CHAPTER 19
Axel POV
“Hey guy…what’s your order” The bartender asked
“Non-alcoholic” I mumbled, setting my face cap. He scoffs
“Non-alcoholic?? Who drinks that here, this is a club mehn…and those drinks are for frail ladies, you are a guy, damn” He muttered
“The last time I checked, this is not just a club party. A birthday is going on and there are surplus of different kinds of drinks. So what’s your business with what I want” I snapped, he smiled and handled me a bottle of wine with a glass
“Sorry bro, just that your types are rear. Young men drink alcohol this days, it makes them feel active”
“Well, that’s what you think. I’m outta here” I snouted, leaving to secure a table
“Huff….rude brat” I heard him whispered. I pretended not to hear him, in order not to blow my cover. I have been trying hard to fight my anger issues these days, before it takes the better part of me. If he had known who I am, he wouldn’t have said that.
Yea, I’m actually disguised now, with a face mask and a face cap to cover my hair. I just felt like chilling out in a club, and being that I know that person celebrating her birthday in this club, I decided to settle for it. Huhn…Nora, she is actually a worldwide whore.
She is a stripper, but well known by some celebrities and many fans in Cape Town. I don’t give a damn about her, being the fact that she is too clingy and almost everyone has seen her butt; I will just give her a gift later.
I gulp down the drink from the glass cup, as I noticed some girls entering the club house. They were four, but one caught my attention. The girl I gave my pullover, the one I saw at Aiden’s apartment, what is she doing here? I thought as I watched their every move.
I noticed a weird guy trying to flirt with her, while the other girl with her shunned him out. He left afterward but did something fishy.
He signaled to some other guys as they made eyes contact and whispered to their ears as he got closer to them. They smirk and stared at the girl’s direction, keeping their attention on them.
“What are these guys up too” I thought, bringing out my phone to make a call
“I’m here boss” one of my guards approached me. He is also disguised, wearing a casual wear. That’s one thing I do whenever I go to rowdy places like this. Go with my guards, like about four or five. If I don’t wanna get noticed, I disguise and they also.
“Keep an eye on those guys over there, and tell me their every move” I whispered, he nodded
“Sure boss, I will.” He left afterward, as I called another who came walking to my direction
“Boss…..you called” he whispered
“Yea…..do you see that girl over there? The one with a pretty long hair” I pointed, he nodded
“Fine…keep an eye on her, and if anything goes wrong, don’t hesitate to make a move”
“Sure boss…..” he muttered and went his own way. I suddenly came back to my senses. Why did I decide to make that move? This girl over here is not even my girlfriend; I met her just twice or thrice and I’m being over protective over her. Huhff, well, let’s say because she is someone dear to my brother or perhaps I just wanna do the right thing. These guys are really up to no good, I can feel it.
I tried making a call through Aiden, to know if he is also in the club, but his number isn’t reachable, I just have to give up.
~~~~~
“What??!!!!! I can’t drink this…no….” Ariel stated
“Come on….that’s what the game states, you have to drink a cup if you fail a question” Mia insisted
They are actually playing a question and answer game with other people at the table Mia pointed to earlier on. The game states that anyone who fails to answer a question directed to him or her, will have to pay a certain amount of money or drink a cup of hot liquor. And if answered correctly, the person asking will either pay or drink.
“But…I don’t drink alcohol, I might get sick, and oh gosh……”
“Come one babe……you are already in the game….drink or pay” A young lady muttered
“Ariel…it’s just…….” Ariel gulp down the whole content before Mia could complete her sentence
“Arhhhhgggg…it’s so hot” She groan
“Yea..It’s just 70% alcohol” Mia shrug
“What!!!!!????...Mia…..why didn’t you tell me earlier before I drank it, it could kill me” Ariel sparked
“That’s because you drank it before I finished my words”
“Whatever….I think I’m cool. It’s sweet anyway” She snouted
“Ok guys….She is cool…let’s continue the game” Mia yelled in glee
The game ended with Ariel drinking three cups while Mia drank one. The former was really drunk that Mia had to assist her back to their table, she also feel a little tipsy. Betty and Valeria joined them later as the birthday girl was called to cut the cake and presents were given to her.
Ariel just watch all along not knowing what is wrong with her environment, as everything seem to be moving too fast and round, she hiccup and lay her head on the table as the program continued.
Valeria went to present her gift to Nora, and came back to pick Mia
“Hey girl, I wanna introduce you to Nora, come…come…let’s go” They both went with Mia trying to comport herself, as the drink was having a strong effect on her.
“Harggg” Ariel groan, she felt like puking that moment
“What’s wrong” Betty asked, touching her arm
“I think I need to use the rest room” She grunted
“Ok…..will be waiting here” Betty mumbled, and continued with her phone. Ariel struggled to make her way to the rest room where she puke out all the content in her, she felt weak at the moment and tried leaving when she noticed the presence of someone.
His face was blur; or perhaps the intoxication of the drink made her vision blur. But she could recognize the red turtle neck cloth and face cap, the golden chain and diamond earring. She struggled to move, but her legs betrayed her. He smirks devilishly, bringing out a piece of clothes from his pocket and covered her nose. That was all she could remember, because she saw darkness next; she blackout.
~~~~~
Betty was still at the table when the others joined her.
“Where is Ariel” Mia asked immediately she noticed her absence
“Oh….she went to the restroom” Betty replied
“For how long”
“Like…erm…I think fifteen minutes ago” she muttered
“Fifteen what????” Mia yelled
“Hey…what’s wrong” Valeria chipped in
“Ariel went to the restroom fifteen minutes ago, and she is dead drunk. She should have been back by now” Mia screamed, as her eyes became cleared off the intoxication
“Oh my God…betty, you shouldn’t have let her go alone. Let’s go check her out, she might be doing something crazy over there” Valeria suggested
“Yes….yes”
They went to check the restrooms and other rooms around but couldn’t find her
“Oh my God…where could she be….i’m damn dead…..why did I bring her here…what will we do now” Mia lamented, as Betty tried calming her down
“Don’t touch me” She yelled, and Betty flinched
“Hey calm down, we will find her. She wouldn’t have gone far. Let’s go check outside, she might be with her driver, or perhaps in the car” Valeria muttered
They decided to head out
Victor, who had been watching Ariel right from when they got to the club, suddenly became distracted by some bitchy lady, who tried seducing him with her looks. He had been avoiding her all through as she seems to be distracting him from sighting Ariel.
He turned to warn her to stay away from him, leaving her to stay somewhere else, but he lost track of the girls and the table they were sitting on was empty. He was about going to look for them when he saw them coming towards his direction.
“Humm…Thank God” he muttered to himself, but stopped when he noticed the look on their face and Ariel not being with them.
“What’s going on, where is Ariel” He asked, as they gasp
“Is she not with you?” Mia asked, already at the brink of tears
“What sort of question is that? She has been with you girls all along?” He frowns
“Yes but the thing is that, she went to the restroom to ease herself and now we can’t find her” Valeria explained, trying to console Mia
“Have you checked the whole place?” he asked, trying to calm his nervousness
“Yes…we have, I think she went out, but where did she pass?”Betty inquired
“Hmm…look girls, we got no time to waste, let’s try to find her before its too late. Else things won’t go down well with us all. I believe we will see her.” He tried to stay optimistic, as they two girls nodded except Mia, who was busy sobbing blaming herself for Ariel’s misfortune.
~~~~~
THE NEXT DAY
“Just tell me that you are joking, no…I don’t get you” Aiden snapped. He was referring to Victor, Ariel’s personal guard, who was actually standing in front of him, relaying the event of the previous night.
Aiden arrive home that morning, and after breakfast, he sent for Ariel, but was told that she didn’t come home the previous night and hasn’t been around since then. He was astounded and sent for her guard who came in just as he was about to send for him.
“I’m sorry boss, but it’s the truth. She suddenly left the club without anyone knowing her where about” he muttered, bowing his head to the ground
“Huff….this is outrageous, why the hell will you let her go to a club, and whereas that poor girl doesn’t know her way around here. Read my lips, I give you 48 hours to look for her and bring her back, else you won’t like the other side of me” He yelled
“Yes boss” Victor replied
“Now get out of my presence before I lose it”
Victor hurried off, to avoid his boss wrath, regretting inwardly for being a bit careless and blaming that bitch for it. Aiden picked up his phone still angry at the clumsiness of the guard. He dialed a number, and it was picked at the second ring.
“Hello officer…..I need to see you now..it’s urgent.”
~~~~~
Ariel woke up with a bleeping headache, which kept banging from the inside of her head, making her groan
“Ouch…my head hurt..huhn” She groan, trying to move her hand, but couldn’t. She flicker her eyes open, but shut them almost immediately, due to the velocity of lights in the room. She tried opening them again and this time, she scrutinizes the strange room she found herself.
It was totally different from her room in Aiden’s apartment, and it also doesn’t look like the one at the mansion.
“Where could she be, and why couldn’t she move her body” she thought, as the pounding headache continued. She tried sitting up, but a voice stopped her
“You will only hurt yourself more, just lie down” the voice muttered. She gasps, turning swiftly to know who spoke. She couldn’t get a better view at first, for her eyes were just trying to adjust to the light in the room; but when she eventually recognize the person who spoke, she frown
“Hufff…..you??” she questioned
Chapter 20“Huff……you??” she questioned, gazing at the guy in front of her. It was Axel“How…how did I get here…..oh my God…what have you done to me….what are you doing here” She shutteredHe ignored all her questions, going to stand before the window totally ignoring her presence. She scoffs at his snobbish attitude“You were drunk…but I think you are fine now” He muttered after a long minute of silence“Yea…I know that……harhh…oh my God….drunk? Geez, I was really drunk. But how did I get here” She snapped“Can you just save your strength for now….stop blabbing”“What the F-, I can’t be possibly blabbing, jeez, did you do anything bad to me….gosh you kidnapped me, huhn...” she cursed, sitting up to check herself. He scoffs facing her“You have such a wild thought….it’s a good thing that you are awake. I’m outta here” He resorted, going out of the room“Hey wait…come back here…you haven’t answered my question…hey” But he was gone already. She sighs, rubbing her temple, her head still h
Chapter 21 Ariel lay silently on her bed, as her stomach rumbles, meaning that it needs to be fed. “Huhnn” she groans, getting on her feet. Axel hasn’t return home ever since he left that morning, and she felt like he won’t be coming back, but her thought became invalid when she went to the dinning room and met him having his dinner. She took a seat adjacent to his, muttering a “good evening”. He nodded in response, but his facial expression shows that she wasn’t welcome, but she didn’t mind anyway. A maid came forward to serve her as they both eat in silence, stealing secret glances at each other without muttering a word. Axel later broke the silence “You will be staying here for a while…Aiden is having a shoot, and won’t be able to come pick you” He muttered, as the fork fell off Ariel’s hand; she gawk at him in disbelief. “Huff…” She scoffs
Chapter 22Today makes it the fourth day since the day she called Mia and ever since then they have been chatting online, with her not revealing her hideout. Mia, being not the too poky type decided not to pester her, as she awaits the day they will see physically. She vowed to beat the hell out of Ariel for keeping her location a secret from her, of which she will find out at all cost.Ariel laughs off her threat calling it nothing but a fling. Ever since Axel came back home looking cold, and after that weird dinner they had; she hasn’t really been coming in contact with him. It’s either she wakes up to see him going out, or perhaps out already or go to bed before his arrival.And anytime she got the opportunity to see him at close contact, they only greet and nothing more. He is trying his best to stay away from her and she; the same. Sometimes she feels like he needed company or some
Chapter 23Ariel’s POV“Harggg” I gasp in fright, my eyes scrutinizing the mess on the floor. Axel steps in fully with a worried look. He seems to have heard the sound and wondered what caused it; not until he caught me standing close to his bed.He furrowed his brow a bit, walking closer to the splattered glasses. He picked a glass up and stared at it, sighing softly. He dropped it, raising his head to face me. No doubt, I was visibly shaking as my legs wobble fervently. His eyes held fury, as he folds his fist annoyingly.“What…have you done” He muttered in his scariest voice. I have never heard him speak this way before, and now my mind is blaming me for being too curious. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place, now see where it has landed me.“I-I am..erm…I’m sorry…I- I actually&he
Chapter 24Ariel’s POVFolding me legs to myself, I sat on the bed in my room and the sunlight lit it up from the window. Last night event clouded my mind and I began to wonder how I managed to sleep, despite the war going on in my mind due to what I did last night. This is not the Ariel I used to be, I wasn’t the hard type, neither am I too stubborn. But lately I haven’t being getting along with Axel even though I get along well with others. Sometime I feel like he had really offended me even when he did nothing wrong.What I did last night was totally wrong, I shouldn’t have been too curious and even after I broke the glass frame, I should have feel a little remorse. Yea..i did say sorry, but that wasn’t enough, considering the fact that I went against his wish. Now I couldn’t even face him, even after practicing my apology, I still don’t th
Chapter 25Laying his head on a fluffy pillow on the bed, Axel exhales softly, holding a piece of the broken frame in his hand. He frown a bit, remembering the fact that Ariel broke it. He value it a lot, though, not the frame, but the picture on it which he used to remember someone who he loves so much. The picture on the frame was the recent photo she took before leaving, and ever since then, her where about wasn’t known to anyone.He tried to look for her, his brother too, but all to no avail. It was useless looking for her, because many believes that she is dead or perhaps long gone in a far place beyond human reach. But he still feels it in his heart that she is alive somewhere, perhaps having fun or being miserable just like him over here. He prays in his heart to find her one day, before he leaves this earthGetting up from the bed, he took off his shirt, revealing is stunni
Chapter 26<Few Days After>*Hybrid University*A warm surge of freedom lighted my spirit as I stepped into the compound of the great Hybrid University. It’s been more than two weeks since I came into this compound, and being here presently just made me want to explore more; the whole environment seem a bit different from the last time, perhaps my absence made it that way.“I waved to Victor, yea…my Ex bodyguard, well he is now my driver. Aiden made it clear to him as his punishment for not being able to see to my well being, which wasn’t really his fault anyway. He was given the post of a driver, due to his excellent driving skills; that made him still keep his job in Aiden’s mansion, else he would have been fired for that single mistake. But I have a new body guard now, his name is Daniel.No doubt, he
Chapter 27< Five Star Restaurant><Cape Town>Axel and Karl , his manager could be seen, sitting in a classic restaurant; a glass of wine steadily placed in front of them on the table, as they scroll through their phones. They just finish having lunch and are relaxing after a hectic day of writing new lyrics for songs to be published, recording in the studio and many other minor but necessary things to be done.They also had a meeting with Mr. Noah Jenkins (Sophia’s dad), who is known as the CEO of Hybrid Record Label, and also the founder of the Hybrid university; discussing on the recent Live audition which will commence soon, and how to go about the new system which he introduced and advised they follow, other than the other ways they have been going about the contest.Other matters were discussed until the meeting was