Chapter 7

"Celes, there's a celebration for our project's success. The company will cover all expenses. It will be held at an exclusive club," my coworker, Lindy, informed me. "Come join us. You're always turning down invitations. It's time for you to enjoy yourself."

What she said made me think. Maybe I should go and enjoy myself. Step out of my comfort zone. I also want to relax somehow. The project that we have been working on for more than six months has been completed. It was successful. So all my colleagues lost their tension and wanted to party and have fun.

But I don't know if I can handle Joaquin. He's also one of my coworkers. He always bothering me. He's been courting me for a long time. I've rejected him several times, but he's still persistent.

"Celes, come with us, please? This is the first time the company has paid for the celebration," she said in my silence.

I hesitantly nodded. I forced a smile at her.

"Okay. I'll go. Where is it?"

"At La Tana del Vampiro. I'm so excited. It's an exclusive club for rich people, but Mr. Sullivan reserved it for his employees. Oh, our new boss is not cheapskate after all." The excitement in Lindy's voice couldn't be hidden. I wanted to be part of her joy, but I didn't know why I was nervous. Just thinking about going there already made me feel different.

I gasped when someone suddenly put their arms around me. I was sitting on the swivel chair, so I couldn't move away.

"Celestine, are you coming to the party later?" Joaquin asked me. He's not my boyfriend, but he's really clingy.

I wanted to shake my head and withdrew from agreeing to come earlier, but Lindy was looking at me. Her eyes were hopeful.

"Yes Joaquin."

"Wow! I'm so lucky. This is your first time going to a company party!" He sounds happy.

"Can you please take your hand off my shoulder? I don't feel comfortable with you around," I said. I couldn't hide the disgust in my voice.

"It seems like you're not used to me yet. I always do this to you, remember?"

"Stop it Joaquin. You know Celes doesn't like you. Stop bothering her, will you?," Lindy interrupted.

"You are really nosy, Lindy," Joaquin replied with a frown.

"Go away! We're going to work."

"What if I don't want to?" He challenged my friend.

I was about to remove Joaquin's hand from my shoulder when someone cleared his throat from behind us. We immediately stood up when we saw that it was Mr. Markus Sullivan! He had Mr. Ares by his side. I can't explain their reaction to seeing our position.

"Do you want your hand removed from your body?!" Mr. Sullivan said angrily. I didn't notice that Joaquin was still holding me even though the three of us were standing.

I was scared by the anger he showed. He probably thought we were flirting during work hours. It was embarrassing. Mr. Sullivan's aura was even scarier. Especially his eyes. There is danger involved when you disobey his order. People should always be on his good side or else you might experience hell.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sullivan!" Joaquin apologized fearfully. "We were just having fun. It won't happen again."

I saw Mr. Ares pat Mr. Sullivan on the shoulder to calm him down.

"Get back to work. The fun will come later when it's party time," said Mr. Ares.

"We apologize," the three of us said at the same time.

"Come on, Markus," Mr. Ares said. Mr. Sullivan still didn't move from his position. He was still looking in our direction with his angry eyes.

"Markus" Mr. Ares called again. He wanted to pull him away.

"Fuck!" Mr. Sullivan muttered. But I heard what he said. I wanted to sink into the ground. He's really mad at us. He probably doesn't like employees flirting during work hours. I've even seen how he works. He's still in the office at midnight. He is such a workaholic.

"Calm down will you?"

"How can I calm down? I want to cut off his arm!" Mr. Sullivan hissed.

"He's already taken it off"

"So should I be happy about that?"

"You're funny" Mr. Ares said softly as he laughed.

"You think this is funny, Ares?" Mr. Sullivan said angrily.

I looked at Lindy and Joaquin. They had already started working. They couldn't hear what their two bosses were talking about. Am I the only one who could hear what they were saying?

I looked back at Mr. Ares and Mr. Sullivan. They turned in my direction. The three of us looked at each other. I didn't know if I should look away. I was nervous. I feel like they know I can hear them even though they are far from where I am.

"Fuck" was all I heard before Mr. Sullivan left, followed by Mr. Ares shook his head and laughed. It seems like we're bad shots as his employees.

DARK lights greeted me as I entered La Tana del Vampiro along with loud music. Many employees are having fun dancing. Some also drink alcohol. There are many people on the first floor. On the second floor, there are a few people, just wanting to unwind and not crowded.

I decided to go to the second floor. I prefer fewer people. The neon lights on the first floor flashing around were blinding to my eyes. Add to that the extremely loud music that was coming from the club's large speakers.

"Celes! Come here! We're here!" Lindy shouted loudly. She waved at me, so I could notice where she was sitting. Joaquin and Raul were with her.

I smiled shyly and approached them.

"Hey, thank you for coming! We thought you wouldn't come. Knowing you!"

"I'm already here. I promised, remember?" We almost shouted as we talked just to make each other understand.

"So, what do you want to drink? Do you drink alcohol?"

"I'll just have juice, Lindy. I didn't drink alcohol."

"Hmp! You're such a good girl."

I laughed at what she said. I saw Lindy looking at me and the dress I was wearing. I knew it was out of place. This wasn't a party dress but a two-strap mocking floral chiffon dress with layered. I look more like I'm going on a picnic than attending a party at a club. My hair is braided in a half-up-half-down style. I curled it to be different, and my hairstyle is not always straight.

"Don't pay attention to what I'm wearing. You know, this is my first time attending these kinds of parties, Lindy."

"I'm not saying anything about what you're wearing"

I laughed. "You're judging me. It's written all over your face."

"It suits you Celestine. You look even more beautiful," Joaquin interrupted. "By the way, this is the juice you ordered," he handed me a glass of orange juice. There was a slice of orange hanging from the rim of the glass.

"Thank you, Joaquin"

"Raul and I are going to dance, Celes. Will you come with us?" Lindy said to me after a while. After a few minutes of conversation.

"No. I'll just stay here. I don't like dancing", I declined her invitation.

"You don't have anyone there. You're lonely all by yourself. And this is a party. We should be partying and one more thing, Joaquin will annoy you if you stay here."

"I really don't want to. You guys dance. I'll just watch you from here. As for Joaquin, I can manage him."

Lindy sighed. She didn't force me to dance no matter how many times she asked me to. I was left with Joaquin. I didn't trust him, but we were surrounded by many people. So I think he wouldn't do anything bad to me.

"Celestine, you don't really drink alcohol? Even one shot. Please just this one?" Joaquin had been forcing me to drink alcohol ever since Lindy left my side. I'm getting irritated. I want to go home right away, but it's rude to leave early. I want to have some fun. I've been dreaming for nights about Mr. Sullivan was chasing me with his scary look. His deep voice calling my name. I want to forget that.

But it seems like it was a bad decision for me to come here.

"Sorry Joaquin, I didn't really drink alcohol. I'm fine with the orange you gave me," I said. I took the orange juice that I had placed on the table and drank it slowly. Some of the ice in the glass had melted.

"At least once, have some fun, Celestine. Not all about work. Every now and then you have to enjoy yourself," he told me.

"I'm happy with what I'm doing."

"Your routine seems boring every day," he commented.

I wasn't annoyed by what he said. I know my life is boring. But in my personality, I prefer that kind of lifestyle.

"To some people it's boring, but to me, it's not. I guess it just depends on the person's preference and another thing-" I stopped speaking when I felt a little dizzy. I held my temple. Maybe it was the surrounding lights that made me dizzy.

"What's wrong Celestine? Are you okay?" Joaquin asked me when he saw me stunned.

"I-I'm fine. "I-I'm just going to the powder room," I said.

"I'll come with you"

"N-no. I can do it" I stood up from the couch, but suddenly my surroundings spun around. My vision was blurry and my legs were weak.

I almost fell over when I stood up, but Joaquin caught me. He was holding me so I wouldn't fall. I didn't like the way he was holding me, but there's nothing I can do. I want to find Lindy and ask for help, but I can't look around. I feel like I'm drunk even though I've only been drinking juice since I entered this club.

"Come on, I'll accompany you into the powder room" said Joaquin. I couldn't do anything. Inside me, I wanted to run away, but my body couldn't. I let Joaquin lead me.

My surroundings are spinning. Laughter and music mix in my ears. I can barely keep my head still.

Why do I feel like something bad is going to happen?