Chapter 2.
1115 Words
"What?!" Her friends all burst.
"You heard that right," Miriam smirked.
"You shouldn't say things you actually cannot do," one of her friends spoke.
"$20,000," Miriam pronounced.
"What?" Another of her friend raised a brow in confusion.
"That's how much I'm betting," Miriam explained. "If I successfully hook up with the next man that walks in here, you're all gonna give me $20,000. But if I fail, reverse is the case."
Silence fell between the group then suddenly one of them spoke. "I think I might need some extra $5,000 this week, so let's do this."
"Me too," another supported.
"Girls!" The last one in the group finally spoke. "This is bad business you're all signing up for. Miriam is tipsy from the drinks she's had. She's just spewing out thrash."
"Who's tipsy, Eunice?" Miriam snapped at Eunice with a frown.
"You," Eunice answered. "So back off from this before you regret it."
"Fine, I get it. You're afraid of the money," Miriam said. "Don't worry I'll pay your portion for you, you don't have to pay anything."
Eunice grabbed Miriam's hand, bringing her face-to-face with her. "I am not worried about money, I am worried about my best friend, you." Eunice said with gritted teeth.
Miriam peeled Eunice's hands off her. "I'm fine, bestie, and there's nothing to worry about," she smiled.
"So is this a deal or not?" One of the other two friends asked.
"Hell it is!" Miriam confirmed with a confident smirk playing on her lips.
"Then your game is here," the other friend pointed.
They all followed her index finger that landed on a handsome man who had just walked in
"Damn, he is hot!" One of them commented.
"But damn looks cold and untouchable," the other one commented, not taking her eyes off the man. "Miriam, are you sure you can handle this? It's not too late to back away now," she finally faced Miriam.
"Yes, Mimi," Eunice supported. "Please, think it over."
Miriam gazed at the man, watching him until he took his seat at the counter. "Y'all, keep my $20,000 waiting for me," she smirked as she walked away.
Miriam didn’t look back as she walked away from the table, but she could feel their eyes on her.
The music pulsed around her, heavy and intoxicating, but her focus had narrowed to one thing, and one person... him.
Each step felt deliberate now, even if the floor shifted slightly beneath her heels.
He sat at the counter like he owned the space without trying to. One arm rested lazily on the surface, a glass of something dark in his hand. He wasn’t looking around like the others, wasn’t scanning the room for attention. If anything, he looked bored.
Miriam slowed a few steps away from him, taking him in properly this time.
Up close, he was even more dangerous. Sharp jawline, composed expression, eyes that didn’t wander, like he already knew exactly what he wanted and didn’t need to search for it.
"Yeah… definitely not my type," she thought dryly. "Which only made this more interesting."
She exhaled softly, rolling her shoulders back, slipping into confidence like a second skin then she moved.
Closing the distance, she slid onto the stool right beside him, close enough for her presence to be noticed, but not desperate.
The bartender approached almost immediately. "What can I get you?"
"Whatever he’s having," Miriam said casually, her gaze still fixed ahead.
He didn’t respond, not even a glance or a shift. He simply lifted his glass and took a slow sip, like she didn’t exist.
Miriam’s jaw tightened slightly. She studied him for a while and he didn't for once move or make a sound. "Jeez, he's indeed difficult," Miriam thought. "But I will have him."
"Hey handsome," she finally spoke to the man. "You alone?"
The man didn't even spare her a glance. "You’re in the wrong place," he said flatly.
"Yes," she admitted. "But you're gonna make it right for me," she smiled.
Silence fell between them until he spoke again. "What do you want?"
Miriam stood up from her stool, and stepped closer. Bending over slightly, she whispered softly into his ear, "I want you."
Finally, she got his attention. He turned to face her, and scoffed. "Little girl, you don't know what you're asking for."
Miriam bent lower, just enough to show her cleavage. "I'm not a little girl..." she whispered, her hand slowly walking up his thigh. "...and yes, I know what I'm asking for."
Glancing down at her hand, the man smirked. "Do you think you can handle it?"
Miriam's finger grazed the man's hardness, earning a flicker of disturbance in his eyes. "Why don't we find out?" She challenged.
She waited for his response but his eyes simply dropped to her hand then back to her face, slowly, measuring, like he was deciding something.
Miriam's confidence had begun wearing away, when he pulled her forward.
She landed against him, her body pressed flush to his, close enough to feel the heat through the thin barrier between them.
His hand slid into her pants, rubbing her butt slowly. "Last chance," he murmured near her ear. "Walk away," he warned, his voice dripping with cold desire.
Miriam fought hard to suppress a moan but it came out anyway. "Is that enough for an answer?" She asked. "...or do you need more?"
For a split second, she hesitated. The warning in his eyes was real. But her head, and body weren't listening to her. Her body was already reacting in ways she couldn’t control.
Her eyes dropped to his lips, and slowly, she reached for it, sealing it with hers.
For a second nothing happened. No response, no movement then just as quickly his hand tightened at her waist. The shift was subtle, but it sent a jolt through her entire body.
He didn’t kiss her back immediately. Instead, he held her there, still, like he was deciding whether to push her away… or take control.
Then he moved. Slowly at first, too slowly like he was taking his time to claim something.
His lips pressed back against hers, firm, deliberate, testing. And just like that, the balance tipped.
What started as her move became his. His grip on her tightened, pulling her closer, anchoring her in place like there was no escape now. The kiss deepened, not rushed, not wild, but controlled in a way that made her pulse spike.
The noise of the club faded into nothing. No music, no crowd, just him.
Miriam felt it then, that shift she hadn’t planned for.
She had come to play a game… and just lost control of it.
- Writer
