Page 3

The air was electric, and loud, pulsating music boomed from the speakers. A whirlwind of infectious energy enveloped us as we stepped into the club.

Laser beams sliced through the darkness, casting an otherworldly glow over the dancing masses. The floor was an ocean of writhing bodies with ecstatic smiles on frenzied faces. At the DJ’s instruction, hands were thrown up in the air as his fingers expertly scratched the surface of his disc.

Nodding his head to the rhythm of the sound, the DJ pushed a few buttons, his fingers flying across his set-up, manipulating the hypnotic beats. “Who’s ready to travel back in time?!” his deep, husky voice boomed through the speakers. “Put your hands up if you’re to travel back to 2011!”

The crowd’s hands flew into the air, anticipating his next move.

He turned a few nobs here and there, and immediately, the music changed the atmosphere to something more erotic.

The crowd cheered, screamed, and danced harder when LMFAO's “Sexy and I Know It” filled the air.

The music was so loud that it reverberated through every cell in my body, making it nearly impossible to think or communicate without shouting. Scarlett was speaking to me, and I could see her lips moving, but I couldn’t hear a word she was saying.

“What?!” I literally screamed at the top of my voice, my brows arching reflexively. “I can’t hear you!”

“I said—”

The rest of her words were drowned by the loud DJ’s noise.

A light scowl flashed across my face, and I wished at that moment that I had just stayed back home. I didn’t have anything better to do at my place, but at least I’d have my peace and quiet. This setting was too wild, and the noise was killing me, not to mention the unnecessary attention this stupid person was drawing to me.

Scarlett O’Sullivan, my tall redhead friend, wouldn’t take “no” for an answer when she proposed that we come out here to have some fun. This wasn’t my usual gathering, and I never would have agreed to tag along if Scarlett wasn’t so damn persistent. As fun and jovial as I was, I wasn’t the clubbing type of girl, and she knew that. But my friend thought that it was ideal to step out of my comfort zone every once in a while.

How the hell had she convinced me to wear a dress as short and shiny as this? Now, I’d lost count of the number of guys that had stared lustfully at me.

The black knee-length dress hugged me in the right places, accentuating my curves, and its hem highlighted my toned legs. Delicate seed pearls were sprinkled across the dark silk fabric, sparkling like diamonds. The gown, in general, seemed to shimmer and glow in the lights, drawing eyes from all directions.

Scarlett’s green dress complemented the color of her eyes, and her red hair fell loosely over her shoulders. She grabbed my hand, her eyes scanning the wind environment as if searching for something. “There!” She pointed at a lounge somewhere across the vast expanse. “Come on!” Scarlett led the way with my wrist in her firm grip.

As we pushed through the unwinding crowd, the pulsating beats and vibrant lights gradually faded into the background. Scarlett found us a table away from the noise and the dancing masses.

It took a lot of courage for me to ignore the eyes on us as we approached the lounge. Those men, stinking of wealth and power, had their lustful gazes fixed on us, and that made me so uncomfortable. I wished that I could shrug off this feeling of being out of place and just blend in with the crowd—unbothered like Scarlett was. But I simply couldn't.

Surrounded by velvet curtains and soft, golden lighting, we slid into the plush, comfortable cushion seats.

“Finally, some peace and quiet—or at least something that looks like it,” I muttered the last sentence under my breath, my eyes roaming the lounge. “I don’t think I could have handled much more of that chaos.”

Scarlett chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Would you stop being a buzzkill?” She slammed her palm against the table and leaned back on the cushion. “Come on! We’re here to have some fun!” she added, her voice dripping with enthusiasm.

“Yeah, that’s easy for you to say, considering you’re not the one being dragged to a nightclub against her will,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

Scarlett laughed, her eyes shining with mischief. “Oh, poor baby,” she teased, wearing a mocking expression. “Did your incredibly persistent best friend force you to do what you didn’t wanna do?” Her tone was laced with a glint of sarcasm.

“Haha. Very funny,” I shot back dryly, my expression flat.

“Lighten up, Clarice. There’s more to life than just your work and your little house,” she said, her gaze locked on mine. “We’re here to celebrate your first real high-profile client, so stop being such a wuss.”

At this point, I could hardly find the words to shoot back at her, and that victorious smirk on her lips crippled my resistance.

“But was this dress necessary? Did I have to wear it?” I gestured at the fabric that cascaded down my physique.

Her brows rose. “What’s wrong with the dress?”

“Are you kidding me?” I edged closer, my hands on the table between us, as I lowered my voice. “It’s drawing unwanted attention,” I said through gritted teeth, my eyes discreetly roaming the surroundings.

“Would you relax?” She laughed. “The dress only reveals what you always hide…your curves and contours.” A slight pause came when her gaze darted across my body. “You should be thanking me instead of complaining, you know.” Her lips curled into a smirk.

I let out a light groan and rolled my eyes. “You’re impossible, Scarlett.”

“And that’s why you love me.” She winked and wiggled her brows. “Now, what do you wanna drink? I’m buying.” Scarlett flagged down a waitress.

I wasn’t used to stuff like this, so how would I possibly know what I wanted? Leaning back on the cushion, I tried to be more relaxed. “Surprise me,” I replied.

Scarlett beamed at me, her face lighting up with a radiant grin. “Figured you’d say that.” She raised her head and looked at the waitress towering over her. “We’ll have two of your best cosmopolitans, please,” she placed the order. “And can we also get some of those amazing sliders I’ve heard so much about?”

“Coming right up.” The waitress nodded, jotting down the order. She flashed a soft, courteous smile at us. “Enjoy your evening, ladies.” She dematerialized, her high heels clicking against the floor as she retreated.

As the evening progressed, I started to feel a bit more relaxed. Maybe it was the drinks, but I didn’t think so, considering that my good friend made sure we both drank responsibly.

I hadn’t had so much fun in a while, and if I was being honest, a part of me was glad that she’d brought me out here tonight.

Scarlett dragged me to the dance floor after having our drinks.

As always, I was a bit skeptical at first. “Scarlett, you know I don’t know how to dance,” I objected as she pulled me by the wrist.

“You don’t have to know how to dance. Just move your body to the rhythm of the beat.” Her manicured fingers flew into her hair, combing through the strands as she withdrew from me and stepped onto the dance floor. “Just close your eyes and imagine you’re in your room. I know how well you dance when you’re alone!” she said, her voice crashing against the loud music

My lips curled into a smile as I watched her shake her body to the sound, her red hair whipping around her face.

“Don’t just stand there, hop on!” She beckoned me, gesturing with her fingers.

“Ah, screw this.” I exhaled sharply, damning it all as I joined her on the dance floor.

She laughed, reaching out to hold my hands. Together, we danced, our bodies writhing in sheer bliss. At that moment, nothing else mattered. I freed myself and decided to give in to the music. I let it take control, directing the movement of my body, and I could feel it coursing through my veins.

I threw my hands into my hair, my feet tapping to the rhythm of the DJ’s hypnotic beats. A feeling of excitement washed over me, and it was like a whole new person had taken over, one who didn’t give a shit about anything else.

The more I danced, the more I felt my worry, anxiety, and shyness dissipate until all that was left was happiness—pure and undiluted. This wasn’t something I would do often, so why not utilize this opportunity?

A few boys approached me, and I found myself dancing with these strangers. One of them dared to hold my hips from behind, and I would’ve snapped his hand off, but he was gentle. His grip was light and respectful, his hand guiding the movement of my waist.

I shot my head back to meet his face—his amazing hazel-brown eyes crinkling at the corners. He was tall and handsome, maybe no older than twenty-three, and his smile was charming.

My lips curled into a smile, and I found myself melting into his arms, his hands traversing my body. I let him feel my skin and caress my curvature because I could sense his modesty. He could have used the opportunity to exploit my body and risk getting smacked across the face. But he didn’t. Instead, he avoided my sensitive areas.

The boy clearly had some respect for a woman’s body, and his touch was delicate yet electric. We danced together—face to face, our bodies moving in sync. I didn’t realize how close we’d gotten to each other until I felt his boner against my thigh.

A spark ignited within me, and I felt a tingling sensation between my legs. My eyes widened ever so slightly, and my gaze dropped to his groin. The print of his erection over his jeans stirred up a flutter in my chest, and my heart paused for a minute.

I lifted my eyes and held his gaze, tempted to claim those enticing lips of his. What’re you doing? Snap out of this madness! I cautioned myself. You’re losing control.

As handsome and tempting that young man was, I couldn’t let anything happen between us. He was a complete stranger, and I couldn’t let myself be stupid. There was a part of me that wanted to just kiss him and taste his lips. But to what end? What would happen if the kiss got so heated up and we both decided to take it elsewhere, somewhere more private?

I hadn’t been with a man before, and with the amount of ecstasy coursing through my veins at the moment, what was the guarantee that he wouldn’t take advantage of my weakness? I was still a virgin by choice, and I didn’t want to lose that yet.

My mother would always say, “Don’t start a fire if you can’t put it out.”

This was a fire that would definitely consume me, and I would spend a long time wishing I never lost control. Losing my virginity to a stranger at a nightclub wasn't how my story would go. No.

Without saying a word, I stepped back from him, watching his shoulder slump in dismay. As I scanned the area for Scarlett, who had somehow vanished from my view, that was when it happened: the commotion.

The crowd gasped in fear and astonishment, their noises drawing my attention to where a man's fist was flying into another’s jaw. The impact was so hard that I heard the victim’s bone crack.

The powerful punch from the attacker lifted this man into the air, and his body crashed onto a wooden table. As the furniture broke under his weight, gunshots filled the air, the sudden sound forcing everyone to take cover.

I dropped to the floor immediately as the chaos erupted, and the guests ran wildly, seeking shelter from flying bullets. From the ground where I lay shuddering, I jerked my head to find the attacker straddling his victim’s chest, his knees pinning the defenseless man’s shoulders to the floor.

My heart ached as I witnessed the gruesome scene where this beast of a man relentlessly slammed his fist into his victim’s face. His knuckles were dripping with blood, and the victim’s head was snapping back and forth, but he wouldn’t stop.

It was like watching a horror movie, and I couldn’t seem to tear my gaze off the scene. The look in the attacker’s eyes hinted that this wasn’t his first rodeo; he’d done this and worse before. I thought I was looking at the devil himself unleashing his fury.

Another man rushed over there and pulled the attacker off his victim, and that was when I had a good look at him. He stood tall at 6’4” with a broad-shouldered frame that radiated strength and power.

His dirty-blond hair was slightly tousled, and his piercing, light eyes held an unsettling intensity that made my skin crawl. The man’s sharp jawline and angular features gave him a look of both elegance and danger.

He was super handsome, insanely attractive for a devil, and I couldn’t tear my gaze off him.

“Ohh, Clarice! Thank God you’re okay!” Scarlett’s voice snapped me back to the present, her heels rapidly clicking on the floor as she approached me.

By now, the shooting had stopped, and I would later come to find out that the incident was a clash between two mafia gangs.

Scarlett helped me to my feet, her concerned eyes roaming my body as if searching for any sign of bruises or injury.

“I’m fine,” I said, my lips curling into a smile.

“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice laced with worry and anxiety. “Were you hit?” Scarlett took a quick glance over my form again.

“I’m alright. Are you?” I asked, gently squeezing her fingers.

She let out a soft sigh of relief and nodded. “I’m good. I’m good.”

Scarlett was already beating herself, and I knew she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if anything had happened to me. She felt responsible for me tonight since it was her idea to come here. But luckily, no one was hurt—well, except for the man whose jaw was certainly broken.

The distant wailing of approaching sirens wafted through the air, and Scarlett grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

As we pushed through the crowd, I looked back in the direction of that destructive man, but he was no longer there. The man had some serious anger issues from the looks of things. He needed help, the kind of help that Oakwood Wellness Center provided.

However, I hoped I’d never be unfortunate enough to have someone like him as my patient.