Chapter 1 – Friends Bar

William Brown was back home in Apex city to enjoy his vacation.

3-years ago, at the age of 20, he graduated with a double doctorate in Architecture and Computer Engineering. But he only told everyone back home that he got a post-grad degree in Architecture.

In the past three years, he worked in the highly reputable Scott Designs in Z city as the chief Architecture Engineer and had built a name for himself.

This summer, he resigned from his job to focus on his own company - AR Group.

Before he got busy with work, he decided to spend two months at home and help his beloved cousin Ria with her wedding. However, he told everyone that he had taken total leave of 3 years. 

Since the day William came back, he spent his entire day working on restoring the house that he had secretly bought at 18 unless he was helping his cousin with something.

Tonight he had returned to the Brown family mansion utterly exhausted and ready to pass out as he had been doing for the past two weeks. But he could not sleep. 

                                      

Tring Tring

Even before William picked up his phone, he knew it was Evan calling him out for a drink like he did every other day. 

“Hey, Evan. Where’s the party tonight?”

“Gee! Will, did you get attacked by an alien tonight? How come you are asking where instead of refusing flat out?”

“Just give me the address.” William ignored the jab.

“Friends bar.”

William hung up without replying.

William went to the bar still in his two-sizes-too-big t-shirt, loose trousers, unkempt hair, and tired face.

Just a glance could tell he had come straight from the bed.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Pete flirting with this average-looking petite girl. 

William wondered why Pete-the flirt, changed his target today as he usually tended to flirt with the big-chested-scantily-dressed women. 

The girl he was flirting with was flat-chested, casually dressed in denim, a t-shirt, and converse shoes. She had loose shoulder-length hair partially pinned on the back.

William wondered if the girl was underage and unconsciously frowned at the thought.

Moreover, the girl was constantly refusing him, but Pete kept on pestering, which was weird because Pete never bothered anyone who did not flirt back. At most, he would try thrice. 

Perhaps, because of that, William could not take his eyes off the pair and the highly amusing banter. He could see everyone seemed to be enjoying it. 

He saw Evan and the others waving at him two tables from the girl and her group, but he ignored them and sat at the counter close to where Pete was to listen in. 

“Oh, c’mon. I’m just asking for your number. I swear I won’t call or text you”.

“I don’t want to give my number. Please excuse us, Sir. ”

“Uhm, I’m not that old. Don’t call me sir. Please tell me your number, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Sir, please leave. I don’t want to share my number.”

“Alright, how about this? Tell me your name, and I'll be out of here.”

 “Alright, my name is Anna. Please leave now.”

“Hello, Anna. My name is Pete. Now that you are acquainted, how about we exchange contact details?”

“..”

“Here, let me give you a call.”

“...” “Sir, please leave!”

“Call me Pete. My name is not Sir. Are all beautiful ladies this respectful?”

“...”

“So, Anna, how about I buy you a drink?”

“...”

“Excuse me. A margarita for this pretty senorita, please.” wink

“...”

“Anna, is there anything else you’d like to drink? Don’t be shy! We come here all the time.”

William watched as the girl stared at Pete for a few seconds before she drew a deep breath and smiled at Pete.

She was a total stranger, but somehow, William could tell Pete was in danger. 

A part of him told him to go and rescue his friend. But he impulsively wanted to watch how she dealt with him.