Page 18

Oh well.
The main thing was that we all had fun. I grinned. Maybe my punishment would really get the evening going.
I entered the hotel through the main entrance and headed for the bar. It was nice to feel like a guest again, even though at that moment I would have given anything to get a job here. But before I could lose myself further in thoughts about today's events, my friends ambushed me.
"Isabella! Where have you been for so long?" Judy called out.
"And where's your crown?" Mira added.
"I... uh... well, I think I forgot my crown."
"Aha!" Mira, Judy, Elly, and Fiona exchanged a meaningful look.
"Then we'll have to think of a punishment for you right away!" Judy grinned at me. "But first you need to get in the mood. Here!" She pressed a cocktail glass into my hand. I sipped the red-orange drink.
"Oh, a Tequila Sunrise!" I rejoiced. The cheerful, colorful mix was one of my favorite drinks.
"You need to hurry up," Elly ordered. "We've each had two already. And you need to catch up!"
"Is that my punishment?" I wanted to know, as the laughing girls pulled me towards the bar.
"Nooooo," Fiona giggled. "That's just to get you in the mood. You look like you've got a bee in your bonnet. Or several bees."
That was true, of course.
Was it that obvious?
I had tried to put on my happiest face, but apparently I hadn't succeeded.
"Did something happen?" Mira asked.
"Oh... I had an accident. I rear-ended some guy," I explained and emptied my Tequila Sunrise in three big gulps. I could already feel the alcohol going to my head and a pleasant feeling of elation and relaxation spreading through me. Exactly what I needed after such a crappy day like today.
"You need to drink to that," Elly said and pressed another glass into my hand. Another Tequila Sunrise. I smiled to myself.
"Then I also need to drink to the fact that I got fired today," I declared.
"WHAT?" Four pairs of eyes looked at me in shock.
"I got fired," I repeated and sipped my second Tequila. Well, I didn't really sip. I took a big gulp. The stuff just tasted devilishly good and eased the tension in my body. I had truly earned a fun evening. When was the last time I had drunk alcohol? It must have been ages ago. Owen had never liked it when I wanted to drink, so I had abstained for his sake. Pretty stupid of me.
"And what will you do now?" Judy wanted to know.
"Celebrate!" Mira shouted and looked at me.
I nodded emphatically. "Exactly. I'm rid of that stupid boss and for that... yes, for that I should drink at least one. If not two."
"But you have your apartment and the loan..." Fiona chimed in.
I didn't want to think about that at all right now. "I do. And today is your bachelorette party," I replied and emptied the second Tequila Sunrise in three big gulps.
"Exactly! And it's time our Isabella here has some fun again," called the already slightly tipsy Elly. The bartender looked at me questioningly.
"Another one," I nodded. He slid an already filled glass across the bar to me. At that moment, "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez blared from the speakers installed in the wooden ceiling above us. The karaoke song from my last punishment.
"Yeah... Isabella should sing. Come on, Isabella," Elly cheered enthusiastically.
"Booooring," Judy snorted and pushed her empty glass towards the bartender with a nod. "She already knows that punishment. We need something new."