CHAPTER 42

**CHLOE DUARTE**

The night before when the dance happened he was bad, but today it was worse than yesterday, today he was about to lose consciousness at any moment.

“No, it was in a restaurant where we were at a meeting, he was ill and I took him to the hospital..."

When I raise my head again I see that the two are in complete silence and remain so for a few seconds, until Matt takes the last sip of his beer and decides to ask me the first question of the night on this subject.

“Is the guy okay? He's been sick before, hasn't he?", I nod, remembering the words of his doctor about his state of health.

“He's fine.", I say finally.

“So you mean our hot friend here saved the great and famous Mr. Colucci himself?", the heavy mood of the conversation dies down when Sam asks with a mischievous smile as she sits up on her stool.

“I'm sure Mr. Colucci will reward you handsomely for helping to save his precious life."

“He has already thanked me twice and that was more than enough, I would do the same for anyone else in the same situation, Samanta.", I say in a serious tone, but she still has a smile on her face.

“But not just anyone. This is none other than James Colucci, the hottest billionaire CEO of all time."

“Samanta showed me the magazine with the pictures from last night's ball."

“I want to forget that they published that in the media.", I sigh, drinking more of the beer in my hands.

“But of course, everyone believed it, the two of you seemed to be looking at each other differently and that gave people gas to believe that story about you and him."

“Looking at you in what way?", I ask, frowning as Matt and Sam look at each other before turning back to stare at me.

“In a different way, with more intensity than usual, and I think everyone at the ball realized that, princess.", Matt begins, but just as I'm about to protest Samanta starts to add:

“What Matt is trying to say is that you seemed in love with each other, I know you must hate the man you like to irritate, but that's what it seemed like, Chloe."

I keep looking at my friends not knowing what to really say at this point, it was enough that I talked to Alex about being in love with James, and now my best friends are also having this absurd idea in their heads.

“That was not what was happening, you interpreted it in the wrong way, it was just a dance.", I reply, starting to feel irritation welling up inside me.

But I am not angry with any of them, I am internally angry with myself for not knowing how I feel about that man.

“But could we..."

“Can we change the subject? I think the show's about to start, let's go!", I take advantage of a guitar noise that is heard all over the stage before the center lights quickly go out for a brief second.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I realize that the two of them finally forget about this subject and get up from their stools before we make our way to the front of the stage, dribbling a few bodies from the crowd that is present.

Since we arrived I haven't had the right opportunity to see this friend of Matt's who works at the company, the band was busy rehearsing, but it looks like the show is about to start right now.

My height doesn't help at all when I try to pass by a group of tall people who shout when the band enters the stage, I huff in irritation almost unable to see anything.

But it doesn't take long before I feel a big hand holding my hand and my waist, I turn to the side seeing Matt who pushes some people away making way for the two of us.

“Thank you!", I thank him when we get to a clearer part with the help of Matt who nods.

It's like I said, I have never been to a rock concert, but I must confess that I am already enjoying the energy that the sound of the guitars is providing before the band starts to perform.

Even standing in a clear spot I can just see the silhouette of one of the members holding a red guitar and approaching the microphone in the center of the stage.

The crowd screams and goes wild as the man's deep and striking voice is heard and filled the entire shed, I don't blink my eyes enjoying the vibe that that voice is giving me.

Through the lighting, as he continues singing and playing the guitar at the same time, I see Ken sitting behind the subject and also giving his show to the audience as his blond hair sways as he hits the instrument.

Next to him, I see a girl who is also holding a guitar, her hair is short and stands out in pink and blue.

She also puts on a show by tossing her head back and forth as she continues to play, my eyes again fixed on the man singing.

The stage at this point is brighter, it is only now that I can see a bit of his face, I see that he has long black hair tied up in a bun with loose strands.

“Who is that?", I turn my head back and shout in Matt's ear so that he can hear.

“That's Simon, the guy who works at Colucci!", I turn forward again realizing that maybe I have seen him around the company before.

“Man, the guy is a fucking hottie!", I burst into laughter when we hear Samanta's shout next to us.

“Unfortunately, he likes brunettes, sorry Sam!", Matt smiles back and Sam shows his tongue.

The show unfolds and in a few minutes, the three of us are jumping and singing loudly while the band continues its performance that drives everyone crazy with the voices mixed with the low sound of the guitars guided by the hands of the band members.

Before long I am completely sweaty from the lively night, Matt makes a point of walking away to the bar to get two drinks and water for me and Samanta who is in the same situation as me.

I breathe a sigh of relief when he returns holding two bottles of water and two new beers, after freshening up I go back to enjoying the show and abandoning all the thoughts that were circling my head.

Three hours later the center stage lights go out before the band says goodbye to all the public present, quickly Matt holds our hands and leads us towards the band's dressing room.

When we arrive in the hallway there are already several girls screaming to see the band, but our friend, being an acquaintance, quickly ushers us into the dressing room without waiting for a second.

When we enter we see the two band members, Ken is drinking water and sitting on one of the chairs, and the girl with the colorful hair is sitting in front of a dressing table fixing her blotchy makeup.

I look all around, but I don't see Simon in the dressing room, I see Matt exchanging greetings with the girl who finally looks at us with a serious expression.

“Who are they?", my sympathetic smile dies at the same moment that the girl puts her judging eyes on me.

I automatically look at Samanta next to me who has an arched eyebrow as she continues to stare at the girl with the colorful hair.

I know my friend well and I know that even she didn't like the girl who looks at us with disdain.

“They are my friends. Chloe and Samanta, meet Jesse, she has that grumpy way about her, but don't let her scare you.", Matt jokes and the girl gives him the middle finger and rolls her eyes before turning back to staring at her reflection in the mirror and ignoring us completely.

Ken stops drinking water from the bottle and approaches us with a friendly smile.

“Sorry about that, Jesse is very reserved and has this peculiar way of dealing with people, but she is a great member of the band.", Ken mumbles, pointing his head towards his friend.

“I loved the show, you guys were great!", I complimented, returning with a smile on my face and receiving a pat on Ken's back in appreciation.

“It was, that electrifying energy was wonderful to feel.", Samanta also compliments excitedly.

“Thank you kitties and it is good to see you again, blondie!", I see them both greeting each other and soon we hear the dressing room door opening behind us.

I smell a strong masculine perfume, I turn my head finding the guitarist who was singing in the concert, without being able to avoid it, my eyes go all over his body in a quick analysis.

With his long black hair and black clothes mixed with leather fabrics, it is clear that he is a man in love with rock music.

“Man, what was that?", Matt greets his friend with a smile and congratulates him on the show.

The brunette's eyes land on both of us and frown as he stares at me, I keep quiet and stare at his blue eyes that stand out beautifully against his black hair.

But the shade of blue in Simon's eyes is a darker shade than in... James.

“I know you from somewhere...", he nods in my direction and before I have a chance to say anything Matt takes over the conversation by introducing me.

“You already know Sam, but this is my other friend who also works at Colucci, Chloe this is Simon."

I expect him to come over to pat me on the back or raise his hand to me, but that doesn't happen, Simon just stands there staring at me.

Okay, I have to confess that his staring is bothering me.