FIRST ENCOUNTER

RAPHEAL

    The music blasting from the club reached as far as two streets, where my driver had parked to grab some pills for me. From the loudness, I figured my destination would be very full. 

  Shortly after, as I casually slided through my ipad, my driver returned and handed me the substance which was delivered for my use. If I wanted to have fun tonight, then I needed to be out of reality. I tossed some of it into my electronic crusher, my eyes still fixated on the iPad.

    On the screen was the famous Delanxy’s page, a new next generation diva who has been the recent talk of the town. Not only was she stunning with a perfect body, she was also very affluent and the netizens were already shipping the both of us together. I had never been interested in online gossip, until my mom came visiting today, still bringing her to my table. 

   Apparently, her family had just taken over the crypto market and were killing the stakes. Turns out she was a close pal of her dad and they both didn't hesitate to fix a private meeting for the both of us. 

   In her words, I needed to move on with my life. 

   And I was nowhere ready for that. 

   As I scrolled through the page, I couldn't help but actually see the reason why they talked about us. She was just the kind of woman I needed. Unlike my ex-wife who had nothing to offer, ending up with Delanxy would definitely boost my business and also broaden my retrospectives in the mafia chain. 

   “Boss.” The driver called, jolting me from my thoughts. “We are here.” 

   Dropping the iPad on the chair, I transferred my crushed substance into a cigarette wrap and carefully sealed it, checked for my gun then brushed myself up, and headed into the club. To avoid being seen, I went straight to the private elevator that led directly to the top suite, which I had reserved for the whole night. From the sofa upstairs, where I sat waiting for my blind date, I observed the flock of people downstairs, who were having ‘fun’.

   Alcohols.

   Cocaine.

   Orgy parties.

   Typical club life in Ropp.

    Ruben suddenly approached me with urgency in his stride. 

    “Sir, Miss Cromwell appears to be running late.” He announced, to my distaste. “She had to attend an emergency meeting and she sent her apologies.”

   The thought made anger rush through me. Standing to my feet, I sorted Ruben’s shoulder with a fake smile. 

   “I might as well keep myself busy.” 

   “Okay boss.” he replied with a slight bow.

     I made my way to the bar downstairs, with plans of drowning myself in one or two drinks. As I slipped into an empty stool, the bartender flashed me a warm smile. He has been one of my favorites since the beginning of ‘Wild and Wide’.

    “The usual.” I requested, as soon as he made a greeting sign at me. He nodded immediately and set to work. Only he knew how I preferred it, sharp enough to burn but smooth enough to numb.

     While waiting for my drink, I tried to scan the environs for a prey when my eyes fell on something more interesting. 

    The distance between us wasn't much, but her presence was impossible to ignore. Double coloured eyes, high ponytail and a face that screamed trouble in nice wrapping. One glance at her and she was already looking at me. Not with the normal flirty looks I always got, it felt more like she was observing me, lazily tracing the rim of her glass with her adorned fingers.       

      My head tilted to get a better look when the bartender dropped my drink before me. As I picked it, a soft skin brushed mine and threw me into a traunce I wanted to forget.

     Memories of Yuanita. 

     It happened in a fast blink and the next thing I knew, I was frantically searching the crowd for the cause of that static force that just breezed me. I could swear there was a strange shift in the air, but I couldn't find the source. It was gone with the wind. Slowly, panic crept in and guilt laddened my thinking. I felt my lungs burn and my chest tighten with a piercing pain. My fist clasping around the glass, I emptied the contents of the drink into my mouth, and immediately ordered another shot. Whatever that was, it sure did trigger my nemesis.