Chapter 3 Misfortune

Linda and Clara were very drunk, except Gina, who was a very strong drinker. She drank more alcohol than both of them, but she was a little more sober and aware of herself than they were. This was how it was every time they went to a party. She took a bottle of water and poured every last drop of it on her face to help her sober up even more. She threw the bottle away and wiped her face before staggering toward her friends and starting to pull them out of the club. She helped them into the car before driving off to Linda’s Mansion. The huge gates were opened, and she drove recklessly into the beautiful mansion. The place was decorated with bright, colorful lights, illuminating everywhere. She parked roughly in front of the building before she got out of the car and dragged Linda from the back seat and supported her with her hand around her neck as they both staggered to the front door. She pressed the doorbell, and after a few moments, the door was opened, and Gina's eyes widened in shock as she stared at who stood at the door: a terrifying-looking woman in all black. She looked elegant. Her presence was filled with so much power and a deadly aura, sending shivers down her spine. "Mrs…Mrs… M-Michael." She stuttered, staring at her with great fear in her eyes. She was shocked and surprised to see her at the same time because Linda’s parents had not been home for years. She lived alone in this big mansion with her maids. "Oh my goodness...What the hell happened to her?" Mrs. Michael asked, staring at them from top to bottom. She sniffed them and quickly used her hand to cover her nose in disgust. "W-we had a little to drink." She managed to speak, nervously. "You call this a little to drink? How come you are not in the same state?" She inquired, and Gina slowly parted her lips to speak when Linda suddenly pushed her stepmother out of the way before staggering inside. She was walking toward the stairs in an unsteady manner while using things to support herself from falling. "I-I’ll get going now. Bye." Gina said and started walking back toward the car in a hurry to avoid Mrs. Michael’s wrath. She sat behind the wheel and started catching her breath. "She hasn’t changed, not even a little." She muttered with one hand on her chest before looking at Clara who was sleeping peacefully in the back seat, through the rearview mirror. Mrs. Michael closed the door and walked back into the sitting room to see her husband standing with an angry expression. "Did you see that?!?" he asked, as his voice thundered across the room. "Did you see the state she was in?" He added, and Michael parted her lips to speak, but he walked out on her angrily. _________ At the club 020, Daniel and his boss were the only ones left at the club. He finished cleaning and walked up to his manager, who sat behind a table in the corner of the bar, counting his money. "Hey boss, I am done." He said, with a smug smile on his handsome face, "Ok, here is your payment for the night… You can leave now." He said and gave him a hundred-dollar bill before he continued counting his money. Daniel stared at the dollar with a confused expression and said, "Boss, but this is just a hundred-dollar bill." He said, looking down at him. "Yes, I know that." He replied in a calm tone. "But uh, this wasn’t what we discussed." He said, with a puzzled expression, and his manager stood up to his feet, putting some money into his pocket before turning to look at him. He rested one hand on Daniel’s shoulder before saying, "You see, boy, I received a lot of complaints about you last night. And who is going to pay for the broken glasses and the drink I gave out as an apology, huh?" He raised a brow at him before a wide grin formed on his face. "Did you honestly think I would? Hahaha," he asked, laughing, before he patted his shoulder and started walking away toward the exit. Daniel stared at him as he walked away, clenching his fist in a rage. "Lock the door on your way out!" he yelled as he walked through the door. He shook his head before turning his gaze away from the door. "At least I got a lot of tips." He said to himself with a smirk before walking back toward the counter. Minutes later, the sun was already setting as he walked toward the bus stop when his phone started ringing. He took it out of his pocket and looked at the caller’s ID. It was Maria calling. He paused and let out a long sigh before putting the phone back into his pocket. He turned to the road and stopped a taxi before getting in, and the taxi drove off. He walked into his small room and took off his shoes before falling onto his bed. "Ah..." he sighed, feeling relaxed when his phone started ringing again. He took it out of his pocket before sitting up on the bed. He checked the caller ID and it was Maria calling again. He let out a small sigh before picking up the call. "Hey, babe. I had been calling you all night long, but you refused to pick up my calls. It’s not fair." She said, with pouted lips on the other end. "I am sorry, I didn’t see your calls." He lied, rubbing his temples. "Really? OK, I forgive you." She said with a wide grin. "I’ve missed you so much. I wish I could come back right away." She added, and he remained quiet. "Do you miss me too?" she asked, and he replied by simply saying, "Mm." "I’ll be back next month, okay, and I will make sure that we..." She couldn’t finish her statement before he cut in. "Ok, I have to go now; I’ll see you next month." He said and hung up on her. He fell back on the bed with his hands widely apart, staring at the ceiling while regretting the first day he met her.