CHAPTER 1

Adriana stared back at herself in the mirror as she applied a thick layer of red lipgloss. She was devastated she has been devastated ever since she got that phone call from her fiance, Edward.

Edward had told her she didn't seem like one he could build a relationship with. Maybe he felt that way because she was living in the basement of her married sister's house. Or maybe he felt that way because she was only a waitress. Either way, she was heartbroken because he had just proposed to her. 

She was getting ready to meet with her wild and ecstatic friend Celine, at the club. She was more than determined to get Edward out of her head. She applied the last layer of lipgloss easily and stood up, picked up her purse, and headed for the door. She took a glance at her cramped room, it was in so much disarray just like her life, she thought. She closed the door to her room and headed hastily but quietly for the front door.

"Adriana," Piper called softly while leaning on the doorframe to her room. A frown line on her forehead. 

"Where are you headed to? It's past 11 pm." She asked.

" Out," Adriana answered quickly, avoiding Piper's gaze. Piper was Adriana's older sister. Piper has always been a good daughter. Went to Smith College and currently running a real estate firm. She was the perfect daughter. She was uptight, way too uptight for Adriana's liking. She has always been one to steal attention, with her hazel eyes and strawberry blonde hair, which was how she bagged such a loving and handsome husband, Derek. Note the sarcasm. He's probably cheating on Piper, Adriana thought.

"Adriana, I'm done giving you advice. You're not determined to make something of your life. I don't care what you do with your life. I just want to make it clear that your half of the rent is due and I am so not giving you an advance on this. We made a deal." Piper stated. Adriana scoffed, here we go again, she thought.

" Okay." She replied softly still not meeting Piper's gaze.

"Will you also like to clean up your room? It looks like a homeless shelter. The kids could easily run in there and it's not healthy for them. If you have decided to breathe in hazardous air fine, just don't make my kids do the same." Piper said again, picking herself up from the door frame and heading into her room, shutting the door.

"Hazardous air." Adriana thought out loud and scoffed again. She walked out the front door and shut it behind her. She stood outside. Adriana breathed in harshly and breathed out. She loved the nightlife in New York City. She loves the way everywhere lights up in every color known to man. She loves how all the lights reflect off the windows of different buildings making the city sparkle more. 

"Addie! Addie!" A whiny but firm voice called out forcing Adriana to take notice of her surroundings. Celine had arrived sitting in the driver's seat. Celine was Adriana's best friend. They've been friends ever since Celine shared her chocolate pudding with Adriana in kindergarten. Celine was a 5"4, red-haired, carefree woman. She was always taking Adriana out on wild adventures.

" What the fuck Addie? Come on, it's almost midnight. " Celine said as she ordered Adriana into the car.

" Well, hello to you too," Adriana replied sarcastically as she got into the seat next to Celine. Celine fastened her seatbelt.

" Seatbelt please," Celine said without acknowledging Adriana's greetings. Adriana rolled her eyes.

"I can feel the adrenaline emanating from you Celine. I can also catch a scent of alcohol."

"Duh! I'm so freaking pumped, Addie. You've been in such a phase after your break up with you know who, automatically dragging me along with you. I haven't partied in what? like 2 months?" Celine said, casually making hand gestures.

" Hands on the wheel Celine. I'm glad you got what you wanted by the way and you know can say, Edward." Adriana replied, chuckling.

" Glad to know his name is no longer a trigger word. " Celine said, smiling towards Adriana.

" See, you're moving on. I promise we'll have so much fun. Trust me." She said reassuringly.

" I doubt that," Celine said under her breath. She has never been one to socialize or party. Edward was her college sweetheart. He was her first everything. 

They arrived at the club a few minutes later. Loud music could be heard emanating from the club. Thumping so loud it was almost deafening.

"Come on," Celine said loudly, grabbing Adriana by the wrist as they headed for the entrance to the club. They got in, Celine sighed in ecstasy then turned to face Adriana. 

"Okay, Addie. We're here because you're going to fucking get Edward out of your head. You're going to get so drunk that you won't even be able to stand upright and then you get it on with a very hot guy." Celine said ever so seriously, holding Adriana by the wrists, looking her in the eyes. Adriana found it so hilarious, she burst out into a loud laughter.

" What the fuck Celine? I'm doing none of that okay?" Adriana said, still laughing. She walked away from Celine, heading for the bar. 

" Okay well, if you're not going to do any of that, I will."

" Can I get two margaritas please?" She directed to the bar attendant.

" Two?" Adriana asked, turning to look at Celine." I ain't driving Celine." She finished. Celine glanced over at Adriana and gave her 'the' look. 

"Remember I'm not a lightweight like you Addie." She pointed. 

The bar attendant handed her two shots of margaritas. Celine chugged them down quickly and wiggled her body. She adjusted the strap of her purse and turned fully to Adriana. 

"Okay, Adriana. See you." Celine said as she waved once toward her. Heading towards the dance floor. 

" What? Celine you brought me here, you're not going to leave me alone. I'm coming with you. " Adriana said, getting down from the bar stool.

" No no no Addie, you're not, you look so beautiful. You'll have men buying you drinks in no time, okay?" Celine said, coming closer and pecking Adriana on the lips. She headed towards the dance floor again she swayed her hips while whooping. Adriana sighed loudly. I can't believe she's just going to let me be here all by myself, she thought.

She turned in her seat, facing the bar. She thought back to the first time Edward had brought her to this bar. He had just taken her to have dinner at his parent's the previous night. She was meeting his parents for the first time, it was such a hectic dinner for all involved. They had spent the night there and left the next morning. They were both so stressed they decided to get it all out at the bar by getting drunk. It was fun, Adriana thought.

"Fuck Edward and his wrinkled, rude-ass mom," Adriana said out loud, surprising both herself and the bar attendant.

" Can I get a shot of tequila? " She requested. She said to herself that she was going to have just one shot. One shot would make her forget about Edward for a while. She was a bad lightweight. The bar attendant handed her a shot of tequila. She sipped and scrunched up her face, she was hardly fond of alcohol, but that familiar burning in the chest, that she could remember. She chugged the rest of the tequila. She suddenly felt that rush of adrenaline she could feel emanating from Celine earlier in the car. She hadn't felt this rush in such a long time, she thought.

" Another one." She requested again. She didn't sip this time, she chugged the shot down in no time. She felt the rush rising.

" Another one." She asked, her words slurring already. 

" Are you sure about that? " The bar attendant asked Adriana.

" Can I get another shot of tequila please?" She asked clearer this time, assuming the bar attendant didn't hear her. He handed her another shot which she chugged down.

She was in a very drunken state. She turned her back to face the bar, and stared at the dance floor, searching for Celine. Adriana hadn't noticed it before, but as she looked around she felt a weird energy from this particular club. The men were all hefty, hairy-looking men. They all looked corporate too, she thought. She wondered where Celine was. She suddenly wanted to leave.

She searched her purse shakily for her phone. She scrolled hastily through her contact list, searching for Celine's contact. She located it and dialed it, but it went straight to voicemail. Adriana tried so many times but it kept going to voicemail. Adriana lost grip of her phone as it fell to the ground.

" Damn it." She cursed loudly. Before Adriana could pick it up, she could see a hand that looked masculine reaching for her phone. She could tell from the crisp white, button-up, long-sleeved shirt peeking out from the red suit, that he was one of the corporate-looking men she had seen earlier at the private lounge.