One Wild Night

Chapter 3: Club Rojo

Alicia parked her yellow convertible in front of Raquel's house and honked the horn twice so as not to disturb the neighbors. It was just past 6 P.M. and she didn't want to cause any ruckus although she kept the engine running. She turned the car stereo on and listened to afternoon drive music while she waited for her friend.

Raquel became agitated when she heard the car horn honked outside her house. She applied another dab of perfume on her wrists, behind her ears and on her cleavage before checking her makeup and her appearance one last time on the full-length mirror.

She was wearing a black leather peep-through skin-tight haltered top and miniskirt with fishnet stockings. She got her small black purse and brought her black denim jacket in case it got colder. When she got out of the house and walked to Alicia's car, her friend couldn't help but whistle out loud and she laughed while she got in the car.

"You are ready for battle, I see," Alicia said when she looked at her engaged friend from head to toe. "Your general should put a leash on you, mi chica. Or everyone will be on the lookout."

Raquel laughed out loud. "No battles. Just a bit of fun, si? The war would soon be over." She showed her engagement ring again. "And this is my weapon."

"Are you insane? Take that off and keep it safe! Do you want to lose it?"

'Why? I'll be careful—"

"Get in there and leave that rock ahora! We're going in a very public place, I swear—"

"Okay, okay, wait up..." Raquel went back in, removed her ring and left it on her jewelry box. She went back out to the car, got into the seat and buckled up.

Alicia checked her hand again. "Muy bien. Remember, mi amiga, you are engaged, not married." Alicia looked at her meaningfully.

"Not yet. But soon." Raquel smarted back.

"And no monkey business. AFTER." Alicia laughed and roared the engine.

After 10 minutes, they arrived at a new 10-story building five blocks from the city center amid several restaurants lining up the block. The square light-gray building had a simple facade that bore the red-fire name of the place in 2x2-feet block letters that read "Club Rojo."

They left the car to have it parked by a valet then headed for the entrance. The five-star hotel boasted of a posh restaurant, a dance club, and all the hotel amenities it could offer. Alicia went to the concierge and gave her card. The uniformed attendant asked her.

"How many, please?"

"Two rooms."

"Adjoining?"

"No. Different floors."

"Vale." The attendant gave Alicia two cards. She kept one and handed the other one to Raquel.

"What's this?" Raquel asked.

"A gift."

"But I don't need it. I'm going home after this."

"Keep it. Just for tonight. You might not be lucky with transpo either." Alicia laughed.

Raquel shrugged and kept the card in her small purse. "So, where to first?"

"The resto. Their codfish is to die for, I heard. The girls saved a table."

They went inside the restaurant and was guided by the maître d' to the reserved table. Everyone cheered when Raquel and Alicia arrived. After greetings, air kisses and congratulations, all six women ordered wine and food and chatted about various things, not the least was Raquel's upcoming wedding.