Love, Lies and Billionaires

It took a few minutes before either of them realised what had just happened.

Maren stared down at her hands, which were now shaky. She couldn’t believe she had actually laid her hands on someone she had once loved so dearly.

She raised her head slowly just as Irene straightened her neck, which had turned to the right because of the slap. Let out a low mocking chuckle as her neck cracked back in place.

Maren, realising that she wasn’t even remorseful, was filled with rage once more. “You can insult me all you want. Call me whatever you want but you will not drag Nathan into this, alright?”

Irene chuckled again and brushed her hair away from her face. “Wow, I think I needed that,” she said and sighed. “Just look at us. Two fucked up women who used to be friends but ended up fucking up each other’s lives”

“We are not the same Irene”

“Oh, but we are,” Irene said with a glint of amusement in her eyes and walked over to the lower fridge and pulled out another bottle, uncocked it and drank straight from it.

“You think you’ve got everything figured out? Or do you think you could keep secrets? Well, just so you know, you have always been bad at keeping secrets, Maren. You want to talk about the present? Well, let’s go,” she said with a serious face and took a gulp of the liquid.

“Oh, my god Irene, stop this! What is wrong with you? You’re so miserable that you go around getting people into your own misery. If you hadn’t put that stupid idea into William’s head, I’m sure he’ll still be here right now,” she fired.

“Why don’t you just accept things the way they come or rather crawl into a fucking hole and die or something and stop spread your bad luck while making everyone around you the villain in your fucked up story!”

Maren stopped her chest, raising and falling from the weight she had just released from it. Both women went silent. With the only sound to be heard was the rain and the faint sound of the liquid bouncing in the bottle each time Irene raised it to her lips.

Irene just stood there, staring at Maren. Her hair ruffled, making her look crazy. Her eyes were dimmed but glued on Maren like she was preparing for an attack as she filled her body with the alcohol.

Maren stared back, her mind wondering if the lady in front of her was actually mentally sound, as she wouldn’t be so surprised if she wasn’t. She never knew Irene was this bitter about a lot of things, and that was enough to make her go crazy.

She did feel sorry for her though, living all these years with nothing but hate and revenge bottled up in her heart. That was such a heavy thing to carry for so long.

After the staring contest, which seemed like it would go on forever, Maren suddenly turned away and headed for her coat.

“Thanks for nothing,” she said and yanked the coat off the couch and began to put it on.

“Maybe you should ask yourself what happened the night you had the best sex of your life with a man named Alexander.” Irene yelled as Maren headed out the door. “Fucking bitch!”

“Way to put up a show, babe” Maren heard Damian’s voice as she walked out the door.

“Lock the door and come to my bed,” Irene replied.

The rain was still pouring when Maren got out, but she didn’t mind. She just needed to get the hell out of that toxic hole.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry ma’am. You should have rung so I’ll come get you,” the driver said, getting out of the car hurriedly on seeing Maren.

She just ignored him and hopped into the car. “Drive,” she ordered, and the engine started immediately. As they drove out of the premises, Maren could see Irene’s silhouette watching them leave.

The time said past eleven at night, which meant she was there for more than three hours and got nothing but nagging and bad energy from Irene. It was like she never knew her.

Replaying everything that went on, she tried to convince herself that Irene only said all she said to make her as bitter as she was, and she wasn’t going to allow that.

But then, Irene’s last words hit her. “Alexander!” She muttered. She suddenly remembered that night like it had just happened.

*****

The dance floor was illuminated with different colours of dim lights as bodies rubbed on each other to the rhythm of the music, which boomed loudly from the speakers of the club.

Right in the middle of the crowd were two sweaty and half drunk ladies who seemed like they’d been there since forever.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“I think it’s about time I went home” Maren yelled, trying to make her voice heard over the loud music but an effect of her drowsiness.

“Two shots of vodka, dawg,” Irene said to the bartender, panting from all the excitement. “You are not going anywhere, bitch. You are staying right here by my side while party our asses off,” Irene replied and downed the tiny cup of liquid which the bartender had brought and passed the other to her friend.

“No, I’m not taking another of this, Irene. Let’s get the hell out of here! ” She whined and nuzzled the cup away from her.

Irene literally took the liquid and forced it down Maren’s throat, almost choking her while she laughed in satisfaction.

“There, now you’re going to stay. Besides, you haven’t gotten laid yet, which, by the way, is the last on our agenda tonight.” She said and flipped her hair.

“Laid? Are you serious?” Maren almost shrieked, still getting over the sting from the alcohol. “Hello, I’m dating someone if you’ve forgotten. William Sinclair? Does that ring a bell?” Maren was tapping her fingers repeatedly in front of Irene’s face, taken over by the liquor.

“Oh, come on, it’s just for a night. I won’t tell if you don’t” she said, watching as her drunk friend laid her head on the table and stared at the bartender weirdly. “Get a hold of yourself, will you? No one will notice you if you remain like this”

“I’m up, I’m up,” Maren said, slapping her cheeks and sitting upright.

“That’s more like it,” Irene said and turned to the man who had just walked up to where they sat at the counter.

“Hey, beautiful”