CHAPTER 2

      "Is she awake?"

     "I don't think so. Do you think she will be alright?"

     "I pray."

     "Oww! My head hurts badly." I turned to the other side of the bed and saw a figure that looked like Richard and jumped to my feet.

     "Good gracious, Ashley. You jumped like you saw a cockroach."

     "Oh my! Kylie, who's the dude?"

     "He's Drex. The guy from last night. He saved you after you had for some reason collapsed."

     "Saved me?"

     "Yeah. What the hell did you think you were doing in there. Do you wanna die?"

     "No. All I remember is there was a loud noise coming from inside the club. I went in there in search of you but I can't remember what happened after that."

     "There was a very massive attack by hoodlums at the club last night. It was a very dangerous fight as there were exchanges of blows and bullets. Thankfully I saw you where you had passed out. I think those hoodlums were looking for someone."

     "But how did I pass out?"

     "Maybe you fainted out of tension or you probably got hit on the head."

     "My head still hurts."

     "You were with a guy last night. Who was he?"

     "I can't remember. Oh yes, his name is Richard."

     "Richard?"

     "Mmm. He was so nice to me. He asked me for my number but I got distracted."

     "When will your bad luck ever end. You are too impossible. Do you still recall what he looked like?"

     "He was um, yeah I think he was tall, fair, and yeah he's a blonde."

     "Richard Smith?"

     "Yes, that's it. Wait. How did you know his last name?"

     "Smith comes to the club almost every time."

     "Wow! When I was starting to think that he was different."

     "He is different. He comes to the club for the opposite reasons."

     "Huh?"

     "He's not the kind that comes to the club for pleasure. He never even talked to a lady at the club. The other day he drove me home in his brand SUV car. He's so gentle and handsome. Damn! I can't get him outta my head."

     "Easy there."

     "Someone looks jealous."

     "I'm not. I don't want to rush into it, especially not after my recent breakup."

     "Girl, you gotta get your ass out there and find real love. You can't let Philip see you're miserable. Trust me when I say he's gonna take advantage of that."

     "She's right," Drex, who had been listening from the corner of the room, replied. "Look, I don't know what your relationship was or is like but I do know one thing for sure. If you keep lying miserably on your bed that asshole is gonna think you can't live without him and he's gonna keep hurting you intentionally."

     "Alright, I will give it a try."

     "Yea! That's the spirit. Let's start with looking for him on social media." She brought out her laptop and turned it on."

     "How is all this going to help?" I asked casually.

     "Be positive. Okay, let's type Richard Smith." She paused for a while and turned to look at me.

     "What's wrong? Is he married?"

     "Not sure about that but the Internet says he has a baby with a model."

     "Wow! Sounds like he's popular. Having a baby with a model is a great deal."

     "Yea. The Internet says he's a lawyer and a big businessman. And, oh my gosh!"

     "What?" 

     "He's a very close friend of Nathan Williams."

     "Oh my!" Rebecca, who had been listening to the whole time since she walked into the room exclaimed. "You mean, Nathan, the billionaire? The son of Barrister Williams, the multi-billionaire?"

     "Yea."

     "Wait. He's a billionaire and his father is also a billionaire?" I asked sheepishly.

     "Oh, come on nerd. Nathan is the talk of the town and also every girl's dream. He's so rich and cute. His eyes are the prettiest."

     "What's a boy with so much money still doing unmarried?"

     "He's only 24. What does he need marriage for at this age? It's not like you are married."

     "Rebecca."

     "Let her be, Kylie. Rebecca, it's a good thing I didn't accept his wedding proposal then otherwise I would have regretted that day. Philip and I are no longer together."

     "I'm so sorry about that. I wasn't aware."

     "It's okay."

     "Now everything is settled. Now back to this Richard guy." Kylie said. KNOCK KNOCK

     "Who's at the door? Isn't it too early."

     "Kylie, some FBI agents are here," Drex said.

     "Why?" 

     "They want to have a word with Ashley."

     "Me? What did I do? I've never been to the club in my life excluding yesterday or am I now in trouble for going to the club. My parents are going to disown me if I go to jail. I shouldn't have gone to the club."

     "Chill gal. We are not gonna let them take you." 

     "Yea Ashley. I know I may be sassy but you are still my roomy after all. I don't want my name being ruined all because of you. I hope you didn't do or take anything at the club?"

     "Rebecca if you have nothing meaningful to say please shut up. I'm trying to figure out a way to get Ashley out of this mess."

     "Ashley Berk, please come with us." One of the FBI agents asked nicely.

     "I hope I'm not in trouble?"

     "Just come with us. We would answer all your questions at the police station."

     "But,"

     "Ashley," Kylie tapped me on the shoulder. "Just go with them and find out what they want. We are all here for you."

     "Okay. Let me get changed first."