CHAPTER1
REBECCA’S POV
I flung the second dress on the bed and pointed at the two choices on the bed.
“What do you think? Pick one.”
As expected, Jamie rolled her eyes, but she left her position by the door and walked to the bed.
“Becky!” she groaned. “This isn’t a dress and there’s absolutely no way we’re leaving this house wearing this.” She shook the dresses as if checking for the extra material. I smirked; she wouldn’t find them because they were really that short.
“Leaving isn’t going to be a problem, Jamie,” I rushed to assure her. "We’re not kids. Right now, I just need you to pick one so we can dress up.”
She covered her face with the dress, but I could still see the small blush. I groaned.
“Fine, pick something from the wardrobe. You can dress like a nun for all I care; we’re still going clubbing tonight.”
Thirty-five minutes and lots of groaning and begging after, the cab dropped us in front of the club. It was my first time in this club, but I had a plan. I wasn’t really someone who made partying a lifestyle, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And at this point, I was past desperate.
Jamie grabbed my hand before I took a step further.
“What’s the plan for tonight, Becky?”
She’d eventually settled on one of my knee-length gowns; at least it was tight on her. Coupled with one of my heels, she actually looked like someone that belonged in the loud club. Me, on the other hand, had gone with the shorter of the two gowns. It was black, tight and maybe just a few inches past my ass. I’d sneakingly gotten it when everyone had been too occupied trying to find me a wedding gown the other day.
It was practically my first time dressing like that but it was for a purpose. There was no way in hell I was leaving the club a virgin that night.
I shrugged her hand off and hugged her shoulders instead. “The plan,” I whispered in her ear, “is to forget about everything and just live.”
I felt her trying to look at me, but I didn’t allow her, dragging her through the door into one of the loudest and most packed places I’d ever been. We both recoiled as soon as we entered.
“It’s not too late,” my friend shouted above the bass of the beat and loud music. “We can still leave.”
It was so tempting, but if I didn’t do this tonight, I wouldn’t ever have the opportunity before my wedding. I pulled her in.
AIDEN’S POV
“Turn the car around.” I said in a soft voice.
“Sir?” Mark, one of my newest drivers, exclaimed and I sat upright.
I waited for him to turn the car around but he kept on driving straight.
“I said turn the car around.” I said, this time in a louder voice, and he did.
“Where to, Sir?” he asked, and I could hear the thread of something in his voice. Irritation, dissatisfaction—I didn’t really care so I ignored it.
“Keep driving.” I told him. “I’ll tell you when to stop.”
I actually had no idea where we were going, but one thing I knew was that I wasn’t ready to return home. Ever since Patricia quit her job as the manager of one of my hotels, she’d graduated from being a headache to a migraine. Especially when it came to issues about children, which it seemed like we had every other day. It was why, after stalling in the office till 10:00 pm on a weekday, I was also leading my driver in the opposite direction.
When we were a safe distance from where we turned around, I directed my driver to pack in front of a mall. Being a multi-billionaire and one of the richest people in the state didn’t mean I was averse to gossip. If I made it seem like I was running from home, journalists would be packed in front of my office and home within the next 12 hours.
I got down and walked into the store. My wealth was more of family inheritance plus my own effort, but I could still blend in when I wanted. I entered and walked in the direction of the cigarettes. I’d been sober for the past thirteen years, but recently it had been more and more of an urge to take it up again, which, at 35, wasn't a wise decision.
I picked up a pack and headed to the counter. The teenager looked at me with judging eyes and I ached mine back. She eventually collected the pack and my card and packed it. Before reaching the car, I’d made my decision and I had a plan. It was all Patricia’s fault anyway; no matter how twisted, she’d issued the challenge and I needed to know. I threw the cigarette in the nearest trash bin and headed back to the car.
“The nearest club,” I said.
“Sir?”
This was getting annoying. Even those I worked with at the office didn’t question my instructions. Being new didn’t excuse his intelligence.
“Give me the car keys.” I said, getting down and walking to the driver’s seat.
If I had planned to eventually forgive him, that plan went out the drain when his response was another “Sir?”
I opened his door and c****d my brow at him. He handed over the key, and I stepped back so he could get down. I entered the car, turned on the ignition and then wound down my window. Mark was still standing there. At least he had manners.
“You’re fired.” I told him. “My accountant will reach out to you concerning your pay.”
Then I drove off.
I remained in the car as I looked at the club. William, my personal assistant and the only person I trusted, had recommended the place and I could see its appeal. From the outside, it looked like a ramshackle place, but from the number of cars packed around and the noise coming from inside, I knew it was much bigger. I heaved out a sigh as I headed out. Everywhere was dark and I’d exchanged my suit for a casual shirt I’d picked up in another store. Either way, I doubted anyone would recognize me. Will had described the type of people that hung around this particular place and we had nothing in common. Hopefully except wanting to have fun just for the night.