Two weeks passed by and I didn't bother to check with Zara. Soto or Lorenzo still stay outside her house even though Remo had corrupted Zara's security system and gave her a new one of his company with the codes we know. Nobody teased me about my temporary obsession, which was unexpected of them.
Truth is, the peck I gave her on the small of her cheek, still weighs on my heart. I had tried to fuck the socialites but couldn't. One threat of taking them without protection and they ran.
I drop my head back and drape my hands over the plush chesterfield couch. Watching the silver crystal tassels shine bright against the sheer white curtains. As the barely covered asses danced around me. I close my eyes when one of them came closer, trying to tune them out and the mess around me. But Lorenzo's constant hollers and Matteo's hungry growling, like he has seen a woman for the first time won't allow me. I shot Lorenzo a warning look, he is doing this on purpose.
Matteo flipped his blonde hair away from his face, like a mean girl. This isn't how I had wanted my Friday night to go, I would rather watch Remo's rapid typing than be here. This motherfucker Matteo is the reason I have to be here at my nightclub Bellagio. Matteo is an arms dealer who will be marrying my cousin in a few months' time. Matteo opened the zip of his pants and I hissed. Maria is a fucking bitch but she deserves a better marital life. Her fucking all of her father's bodyguard will work in her favor after marriage.
Vinnie, a made man stopped him from taking his shitshow too far. The strippers today are just for the lap dance. Matteo began to shout over the loud music. I walk over to the glass wall and look down at the sea of people.
The floor below is the VIP lounge, booked for a bridal shower today and this one is strictly for famiglia business with soundproof walls. Neon lights dance across the floor, the young crowd ground into each and the DJ with fake dreadlocks roared to encourage them to scream louder and burst their vocal cords.
I shake my head in disbelief as their mouth parted wide to hoot, how could someone enjoy this. My gaze flitted over the sea of intoxicated youngsters, forgetting all their problems for one night. It will hit them tomorrow morning with a pounding headache. My drifting gaze stopped on the girl who did not belong here among the crowd. She looked like the only sober girl, not swaying an inch to the music.
She was wearing a strappy silk top, that hugged her chest and a silver pleated skirt that draped over her calves as she sat cross-legged on the bar stool. The golden strip lights on the bar and occasional neon waves illuminated her angelic features. Her hair was put in a messy bun over her head. The wavy tendrils framing her face stopped just above the swell of her breasts. I couldn't see her slender neck from up here. I felt the sudden craving to climb down the stairs, one last meeting wouldn't hurt.
Moments later some asshole with a short ponytail over his head perched on the barstool beside her. Zara didn't even glance at him. Her gaze was trained on the crowd as though the following someone. I felt a pang on my chest, Is she here with someone.?
That ponytailed asshole leaned over, closer than it was necessary. I punched my fist on the glass wall. Zara first listened to him carefully then begin to shake her head vehemently. He jutted his chin toward the dance floor, when Zara followed his trail of sight he dropped something in her drink.
"Pezzo di merda.! That's it." I whirled around and grabbed another glock from the table. Lorenzo gave me a crooked grin. Of course, he knew Zara is here. I jog down the flights of stairs, stopping the soldiers to not follow after me and check on Matteo before he overdoses. When I reach the ground floor the scene in front of me made me gasp. Fuck.
I iron the jacket Gian had left in my house, again. There isn't a single crease left in it. When he was leaving I purposely didn't remind him about the jacket, he had draped over the armrest of my couch. I had needed a reason for us to see each other again. Who knew he had planned to ask me on a date.
My shoulder sagged in defeat. Once again my penchant to do the right thing stepped in the way of my happiness. I was ready to say yes but then he gives me an option to think. I hadn't needed time to think. I was ready. Maybe God was punishing me for hoodwinking him as I had conspired to take his jacket hostage.
"Or maybe because I am an idiot." I speak louder to my reflection in the mirror, getting ready for school. Putting an effort into my appearance with the hope to see Gian again. I have a lot of hair in my head, have thick eyebrows people watch tutorials to get them, and long eyelashes. But that means the hairs are everywhere else as well. I can never make a ponytail over my head without feeling the weight like someone is tugging it down. I throw the hairbrush on the white dresser with three-fold mirrors, and strings of golden fairy lights curtain over it. I turn it off and then placed the hairbrush back on its holder.
If I don't count the time I had spent thinking of Gian like a dumb tart, things were going smoothly. Maximus had agreed to increase the budget for our Christmas show. He is trying to be a good principal and I appreciate it. But none of the other teachers seem to appreciate him. I am certain I had heard one of them call him male Zara, under their breath.
I had seen some pictures of his parent's anniversary celebrations, so I thought that must be keeping him busy. But after a whole week of radio silence from Gian. I purposely stirred the topic to know about Gian's whereabouts. But Maximus made a choking sound from the back of his throat, turning green. I never brought up Gian's name again.
Punching in the new alarm code on my house, I leave for school. During lunch break when I heard footsteps I sat up straighter thinking it was Gian.
I huff in annoyance upon seeing Helen. She clutched her chest feigning hurt. "I am offended, Zara." She glowered but I don't answer her as she took a chair in front of me.
"You know you can eat with us.." She said carefully. I shot her an angry look.
"No, thank you. I like my company." I say sternly.
Helen rolled her eyes, "That's the problem. You are so independent. You don't need anybody else to have fun. Unlike me..." She sulked. I drop my spoon.
"Cut to the chase, Helen."
"Fine. Last Friday, you warned me against that date." My brows rose. "I only half-heartedly went ahead with it. But... I prodded on meeting over in a public place..." I encourage her to go on "And he didn't show up. So this time I decided to go clubbing instead." She beamed as if that's a more prudent option to go in a club where anyone could spike your drink.
"So, I got us two..."
"Nope," I say sharply and shook my head before she could go ahead with that plan "I am not going anywhere."
"So you want me to go alone." She mewls.
"You have two passes." I remind her.
"If you don't come, this one will go waste."
"Then you shouldn't have got two without asking me." Regret flashed across her face. I sigh, she didn't get it for me.
"I had thought of my second date with him and this was supposed to be my treat." She came clean. "Please don't say no, Zara." She pleads.
I feel so uncomfortable, I'm not exactly an extrovert and I have never been to a club. Never seen the appeal, I can't move an inch without my favorite music playing. Plus I don't exactly have any clothes for the occasion. I braced myself to decline Helen.
And that's how a few hours later I ended up standing in a queue to shake my booty inside the hottest club in San Diego with 4.7 ratings on Google, Bellagio. Helen turned out to be more persuasive than me and, If I find later that she had gotten into trouble, I would have never forgiven myself. So I wore the best party dress I had and joined Helen.
"I thought we had a pass." I groan at Helen.
"That does not mean we can chime in whenever we want. This pass is to stand in line and wait." She chirped happily. We have been here for 5 minutes but there are at least 25 people in front of us.
I whimper hiding my face from the people passing by. I feel so humiliated. Standing in a queue for a book release is cool not this. I feel like a desperate woman and I don't even want to go.
"Hey, they are cutting the line." I shout, others in front of me turned around to scowl at me. Shouldn't they be taking my side?
"Shut up, Zara." Helen hissed. "She is the new lead in a new Netflix show." Helen whisper yelled, tugging the hem of her dress down. I looked down at her in pity. She was wearing a brown color dress with lots of mirror work and beaded sequins embellished on top. I loved it at first glance. She was bedizened for the occasion. But then I noticed the cuts and scratches on the inner side of her arms the mirror had caused and immediately backpedaled.
I had put all my effort on putting my hair on top and somehow managing to turn it in a french twist. As I knew it would be sweaty in there and I don't want them to stick it to my body with the sweat. I looked around, everyone was dressed like her. But not me. I do not belong here except for my heels. Before I could break Helen's heart by leaving, a bouncer unhooked the red rope barrier from the gold stanchion post and gestured us to follow him.
Helen shot me an angry look. They were throwing us out because I had shouted. My face fell, I did not want to be here but that's is not what I had wanted either. To our surprise, he led us inside. I turn around to gape at Helen, as I did I noticed a huge man disappear out of my line of vision. Helen pushed me inside before I could clear the obvious misunderstanding the bouncer had made. The door opened and my ears rang from the loud music blasting inside. I cover my ears but soon they became usual to the assault. Some electronic music with very few lyrics was being played by the DJ.
Helen prodded me to join her on the dance floor and I not so politely declined. I kept my gaze on her as she danced between a group of guys. The bartender asked me thrice what I wanted to drink. I realized he just wanted me to vacant the seat. Didn't I already pay to be inside.
I relax when I finally found Helen dancing with only one guy this time and also ordered something for me. This night is gonna go smoothly.
*****
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