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"𝐕𝐈𝐏"

We arrived at the club. Flashing coloured lights filling the crowded room as we passed by the dance floor. My eyes scanned over the individuals grinding their bodies against each other, smiling and heads were thrown back in ecstasy.

Aydan and Nicolo were behind us while Kara and I just followed the signs towards the bar.

We had gone past a few people from our college, the club opening tonight seemed to catch a lot of people's attention. The club was right in the centre of our small town, it also had a rooftop where people went up to smoke on.

I smiled up at the bartender and ordered drinks for the four of us. She smiled back and went over to make the drinks without asking any questions.

"Fuck, this place is busy," Aydan said as his eyes scanned the room.

Kara agrees with a hum, her eyes following suit.

The venue was bustling, with crowds of small groups of people roaming about doing their own thing.

Our drinks were sat down by the bartender, each of us taking our own glass.

I smiled and raised my glass in the middle. They followed suit and our drinks clattered together before we took a gulp.

"I'll be back," Aydan says while patting Nicolo's shoulder and heading off.

"I need to drink more before I can do anything yet," Kara sighs.

I agree with a hum.

The three of us took a couple more shots and another few other drinks, eventually until I was the only one left at the bar.

Nicolo had gone someplace with a chick, Kara was out on the dance floor having a good time with some guy, and I remained at the bar in my cosy spot.

My head felt lighter, and I was gradually becoming intoxicated, but not to the point where I was swaying all over the place. I knew my limit, but I hadn't really given it any thought tonight.

My eyes began to scan the area, disregarding the lustful gazes of certain people. My attention had been drawn to the upper part of the club which was just above me.

When I looked up, my eyes widened in surprise at what I saw, or more specifically, who I saw.

Roman was seated in the VIP section of the club, directly above me. His demeanour was relaxed, his cold, harsh gaze fixed on the individuals seated around him at the table.

I studied his appearance, his rather large body consisted of a car-key green button-down shirt, as per usual the first few buttons were undone. Matching them with regular black jeans.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows once more, displaying the golden tatted skin beneath them and emphasising his enormous biceps.

A waitress approached them; I couldn't see her since her back was to me, but she appeared to be focused solely on Roman, which erupted a pang of jealousy in me.

He had switched his attention to her as she began to speak, his passive expression remaining stoic as he peered at the girl.

And as if feeling my gaze on him he shifted his eyes right down towards me. While our eyes locked, my heart hammered loudly in my ears, drowning out the club's blaring music.

He stared at me coldly before moving his lips as if he was talking to someone. I thought it was the waitress at first, but when I looked away, I noticed a bodyguard to his left nod at him and walk down the stairs.

I turned around to face the bar in front of me, fully averting my attention from him. I drank the rest of my drink and shook my head at how bitter it was.

After a few minutes, I felt a tap on my shoulder and smiled as I turned in my seat, assuming it was one of my friends, but when I came in contact with a buff chest, I looked up and saw the polar opposite.

The previous bodyguard stared at me emotionlessly and gestured up to the VIP section.

"Miss, if you could follow me, boss would like to see you." He stated gruffly.

I gulped and returned my gaze to the restricted area, my eyes falling on Roman, who was now staring darkly at the men in front of him, his jaw clenched as blue and red lights reflected upon his sharp features.

I nodded and rose from my seat, following the suitably attired man around the bar and up the stairs to the top section.

When we arrived at the top, I took in the red-carpeted floor and the four tables set against the walls on either side, pursed by some men and women.

Roman sat at the far end with a few other men who were considerably older than him, but Roman appeared to be the one in power.

When the bodyguard came to a halt in front of the table, all eyes were drawn to me. I kept my head raised, throwing a glimpse over all the males.

"Leave." Roman's dark voice reached my ears, and I turned to see whether he was speaking to me, but his gaze was fixed on the stack of cards in his hands.

The men at the table nod and rise from their chairs, never looking back at me as they walked away. I return my gaze to Roman, frowning.

"Sit, Arabella,"

I gathered my unmoving legs and took a step towards the long lounge chair in front of him, taking a deep breath. I made myself comfortable and crossed one leg over the other, adjusting my rising skirt.

Roman lowered his head as he shuffled the cards in his hands, allowing the artificial lights to highlight his strong cheekbones and hollow cheeks.

From my seat, I admired him, watching his tongue dart across his red bottom lip as his gaze looked up at me, mesmerising me once more.

"Having fun?" He asked, still looking into my eyes as he places the cards on the table in front of him.

"Yes," I say faintly, biting the inside of my cheek.

He leans back against the leather seat, his hands resting lazily on his thighs while his cold eyes watch me. I watch them move across my face and towards my body, but never lingering anywhere to make me uncomfortable.

They come back to meet my eyes, "You look pretty," he tilts his head, "Don't I always?" I retort back with a little smile. The alcohol was surely doing this to me.

I swallowed as I watched his luscious lips curl to the side as he moved forward. His arm lazily raising towards me, and his hand coming under my chin tilting my head up to meet his.

His fingers lightly traced my jawline while his eyes look straight into my own.

"You are," He continued his motions on my jawline while flickering his eyes to my lips, "Preferably the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he murmured, his voice so deep and low that I couldn't believe I heard it over the music, but then again, I think anybody could.

My bottom lip pushed between my teeth instinctively, while butterflies and tension swirled about inside me.

"You're just saying that," I murmur quietly, our faces still close together.

His fingers move away from my chin and to my cheekbone, brushing off some small pieces of my hair and tucking it away with a dark smirk on his lips.

I watch his head tilt once he meets my eyes again, "I could show you," his velvety voice like music to my ears.

"Actions do speak louder than words, Ella," He whispers against my lips, they hover over my own and I felt myself becoming dizzy.

Everything I was feeling at the time felt completely imaginable. It was like I was under a spell, his spell. If the alcohol I'd consumed hadn't made me drunk, he certainly had.

"Have you been drinking?" He asks looking into my eyes. I nod numbly, feeling my breathing become heavier with every movement he made.

He doesn't respond and instead examines my face before backing away. My breathing became considerably more breathable as he did so.

"Want a drink?" He asked as he rose from his seat.

"Water, please," I say with a nod.

He gives a single nod and walks around the table towards me. I raise my chin to gaze at him, and he leans down, raising his arm behind me while his hand rested on the back of my seat.

His lips brushed over my neck, kissing below my ear, before hovering over them.

"Stay here?" He said, but it seemed more like a question.

I smile and nod softly, my cheeks flushed.

"Good." He said this while leaning away from me.

Before glancing away, I watched him turn and walk down the stairs behind me.

I take a deep breath and begin twirling the ends of my hair. My gaze went across the dance floor beneath me, and I was surprised to find that I had caught Kara's gaze.

'What are you doing?' She mouthed, raising her hands. I grinned and pointed to the bar, where Roman, I assumed, was. I watched her eyes widen and her face slowly morph into a wide smile as she looked over.

She returned my stare and raised her thumbs, signalling that she would 'cover' for me. I assumed she was referring to the boys, and I was grateful.

I cut my gaze off from her when I felt someone approaching, I turned my body and was met by the waitress from earlier.

As I stared at her, a bitter taste entered my mouth, and she stooped down and began gathering up the empty glasses on the table.

I averted my gaze and bounced my leg up and down, biting the inside of my cheek.

"Are you going to be here long?"

My gaze was drawn up to her and narrowed in response to her question. She said it in such a way that it sounded like I was interrupting her chat with someone.

"Why should I answer to you?" I replied calmly.

She propped her hand on her hip while the other held the tray of glasses. She stared at me, squinting her eyes slightly before running her tongue over her lip.

"Because I finish work in about three minutes and I planned on going out with Roman,"

A short giggle escaped my lips, "Right," I nod to myself.

"What's funny?" She sneered, I shrug and put my hands up defensively, "I wasn't informed, that's all,"

She scoffs, "Well now you know. So beat it, bitch,"

Anger ticked inside of me, my blood boiled at the words she had just said to me.

Bitch?

I laugh dryly and stand from my seat, I may be short but she was shorter and my height practically towered over the girl.

"I'm not so sure how I was being the bitch? But I can show you,"

"Are you threatening me?" She says standing her ground and lifting her chin.

I bore my eyes into hers, not wavering once.

"Just leave so I can have my time with him,"

Her words have struck me yet again. I smiled as an idea came to mind and I nodded at her. I take a step away from the obnoxious girl and return to my seat.

I don't look at the girl; instead, I cross my legs over one another and tap my fingers silently against my thigh.

"Didn't I just tell you to get out of here?" She shrieked, and I decide to ignore her while I fiddle with the ends of my skirt.

"Are you fucking deaf?"

Her screechy voice fades as a familiar richly accented voice replaces it.

"Ella?"

I turn to face the voice and see Roman approaching me with a cool water bottle in his hands. Since he walked right by the girl and over to my side, I don't think he realised the whole incident that was going on.

He twisted open the cap and handed the opened water bottle to me while sitting down next to me. I thanked him with a warm smile and quickly downed the needed water.

With my parched throat now moist and hydrated, I returned the bottle to him, who readily took it and flipped the cap back on.

"Roman?" The girl's voice called from the same spot where she had just reprimanded me less than a minute ago.

His gaze shifted from me to her, the emptiness in his eyes growing colder as he patiently peered at her.

"I was wondering if you wanted to get a drink with me?" She asked confidently, a sultry look on her face as she twirled a lock of her brown hair.

His eyes narrowed in on her while he sank back in his seat, "Who are you?" He said in a bored tone.

Oh, yikes.

Her smile faded, and redness began to appear on her pale cheeks.

"Um, my names Jenny,"

"Okay," He replied nonchalantly as he turned away from her, his gaze falling on mine as he spoke his final words to her.

"Leave."

I sat uneasily as I watched her squirm and retrieve her tray before walking back down the steps past us.

Even though I felt bad for her, she was still disrespectful to me for no reason, which I won't tolerate, so I didn't feel that bad, but I wasn't an emotionless bitch either.

Sighing, I shrink in my seat, my skirt begins to grow uncomfortable, and all I want to do is lay down in my bed wearing comfy sweatpants or a loose shirt.

I felt Roman move beside me, but I had already closed my eyes, not sleeping but just relaxing. I definitely looked like a weird bitch right now but I couldn't care less, I was purely blaming it on the alcohol.

Something suddenly draped across my thighs, leading me to open them and look down. My exposed legs were covered halfway down by a large black denim jacket slung over them.

When I turned to face Roman, I saw that his eyes were already fixed on me.

"Thanks," I said softly, and he shrugs and leans one arm against the back of the lounge.

I nestled up against the seat, lifting my legs under me and covering them with the jacket so I wouldn't flash the whole world.

I hadn't felt that tired at the moment, more like lazy.

"I'm guessing you own this club?" I pointed out, looking up at him.

He smirked dryly and lifted a glass with some brown liquid to his lips, "I do,"

I smiled, "Thought so,"

For a minute or so, we are silent, the music roaring below us, blending with the sounds of people chatting and conversing.

"You lied," I said breaking the silence between us.

I shifted closer to him so I could speak more softly over the loud music.

He rose an arched eyebrow and look at me indifferently.

"You said you'd see me 'tomorrow' but you didn't show up," I explain, my voice slurred a little and I knew then that all the alcohol had sunk in.

He stared at me passively, his heavy eyes never recoiling until his lips quirked up into a small smile.

He glanced behind me as he started to speak.

"I didn't think you'd notice,"

I bit my lower lip nervously and looked towards my hand, "I did,"

"I had to do a few things," He said, keeping his reply short.

While fumbling with the ends of his coat, I gave a faint nod. My vision started to blur, so I shook my head to clear it up, but it only made it a lot worse, and my head began to spin.

I sat up straight and clutched my head in my hands.

Maybe I had too much to drink.

My head was getting worse by the minute, I felt a hand land on my back softly rubbing circles against it.

"You okay?" I heard him ask but then my ears started to ring.

"No," I said quietly.

I felt him rise from alongside me, his form looming over me as he came to lift me up. I stood up, clutching his forearms after removing my hands from my head.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and draped his jacket over my shoulders before walking us over to a hidden door aside.

My face was hit with the fresh crisp air and the darkness as we strolled through. I could make out that we were at some sort of outside parking lot through my blurry vision.

I clutched to his side tightly, attempting to keep myself from falling.

"Roman, I don't feel good," I mumble rubbing my temples with my free hand, it was getting worse.

"I know Love," He spoke, and he tenderly rubbed my side.

We seemed to have arrived at his car, and he opened the passenger door for me. I was about to try to get in myself but he had lifted me swiftly and placed me inside with ease.

I closed my eyes and leant my head against the seat as he wrapped the seatbelt around me.

I heard the door shut closed, my senses aware of the quiet car but the loud sound of my heart pumping in my ears.

When Roman got in, he started the car and rolled down all three windows except the one I was now leaning against, which I appreciated.

My eyelids fluttered open again, my eyesight was still fuzzy, and my head throbbed loudly as he sped out of the sight.

I saw something come in front of me, making it out to be the half-drunken water bottle from the club. With my trembling fingers, I gratefully took it from his grip and placed it to my lips.

I drank the rest of the water and sat the empty bottle on my lap, feeling a little better with all the fresh air and water.

"Arabella?"

I looked over at him through my buzzed eyesight, which had gotten worse, "I'm okay," I mumbled answering his unspoken question.

I sank lower in the seat, staring straight ahead at the black dashboard before my eyes started to close and then everything went black.