The Escort

Chapter Eleven

I AM NOT mistaken that tonight, Janet and Mia are planning to go to a club for a girl’s night out. Janet loves to party a lot, it has been infused in her bloodstream. I warn her, before we go to the club, to not drink any alcohol or do drugs, and she promises me, her eyes slightly looking hurt. I suppose I don’t trust her enough to make the right decision, because most of the time, she has not made any smart decision whenever she parties.

            I lowkey do not want to go clubbing with them, but Janet has kept pestering me to come because I’m missing out on the finer things in life, such as going to clubs. She says I need to at least kiss a stranger, but I quip back at her that my reputation is at stake, if any of the press catches sight of me doing delinquent things.

            Mia looks ecstatic, her body hugging a silver sleeveless dress that hangs right above her knees. Her skin glows when it hits the light, and she looks like a walking Barbie doll. Janet wears a tight red dress, with sports her curves and the baby bump looks invisible on it. I wear a simple black dress with short shirt sleeves, so as not to show any skin. I prefer not, and Janet’s pout confirms that my dress leans to being a bit conservative.

            Mia drives us to the club. The place is packed with people and it already feels suffocating when I’m at the threshold of the club. The bouncer looks at us, to check if we are underaged and they let us in, when he gives Janet a familiar look on his face. Janet must be a regular at the club.

            The music is so loud I feel like my ears are bleeding. Everyone does not seem to care that their bodies are so close, to the point they are literally attached to each other. Some girls grind their hips to handsome men, or perhaps their boyfriends, their faces drunk.

            “What is this place?” I yell at Janet’s ear.

            “We’re in a club sister! Let’s enjoy this night while it’s still young!” she screams back and she disappears without warning. Mia disappears too. I’m left alone in this packed club, and I’m not enjoying this, not a single bit. I feel like going home, but the other part of me makes me think that I should use this opportunity to enjoy myself.

            I go to the bartending area, sitting on a high chair. I order a drink, something that is not strong. I don’t want to get drunk at an unfamiliar place and I’m scared I’ll get taken advantage because of that.

            I can feel someone staring at me and when I flip my head to where someone is staring, I see his gaze unwavering. They look intense, his eyes examining me from head to toe. They are filled with lust, and I grow uncomfortable with his gaze. When he catches me looking at him, he scoots closer. My body leadens and is unmoved, until he is sitting right beside me.

            “Hello,” he says. “My name is Jared, what about you?”

            “Flora.” I do not give him my name. I’m scared he’ll know who I am, or if he doesn’t, he’ll might find a way to stalk me. “So what brings you beside me?” My voice is surprisingly firm.

            “You look gorgeous on that dress, miss,” he answers, licking his lips as if he is hungry to taste me. My skin pricks, the air around me starting to get colder all of a sudden. My heart pounds loudly against my chest, and adrenaline rushes in. Somehow, I like doing this. Talking to a stranger seems interesting, perhaps. “Can I buy you a drink?” he asks and I nod.

            I look at his hand. I don’t want him to slide any hidden drugs on my drink. He doesn’t and that brings me relief. The bartender directly gives the drink to me anyway. I take a sip, and the alcohol stings my tongue. “So why are you here alone pretty Flora?”

            “I’m with my sister and her friend but they disappeared.”

            “So they left you to your own devices huh?” he chuckles, smoothly placing his arm around the back of my chair. I don’t know where this is heading, but I may have an idea what it will be.

            I do not recoil from the slight brush of his hand at my back. I don’t know why but I like what he’s doing. Something buried deep inside me is being excavated, the loud noises muting at the life breathing between my legs. My core tightens when he slowly places his hand on my exposed thigh, rubbing soft circles inside my thighs, near where my core is. I let out a moan so lowly but audible enough that he has caught it. He smirks and he continues that motion.

            “Do you like what I’m doing Flora?” he says, his voice dangerously low but it makes me want for more. I will my brain to stop thinking thoughts I’ve never even imagined having, but my resolve is weak. His hand is extremely close to my underwear but it’s exhilarating.

            He licks his lips, and slowly takes my waist. I sit on his lap, his hand subtly doing magic between my thighs. I silently moan, afraid someone will hear me, but the loud EDM music is drowning the sounds escaping from my lips. His hot breath tickles my ear and he whispers, “Do you want me to take you to heaven?”

            My mind says no, but the animal between my legs says yes. “No,” I whisper, willing my mind to reject his advances. He stops, and he lets me sit back on my stool. I slightly regret it, but I feel so embarrassed that I actually enjoy what he’s doing. I don’t know that I can elicit such emotions out of me, but in that brief moment, it has made me feel so alive. Jared smiles at me and he leaves me dumbfounded. The bartender smirks at me, and my cheeks redden, realising that he has seen the little scene.

            Janet sits beside me, sweat dripping on her skin. “Janet, where have you been?” Her jaw tightens, and her brows furrow. She seems pissed, and for what, I am yet to find out.

            “I just saw my f*****g boyfriend with another girl,” she answers, gritting her teeth. “I can’t believe that bastard is out here sleeping with other women, frolicking while I’m here carrying our baby.” She almost screams, but her voice is drowned by the club music.

            I rub small circles on her back. “Do you want to go home?” I ask, concern lacing my features.

            “No, I want to slap my boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend,” she fumes and grabs my hand before I can stop her. Her grip is too strong for me to let her hand go from mine. I hope she does not make a scene at the club, but if it gives her the peace to slap her boyfriend, then who am I to stop?

            And there her boyfriend is, letting a girl dance on his lap. His eyes roam around her body, lust colouring his irises. Janet stands in front of him, and she slaps the girl’s cheek. The poor girl immediately scampers away. “WILLIAM!” she screams. “HERE YOU ARE AFTER ALL THIS TIME!”

            “J-Janet, what are you d-doing here?” he stutters, the fear apparent on his features. The corner of my lip goes up. This bastard has the audacity to actually ask Janet why she’s here.

            “I should be the one asking you that!” she rages, the vein in her neck about to pop. I hold Janet back from literally punching her ex. “I’ve been calling you and you have never picked up any of my calls! Do you know how frustrating this is?! YET HERE YOU ARE DANCING WITH ANOTHER GIRL LIKE YOU ARE A FREE MAN!”

            “I can explain—”

            “Oh f**k you!” She punches him by the nose. Blood spurts out of his nose, and someone hands him a tissue to stop it from staining on his clothes. There are collective gasps around the place.

            “Janet, let me make it up to you,” William, her ex begs, kneeling down on the ground, inside this club with everyone’s eyes fixate on them, as he holds her wrist to keep her from walking away.

            “You’re a cheating bastard. You deserve nothing. We’re over the moment you left me,” she says in such calm tone that can send anyone shivers.

            “Janet please.” He still holds her wrist, but I stand in front of Janet, and glare at him. He loosens his grip on Janet and we both walk away, searching for where Mia may be.

AFTER SEARCHING FOR Mia for a good thirty minutes, Janet and I finally give up. When we go out of the club, Mia is standing outside, smoking an e-cigar.

            “Oh, there you are,” Janet says in relief. Mia leans at the wall of the club, her thoughts preoccupied. When she notices Janet hugging her with tears streaming on her face, she sends her a rueful look. It looks like Mia knows what has happened, and maybe they have both planned in coming into this club.

            “I’m so sorry Janet,” she says softly. “I told you that we shouldn’t come here, because it only ended up you getting hurt.” She shushes my sister’s cries. I stand beside Mia who continues on comforting Janet. “Everything is going to be okay,” she assures. I wonder if it will actually be. Heartbreak does not seem to be a good catch when you’re in a relationship. It’s scary, being in a relationship and not knowing if you will last long with your person.

            “In time, things will be okay,” I add, hoping that I’m correct. “Let’s get some ice cream at 7-eleven, if it will make things better. My treat.”