Chapter 3: Unexpected Encounter

The class had just finished their tour of the Colosseum and were walking outside when Mia ran toward Layla with a smile on her face.

"Uh-oh, what now?" Layla asked with a grin.

"Some of the girls are going out tonight to a local club," Mia said excitedly as she did a little dance. "We should totally go!"

Layla giggled at Mia's excitement and nodded. "Yeah, sure. That sounds like fun."

"Woohoo!" Mia whooped and then nudged Layla with her hip. "But first, I gotta go shower. I'm covered in old stuff dust."

After the tour ended later that afternoon, Layla and Mia joined their classmates on the bus and rode it back to their hotel. The hotel they were staying at was as beautiful as the landmarks that dotted the countryside. It had a vibrant fountain out front that was lit up in lights and intricately painted mosaic tiles that framed the doors and windows.

Layla and Mia made their way through the lobby and their steps echoed across the marble floors. Above their heads was a gorgeous vaulted ceiling adorned with an enormous chandelier that shone its glittering lights across the lobby.

"This place is so fancy," Mia gushed.

"It really is," Layla commented appreciatively.

The girls made their way to the elevators and took the ride up to their floor. As soon as the elevator doors opened the two raced down the hall to their room laughing the whole way. Once they got their room door open, Mia bounded inside and plopped face-first on the quilted bed.

Layla laughed. "I call dibs on the first shower!" she called out as she stepped into the bathroom.

"Rude!" Mia hollered from the other side of the door.

Before the class had gone on their first tour that afternoon, they had already dropped off their luggage. So, Layla went about getting her toiletries out of her travel back before undressing and getting the shower ready.

Once she got the temperature of the water to her liking, she stepped into the glass-framed shower. When she dipped her head under the water, she let out a sigh and closed her eyes.

The instant her eyes closed she saw those glowing eyes of the man at the museum. All day she had tried to brush aside the memory, but it was as if his image were burned into her mind.

She had relationships in the past and had experienced heartbreak. But in all her years of dating and all the complicated emotions that came with it, she had never been so mentally and physically affected by a man to this degree. That smile of his seared her insides with warmth and Layla bit her lip just at the thought of it.

Just then Mia knocked on the door.

"You better not use up all the hot water!" she shouted from the other side.

Layla jumped and opened her eyes.

"I'll be out in a minute," Layla called back, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.

'Get yourself together!' Layla thought to herself as she finished washing her hair.

But no matter how hard she tried, the images of his smirking face lingered in her mind.

***

The sun had just sunk below the horizon when Layla and Mia got out of their cab and stepped onto the sidewalk of the club called the Shari Vari.

Mia giggled with excitement as she pointed to the top of the building. "Look they have a rooftop bar!"

"Yes!" Layla said excitedly. "Let's definitely check that out."

"Cool, but first we gotta meet up with Emma and Hope," Mia said, pulling out her phone.

The girls walked into the club where they were immediately engulfed in flashing lights and music. They found Emma and Hope not long after already at the bar getting themselves a drink.

"Hey ladies!" Mia crooned.

The four gave one another a hug and found a seat at the bar.

"What's good to drink here?" Mia asked the other two.

Hope looked down at her drink and shrugged. "I don't know what this is, but it's pink and it has fruit in it," she said with a laugh.

"Sold!" Mia said, signaling for the bartender. "Can we get a round of whatever that is?"

"There you go again, ordering everyone's drinks," Layla said, elbowing her softly. "I will actually take a Grappa Negroni, please."

The bartender nodded his head with a toothy smile aimed in Layla's direction.

"Look at you, drinking like the natives," Mia said impressed.

"When in Rome," Layla said with a wink, causing Mia to laugh.

A moment later, all the girls had a drink in their hands.

"So, what is your favorite place so far?" Emma asked, plucking the cherry in her drink from its stem.

"The Colosseum, for sure," Layla said, taking a sip from her glass.

"The hot guy outside of the Colosseum, for sure," Mia commented with a devious grin.

Hope and Emma laughed and Layla snorted.

"You are nuts, woman," Layla said, shaking her head.

"No, but seriously, I love walking the streets," Mia said, taking a sip from her straw. "I can't pick, there is too much beauty here to choose."

"Cheers to that," Hope said, lifting her glass.

The four girls lifted their drinks and clinked their glasses.

"All right," Mia announced loudly, "I am ready to go dance!"

"Let's do it," Layla said and tipped the rest of her drink into her mouth.

The four girls went out onto the dance floor and joined the crowd that moved to the rhythm of the music. Lights flashed across the bodies on the floor as they moved in tandem to the beat. Layla took this moment to let loose and break free from her thoughts as she let the loud music flow through her body.

It had been a long time since she had let her inhibitions go and she was loving every minute of it.

They must have danced for at least half an hour before one by one they left the dance floor with a sheen of sweat on their faces. Layla signaled to the stairs that led toward the rooftop.

"Let's go upstairs and get some air," Layla managed to yell over the crowd.

Mia and the other two nodded their heads and the four of them made their way from the music-filled room and up to the patio.

Once outside Layla let out a breathless laugh. "Wow, it is hot down there."

Mia nodded and adjusted her red locks. "Ew, is my hair all fuzzy?" she asked.

"Yea, you look like a cotton ball," Layla teased.

"Are you serious?" Mia wined.

"No, I'm just kidding, you look fine!" Layla said with a laugh.

"Let's get another drink," Hope said, pointing to the lattice-framed bar across the patio that was dripping with lights.

Layla was about to follow the other three when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see a strongly built man smiling at her.

"You dance very nice," he said in a thick accent.

Layla let out a timid laugh. "Thank you."

The man swayed on his feet for a moment, clearly intoxicated. His dark brown eyes bore into hers, making Layla feel slightly uncomfortable.

"You are American?" he asked, his grin still present on his face.

"I am," Layla said in response, throwing a glance toward her friends who were at the bar.

"Have a drink with me," he commanded more than asked, sending a red flag up in Layla's mind.

"Um, I'm actually here with my friends," Layla said hesitantly. "But thanks for the offer."

Layla went to turn away from the drunk man, but he grabbed her by her wrist. This having been the second time someone had grabbed her like this infuriated her instantly.

"You can have one drink with me," he said, his grip tightened as his dark eyes bore into hers.

"Please, let go of my arm," Layla said sternly, a warning in her voice.

The man leaned in close and Layla could smell the heavy scent of alcohol on his breath.

"Just one drink," he said with a lude smile.

"I believe the lady said no," a familiar voice said from behind the drunk man.

Layla's eyes widened in complete shock as she recognized the voice of the stranger from the museum. The man turned toward the voice without releasing Layla's wrist.

"Why don't you p*ss off?" the bulky man growled.

Atreus walked toward them both and looked down at the man's hand still gripping Layla's. In a blink of an eye, Atreus reached down and snatched the fingers of the burly man and twisted them backward. Layla snatched her wrist away as soon as it was freed, and her eyes widened with shock.

"Why don't you get the f*ck away from her?" Atreus snarled; his eyes dangerous.

Layla couldn't believe what was happening.

The drunk man cried out in pain. "Ok, ok, man! I'm sorry!"

Atreus released the other man's fingers. The drunk brought his hand to his chest and stumbled away. Layla let out a breath.

"Thank you," she said, still in awe at the whole situation.

She couldn't believe that he was actually here! She thought she would never see Atreus again. But here he was, standing in front of her and watching her with those hypnotizing eyes. As Layla examined him, she realized that he wasn't dressed in the costume that he was wearing earlier. Instead, he was dressed in a black dress shirt and pants. His ashy blonde hair was tamed and not as unruly as it was when they met.

"I am surprised to find you here in a place like this," Atreus commented, giving her that d*mned intoxicating smile.

"I could say the same about you. Not that I'm complaining." Layla said breathlessly. "Can I buy you a drink to pay you back?" She brushed her hair from her eyes and gave him a genuine smile.

Atreus watched her lips for a moment before looking into her eyes and giving her a heart-melting grin.

"Your name would suffice as payment."