The Auction Ring

“Five more drinks!” shouted Hazel, moving her purple hair away from her face.

“No, no, I have had enough. I think we should leave,” said Renata who now started to feel the influence of alcohol. She had her head in her palm with her hands resting on the small table of the bar where they were enjoying drinks.

“Spoil sport,” shouted Valentina.  

“It’s your birthday, girl! People don’t turn 29 every day, enjoy a little,” giggled Sameeksha and took a sip of her vodka martini. At home, she was the mother hen, but the good doctor knew how to party when outside.

“Yeah, drink!” shouted Valentina and stood up. The moment she stood up, she knocked a glass on the table, and like a chain reaction two more glasses got knocked over.

“Watch it, idiot!” shouted Ambrosia, the short-fuse of the group.

“Calm down, he-he, she made you wet, get it, wet,” laughed Sameeksha.

“Ha-ha,” Ambrosia made the sound but didn’t laugh.

“Okay, shut up both of you! We need to leave,” said Renata.

“You are not our boss. We need more drinks,” shouted Hazel.

“My birthday! My rules! Let’s go home,” scolded Renata. The poor girl stood up to leave but Valentina pulled her back and made her sit.

“One more drink and you can leave. Okay?” said Valentina. Renata nodded and the waiter came with another round of drinks. She gulped her drink in one go and stood up again, but her legs were shaking. It was like she was standing on a quicksand.

Her eyelids kept drooping on their own. She pouted her lips as if that would make her eyes focus. Criss-crossing her legs, she picked one of the bags from the couch. She had no idea whose bag she picked. All she knew was that she came with a purse and was leaving with one.

She fixed her eyes at one single point which was the handle of the exit door. She just had to grab the door and she would be out.

“Wait for us! We are coming too,” shouted Ambrosia.

With her words, Renata’s line of sight shifted. Her eyes fell on an angel. The soft curls kept bouncing on his forehead with every step he took. His kind blue eyes were looking at her. She could not help but hold his gaze.

She wanted to go towards the door, but her legs kept moving towards the tall, handsome man. She didn’t even see all the other men following behind him. All were dressed sharply in suits but the handsome that was pulling at her heartstrings had his tie off and the first three buttons of his shirt were open showing off his perfectly sculpted chest.

Renata gulped and bit her lips. The taste of orange juice and vodka was lingering over her lips. She loved a good screwdriver and by the expression on her face, she was ready for screwing.

She had no idea how, but she was close to the man. Where was the door she was walking toward?

“Where are you going?” shouted Hazel.

“What?” Renata turned around for a second to look at Hazel and felt a hot breath on her neck. She immediately turned around and bumped into the handsome man’s hard chest.

“Oh sorry, sorry!” her speech was slurred. She lifted her head and looked at his beautiful, sculpted face. The sharp jawline, the thick eyebrows, the curly hair, and the slightly pale yet shining skin perfectly matching to his deep blue eyes. “Oh my! You are gorgeous.”

The thin lips of the handsome man curled upside and he scoffed with happiness, “um… thank you!”

“Did… I? Did… I say that out loud?” gasped Renata. The man simply nodded with a sweet smile on his face. “Well, good! I would like to take you home and hav…”

“Ahh…” Valentina came running shouting and placed her palm over Renata’s mouth, stopping her from saying another word. But Renata kept mumbling over the hand and started touching the man.

“I am so sorry! So sorry! She is usually not like this. She rarely talks to men. Alcohol! You know, makes people crazy!” Valentina started dragging Renata with herself.

“Hey! What is your name?” asked the man.

“Why do you need my name?” Valentina raised one of her eyebrows.

“Not yours, hers!” he pointed at Renata.

“Renata!” shouted Renata after abruptly moving Valentina’s hand from her mouth.

“Michelangelo!” the man introduced himself.

“Angel!” sighed Renata. She was right. The man was an angel, that’s why there was a pull to him. She jerked herself free from Valentina’s grip and walked up to Michelangelo. “Today’s my birthday. Wish me! Wish me!” she demanded.

“Happy… Birthday!” said Michelangelo smiling. Renata leaned towards his face. She grabbed his face with her hands and brought his face closer to hers.

Michelangelo was taken aback. He knew what was coming but he had no idea the girl he saw through the window of the pub would be so modern and forward.

He was not the type to get attracted to a girl. But this girl, clad in a short red dress attracted his attention within seconds. The way red silk was hugging her figure was enough to make anyone’s heart jump off their chest.

He ran away from an extremely boring party. His bodyguards and his friends wanted to drink so they chose this restaurant bar. The moment he parked his car, his eyes fell on the five beautiful girls drinking and giggling and eating and having fun.

Every single girl was dressed sophistically. They looked glamorous and rich. But the girl in red was different. She was not only beautiful, but she was also extremely attractive. There was something to her that kept Michelangelo pulling him towards her. Her burgundy hair was matching with her red dress. Gosh! She was hot.

This bar was chosen by her bodyguard, Severino, and boy, he was so thankful to him. It was like his bodyguard knew Michelangelo would meet the girl of his dreams here. He made a mental note to reward Severino later.

He was ready to kiss the beautiful Renata but before their lips could meet, Renata’s hands fell to her side and her eyes drooped all the way.

“Shit!” shouted Michelangelo and instantly wrapped his arms around Renata’s waist and stopped her from falling to the floor. The effect of alcohol was so strong that she fainted in Michelangelo’s arms. He immediately lifted her in his arms, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

“Renata’s friends, I suppose?” he asked.

“Yes!” all four crossed their hands over their chest.

“Do you guys have a car?” he asked.

“Yes!” replied Hazel.

“Let me carry her for you. Tell me where you parked the car,” requested Michelangelo.

“We are drunk, stupid! Do you expect us to drive? We didn’t bring our cars, we took a cab. We came here to party,” shouted Sameeksha.

“Ok…a…y!” Michelangelo widened his eyes and slightly rolled them. “Let me drop you guys.”

“No, thanks! We will call a cab,” said Hazel.

“We don’t want to give our address to a stranger,” said Ambrosia.

“As if the cab driver will be your father-in-law,” teased the rugged-faced, Severino, who was standing right next to Michelangelo.

“Oh, funny guy! You are so funny! SHUT UP!” shouted Ambrosia.

“Girls! Think of me as your cab driver. You can even pay me if you like, and I will help you carry her. I don’t think she can walk anymore,” suggested Michelangelo.

The girls looked at each other, talked telepathically and through movements of eyes. Finally, they decided to take Michelangelo’s help.

“Fine! You can help us,” said Sameeksha. “Let’s go! We will keep telling you the way.”

“But won’t give me your address? You know I will have to carry her all the way inside your house, right?” asked Michelangelo.

“Don’t push your luck!” scolded Ambrosia. She signalled the girls to follow her, and everyone started walking.

“Hey! Hey! You guys have to pay the bill,” shouted one of the waiters.

“Sev!” Michelangelo signalled Severino.

Severino nodded and walked up to the waiter. He whispered something in his ears and the waiter backed off immediately.

Michelangelo placed Renata in the passenger seat and two girls sat in the middle row and two sat in the back seat with Severino. All other bodyguards followed them in a separate car whereas all the friends of Michelangelo dispersed.

After they reached home, the girls were so under the influence that they forgot that two men were inside their house. All retired to their room after telling Michelangelo which room was Renata’s.