Nine

“I need help.” He stared at the message she had dropped.  For some reason, he felt concerned.  Since they started chatting, she had never asked for help or hinted that she was in some sort of trouble.  She had been contended with discussing her plans and her future.  She usually likened herself to a caged bird which desires nothing more than to be free.  Free from what exactly, he had no idea.

Mike dropped the picture he was painting, and relaxed on his chair.  

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?
 
The message was delivered but there was no indication that she read it.
 She mostly reads and responds immediately.  He stared at the phone as if he could control her to respond to the message.  Pheonix12 had been his friend on messenger for as long as he could remember and apart from Steve she was the only one he could relate with, but it was a pity that she wasn’t willing to tell him her real name, even after their long time relationship.  Yet, he couldn’t judge her because he had also refused to drop his real name fearing that their relationship would be based on his name and influence in society.

It was ten minutes since he had sent the message to her, but there was no response.   Just then Steve piped his head in, and his body followed soon when he discovered Mike was alone in his room.

“Heard you went to see your bride?

Mike remembered Amelia and smiled.  For the first time, his parents did something that was pleasing to his heart.  But, he wasn’t going to tell Steve that.  He continued staring at his phone waiting for Pheonix12 to reply.

Steve sat at the edge of his bed, “How did it go? Was she as ugly as you thought she was going to be?

He raised a brow at him, “I never thought she was going to be ugly.

Steve smirked, “Remember you drank yourself to sleep.  I am sure you are thinking of how you will endure such an ugly creature.  If it is someone your parents are picking for you, she will just be like any average girl.

Mike smiled, he doesn’t know much about Amelia, but he knew she was not any average girl.  A girl that proposed marriage and divorced after three mpnths was definitely not average.  As far as Mike knew girls, they always dream of marrying their prince charming, and if they weren’t that fortunate, they tried to turn their man into the version of what they thought prince charming was.  No lady wanted out of her marriage without giving it a try.

Steve stared at him, “What’s wrong with you? Did something happen at the place?

He shook his head, “Nothing did.”  He closed his phone when there was no response from Pheonix12, and closed his art too.  “I’m going to check the head office with dad tomorrow.  What do you say we hit the club tonight, after this night, it will mostly work?

Steve looked like he was thinking about it, “Can we take your sister with us?

 He smacked him on the head, “Enough with my sister.  I am sure there will be a lot of girls there.   Won’t you celebrate me before I officially leave bachelorhood?

Steve narrowed his gaze at him, “I can see, you are trying to bang a lot of girls before you get married.  That’s a nice idea.  If we aren’t having an official bachelor party, this club version works for me.  Let’s party.” 

He started moving towards the door while Mike smiled behind him.   He took the car his parent gave him on his arrival.  

“Where do we go?” Steve asked.

It was as good as if they were new in town. They weren’t used to the clubs because they were out of town before they got to the official age to frequent the clubhouse, not that they didn’t break a few rules to get into where they wanted, and with a name like Afonso it was easier to gain access even when they were underage.

“Just google search the best club in town.  I want to have fun tonight.
Steve nodded getting to the job.

The raw palace was the perfect place for them, it was exactly what Mike needed to take his mind off things.  He needed to want to think of the abrupt proposal neither does he want to think of his pending marriage.  He knew it wasn’t a love match but with the wife wanting out of the marriage before they tie the knot, it felt somehow.  

He moved among the crowd glad that no one knew his face.  Sometimes the anonymous lifestyle his parent gave him works perfectly.  A few minutes into dancing with a blonde girl, he couldn’t find Steve anymore.  He held the girl’s waist while she grind her ass on him.  It was exactly what he had in mind when he suggested going to the club.  But, being too sober was not his plan.  He left the blonde girl who tried to hold him to stay with her.  He shrugged her off and moved to the bar. 

“A bottle of Hennessey.

The barman's response was a nod.  He allowed his gaze to move towards the crowd, soon he was going to avoid the crowd because most of the people would know his face, and they would be interested in his private life.  He wasn’t sure he wanted that for himself, but he was an Afonso and it was his birthright to take the company.

The barman dropped the drink in front of him, and he picked it up.  He drank half, letting it burn on his throat. It was exactly what he need. Soon, he was done with the first cup.

“Another cup.

The barman nodded again and got to work.

“We meet again, Mr Afonso.” He heard a familiar voice.  He turned his gaze towards the direction of the voice only to see Ava.  

He groaned, not believing he met one of the things he tried to avoid again in the club.  She flashed him a bright smile and stretched her hand towards him.  “I will say it’s a pleasure meeting you again, Mr Afonso.

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