny bumps on your hands and legs say otherwise.”

I looked at my legs. He was right. Then I took the suit and hung it over my shoulders.

“So you’re looking at my exposed legs then?”

“That doesn’t sound like a thank you.” He kept a neutral expression.

“Right,” I avoided eye contact and tried to pull my short gown down, but it didn’t reach mid-thigh.

I was so sleepy that I barely noticed. When I looked up, he was standing a few feet away from me.  

“You should rest your head for a bit. There’s a room upstairs.”

I didn’t know this man and I was not about to forget that just because he bought me a few drinks.

I glanced at the bar where some of the staff were watching. When he noticed me looking, he took a step back.

“You don’t have to come with me,” he said. “You can just wait here until your friend comes back.”

I glanced at the crowded club then back at him. My head was pounding and I could barely keep my eyes open.

“You think it’ll actually be safe?” I looked up at him.

He gave a small nod. “It’s a private lounge.”

I was silent.

“You can keep your things with you, and if you don’t feel comfortable enough, then you can leave.”

I hesitated, but at least he wasn’t forcing me. I nodded. “Fine.”

 He led me upstairs. The lounge looked very different from the rest of the club, like it was reserved specially for whoever owned this place. He helped me onto a couch, careful not to hold me too tightly.

“Don’t worry. You can close your eyes.”

“How do you even have access to this space?” My voice sounded half asleep.

“I guess I just… know people.”

“Hmm.” My vision began to blur.

I didn’t remember falling asleep.

When I opened my eyes again, there was a dull ache at the side of my head. I blinked several times and realized I was lying on a bed instead of the couch. My heart began to race. I looked around and saw my bag and mask placed neatly on the nightstand, with my shoes in a corner.

A duvet was pulled up to my shoulders. I quickly pulled it off to check my dress. It was still on, so I let out the breath I had been holding.

He was facing a mirror and adjusting his collar, then he turned at the noise, his mask still on. “You’re awake.”

“Why am I in a bed? I fell asleep on the couch. What did you…”

He looked slightly offended. “Relax… you seemed uncomfortable on the couch, so I asked some of the female staff to help you move to the bed.”

I looked at him from head to toe, then I suddenly remembered… “Oh my goodness, Leah.”

I rushed out of bed. “She must be worried sick.” I hurriedly tried to put my shoes back on.

He slowly walked up to me, but kept his distance, as if he didn’t want to get too close. “You need to calm down. Your friend is okay.”

“You don’t know that.” I tried fixing the straps on my heels, but my shaky hands just wouldn’t cooperate.

He watched me struggle for a few seconds. “Here, let me try.”

I shot him a weird look.

“Stop trying to be difficult.” He crouched in front of me and helped me strap the heels properly. “There’s a ride waiting to take you and your friend home.”

“You got us a ride? I’m okay, we can get home on our own.”

“Sure you can.” He got up. “Just let him drop you off so I’m sure you’re getting home safe. You don’t look so… okay.”

 He walked back towards his dresser and picked up his phone like he was about to make a phone call.

I took my bag and walked towards the door, but I stopped at the frame when I heard his voice. “I didn’t get your name.”

I looked over my shoulder. “Rita.” Then I turned and went back to meet Leah.

The party was still going on, but there were mostly new faces, as if the ones from earlier had gotten tired and left.

Leah was seated at the bar stand, scrolling on her phone. Her face lit up the moment she saw me. “Rita, oh my gosh. I was so scared when I didn’t see you.”

“I’m fine,” I breathed, my head still aching. “I just had to rest a bit.”

When we walked outside, there was an SUV waiting for us. “That’s our ride.”

“Huh? Whose car is this?”

“I’ll explain when we get home.”