Chapter 3 The room 510

A few hours later...

At the private club in New York City, in a private VIP room, the place was dimly lit but crowded. Young men and women flocked in droves to the place, which was one of the most popular in the city. Sweaty bodies were bumping against each other to the beat of the music in the main rooms, meanwhile inside room 501 was a table filled with bottles of beer, wine and a good amount of appetizers.

The room was decorated for a birthday party. The birthday girl was Karen White, who was turning 20 that day, Tanying's friend and classmate. The birthday girl started to have fun after receiving all the gifts, she started drinking with her classmates, on the other hand, Tanying was the last one to arrive at the party since she had been delayed in choosing the perfect gift for her friend, she left the gift in a corner and also began to have fun with the others.

After midnight, everyone was gathered together in the middle of the room.

“Now, let's play rock, paper, scissors, whoever loses will have to do a challenge“ said one of the girls who was already tired of playing truth or dare.

“Emily, that game is disgusting, think of something not so childish“ A boy who was already drunk, complained.

“Today is the birthday of our hot, sexy redhead, so we'll make the game more exciting," she then flashed a wicked grin that could be compared to the Grinch's, which made some of the guests' skin crawl.

Since all the people at the party were college students, many were still quite innocent, as they were newcomers. They knew the game and the consequences of the challenges these could cause, only serving to make fools of themselves in some way or another, so they would end up being the laughingstock of everyone else there. But Emily had something else in mind for her good friend Tanying, her cheeks were already crimson from the excess amount of alcohol she had consumed. As the first round began, Emily winked at the others, who realized what she was planning.

“Listen carefully, this will be the first time we will make this game interesting, if any of us loses we will not be in the position to refuse to anything, so, if you are still in diapers, this is your time to leave, babies!“ Emily looked at everyone who had formed a circle, seeing how reluctant they were to leave, her lips drew a sinister smile “Whoever loses first will have to interrupt any private VIP room on this floor, enter as a host, drink whatever beverages the room's occupants are consuming, and kiss anyone present, male or female, on the lips. He or she will not be able to refuse“ Emily said.

Hearing the challenge, everyone laughed mischievously, they were eager for the first round to begin. That time one boy snorted in disgust, but said nothing, he knew there was already a plot and that one was directed against Tanying, who clearly couldn't stand up very well.

After playing rock, paper, scissors, everyone turned to look at Tanying, who in spite of being drunk, was surprised to be the only one to lose, since statistically two or three had to lose. She stared at her hand, which was the only one that formed the paper symbol. Then she looked at the others and saw that they all chose scissors, her eyes widened and her jaw tightened.

“FUCK!“ She yelled as she remembered the challenge, and immediately felt like crying just thinking that she would have to kiss a stranger and even worse, having to enter a private room where she could be immediately recognized and discredit the name of her family, which was one of the most important ones. She was aware of the problems that this could cause, but she could not back out of the challenge, since she had agreed from the beginning, so she took a few steps towards the door, while she staggered from one side to the other, she took all the courage from where there was none and sighed several times before opening the door.

Once she left the room, she took momentum to the door that was in front, which was 502, and as dizzy as she was, she just hit her head. Her friends who were following her to see if she would comply with the challenge, only laughed without helping, then she got up and continued walking down the hall while trying to enter one of the rooms, she passed through several doors, and when she was near room 508, someone from the door of room 510 opened and from it came out a couple who apparently were already leaving the room. Tanying moved hurriedly while in her head everything was spinning as if she was in an amusement park, so she put her hand on the knob to prevent the door from closing.

Her perfect slim figure managed to slip and stand at the entrance, while her curious eyes wandered around the room, her eye contact was inevitable with a man who was sitting on the sofas in the middle of the room, the low lights did not let her see clearly the man's features, although there were three more who looked at her with curiosity, her eyes were fixed on the man who was wearing a white T-shirt, black pants and leather shoes, that were also black.

Tanying froze for a moment. The bustle and whispers of her companions brought her back to her senses, so she took a deep breath and gathered more courage. Boldly, she stepped courageously into the room, still looking into those cold eyes with confident steps, avoiding staggering and looking more ridiculous than she already felt. As she approached, it was inevitable for her to breathe in the cigarette smoke that hung in the air, she wrinkled her nose at the same time showing a sweet and tender smile. As she approached her target, her gaze strayed for a matter of seconds to the small table where some empty wine bottles, cards, cigars and lighters could be seen.

“Fuck!“ She cursed to herself, remembering that she had to drink and she already felt bad enough to drink another glass of liquor. However, she dragged her feet towards the bar and took the first bottle that her eyes managed to see, once she drank from that bottle, she felt a current of adrenaline run through every part of her body, her eyes met again with those of her target who seemed to look at her strangely in the same way she did.

One step, two steps, three steps and when she least thought they were so close that the scent of his perfume drifted around her nose, without warning she collided her lips with that man's while she closed her eyes, once she kissed him, she turned around and fled as if she was a thief being caught.

Maximiliano had arrived at the club 20 minutes before, coming from the Dómale Dapane mansion, where he had been waiting for hours for the future wife that his grandfather had imposed on him in that marriage contract, and whom never showed up for that dinner.

Not being willing to wait for such a woman any longer, he had left that mansion somewhat annoyed, so he decided to go to a club to have a few drinks with a couple of friends, when he called them they were already in a different club than the ones he used to go to. He told Paul to take him to the club and to stay with him to take him home if he had too many drinks, once he arrived at the club he went to room 510. In a span of 30 minutes, he only dedicated himself to drink whiskey while watching the others play poker, suddenly he noticed that a couple was leaving, he could not help but look at the couple and say in his mind, what a way to waste life. At that moment he noticed a girl leaning out of the door preventing it from closing, somehow, that girl looked familiar to him, which made his facial expression change to a more serious manner.

He frowned.

Who the hell is she and why does it bother me to see her? He tried to remember where he had seen her before, as he lost himself in pondering who she might be and where he had seen her. Maximiliano, lost in his thoughts, totally ignored the time and space around him, could only wake up when he felt someone else's soft lips on his, he was stunned at that instant, it was no more and no less than the same woman with the impossible to miss hair color that scratched his car in the morning.

After the surprising kiss, Maximiliano was petrified in his seat, while his face darkened like the night, as he saw the girl leaving the room 510 at full speed.

“Paul“ he roared, furious.

“Yes, sir?”

“You let her get away this time, and you'll go on a vacation with no return“ He threatened already irritated. Paul was bold enough to leave the room immediately and start looking for the girl who had been too brave to defy her boss twice in the same day. On the other hand, the other two men pretended nothing had happened and continued playing poker, because neither of them was prepared to face Maximiliano Cash's fury.

Suddenly a cell phone rang, breaking the huge awkward silence that filled the room.

“Maximiliano, how could you have left like that?“ The old man Cash's annoyed voice was heard on the other line as soon as the call was connected. The old man was upset enough, due to the embarrassment his grandson had put him through at the Villa of the Dómale.

Maximiliano didn't bother to answer him, he just ended the call. He was annoyed enough to have to deal with his grandfather” What a shitty day!“ he snorted with annoyance.