CHAPTER 3

"Barman, can I get a glass of tequila, please?" I shouted over the loud noise emanating from the speaker all the time reminding myself I can't afford the luxury of attending parties even more this masked party Lucy has succeeded in dragging me to and looking like one of those whores at Allen.

"2 glasses of Tequila" a deep hoarse voice behind me orders. I turn to take a look at its owner. He stands behind the bar, talking to who I later got to know is the celebrant. it didn't help that it was a mask party and that the chandeliers as much as they were beautiful, the lights were confusing.

The barman placed a glass of tequila at my front and before I could say "Jack Robinson" Mr deep hoarse voice took it and gulped it in one breath. Shock turns to amusement which turns to a little bit of anger. I tapped him on his arm, he looked at me like I wasn't there and turned back the bar to the birthday guy again.

Just then the barman dropped two glasses of tequila, apologizing for the inconvenience. I nodded and waved my hand, signifying that it was nothing. I took my glass and went looking for Lucy.

I see Lucy with her husband. Rueben at the VIP LOUNGE, she was twerking on him. It can never be Carlos, he would never do things with me. He hid me like a plague. I took a shot of the tequila and approached them. Lucy sees me and bounces her butt a little more on her husband's groin, he gives a dramatic groan and teasingly pushes her to me. I smiled but I already reconciled with the fact that happily ever after was most definitely not for me.

"Girl, you left me!" I shout over the blaring music, accusingly.

"But you were out there, getting the men!" she shouts back, laughing

I raised an eyebrow "What men?"

"That man" she points at Mr deep hoarse voice who is now sitting on the stool at the bar, talking to someone else.

I kissed my teeth." that dude who took my drink right in front of me without so much as a Hi"

"Did you try telling him it was yours?"

"I did but he looked right past me."

"The best ones are the rude ones" she laughed

I rolled my eyes so far back in my head, that I could swear I saw my brain and followed her outside for some barbeque.

Tell Lucy your man's troubles and she'd encourage you to lead a promiscuous life.

We got to the barbeque and looked around for plates. Someone gave us a plate and Lucy began scoping the freshly grilled meat.

"Let me tell you how I met Reuben"

I groaned. She tells me her love story with Reuben anytime she wants me to go get laid with the most dangerous dude in a place.

"Whatchu groaning for?"

"Lu…do you know how many times you've told me about you and Reuben?" I throw my head back in an exaggerated exasperation.

She laughs "You are welcome" leading us to a chair, she gently pushes me on a seat and gives me the plate containing grilled meat.

"Huh? Aren't you eating?" I was already digging into the meat. Whoever grilled this shii did a very good job.

"Gimme some sec, I will be back" and with that, she disappeared.

I look around the environment. I am not a social butterfly. I could stay in my room painting and brooding every day for 365 days and even an added leap year. Bring someone to a party and disappear on them. Typical Lucy.

I quietly munched on my barbecue, willing myself to forget Carlos and enjoy this noise when I felt someone touch me.

"Who's in charge of this?" He points towards the barbecue stand.

"I don't know" I shrug my shoulders. I recognize him. Mr deep hoarse voice.

He took one quick look at me and turned away. I made to get back to my plate and I saw him turning to look at me. And since I couldn't see his head, I followed the direction of his head.

His head stopped at my breast. I looked down at myself and tried covering the long "v" shaped dress Lucy had cajoled me into. My breasts were very visible. The back was bare down to the top of my butt. The tiny straps on my shoulders were what was holding the dress to my body. And to crown it up, It has a slit that runs from my thighs down my right ankle. Lucy had suggested black. She said it complimented the color of my skin.

Mr hoarse voice's head moved down to my legs, as I tried covering the slitted path. I swore never to listen to Lucy again when it comes to wardrobe matters. Just then someone clears their throat. I turned to look and saw Lucy smiling at the scene like a little child who had just won a puzzle and was given candy.

"Lucy…"I jumped, almost tearing up with relief. Quickly putting the plate of grilled meat on the table next to my chair "You left me!" She reaches out to me. I quickly bury my head in her shoulder. I was shivering like I had caught a cold. I could still feel Mr.'s deep hoarse voice eyes on me.

"I am sorry baby," she says, stroking my head. "What did you do to my friend?"

"Who?" I could hear him ask like he just didn't spend extra seconds looking at me.

"My friend. This friend" I could tell Lucy was pointing at me.

"Nothing." He said it so casually that I was forced to turn around.

"You were looking at me," I said accusingly, my voice breaking.

He took another look at my breasts popping out of the upper part of my dress "Sue me!" With that, he walked away, inside the party.

I was so shocked but Lucy was more shocked. She stood, mouth agape, looking from me back to the guy who had so thoroughly unnerved me. Who looks at a lady boldly in public, lustfully? I hated myself for not having the courage to tell him off. I hated this party. I hated this dress. I started to cry.

Lucy wasn't done being shocked. "My God!!!" She exclaimed, extremely amused. "What was that?? Who the fuck was that?" One look at the way through which the stranger went, she gave me a handkerchief from her bag. "Take. Blow into it" One more look at me she hisses "Whatever are you crying for Em…"

I have asked myself that question and didn't know so I just told her "I don't know."

"Tsk! Let's sit" She leads me back to the seat I was sitting on before and drags another to herself. "I get aroused by arrogant men but that…" she points in the direction of Mr. Hoarse's voice "…that person?? That is the deal!" She sounded so excited that I got lost temporarily in what she was talking about

"Excuse me?" I blinked

"You are excused Erm…" she claps her hands excitedly "Now, that is the Lott and lottt and lotttt of men I was talking about"

I groaned and rolled my eyes. "I wanna go home"

"Say what now?" She gave me a death stare

"Home"

"When the party's just starting" she had a mischievous grin on her face

"Lu…" I groaned. We've been here for more than 3 hours…."

"An extra hour more won't hurt…" she cuts in. "Now, stand…"

"Huh?" I blinked in total confusion

"I said to stand"

"Why?" I didn't like the look on her face.

"Okay…" she stood and gently pulled me out of my chair "Let's see what we have here" She took some steps backward, looking me up and down, excitedly.

"Are you about to sell me off…"

"Sell you?" She laughs "I won't earn much if I do, babes"

"Stupid"

She came closer, and did a little arranging of my dress. She kisses her fingers "maiiii biatch!"

"You wanna pimp me?" I accused taking some steps back away from her like she was some plague.

"Is that how highly you think of me?" She feigns annoyance. "Come" she was already pulling me into the party

"I don't even like him like that Lu…"I began to protest.

"You will after he replaces his eyes with his hands on your body"