Chapter 5- mr green eyes

I spent the following morning trying to watch a cartoon series recommended by N*****x, as much as i loved to watch my cartoons, it didn’t sink in, I was staring at the screen with no sense of sight in me.

By 8pm in the evening I prepared for the club my make up done, I didn't put on the little black dress this time. That was a costume for a different role,the brave artist, the woman holding it together.

Tonight required something else. I pulled on a pair of red heels, short red denim skirt

and a simple white silk tank top. I smudged a bit of concealer around my eyes, not to enhance them, but to cover them.

I left my hair down, my signature blonde cloud now feeling less like a romantic feature and more like a veil, a bit of personal privacy in public.

As soon as I arrived at the club, it was already pulsating with energy.

The light cast a riot of colors across the crowded dance floor. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and perfume, The echo of conversation and laughter filled the air. I felt the bass vibrating through my chest.

I went straight to the bar where I ordered a straight strong ice cube filled drink.

While I waited for my drink,i took in the crowd. People of all ages and styles mingled, some lost in the music, others shouting over the dim. The flashing lights made it impossible to focus on any one face for too long, creating a sense of anonymity that I find liberating.

I had visited the club several times with Austin, it was my first visiting alone,hence the reason It felt a bit strange.

When my drink arrived, i didn’t sip it. I threw it back, welcoming the fire in my throat. This, I thought, is how you erase a man.

I felt the tangy sweetness of the cranberry juice and the warmth of the vodka spreading through my chest. I let the music wash over me, feeling the stress and pain of the day begin to melt away.

I wasn't much of a party person, but tonight, I didn't care. I was ready to lose myself in the music and the noise, to forget about the pain that still lingered in my chest.

I was going to forget about Austin Rail and his entire family.

As the night wore on, i found myself ordering another drink, and another, the drinks flowing as freely.

The music and lights became a blur, and i let go of my worries, With laughter, i tossed my head back and drained my glass, the room spinning slightly as i set it down. The bartender raised an eyebrow, but i just smiled and waved him off, my eyes shining glamorously.

The dance floor beckoned, and i answered.

I danced with reckless abandon, spinning and twirling to the beat, my laughter mingling with the music.

I was forgetting Austin,forgetting Eleanor, forgetting the pain and the lies. All that mattered was the music, the lights, and the freedom of letting go.

The night was young, and i was just getting started. I danced through the song, my eyes closed, my body moving to the music. I was lost in the moment, and I didn't want to find my way back.

Suddenly,I lost my footing and stumbled backward, my arms outstretched to regain my balance. But before I could steady myself, a pair of strong hands grasped my waist, holding me upright.

I felt a gentle tug as the stranger behind me pulled me close, his chest a solid presence against my back.

He was wearing a black leather jacket with a fitted white shirt underneath, The scent of his cologne wafted into my senses as i steadied myself.

"Steady there," he said, his deep voice rumbling through me. I laughed, feeling a bit silly. "Whoa! Thanks, I got this” i said, my voice barely above a whisper as I staggered to gain my feet.

The stranger's hands lingered on my waist. There was something about his green eyes,they were sharp and beautiful,They were familiar, I couldn’t place it but I had seen them somewhere.

"Thanks for saving me!" I exclaimed, my words slurry…I squinted at him. my face flushing with excitement as I stared at those sharp green eyes.

Grrrrrrr….Grrrrrrr….His phone rang out loud, he reluctantly let go of my waist, his eyes locking onto mine for a brief moment before he turned to answer the call.

"Sorry, I need to take this," he said, his voice low and apologetic.

I nodded, still feeling a bit dizzy from the stumble earlier.I watched as the stranger stepped away, his eyes never leaving mine as he spoke into the phone.

As I turned back to the dance floor, I accidentally bumped into one of the rowdy guys, spilling his drink.

"Whoa, watch it, bitch!" he slurred, his friends tagging along.

I tried to apologize, but the guy blocked my path. "Hey, sweetheart, you look like you need company," he said, his voice sluring slightly.

My instincts kicked in, and i immediately felt a sense of unease. I tried to brush them off, but the guy wouldn't take no for an answer.

"I am good" I said firmly, trying to step away. The stranger's eyes had been fixed on me the entire time, and he hadn't missed the way the guys were approaching me.

He swiftly ended his call and strode back over his eyes locked onto the group of men. "Is everything okay here?" he asked, his voice firm and authoritative.

The guys took a step back, but the bulky one sneered. "Mind your own business, man," his tone aggressive.

The stranger's eyes narrowed. "She is with me, Back off." His tone authoritative.

The group of men exchanged uneasy glances, and for a moment, it seemed like they might push the issue. But the stranger's imposing presence and the clear warning in his voice made them think twice.

They muttered curses and backed off, disappearing into the crowd.

The stranger turned to me, his eyes scanning my face. "You okay?" he asked, his voice softening. I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. "Yeah, thanks. I can handle myself…..thanks."

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I am just glad I was here to intervene." he said.

"Let's get you a glass of water or some fresh air. You look like you are in need of that"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But the stranger's kind eyes and gentle smile put me at ease. "Okay," i said finally, nodding my head.

As we stepped out of the club, the cool night air hit me like a slap in the face, making me feel even more dizzy.

The stranger noticed how I stumble and quickly wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me steady. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, I am fine. Just need some fresh air, I think."

The stranger smiled and led me to his car, which was parked a short distance away. "Let's get you home," he said, opening the passenger door for me.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if i should trust this stranger. But something about him put me at ease. Maybe it was the way he had stepped in to protect me, or maybe it was the kindness in his eyes. Whatever it was, I felt safe with him.

As soon as I sat down in the car, I felt my eyelids growing heavy. The stranger got in beside me and started the engine. "Where can I take you?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.

I mumbled some unheard words, my eyes had drifted shut, and in no time i was fast asleep.

He tried to peek at my purse for an i.d but couldn’t find it

confused and shocked, hence him bring me to his’s.

As he drove into the compound, he carefully carried me out of the car and walked through the stairs which lead to a giant door, he opened it and it revealed a large aesthetically pleasing bedroom.

With care that felt like an instinct and practice, he lowered me onto the cool, red sheets. I murmured something unintelligible, a frown flickering across my features before i settled into the pillow.

Kneeling, he carefully unbuckled the slender straps of my heels, first one, then the other, letting them drop soundlessly to the floor.

He looked at me then, looked, in the quiet sanctuary of the room. The flawless makeup couldn't quite conceal the puffiness around my eyes, and a smudge of eyeliner betrayed the tears i had shed earlier.

For a long moment, he simply watched the steady rise and fall of my breathing.

He retreated to the doorway, pausing to glance back at the figure in his bed.

*****

The following morning my eyes snapped open, mind foggy and head pounding. I was met with a familiar ceiling, but my surroundings were a blur.

The scent is clean,not my lavender detergent. It is a neutral, almost hotel like smell... but underneath it, a faint, ghostly trace of a familiar cologne. Something cedar and amber. It is so faint that I dismissed it as a memory triggered by the hangover.

The air smells filtered, quiet. No street noise seeps in. It smells like money.

As i sat up, the room spun around me, and i clutched the bed sheets for support. The sheet felt impossibly soft.

Memories of the previous night came flooding back, the club, the music, the drinks, and the stranger who had stepped in to help me.

The air left my lungs in a silent, violent rush. My hands, which had been gripping the impossibly soft sheets, froze, then began to tremble.

I knew this room. Not from memory, but from a feeling. The scale of it, the quality of the silence, the way the morning light fell in precise, expensive lines across the floor. It was a space that spoke of curated taste and absolute control.

I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the haze. As I sat up, I looked around the room again and it came to focus. i was at Austin’s! My ex’s house!.