Chapter Two

Adrian’s POV

The chips were piled high in front of me as I puffed my smoke. Surrounding me were a bevy of women, clinging to me, laughing at my jokes, and cheering me on as I played. If only they knew I didn't fancy them. To me, they were just whores, nothing more.

I glanced at my cards and then back at the other players. The dealer dealt the final card and I brought my hand to my chin, considering my next move.

“All in,” I said, my confident smile didn't ever falter as I pushed my entire stack of chips onto the center of the table. The other players hesitated and I could tell that they were unsure if they should match my bet or fold.

“Are you sure about this Adrian?” one of the girls, a heavily made-up blonde whispered in my ears.

“Yes, I'm sure and get your mouth away from my ears.” I retorted, pushing her lips away from my ear.  “I need to concentrate and your breath stinks too.”

The blonde girl flushed in embarrassment and the other girls laughed at her, pointing fingers and making an object of mockery of her. I couldn't care less though, I was focused on my game.

It didn't take long before the players folded one by one, unable to meet my bet. The dealer revealed the final card, and I laid down my hand. The girls cheered me on and the other players sighed in defeat.  I leaned back and puffed my cigar as the dealer pushed the entire mountain of chips toward me. I won yet again.

“You're unstoppable tonight.” One of the girls said, leaning in closer.

“I was just lucky.” I shrugged. This one didn't have bad breath, plus she had zero makeup on so I wasn’t irritated by her presence.

As I collected my winnings, a commotion occurred at the entrance of the casino which drew my attention. A woman had burst in, her eyes were red and swollen, her hair disheveled and scattered. She stood out like a sore thumb, seeming completely out of place in this glitzy environment.

“Urghh who's the party pooper.” One of the girls snorted with a disgusted look on her face.

“Your attention should be on more important things, Adrian.” Another cooed at me but I ignored her and fixed my eyes on the young lady.

The woman stumbled into the casino, almost knocking over a patron’s drink. She muttered an apology before making her way to the bar. From her unsteady movements, she was a damsel in distress and I was entertaining the idea of being her knight in shining armor. Her vulnerability had this sort of pull on me and I felt attracted to her for some reason.

The woman reached the bar and ordered a particularly strong whiskey, downing it in a few gulps before ordering another. I could see tears streaming down her face as she lifted the bottle to her lips. 

I could sense that she was trying to drown something, some kind of sorrow or pain that was eating her alive.

The bartender's lips moved, asking her whether she was alright but she waved him off and ordered another bottle. 

“Interesting,” I muttered to myself and leaned back in my chair as I continued to watch her. She didn't seem to care about the people around her or the fact that she was making a spectacle. The empty bottles piled up and I was starting to get genuinely concerned.

“Adrian, let's get back to the game.” One of the girls said, trying to pull my attention back to the table.

“In a minute,” I replied absently, my gaze still fixed on the woman as she downed her seventh bottle.

She reached for the eighth one and her hand slipped, sending the glass crashing to the floor. The bartender’s face turned red like an overripe apple and he slammed his hand on the counter.

“That’s it, you've had enough. Get out of here before I call security!” He yelled at the poor drunk woman.

She looked up at him in a daze, barely focusing on the bartender. Before she could respond, a security guard made his way towards her.

“Leave her alone!” I rose from my seat and moved towards the bar. The girls around me protested but I didn't give a damn. Those whores could go kiss dirt for all I cared.  

The bartender's jaw widened and the security guard stopped in his tracks, unsure of what to do.

“Si… Sir Adrian. She's causing a scene.”  The bartender complained but a single glare from me was enough to shut him up.

“She's with me. Continue your duties.” I instructed. The bartender nodded and continued cleaning cups and serving guests drinks while the security guard retreated to his post.

I turned my attention back to the woman who caught my attention, a feat very few women could boast of, to be honest. Her eyes seemed empty and she swayed slightly on her bar stool. I almost felt.. a bit of sympathy for her. Almost.

“Hey. You alright?” I pulled up a stool and sat down on the stool next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

“Wh-who are you?” She blinked at me with an unfocused gaze.

“My name is Adrian,” I said with a gentle tone that surprised me. When was the last time I was this gentle with a woman? “What’s your name?”

“Jo..J…Joyce. Wh….why are you here?” Her head lolled to the side as she slurred.

“Because you don't look so good. You look like you need help.”

“I'm perfectly fine on my own.”

“No, you're not. Talk to me, what's going on?” It felt a bit odd, questioning a drunk woman about her affairs but rumors had it that drunk people often say the truth, so...it was worth a try.

“My….my sister and my fiance…how could they…they…they...” She let out a bitter laugh and her words trailed off.  She buried her face in her palms and began to sob hysterically, attracting the attention of the patrons.

“Hey. It's alright, come on let's get you out of here.” I patted her back, trying to console her.

“No! I don't want to leave. I…. I…I need more drinks.” She pushed my hand away.

“I think you've had enough to drink for one night. Come on, let's go.” I gently grabbed her arm and helped her to her feet. She struggled for a while but under my firm grip, she relented and allowed me to lead her out of the casino.

I guided her towards my black Lamborghini parked right in front helped her to the passenger seat and buckled her in.

Hopping into the driver’s seat,  I started the engine and drove through the city. Taking her back to my place wasn't an option; my parents were visiting and if they saw her, they'd think she was my fiance or something. 

The next best thing would be a hotel. After searching for a while, I found a decent one and pulled up to the entrance.

“Come on Joyce. Let's get you settled.” I helped her out of the car and guided her into the lobby. The receptionist furrowed her brows curiously and to be honest, I didn't blame her but she still handed over a key without comment.

We got to the room and I sat her down on the bed.

“You need to rest. You've had a rough night.” I said.

“No. I don't need rest, I need to forget.” She looked up at me with bleary eyes and smudged makeup.

“You'll do a lot of forgetting tomorrow I assure you. For now, you need rest.”

“No!” She screamed so loudly, that I feared the receptionist would come knocking on the door. “Gabriel cheated on me with my sister. If he can do it, so can I.”

“That’s it. You're not thinking straight.” I understood the implication of her words and gave her space. There was no way I was going to have sex with a drunk woman.

“Don’t tell me I'm not thinking straight, I know what I want.” She stood, stumbling slightly but she moved closer to me. “I want to forget everything. I want to forget him.”

“Help me.” She placed her hand on my chest. “Help me forget. Just for tonight.”

“Joyce. You have no idea what you want right now.”

“Shut up and kiss me dammit!” She grabbed my collar and pressed her lips on mine.

I wanted to resist, but there was just something about her. The taste of her lips, her scent, everything just turned me on.

“Sh..stop.” I tried to pull away, but she held on and her shoulders moved up to my shoulders.

“Please, make me forget.” The seductive undertone in her voice was the final thing that broke my resistance.

“Fuck it.” I gritted my teeth and kissed back with growing intensity. She responded eagerly and tugged at my shirt, unbuttoning it expertly. I lifted her and she wrapped her slender legs around my waist as I carried her to the bed.

We fell onto the bed, kissing and tugging at our clothes desperately. I was fully aroused at this point and I knew there was no turning back.

“Are you sure you want this?” I broke the kiss off and asked.

“Yes…please...make me forget.” She claimed my lips once again and before I could process what was happening, our clothes were on the floor and for that night, she found solace in my touch and drowned out her pains.