AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, uh,” Ariella looked over the massive club lounge.
“Do you want it?” The hostess’s polite smile slipped a fraction over Ariella’s hesitation.
“Yes.” She decided. “That would be perfect, thank you.” Ariella tucked her black clutch beneath her arm and followed the hostess down the aisle to the table. She was a bit early for the meeting, and Ursa hadn’t told her exactly where she should meet Ares. When Ariella had tried to get his contact information from her aunt, Ursa changed the subject and ended the call.
“Here you go. Your waitress is Tabitha. She’ll be around momentarily. There’s a two-drink minimum tonight, and the next performance will begin in a few minutes.” The hostess laid a narrow drink menu in front of Ariella as she took her seat.
“Thank you.” Ariella picked up the menu. “Uh. I’ve been trying to meet with someone. Would you by chance know if Ares Morgan has come in tonight?” She couldn’t be any worse at this if she tried. But she wasn’t sure how to go about asking about him.
“Ares Morgan?” The hostess asked, surprise lifting her eyebrows.
“Yes.” Ariella nodded, trying desperately to keep a friendly tone.
“No. I haven’t seen him.” The hostess glanced at the crowded bar at the back of the room. “It’s probably better if you don’t either.”
“I’m sorry?” Ariella asked, unsure if she heard the hostess correctly.
“Hey, Samantha. I got this.” A waitress stepped up to the table with a bright smile.
“Sure.” Samantha frowned at Ariella before walking off toward the back of the room. Ariella followed her with her eyes. A man at the corner of the bar looked similar to Ursa’s description.
“Hi, I’m Tabitha. What can I get for you?” the waitress asked, glancing at the empty chair beside her.
Ariella grabbed hold of her clutch and stood from her chair. “Oh, nothing just yet. I’m sorry. I’m going to head to the bar for a bit before the show starts.” She sidestepped her way around the table.
“All right. If you come back here, you can carry your tab over. Just let the bartender know.” She stepped out of Ariella’s way.
“Great. Thanks.” Ariella hurried up the aisle. She stepped down two steps into the bar area and maneuvered through the crowd to the corner, where she hoped to find Ares.
By the time she got to the spot she’d seen him, he was gone.
“Shit.” She smacked the edge of the bar.
“Problem?” A man turned to peer down at her.
She glanced up. He was huge! Tall and muscular. Wearing a black button-down shirt and a pair of black slacks that hugged every bulge perfectly, he reeked of danger. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off the massive tattoos covering both forearms. Her breath caught in her throat when she brought her gaze back up to his face. His eyes peered into her as though seeing straight through her.
“Is there a problem?” He asked again when she continued to gawk up at him. He sounded irritated for having to repeat himself.
“What? No.” She shook her head. “I was just…I’m meeting someone, and I thought I saw him here.” She dropped her clutch on the bar top and faced the bar, catching the bartender's eye.
“You’re here alone?” The stranger asked, sounding disapproving. She was used to that tone. It was the one Bastian used with her. But he wasn’t Bastian. He was a strange man and had no reason to be disappointed in her. She was none of his concern.
“No. Like I said, I’m meeting someone,” she said as the bartender showed up. “An amoretto and coke, please,” she ordered, opening her clutch for cash.
“Are you even old enough to drink?” The stranger asked, putting his hand up to stop the bartender.
She sighed. It was her height. She was barely five foot two, and she hated to wear heels.
“I’m twenty-two.” She waved him off then smiled at the bartender. “They checked my ID at the front door.”
The bartender turned his gaze to the stranger.
“Why are you looking at him? He has nothing to do with this.” She dug around the clutch and found her ID. Pulling it out, she shoved it at the bartender. “See. Twenty-two.”
He took it from her fingers, turning it in the light before handing it back. “She’s good,” he told the stranger.
“How ridiculous.” She shot the bartender a heated stare before shoving her ID back into the clutch.
