Chapter 2
1418 Words
Her feet moved on their own and in seconds, she was back to the front of the house, her hands stretched out as she waved down a taxi. Her face was wet with tears and her body was shaking but something in her still wanted to know if Dennis cared so, she turned to check if he had followed her out of the house to at least apologize but….
She was wrong once again.
“I’m an i***t. I’m a f*****g idiot.” She whispered, hitting her head with her left hand as the taxi she waved slowed down. She climbed into the backseat without a word and thankfully, the driver didn’t ask.
He just drove.
Normally, she would have been scared or worried but, right now, she was thankful.
After a few minutes…or hours…She couldn’t tell how long the ride had been going on for as she had been crying her eyes out the entire time, the driver finally cleared his throat and looked at her through the rear mirror.
“Where to, Miss?” He asked, pulling out tissues from the side compartment and handing them to her, a small pitiful smile on his face. Judging from how calm he was at seeing a woman cry, Ariana could tell that he had had a lot of experience with them.
“Thank you.” She whispered as she grabbed as much as she needed and almost covered her face with it. Once she was done, she looked forward to seeing that the driver had now parked by the side as he waited for her to be done.
What a gentleman!
“Uhh.” She thought, his question lingering in her mind. She had nowhere to go. Her friends were probably still at work and her house wasn’t an option, nor was her mother’s hospital as it would only remind her of the huge debt she had to pay.
She needed to clear her head.
It would be evening in a few hours so, she cleared her throat and sniffled. “Blue Haven.” She said and the driver nodded before zooming off.
Ten minutes later, the car came to a halt in front of a large vibrant building that was covered with lights even on the outside.
“How do I look?” She asked, forcing a smile and arranging her blonde hair with her fingers.
“Eyes are a little red but you’re a natural beauty so, you should be fine.” The driver praised which warmed her heart.
“Go in there and have fun. He doesn’t deserve you.” He added, as if knowing she had just been cheated on.
“Thank you.” She whispered, biting her now trembling lips as she struggled to find her money.
“Don’t worry about it. You should use it to get a drink instead.” He said with a kind smile and drove away.
Ariana stood in front of a club with the sky still brighter than her future at the moment.
“f**k me.” She shook her head and walked in, heading straight for the bar.
Since it was still 4 pm, the club was barely lively as it looked more like a bar which she was grateful for. She slid onto a high stool at the bar and waved at the bartender.
“Something strong.” She said in an almost inaudible voice.
Understanding her situation, the bartender nodded with a calming smile. “On the rocks?”
“Yes, make it a double.” Her fingers curled on the edge of the counter, her heart desperate to forget. “And…make it quick.”
He nodded and grabbed a glass, pouring into it with practiced ease then, he slid the glass to her.
As the first sip hit her tongue, she nearly gagged. She was still too sober. She went for it again and it burned down her throat. She welcomed it gladly, counting the seconds until her heart felt lighter.
One drink wasn’t nearly enough. She needed to forget.
“Another.” She flagged him again. “Neat.”
She was about to down her fourth glass when she felt a large frame settle beside her. “You’ll be out flat in seconds if you continue like that.” The deepest and gruffest voice she had heard in years said from beside her.
She turned to see who it was but could only see the blurred outline of what seemed to be…a man? She blinked again and was met with the sharpest jawline she had seen. His nose was sharp and pointed, his lashes almost as long as her false ones. Dark hair like they had been freshly dyed and large shoulders that were probably five times wider than hers.
He looked dangerous. She hated dangerous men.
What she found weird was the suit he had on.
Who wore a suit to a club?
Not that she was one to talk. She was still in her corporate dress after her interview.
“That’s exactly what I want.” She mumbled and poured the entire glass into her mouth, enjoying the sting.
“You’ll regret it tomorrow, believe me.” He said smoothly. She wanted him to keep talking.
“I won’t. I’m not the one who should be regretting. He should.” She spoke, her fist tightening.
“Boyfriend problems?” He asked, tapping his fingers against the counter.
“Worse.” She whispered and suddenly turned to him.
Before she knew it, she had told the strange man all her life problems, cursing Dennis and his cousin in the process as well as cancer for finding her mother.
“He’s a real asshole.” She said painfully. “O-Our wedding is meant to be in a f-few months. I already paid partly for our house with the money from my savings because he only got a job three months ago and has other things to settle. I-I don’t even have a house of my own because he was supposed to be my h-husband.” The tears she had sworn not to let out again slid down her cheek.
“I-I h-h-hate him.” She clutched her chest, hitting it lightly to stop the ache in her heart.
“As you should. It’s his loss for cheating on you,” He said in a tone that made Ariana think of bad things…things she didn’t think of when she was with Dennis.
The strange man sat beside her, letting her speak and offering her a tissue when she needed. Ariana couldn’t be more grateful for the kindness she had received.
Maybe there were more good men out there than she thought.
Without a second thought, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, taking him by surprise. She was pulled back immediately by his large hands.
“What are you doing?” He asked calmly, still holding her shoulders in place.
“Please.” She practically begged, her blue orbs shaking with fear and nervousness.
The man looked at her with sadness in his eyes. She was without a doubt a beautiful woman but, she was in a state of weakness and he didn’t want it to seem like he took advantage of her.
“We shouldn’t. You’re drunk.”
“I am.” She nodded. “That’s why we should. I’ll forget tomorrow anyway.”
She lied.
She wasn’t the type to forget her actions after being drunk. They always came rushing to her like a wave.
“Please.” She leaned in again, her eyes dropping to his lips.
The strange man let out a strained groan, his grip on her shoulder faltering. He also had a shitty day and needed something to get his mind off it so, after much hesitation, he grabbed her hand and helped her off the stool.
“Come with me.” He whispered and pulled her with him, walking through the club like it was his second house. He didn’t stop until they got to a private room.
Before entering, he paused and turned to her, the care in his eyes now replaced with desire. “There’s no going back once we go in.” He said in a hurried voice.
Ariana didn’t respond. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again. Short. Just enough to tease him.
“f**k it then.” He said and pulled her into the room, crashing his lips onto hers as he caged her with both arms.
- Writer
