~Chapter 11~
"Can we make a pit stop before the club to change outta these clothes? It's too work-ey work-ey," Chelsea remarked, scrunching her nose and pointing her fingers toward her professional attire.
We were all gathered in the parking garage of the ZAE Inc. building. "Who even cares about the outfit? I just wanna get wasted. This week was hella busty. I swear I can still smell unagreed disappointment oozing out of Ms. Maxwell's posture," Shivaay grumbled grouchily.
Ms. Maxwell has been whooping everyone a lot as the whole campaign was almost ready before finally executing it. That woman must have invented something that surpassed even the term - perfection.
"You mean shark," Keith corrected with a scoff.
"Hey, hey," I interjected, trying to calm down their dark faces. "I know that we've all had a hard week but... we could make our weekend better, right?" I spoke in a consoling manner.
"Yeah."
"Right. You're right."
"Mm-hmm."
All of them echoed in unison. "So, c'mon. Chop chop." I clapped my hands with a huge grin. "Besides, Emika's wanting to say something for quite some time now."
She frustratedly signed the same thing for the umpteenth time, pointing at all of us angrily. "She's saying that we are all... wait, what's that again? A... doofus? You mean, we're all doofus?"
Emika nodded curtly with narrowed eyes and signed something else.
Shivaay scowled like a kid. "Now that's not fair. Why not VVJ?" She just shrugged and nudged Chelsea to drive toward the destination.
Emika never drives a vehicle without anyone joining her because it could be fatal if she couldn't detect the honk or something which might lead to an accident. Which is why she always takes a cab. For the club destination, Chelsea quickly volunteered for Emika to carpool with her. It must be her loquacious personality so that she could babble with no pause by having a quiet company.
Chelsea led the way, Emika following behind her leisurely. "But why isn't VVJ a doofus?!" He shouted behind her like a broken child but she couldn't hear him at all.
"It's a lost case, buddy. Now off you go." I smirked whereas he just sulked but obliged nonetheless. He muttered something under his breath.
"Oh, and guys, we are going to the 'Bliss Rose' Club!" Chelsea hollered.
"But... isn't that too expensive?" I voiced out with wide eyes.
"So?" Keith said dryly. "We work in an expensive corporation, duh."
What's gotten into him today? I shook my head and we took off in our own cars because no one was ready to leave their vehicles in the garage and come again later to get it back. It would be too much hassle while coming to work on Monday. However, I had also strictly suggested that if we got way too drunk then we would to take a cab.
Driving for about twenty minutes, I finally made it on Fifth Avenue where the club was located. It's the type of club where usually the upstate New Yorkers come to. It's like a jewel and a huge dream for many. According to me, quite posh as well.
As soon as I got out of my Honda, I saw my clique already huddled together. My brows knitted as I was approaching them because Chelsea and Emika weren't in their work outfits and their faces were covered with dark makeup.
Chelsea was wearing a black, bodice hugging dress that reached her thighs while Emika wore a blue crop top and tight leather skirt.
"You both..." My mouth hung open. "I feel betrayed now." I pouted. Shivaay looked livid for some reason and Keith just completely ignored us, his gaze stuck on the door which led inside the club. "And also out of the loop."
Chelsea looked sheepish while Emika looked at me apologetically, rubbing the back of her head. "I am so sorry. I just had to change, you know? I have this dress in my car and you can-"
"Nah, never mind. I am good." I smiled and looked down at my gray slacks with a white shirt. I didn't scream the club type right now but my insides were screaming for some soothing drink.
The whole week, everyone was pushed around endlessly and my path had hobbled across Skye's a few times too but he didn't even give me a second glance. Like I was invisible or just a normal admirer of his. It hurt but I learned to stay away from him after that.
As we were walking inside the club after showing our IDs and everything, Chelsea explained to me the story behind her change of clothes.
"So basically I always carry a sexy, party dress in my car so we stopped to change while I had this small size outfit which I had to return back but I suggested that Em wear it. I mean, I knew that it would fit her babe bod."
"Then how's it that you guys reached before me? Like, I didn't even stop anywhere."
"Yeah that. Because you must be driving like a gramma." I just rolled my eyes at her.
Traversing my eyes, I found Shivaay and Emika squabbling about something. They both seemed ready to burst out with the way they were signing furiously. Turning my eyes some more, I saw Keith making everyone coming in his vicinity to run for the hills. I hadn't a clue about his anger.
I sighed in exasperation and rubbed my temples. My friends were acting worse than some zoo animals. Even Chelsea was ranting about how a chihuahua attempted to murder her.
Crinkling my nose, I turned to her with a weird expression only to find her drinking beer from a bottle.
I rolled my eyes yet again and quickly went to the bar. I still couldn't understand how she grabbed a beer bottle when she was standing right by my side the whole time. Ordering myself a normal drink, I looked around. I knew that I was craving for something strong but I began with something that I could actually handle better.
The club wasn't as much packed at this hour and the music blaring was bearable too. People interested in the touchy-feely stuff were grinding on the dance floor, forgetting about the world. A few couches were pushed at one side of the club that absolutely no one occupied.
Taking my glass, I maneuvered through the drunk bodies flailing around and toward the empty couches.
I sighed in content as soon as I sat down on the plush couch and sipped my drink. I was staring off into space because this was not how I wanted my evening to transpire. Alone.
I had expected to have fun with my friends and relieve myself from the pyramidical problems. The top peak being none other than the CEO aka, my head boss, Skye Williams.
As I took another sip, I looked up from the rim of my glass and my gaze landed on the devil in question. He was standing a few feet away from me and hadn't noticed me yet. I was stunned to see him here.
His face seemed scrunched up in discomfort but he still managed to look good. Just like me, he was in his work clothes minus the suit jacket with his tie loosened up. A tall, beautiful brunette had her hand pressed on Skye's chest. The girl's flirtatious expression wasn't working because he was gently pushing her away from him.
Skye was saying something with a sombre face but she didn't get a hint as she began giggling.
I frowned and sighed. I couldn't tell if she was the same girl as the one who'd met with him across the bridge or not. Although one thing was sure, Skye wasn't enjoying her presence. Keeping that in mind, I formulated a plan in my head to save that one person who went on ignoring me for a whole week.
No matter how rude that was, this thing was absolutely wrong. The situation wherein people don't understand the meaning of consent and just force themselves through.
I walked the small distance toward them while straightening my shirt with one hand and holding a glass in the other. "NYPD. Step back," I spoke nonchalantly which startled the model-like girl and Skye both.
"Seriously? Halloween's not here yet," the brunette said sassily, giving me a stink eye.
For a second I faltered but I quickly pulled up my composure and stared at her blankly. "I don't think you would wanna put your chances on my "Halloween costume", now would you?"
All the blood drained from her face and she stepped back, looking ready to dart off in some direction. I tried so hard to not burst out laughing and blow up my cover. Skye, on the other hand, had a conspiratorial smile playing on his lips so I just raised an eyebrow at him.
I am saving you here, buddy. Oh, and now he decides to cut out his indifferent act. Respect, I thought sarcastically.
"I-I... Are - are y-you arresting... me?" She stammered, pointing her manicured finger toward herself.
"Oh, yes." I nodded my head grimly and changed my stance to that of an inspector.
"O-on what charges?" She gulped and I really wanted to laugh at her so bad while patting her shoulders. God, was she so gullible.
"Shouldn't you be knowing that?" I glared sternly and Skye covered up his laugh with a cough. But the girl didn't pay any heed to him.
It was almost as if a switch went over in her demeanor because there was a hard glint in her gaze and I almost had the urge to flee the scene when she spoke up again. "I swear, Santiago handed me the cocaine for free and I couldn't say no. I am sorry!" She shrieked like a mad woman and I looked at her in shock. Even Skye turned to me, sporting the same expression.
"No... no," I told her, shaking my head.
"No?" She repeated, wide eyed.
"Mm-hmm. The charges are for touching someone without their consent which equals to nothing less than molestation," I spoke confidently and she furrowed her brows as if assessing me.
Her narrowed eyes met mine. "Show me your badge," she said with a proud smile as if she figured out how to sketch the logo of Illuminati within seconds.
My eyes were as wide as saucers whereas my heart was thumping frantically. I didn't have the strength to look at Skye and my hands were shaking. Now what?!
"Come on. Show me," she continued in her irritating voice.
"Why, Cara? You did touch me and invade my personal space, didn't you?" Skye finally butted in, all the humor gone from his face. "We're the detectives. And we're here to catch the drug cartel leader. And, you, my dear, will lead us to him. Santiago, is it?"
And I stood there watching him with a revered marvel. He was so good and poised. Heck, he didn't even waver like me. He must have noticed my impressed face because he winked at me when Cara wasn't looking.
Cara's breath hitched and she ran away from us like her life depended on it. She never once did look back and we took that as a moment to let out our restrained laughter. It was fun and it somehow worked.
"Thank you for saving me." He smiled at me and my heart flipped in merriment. It had been a week and I was done not seeing his soft smiles and deep laughs. I even missed his beautiful voice. With every thought I had of him, my heart would just leap around in weird happiness.
"And you too. I was literally scared there for a second that I was considering leaving," I told him earnestly, laughing and he joined as well.
"That was quite a unique way to make people keep their distance," he complimented me and I raised my glass toward him as a 'thank you'. And that's when I realized that I had a drink in my hand.
"And guess someone's been watching Lucifer, eh?" I smirked and he raised his hands to show that I wasn't wrong.
"Guilty as charged."
That was it. It was silent after that because we were quite aware of the tension in the air. I shuffled my feet awkwardly and made a move to walk toward the bar. It was just a means to give him his space, give him his moment to go back to ignoring and not knowing me. The thought itself squeezed my heart but I didn't like to keep my presence more than it was needed.
"Valerie," he whispered from behind me when I had taken a few steps.
I stopped and shook the contents of my glass absent-mindedly before turning back to him. I stood in front of him with too much distance for two people to talk. "Yeah?"
He was about to say something when a heavily drunk, dancing body pushed mine ahead roughly, lessening the distance between Skye and I. His hands immediately landed on my arms with his face showing concern. Those beautiful tingles were back and I swear goosebumps made themselves at home as well. "Are you okay?"
"Pfft, of course," I said, waving it off. "It was just a harmless push, don't worry." I grinned and he nodded his head. "You were saying?"
"Huh?" When I didn't give him any explanation and pointed my index finger around mindlessly, his eyes shone with recognition. Like he remembered what he was going to say. "Oh, yeah. Um... I wanted to apologize," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
I wouldn't have heard it if I weren't straining my ears too much. A light blush formed on his cheeks, making him look even more handsome and boyish. "Apologize?" I echoed, perplexed.
"Yeah, I've been an... ass to you this past week and..." he trailed off, chuckling humorlessly. He ran his hands in his hair with mild frustration and I just wanted to pull him closer to me to softly run my hands on his face and hair.
"Oh, thank God that you admit it," a new yet familiar voice quipped. My eyes slowly lifted up toward Ivan who came to stand beside Skye.
I was in a daze because I couldn't believe my ears. Skye was apologizing to me. I mean I didn't expect anything less from him but it still came off as a surprise to me. I had thought that this whole ignoring each other thing wasn't even "apology worthy". Or was it?
"You took the whole "do something legitimately wrong and then apologize" thingy seriously?" I teased him and he laughed heartily at my comment.
Ivan just raised an eyebrow at us both, looking clueless as ever. "Is this supposed to be your top dirty secret? That I am not aware of?" He pointed a finger at our faces.
Rolling my eyes, I wrapped my hand around his finger and bent it lightly. He started yelping and glared at me when I freed his finger. "Serves you right though." I winked.
Skye just smirked, smothering his laugh. "Couldn't agree more."
"Shut up. You both are evil." And we laughed at his sulking face. "Whatever. Anyway, so... Skye, why didn't you tell me that you'd invited Valerie as well?" He wiggled his eyebrows and Skye looked at him blankly. "Ooh, is it because you don't like us flirting?"
"Uh... wrong, Ivan. Not "us" but you. Just you," I retorted innocently and he grinned. "And nope, he didn't invite me or anything. My friends and I decided to loosen up a bit because it's the weekend, you know?" I explained.
"Oh, I do. But the odds of coincidences are so much in our favor, right?" Ivan spoke in his usual pompous tone, sipping his drink with interest. He somewhat reminded me of Shivaay. They're both similar in so many ways that it was uncanny.
"What do you mean?" I asked him with furrowed brows and glanced at Skye who was already looking at Ivan with a scowl.
"I mean, all of us coming to the same club to loosen up at the same time, huh? Lovely." With that said, he laughed, slapped Skye's shoulder and walked away with a transparent amusement shining on his face.
"I always think that he just likes to, y'know... go overboard," Skye commented, crinkling his left eye apologetically. "But it's worse with the ridiculous amount of alcohol in his system."
I snorted and shook my head. "I don't think he was drunk, I guess. Also I personally feel... he just likes to roast us."
"He's born drunk." I sputtered out a laugh at that. "And about roasting, it just used to be me. Now, he has got even more of a reason." He chuckled, stuffing his hands in his pockets. That's when I noticed that there was no drink in his hands.
I was about to ask him what he meant by what he just said but I was disrupted by a slurred voice of Chelsea. "Val." I swear the 'L' stretched longer than a howl.
"Hey, Sea, what's up?" I asked her, instantly worried about how disheveled she looked. The typical wasted look with red eyes, puffy nose, tangled mess of her blonde hair with insurmountable creases on her dress.
"Comeeeeeee on!" She squeaked. "Let's dance, babayyyyyyyyy!"
Yup. Definitely wasted.
Chelsea hadn't noticed Skye or even if she had, her cloud of drunkenness didn't help much. "Nooooo waiting! Come, come! Immediatelyyyyyyy!" She shrieked and I winced, annoyed.
Sending an apologetic smile to Skye over my shoulder, I led her on the dance floor. The population had somehow increased and some pop music blasted on the speakers.
I just swayed lightly, keeping a close eye on Chelsea who managed to hop around in her heels. I could just stare at her in amusement. As I was moving my body from side to side just for the sake of it, a guy came to stand in front of me with a smile.
I smiled back politely, expecting him to leave me alone. When he didn't, I looked at him with my best poker face in the hopes of scaring him away. He just laughed, shaking his head. Well, at least I could get the points for trying.
The guy was handsome in his own way with sharp features, midnight blue hair and moss green eyes. Although my interest in him was as good as my interest in rocket science, which was nil.
"I am Asher," he introduced himself in his rough guy voice.
"Okay." I just nodded, not caring to tell him my name. "If you'd excuse me..." I quickly walked away from the dance floor and toward the bar. Skye was already there and the sight that greeted me was surprising.
He looked drunk, that too just in a span of a few minutes. He gave me a sloppy smile which was so cute that I had almost melted. It was free and I couldn't help but smile back. "Looks like someone's drunk outta their wits."
"So that maybeeeeee, you could danceeee with me tooooo," he slurred out his words and I had to strain my ears to understand what he said. Just when I did, my eyes widened like huge saucers. In an instant I understood that he was referring to Chelsea.
I just sat there, stupefied because of the fine specimen in front of me. He kept on mumbling to himself and giggling every so often. He looked so adorable that it pained my heart.
And it looks like I am drunk on this man, aren't I?
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