CHAPTER 6:ALCOHOL AND A BRUISED FACE

VANESSA

Today's dinner with the Austin's was more eventful than I thought.Ava's surprise Honeymoon Gift for Jeremy and I had me feeling a little anxious,which I'm sure wasn't the emotion that she had in visioned when she surprised us. 

Living in Jeremy's house wasn't easy for me,although I never see him.Having to spend a week with him in a romantic honeymoon suite,having to sleep in the same room as each other for the first time since we said our wedding vows..It's going to be the Honeymoon from Hell with the Devil himself. 

"You need some more Eyeshadow.Your eyes are definitely your best feature so let's make them sparkle."Natasha dabbed the eyeshadow brush in some dark glitter eyeshadow. 

"I don't want to look slutty."

She chuckled."You won't look slutty,You'll look hot. I do your makeup all the time,Just trust me,Hon."

I sighed."Alright."

A night out was what I needed even before today's surprise from Ava.I rarely go on a night out,mostly because I've never actually had the money to do so. 

Tonight I thought,Why not? Finley is taken care of and my rent on the studio has been handled. Let loose and have some Fun.

"It's been awhile since we've done something like this,I've missed it." 

I smiled."Me too. I've just been so busy lately, between the studio and visiting my Dad."I wasn't as busy as I was letting on,but spending time with my Friends meant more lying and I didn't want that.

"And spending time with your new Hunk of a Husband. I can't believe you're married,Ness..It all just happened so quick.What's it like to be the wife of a Billionaire?"

"Um,It's great. We're good."Ugh,I'm so crap at lying. 

Natasha pulled back from doing my eyeshadow."Uh Oh,Do I sense trouble in paradise already?" 

I looked up at her,preparing myself to lie some more."No,Not at all. The opposite of that.Jeremy and I are just trying to find more time together,I just can't get enough of him."

"Aww,How cute. I'm just ecstatic for you,you deserve this after everything you've been through. I know Jeremy was a bit of a whore, but he changed his ways for you,Ness..That's true love!!" 

True Love,My Ass!! 

Jeremy feels nothing but hate for me and that will never change,it didn't hurt my feelings because I wasn't all that keen on him either. I think he's still pissed about me bringing his Dad back a couple of weeks ago,that resulted in him being caught with that French woman. He's been a lot more tightly strung since then. 

"I would really like to get to know him more since I'm your best friend and he's your husband. Let's set something up soon."

Jeremy will hate that."Sure,I'll set it up."Never..Never will I set that up. I wouldn't put my Best Friend through that. 

"Alright,We're both ready."Natasha walked across the room to the Kitchen and pulled a bottle of tequila from the kitchen cupboard. 

"Oh,No!! Tequila,Really?" 

She smirked."Absolutely,a pre drink is needed to warm us up."Natasha placed two shot glasses down on the island and poured the tequila. 

I crossed the room towards her and picked up the full shot glass."Just one, or I'll be legless before we get there."

Natasha lifted her shot glass."One always turns into more than one." She winked."Bottoms up." 

Oh Boy..We're in for a long one!!

The nightclub scene was everything I hated,I'm more of a bar Girl.Everyone grinding on each other in the middle of the dance floor,drunk on spirits and Beers..It just wasn't me. It used to be,back before the accident I liked the nightclub scene..Back when I met HIM!! 

I'm a different person than I was back then,more responsible for my age but only because I've had to be. Loosing my Parents at the age of 22 didn't leave me much of a choice. 

"More drinks!!"Natasha turned from the bar and handed me a second glass of wine."The service in here is disgraceful,I might need to flash a Tit to get us our next round."

I chuckled."Just one?" 

"Depends on how drunk I am."She leaned against the bar and sighed. "I was desperately in need of this night out,I've been swamped at the restaurant lately."

"I'm sorry I cancelled our shopping trip this morning by the way.Jeremy made plans with his parents and forgot to mention it."

"It's fine."She drank from her usual drink of Captain Morgan and Coke."I didn't need that dress..I needed to save my money for Rent instead." 

Natasha wasn't the type of Girl that was always broke and bad with money,she was the opposite in fact.Working as a Chef at a Fancy Restaurant she makes a killing,but now that I'm moved out she has the bills to pay alone. 

"Why don't you get a roommate?" 

She sighed."Because no one will be as Fun as you,Hon.Maybe it's something I'll think about in time,but for now I don't want some random girl trotting around my apartment."

I chuckled."Fair enough."

"Hello Ladies.."Two Tall,Dark and Handsome Men interjected into our conversation. You two look like you're enjoying yourselves. Do you mind if we join you?" 

I looked over at Natasha,hoping that she would take the lead and tell them to take a hike. The last thing I need,is to be seen chatting to two blokes when I'm supposed to be married.Jeremy is a well known man,this would be made a thing of. 

"Sure,We would love some company."She swirled a lock of her Auburn hair around her fingers. Someone is on the Prowl tonight."I'm Natasha and this here is my friend Vanessa."

"Nice to meet you both,I'm Nick."The taller of the two men said. He was dressed in a plaid shirt and a tight pair of dark wash Jeans that complimented his muscular legs. 

"I'm Charlie."The handsome Guy with dark hair extended his hand out and shook mine."Vanessa,you look stunning in that dress."

The little flirt,I bet it was my boobs in this dress that got his attention."Um,Thank You."I replied,shyly. 

"So how about we get another round of drinks and get to know each other."Nick looked in Natasha's direction and winked,before moving over beside her to order the drinks.

"What are we doing?"I whispered,as I leaned in close to Natasha so the Men wouldn't hear. 

"You don't have to do anything besides talk to that guy Charlie. I need this,Ness. It's been months since I've gotten laid. My poor vibrator is worn out at this stage, it needs a break."

"Oh,Lord.The vibrator pity."I sighed."Alright,Fine. But you owe me one,and by one I mean one of your amazing chocolate eclairs."

She grinned."Deal!!"

It's been awhile for her,I know that. Natasha is always on the lookout for Mr Right. Unfortunately she's still as unlucky as I am in that department. If I have to chat with a random Guy for the night just to get her laid,then I'll do that. 

***

JEREMY 

We were sitting in a private area of the club,having cute little waitresses in short skirts bring us drink after drink.There was a view of the crowded nightclub below us,the less fortunate that got drunk on cheap beer and not the expensive stuff like us. 

"We could go back to yours?"The sexy little brunette whispered in my ear. 

I looked down at her perfect rack in the skimpy black shirt that left little to the imagination,just the way I like it."As tempting as that is,I can't. I have a very annoying house guest that won't be happy about me bringing home strange women."

"Strange Women."She moved her hand down to my crotch and gently rubbed."I thought we were getting to know each other pretty well."

I moved my hand up her thigh while she was sitting on my lap discretely touching me."You're making it very hard for me to say no."

"Then don't."She whispered in my ear,before pressing a kiss to my cheek. 

I was teased..Definitely. I knew coming out tonight was a bad idea, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. A Gorgeous brunette was sitting on my lap and I didn't have it in me to say no. 

"Jer, Isn't that your wife?" 

I chuckled."What are you talking about,I don't have a.."It took me a few seconds to realise that I do infact have a wife,an arranged one that I wouldn't even consider a wife. I stood from my chair,moving the brunette off my lap."Where?" 

"Right down there."Toby pointed."The women by the bar in that short black dress."

"I see her."My grip tightened on the metal railing just watching her.What the hell is she doing here?I was going out tonight,did she follow me here just to show me up and make me look like an idiot.

Antonio stood from his seat and walked towards the railing."She's looking hot,your wife.That guy she's chatting to looks very keen."

"If that was my wife,I'd be Fucking pissed seeing some guy all over her."Toby said,then looked over at me."You're going to do something about this,Right?"

Fuck,I don't care what she does.But I'm going to look weak if I don't do something about this."Of course I am, I'll handle it."

"No one messes with an Austin's wife."Toby chuckled. Will you be coming back for the brunette?"

"I'll be back."I shouted,as I made my way towards the private stairs.I walked down onto the lower level of people crowded around and dancing. 

"Hey Handsome."I woman with bright red lips,grinded on my leg to the beat of the music.

"Not now."I walked away and through the crowd towards the bar. Vanessa came into view,her light brown hair and her smiling face as she flirted with a man that looked just as much into her.

This won't look good for my image and she knows that. Wife of Jeremy Austin seen at a bar flirting with another man. It wouldn't go down well.

"Vanessa,What's going on here?"

She turned around and looked at me in surprise,her eyes even bigger than they usually are."Jeremy,Um Hi. I'm just out with a friend. I didn't know that you were here."

I looked behind her and noticed the girl with the Auburn hair,looking very flirtatious and full on with a tall man.I remember her from the wedding, a friend of Vanessa's that I don't know the name of.Honestly I didn't really care.

"I don't care who you're here with.Get home now!!"I glared at her,hoping that it would be enough to scare her into getting a move on. 

"But I'm not ready to leave."

"I don't care..You need to leave before you embarrass us both."I grabbed her arm and pulled her off her high stool.

"Hey Man,Let go of the Girl."The man that she had been flirting with got in the way."She already told you that she doesn't want to leave."

I furrowed my brows."Do you know who you're speaking to? I'm going to take it as you don't since you're talking to me like that." 

"I don't care who you are.She doesn't want to go,so just back the Fuck off and leave her alone."He turned around to talk to Vanessa. 

I saw Red,the whole situation had me in a rage inside and I swung for him. In my mind I was thinking about how they're both making me look the fool in front of everyone. I'm Jeremy Austin and I'm not standing for that.

"What the hell!! You just hit me"The man shouted,before swinging his fist at me. 

People around us stopped to watch as I swung for him again,we were both in this war to see who could get the better of the other. 

"Stop!! Jeremy Stop!!"I heard Vanessa's voice shout. What does she expect when she makes a fool out of me like that. He tried to hit me but failed,I swung for Him but Vanessa got in the way and I ended up elbowing her in the face. 

That's when everything stopped and we looked in her direction. 

"Ouch,Jesus Christ!"She hissed in pain,cupping her hand over her left eye. 

"Shit!! Are you okay?"I asked,stepping closer to her feeling the guilt. I've never raised my hand to a woman before..It was an accident. 

"Hon,Oh My God!!"Her friend with tbe Auburn hair pulled her close to comfort her."Your eye..Are you okay?" 

"I'm fine..I'm fine..Don't Fuss."Vanessa grabbed her bag from the back of her stool."Im just going to go home and put some ice on it."

At this stage security were all over me and the other Guy involved. "I'm going..Relax!!"I looked at Vanessa."I'll take you home."

"You're not really going home with him,Are you?"The Guy that I had been fighting with asked.He looked at Vanessa waiting for a reply. 

"It's fine,Charlie.He's my Husband."She smiled at him,still holding her eye that was most likely swollen and bruised. "I'm so sorry about all this,It was nice meeting you."

Vanessa hugged her Friend and they both shared a whisper so no one else could hear. I had a feeling it was about me though,I was getting the dagger eyes. 

Vanessa walked ahead of me out of the bar,I followed behind with security following me to the entrance. I won't be seeing the inside of that club again. She walked up the street and I had to run to catch up with her. If my Dad finds out about this there will be hell to pay. 

"Vanessa,I have my car. Let me give you a ride back."I pulled my car keys out of my trouser pocket. 

"No,Jeremy."She said,abruptly. 

"I didn't mean to hit you,it was an accident for Christ's sake. Don't make this out to be something it isn't."I continued walking alongside her,freezing my bollocks off in the October chill. "Let me take you back,It's fucking freezing and you're not even wearing a coat."

She stopped walking and looked at me."I'm not getting in a car with you, you've been drinking."

I scoffed."I've only had like two drinks, that's nothing."

She shrugged her shoulders."It's still alcohol in your system. Bad things happen when people aren't being responsible,I'd rather take a cab."

She flagged down a passing cab and it pulled up at the curb. "Don't drive home,don't make another mistake tonight."She slipped into the cab. 

Fuck Sake!! I sighed,grabbing the cab door before she closed it I slipped in beside her. It was early still,yet I was going home and leaving a good night and a Gorgeous brunette behind me. If Vanessa tells my Father about what happened tonight,I'm Fucked.