"I'm done," Jo placed the powder brush on her dresser and stepped back.

Finally able to see my reflection, I beamed back at the beautiful woman beaming at me. Jo, modest as she was, was skilled in the art of makeup and my face looked amazing. I puckered my red lips and giggled like a silly teenager.

"I take it you like?" Jo asked.

"Like? I love it. Thank you." I smiled at her.

"It's nothing girl, now help me decide, the pink or the yellow?" She lifted up two gowns and my head tilted a bit, weighing the options with scrutiny.

"Yellow."

"I knew you were wise," she chuckled before walking into her closet with both gowns, "I'm going to finish my makeup in here as well," she called out.

"Alright," I called back.

I stood up from the dresser chair and moved to the full length mirror placed against the dark purple wall. My old, but reliable deep V long sleeved top was neatly tucked into the matte red miniskirt that hadn't been out of my closet for a while prior this night. My gaze ended on the black heeled knee high boots my mom gifted me for Christmas last year.

I looked good.

The long awaited opening of Bella's cousin's club was finally here. Jo and I, had earlier on in the week decided to meet at her place then leave for the club together, where we'd meet up with Bella and her boyfriend and Heather and her fiance.

Jo emerged from her closet minutes later, her makeup done and outfit on.

"We look yummy." She winked.

"Yes we do." I grinned. After ensuring we were completely set, we left her house and hailed a taxi to the venue.

The exterior of the club, Bling Bling lived up to its name. The building was mostly black but the luminous lighting around, painted it alight with shine. I was still admiring the outside of the club when Bella and her boyfriend arrived. Shortly after, Heather and her fiance arrived as well. We spent the next few minutes going through the introductions before Bella led the way into the Bling Bling.

The ground floor was already filled with people dancing, drinking and grinding. The music was loud but it instantly made me want to dance. Bella continued moving till we were on the second floor which was the VIP lounge. We ended up seated at a private table inside another mini lounge.

"Drink, party and have fun to your fill everyone! Drinks on the house tonight!" She declared. At the same moment, waiters wearing black bowties appeared and served the table with trays of different alcohols and glasses.

"Your cousin's club is amazing Bella." I said over the music.

"Really amazing." Heather smiled.

"I guess the idiota did do well this time," Bella's smile was full of mirth and pride, "cheers to all of us and Bling Bling!" She downed a shot of vodka and grinned again.

The table remained lively as we drank, cheered and conversed. As the first hour dwindled by, Bella and Rafael were the first to leave the table to the dance floor.

"We are going to check out the bar on the first floor and then dance a little," Heather said over the music and Jo and I nodded.

"Have fun you two." Jo winked and they left the table with wide grins. I smiled as their bodies dimmed through the mix of excited beautifully dressed people.

"Want to get shitfaced drunk, dance and maybe catch the eye of a few hot guys?" Jo raised her glass up and I laughed, immediately nodding my head.

"Yes please," I raised my glass as well and clinked it against hers.

"...and she never ever tried it again." I laughed hard as the story I was telling Jo ended. She was howling in laughter now and sloppily placed her glass on the table. We'd been drinking, sharing stories and laughing at everything that was funny and not for the last half hour or so.

"That was gold."

"Yup," I hiccupped and drank from my glass unsure what number it was now. The drink was a little bitter but it increased my delirium and I enjoyed it.

"I'm ready to dance now."

"Me too," I threw my hands up.

The song the Dj played was a little familiar, but I couldn't really pinpoint the name or artiste. Dancing with Jo on the dancefloor took me back to the last time we went clubbing and how much fun we'd had. Spinning and whining surprisingly didn't affect my head. It only made me feel lighter.

"My thighs are going to ache like a bitch in the morning." Jo laughed ruefully as we walked back to our table.

"Our heads too,"

"And there they are," I heard someone say. Bella, her boyfriend and another tall, handsome male intersected us before we could reach the mini lounge, "Ramos you know this chica, so meet Ophelia, Ophelia this is my cousin, Ramos."

"Ah, prima your usefulness continues to prove itself with your endless number of beautiful friends," he winked in my direction and Bella hit his chest, "a beautiful name for an even more beautiful woman." He smiled seductively as he took my hand and kissed the back of it.

A coy laugh escaped me at his flattery.

"Joanna, long time no see."

"The club is lit Ramos." Jo did a little dance.

"They can't ever do it like me." He smirked confidently.

"We're off again guys, see you later." Bella blew a kiss and walked away with Rafael.

"Ladies, how about you join me and my friends at our table?" Ramos suggested. Jo and I briefly stared at each other before grinning in acceptance.

His table was at the opposite end of ours and the ambience of the mini lounge was even darker. I faintly noticed only one other male sitting, who oddly seemed familiar. I was unsure if he was really familiar or it was simply my inebriated state playing a mind game on me.

"This is Mark," Ramos introduced.

"Ophelia? Is that you?"

I squinted my eyes and slowly smiled.

"Mark!" I called giddily. "I thought you looked familiar."

"Fancy meeting you here," He chuckled then his eyes shifted over, presumably to Jo who was already in a conversation with Ramos, "and who is the beautiful lady next to you?" As he inquired, Jo turned.

"My friend Joanne, Jo meet Mark." I grinned.

"Girl you never told me you had such a handsome friend," she smirked and I instantly shifted so she was next to him. I faced Ramos who then delved into telling me interesting tales about the development of his club. He was talking about the inspiration behind the name when Jo and Mark suddenly stood, and departed the mini lounge leaving only the two of us.

"How well can you hold your drink?" Ramos smirked deeply and I laughed.

"I have awards for this,"

He proposed a drink off in the course of our conversation which I happily obliged to.

"Let's see then," he smirked again and we rushed the lines of shots in front of us. When I dropped the fifth and final glass down, he was still on his fourth.

"I told you!" I jumped a little in my seat giggling like I'd been doing all night.

"Only this round—ah, my other friend is here," Ramos announced. I looked up and my smile immediately fell.

"What's u—" he started but almost as soon paused, as his dark eyes landed on me. "Ophelia?"

Somewhere at the back of my mind, it made a little sense that since Mark was here, he was as well.

"You know all my amigos," Ramos pouted, looking funnily adorable and I guiltily nodded while William sat opposite us.

"How do you kno–" Ramos began but was interrupted by his phone ringing, "what does Pero want now? Club business is calling, give me ten fifteen minutes. Keep the beautiful lady company Will. When I return, we'll all share a drink." He grinned before leaving the mini lounge.

Well, what are the odds?

Without hesitation, I slid over to William who was now pouring himself a drink.

"What an unpleasant surprise." I smiled and he quirked a brow up.

"I'm starting to think you're a drunk." He said and after a few trials, I realized a lot of exertion would be needed to focus my eyes to a harsh glare. Those last shots were starting to get to me.

"This is why I don't like you," I waggled a finger and my lips turned down.

"Only that?" He smirked.

"You rude, arrogant man, you don't speak to me all week and when you do, you call me a drunk! You don't even tell me how pretty I look." I reclined into the soft chair and sulked.

"Did you want me to talk to you? Do you want me to tell you, you're pretty?" He angled his body closer to mine.

"No, I don't like you," I replied and he chuckled.

"You look very pretty tonight Ophelia."

"Liar, you're just saying it because I told you too."

"I mean it. You look extra pretty." He tucked my hair behind my ear and a little shiver ran down my spine. The private lounges were cold.

"I am, aren't I?" I smiled proudly. He laughed again and shook his head. Laughing, he was even more handsome. My eyes wondered away from him to the dance floor. The next song started and I slowly murmured the lyrics or at least what I believed to be the lyrics.

"I want to drink!" I announced.

"I think you've had enough for one night."

"You don't know how much I've had."

"And neither do you at this point."

"Fine," I paused, "I want to dance then."

"No." He answered sternly.

"Who said I want to dance with you anyway?" I stood up but he pulled me back down.

"Will–"

"Come on, we are going."

"Going? Going where?" I eyed him carefully.

"Away from here, you are completely wasted."

"I'm not a waste bin," I frowned.

"How did you—never mind, the more reason you should leave. Stand up, we are leaving."

"You go away. Leave me alone," I motioned for him to leave.

"How about we go down and I get you a drink? Have you seen the bar yet?"

I stared at him feeling skeptical about his offer but shook my head nonetheless.

"Good, let's go and I'll get you a drink from there," he held out his hand which I slowly accepted. Probably not a wise decision...

We reached the first floor in little time but rather than heading towards the bar, he led me in the direction of the exit. This asshole!

***