Aaron was fuming that he let his chance to claim the woman he desires slipped away from his own hands. It had ended before he thought about joining the bid. He was so caught up with his thoughts and emotions, that he wasn't fully concentrating.
"See? Told you guys, I will win. You don't believe me! At last, I won against A.D. I beat him to it! Woohoo!", Geoff loudly clapped his hands, in a jovial manner.
"He's clearly besotted." Xavian announced drily.
"Precisely. He forgot A.D. didn't even join the auction." William grinned while shaking his head.
"I don't think his wiener will cooperate with him tonight." André declared, chuckling loudly.
"You're too drunk, Geoff. Stop drinking already, man." Leonard took the glass off tequila from his hand.
"Y-yes, I think I am. I can't feel my fingers anymore." Geoff stared at his hands with blood shot eyes. Then as what the rest of his friends expected, Geoff's head landed and banged on top of the table. He dropped right then and there in front of his best buddies, dead drunk.
"So, who's going to take him home?", William asked drily as he lighted a stick of cigarette.
"My wife is waiting for me at home. I can't make the extra forty minutes ride to his condo unit any longer." Jacob responded.
"I can take him." André sighed.
"Can we ask someone to park his car in the private parking lot at the back?", Xavian asked the two cousins André and Leonard.
"That can be arranged", André replied.
"That's no problem at all or I could ask Phil a favour to drive his car home", Leonard explained, referring to one of the club's big, brawny bouncer.
"So now, the question remains, who's going to take the little lady home on his behalf?", William asked again.
Everyone's eyes were instantly plastered on Aaron, who was just silently listening to the conversation going on around him.
Aaron looked at his friends knowing stares one by one.
"She chose you right from the start." Xavian.
"You like the girl, don't you?", Leonard.
"I'll pay Geoff. Take this as a thank you for helping me with the De Leon project last month." William blew smoke out of his mouth.
Aaron smirked.
His friends already decided the woman's fate and they were all willingly offering her to him.
"You know you don't have to repay me with anything. Tell Geoff, I'll pay him tomorrow." Aaron answered.
"That's settled then." William yawned, so ready to drive home and end their bro date night.
"So can we go now? My wife can't sleep without me", Jacob, glancing at his watch impatiently. As the only one married amongst them, he was following a strict self-mandatory curfew. He cannot stay away from home past midnight. That was why he was famously nicknamed, 'Mr. Cinderella' by the group.
"Argh!"
"Whatever buddy!"
"Ja, ja."
Everyone's eyes rolled heavenward except for the sleeping, snoozing devil who started to drool and snore right then and there, of course.
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Aaron drove his car adeptly. After having four glasses of vodka and a little mixture of tequila, whiskey and brandy, his mind was still in clarity. The fifteen minutes drive to Dominico Hotel was smooth and unproblematic despite the late Friday night traffic jam.
He wanted to kick himself because he spent searching for a reason why he ignored her plea. Her courage surpassed her pitiful condition. It must have taken her so much effort just to be in that place where hungry vultures competed for a chance to devour her innocent flesh.
Lost in emotion. He really should have realised he was a fool.
To make it up to her, Aaron requested a favor from Leonard if it was possible for their Club's team to arrange the change of hotel venue before the woman was transported to the former designated place, the Dark Shadow Hotel.
It was a spur of a moment decision. He opted for her to be escorted to one of the branches of their family owned hotel which was currently managed by his Uncle Shawn's family. He frequented that said hotel whenever he ended up staying late at night in this part of the city.
Aaron made his instructions clear: take her to the Penthouse suite and arranged for a dinner date for them.
He unknowingly wanted to impress his unsuspecting guest.
Good thing Geoff was high up to the hills besotted that he ended as the one their friends voted to have the woman for the night.
Aaron frowned, thinking about her and her dire circumstances. There must be a main reason why she chose to work in that nightclub.
He handed his keys to the Valet and made his way towards the entrance of the hotel.
He was immediately greeted by the hotel night manager.
"Good evening, Mr. Morrison. As per request, we escorted Cathe— Miss Wilson to the penthouse the moment she arrived."
Aaron frowned at the thought that another man got immediately acquainted with her. It didn't sit well with him. However, he immediately dismissed his musings because he personally knew Mister Celo and he has a husband.
"Thank you", was Aaron's curt response. He took the private elevator exclusively for the VIPs that would take him to the penthouse in a hurried pace. Leaving a dumbfounded Mister Celo behind.
Aaron shook his head to his own rudeness. Usually he greeted the staff one by one politely no matter how tired he was from any business meetings or night parties he attended beforehand. However, this time him impatience bothered him a lot.
What is it about her that piqued my interest and curiosity so much?
Anyway, is she already patiently awaiting my arrival? Did she wear the evening dress I purchased for her?
Aaron made up his mind. He would talk to her and asked her about herself. Maybe, just maybe this nagging feeling in his chest would disappear.
Upon reaching the penthouse floor, he immediately made his way to his chosen hotel room and its large door automatically opened upon using the key card. The bright lights coming from the chandeliers blinded his already slightly bloodshot-eyes. He squinted as he dimmed all the lights down.
His blue eyes weren't weary yet that he had the time to survey the room, looking for the beautiful lady. However, much to his dismay, she wasn't around.
Aaron disrobed his dark suit off and discarded it on top of the sofa. Not even bothering to hang it by the coat rack. He lazily loosened his tie and brushed his blond hair back.
So much for this crazy anticipation...
He took a deep breath and sighed heavily as he plopped himself on the white sofa. Aaron smirked at himself, he felt like a schoolboy who couldn't wait to have his first taste of woman.
He even daydreamed that perhaps, just perhaps she would be lying in all of her naked glory on top of the bed, patiently awaiting his arrival.
He started rubbing his temples. His body suddenly felt heavy and a headache was starting to settle in. From his excessive workload at their company, failed relationship and the emotional turmoil he placed himself during the bidding, no wonder he was drained of energy.
"I don't think there's a commencement of bedding the woman tonight."
He whispered to himself, leaning back on the sofa. Almost half-asleep due to exhaustion.
His phone suddenly rang and he placed it on loudspeaker mode. Jacob was calling him on FaceTime.
"Have you arrived?"
"Barely. Are you home now?"
"Just parked my car in the garage. Geoff is asking you to pay him double. He'd woken up before they put him inside Dré's car", Jacob laughed.
"I'll wire him the money tomorrow."
"Just kidding. He said she's his thank you gift to you for helping him out last week with the Ayman Minerals."
"I don't want to be indebted to him."
"Hey, you help him get what he wanted. This time, let the man give you what you deserve."
Aaron took a deep breath. He suddenly became annoyed as his friend mentioned her as a mere present to be given away. It made him quite angry. He didn't understand why so he didn't respond.
"Anyway, I got to hang up now. The wife is waiting for me. You know she can't sleep without me rubbing her back and tummy."
Aaron smiled. Jacob's wife was currently pregnant with their first baby.
"Send my regards to Melissa."
"I will. You have to make time for yourself, even just for tonight. Enjoy the night away, A.D. After all, she was yours to begin with."
They ended up the phone call and Aaron turned on the airplane mode of his phone. A habit he acquired since he was attending high school every time he was planning on sleeping.
Although sleep was the last thing on his mind right now, he just didn't want to be disturb tonight.
He took another deep breath and sighed.
After awhile, he frowned and thought of the woman hiding herself somewhere in that hotel room.
Am I even in my right mind? I don't even think she volunteered to sell herself and came here willingly.
The image of her pleading eyes searching for his salvation in that club dissolved whatever fire he felt in his loins quickly.
Just like what I said before, I'll just ask her about herself and give her the financial help she needed.
He straightened his back and stood up. He knew it was about time for them to finally meet and properly introduce himself to her.
He heard a slight noise and turned his face towards the hotel bedroom door.
So that's where she's at.
Then much to his surprise, he heard a soft gasp coming from behind the door.
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Author's Notes: (Translations)
Ja (German) Yes