Just a number

Chapter 5: Nikolas

Claudine. Not Penny. Claudine. That's what that lower class' name was. Wait. Did she actually just give me a lap dance? I mean she was pretty good at it...Damn it. I'm going to get depraved fantasies about her, aren't I? I could just picture that pretty little mouth being used for better purposes as she choked on me and thick tears ran down her face.

Stop it, Niko, someone's talking to you and unfortunately, it's not who you're just fantasising about I say to myself.

"...apologies sir. She uh, mistook this job for one of her...other ones. May I compensate you with a drink? Claudine has also apologised profusely and will ensure it will never happen to you or any other client here." 

That name. That's her name. I don't like how it sounds coming from his lips it only sounds right when I say it. Since when did I care about a lower class? No, of course, I don't it's probably because she got in such close uh proximity. Yes, that must be it.

I try not to show him how much it bothers me hearing her name come out of his mouth and I don't want her getting punished for this I mean, I could've stopped her. Sure I was shocked, but I'm still much stronger than her and capable of pushing her off.

So I reply keeping my tone calm"It's quite alright, Edward and, call me Niko we've known each other long enough to remove formalities on both ends."

Abruptly, I see a flicker of rich, honey-coloured hair rush past me, head lowered avoiding making eye contact. If she wanted to be discreet, she probably shouldn't have been stomping it only added to the attention she received and it added to her dramatic exit.

 Too much attention. One could even say unwanted attention. It took a lot of effort to restrain myself from clawing the eyes out of every motherfucker who lay eyes on her. I stared at the bar entrance from where she'd left a bit longer than I would have liked to and only stopped when Edward's voice ceased. 

Edward only stopped profusely apologising to thank two men for stopping by for a minute although it was fully clear that they had been here for quite a while seeing how they were swaying slightly as they waved goodbye.

Soon after, Edward looked back at me and muttered "I'm terribly sorry si-Niko, feel free to leave you don't have any obligations to stay. It is understandable if you don't want to return but if you do you'll have a glass of whisky. On me"

I nod politely and rush out of the bar eager to find this enigma of a girl. I want to know why she affects me or what kind of spell she's put me under since I've found every woman I've been with abhorrent. But, there's just something about her that I can't put my finger on. Any other girl I would have pushed off of my lap but...not her. 

She can't have gone far it's been fifteen minutes at most since I saw her leave the bar. What do women do when they finish work early? Hm. I guess they might go home(but I don't know where she lives plus I would not want to go anywhere near the slums. God knows what sort of...business goes on down there.

 Maybe a woman would want to go shopping or get her nails/hair done. But she's too poor to afford to do something like that although she may admire things in the store by window shopping. I guess I'll start at the closest shopping centre.

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Long story short, she wasn't there. I spent an hour looking around at the clothing, makeup hell even the body shop. She was nowhere to be seen. It was already dark by the time I left the shopping centre and everywhere outside of their homes was a dangerous place for women to walk around even in the more classy parts. She wouldn't be stupid enough to not be in her home by now, would she?

I start to make my way back to my mansion already hearing mother's voice chastise me for going out to the bar. To avoid her, I decide to walk. Let her think what she wants to think. Deciding to take a detour through the park to extend my route, I make my way through the park's entrance.

The park normally closes down at 11 pm but because it's winter and the nights are longer, they've moved up the closing time to 8:30 pm. Meaning I have about half an hour to get through the park giving me an extra 10 minutes so, I can take my time.

Usually, the cold, night air awakens me and makes me feel alive. But, something's off. The air feels stale the trees even the great oaks seem to cower at the night's surprises. The moon hides behind a mixture of clouds and ominousness carefully peeking out from its shelter just to go back into hiding.

The breeze seemed like it was trying to push me closer to something. Trying to guide me towards something...important. I didn't resist as the wind led the way breezing past my ear as if trying to issue a warning. 

I started moving slowly, step by step moving forwards to make sure whatever the trees and moon were so scared of wouldn't hear me but all precautions boycotted my mind when I heard a shriek. A scream. A call for help and suddenly I knew who it belonged to.

 No longer did I watch each step putting my foot down with nary a sound I was full-blown running at this point she may not be a petite, dainty lady but she was still a damsel in distress minus the damsel. I could hear many voices, though slightly muffled, since I was still about 50 metres away. Suddenly I heard her cry

"Please...No! Stop! I-I don't want you to! Leave me alone! I-I have to get back home I'll get in a lot of t-trouble for this."