12. A Rough Night

There are many things in my life I can say that I regret, and last night was one-hundred percent one of them.

My head throbs painfully and my feet feel like they're stepping on legos constantly. This is what I get for going out when I knew I had a meeting this morning. Karma always has a lovely way of catching back up to me. I shouldn't complain, either way I had a great time, even if a fair few things ended up happening that left me aching with need and not satisfied at all. But I guess that if anything, I should be apologizing profusely. Especially to the man who I'm supposed to be seeing this morning. After what happened last night, I'm surprised he even wants to see me. Let alone hire me. Or maybe this is all an elaborate ploy to kill me. I'd most certainly deserve that.

I don't even want to think of his face when he found me. Not that I could, I can hardly remember anything after I fell and hit my head.

The previous night...

My eyes danced around the club, hazy and unfocused, trying to find the mystery man that left me high and dry. I've never felt so much ache between my thighs in my life. The way his husky voice whispered in my ear. It was like he was some kind of sex god, hell bent of getting me worked up, and then leaving me as soon as he was no longer interested. But if that was the case, then why did he say those final words to me?

How could I possibly deny such a gorgeous girl?

Was he seriously talking about me? And did that mean he was going to come back for more? God, this stupid man has gotten me all worked up. I hate men. None of them know how to communicate and when they do, they say all the wrong things. What can you do?

As I continue to look around in my drunken state, I realize I can't even see that massive footballer who I was making out with. Does this mean I'll have to start all again in finding a dude? All I wanted was some dick and then to leave before it got too late. But now that I'm already in the thick of it, I may as well go all in. There's got to be a man around somewhere that wants to fuck.

I sway to the beat as I try to dazzle another man with my charms. This one is skinny and has shaggy blonde hair that looks like it hasn't been brushed in five weeks. He's got nice taste in clothes though, so I'll give him that. But that's where the good about ends. The rest of him is meh. But I can work with that. So I saunter up to him and we make eye contact. He gives me a once over and opens himself up to me, so I place my hands on his shoulders and sway my hips.

I'm about to lower my hips to his—because I'm taller—but as if deja vu is occurring, I am yanked back away, and this time I actually fall to the ground, hitting my head against the hard floor. I think I even heard a crack, but I can hardly be sure with all of the music pounding and people yelling. I cry out in pain as it blossoms around my skull, leaving me more disorientated than I was before. And before I can even get my bearings, I'm hauled back off of the floor and dragged through the crowd by my arm.

People stare with shocked looks and snickers, but I don't have the capacity to care what they think. All I can focus on is that a random person is dragging me through the club to lord knows where to do lord knows what with me. I don't have much energy to be scared, but my body is clearly terrified as it shakes furiously. This night is definitely not turning out to be what I wanted it to be. And on top of that, I don't even know where Rory is.

Is she alright, is she safe? I hope she's doing better than I am, because at this rate, I don't know if I'll be around to witness the sun ever again.

I'm dragged past the main dance floor until I find myself tripping backwards over stairs. "Move." The person dragging me, sternly says. I don't think this guy has ever dealt with a drunk person before. Because when he says move, all I can think of is staying put.

But it doesn't take long for him to realize that I am hardly coherent enough to take a simple order, so much to my dismay, I feel myself being lifted from the steps and thrown over his hard shoulder. I let out a winded cry and begin wiggling in his grip, hoping he'll put me down. "Let me go, you fucking little prick!" I yell. My words hardly face him however, and so he continues to walk up the stairs onto the second level. And before I know it, I'm finding myself on the third floor. The top VIP section, where it appears that only the richest of the rich like to play.

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise and I can find myself a hot rich man to entertain me for the night up here. No more of those boring college boys. I want a man. A man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to take it. Fuck, I'm getting horny again, and this is not the time nor place to do so. Especially when I still have no idea where I'm being taken. I can only hope that it has more drinks and a comfy seat, because this man is far from it.

"Where are you taking me?" I question, but am once again ignored.

None of the VIP guests even bat an eye as I'm carted through the seating area and past the cloaked booths. Surely this isn't a normal occurrence... unless it is. In that case, maybe luck is on my side? Who am I kidding, I am fucked. Plain and simple. I know that even more as the oaf begins to carry me down a dark hall, away from the music and people who can hear my screams. Looks like my chances of escaping are becoming slimmer by the second.

It isn't until we reach the end of the hall when I finally find myself freaking out. I'm finally let down in front of a door that looks like whoever is inside has more money than the average joe attending this club. It's painted a crimson red and fitted with a golden door knob that is made to look like the skull of a human. How pleasant. I look back up to the man who brought me here, as if he will provide me with any protection from whatever lies beyond. He gives me a hard stare, no sympathy there for miles. Yet he doesn't force me through the door—a small act of mercy I suppose.

"What am I... who—"

"Get in," Looks like that small act of mercy, was just that—small.

I shiver and bite my lip, my legs are quaking and suddenly it feels all too cold down here. I can hardly hear any voices from where we are, which means whatever goes on behind this door, no one will be able to hear me, let alone help me. Stupid Phoebe, why did you have to come out tonight? Why did you have to be such a horny little bitch? At least I got to have that dance with that sexy mystery dude. I can think of him right before I die.

A nudge on my back from the man is enough to get me moving towards the door. I place my hand on the creepy skull cautiously, twisting it. The click of it opening starlets me, but I push the door open regardless.

Inside is much darker than out. I can hardly see anything when I step inside, my eyes adjusting to the warm lamp light hidden away in the corner of the room. From what I can tell, there is a large couch to the left side of the room, and another parallel to it. Straight ahead of me is a great oak desk looking like it's meant for someone very important.

I don't move much further into the room, fearing that the door will close and lock, trapping me inside, but it also seems that the man who brought me here caught onto my idea before I did. Closing the door and locking it, engulfing me in darkness and leaving my only chance of escape just a sweet dream.

My lip is quivering even more furiously now, and I try to fight back the whimper that wants to escape me. Sober me would be throwing a fit now and yelling at whoever she could, but drunk me is hardly the confident woman sober me is. Drunk me doesn't want trouble, and just this situation is making me want to jump out a window. But unfortunately for me, there isn't one in my sights.

"You know, I didn't expect to find you here tonight." A rough voice drawls from the corner of the room. My eyes flick over to their burly shape that I didn't notice prior. How the hell did I not see him? I squint my eyes, wanting to get a closer look, but not wanting to step any closer.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" I ask, trying to feign confidence.

"We spoke on the phone today," He says, as if that's supposed to help my drunk self in any way.

My silence seems to indicate to him that I have no idea what's going on, and so he steps out of the darkness, his face finally illuminated by the dull light. My mouth would fall open if I wasn't too terrified to move. "Nikolai?"

"I'm glad you remember me," He says, but he sounds anything but.

"What do you want?" I ask, thoroughly confused and perplexed by the situation. Is there something I'm not understanding? Did I miss something?

"Do you recall when you last saw Rory?" He asks.

Fuck, has something happened to Rory. Oh gosh, I couldn't live with myself if something did. "Is she alright?" I ask, frantically, all fear suddenly leaving my body. "Did something happen to her?"

There's a moment of silence as Nikolai gives me a hard look over. "Not yet." He says ominously. What the hell does that mean?

I scrunch my face and give him a puzzled look. "I don't understand."

"You didn't answer my question?"

"I don't remember, maybe thirty minutes ago..." I say, trying to think back. But how am I supposed to know?

"Try an hour and a half." He says, folding his arms across his chest. Now that my eyes are adjusted to the light, I'm able to see him clearer. He's wearing a business suit as if he came straight from the office. Which doesn't make sense,why would he do that?

"Oh my gosh," I lift my hand to cover my mouth. How could I do that to her? I need to find her and we need to leave. "I need to go and find her."

"No." He says.

"But, I don't know where she is! Someone sleazy dude could be doing horrible things to her!"

Nikolai's face turns, as if he's angered and disgusted by that thought. "I can assure you, she is safe at my penthouse with Alexei."

"Thank god." I sigh with relief, but quickly come back to reality. "But then why am I here, what's going on?"

He takes a threatening step towards me. "You're here because you were the one who put Rory in danger in the first place."

I take a step back, my back hitting the door. "No, I would never put Ro in danger like that. I love her like a sister, she means the world to me." I state firmly, I may be drunk and terrified, but I refuse to let this man bully me.

"That doesn't matter, you brought her out here, and ditched her the first chance you got. That's not what friends do to each other. Though I wouldn't be surprised if you've done this to your other friends before too." He says that like I'm supposed to understand what he's saying. He's talking like this is about more than just Rory. And I don't like that.

"I don't quite understand what you're getting at."

"What are you doing here, Phoebe?" He asks, his head slightly cocked,

"In the club?"

"This city. This country. What are you doing here?"

What am I doing here?

I've asked myself that question too many times to count. And I come up with the same answer every time.

"I don't know," I say sincerely, and so quietly I'm not sure he even hears me.

I stare at the floor, not wanting to look up at him. Too scared that he'll be able to see all the secrets that lay beyond my eyes.

Nikolai takes slow steps towards me until he's barely a few feet away. I can feel his presence like that of a predator. One that very much plans of eviscerating it's pray and leaving nothing behind. Is he going to kill me? Throw away my body so it's never found?

Do I want that?

His breathing is low, almost silent,but by the slightest change, I can tell he's about to speak.

"I expect to see you at my office tomorrow, nine-o'clock sharp." Is all he says, before he reaches his arm beyond me and above my shoulder, knocking firmly twice. The door opens and he steps around me, leaving me in the dark room all alone.

And I find an odd sense of calmness within it.

###

Unedited

Hey Guys!!!

I am so sorry I haven't update in a while, I have been hectic with uni and work! Because of this, I decided to make this chapter nice and long and juicy for ya'll. I will be getting back to my regular updates for here on out, do not fear!

Hope you all are doing well!!!!

Love ya'll!!

-FoggyCloudyWords