Gorgeous In Red

Chapter 1

My eyes stared at the white clock hanging on the wall in the employee lounge. Dean's Family Diner had been empty for the past two hours and I was ready to leave the joint. I could practically see the flashing lights for the grand opening event down the road at the La Promenade Épicée' restaurant. I wanted to check it out.

The building the construction team had been building for a year was finally finished and weirdly enough, there was not much information about the owner besides her name Letitia Gray, and the fact she was a self-made billionaire.

Not many came to the city of Junesville with money like that. Most people forget this place even existed after the wildfire that took place four years ago. Many moved out but many moved in too as buildings were reconstructed to get more residents. Looked like it worked.

"You can go on home now. I'm closing up," Henry, the cook told me in his very boring way.

"All right. Have a nice night."

"You too."

I glanced anxiously at the line to the entrance thinking about the first time I went to a venue like this for my twenty-first birthday when my best friend, Hailey, talked me into going. I was not much of a partier but I did enjoy certain experiences. I breathed in and gave the bouncer my identification from my purse before I was let in through double doors. "Twenty-dollar entry fee?" The lady in a black and white uniform asked me with a handout.

"Oh right," I replied feeling awkward. This was one of those clubs. Luckily I found two ten-dollar bills in my wallet and handed them to her.

The large bar was in the center of the room, with two dance floors on opposite sides, and small booths in multiple places downstairs. Upstairs I saw where the restaurant was with red cloths on top of round tables. The layout had been nicely decorated and designed in what appeared to be in colors of red and gold. Pulling out my phone, I took pictures of the first and second floors. Unfortunately, the third set of stairs had a guard by and he was not letting anyone through unless they held a VIP card.

"What can I get ya?" The young bartender placed an empty glass cup in front of me.

"Um, how about something sweet."

"Sweet! Right up!" His enthusiasm made me happy. The drink was so good I downed it in one go. "Another?"

"I don't think I should."

"Ah. Got work tomorrow?" he asked. It was the weekend which meant a two-day vacation.

"Actually, no I don't."

"So one more wouldn't hurt, hm?" He smiled at me and I knew what he was trying to do.

"Okay. One more and that's it." He asked me for my card and charged the two drinks while I, after swallowing the second glass started to feel hazy. I knew this effect, it happened the last time I tried alcohol but in the past, I had taken multiple shots leading to my drunkenness. This was not the same stuff.

"Erika is that you?" called a familiar voice. I turned to see Samantha, an old friend from high school. Beside her was a dark-skinned woman wearing a black dress that mirrored Samantha's red one. "Girl, what are you doing here?" she asked, giggling.

"Just checking out the place," Erika replied with a shy smile. "You?"

"About to dance!" Samantha exclaimed. "Come join us on the floor."

"Sure."

We danced sensually, grinding against each other and I cared none for how we might have looked to others. Mid-dance, Samantha spun me around, and I found myself face-to-face with a beautiful redhead. The woman's wavy red hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her hazel eyes and confident smile. "Hello, there," she responded in a whisper loud enough for me to hear over the music but quiet enough for it to sound like something heavenly.