Page 75 of Enigma: The Final Chapter
I stiffen for only a second. Thankfully, it isn’t long enough for Cate to notice. I’m not surprised to observe the line to enter The Dungeon stretches for as far as the eye can see. That can be expected, considering it’s New Year’s Eve. That’s the reason my anger is even more supreme today. Isaac only told me days ago that he couldn’t take any time off during this time of the year. But last night, he left without a word being spoken to any of his staff members. After fielding calls from Roger and Tina today on his home landline, I soon realized they're as much in the dark as I am to Isaac’s current location.
I know where he is. My heart just chooses to ignore the facts displayed in front of it.
“Travis, this is Cormack’s sister, Cate. Cate, this is Travis.” My voice only slightly slurs during my introduction since the last few glasses of chardonnay are pumping into my veins.
“Wowzers, your head is nearly as big as my whole body.” Cate’s eyes bug before they appreciatively scan the monster-size bouncer in front of us.
I snort before my panicked eyes shoot to Travis, wanting to gauge his reaction to Cate’s jibe. I’m surprised when I notice his beaming white smile. This is the first time I’ve seen his smile.
I gag when Travis mutters, “That’s not even my biggest body part.”
“That’s disgusting.” I drag a shocked-faced Cate into the jam-packed nightclub. “He’d snap you in half.”
Cate’s chuckle gains her the attention of a handful of men. “Isn’t that the point?”
Now, I understand why Harlow has become Ms. Party Queen the past few months. I’ve only spent five minutes with Cate, and I can already tell my night is going to be interesting, indeed.
After an hour of dancing to the latest club hits, I head to the bar, wanting to replenish the fluids I’ve lost bumping and grinding with Cate. The Dungeon has always been popular with the younger crowd due to its ‘eighteen-plus’ drawcard, but tonight, it’s so packed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the fire department arrives to shut them down for being over-capacity.
When the good-looking male bartender serves me the margarita I ordered, I move down the bar hoping to find a spare stool to rest my tired feet. A grin tugs my lips high when I spot a vacant spot right down the very end.
“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” I ask a gentleman in his mid-twenties with long blond hair. I have to shout to project my voice over the thumping music blaring out of the speakers.
He stops talking to his male companion and turns to face me. He grins as his green eyes scan my body. After his vivid assessment is finalized, his eyes return to my face. “Not at all, please take a seat.”
I plop into the seat before shifting my gaze to seek Cate amongst the swarm of sweaty bodies moving in sync to the bass of the music. She wanted to continue dancing with a group of guys and girls her age when I said I was going to order a drink.
The glimmering of her sequined dress is the first thing I spot, closely followed by her broad smile. I was apprehensive when she texted me this morning about going out tonight, but now that I’m here, I’m glad she encouraged me to let loose. It’s nice to have a distraction from the twisting pain in my heart.
My attention is diverted from the dance floor when the blond man next to me drags his stool close enough, his heated breaths fan my earlobe. My focus shifts to him just as his friend whispers something in his ear. The blond’s eyes widen, and he nods before he excuses himself, leaving a vacant chair next to me.
I shrug at his weirdness before continuing with my love of people watching.
Thirty minutes later, the snarky chuckle of Tina booms through my ears. I stop slyly sniffing my armpit to lift my confused gaze to her. She snarls arrogantly before she continues serving patrons demanding service.
“You don’t smell,” advises the male bartender who served me earlier.
“Are you sure?”
For the last thirty minutes, I’ve been sitting in the same position with two spare stools on each side of me. The bar is so packed, everyone should be scrounging for a chair, but numerous partygoers have chosen to remain standing instead of occupying the free spaces next to me. I was sweating profusely on the dance floor earlier, but I wasn’t aware my perspiring smell wasthatoff-putting.
The bartender replenishes my cocktail glass before his hazel eyes peer into my self-conscious gaze. “Isaac put out a warning.”
My brows scrunch. “A warning?”
“Yep. If any guy gets too close to you, they’ll cop the wrath of his fury.”
“Pardon me?” My tone is breathy from my heart rate kicking up a notch.
He cranks his head to check Tina’s location before he places his cocktail mixer onto the glistening countertop. The muscles in his arms flex when he stretches across the bar. “You probably don’t remember me, but we danced a few weeks ago in the VIP section of Isaac’s club in Hopeton.”
My eyes widen so they can adequately scan his face. Now that he mentions it, I do remember him. Although, unfortunately, his dancing skills aren’t on par with his strikingly handsome facial features.
When he sees my pale cheeks, he chuckles. “I don’t usually dance like that. That night, we were instructed on how we could interact with you, including how we could dance,” His face screws up in disgust.
“We?”
He nods. “Everyone in the VIP section but you and your friends were employees of Isaac’s.”
