The Risk: A Billionaire Romance (Wagered Hearts Series, Book 2) (28 page)

“Yeah, the wine bar’s up the street. What are we doing in a record store?”

“There’s this cool little club downstairs. I know you’ll love it!” I said excitedly. “I came here once with Ryan and it was amazing. Just wait until you see it.”

They followed me reluctantly as I led them towards the back of the shop to the small store room. I walked up to the door and cursed out loud. I’d completely forgotten about the key pad and combination. I could see them exchange worried looks at each other when they thought I wasn’t looking.

“Er—maybe we should just leave,” Candace said.

“No no, I know it’s down stairs. Someone here must know the combination. I swear this club will blow your minds. It’s like straight from the roaring 20s, with a live band and dancers and everything.” I knew I was babbling at this point, but for some reason I’d desperately wanted to show them this place. Almost to reassure myself that it was still there and it hadn’t all been my imagination. “I know! There’s an exit out back. I’m sure if we waited for someone to come out or just knocked—”

“It’s all right,” Lily said. “We believe you.” Her voice was low and soft—soothing, as if she were talking to an insane person. I realized then that I probably sounded pretty crazy, dragging them to the back of a record store and going off about some secret underground club straight from another era. I shook my head ruefully and gave a halfhearted smile.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. We should go to the wine bar. Come on,” I said and began walking back out to the front of the store. I ignored the curious stares of the other customers as I held my head up high and focused straight ahead. They probably thought I was drunk or crazy the way I’d stormed into the shop and practically ran to the back. Once we were outside, I let Candace lead the way to the wine bar.

I felt a little guilty that I’d somehow ruined the night with my wild antics. Instead of celebrating Lily’s last night of freedom, they were now worried about my mental state. My mood fell even more at the thought, so that by the time we arrived at the wine bar, it was a struggle for me to pretend to be happy. I tried to put on a brave front, though.

The bar was packed by the time we got there and we were seated at a large communal table next to two young women. They looked to be in their mid-20s and had friendly open faces. I could tell at once they weren’t from around here. As soon as we sat down they introduced themselves.

“Hello, I’m Marlene and this is Hanna,” the bolder of the two girls said. She had a slight southern twang in her voice that confirmed my assumptions.

“Hi, I’m Mel and this is Candace and Lily,” I said returning their greeting.

I could tell that Lily and Candace were a little weary about chatting with strangers, especially tonight, but I overlooked their reluctance. These two girls looked friendly and most importantly like they were fun. That was exactly what we needed tonight. After that little set back at the record store, I knew Lily and Candace were being extra cautious around me, like I was some wounded tiger that they were trying to keep calm and happy in case I lashed out. I didn’t want to be that friend anymore—the one everyone had to walk on eggshells around. I just wanted to let loose.

Hanna and Marlene were from Texas it turned out. They were also funny and entertaining. I could tell Lily and Candace’s initial wariness soon went away as we sat and chatted with them. They told hilarious antics about their time in New York and all the sights and people they’d seen. I couldn’t remember the last time we all laughed that hard. Before I knew it, we’d already gone through three bottles of wine and it was almost midnight. Lily looked at her watch and stood up reluctantly.

“Well, ladies, it’s time for me to go,” she said.

“Oh no,” we all groaned at the same time.

“You sure you can’t stay for a little while longer? It’s not even midnight yet,” Hanna said.

“Sorry, but I’ve got a big day tomorrow,” she said. She shot Candace and me a meaningful look before continuing. “You two should head home soon.”

“Yes mother,” I said sulkily. The last thing I wanted to do was go home. I was having too much fun and going home would just be depressing. “In a little bit.”

I looked to Candace to see if she was staying as well, but she just let out a loud yawn and stretched her arms over her head. “I’m about ready to go too,” she said. “I’ve had a long day and I’m beat. Besides, you know wine always makes me sleepy.”

I was a little disappointed that they were leaving so soon, but I knew Hanna and Marlene were still up for anything. We left the wine bar and Candace and Lily caught a cab back home. Once the cabs dove off, I turned to my two new friends for the night and smiled. I was feeling drunk, restless and like the night was full of possibilities.

“What should we do now?” Hanna asked.

“You’re the expert,” Marlene said looking at me. “What do you recommend?”

“I know just the place.”

***

Whoever said you couldn’t get drunk off of wine was lying. I was more than a little buzzed after we’d left the wine bar and my steps were wobbly as I led my new friends back to the record store. It was like an itch I had to scratch. I don’t know what made me come back but I just had to see for myself that it was still there. My excitement soon turned to disappointment when we arrived and the store was closed. Of course it would be. It was after midnight after all.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Hanna asked as I cursed and kicked the metal sliding door in front of the shop.

“Yeah there was a club here, or there is one. It’s down under the record store, but there’s no way to get in now,” I said dejectedly.

“How do they get out if it’s closed? Assuming they’re still down there?” Marlene asked. She looked at the store with renewed interest and I could tell the prospect of going to some secret underground club intrigued her. Her words brought a spark of hope to me as I remembered the fire exit Ryan and I had left from that night we came.

I led Hanna and Marlene towards a side street where the fire exit was. It was dark and looked sketchy, but I was determined to try to get in. I found the door easily and started banging on it. There was no answer and I was just about to give up hope and turn back to the main street when the doors burst open and a group of elegantly dressed people spilled out. They didn’t even notice the three of us standing there, staring at them in wonder, so caught up were they in their own little world. There were two gentlemen dressed in tuxes and three women in stylish gowns, their arms and necks studded with diamonds and pearls.

They staggered towards the main road and before the door could close behind them, I held it open and motioned Hanna and Marlene to follow me. We walked down the steps towards the sound of music coming from the club.

“Holy cow! This place is amazing!” Hanna and Marlene both whispered in awe once we got to the main room. I smiled at them, pleased that they appreciated this place as much as I did. It was truly stunning. I was just glad there was a party tonight as I remembered Ryan mentioning that the owner only threw it every once in a while.

I noticed we got a few curious looks as we strolled over to the bar, but I ignored it. There was no question that the three of us stood out like sore thumbs in our more casual and modern clothes, while all the other women looked impeccable in their feathered and beaded finery. I was riding a wave of happiness, partly from the alcohol and partly from the fact that I’d finally gotten into the exclusive club. It wasn’t all just my imagination.

Marlene and Hanna ordered Mint Juleps and we casually sipped our drinks while watching the band onstage playing an upbeat swinging number. Once we finished, we ordered another round. Marlene and Hanna looked happy to just sit at the bar and take it all in, but I was starting to feel restless.

There were couples on the dance floor doing the Charleston and I couldn’t help tapping my toes in time to the music. I had the sudden urge to get up and dance and followed my impulses even though I didn’t know the steps.

It was a total disaster, but I didn’t care. I was spurred on by Hanna’s and Marlene’s loud hoots, which I could hear all the way from the dance floor. I kept bumping into people and I knew I must have looked like a hot mess, but that didn’t stop me. I felt like I was gliding on air; my body felt light and weightless, while my head spun.

Suddenly, I felt a strong arm on my shoulder that stopped my movements. Looking up, I stared into the face of a middle aged man with a thick bushy handlebar mustache. He looked vaguely familiar, though I couldn’t place him at the moment. I hadn’t realized that I was just spinning around in circles until he stopped me. It took a moment for me fight off the wave of dizziness I felt and I swayed on my feet before I was led back to the bar and my friends.

Marlene and Hanna erupted into giggles when they saw me being escorted by this strange man with the even stranger facial hair.

“Otto!” I suddenly burst out, remembering his name.

He looked at me in surprise before taking a slight bow. “At your service,” he said. There was a slight accent to his voice, though I couldn’t exactly place it. It sounded vaguely European. “How do you know me?” he asked.

“We have a mutual friend,” I replied, pleased that my voice sounded relatively normal and not slurred.

He looked at me shrewdly and I wondered if he recognized me as Ryan’s date that night when he’d first brought me here.

“I see,” he finally said.

He motioned towards one of his security guards who stood nearby and whispered instructions into his ear. I strained to hear what he was saying, but couldn’t make anything out. My gut told me he was kicking us out and I felt a rising sense of shame. I looked to Hanna and Marlene who just stood there and smiled back at me as if this were the most interesting thing that had ever happened to them. I doubted they would care if they got kicked out of the club. It would be just another story they could tell their friends back home, but I had no desire to leave. I’d never gotten kicked out of anywhere before and I didn’t intend to start.

“I’ve had Marcus call a cab for you three. He’ll escort you outside once it has arrived,” Otto said. “I think you’ve had enough for one evening.”

“Wait!” I said suddenly. Otto and the girls looked at me and I suddenly was at a loss for words. “Um…” I looked from the security guard and then back to Otto and slumped my shoulders. “It’s nothing,” I finally said.

With a curt bow, Otto turned and left us at the bar. Once he was gone, Marlene and Hanna started to giggle again. At this point, their giggling was starting to grate on my nerves. Didn’t they know what had happened? We’d just been dismissed, kicked out of the club like a couple of low class pieces of trash. A part of me was feeling rebellious and wanted to start a scene, but thankfully there was a sliver of the rational Mel still in there somewhere that told me to relax and not do anything stupid.

Marlene and Hanna continued to discuss their evening, gushing about all they had done and seen and I tuned them out. My head was starting to pound and when I closed my eyes, the room felt like it was spinning. It didn’t help that my stomach was feeling a bit unsettled. Perhaps Otto was right and I really had had enough.

I didn’t know how long I’d sat like that, but I opened my eyes again when I felt a pair of strong hands on my shoulders. I had to blink several times to focus on the face in front of me but even then, it was blurry.

“Is it really you?” I asked.

“Yes,” he answered. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

I followed him out the fire exit and towards the main street. He held my arm, helping to keep me steady, and I leaned against him gratefully. I suddenly stopped and looked around us in confusion.

“Where are Marlene and Hanna?” I asked.

“They’ve already caught a cab back to their hotel. I’ll take you back in my car.”

I nodded my head. It all made perfect sense. Once I got into his car, I closed my eyes and promptly passed out.

Roman stood in front of the mirror pulling out the knot in his bow tie for the fifth time. I could hear Rob groan beside me as he ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

“Really Roman, is it necessary to do that again?” he asked, barely concealing his impatience.

Roman glanced at him over the mirror and frowned. “Of course it is. I want everything to be perfect. It is my wedding day after all,” he snapped back.

I watched the interaction with some amusement. I’d never seen Roman so nervous before and I couldn’t say that I didn’t enjoy the sight. It was actually pretty funny. He was a ball of nerves, constantly fidgeting, checking his watch, and retying the knot on his bow tie. Rob, on the other hand, looked like he was at the end of his rope. I was sure the pressure of the wedding had finally gotten to him, even though it wasn’t actually his wedding.

“And what are you smirking at?” Rob asked, looking at me with narrowed eyes.

“Am I smirking?” I asked innocently.

“Don’t give me that.” Rob said. “You look awfully smug this morning. Where were you last night, by the way?”

“Something came up,” I said.

The three of us had gone out to celebrate Roman’s last day being a single unmarried man. We’d all headed to our private club, Bolo. Roman decided to leave early, but Rob hadn’t been ready to call it a night yet. The two of us decided to meet at The Flying Monkey later on in the evening.

On the way there, I spotted Mel and two other women staggering down the street. They looked drunk and completely oblivious. I pulled over and sat in my car as I watched Mel lead them towards a side street just off Joe’s Record Store. Suddenly I knew where they were going. I parked my car and made my way over to the Otto club.

When I entered the club, Mel was already on the dance floor. I suppose she thought she was dancing, but it looked closer to flailing. People were giving her a wide berth and I had to hide my smile as I remembered the scene.

“Something? More like a woman,” Rob said, recalling my attention.

“Might have been,” I replied.