Bianca left work feeling tired and dejected, rubbing her sore shoulders as she walked out of the office building.
It was already dark outside, with stars sparkling in the night sky.
Bianca’s phone rang loudly, breaking the silence of the night. It was her best friend, Diana, calling her.
“Hey, Bianca, where are you? Did you forget it’s my birthday today?” came Diana’s voice from the other end of the line, filled with disappointment.
Startled, Bianca checked her watch and saw it was already 8:40 in the evening. She quickly hailed a taxi while apologizing to Diana on the phone. “I’m so sorry! I just finished work. I’m on my way!”
It was Diana’s birthday, so she had chosen a fancy club for her party. Diana’s family hadn’t always been wealthy. Back in high school, her mom sold stationery at the school gate, and her dad worked as a cook in a restaurant. Sometimes, he’d buy lottery tickets on his way home.
Who would’ve thought he’d one day win a jackpot of ten million dollars?
Since then, Diana’s family climbed out of poverty. Her dad wasn’t the type to waste his prize money. Instead, he invested a big part of it into the restaurant where he worked. Later, the business boomed, and he opened several more branches.
Now, he was a rich man.
Only Bianca knew about this. After Diana’s dad won the lottery, they moved to another city. They reunited in college when they were assigned to the same dorm room by chance.
From then on, they became best friends.
Soon, Bianca reached the club. It was known for being owned by Phoenix Alliance Group, and it attracted a lot of famous people and wealthy folks. It was clear that Diana had spent a lot on her birthday party.
As soon as Bianca walked in, she was taken aback by what she saw. She wished she could turn around and leave!
In the private room, Diana was surrounded by two handsome men. One was wearing a white shirt, while the other had no shirt on and was dancing provocatively close to Diana!
In the room, there were a few other men and women. The women were Diana’s friends, and they were invited to her party, but the men seemed like they were escorts from the club.
“Bianca, come over!” Diana called out when she saw Bianca. She squeezed between the two men and dragged Bianca into the room.
Feeling out of place, Bianca found a quiet corner and sat down.
Diana sat beside her and offered her a glass of juice. “I know you don’t like alcohol, so I got some juice for you. Aren’t I thoughtful? Oh, and guess what? This club has really handsome male escorts. Should I get one for you?” She chuckled mischievously.
“No, thank you!” Bianca shook her head firmly.
“Oh, come on! It’s my birthday, so you have to say yes!” Diana insisted, wagging her finger. “I’ll find you the hottest guy. What’s your type, anyway?”
Her type? Almost instantly, Dave’s face and perfectly toned body came into her mind.
Pfft! Bianca couldn’t help but spurt out the juice she was drinking.
‘Why on earth did she think of Dave? She must’ve been out of her mind! Was the drink in her hand really just juice?!’
“Please don’t,” Bianca groaned, but Diana turned a deaf ear to her protests.
A few minutes later, a young man with a handsome face entered the room.
He sat beside Bianca and began drinking heavily. While Bianca stuck to her juice, he downed glass after glass of wine. Soon, he was so drunk that he looked like he was about to throw up.
“No, don’t do it here! Let me help you to the bathroom!”
Unfortunately, the bathroom in the private room was already in use. With no other option, Bianca had to guide the man to the restroom at the end of the hallway.
Dave had a social event at the club that night. When he stepped out of the private room to take a call, he spotted a familiar figure guiding a man down the hallway.
Frowning, Dave ended his call and followed Bianca to the end of the hallway.
“Take your time there. I’ll wait for you back in the room, okay?” Bianca called out to the men’s room.
As Bianca turned around, she collided with a strong chest. The comforting scent of cedarwood enveloped her, making her feel dazed. She looked up slowly and locked eyes with Dave.
“Mr. Evans…”
Before she could react, Dave grabbed her arm and pulled her into the nearby storage room, slamming the door shut behind them.
The room was so tight that they were practically pressed against each other. Dave’s chest was right in front of her, and she could feel his breath on her head. If she lifted her head even a little, she’d bump into his strong jawline.
“What are you doing here?” Dave’s voice was tense, barely containing his anger. “Who was that guy?”
Bianca blushed and pushed against his chest, trying to create some space. “Mr. Evans, we need to go out first. It’s too cramped in here.”
“Are you in a rush to meet that guy?” Dave’s tone was sarcastic and unhappy.
She had slept with him before, yet she was seeing another man behind his back!
Stunned, Bianca lifted her head to see Dave’s bewildered expression. Was he feeling… jealous?
“He’s just a club escort. It’s my best friend’s birthday, and she wanted to surprise me with him. I couldn’t say no, no matter how hard I tried.” Bianca explained, looking directly at Dave.
Dave examined Bianca, feeling drawn to her honesty. Her lips, slightly pursed, captivated him, and he found himself wanting to kiss her.
Their breaths mingled in the small room, and between the silence, they could almost hear each other’s heartbeats.
“Have you been drinking?” Dave asked quietly.
“Do I seem like someone who drinks?” Bianca shot back, annoyed.
“And you…” She leaned in to sniff Dave’s neck. “You reek of alcohol!”
Dave’s throat felt dry, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in response to this simple gesture.
Dave had indeed been drinking. Otherwise, why would he suddenly feel like kissing her?
But Bianca couldn’t read his mind. She just blinked innocently, waiting for a response.
When he stayed silent, she took the initiative to break the silence, “I’ve explained everything. Can we leave now? It’s getting stuffy here.”
Dave barely heard her. He was too busy staring at Bianca’s moving lips. If they stayed there any longer, he might lose control and kiss her. So, he finally let go of her and quickly left the storage room.