Slave to Mafia's Desire || Vol. 1

42-Disguised Danger

The three of us watched as she stormed out of the door. Josh and I let out a sigh of pure relief now that Janine was gone. I wasn't sure if I would call our mission a success, but at least Janine was gone, and I guess I can go home now.

"Sorry for scaring you a little back there. Thank you so much for your help," Josh thanked me as he took my hand in his.

"Oh... glad that I could help..." I replied, putting on a smile. Truthfully, I was still recovering from the shock.

"Let's go back," Raiden said to me as he turned to head for the door.

"Wait. Why don't you two stay and enjoy the party before you go? I mean, you're here anyway," Josh suggested with a warm smile.

Raiden didn't say no to his friend's request. Josh led us outside to where the main party was going on. I didn't know anyone, obviously, but Raiden seemed to know many people who were there. Once we were out of the private lounge, a beautiful blonde woman in a very showy red dress came bounding up to Raiden immediately.

"Raiden! Oh... I've been waiting for you," the woman said, her red-tinted lips curving into a seductive smile.

"What do you want?" Raiden said, his eyes cold.

The woman seemed unfazed by Raiden's cold reception. I guess there are some women who are attracted to his cold character...

"You never got back to me last time. I have so many things I have to tell you... come here..." the beautiful woman pleaded as she grabbed Raiden's right arm and started pressing herself against his side.

"That's Daniella... she and Raiden have history..." Josh whispered into my ear.

I just nodded absentmindedly as we both stood there watching Raiden being dragged away by Daniella. Josh shook his head from side to side as he laughed a little to himself. On the other hand, I was boiling with anger. How dare he bring me to this party to use me and then leave me behind with his friend while he goes off with another woman? Oh... the nerve!

"Don't worry about Raiden. He'll be back in no time. What about we get a little something to drink?" Josh suggested with a friendly smile.

At least Josh was being friendly and hospitable towards me, unlike a certain someone. I let Josh take my hand in his as he led me to the bar.

"What would you like?" Josh asked.

"Something not strong... maybe a cocktail?" I replied a little hesitantly.

"Sure. Let me pick one for you," Josh said.

Josh expertly ordered a cocktail for me and a drink for himself. We sat next to each other on the bar stools as we chatted and waited for the arrival of our drinks.

"Thank you so much for today. It must have been hard on you, getting pulled into this and all..." Josh thanked me again.

"Oh... it's okay. I hope... things work out well with Janine," I said, truly meaning it.

My life was complicated now too, so I could understand his frustrations. I guess we all have our own set of troubles in our lives.

Soon our drinks arrived. I looked at the orange and pink cocktail in my hand, admiring how pretty it looked. The cocktail tasted sweet and refreshing when I took a sip. It had a fruity smell as well. I really liked it.

"You like it?" Josh asked, smiling at me.

"Yes. It's just the right level of sweet, and the fruity smell is nice," I replied as I began drinking more of the cocktail.

I wondered where Raiden was right now. Josh did say that he would return soon, and I hoped that was true. I wanted to leave the party already. After all, I still feel like I don't belong in this place.

Josh and I talked about random things as I continued to drink my cocktail. I found Josh to be a very funny and outgoing person. I laughed along with almost everything that he said, and soon I was beginning to enjoy myself. What I didn't realize was that I had been drinking a lot too while I chatted happily with Josh.

"Should we go wait for Raiden in the private lounge? Maybe he's there already," Josh suggested as he took a look at his watch.

"Oh... right," I agreed.

The moment I stood up from the bar stool, my head felt light, and I found it hard to maintain my balance. I gripped the bar table with my hand to steady myself. Josh was there immediately to provide me support. He looped an arm around my waist to support me as I leaned my body against his.

"Are you okay?" he asked with care.

"Yes..." I replied.

My head felt a little blurry, but I guessed that I would be okay. It's not like I'm drunk or anything. After all, I only had two cocktails, and they didn't seem strong. Maybe I'm a little tipsy... that's all.

When we started walking, my legs felt weak, and I had to rely on Josh for support all the way back to the private lounge that we were in. Josh was strong, so he had no problem taking me there. However, when we arrived, the lounge was empty. There was no sign of Raiden.

Josh slowly settled me down on the large sofa before sitting next to me. I realized once again that he was sitting very close to me.

"Ivelle..." Josh called my name sweetly.

"...Yes?" I turned to look at him. My head felt so heavy right now.

"You're so beautiful..." Josh whispered seductively close to my ear. I could feel his warm breath on my earlobe.

"Josh!" I exclaimed his name in shock when I felt his arms hugging me tightly to his body.

Everything happened so fast that I wasn't sure what was going on. My body froze at the shock of his aggressive attack. His arms around me tightened as he buried his face in the side of my neck. Instinctively, I began pushing him away. I hated how his touches felt on my skin.

"Don't struggle... I'll make you feel good too," Josh whispered against the skin of my neck.

"Stop!" I cried out as loudly as I could.

--To be continued...