Scarlett's POV.
Immediately we stepped into the exclusive club it felt like we'd been transported into a new world. The club was spacious, neon lights glinting off every smooth surface.
Half naked strippers strutted the stage, their dances slow and sensual with people's fathers foaming at the mouth from the mere sight of them.
The club had a rawness to it I couldn't quite place. The people in it had a sophistication I could only tag to those from old money. I had spent enough time with the Los Angeles' self made crowd to tell the difference.
If I hadn't come with Layla my access to this club would've been denied. Because unlike me, Layla's family's wealth dated back centuries.
The club seemed like a space where these people came to unwind, to let loose from all the expectations the world held them to. There was no VIP spot. That was a first but I understood. Every single person here was majorly important and I couldn't help but feel out of place, surely I was the least important person in the room.
A wave of self-awareness prickled across my skin, making every glance feel like judgment.
"Let's go get some shots first. You need it." Layla's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. The thumping bass of the speakers pounding against my eardrums once again.
I could tell the equipments were of excellent quality, the sound came out cleaner than I'd ever heard but it still didn't stop me from wincing every few seconds.
Layla pulled me by the hand to the bar where the bartender was in the middle of pouring out a shot from a bottle on fire. The alcohol somehow had no effect on the fire and I watched in awe.
"Wow." I whispered to myself as Layla's hips swayed with more precision as the bartender's gaze drifted to her. He was an attractive man, I couldn't deny it and it seemed Layla was even less unwilling to deny it.
"Hello, ladies. You both look dashing tonight. What can I get you?" He greeted as politely as he could over the loud music. At least the song had slowed to more sensual songs and the glass separating the bar from the rest of the club served as a buffer.
"You tell me." Layla flirted boldly and my cheeks coloured red for her but the bartender returned it with a flirtatious smile of his own.
"I could mix up something a little sweet and sour for you."
"I'd like that." She purred back and I watched the scene in semi-horror. I wasn't a prude or anything but I had never seen two people who just met flirt so unashamedly like this before.
All of a sudden they burst into laughter, fist bumping each other and turning to me with a mocking laugh bubbling in their chests.
"Gosh, you should've seen her face." The bartender said, wiping tears off his eyes.
"What-"
"That's my cousin. Luis Jung. His dad owns the club. They're preparing him to take over but he has to prove he's worthy by working through all the ranks." She explained and I nodded, sighing in relief that what I'd just witnessed was nothing but a prank.
"Luis, this is Scarlett, my best friend."
"Nice to meet you, Scarlett. I've heard so much about you." He greeted me warmly, and I smiled in return as he got to work.
Luis filled us with shot after shot until I could feel my joints loosen. My head spun and I was giggling way more than necessary.
"You're such a lightweight." Layla who had taken way more shots than me said, her eyes still sharp and alert.
I giggled in response, twirling my hair around my fingers and swiveling around to the direction of the dance floor.
"I'm going to dance." I told her, rushing out of the glass doors of the bar and towards the currently occupied dance floor. I wasn't one to dance in public, I was more of an indoor dancer but with the alcohol running through my veins the dance floor felt just like my bedroom.
I let loose, not caring who was watching. My hands ran over my body in slow, sensual movements as the song slowed. The sway of my hips in rhythm with the music. I was panting, beads of sweat running through my exposed cleavage but suddenly I froze as someone's hands found their way around my waist.
"On the bright side you have amazing stripping qualities. If your parents don't take you back you have a new career path to follow." Layla's amused and slightly tipsy voice whispered into my ears and I giggled as her breath fanned against my neck.
I arched against her, grinding on her with purpose as she held my hips almost as possessively as a man would. We lost ourselves in the music, our skin sleek and shiny with sweat.
Then, goosebumps rose all over my skin and my eyes which had been snapped shut flew open.
Someone was watching me, intensely. I could feel it. But who was it?
I looked around the club, seeing no one at first but then, all of a sudden, drawn in by the sheer force of his presence, our eyes met and even through the distance between us, the air charged with electricity.
I had no idea who this man was but my body came alive just by him watching me. His eyes never left mine, he didn't even so much as flinch on seeing he'd been caught. His gaze remained steadily on me, so I decided to give him a show he'd never forget.
I grinded against Layla harder, our bodies intertwined like vines. She grabbed the fullness of my ass and I arched, throwing my head back to reveal the curve of my neck which she planted sensual kisses on.
I could almost feel his gaze growing even harder. I peeked through my eyelashes, seeing that his shoulders had gone rigid. He looked like a statue and even though I couldn't fully make out his face over the dark red light illuminating his booth, I could tell he was disgustingly handsome.
"That guy won't stop staring at you." Layla commented beside me, noticing the hard stare of the man and a blush formed on my cheeks.
"I would've urged you on but you're way too sober if you're blushing because of that. Let's go get more alcohol in your system, you're gonna need it." She pulled me back to the bar and as I semi- stumbled beside her, I could feel his burning stare behind me.
Every ember of my being screamed at me to turn, to take one more peak but I ignored.
"Luis, we need more shots now!" Layla ordered immediately we stepped into the bar and Luis, without wasting much time lined the bar with ten shot glasses, filling them all in mere seconds.
"You're so good at this." I commented, downing one of the glasses in a swig, the alcohol burning against my chest.
"Indeed. I enjoy it." Luis replied, smiling cheekily.
Layla watched in silence, downing two shots in a second before exclaiming.
"Eureka!"
"Shut up." Luis snapped back with a playful grin and she rolled her eyes before forging on.
"I have an idea. Luis, call one of the bartenders at the back. We need you. And change into something more sexy."
Luis and I turned to her, both our faces scrunched up in confusion.
"I'll explain. Just go change first." She ordered and Luis begrudgingly left his stand, a younger bartender replacing him. While he changed we downed more glasses and by the time he returned I could barely tell the colour of his suit.
"Fantastic. You look perfect." Layla commented, her words slurred. If Layla was already drunk now, then I must be wasted. I giggled at the thought and Luis sent me what looked like a worried look but I couldn't really tell, I was wasted after all.
"What now?" Luis asked, crossing his arms over this chest.
"We make Mr. Ogler there very jealous till he comes for Scarlett himself. You see, I wanted her to go to him but nah, he should do the chasing. We can't have my girl looking desperate. All you guys have to do now, is dance like you're dying to rip each other's clothes off. Get it?"
He and I nodded in unison.
"Perfect. Scarlett, you go first. It needs to be as natural as possible." I nod, even though I barely understood a word she said.
I swayed, well more like stumbled back to the dance floor. People had partnered up for a salsa dance but I was too drunk to care that I was alone.
I broke into a dance of my own, feeling his hard stare once again. I didn't look this time, I kept on swaying my hips from side to side.
Suddenly, strong hands took hold of my waist, holding with a possessiveness that could only belong to a man.
"Chill, it's Luis." He whispered in my ears and my shoulders relaxed. We, like Layla had so explicitly suggested, clawed at each other like we wanted to take off each other's clothes.
Our skins growing sleek with sweat, with every passing moment Luis' hold on me felt even tighter, too real. And as his breath grew laboured, placing a kneading kiss against my neck I couldn't help but wonder whether this was fake or real anymore.
"You're so sexy." His voice was breathy, shaking like he was truly holding himself back from ripping my clothes off.
I didn't reply, my drunken state urging on my state of confusion. His touches grew more desperate, his lips latching against my neck like a starved lion.
"Luis" I whispered his name, too drunk to move away if I wanted to but he didn't stop. I wasn't even sure he heard me. By then the pounding of my heart was rivaling against the thumping of the bass.
All of a sudden, his hands were ripped away from me.