A beautiful betrayal

Chapter2

Sophie’s pov

As I entered the club, I was hit by a strong stench of alcohol and sweat. I could feel the loud music pounding in my head. I could barely hear my thoughts.

This is exactly what I needed. A night where I could forget about all my responsibilities.

I walked to the bar and sat on a stool in front of it.

“Vodka,” I said to the bartender.

“Straight?” he asked.

I nodded.

He took out a shot glass and poured me a drink, then slid it to me. I took it out and downed it at go.

“Another,” I said, sliding the glass back at him.

He raised his eyebrows at me.

“Are you sure?”

I felt irritation stir up in my belly.

“Do I look unsure?”

He sighed in surrender and poured me another drink, and I repeated the action.

“Another.”

By the fourth drink, I could feel my limbs start to loosen up. Euphoria filled my blood stream.

I stood up, staggering a bit as I walked towards the dance floor. I swayed my hips to the music. The drinks were definitely working. I couldn’t care less about what was going to happen the next day. I simply just wanted to dance mindlessly to the music.

Then I heard the hospital staff’s voice again in my head.

“You have to make a deposit tomorrow or your grandmother will be moved.”

My anxiety started to resurface again. I couldn’t have that.

I grabbed two shots from a waiter passing by and downed both.

“Heyy, come dance with us” a beautiful lady and her friends said to me.

Everything was going well until I felt a hand grab my waist.

“Hey, baby.”

It was a man’s voice. He had a strong stench of alcohol and sweat radiating off him.

“Leave me, you creep,” I said, struggling to get out of his grip.

He ignored me and somehow turned me around, then forced his lips on mine. His mouth tasted of vomit and alcohol. I could feel a nauseating feeling growing in my stomach. My thrashing was doing nothing for me.

Then suddenly, the man was yanked away from me.

It was so fast that I stumbled back but was caught by someone.

I looked up to meet the prettiest set of ocean green eyes I had ever seen.

“Are you hurt?” she said to me.

I shook my head no.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded yes.

She let go of me and faced the black-suited man who was holding tightly to the man that had harassed me.

“Get him out and take care of him,” she said to him.

“No, please. I was just having a little fun, I’m sorry,” the man started to plead, but the suited man dragged him away.

She turned back to me.

“ How much did you have to drink?”

“Um, 1… 2… 5 drinks,” I said, trying to use my fingers to count but failing miserably.

“Come with me,” she said.

“Um, thank you for helping me, but n-”

“I wasn’t asking. Come with me.”

She started walking, and for some reason, I started following.

She took us to the VIP lounge, where everything looked so luxurious and proper. She walked into it and sat down

.

I couldn’t enter inside. I already had gotten drinks that I probably wouldn’t be able to pay for. Entering into the VIP lounge would

probably cost an arm and a leg.

“Why’re you standing there? Come in,” the lady said.

“Look, I don’t have a lot of money. I wouldn’t be able to pa-”

“Shut up and get in. No one’s asking you to pay for anything.”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

I walked inside and stood awkwardly.

“Sit” she said.

And I did.

Arielle sat across from me.

Then, without saying a word, she reached for the buttons around the cuffs of her sleeves and started unbuttoning them.

My eyes widened.

What was she doing?

“W-what are you doing?”

She paused and raised one eyebrow at me.

“Getting comfortable?”

“Oh.”

She went back to what she was doing.

I quickly looked away.

My face felt strangely warm. What was this feeling?

Maybe it was the alcohol

Yeah, definitely the alcohol

She then reached out for a bottle of water that was on the center table and opened it

“Here, drink” she said handing the water to me

I took it from her and took one gulp.

“Drink more, there’s a lot of alcohol in your system, you don’t want to get dehydrated”

“I want another drink” I said

“No.”

I pouted. “Why not?”

“You’ve had a lot to drink”

“You’re bossy”

“I’ve been called worse, now drink”

I drank the water and set the bottle down

She nodded and then picked up her phone and began to scroll it, completely ignoring my presence. I felt offended but I could barely even form words in my head and so I stayed quiet

After a long painful silence she finally spoke.

“Where’s your address?”

“Uh, why?”

“I want to take you home.”

“Thanks, but I can get home just fine.”

“Can you now?” she said, one eyebrow lifting.

“Yes.”

“Count from one to twenty.”

“Okay. One, two, three, four, five, seven..no, wait… eight… ten, ugh.”

She chuckled. “Yeah sure, you can get home just fine”

“I’m fine” I insisted

“I’m sure you are, but give me your address…please” she said, her gaze softening a bit

Her “please” brought back that feeling I got when she was unbuttoning her shirt.

What is this feeling?

“Alright, 17 Rosewood Avenue, Westbridge”

Something about her expression shifted but it was gone before I could decipher it.

She then stood up and grabbed her jacket.

“Come on, let’s go”

“Where to?”

She used her fingers to knead her forehead. She was visibly stressed and I started to feel bad

“You sure do ask a lot of questions, I’m taking you home. Now get up”

While standing up I stumbled again and yet again, she caught me.

“Come on” she said grabbing my hand to walk with her.

The suited man from earlier came out of nowhere and started walking in front of us.

We didn’t leave the club by the entrance I entered through. Instead we came out from a small hidden exit at the other side of the club.

When we got outside, there was already a car waiting outside with the door open. Another suited black man stood by door

“Are you some almighty queen or something” I said jokingly

She ignored me and kept walking

When we got to the car, she gestured for me to get in first and then she followed after. The man that was beside the car closed the door and then entered into the driver’s side of the car. The other man from earlier also sat beside him.

The car pulled away from the club. I leaned back against the seat, suddenly feeling much more tired than I had a few minutes ago.

We sat in awkward silence till I couldn’t take it anymore.

“So what’s your name? I asked her

She turned and looked at me.

“Elise”

“Elise” I repeated slowly. The name rolled off my tongue beautifully. “That’s a pretty name”

“Thank you”

“Do you always rescue drunk strangers in clubs”

“No”

“So I’m special then?”

“Hmm”

I frowned a bit

I rested my head against the window and watched the city through the glass. The city lights and buildings blurred together as the car moved through the streets.

“I’m bored, lets play a game” I said to her

“I don’t play games”

“How boring”

She remained silent

“So what do you do for work?” I asked

“Why?”

“I’m just curious, you look like someone that has a really important job”

“Hmm”

“So…” I prompted

“Something business related”

“That’s very vague”

“You’re asking too many questions”

“Well I’m bored and you kidnapped me”

“I didn’t kidnap you, I’m taking you home”

“Sounds like the same thing to me”

She shook her head but I could see a glimpse of a smile on her face.

Then without warning, the image of my grandma laying on the hospital bed slipped into my head. Tears welled up in my eyes and my eyes started to burn. I blinked several times, trying to push the tears back but I failed. A tear slipped down my face. I quickly wiped it off, hoping Elise hadn’t noticed.

But she had.

“Please tell me you’re not crying because I don’t want to tell you stuff about me”

“What no, that’s not why” I said, trying to wipe the tears that were embarrassingly pouring down my face

“Then why’re you crying”

“My grandma’s sick”

“She has been in the hospital for 2 months now and i don’t have enough money to pay for her treatment”

My voice cracked. I hated sharing my problems with people but for some reason I I couldn’t stop myself from not talking

“I am supposed to make a deposit tomorrow and I lost my job today”

My chest started to tighten

“I can’t lose her, she’s all I have” I said in barely a whisper

Before I could stop myself I shifted close to her and rested my head on her shoulder

She stiffened but didn’t move away

I wrapped my hands around her and held on tight. We sat in silence until she spoke up.

“How did you lose your job?” She asked

“Some woman accused me of stealing her necklace”

“Oh”

“I didn’t do it, I would never-“

“I believe you"

“Thank you”

“I’m tired of being strong all the time”

She was quiet for a short time and then I felt her hand hesitate before gently settling on my upper arm.

“You don’t have to be strong all the time, everything will work out”

“You don’t know that”

“You’re right, I don’t. I’m sorry”

I stayed against her shoulder concentrating on her breath. She smelled like dark vanilla, something floral and one other thing I couldn’t quite place.

“You smell really nice” I told her

“Thank you”

I felt my eyes begin to get heavy

“Do you believe people can just disappear?”

“Hmm sometimes, why?

“My grandmother told me my father disappeared to get a better life, but I don’t think that’s the whole truth”

“I see”

I stopped fighting the sleep and finally shut my eyes. Elise’s hand was moving up and down my arm, providing me with silent comfort.

“I wish I could get to see him, even if it’s just once” I said

“If you got to see him what would you ask him?”

“I’d ask him if he missed me”

“Hmm” was the last thing I heard before the darkness enveloped m