The Shrouded File

Chapter 4

Rayla was stunned as she looked up and saw a boy around her age, slightly older perhaps, who looked extremely familiar. "Yes? May I help you?" she asked, still as confused as ever. Behind the boy, a little distance away was someone else who was probably his friend, who also looked extremely familiar.

The boy grinned sheepishly. "Well, you see I seem to have found myself in some sort of predicament", he says, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. He had a hint of a French accent. Interesting.

Rayla blinked. "What sort of predicament?" She asked the stranger, raising an eyebrow at him. It wasn't everyday a random stranger came to you for help, which made Rayla slightly suspicious.

"I need to act like I've got you interested in a conversation with me and get your number and such. I swear it isn't my intention, my friends keep hounding me to speak to someone and it's kinda annoying. You don't even have to but as you can see my friend is kinda watching back there, a little distance away", he says quickly as he gestured to his friend over his shoulder. Behind him, the guy noticed and gave a small smile and wave in her direction.

An amused smile found its way to Rayla's face. "Sure, but you could just ask the million other people in this very....lavish club", she says, tilting her head as an indication to the people that surrounded them.

"Well, you seemed the least interested in being here, much like myself so I may have come with the hope of not being flirted with or forced to dance like everyone else", he admits with a shrug which earned another questioning look from Rayla, to which he replied with a "what?", not in a rude way but in questioning.

"What makes you think that everyone else would flirt with you?" she asked, crossing her arms as amusement danced in her eyes. The stranger turned the slightest shade of pink, clearly not expecting that before he chuckled lightly.

"Well for one, I'm not that bad looking", he says with a light laugh. That was true. He was about Rayla's height, with untamed dark brown hair and dark blue eyes. He also did seem rather fit. "And, in case you didn't know I am kind of a musician where I'm from" he adds.

"That might explain why you look awfully familiar", Rayla says after a moment. "What's your name?" she asks.

"My name is Adrien. Adrien Arius", he says as he extended a hand to shake. Recognition seemed to flash across Rayla's face as she shook it firmly.

"Rayla Victor" she responds. "You're one of the people my friend fangirls over loads".

"Is that so Miss Victor?" he asks casually with a grin.

"Call me Rayla please and I do believe so"

"Well Rayla, do you think we could be friends?" he asks, slightly amused.

"Sure, why not? I happen to think we'd be great friends. But I have to ask Mr. Arius, what are you doing so far away from London? Usually that's where most people find themselves on holiday or out for a night of fun", she found herself asking.

"Please, call me Adrien. And for your question, we wanted a change of scenery", he replies.

"Right. So is your friend going to stand there the whole time or just weirdly observe you making conversation? Because frankly, it seems a bit creepy", she says which earned a laugh from him. It ended with him calling his friend over to join their conversation.

As his friend came over, Adrien introduced the two of them. "Zion, this is Rayla. Rayla, meet my friend Zion", he introduced. They shook hands and Rayla noticed he was a model she had frequently seen on covers of magazines. Zion Williams, son of Rose Williams, a designer famous throughout the fashion world.