Dancing with Danger

When I saw mum and Greg approaching our table, I rolled my eyes to Jason.

"What the hell is the meaning of this, Jason? A while ago, you're telling me that mum is setting me up with Gregory and now, they're here?! I thought we were meeting with an investor!" I suddenly felt irritated that I wanted to turn the table.

"Because, this is what I'm trying to tell you about!" Jason murmuring under his breath while smiling to the two people I wanted to kill right now.

I kicked him under the table to let out my frustration. "And you're letting her do that to me?"

"That's why you have to do a better job being a "good sister" to Greg and you can start with an apology."

Jason stood to greet mum with a light peck on her left cheek. Meanwhile, I was being grumpy.

Gregory was looking deadly handsome as he appeared before me. Oh, God, how can you drop something so perfect here on Earth? Why can't you just keep him there in heaven or hell? Why do I have to deal with this handsome devil bringing chaos to my little perfectly boring life? Then, the heaven fell on me as I cringed at the thought of what I did this morning. I suddenly became conscious of myself.

Gregory let out his killer smile; eyes wrinkled, fine lines etched on the both sides of his cheeks. Those pearl white teeth might be hungry for blood. Jason sensed my disappointment so he pinched my arm to make me do the same greeting while whispering, "You shouldn't be getting on her bad side if you don't want that to happen."

I kissed mum on her left cheek and gave out my most fake smile to Gregory before they took their seats. Gregory sat beside me and mum sat opposite me . I couldn't believe this was happening.

"I thought I was supposed to meet with an investor. Do you want now to be a part of my project, mum? That is so not you," starting the conversation with sarcasm.

Mum just raised her eyebrow. "You shouldn't be talking to me. This gentleman with me is the right person for it."

"Apologize," Jason coughed. My brother is not letting me get away from it.

I turned to Gregory with the best smile I can afford. "Oh, uhm, Gregory? I would like to apologize for what happened this morning, I wasn't in the right mood. Hangover, I guess?" Then, I forced a laugh. "I would really love to know you more because I know you're as great as my BROTHER. Oh, wait? It would be nice to have another BROTHER, I mean, Jason can be annoying sometimes."

Therefore, dear self, stop fantasizing your "other" brother. I had to remind myself.

Jason almost choked with his water when I emphasized "brother" too much. On the other hand, Gregory was surprised and didn't respond.

"Yeah, speaking of the party, I want to know about the DJ who has been ruining my parties. Jason, I know you hired them but I have to know these people. If they are going to crash my parties, they better do it right. I am expecting you to arrange a meeting with them." Mum is deliberately changing the topic.

Jason tried to look away from me and smiled nervously at mum. "Yeah, sure?"

I kicked Jason's leg to warn him but it's too late. When Hera demands, Hera gets it. Then, I found Gregory glaring at me suspiciously with his thick black eyebrows and eyelashes meeting, creating a sultry gaze. Then, a villainous smile formed his lips.

"Yes, Gregory?" calling him out with a shaky laugh. "You have anything to say?"

He straightened, laughing like he had something to surprise us. "I think I've met her."

Oh, f*ck. Right! He saw me in the cabin at the party. Hera would definitely use it against me.

Jason, feigning ignorance, looked surprised. "Well, I haven't personally met them, actually."

Trying to get out of the conversation, I diverted my attention to the sushi plates placed in front of us. "I think we have to dig in before these sushi go back to the ocean."

Concentrating much on the food in front of us, I refused to join their in-between talks.

"By the way, Greg will be staying with us in the villa," Mum said, which got my attention. Mum really is an evil mastermind.

"Oh, really?" Eyeing Jason and Grey exchanging confused looks. "You can say no, Gregory. You wouldn't want an overbearing mum hovering over you for the length of your stay." I was offering Gregory the option for peace of mind.

Mum, looking disappointed, cut off. "I don't take 'no' as an answer." Mum declared like a death sentence.

Mum, glaring at me for utter disrespect, was quick to get back at me.

"Oh, I have signed you up for the VS summer campaign. Will be sending you the details later."

My jaw dropped for the evident disregard of my opinion, leaving me with no option. "Yeah, really? Do I have a choice? Guess what, mum? One more year, I am getting out of your grasp." I smiled for my nearing freedom.

"Yeah, what is that about?" Gregory gave me his full attention as he put down his chopsticks.

"I am turning 25 in less than 10 months, then I will be getting my inheritance. And I don't have to stay with mum. Amazing, right?" declaring with much jolliness to piss off mum. And she was really pissed.

"You don't have to remind me dear, I am ready for it." My smile dropped when mum said it like a threat.

---

I was getting out of my office, when I received a call from Jason.

"Artemis, you have to come with us to the nightclub."

"With Gregory? Why?"

"You have to get on his side so that mum won't totally corrupt him. And this is your 'sister duty'."

"I hope you're doing this with good intentions." And I ended the call.

If I am going to meet Gregory again, I better have to do it right. I can't imagine embarrassing myself again.

I saw April leaving the office so I asked her. "It's Friday, Pril. Do you have any plans?"

"None, actually." She answered in a little less happy tone.

"You wanna party?" Inviting April would be great so that I have someone to actually party with. Jason is a party animal that I can't keep up.

April's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically.

Taking out my black card, I told her, "Well, let's go shopping first."

April jumped and clasped her arms around me. "Let's go then."

I like to shop from time to time, especially with April. She has such a great sense of fashion that she might be working in the wrong company.

There was a long line at the club's entrance when we arrived so probably this exclusive club was packed. Jason co-owns the club. April, being excited as she was, went to the entrance first. She got confused when the bouncer stopped her. I smiled at the both of them then he finally let us in.

"Whoa, this is not my first time here but the club is unusually packed. Is there a celebrity?" April said as she made her way into the club, shoving shoulders as she passed.

The music blasted from all corners of the club. The bar area is full and so is the dance floor. We went to the VIP area on the second floor and found Jason and Gregory already enjoying themselves. Jason invited two of his friends and a couple of models.They were having the time of their lives that made April hesitant.

"Are we joining them?"

To stop her from having second thoughts, I dragged her with me to where Jason was. When we arrived, the girls were cuddling Jason and Gregory who were in between the two. Jason's two friends were Martin, who co-owns the club, and Preston, an executive from the company, seated after Jason. I understood why April was hesitant since she was partying with her bosses. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. Trust me," I assured her.

We were standing before them when Gregory got all my attention. He looked so damn gorgeous in his black cotton shirt tightly wrapping his taunt hone chest muscles and slim waist, probably hard as rocks, and a ripped black jeans revealing his long, muscled legs. A gold chain resting on his fine collarbone and I continued to trace up to his sharp Adam's apple which moves as he drank his glass of vodka. I mean, he is already damn gorgeous in a business and casual attire but embodying a bad guy, hotshot rock star of a famous super band is a whole different story. Did I mention that he had his black as night hair loose? I felt my jaw dropped the entire time I was staring at him. I only went back to my senses when he finally sensed my creepiness. He looked at me expressionless at first then gave out his killer half-smile. He nodded maybe as a welcome? I felt like a teenager in love inside. Again, I tried to muster my invisible and invincible courage to snap out of my fantasy.

I practically shouted when we sat with them. "Hey, it's still early but you're all already drunk." April sat beside Gregory and I sat beside her. Martin, a family friend, transferred beside me. "Come on, you call this drunk? We can even do car races in this state." He told me as he got cozy beside me.

"You better not," I warned him.

"I had already ordered your drink but let me make that two since you have a friend with you."

I forgot to introduce April, so I did. "Guys, this is April, my friend."

"And your secretary. Who does that? I mean, you're really weird," whispered Martin. I slapped his thigh hard to make him shut up.

"April, this is Martin, co-owner of the club. You already know Preston."

Martin volunteered to mention the two girls' names. "Anna and Charlotte."

"The one you haven't met yet, Gregory." When I pointed at Gregory, she was smiling like a high schooler. "He was indeed in that column," she whispered back.

April was a beauty herself, sporting a short, emerald green, sequined, bodycon mini dress while I went with a white V-cut, glittery, crop top and a black denim pants and boots.

The rest were already drowning with tequilas while April and I were chilling with our margaritas. They were talking about cars and everything where men's interests are.

"Shall we do a little street racing later?" Jason invited in his half-drunk state followed by a series of approval from Martin and Preston.

I glared at him as a warning when I caught Gregory staring at me in amusement. "Gregory? Don't even dare!"

"Hey, I'm not saying anything!" He raised his hands in defense. "But if your brother insists….."

"Really? I didn't know alcohol could drop your IQ to zero!" I told them off.

"Don't be such a sissy, Missy!" Martin teases me with my nickname. "I know you like it too."

"Well, you can do whatever you want as long as you're not alcohol induced! I will even let you dance naked, if you want to!"

"No, that definitely needs some alcohol!" A boisterous laugh followed.

Yes, maybe it was alcohol whose creating my imagination that Gregory was stealing glances at me. Because, probably he wasn't since he was being entertained well by Anna, or Charlotte.

Few strippers came and danced on our table. Some were on the dancing pole not far away from us. Anna and Charlotte were irritated (and I was too since they were enjoying it much especially Gregory) that they invited us to dance on the dance floor below. We followed and danced till our feet hurt and till my worries dissolved in the heavy beats. These girls were not that bad at all.

The next thing we knew, the boys who were left behind followed us. They brought with them a bottle of tequila. They ushered us to a table near the dancing floor. Preston poured us all shots of tequila which we all drank in one motion. I saw April cringed at the strong flavor but was enjoying it. Few shots followed and we were all hyped. We danced and danced in pairs. I first danced with Martin and April was with Preston. Jason and Greg were with their own girls. Martin was gentleman enough to not make me uncomfortable even he did nothing all night but flirt at me.

Out of nowhere, Gregory dragged me away from our group. Immediately, my internal alarms signaled red alert. What the hell is he doing?

"Is there any problem?" I shouted as the music was too loud for me to be heard.

"No! I just want to have a moment with you!" He didn't smile. He pulled me by my waist, not leaving any space between us. He was a few inches taller than me so he was looking down at me, staring at my entire face. I tried not to panic as he pushed my hair away from my face. He was breathing me and I was pretty conscious with my beads of sweat.

He didn't even give me a chance to react properly like I was drawn to him as he cast his attractive spell on me. My hormones in me were fighting like raging bulls or were it just the butterflies in my stomach? I think all the rational thinking I have disappeared like the people around us and I felt like I didn't have any control left except for the strings to be pulled by Gregory. To be honest, I was trembling with excitement.

Then, he reached for my hands and guided them to put them on his wide shoulders. His face was dark which was temporarily illuminated by the neon lights. We slow-danced alone in my mind though we're in the middle of a hyped crowd dancing to EDM.

"I just want to say that you look ravishing tonight," he said in a breathy voice. A smile finally broke out from his face. Then in an instant, he closed the distance between our faces. His lips almost brushed the side of my lips as he traced the length of my cheek towards my ear. All I could hear now is the beat of my heart echoing inside of me. He hugged me tight enough that my breasts were squeezed against his hard, muscled chest. His warm breath teased my earlobes that sent tingling sensation all over my hot body. He finally whispered, "And by the way, I can NOT be your brother. But you can be my lover."

How I wish I was drunk enough to not make sense of what he said but my mind is still clear as day to hear and relish every word he said. I stared at his deep ash grey eyes, looking for the truth behind them. With all the alcohol in my system, my mind went hazy and my body hungry. His parched, pale, kissable lips got all my attention now. I looked up and reached out for the back of his head, rustling his hair. When I'm about to pull him closer to my face, I heard him chuckle.

In a fraction of second, a hard force slapped my spirit. Did he just chuckle? Di he what?! What does that mean? A rush of thoughts came flooding me that it was too much for my malfunctioned brain to handle. Was he just playing me? Yes, he was still chuckling like an asshole that he really is. I was such a fool to fall for his stupid antics.

"You're drunk!" It's time to panic so I pushed him away and left him on the dance floor.

I didn't know if I should feel relieved or disappointed. That was a crazy moment which was too good to be true.

I went to the restroom to freshen up myself and my mind. Gregory is such an asshole. I could even imagine my mum smiling devilishly as I watched my reflection in the mirror. I tried to be calm, thinking Gregory was not on his right mind to say that. But I remembered that alcohol could bring down a man's inhibition. I cringed at the thought. I was still numb with all the Gregory's foolishness after-effect in me. Every time I act stupidly around him, I just wanted to kill myself.

When I have mustered all my invisible and invincible courage and decided to go back, I saw the rest of the group back on the dance floor. Suddenly, I heard some gasps erupting somewhere near them. I quickly pushed through the crowd where some had already stopped dancing.

The crowd stood around a girl sitting on the floor with one hand covering her cheek. April was standing before Gregory while the rest was watching them with amusement.

"You better know your place, bitch! When a guy says no, it's a no!" April shouted at the girl on the floor.

The girl stood up and tried to attack April but she was grabbed by her friends.

"Well, bitch, you should tell that to yourself! And who the hell are you? I bet you didn't even know him!" She was pointing at Gregory.

April hesitated for a moment but she held up her head high and shouted, "He's my man, bitch! To prove that to you…." She rotated towards Gregory whose presence stood out in the crowd. She placed her hands on both sides of Gregory's face and pulled down to hers.

The next thing I knew, April was hungrily kissing Gregory. The crowd cheered for them and everyone went back to dancing.

I, on the other hand, was frozen in my place not knowing how I should react. Too much drama for one single night.