CHAPTER 02

THALIA ISABELLE

I went straight to the bar that my brother asked me to go to, I wanted to take a rest now but he invited me for a drink with him and Audrey. I immediately park my car in the available space for me and went inside the bar, we are VIP members here and people knew us.

As the typical bar, it is loud and the people here are wild. As I pass by someone blows smoke on my face and I almost punch him in the face because I caught a cough. “Bullshit!” I cussed.

“Oh I am sorry, Miss,” he apologized but more on mocking so I step on his foot which made him scream in pain. “Oh I am sorry, Mister,” I mocked and left him there in pain. His voice is familiar I just don’t remember to whom I heard it.

I went to the second floor where the VIP room is located that my brother rented for us, the walls are made of glass but it is heavily tinted. I open it using our membership card and there I saw my brother sitting together with his wife and there are three glasses and one bottle of wine.

“What’s up, everyone?” I greeted them and they look at me.

“Thalia!” my sister-in-law beamed and went to hug me tight so I smiled. “Glad you’re here,” she said and caressed my back.

“My brother is going to treat me to drinks so who am I to decline?” I jokingly said and we laugh but I saw my brother shaking his head in my peripheral vision. “You’re acting like a broke but you’re not,” I heard him comment.

“I don’t care the important is you’re the payer tonight,” I said to him and winked.

“I want a hard drink,” I requested from the speaker that is connected to the receptionist on this second floor. They know what liquor I want. “Seems like you’re stressed?” he asked me and I nodded at him.

“Yes,” I stated and they nodded.

Thankfully they did not ask about this because lying is the last thing I want to do tonight, my encounter with Hansel and his company drains the fuck out of me. I massaged my forehead and lean my head on the headrest of this sofa.

“If you are tired you should have a head straight home,” Audrey worriedly said so I look at her and smiled. “No, I am not going to let this treatment of him, he rarely spends his money on me,” I said to her and she giggled.

“You’re just a spoiled brat,” Harris commented.

“You’re just thrifty,” I fired back but he just made face.

A second later knock on the door and it automatically opens; a woman served the alcohol I want.

“Thank you, charge on him,” I said to the woman and pointed to my brother who is just silently watching the people having their fun on the ground floor. “Yes, Ma’am,” she politely said and went out of the room.

“You want this, Audrey?” I asked her and she nodded with her eyes glimmering with excitement so I giggle and poured on her glass.

“Women, drink moderately,” my brother notified but we just nodded. I am going to be wasted tonight and this alcohol will help me to it.

“So how did you manage it?” my brother asked. This room has no hidden camera or recorder because if it has, then be ready for our wrath.

“He is not easy to capture since he is also skilled and his men are good at fighting, good thing we did not lose a life on our part. We did everything accordingly to plan,” I stated and he nodded. I drink in my glass and it felt great, I felt like I was freed from being chained for a very long time.

The last time I had a drink like this was two months ago.

“That’s why planning and proper execution will lead us to a successful mission, Thalia. Don’t be too stubborn when doing missions like this,” he complained so I rolled my eyes at him. “My sudden actions are sometimes better,” I defended myself because he never got the chance to talk about the last mission he made me do it.

“A better for you equals means danger to you, Thalia. You are daredevil,” he said and I smiled at him. “Thank you for the compliment,” I said to him and raised my glass to piss him more.

After that I focus on drinking the liquor I ordered and when my eyes went to my brother and his wife, they are kissing in front of me so I rolled my eyes and shook my head. No respect for the single beautiful and hot lady in front of them such disrespectful people.

Someone sat down beside me and they greeted that person I heard his voice is deep. Oh, he’s a man. I ignored his presence and continue with what I am drinking, maybe it was my brother one of the people he knew. I can’t see him because he is against the light and my eyes are blurry due to the amount of my alcohol intake.

I want to flirt with him but I can’t I am still married and no matter how asshole my husband is I can’t cheat on him not because we are separated I am going to flirt with any man. Although I am very sure that he is handsome because I know the people my brother interacted with.

His closeness with my brother must be a little deep to invite him to such a close space like this.

As long as I am bounded in marriage I can’t flirt or be in a relationship with a man. I can’t be sued for infidelity! I can’t bring such a disgrace into my name and my family! I am sure my parents will disown me.

“You’re handsome but sadly I can’t just kiss you,” I told him and I pouted my lips in disappointment.

I heard him chuckle. Oh, his voice is good too. Damn this alcohol! Alcohol always makes my other personality come out.

“Why not? You can kiss me, babe,” he said in his raspy voice. “You can fucking kiss me because I miss your damn lips, babe,” he said and his voice is becoming more familiar to me so I’m confused now. Who the hell on earth is he?

“Who are you? Why do you sound so familiar with me?” I asked him because I can’t keep my curiosity anymore with me.

He did not answer me instead he kisses me on my lips. I felt his kisses are so familiar and my eyes watered when I felt the warmth that I have been looking for. “Damn it! I miss you, babe, I miss you,” he said between our rough kisses. It’s been two years since my last kiss with a man. I felt my cheeks are wet because of the tears that are coming out of my eyes.

I miss the warm feeling that he is the only man who can give to me at the same time I hate it because I despise him the most. I miss everything about him but I am too damaged because of him. The kiss almost felt like coming home after being lost in a place.

“Brickser,” I murmured after we kissed and I look at his eyes, they were empty as mine.

“That’s me, babe,” he huskily said and my mind went blank, and my eyes went black too.

I was awakened but I feel like I am floating right now and the sounds around me make my ears hurt more. “What the hell,” I complained.

“Hush now babe we are going home,” I heard the man who is carrying me right now whispered in my ear. “Bring me to my brother, I don’t want you so stay away from me,” I said and wiggled my body so he can let me go.

“Stop it, Thalia. We are walking in the middle of the crowd, you might hit someone and you might fall,” he pleaded but I did not mind him and continued what I am doing. Until he accidentally drops me on the floor.

“Oh shit! Thalia, I am sorry!” he immediately said and reaches my hand to help me stand up but I push his hand away from me. “Don’t touch me!” I angrily said and made myself stand up like I used to do way back; no one else helps me aside from myself alone.

They say strength comes from within.

“Don’t come near me and stay away from me,” I stated and point my finger at him before turning my back on him and walking away from him. I smiled bitterly as I remember he always used to walk away before me but now I did, somehow it feels satisfying.

“Thalia, I’ve been searching for you,” my brother said as I arrive in front of his car.

“Bring me to my home because my head is spinning now,” I told him and he nodded. “I will let someone picks up your car here tomorrow,” I heard him say as he opened his car’s door for me so I nodded and hop in.

I don’t know but my eyes look in the direction where exactly I left him, he’s still there standing and watching our car drives away from him. I heave a deep sigh as I closed my eyes, I can feel a hot liquid traveling down to my cheek. The excruciating pain is still here like my heart became its home.