CHAPTER 2

Trotting down the street of New York where she knew no one, tears pouring heavily down her eyes like flood, Her hair in shambles from her dejected pulls,

 What has she done to herself by coming over to a state she knows no one all for a man?

A man who she just caught cheating on her with her cousin. A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed it down, painfully.

 She kept on walking, eyes and legs having no idea of their destination yet they kept moving. The night which was fast approaching.

It was already dark even though the street lights and busy street made it feel like it was still day. A plus for her.

Her phone vibrated in her purse and she let out a tired hiss. If only the phone knows— it would seize from ringing. The had been ringing non stop and beginning to irritate her. She could easily pull it out and silence it or put it off but her hands were too stiff from pain to do that.

Ria knew her family were probably the one calling. They must be dead worried about her since she hadn't informed them of her safe arrival. Something she should have done before going over to James.  

She can't pick their call at her state. Her family would panick and what would she even tell her mother? "That it was a man she came to see and the man was cheating on her and now, she's stranded in New York without any money to return?" No way in heaven was she saying that. Her mother will faint even before she finishes.

If only she was foretold, this wouldn't have happened to her. Her eyes were filled with tears that she couldn't even see properly.

Finally, after walking hopelessly for what seems like ages, Ria's eyes spotted a clubhouse. Her legs suddenly paused, a sign to show they have reached their destination. 

Standing at the entrance of the club, wondering on how she would go in with her big box, Ria was sure they wouldn't allow her in.

It's a club and not a hotel, They would certainly throw her out if she makes a move to go in with her big box.

Staring ahead, Ria spotted two security men standing by the gate. She fixed her gaze on them, transmitting unspoken words of pain, hoping they could read through her eyes.

One of them finally noticed her and signaled her to come.

She sauntered towards him. "Good evening" Ria muffled a greeting. The security man who Ria could tell would be in his late forties, nodded with a smile. 

"I can see you're stranded or are you waiting for someone?" The man asked. He looked like he was willing to help.

Ria decided to beg him to allow her keep her luggage with him.

He accepted and took it to the security room at the back of the gate. 

"Thank you so much sir" Ria appreciated his kindness. She wouldn't have known what to do with her box if not for him.

"Steve. That's my name" he corrected her. "Oh, he's one of those men who doesn't like being called sir" Ria nodded in understanding and walked through the gates after he opened them for her.

Stepping into the club which was surprisingly very huge, compared to how it looked from outside, Ria managed to squeeze herself past the sweaty dancing bodies to the bar.

The music was blaring loudly, almost causing her ears— dumbness. She has never been in a club before and she wonder how people enjoy that kind of loud music.

"A shot of tequila!" Ria said aloud to the bar man who looked at her twice before looking away.

She was sure he took him as those ladies that takes only fruit juice and must be wondering what she was doing in a club. On top of it, she's also dressed decently. Not the regular type of the club girl dress.

She doesn't blame herself either. She has never taken Alcohol before and doesn't even know names of any alcoholic drinks. Tequila must have came from the memories of movies she watched. 

The bar man handed her a tiny glass of a clear fluid that looks exactly like water. Ria stared at the shot and back at the bar man Wondering if that small glass of fluid would be enough to take away her pain.

Not wanting to ask for a bigger glass, she gulped down the whole fluid. 

"Eewwww! Holy shit!" Ria gagged at the taste. It began burning her throat, strangely making her want more.

"Let me have two more," she said to the bar man who nodded and handed her two more which she in turn, gulped down at one gulp. The more it burns her throat, the more she takes more to quench the burn.

"Can I get a bigger glass? I don't like this tiny thing you're giving me. It barely reaches my throat" she yelled, her voice cracking.

Her eyes were beginning to squint but she struggled to keep them open and steady.

The bar man handed her the fourth glass, this time taking notice of her appearance, If she requests for more, he would definitely give her a lemon juice. He could tell through her body language that she had never taken tequila or any other alcoholic drink before.

"Do you know what he did?" Ria slurred, her voice cracking. The bar man stared at her, giving her his attention. He wondered who hurt such a beautiful lady.

"You see, I flew all the way from Oklahoma," Ria waved her hands in the air trying to tell the bar man she flew. "To New York. But what did he do?" She gagged, picked up the glass and took a gulp.

"He fucking cheated!" gulp...

"I hate him!" Another gulp...

"I hate him so much" she finished the glass cup and pointed at the wine bar.

"Another one! Give me the whole bottle! I want to drown myself and forget everything" she slurred clapping her hands and gigling.

"I can't give you another one, I'll make something to steady you alright?" The bar man took away the glass and shot cups.

*******

At the entrance of the club, two men walked in. One of them was on black shade.

He felt reluctant and looked like he was forced to come there. He turned to the other one who was already dancing with a lady and pulled him back.

"I can't stay here Chase, I don't feel like it. What in the name of noisy havoc is going on here?" The man snarled.

"Damon, can you release yourself for a bit? Calm down and enjoy yourself for a while. You don't need to always be stiff. I brought you here to shake off and you promised to behave so better don't go. We're here to have fun and fun we shall have" Chase stated authoritatively.

"Common let's dance" Chase beamed shaking his head to the music. "Don't let the booties go to waste."

"I'm not interested in them Chase," Damon replied, looking drained. He just wants to get the hell out of there. The loud music felt like they were going to destroy his eardrums.

"I'm going to get something to drink," Chase ignored him and disappeared into the crowd. 

Damon looked around the club, his eyes darted to a lady sitting on the bar shaking her head and clapping her hands then she suddenly stood up but staggered back, falling back on her sit.

"What a waste" he humphed, shook his head and walked over to the bar. Perhaps he could also get something to drink as the stuffed room already got him thirsty.

Taking the seat beside the drunk lady, Damon ordered a glass of vodka. He took a sip as his eyes went back to the drunk lady. His orbs scrutinized her.

She was putting on a black gown that was almost reaching her ankle and a boot that in no way matched her outfit. Her silver hair— scattered over her shoulders. He wondered if she colored it. He doubt if anyone has such hair color naturally. 

She mumbled something to herself and all of a sudden, She began laughing loudly and the next minute, she started wailing.

What in the name of emotions is going on here? Damon couldn't help but ask himself.

His eyes was strangely fixed on her lips as she wailed. The movement her lips made while she wails does some strange things to him which he couldn't fathom.

He couldn't see her face properly because he has Prosopagnosia(face blindness) and wasn't putting on his contact lenses. Chase made him leave it at home and now, he's regretting ever listening to him.

He couldn't even find the damn dude. Whatever happens to them having fun. 

"Do you know I hate him?" a hoarse voice whispered in his ear. The fuck! When did she leave her seat? Damon wanted to move away from her hot breath which was fanning his ears but she crossed her hands around his neck. Her breath was still fanning his ear.

 It was doing strange things to his system and he's uncomfortable with her mouth on his ear.

"You should go home, I think you have drank enough" Damon tried getting her hands off him but she tightened it the more.

"I have no where to go... I go where I go... I go..." She slurred, blinking her eyes. The tequila shots she took were already starting to deal with her.

The corner he was sitting was a bit dark so couldn't see anything except her moving lips.

"Do you know he was with her? I saw him with my cousin. They were doing thing... Very bad things..." She pulled on his collar. Damon sighed wondering what he did by coming over to her.

She's definitely crazy and he should have stayed away.

"I have to go" Damon managed to pull her hands away from his neck but the next thing, she staggered and her lips landed on his.

Damon's eyes widened, his system seemed to have temporary shut down. He could feel the tingling sensation running down his spine. 

Gathering his self control, he pulled his lips away from hers and tried to get her away from him but she remained stiff, Her breathing, calm as she made a sleeping sound.

"Holy shit! She fucking slept on his body!" he froze.