Page 460 of Hate Mates

Just as he goes to walk away, I fling my hand out and stop him. “Excuse me, who sent this, I was waiting on vodka.”

He sniggers, “Mr. Miguel, Miss.”

I nod at the waiter but direct a shrug at Stacy as the waiter leaves us. I’m not sure how that knowledge helped us. “Who’s Mr. Miguel?” I say to thin air and shrug again nonchalantly.

“I have no idea but I’m gonna fucking enjoy this.” She takes a strawberry from the silver dish, sucks on the juice and lifts the flute to her lips to take a sip. “Thank you, Mr. Miguel, whoever the fuck you are.” A girly giggle falls from her lips.

I grasp my glass in my fingers and sip on the delicious Champagne before I take a strawberry from the dish and drop it in the bubbles. Before I drink anymore, I let the flavors simmer. I look around me, and my mind begins to work overtime. I am soout of place up here; I stick out like a sore thumb. Downstairs, I belong. But being in VIP isn't something I’m used to. I’m a nurse for Christ’s sake. I earn a pittance to be shouted at and abused by most, when all I want to do is help them.

“What are you thinking?” Stacy’s voice cuts into my thoughts,

“That I shouldn’t be up here. It’s amazing.”

“You have every right to be up here. How do you think all these people got up here?”

I focus on the women dotted around and the men they’re with, “Maybe because they're important and they have money to throw around. They also have class, I mean look at her…” My gaze falls on a woman perched on a stool; her red loose curls fall over one shoulder as she sips from a Champagne flute. Her eyes look tired but you can tell she’s there to play a part. She’s much younger than the man she’s with, I’d say. He leans forward and her lips tighten but when he leans back, they change into a smile. It’s a false smile though.

“What about her?” I ask, “She has class.”

“She’s a trophy wife, you can tell.” Stacy exclaims as she drinks more.

Taking my eyes off her for a second I look at Stacy. “Do you think she loves him?”

“Probably loves his bank account, his ten cars, and the mansion, more.” She laughs at her own statement.

“How can people do that? Surely you have to feel something for the person. How can you sleep in the same bed with the same person night in, night out, without feeling something?”

Stacy wraps her fingers around my hand, and I look over at her. “You really are gullible. I need to toughen you up.”

“What d’ya mean?” My voice raises an octave.

“You think she only sleeps with him? Come on Ari, come back to the real world.” My lips pull into a pout and I drink myChampagne. I tear my eyes away from the woman who holds all my questions. “She’s probably got some toyboy waiting for her.”

“Lucky bitch.” I laugh and drain the liquid from my glass before topping up mine and Stacy’s drinks. “And I get stuck with Gabe.”

“Your choice, babe. There’s only you that can change that.”

We can talk up here. It’s not like downstairs where it’s so loud you can’t hear each other speak, or even hear yourself think, but while our conversation has died down for now, I use the opportunity to check my phone again. I shouldn’t give a shit whether he’s called me or not, but I can’t help it. As I pull out my cell, I turn it back on. Once it’s loaded, I find the screen still blank.Bastard. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind when I see him tomorrow.Lifting my flute, I guzzle down more Champagne. I’m going to have such a hangover tomorrow but for once I don't care. I’m in VIP at Opulence. Most people would give their right arm for this opportunity. I drag the chair I’m sitting in closer to Stacy’s and turn on my camera to snap a selfie.

It didn’t happen if there’s no photo’s - right? If I have photos, I can rub them in his face. He says all I do is work and I'm boring. Well, I’ll show him.

THREE

Vincente

My palms smooth down the front of my dry shirt and I shrug into my jacket, tug at the collar and straighten my suit jacket at the door of the VIP lounge. I look over the heads of all my guests until my gaze falls on the one person I’m looking for. Sitting at a table in the corner I see Aria. I roll her name around a time or two and see how naturally it falls from my lips. When I was changing my shirt, she was all I could see. The luxurious chocolate eyes meeting mine and her small hands placed on my stomach. I very rarely go downstairs unless I have to meet someone for business, then I mingle. But honestly, the thought of having people fall at my feet disgusts me. No, it's the people that disgust me. Some of these people are into anything. Drugs. Sex. And they speak to me as though I like it too. I don’t touch my own supply. What kind of boss would I be if I did that? I don’t do drugs. I’ll stick to whisky.

My feet move me towards Aria, speaking to Carl, one of my security guards as I pass. “I’m not to be disturbed.”

Carl nods, “Boss.” I walk over and greet them with a smile. “Ladies?” I nod, “I assume you enjoyed the Champagne.”

She looks up at me with those big brown eyes, just like she did before. “You.”

“Me.” I smile. “Would you mind if I joined you?”

“O...of course not, please take a seat.”

I throw my arm up for a waiter and snap my fingers, getting attention instantly. Within minutes another bottle of Champagne is on its way to the girls’ table and is placed down.

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