Chapter 174: Why cry over spilt milk...

ALL NIGHT LONG, I TRIED TO AVOID ADAM but I could feel his gaze falling on me. Fortunately, there were too many people and my presence was constantly requested so I didn't get a chance to satisfy his ego.

After the award ceremony, we went over to the hall beneath for an after event party which was mostly a form of buffet supper. There were cocktails, red wine and fruit juice on the counter along with several other alcoholic drinks. Waiters and waitresses were everywhere serving all kinds of delicious snacks; seafood, and many other. The gleaming banquet tables had all these foods and I was having a hard time to pick one. I flashed my eyes all over the place with my disposable plate wondering just what I should get. Abruptly, I threw my eyes to the direction of the main entrance and they landed on Adam. A startled look passed over his face when he looked back at me. I knew he couldn't believe I was the same woman drenched in tears the other day.

Why cry over spilled milk? It might have even been spoilt. I told myself. I knew he couldn't believe the way I looked because even I knew I've never looked so glamorous before. On top of that, elegance and confidence complimented my external beauty making me the goddess in this place. I was one after all. I didn't need him to compliment myself. I fought so hard to get to where I was and I wasn't going to let a mere boyfriend make all my efforts go to waste.

Adam's cowardice in going for another woman other than me had slowly caused me to differentiate into a beautiful swan that was shinning in the grand flowery light. I loved myself and the sheer contentment in that put a bloom on me. Now that I won woman of the year and Vogue's magazine was released, I was unstoppable.

I turned away from him and asked one of the waiters to serve me some chicken-mushroom stir-fry. I had two full spoons and carefully sat down back on the table with Shanice and the girls.

"Took you some time...did you lose your way or something??" Shanice asked sarcastically.

"Or maybe she found some charmer on her way ...." Liszt rubbed her forearm against mine and I rolled my eyes. Charmer?? More like a lackluster. I paid no attention to them and quietly ate my meal. Shanice noticed my quietness and moved closer to me.

"Hey ....you okay???" She asked putting her arm around my neck.

"I think so...." I replied.

"You don't look so...." She added and we laughed. "Care for a walk?"

"Thank you ..." I nodded as I placed my fork down and stood up while she pulled my chair and helped me up.

"Where are you guys going??" Kita asked and I looked at Shanice who simply grinned and pushed me away. We exited the hall and stood on the balcony outside which was rather freezing. Although the view of the entire city was beautiful from up here. With the Earth's surface in darkness, night images of cities are always a whole new world awaiting to be discovered. The lights looked so beautiful like the starry night above us.

"That's not something you see everyday...", Shanice smiled and I smiled back. I never got such views back in Buenos. Too busy and I must say, maybe I just never admired the beauty that was there in the first place.

"So...did you see Adam?"

"Did you bring me up here to get some fresh air or to further spoil my mood....???" I laughed it off but she didn't.

"So it's him....your unpleasantness is very obvious" She turned back to looking at the entire city with me. "Why do you let him have such an effect on you???"

"I don't know.....I honestly don't know nor do I wish for it to continue this way...." I admitted. I sighed and peeped through my watch to look at the time. It was only 9pm and I wish I could just leave. A hot bath should definitely do the trick. I saw Shanice open her purse and take out a cigar.

"Want one???" She asked. I gave her a sly smile and shook my head. "Good for you...I don't smoke...."

"Yet....you don't smoke yet...." She added as she lit her cigar and smoked. She opened her mouth and a puff of smoke escaped into the air around us like a crowd of bitterness.

"How do you live like that??" I questioned her smoking.

"Life forces you to live with it...." Her tone was rather sad as she dusted her cigarette over the balcony and put it back into her mouth.

"I see...." I replied looking back at the city view.

"Men are dogs Eleanor.....pure dogs. I mean I don't trust anything they say or do. As far as I am concerned, men lie. They also cheat and steal too. Some of them are cowards and can't even face you in the eye and say they don't love you....they'd rather stab you in the back with some whore or worst threesome motions going on in their bedrooms when you're away...in your own bed!!"

"Oh.....mY Goodness....Shanice.....Oh.. oh my word...." I got disturbed after what she just said.

"Believe me it's true...I've seen it....why do you think I don't date?" I looked at her with a puzzled look, unbelieving what she's saying. I just thought she doesn't date because she's just not interested but little did I know of the secrets that are behind the smile she wears. Pain...nothing but pain.

"What about Brennan...??" I asked curiously.

"That idiot....it was only business between us, nothing more...."

"Am sorry....."

"Don't be...." she said, another puff of smoke escaping her lips. "Do you remember when you told me he didn't deserve me?? It was in that moment that I realised you were right and I ended our business deal ...." I chuckled.

"You're the only person that saw truth and light in me, Eleanor. I was too stubborn to admit it at first but you never gave up on me. Thank you...." she teared up and rushed into hugging me. I hugged her back and we stayed like that long enough for me start smelling her weed on me. I gently pulled away and wiped her tears.

"I voted for you....you know....you deserved that award....." she pursed her lips and sniffed before turning back to the balcony.

"Thank you too Shanice...." I ran my hand on her back. "Am sorry though....for the pain you've experienced...from anything...."

"It's alright....." she smiled and I smiled back, the mood suddenly becoming quiet. "So when someone openly cheats....I don't know but be grateful... at least they showed you what they want and sadly it's not you. You're gonna cry yes but with time, you'll heal and move on... probably find someone even better...." she changed the topic and I laughed at her timing.

"And then what?? The same happens and the cycle continues...."

"Exactly why I said men are dogs...."

"Maybe I should just get myself a prince...." I laughed and stared at her. She raised her eyebrows hysterically and laughed the next second.

"Those dogs are the worst....they can sleep with you on this bed while a bunch of women are on the couch...in the same room...waiting their turn...."

"You have got to be kidding me..." I gave her a gruesome look and she laughed at me. That was gross and brutal. Who would let other people watch you have sex? Wasn't that supposed to be the highest peak of intimacy between lovers and a possible secret to their love? Why let others watch that?

"I told you ....I've seen things.....big thing I wish I didn't see...." She finished her cigarette and dropped the rest on the ground, stamping it with her heel. I didn't think we were supposed to do that but I didn't care, and neither did she.

"That's cruel...." I cried.

"Double cruel.....so cupcake.....this man of yours....tell him to man-up okay....??? You don't gat to waste your tears over him like he's some popquiz...yeish....let him say it straight if it's you or not and you can both live your lives. Fair???"

"Maybe I should just go home...I mean why did he come this far just to spoil my mood. When did he even get to New York....???" I buried my face in my hands and tried not to cry.

"No...no..no.no. The night is too young. Besides, what will you do when you go home?? Soak in your tears and dump your body in a warm bath???" She asked with her arm around my shoulder walking with me back into the building.

"That's exactly what was on my mind...." I laughed as I crouched my hand around her waist.

"No girlfriend. Tonight we're gonna have fun!" She screamed and we walked back into the hall. The ambience was a bit friendlier with most of the people done with their meals and mostly chatting. Whoever said this is where business deals are sealed wasn't wrong because I could see small gatherings of people discussing whatever they were discussing. Some were laughing, some shaking hands while some clapped their hands. Clattering of the glass tumblers echoed silently as people cheered among themselves.

"Do you see??? Now why would you want to go home and miss out on such??? Aargh!! Come with me...." She dragged my hand and I wondered where she was taking me to exactly. We walked past the crowd and to the very end of the hall. The bar! How could I not see that? Oh Daphne.

"Two whiskey shots please...." She requested to the bartender who did not hesitate and brought them in a second.

"You take the other one...." She said and quickly spilled it in her mouth, following a very dirty expression like she'd been pricked with a syringe. I was still puzzled and didn't know what to do.

"Hey...get the other one ..." She pushed it towards me and after my unresponsiveness, she rolled her eyes, pushed open my mouth and spilled it in, down my throat.

"Good girl....but let's take it higher. Let's try Vodka...vodka shots please..." She asked for it and this bartender simply did as she asked. I was down to my knees recovering from the terror that just happened. Before I could even breathe, she was about to do the same thing with the vodka shot but I shook my head and offered my hand instead. I took it from her hand and threw it down my throat in an instant. Gosh this stuff was bitter. Why do we kill ourselves like this? Shanice on the other hand was very busy ordering more shots.

"I...I.....don't drink that much ..." I opposed her as early as possible.

"Yet....you don't drink this much yet...."

"No...am very serious....no...." I lifted my hands in surrender but to the look of things someone couldn't take no for an answer.

"I'll tell you what...if you can drink more shots than me, you can go home and do that bathtub thing....." she layed the deal and I rolled my eyes not sure if I should take it.

"Uh ...excuse me...am sorry ma'am but you can't get drunk. Rules are rules...."

"Rules???" Shanice asked in anger. "What rules??"

"The code of conduct for the use of this building states on condition that people don't get drunk to avoid unnecessary fights and 'drink and drive, hit and runs' apparently"

"What if am gonna go by taxi?" Shanice asked still persistent.

"I don't know...but you can't get...dru---"

"Tell you what .....why don't you meet me outside in an hour and you can put your baby into me free of charge...." She wiggled her eyebrows the very second my jaw dropped to the ground. This girl was unbelievable. I quickly put my hand across my mouth not sure of what to do. Was this happening?? I looked at Shanice and she was so dead serious. My eyes then shifted to this man so I'd see what he says after her offer.

What was he going to do??