Self-Seeker

13

The night was cool, a gentle breeze blew Genesis's hair out of her face - which was pressed straight as she always did. She stood outside of the club Avenue (which had an exceedingly long line of people waiting to discover what the newest spot in the city was like) with Emily. From the corner of her eyes she noticed Emily looking around nervously, her eyes wide and fingers twiddling. Genesis grabbed hold of one of her hands, providing her with a reassuring squeeze.

"You can do this, Em. Just be yourself." She encouraged, earning a smile from the blonde. She led them straight over to the bouncer, past the queue of annoyed party-goers, and told him her name. He checked the VIP list and upon finding her name, let them into the club.

As soon as they entered, the sound of the latest baseline music radiated throughout the building, the beat could be felt through the soles of their stilettos. The place was nice, she had to admit - though her taste was something much more authentic. Making their way up the stairs to the VIP section, Genesis spotted Deana already at the bar, waiting to pretend to actually be Genesis's friend for the entire night. Little did she know that she had a little surprise in store for her.

"Oh my! Is that Emily Stanford? As in never-leaves-the-house-unless-baring-a-tracksuit Emily? I have to get a picture of this moment, it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity!" Deana exclaimed overdramatically, pulling Emily in for a selfie, who was more than happy to be her usual modest self in response.

"It's all thanks to Genesis's wondrous taste." She replied, pulling Genesis in for a side-hug. No matter how false the friendship may be, it felt good to have a night out with people who enjoyed Genesis's company, and whose company she also enjoyed.

"Well I can't take all the credit, Em." Genesis started, noticing that the club had become quite full in the short amount of time they'd been there, including the VIP section. "That midnight blue dress only accentuates those striking blue eyes and runway legs. But you work those features all on your own."

Just then, Genesis's phone began to buzz in her purse, she pulled it out to see a message from an unknown number - though she was sure she had seen the number before. The text read 'I see you'.

Assuming it to be a threat, Genesis' head snapped up as she canvassed the area for anyone she potentially recognised. However, a threat was the furthest thing from whom she spotted. Across the room sat Damon Soldati, lounging in a booth with a couple of other guys whom she assumed were his friends. He was wriggling his fingers with his all-famous smirk on those full lips. It had been a while since she'd last seen him, not that their previous encounter was anything worth discussing. Genesis tilted her head slightly and smiled, waving back seductively. When it came to Damon, she knew all the right buttons to push.

Genesis turned towards Deana and Emily, politely interrupting their conversation about Deana's lipstick shade. "Excuse me girls, I'm going to greet a friend. Em, be a darling and order me something strong, would you? I can handle my liquor." She added at the end, staring directly at Deana who caught onto the fact that Genesis was referring to her inability to remain sober after a couple of drinks. She gave them both a smile, before approaching the table where Damon was seated.

He stood from the table, his hands in his pockets as he sauntered over to her - it reminded her of the first time they had met at Jazmine's wedding reception. She was delivered a glass of tequila from a waitress sent by Emily. Genesis walked over to a poseur table, Damon following. She turned to find him standing directly behind her, as he did before back at his home.

He licked his lips, staring down into her eyes. She noticed how his left eyebrow twitched slightly ever so often, if she hadn't been intently studying his face she would've missed it. The smell of Creed's aftershave wafted from his chest as it rose and fell, Genesis could imagine the package underneath the Armani shirt he wore. In all the time she had spent watching Damon from cameras in the apartment she had thought he lived at - never had she invaded his privacy so much as to look at him naked. Regardless of how other women saw them, men weren't just pieces of meat. To see a man truly naked, it went beyond seeing them shirtless, it was the purity of their heart and mind which was seeing them bare.