THE BET

Cruz understood the effect he was having on her but just couldn't understand why she was going to such an extent to embarrass him in front of everyone. 

"You're just the worst of men!" She replied, gritting her teeth angrily while trying to cover her torn dress from him. He noticed this and forcefully removed her hand from the dress to have a last look at her smooth and slender thighs.

Jessica struggled to free herself from the monster in disguise before Leah and Tyler came to her rescue.

"Leave her alone! Are you out of your mind?" Leah asked angrily as she struggled to push his hand away, her turquoise eyes narrowing at him.

"What the f*ck is wrong with you? Have you finally lost it?" Tyler asked as he pushed him away and freed Jessica's hands. 

As soon as she was free, she quickly held her dress with one of her hands while she used the other to wipe out the tears that were trickling down her eyes as she ran out of the club. 

"Wait, Jessie!" Leah shouted after her and looked at Tyler who was now ridden with guilt. 

"The car keys!" She demanded, stretching her hands towards his face. He stuck his hand inside his pocket and brought out his car key which he dropped on her outstretched palm. 

"Come on Leah, we can sort…" 

"Don't come to our place tonight." She interrupted before running after Jessica who was far out of the club. 

Leah met Jessica trying to stop a cab and she quickly drove Tyler's car in front of her. 

"Get in!" Leah instructed and after much hesitation, Jessica finally entered the car and Leah drove off. 

The drive back home was a silent one filled with so many emotions as Leah watched Jessica cry her eyes out. 

★★★★★

Back at the clubhouse, Tyler was very furious at his friends, especially Cruz who had harassed Jessica. 

"Guys, what was the meaning of that rubbish?" He asked angrily. 

"Dude, you know how Cruz always behaves. He was surprised to see an unfamiliar face and he wanted her, so we dared him to do it, we didn't know she came with you." One of the friends, Justin explained. 

"Who the fuck is she?" Cruz, whose hand was still on his cheek, asked furiously. 

"That was my fiance's best friend. She's a very decent girl, that's why you've never seen her in such places before. She's not like those cheap girls. You had no right to harass her like that, especially not today. This is like the second time she's been harassed." Tyler lashed out. 

"Calm down, she's not even your girlfriend and you're getting this worked up. She goes around with such great figures and skimpy clothes and you expect her not to be harassed?" Cruz wondered with little or no remorse over what he had done. 

"This is the 21st century, Cruz. I thought you knew that better. She isn't the only one with such a short dress and even she is... this is her body we are talking about, not your property!" Tyler scolded.

"Well, I didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted s*x but she took it too far and slapped my face!" Cruz complained terribly. 

"You were the one that went too far, Cruz! I'm very sure she made you understand she didn't want it but you never take no for an answer." Tyler complained angrily. 

"You were wrong, and you're going to apologize to her." Tyler urged. 

"That's not happening, young man!" Cruz flared up and tried to leave but Tyler held him back and tried to punch his face before Jason quickly grabbed his hand and pushed him away. 

The party was disrupted by their quarrel but Jason quickly apologized to everyone and forced them into the private room of the hall.

"Get hold of yourselves, Guys!" He scolded. "This is Michael's day, don't ruin it for him." He added.

"Then you should tell this dude to put a lock on his pants and be careful with who he flirts with and most importantly, learn to accept NO as an answer. This is supposed to be a fun party, not a place for harassing ladies!" Tyler yelled angrily. 

"She's not even your girlfriend. I don't know why you're flaring up except you have something to do with her behind her friend's back." Cruz replied, annoying Tyler. 

"See how crude his mind is? You think everyone is as shameless and loose as you are?" Tyler asked with so much disgust. "I value relationships a lot, Cruz and as I said, you're going to apologize to her!" He added before he stomped out of the room angrily. 

"In your dreams, Tyler!" Cruz shouted after him. 

"Shut the fuck up, Cruz! You were wrong to harass the lady like that and like, Tyler said, you're going to apologize to her. It was a dare anyway. I hope you understand now that you ain't so special after all. You are only common amongst the cheap and loose bitches, don't think so highly of yourself." Jason addressed him and just then, Micheal, Justin, and Daniel entered the room. 

"I can't believe the mighty Cruz Westham was slapped by a lady. Check it out, it's all over WeCom! The Guy with a Tiny Man between his legs!" Daniel joked as he joined them, unaware of the quarrel. 

"Come to think of it guys, who knows if Cruz pays those girls off to talk about how good he is in bed? For all, we know that girl might just be telling the truth." He chuckled, provoking Cruz even more. 

Cruz collected the phone from his hand and angrily smashed it on the ground and then grabbed the collar of his clothes and punched him hard in the face. "How's that?" He asked confidently. 

"Oh! That's stupid and it won't change the fact that you received a slap from a lady today right after receiving an award for being the Ladies' man. Do you even think you deserve the award?" Daniel provoked Cruz further.

The Ladies' Man Award was just a playful award that Cruz and his friend Cycle gave each other from time to time depending on who they feel deserves it.  

Cruz was now seething with rage and hatred for Jessica because of this little confrontation. 

"You have to call Tyler up. You will apologize to that lady." Jason urged. 

"And now you even have to apologize? Where is that confident Casanova who claims he can never be scolded by any woman and neither can he ever apologize to a woman except his mom? By chance, has she suddenly become your mom?" Daniel inquired, deliberately annoying Cruz. 

"Stop annoying him, Dan!" Micheal scolded. 

Cruz felt like he was going to explode any moment but an idea came to mind and he heaved a sigh of relief and a sly smile danced on his lips. 

"An apology, right? She will get it from me. But that won't end it. She claimed she's not a harlot but I will make her crave to be one. She will definitely beg me to take her!" Cruz asserted with so much enthusiasm. 

"Wanna make a bet?" Daniel asked curiously. 

"Most definitely! I will make sure those people who talked about the slap also talk about how much of a pretentious tramp she is! If I don't make that happen, you can have my newest Ferrari LaFerrari." He declared confidently. 

"And you can have my parking space in Manhattan!" Daniel declared. 

"Guys! This is going too far!" Justin lamented. 

"Well, I don't give a f*ck! No lady has ever spoken to me the way she did talk moe of raising their hands on me and she's going to pay no matter what it takes." He affirmed.