A Best Friend's Betrayal

CHAPTER TWO

Ali’s POV

Our table was piled high. A plethora of women surrounded me, holding on to me, giggling at my jokes, and encouraging me as we took our seats around the circular table. I wish they knew how unattractive they were to me. They were nothing more to me than whores.

We ate, drank, and went out to have fun on a typical day.

"Who is the party spoiler, ughh." With an expression of disgust on her face, one of the girls snorted.

"Ali, you ought to focus on more significant matters." One more drooled at me, but I turned to face the girl.

As the woman stumbled into the restaurant, she almost knocked over a patron's table. She apologized silently and made her way to her table. Her unsteady movements made it obvious that she needed assistance, and I could not help but feel like I was her hero. She may have been vulnerable, but for some reason, I was drawn to her.

When the woman first arrived at her table, she ordered a very strong whiskey, which she drank in a few gulps before placing another order. I watched tears trickle down her cheeks as she brought the bottle to her lips.

It appeared as though she was trying to drown some kind of sorrow or suffering that was preventing her from passing away.

His lips moved in response to the bartender's question about her well-being, but she waved him off and ordered another bottle.

I smirked to myself and leaned back in my chair to keep staring at her. "Interesting," I said. She seemed indifferent to the people around her and to the fact that she was acting dramatic. When the empty bottles piled up, my worries started to make sense.

"Let us play a game, Ali." In an attempt to get my attention back to the table, one of the girls said.

I answered absently, "In a minute," my eyes still fixed on the woman as she finished her seventh bottle.

She reached for the eighth one, but her hand slipped and the glass shattered on the floor. The server's face became as red as an overripe apple. He then slammed the table with his hand.

You are done; you have had enough. Before I call security, leave here! He swore at the helpless inebriated woman.

She barely paid attention to the bartender as she gazed up at him in a daze. Before she could reply, one of the security officers approached her.

"Give her some space!" I got up from my chair and walked over to the bar. Even though the girls around me objected, I did not care. For all I cared, those whores could go kiss the dirt.

The security guard stopped dead in his tracks, not knowing quite what to do when the bartender's mouth dropped open.

"Yes... Sir Ali. She is causing a scene. The bartender complained but a single glare from me was enough to shut him up.

“She's with me. Continue your duties.” I instructed. The security guard went back to his station as the bartender nodded and carried on cleaning cups and serving drinks to the patrons.

I returned my focus to the woman who had captured my interest—a feat that, to be honest, not many women could claim. She leaned back in her bar stool a little and her eyes seemed empty. I was on the verge of having some sympathy for her. Nearly.

“Hey. You alright?” I drew up a stool and took a seat beside her, supporting her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Who—who are you?" Her eyes blinked aimlessly at me.

To my surprise, I said, "My name is Ali," in a soft voice. When was the last time I treated a woman with such gentleness? "What is your name?"

“A..Am…Amelia. Wh….why are you here?” Her head lolled to the side as she slurred.

“Because you don't look so good. It appears that you need assistance.

"I can function just fine by myself."

You are not, I assure you. Tell me what is going on, please. Asking a drunken woman about her affairs felt a little strange, but since it is said that inebriated people frequently tell the truth, it was worth a shot.

"My fiance and best friend...How could they...they...they?" With a bitter laugh, she stumbled over her words. The customers noticed her when she buried her face in her hands and started crying uncontrollably.

Hey there. Come on, let us get you out of here. It is okay. In an attempt to comfort her, I patted her back.

Not at all! I am not willing to go. I need more drinks. I. I. She withdrew her hand.

"I believe you have had enough alcohol for one evening. Come on, let us go. I took her arm gently and assisted her in standing up. She resisted for a while, but eventually gave in to my strong hold and let me lead her out of the restaurant.

She was escorted to the front of my black Bugatti, where I helped her get into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

I jumped into the driver’s seat, turned on the engine, and cruised the city. There was no way I could bring her back to my house while my parents were here because they would assume she was my fiancée or something.

A hotel would be the next best thing. I finally located a good one after looking around for a while, and I pulled up to the entrance.

"Amelia, hurry up. I will help you settle in. I led her into the lobby after assisting her in getting out of the car. The receptionist scowled, and to be honest, I did not blame her, but she nonetheless gave me a key without saying anything.

As soon as we entered the room, I put her down on the bed.

"You must take a nap. You have had a difficult evening. I stated.

Not at all. I need to forget, not to rest. She had smudged makeup and bleary eyes as she looked up at me.

Tomorrow is going to be a day of forgetting, I promise. You need to rest right now.

“No!” Her scream was so loud I thought the door would be knocked on by the receptionist. John had an affair with my closest friend. I am capable of doing it if he is.

That is all there is to it. You are not rationally thinking. I understood the implication of her words and gave her space. There was no way I was going to have s*x with a drunk woman.

“Don’t tell me I'm not thinking straight, I know what I want.” She stood, stumbling slightly but she moved closer to me. “I want to forget everything. I want to forget him.”

“Help me.” She placed her hand on my chest. “Help me forget. Just for tonight.”

“Amelia. You have no idea what you want right now.”

“Shut up and kiss me dammit!” She grabbed my collar and pressed her lips on mine.

I wanted to resist, but there was just something about her. The taste of her lips, her scent, everything just turned me on.

“Sh..stop.” I tried to pull away, but she held on and her shoulders moved up to my shoulders.

“Please, make me forget.” The seductive undertone in her voice was the final thing that broke my resistance.

“f**k it.” I gritted my teeth and kissed back with growing intensity. She responded eagerly and tugged at my shirt, unbuttoning it expertly. I lifted her and she wrapped her slender legs around my waist as I carried her to the bed.

We fell onto the bed, kissing and tugging at our clothes desperately. I was fully aroused at this point and I knew there was no turning back.

“Are you sure you want this?” I broke the kiss off and asked.

"Yes...please...forget about me." She kissed me again, and before I could realize what was going on, our clothes were on the ground. For that night, she drowned her pain with my touch.