*Lucia*
I excused myself to use the bathroom. It felt slightly uncomfortable walking around in the black heels I wore. I walked past other tables, my eyes in search of a waiter. I didn’t know where the restroom was. Seeing one at the side who just finished giving out the glasses of wine on his tray, I approached him. He was quick to point the direction for me.
I took the side, not wanting to walk past the table and earn some attention. Some people were on the stage, dancing with the lights on them. Others cheered for them. I had not taken note of the fun that a lot of people were having as I had been too concentrated on getting out info from the old man. My eyes caught sight of a red-haired woman. She had her back towards me. Her red hair made her stand out in the crowd so much.
I took a bend, walking into the hallway that led to the restroom.
Getting info from the man was easier than expected, but I must confess, I have much to learn from Bruno. If I had come alone, I would probably still be at the table trying to strike up a conversation with him. But Bruno had done that so smoothly.
The wall was painted white, but the milk color bulb made it look more like cream. I walked a little further before coming to stand in front of a door that had the inscription, “Women,” My eyes moved to the door next to it with an inscription, “Men,” just then, a man opened the door and stepped out.
I opened the door to the female restroom and stepped inside before I’d be pegged as a pervert for staring at the male restroom for too long.
There were two women in front of the mirror retouching their makeup. I walked past them, walking into one of the empty cubicles to relieve myself.
It didn’t take long before I walked out, closing the door behind me. I walked to the hall. The red-haired woman was now on the stage. She spoke like an educationist, and I marveled at the way she managed to capture everyone’s attention. She looked-, I moved my eyes from her and immediately turned them back to her. Goodness gracious, that is Sarah; what is she doing here?
I almost didn’t recognize her because of the red hair she had, which was, of course, a wig. I could feel that she was on a mission as she was in disguise; the Sarah I knew hated such ladylike dressing-a black fitted gown with a slit on the front. Red wavy hair is packed beautifully. Even with her heavy makeup and a fake mole close to her eyes, I could still recognize her. She also changed how she spoke; I couldn’t help but marvel at how fake she looked.
As if she knew I was watching her, she moved her eyes in my direction. I stiffened for the briefest second. Memories from the last encounter with her became fresh in my mind. She moved, and I released a breath I didn’t know I held. There was no way she could have seen me, right? I was standing on a very dark side, and I have changed so much, though I said I looked as fake as she looked.
I turned and walked away immediately.
My hands turned a bit inching, and I kept placing one over the other. It felt like I was suddenly covered in dirt, and my hands were tied. I tried to look normal, not wanting to bother Bruno. Sarah was still speaking on the stage when we left.
Though I was happy that we left without being caught and completed the mission, I couldn’t help but keep thinking about Sarah. What if she had seen me? I wasn’t the same Lucia she almost killed. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but feel a little shaken.
And while I spoke to Bruno about her in the car, the little fear was slowly replaced with hate and anger. I wanted to beat her up. I had beaten Rave up in a fight, though not entirely, and also those men a while ago. I was stronger than she was, so why not beat her up? I wondered as our car drove past others on the way.
Bruno didn’t try to push it when I told him I met a friend in the restroom. I liked it when he had this understanding.
The drive would have been so smooth if not for the car following us behind. Bruno took a sharp bend, and I wondered how that would help us find out who was after us. “Where are you going?” I asked, trying not to sound scared.
“Let’s find out who the hell is behind us,” he said, and I wondered how taking a direct part would help, “don’t worry, sweet girl, just trust me,” he said. He turned for a brief moment, reassuring me with his eyes.
I nodded. I had no other choice than to trust him.
Bruno drove faster. The road wasn’t smooth, so the ride was bumpy, with the car bumping up and down. His hand went to his side, and he pulled out an air pod from only God knows where. He placed it in his ear. “Somebody is following me,” he said, “you know what to do,” he said.
“Who is that?” I asked curiously.
“Someone who can look into the car behind us,” he said, and I squinted my eyes. The car was still behind us, trying to catch up. He pulled out a gun from his side, and I pulled mine, too.
“Could it be the men we had escaped from?”I asked to see him shake his head. “They are too dumb to realize we were the ones there,” he said. I nodded in agreement. They couldn’t find us when we were in the hall a while ago. I looked at the rear mirror, “what if they shoot at us?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, the car is bulletproof,” he said, and I breathed out.
True to my word, they shot at us. But the bullet didn’t get to us. Whoever they were, it was clear their goal was to bring harm. “You must have a lot of enemies, Bruno,” I said.
“You bet,” he said with a smirk as if it was the best compliment he had heard in his entire life.
“Nothing good comes out from keeping more friends than enemies. And I know you would agree with me,” we took a sharp bend. He opened the side of his window and fired two shots at the car. The bullet flew straight to the tire, blowing them off. The car came to an abrupt stop. He retracted his hands and closed the window.
“They must have had a good time,” he said. I was stunned. That didn’t seem hard at all. “Who are they?” He asked. He was quiet for a while, “that’s new. Have we ever had any dealings with them?” He asked whoever was on the other side. “They must be seeking death. Send me every information you can find on them in thirty minutes,” he said.
We took another bend and entered the highway.
“Who was that?” I asked him.
“A new enemy,” he said. “Funny part is that I’ve had no dealings with this person in question,” he says. “They must be seeking death,” he said, and I swore I saw his eyes flash with anger though he kept a straight face. “Are you okay?” He asked me, and I shook my head.
“I will be. I was just surprised, not frightened.” I said, “Thank goodness we took a bulletproof car. What would have happened if we hadn’t?” I asked.
“I’m sorry for making you worry. Nothing is ever going to happen to you. Even if we didn’t take a bulletproof car, I would have found a way to make sure you get home unharmed.” He said.
“Thank you,” I said. The window was down, allowing air to rush to the car. “For?” “For making this possible,” I said. “I know I shouldn’t be here, but because you want my dream to come true, you took me with you. I know this is all so I can live my dream,” I said.
“You are my woman; if I don’t make sure you live your dream, then what can I do?” He scoffed, “And there shouldn’t be any thank you between us, sweet girl. Or should I say, you can always show how thankful you are through other ways?” He said, his voice low and hoarse.
The car stopped in front of a red light. “What do you think you are doing?” I asked. He was trying to seduce me. He moved his face closer, and I shuffled myself into my chair, wishing I could run away from behind it. “Why does it look like I am doing sweet girl?” He asked.
My breath hitched. He was so close, too close. His breath fell on my face, and I could only wonder why he was trying to seduce me in the car. “Come on. Go ahead and thank me,” he said, his eyes focused on my lips.
I closed my eyes.” don’t tell me you are shy. What? Is this your first kiss?” He teased me.
I moved and captured his lips, “no, this should be like a hundred times I’ve kissed his lips,” I said.
“Let’s add one to it,” he says, moving closer to kiss me, but the car behind us horned, ruining our moment. He clenched his teeth. He was going to move back, or that is what I thought, but he suddenly held my face with his palms, moving it closer. His lips met mine, and he kissed me. Deeply and softly.
Cars honked, but he ignored them. He had his sweet time before finally pulling away. My face was suddenly red. “You, you,” I pointed at him before looking behind me. He slowly drove away.
My chest almost burst from excitement. He had made hundreds of cars wait. Butterflies flew around in my stomach, and I felt it was so romantic. Not every man would do this.
This means he likes me too much.
The drive back was silent, and neither of us said anything. I faced the other side, thinking about how sweet his lips tasted earlier.
He didn’t drive back to the club. We went straight home. I switched on the light when we stepped in. His phone beeped.
“Who is this bitch?” He asked, staring at it. I walked to Jo’s side. “What’s that?” I asked.
“I don’t even know her, and she chased after us?” He sounded surprised. When I saw the picture, my eyes widened. “Do you know her?” He asked, and I slowly nodded.
“Sarah. She is the girl that had kidnapped me. I didn’t know she saw me,” I said.
“Where did you see her,” he asked.
“She was at the party earlier,” I answered. “But I stood somewhere dark; I was quite sure she didn’t see me,” I said.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“I can’t believe she is still after me. She must be shocked to see me alive,” I said. My mind thought of the different reasons that could have made her shoot at us.
“She wanted to make sure you were dead for real this time,” Bruno said. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint her. She won’t be having you,” he said. He sounded excited.
“What’s with your tone? Why do you sound excited?” I asked, squinting my eyes as I waited for him to explain himself. He flung his phone on the sofa. And began to take off his tie.
“I never got to pay her back for what she did to you.” He said, “To think she just presented herself to me? I’m overjoyed,” he said. Well, he had a point.
“But before then, I think we have something to finish,” he says and pulls me to himself, capturing my lips.