Chapter 6 Chapter six
A club wasn’t quite far from where Zarlia lived. It was the only way to relieve the tension but it reminded her of the creature she met and of course staying home would mean drowning in memories Romero.
It brought her to the thought; she made a lot of bad decisions, drinking tonight would just add to the list but she was already seated at the bar so she might as well take a shot.
The club boomed with loud music and lights flashing, she could barely hear her own thought. Good. Because all she thought about was Romero’s betrayal and the ego, he had to confront her with his new girlfriend, bragging about his father being rich.
Men who boast about their father’s wealth are nothing but lazy assholes, feeding off from the main successor.
“And what would the pretty lady like to get?” said the bar man, leaning on the counter with biceps the size of Vin Disel’s and a Chinese dragon tattooed on both sides. Come to think of it, she remembered that strange creature having a dragon tattoo also.
Putting the thought aside, “Something to make me forget I have a shitty life” she gave a quick smile. The bar man smirked and nodded, “Got it, just give me a minute”.
When he turned towards his shelves of alcohol, Zarlia sighed and raked her fingers through her hair, still contemplating whether drinking is a good idea since she has work tomorrow morning. Plus, what if she gets drunk again and gets laid by another different creature this time. All those confederations disappeared when the bar man passed her drink and she chunked it immediately.
“Whoa there, easy little lady” the bar man laughed, a bit intrigued. Zarlia wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “You look like shit”, he commented, attending to a lady beside her.
Zarlia sighed, “I feel like shit”, she ruffled her hair. “That makes two of us”, the lady beside her also drowned her drink in one go. “Just go disowned by my step mother, just because I slept with her daughter’s soon to be husband. I mean, how am I supposed to know when no one said anything” she gritted her teeth, licking her busted lip like she had gotten into a fight.
“So, tell me honey, I’m sure your story isn’t as messed up as mine”, the lady’s curious deep blue eyes turned towards Zarlia, they looked swollen, not to mention the trail of washed off eye makeup—obviously due to constant crying.
Zarlia swallowed another shot and sighed, “Turns out my boyfriend’s been cheating on me with some bitch, using my money. I got mad, drank and fucked some freak that keeps stalking me—so now I’m broke, my only hope is the new job I’m starting tomorrow”.
The lady moved closer, handing her a glass of vodka, “Here, you need this more than I do”. Zarlia couldn’t help but laughed—not exactly knowing what she was laughing at; the lady’s gesture or her terrible choices.
The lady looked her age, dressed in a white leather mini gown and black heel. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back, she looked gorgeous which led Zarlia to the thought; if she was as pretty as this woman, maybe Romero wouldn’t have cheated on her.
“Thanks, I’m Zarlia by the way”.
“Caroline” she pursed her lips and smiled. The funny thing about life is that you’d always meet good people in a shitty way. Both Zarlia and Charoline drank to their hearts content, Zarlia’s self-control was long forgotten when she got too drunk and blacked out.
The sound of her alarm clock made her jolt out of bed and unto the wooden floorboard, her head throbbing and throat sore and the damn alarm clock didn’t spare her one bit.
“Argh!”, she groaned, getting up, turning off the clock. Memories from last night flooding it all at one like a montage of horrible decisions, worst part, she didn’t remember walking home or giving anyone her address to take her home, not to talk of changing her into her night gown—suddenly a realization hit her.
It was her first day of work.
All other thought shifted to the back of her mind as she ran into the bathroom, she can figure out what happened last night later but right now she was running late to her first day of her new job of being a secretary.
She could already imagine the angry expression that would be on her boss’s face, tardiness was a good enough to get her fired for sure especially when she just started. The job was supposed to be a new chapter in her life but she just had to ruin it by drinking away the past she swore to forget—so much for a new chapter.
Her eyes landed on a single tulip sitting on the table beside her bed, along with a note and… hand over medicine? She took cautious strides towards it like it could explode at any moment. Picking up the note, it read ‘Morning darling, try not to drink so much next time, makes me worry’
She ignored it and ran into the bathroom, she had better things to worry about. After brushing, she stepped under the shower, letting the cold-water trail down her bare skin, her head throbbed due to her hang over.
Zarlia was sure Caroline had it worse because she drank 5 bottles of whiskey and a glass of vodka. Speaking of Caroline, it was the name that popped up on her phone when she was getting dressed, Caroline must have added her number in her phone.
CAROLINE: Morning Hun. Try not to stay mad at me for making you drink so much
My browns frowned. Yes, it was Caroline’s influence but Zarlia went along with it so it was mainly her fault, Caroline also had her own kind of shit to take care of so Zarlia couldn’t really blame her.
ZARLIA: It’s okay, it was my fault anyway and I got home safely too
Zarlia waited, staring at the three dots that appeared, hoping Caroline would mention how she managed to go home, she didn’t remember giving the bartender her address either so it can’t be him.
CAROLINE: Yeah, but your boyfriend seemed angry when he took you home. He sent me death glares with those grey eyes
CAROLINE: He seemed like he was seriously into you, so try giving him a second chance
Zarlia bit her lips, trying to understand who she was talking about. Romero had brown eyes—not grey, not to mention the fact that both of them made it clear that they were over so there was no way it was him. Plus, the note on her table; Romero’s handwriting was prettier than what she saw—he never called her darling, he would always use her first name.
Her throat ran dry at the thought of a stranger carrying her home.
ZARLIA: That’s not my boyfriend. Can you give me a specific description?
Three dots appeared almost immediately and moments later it vanished. The suspense was killing her, she waited for a few more seconds but still nothing. She had no time to waste, she was already late.
She got ready and rushed out of the house moments later in a dress suit. She hailed a taxi and immediately got in, telling the driver to hurry up. Putting her light makeup in the car, she believed I natural beauty but right now she needed to cover up the dark circles beneath her eyes.
Zarlia arrived at the company and hurried in, partly running and partly asking for directions. She got into the elevator which took her to the top floor where she spotted Andrew who had a frown at the sight of her. He stood at the door to the CEOs office.
“You’re late Miss Shaw” for someone who was angry, he was whispering for some reason. There was a man beside him, early 20s, dressed in a navy-blue suit which complimented his blue eyes. The clipboard by his side gave away that he was the boss’s assistant Andrew talked about.
“I’m sorry I had an—” Zarlia was interrupted by the assistant’s sudden demand. “Go get coffee for the boss, you may introduce yourself to him afterwards. Remember, he can be a bit cold and demanding, plus a bit strict” he was also whispering.
She immediately nodded and ran off. The thought of meeting the CEO made her nervous, what if he didn’t like late comers. She suddenly snapped of her thoughts when her phone vibrated, accompanied with a ‘ping’. She checked her phone to see a text from Caroline.
CAROLINE: I can’t really remember much because I was drunk too but he had black hair, grey eyes, a tiny birthmark on his left cheek and full browns
Zarlia couldn’t remember knowing anyone who matched the description.
After getting the coffee, she hurried to the CEOs office. The assistant was just coming out, “You may go in”. She nodded and walked in with cautious steps. She spotted a man in a black suit, his back facing her as his gaze travelled out the glass wall, she could even see the entire city. It was such beautiful scenery, no wonder her loved it.
A part of her wondered to Caroline’s description of her mystery man.
“I brought you coffee Sir” her voice seemed to catch his attention.
Zarlia’s mind drifted, where was she supposed to see a man with grey eyes, birthmark on his left cheek, full eye browns and black hair, she wasn’t man hunting.
As soon as the CEO turned around, she froze in place, the coffee slipping from her hands—crashing to the floor. She couldn’t believe her eyes—black hair, grey eyes, full browns and a birthmark on his cheeks she didn’t seem to notice until now.
“Morning Darling”, he smiled