Chapter Three
2 years later
"When are we leaving for Vegas?" Asked Julianna while copying some notes sitting in the college cafeteria.
Seraphina, another friend of theirs, with chocolate brown hair and green eyes joined in. "Hey, count me in guys," she said, popping a cheese popper in her mouth from Carol's plate.
"Sera, go get your food," said Carol, snatching her plate away.
"Sharing is caring, didn't you learn?" Said Sera with a grin.
"I don't care neither do I share," muttered Carol.
"Hey you two, stop your bitching," said River, as she approached their table and sat down. She was a beautiful girl with short curly hair and sparkling blue eyes. She joined their college last year yet instantly clicked with them.
"So, I'm getting tickets to Vegas for this weekend. You need to pay me if you wish to go," said Carol.
Julianna thought for a moment. Jake had given her some money. Would she use it for this trip? Yes she could. "Ok but I don't have much to spend in Vegas. What about our hotel expenses?" She asked.
"We'll see about that. Just pay me the flight expenses and let me get the tickets," said Carol.
"I have my uncle's apartment there. We could stay in it," said River.
The next few hours they discussed their Las Vegas trip. It was River's idea. She had a few friends in Vegas and wanted to connect with them. Her family was filthy rich and owned casino clubs there.
Seraphina worked part time at a library and earned some pocket money for herself. Her parents lived in Huntsville and all the friends visited her house often.
They packed up and excitedly waited for the day when they would go for their two day vacation. Carol didn't want her guardian to know else he wouldn't have let her go.
He was very possessive about her and came often to enquire after her. She didn't like his nerdy attitude. He was an engineer who was her dad's business partner and looked after Carol's dad's engineering company solely after his death. Her parents wanted her to marry him but she didn't like him at all. He was twelve years older and treated her like a child.
After college they all got ready and trooped into the cab and headed for the airport to board their flight. It was a 6 hour flight and they reached Las Vegas late by 10 o'clock at night. They took a cab to River's uncle's apartment. They were too exhausted to do anything and called it a night.
The next morning they hired a car and went sightseeing. It was the best day of their lives. Happy, carefree and giggly, they loved the food, they loved the sights and sounds of Vegas. By the time they returned back, they were dead tired. After taking a nap, they decided to go check out the nightlife of Vegas.
River's uncle had membership at a billionaire's club and they all trooped in showing her uncle's card. The night club was over crowded with hot sweaty bodies gyrating to loud dance music on the dance floor. The bartenders were too busy mixing up drinks and serving the huge crowd gathered around their counter. There was a deck above for the members to enjoy with tight security at the entrance.
The girls entered excitedly and River led them upstairs. They sat at plush chairs while River and Sera went to get their drinks.
It was the first time that the girls had come to such a place, apart from River of course. She had visited Vegas many times with her family.
"Why's that guy staring at me, Julie? It's so creepy," said Carol, glancing at a sinfully gorgeous man, with hooded eyes staring at her. He was sitting with two men and sipping some drink as he watched Carol like a hawk.
"Ignore him and enjoy yourself, Car," said Julianna, fiddling with her mobile.
The girls returned with their drinks and they chatted excitedly making plans for tomorrow.
"We haven't seen all of Vegas. Tomorrow we can check out the places that we missed. Then we can have dinner at a friend's house. He has invited all of us," said River.
"He?" Asked Sera, quirking an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah, he's a family friend. We grew up together. Relax he's just like a brother to me," said River and Sera rolled her eyes.
"Oh how boring!" She said and Carol grinned.
The waiter came and set down a tray full of drinks and appetizers on their table. "Hey, we didn't order these?" Said Julianna.
"Yes ma'am. The gentleman from that table sent these just for ma'am," he said, pointing at Carol.
"For me? But who sent them? I don't know anyone here," said Carol in confusion.
"That gentleman at the corner, Mr Maxwell Stephens sent you these. He owns this place," said the waiter and everyone's jaws dropped. They all whirled around and Carol saw the same guy who was staring at her, grin and tilt his head at her in acknowledgement. River thanked him and he grinned at her too.
Carol's face turned pale. So he was the owner of this place? Were the drinks spiked? She panicked but Sera had already started sipping hers. River attacked the appetizers while Julianna picked up a mini meatball and fed Carol.
"He seems whipped with you, Car. He hasn't looked away from you since we came here," said Julianna.
"Yeah, even I've noticed, " said Sera, slapping River's hand away from the appetizers and attacking them herself.
"He's too good looking and he's loaded too. It's a deadly combination. Why would he choose girls like us? I would be careful if I were you, Car. Such men just prey upon innocent women for a one night stand. Then throw them away like trash after having a way with them," warned River.
"I'm not interested. Don't worry, we'll never see him again. Let's finish off these and then go back," said Carol.
They finished it all off and another round of drink came for them from Maxwell Stephens. River and Sera went downstairs to the dance floor to enjoy.
Julianna and Carol sat quietly watching them. "Julie, I've had enough, let's go home," said Carol.
"Yeah, let them come back," said Julianna. They were all slurring from too much drinking. It was the first time they drank and they couldn't control themselves.
Carol felt a bout of nausea attack her and she rushed to the washroom. She was so wasted that she just couldn't make it back to her friends. After around 45 minutes, she somehow staggered back to see that her friends were gone. Panicking, she searched for her mobile but couldn't find her clutch bag anywhere.
A hand went around her waist and she was pulled onto a hard chest. She lay her head on it. Looking up she was lost in two piercing chocolate brown orbs of Maxwell Stephens. Her eyes closed and she fell unconscious.
