Chapter 1
LAYLA BALDWIN
Getting a huge brown envelope from my mail box knowing exactly what is in it, I do a happy dance and go straight running into my home. The stamp from Warlington University made my day. I have been living in the city, with mom and dad working in the opposite corners of city, we some what live in the middle. Which means hustling bustling. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching people going around in hurry with coffee in one hand, bag in another with their phones tucked between their shoulder and ear but I am more of a nature’s girl. One of the reasons I couldn’t wait to get out of Hillwood and go straight to a small town with lakes and small rivers, Warlington.
Rather than taking the lift I decide to take the stairs, fully knowing I’ll be taking the lift midway. Who is gonna climb to 34th floor no matter how energetic or happy they are. Not me.
With one direction playing in my ear and me looking at the package in my hand as if its my long lost lover I reach to the 12th floor. Taking the turn to the lift, I watch 2 figures lost in each other’s body. I smile to myself, happy for them and go on. I take 3 steps back recognizing a very manly groan. I am ashamed to say, but its the same voice I have been hearing over years and its the same voice that made me fell in love with my 100% noise cancellation headphones. My dad. But what is he doing here ... Wait no..!! As soon as the thought came to my mind, my heart broke and eyes teared up. I just waited enough to confirm its dad with no other than my godmother, mom’s best friend- Susan. I will have to tell mom later and me being the one breaking her heart makes me feel as if I did something wrong.
As revolting and heartbreaking that scene was, I took out my phone from the back of my pocket took a picture as a proof for later and left. I was sobbing in corner of my room. My mom and dad were my role models. I know as much as mom loves dad, she will never forgive him and let him walk all over her. This will end me up having to choose either mom or dad. And I hate it. It used to be perfect. Their love story made me want to wait for the right person. In between whirl of emotions I decided to do just opposite of that. I get up and straight to my wardrobe in the corner is the dress my aunt got me for my 18th. To wear if someday I want to get lucky. Well today is the day. The black dress had a deep cleavage with lace on the top and hugging my hips like a glove. I looked bold and sexy, everything I am not but it is exactly I need for today. I do a black smokey eye and red lip. Heels, purse, phone, cash, identity and other things and I go down the lift. Knowing I will probably be drinking I call a cab.
"Another martini please" I have had at least 3 other shots and have been dancing out of my mind for an hour. The vibe of this club was perfect. Dim purple and red lights, people dancing, grinding not caring about anyone else as if everyone is here just to get lost in another world just like me. My hands up in the air, eyes closed feeling the music until I felt someone's hands. I turned around to see an older man giving me a creepy smile and I did what I could best. I took a step forward pulling him into me and whispered in his ear, "if you want your nuts intact you'll get your creepy self off me" His eyes showed surprise and his fragile male ego was hurt. He is probably filthy rich and is used to young girls fucking him for money, but not me honey. My eyes glared with dare. I would love to get a reason to beat him. He looked into my eyes and whatever he saw made him back off. Too bad my heels would have loved to smack him.
Behind him I felt a pair of eyes demanding my attention and as they got what they wanted I encountered the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. He was in a corner in a white dress shirt with top buttons unbuttoned, sleeves folded up to his elbows. His dark hair suiting his look. Even in the dark I could see the frown on his face and desire in his eyes. He was intimidating but all I felt was hot as his eyes scanned my body, pausing at my curves. It should've scared me but my body felt as if he was pulling me into him. Like a magnetic pull and I let my body control. My one hand went up in the air and another was on my hip. I danced seductively looking straight in his eyes as if daring him to come out of his hiding to get what he want. Sober me would faint looking at me all sweaty, half drunk, disheveled hair but the sad semi drunk me couldn't care less. I wasn't caring that the girl who hasn't even done beyond kissing someone was seducing a stranger. A scary one at that.
