I suddenly choked.
No, really. I choked on freaking air as I tried to grasp exactly what Phil was telling me. Kate gave me the client? She actually gave me a client because I deserved it? Shit, had we morphed into the twilight zone? But I had a weird feeling it wasn’t because I deserved it. Something didn’t sit right with me about it. I shrugged it off.
“Holy shit balls, Pay!” Quinn screeched like a cat on helium.
“See? I told you!” Kylie smiled, flashing me a wink before consuming the rest of… whatever the hell she was drinking.
“I’m going to the ladies room,” I announced suddenly, standing from my chair and turning to Phil. “Want me to grab you a drink on the way in?”
I needed air. I needed oxygen and right now my body had decided it was going to forgo it and make me dizzy from the lack of it.
“Yes, please.” Phil nodded politely, seemingly encouraging Kylie and Quinn to raise their glasses, indicating they wanted one too. What a surprise.
Grabbing my purse, I moved from the table. The bar had gotten busier since we had arrived only an hour ago. There were people everywhere, bodies grinding against each other as the music was turned up and the bass took hold of every unassuming stranger with alcohol in their systems. I chuckled as I slid past a couple who looked more like they were having sex on the dance floor, wondering if I should've thrown a condom at them and advised them to make safe choices.
Wouldn't that make me a hypocrite?
Probably.
Shaking my head, I weaved through the crowd and walked in the direction of the bathroom. I could feel the muggy heat from the overload of bodies in one room sticking to my skin like a second layer. I felt dirty, the sheen of sweat coating every inch of exposed skin. I managed to snake my way around the moving bodies, making it to the bathroom with some images I could've done without. Moments later I was washing my hands, running the palm of my right hand along the back of my neck. I was too hot, too freaked out that I’d been given a client from my boss. She’d given me the step I needed to start moving up the PR ladder. I just hoped I wouldn't screw it up.
Wiping under my eyes, I quickly dried my hands and left the bathroom, dodging a horde of gaggling women as they shoved past me.
“Well excuse you,” I muttered under my breath.
As I stepped out into the hallway just off to the left of the bar, I noticed the thundering bass had gotten slower, more erotic. I had no idea what song was playing but whatever it was made me feel… sexy? Fuck, I’m a moron. Rolling my eyes, I was about to step out to head to the bar when I heard a crashing sound followed by a muffled voice from the very end of the hallway I was about to exit. The hell was that? I had no idea why the sound intrigued me so much, and, as odd as it was, I wanted to find the source of it. Turning, I made my way down the darkened hall, stopping at three black doors in the process. I held my ear to each one, finding myself becoming more and more frustrated that I couldn't find the source of the noise.
What the hell was I doing anyway?
Sighing, I decided to blame the cocktails and unidentifiable shots for my inability to make rational choices. Turning on my heels, which were pinching the shit out of my ankles, I was about to walk right out of there and call it a night when I heard the voice again. But this time it wasn't muffled; in fact, it was pretty damn clear.
“Your excuse is pitiful, Mr. Michaels.”
My feet were quickly moving of their own accord. It was if I had no control over what the hell I was doing as they took me in the direction of the gravelly voice from somewhere deep inside the bar.
My heels clacked against the dark flooring as my steps increased. I quickly found myself standing in front of another black door, my hand resting on the door knob. For some reason, I don't know why, I placed my ear against the wood, listening to the voice that had entrapped me only moments ago.
“I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again,” a male voice apologized.
“You better hope it doesn't.”
There it was again, the voice that had pulled me to the very spot I was standing in. It sounded rough, dark… dangerous. As if the very sound of it was criminal. I couldn't speculate for long. The moment the owner of the voice finished his sentence, the door opened faster than I thought possible, taking a stumbling me with it.
“Ooooof!” I groaned, landing on my hands and knees onto some very plush carpet.
As I stared at the floor, embarrassed as hell, I heard the most illegal sounding chuckle to have ever graced my ears. My head was bowed, staring at the fibers of the softest carpet I’d ever touched, when I felt a presence standing in front of me while another simply stepped over me and exited the room.