Chapter Six

Chloe’s face paled as she stared at Daniel, her eyes begging him to say it was a joke.

“What do you mean she's asking for a divorce? How could you be so stupid and let her find out about your affair?” Charles almost yelled, jogging down the stairs with a terrified look on his face.

“H…have you tried calling her? It might just be a joke. We all know that Renee would never try to divorce you. She's too in love with you to do that.” Chloe spoke up.

“Well, she did!” Daniel yelled and Charles's head snapped.

“Quit yelling and look for a solution! If Renee leaves this marriage, the plan fails. If that happens, we’re all fucked.” Charles growled, seething.

“Get your shit together and go get your wife!”

****

Dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her like a second skin. Renee sat at the VIP booth of a five-star club with Priya beside her. She looked nothing like a woman who had just walked out of her husband's life.

Her hair fell to her shoulders in long, bouncy curls and her lips were covered in bright red lipstick.

She had one purpose tonight- forget Daniel and have fun!

Priya walked in, two glass cups and a bottle of whiskey in her hand. “I decided to get things started.” She grinned, waving the bottle in the air.

Renee laughed, clapping happily. She hadn't had this much fun since she got married as she had to play the role of a wife.

“No holding back tonight, Renee!” Priya warned.

Renee nodded and grabbed a glass, pouring herself a drink. “No holding back.” She repeated and drank the whole glass in one go.

The alcohol was sharp and left a burning sensation down her throat- but, she welcomed it.

Anything that would distract her from Daniel was welcome.

A faint smile graced her lips and she poured another glass and another, and another until she was sure she was a drink away from being drunk.

Priya didn’t stop her.

She knew that was what she needed.

“I’m going into the dance floor but, I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Flirt with a guy if you must, get laid if you must. Tonight, you're in control, my love.” She said and kissed her on the cheek before running off into the dance floor.

“I’m in control,” Renee repeated, shaking her head.

She reached out to take another glass when a hand caught her, stopping her in mid-air. Thinking it was Priya who had returned, she whined.

“It's the last bottle, I promise.” She pouted and suddenly paused, taking a closer look at the hand.

That looked nothing like the hands of a woman.

Slowly but deliberately, her eyes lifted and a gasp left her mouth as soon as she laid eyes on the culprit.

Before she was the most handsome man she had laid eyes on since high school.

With piercing grey eyes, dark hair that flowed to his eyes, a jawline that looked like it could slice through glass, and lips that called onto her desperately.

This man was without a doubt a piece of art.

Or maybe it was just the alcohol taking a toll on her and turning her into a horny teenager.

But, there was something familiar about him that she couldn’t quite place. She felt like they had met before, she no matter how hard she tried to recall where, she couldn't.

“Renee?” The stranger called out, the deep baritone of his voice sending a thrill down to her stomach.

“Wait.” She said and squinted her eyes. “How do you know my name?”

The stranger smiled briefly and shrugged. “I heard your friend say it a few times before she left.” He said a strange look in his eyes.

“Oh.” She nodded slowly. “Have we met before?”

Something flashed in the stranger's eyes but it vanished as quickly as it came.

“No. I don’t think so.” He said calmly.

“So, tell me. What’s a pretty lady like you doing here all by herself? Why aren’t you on the dance floor with your friend?” He asked and Renee sighed loudly, her eyes lowering as the alcohol ran deeper.

“I’m grieving.” She answered, her eyes watering.

The stranger's brows creased in confusion and Renee held her hand up. “I just had a divorce!” She said quietly.

“I’m sorry about that.” He replied genuinely but she shrugged like it didn’t matter and lowered her head.

The next thing that was heard was a sniffle from her. That was when the stranger realized that she was crying.

“Hey? Are you okay?” He asked awkwardly, not knowing if he should reach out to her or remain seated.

“I loved him, you know?” She said, her heart betraying her.

“God! I loved him so much…” She cried.

He quickly reached into his pockets and pulled out a napkin, handing it to her. “I don’t know the reason for the divorce but I know that it’s his loss for leaving you.” He kept his voice gentle but there was a tightness in his jaw that went unnoticed by Renee.

She took the napkin and wiped her face, her face, chuckling in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. It’s not like me to get in front of strangers.”

“You don’t have to be sorry.” He said softly.

“Thank you.” She whispered and finally looked up, her eyes flickering to his- warm but intense. Something in her flipped, she was now filled with the ache to forget, to escape…

“Help me.” She murmured, her eyes staring into his soul.

“Help me forget.” She repeated, knowing that she was probably going to regret those words when she sobered.

“Renee…” His brows furrowed slightly, his self-control wavering.

“Please…just for tonight. I probably won’t remember any of this in the morning and our paths will never cross again so please.” She begged.

A sober Renee would never dream of doing such a thing but, she had never been so grateful for alcohol and what it could do.

She was sure she would regret her actions the next morning but, she was going to deal with that later.

She was going to live in the moment.

The stranger looked at her with a mixture of pity and want, obviously turning.

After a long pause, he finally said. “Just one night.” He said and she nodded eagerly.

“Just one night.” She repeated and leaned in, pressing her lips against his.