9

I was wearing a t-shirt, jeans and a leather jacket as I left my house to head to the Club after spending an hour getting Ace to sleep. He didn't want to be separated from his legos and was eager to invite anyone to play with him.

Elizabeth even fell asleep in the playroom, hugging the lego while accompanying Ace to play in the playroom. Ace is good with time limits, though. He stopped when he saw Elizabeth was bored and then he would rest too. It is only when he is exhausted that I can put him to bed.

Now I was in front of Kate's older brother; Beau's Club, and of course with Kate because I never dared to come here alone. Beau's Club is one of those expensive clubs with a clientele that doesn't mess around, and I'm just afraid of looking like a lost woman if I show up alone.

A large bodyguard blocked our entrance. Kate widened her eyes and snorted. "Seriously! You don't know me?" with her chatty voice, she started to scold the man, but then the man next to him whispered, and his stern face turned into shock.

"Oh, sorry, Miss. Maxwell," the bodyguard looked down with an apologetic face.

Kate chuckled. "You'll have to prepare him better, John," she said to the man next to the other man, and then we entered the club doors past the few people queuing in the other lane. I could even feel the stares from all of them at how easily we got in.

A dim atmosphere dominated by black and colourful light bulbs greeted us. I walked past a few people leaning against the wall and glanced briefly.

Something crept up my neck and made me stiffen. Anticipation came about the worst. Let's hope he's already gone from this country.

Yes, I prayed that he had had enough of disrupting my peaceful life and did as I asked, going far away from my life.

"He's waiting. Come on." She said, pulling me slowly through the few passersby.

I wanted a little fun, but I was still determining what I would go through tomorrow. If this cooperation works tonight, I'll take care of things tomorrow, and if it doesn't work, then I'll have to find a way out tomorrow, which makes it highly forbidden for me to get drunk or just have fun.

Still, a little tequila or whiskey would ease my head.

We reached the end of the room on a circular sofa where Beau sat with a man in a black T-shirt.  He looked at us in turn with a big smile. "There you are," he greeted happily, standing up and spreading his arms while his chat buddy left.

I returned his smile and was about to welcome his friendly hug, but Kate came into our midst and pushed Beau back. He snorted.

"How about we jump straight into business?" Kate said with a big grin.

I chuckled softly. "Good idea."

Beau gave a small nod. "Okay," he sat back down and summoned the waiter with a hand gesture.

Kate and I sat down.  "What would you like?"

"Whiskey," I replied.

"Bourbon," Kate said.

The waitress nodded and went to prepare our orders. 

In front of us, Beau raised his eyebrows. "So, how was it, Isabella?"

I sighed, wanting to answer, but Kate said, "Things are complicated, and you don't need to ask anything. Invest your money in Joy and you'll be happy too." Kate smiled. "Put your conscience to work,"

"Alright, I'll do it." Beau replied casually and sounded so easy.

My eyes widened in surprise, "But you haven't heard me speak,"

"No need, I trust you." Beau smiled sweetly at me. "Anything for you, Bella."

I frowned as the whiskey stood on the table in front of me. I paused for a moment, my heart rippling in excitement. "That's so wonderful of you, Beau. But I'm not sure what I can offer you in return."

"I told you not to worry about anything. If anything bad happens to you because of Beau, I'll tear his hair out." Kate exclaimed and drank her bourbon.

"Yeah, you know that she's a snake, I also still like myself to have more hair," Beau laughed softly. "I see this as an opportunity to build something big together. I'll provide the necessary capital to expand your cafe, and you'll remain the head of operations. We'll share the profits, and I'll be a mentor to you in managing the business. Your debts will be settled in an instant, and you don't have to feel bad about it."

I paused, impressed by Beau's kindness and vision. "But... don't you want to survey my cafe first? Find out what might disappoint you in the future?"

Beau shook his head. The sweet smile was still there. His head tilted, his fists supporting his cheeks as he looked at me. "How about we survey the churches in Boston for our wedding?"

In a flash, Beau's smile turns into a grimace of pain as Kate hits him over the head with her little bag. "Don't be a dick!" Kate exclaimed. "He'll help you willingly without any reward or even a wedding."  Kate continued.

I grimaced and bristled at the idea of all this being so easy. "So easy."

"I told you that you should have told me your situation directly, if only you had done it earlier then you wouldn't be stressed like this,"

"I'm sorry. I'm really frantic." I replied. "But it's true. Beau you..." I smiled at him. "Thank you so much, Beau. This really means a lot."

"Yes, baby. You're welcome." He smiles but winces again when Kate bumps his head with her hand.

I chuckled.

"Let's party, then." Kate shook her glass. "It's all good."

I return Kate's smile and take a sip of my whiskey.

This is so easy, and fast, and weird. But I hope everything will be okay.

Yes, it will.

It's going to be okay.

***

Maybe tonight is not going to be okay.

After the third glass pun, actuated by a drunken chat with Beau about random things, my eyes accidentally fell on a familiar man who had become my nightmare.

He had just walked in with a long black sweater and jeans but was still charming.

Sebastian Sanchez.

Damn it.

Why is that guy still here?

I opened my mouth in shock, and my heart leapt with anticipation. He approached some three handsome guys with their casual style, sitting not far from me. I looked at Beau, who was still talking about his amazing vacation event in Alaska. He was already drunk and almost unconscious when he spoke while Kate was already pulling random men on the dance floor.

I bit my lip and looked at Beau. "I have to go home, Beau." I said to him, slightly squealing over the loud music.

"Huh? Married? Of course! I'm going to marry you." He said with a sweet smile.

I laughed, shaking my head lightly. "No, no, no. I have to go home. It's almost midnight." I said.

Beau just opened his mouth without answering anything. "You're stunning, resembling a celestial being sent to deal with all the unpleasant people on Earth. I want to be entangled with your soul," He spoke like he was a poet in medieval poetry.

"Thanks for the compliment," I said, smiling. "I'll call your staff to take care of you, okay?" I stand up, pace slowly, and try to blend in with the people around me as I head to the dance floor to look for Kate after I asked one of the male waitresses to take care of his boss, who was so drunk.

When I finally see Kate, I tug on her collar from behind, which takes her by surprise. "What?" she yells over the loud music.

"I have to go! I have to go home!" I said with a shout.

"What? Why?" she asked unacceptably.

"It's already midnight, and I'm a mom, so I need to get home before Ace wakes up from a nightmare."

"Oh, come on, Mommy. It's barely ten o'clock! You've even forgotten how to have fun!"

I smiled. If only that guy hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble. "Yeah, I'm sorry. Thanks for your help, by the way. We'll meet tomorrow, and I'll cook you some Mongolian chicken. I'll make you something so delicious!" I exclaimed.

Kate nodded a few times. "Okay! Be careful!" Kate said.

I nodded and quickly and carefully headed for the exit.

But damn it, Sebastian fucking Sanchez blocked the exit path. He was standing there, holding his trophy glass and talking to one of his friends. I bit my lip and immediately turned my body around when he suddenly turned to me.

Like someone caught stealing, I immediately left in a panic in the opposite direction. Without realizing it, I walked through the people towards the door towards the back of the club. I wandered around and stopped at the women's bathroom. I headed straight there. And now I'm really stupid.

It's not like he will chase or even see me. But why am I acting like a thief caught in the act? Especially when I realized that I was still afraid to meet him when all I had to do was fight him, and that was easy if I stuck to my guns.

Unfortunately, I am as strong as I want to be.

I went into the toilet cubicle and sat on the toilet. I typed in Owen's contact, asking him to pick me up. I clik in his contact and grunted when it went off. Damn it.  What am I supposed to do now? Do I have to go out the back door of this club? Maybe that's a great idea, because there was no other way to leave now.

Let's hope he didn't see me.

"Boom!"

"Oh, my god."

I gasped at the fucking voice until I almost wobbled and fell to the floor. I pressed my hands on the wall to support my balance and looked up at the damn man leaning against the wall folding his arms across his chest and smiling cheerfully.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my breath catching.

Sebastian tilted his head, his eyes tracking my body like a wild animal watching its prey. "Chasing you," he replied in such an easy tone.

I frowned, my spine stiffening with anticipation. "Why?"

"Because you're avoiding me." He replied.

I chuckled sarcastically. "I didn't even see you."

"Why are you talking to Beau Maxwell?"

"None of your business," I replied with an eyeball roll and stepped towards the exit.

"Are you trying to seduce him into investing in your cafe?" he asked.

I pulled on the door, and it wouldn't open. Damn, it was locked. "Yeah, does that bother you?" I retorted and turned my back.

He dangled the key, having somehow gotten it, and wiggled it. "Did it work?" he said, pulling the key back into his pocket.

Stab. Stab. Stab. Murder. Murder. Murder.

"Of course it worked. Unlike you, he has a pure heart and doesn't take advantage of people who have suffered bad luck,"

Sebastian smirked, "And you believe that he wouldn't do that?"

"Yes," I replied, raising my chin and folding my arms.

"He's attracted to you," Sebastian replies. "He would do anything to get you to lie in his bed."

I shrugged my shoulders and tried to look calm under the pressure of his dominant influence. Granted, I was bound to lose, but I wasn't going down without a fight. "That's not a bad thing either. Beau is nice, and I've known him for a very long time. Perhaps I'll be happy to welcome him."

Sebastian frowned, looked at me sharply and said nothing.

"Why are you here? Why did you even lock me in here?"

Sebastian still didn't answer, his movements slow as he moved away from the wall and slowly stepped towards me. There was a loud ringing going off in my head, a warning that this was going to end badly. I backed away as he approached, stopping when I hit my back against the wall, leaving me trapped between it and his body that was now pressed against mine.

My breath was short, and my chest rose and fell with the thin oxygen that I couldn't seem to reach. 

His touch was hell, his closeness a disaster.

"What do you want?" I asked finally, my face looking up, looking him straight in the eye. Wishing that I had brought a knife or a needle or any sharp object to plunge it into his eyes and blind him for all eternity. It was a relief and cruel, but it was worth it because he wouldn't tease me this crazy way anymore.

He tilted his head and opened his mouth like he wanted to let out the words he was holding back, but then I gasped in surprise when two of his hands cupped the jaw of my face and pressed my head against the wall gently, and the next thing I knew, his lips were on mine.

His lick is hard and devastating. Sebastian parted my lips roughly by biting it. The next thing I know is that my head feels dizzy and messed up. Perhaps the effects of a few shots of whiskey made the kiss a little intoxicating and affected me to the core. However, my remaining consciousness was still a few per cent greater, it made me rebel, and I exerted all my strength, which was nothing compared to his, to get him to let me go.

I swear I don't want that night to happen again. One was enough, and it was already messing with my whole head.

His mouth was still moving chaotically in mine, claiming me fiercely and stubbornly. I rebelled harder, beating and clawing at his chest.  It didn't work.

The pieces of my mind were slipping away; it made my nerve fibres heat up with passion. It almost messed me up, but I held back.  Doing it another way, I softly returned his kiss, and like a switch being clicked, he deepened the kiss. His hands dropped from my face to hug my waist while I draped my arms around his neck.

My heart is heating up, my heartbeat is racing, and the memory of our past is spinning fast and almost playing with me. I still remember how his mouth felt on mine even though we had been separated for five years. I still remember how he took me to the clouds and then dropped me hard with all the effort he threw away and his betrayal.

The gravity hurt, he made it sweet until I realized that it was all just fucking bullshit.

Sebastian's kiss was still deep and still hypnotizing. Luckily, my mind still had its own way with the bad memories of him swirling around. So I lowered my hand while caressing the point of his arousal that I still remembered, and he pressed me further against the wall, his hand reaching down to the bottom of my ass and then squeezing the cheeks of my ass that was wrapped in jeans.

My hand went down and into his left pocket while I deepened our kiss. Since the pocket was short, I grabbed the toilet key easily and pulled it out. Perhaps good fortune was on my side tonight as I could retrieve the key easily. I broke off our kiss, on the other hand, because I needed oxygen and, most of all, I had to leave quickly.

His hot, messy face is not being noticed by me anymore. I cupped Sebastian's face and moved it away from my head, and then I lifted my leg to kick the object between his thighs.

"Shit!" he backed up hard, bending over while holding his balls, my fist came up and punched him in the face as he was prone, it made him wobble and fall on the floor,

I immediately stepped over and turned the key in the door's keyhole. 

Running out from through the people and eventually making it to my car.

My breathing rough, I looked down for a second, resting my forehead on the steering wheel of my car to calm myself down. Just a few seconds and I was out of there fast before Sebastian could catch up with me.

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