Chapter 7

/-Diane-/

“Are you sure he's going to come?” Lassey asks. I keep an eye searching for him. “He has to. It's his club” I say. Please show up already.

“This isn't his only club. If he isn't here, let's check another” she says.

I don't want to give up yet. Just have to keep looking. Just then, he steps in and they make way for him. He's not with his guards, which makes it easier for us. Strippers and other desperate bitches line in front hoping he would find them interesting. I scoff as he walks past them. If this man could find plain Riley fascinating, then they're wasting their time.

Not me, though. Lassey and I squeeze through the grinding bodies to get to him. We take the stairs and head after him. As we get to the door, we pull on our masks and step into a different section of the club. Lassey scoots closer to me at the sight of guns. Every corner of the room has at least one man with a rifle. We see strippers hanging on each pole entertaining the men in suits.

“I think it's a bad time. Let's leave” Lassey whispers.

“No, we're not. I came for him, and I'm not going to run because of guns” I tell her and scan for Dean. He's in a different part of the room. Away from the suited men. I grab Lassey's hand and walk over to him. Surprisingly, there's no stripper with him, and he seems gloomy.

“Mind if we join you, handsome?” I ask in my most seductive voice. He glances at us and puffs the smoke in our faces.

“I don't need company,” He says. Lassey tries to leave, but I pull her back.

“But I require company. Besides, you don't look fine, so I think we should have a drink together” I say.

“Whatever”. I pick one of the drinks and pour for three. I hand a glass to Lassey who settles far away. She doesn't notice I'm handing them a drink because she's so lost checking him out, I glare at her and slam the glass on the table.

“Sorry,” she mumbles picking it up. I walk over to Dean and hand him a glass before sitting beside him. He continues smoking without touching the drink. I sigh inwardly. He's not making things easy.

“Wanna dance?” I ask.

“No”. I glance at Lassey who doesn't seem to bother. I glance back at Dean. What do I do to get your attention? I decided to give dancing a try. I adjust my dress and go down with the most seductive moves I can come up with. I feel his eyes on me and a smirk works on my lips.

I settle for a lap dance and he doesn't attempt to resist me as I grind against him. It doesn't take long before I feel his boner against my ass. He cusses softly, and I smirk, knowing I've got him where I want him. I lean backward and leave a trail of butterfly kisses down his neck. I stand pretending to leave, but he easily pulls me back on him. I kiss him and he lets me in.

Just as the kiss gets intense, he pulls away. I blink rapidly, unable to believe it as he pushes me off him. He picks a drink and lights another stick of cigarette before walking away.

“That was…. shocking. Not many men can do that” Lassey says sipping her drink. I grab my purse and stomp off in anger.

/-Riley-/

What's so pretty about her? I'm pretty too. Why did he have to spend the night with her? Isn't he supposed to marry me? He's supposed to be faithful. I throw the teddy bear in anger. I sit on the bed and glare at the bear. Why am I still sulking? Like he said, it shouldn't bother me. I walk out of the room and head to the gate.

I opened it and walked out, but not without telling one of the guards. I just want to take a stroll down the city. Maybe get ice cream too. As I continue my stroll with two cups of ice cream, someone joins me. I stop and stare at the stranger who's wearing an innocent smile.

He's got Dean's features, but the eyes and build are different. They're ocean blue and don't send chills down my spine like Dean's. I scoff inwardly as a mental picture of Dean appears. I shake my head, refusing to compare them.

'But Dean's hotter though' my subconscious chips and I seethe.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“A stranger who wants to walk with you” he shrugs, and I roll my eyes.

“I don't walk with strangers”.

“Right. What if I get you another cup of ice cream?”.

I grin widely, “That'll do”.

“Do you live around?” He asks.

“Not too around but around” I reply. He chuckles.

“What's your name?” I ask.

“It's not important. What's yours?”. Is he being serious right now?

“Another cup of ice cream, I promise” he adds.

“Get it first while I think”. He did fulfill his promise, so I told him. We got talking about a lot of things, and he turned out to be quite fun.

“Honestly, you don't look seventeen,” he says.

“Everyone says that. My friends say I look twelve and act two”.

He laughs, “You don't look twelve, but you do act two.” I hit him playfully. I think I should go home. Before I can say it out, he beats me to it.

“Two cups of ice cream for a few more hours”.

“Deal”.

* * *

“Where the hell were you? It's a few minutes to midnight” Dean yells the moment I step in.

“I was out on a stroll” I shrug.

“On a stroll until midnight? What's fucking wrong with you? What if something happened? What if you got hurt, dammit”.

“But I'm not. I was with a friend and if anything happened, he would have protected me” I reply trying not to yell back.

“He? You were out with some dude! Who is he? Where does he stay? What's his name?” He asks at once.

“I don't know. I just met him” I shrug.

“Christ! Did you stay with a stranger this long? Fuck, you're driving me insane. What if he tried something? Does this look like a paradise where everyone is an angel? What the fuck is wrong with you? What if he hurt you, huh? What if.....”

“Not all men are like you so don't fucking yell at me” I yell back.

“I'm sorry for yelling, but I was worried sick. I thought you were in danger. How could you even trust a stranger, and you couldn't even get a name? That's very stupid of you. He could have done something. He could have tried to touch you. It's dangerous out there, Riley. You don't trust everyone you meet”.

“Not everyone goes about raping girls they come across” I state and his jaw tightens. His fists clench, but I don't stop there.

“He didn't hurt me on our first meeting, you did. He's not like you. You're the bad one, Dean. And remember, you're the rapist here, not him”.

A slap sends me to the ground.