Chapter 9: A blind date
Anne sagged her shoulders, eyes downcast. Yes, she had been grateful to Denis – grateful for that day when he had pulled her away from her mother's furious blows, shielding her like a knight in shining armor. In her naive heart, she had crowned him her savior who would lead her into the peaceful, happy future she had always dreamed of. But that dream was now shattered.
"He cheated on me," Anne said grimly. When she recalled Denis taking Tania's side, her blood boiled. "He is back with his first love. And to top it off, he got her pregnant."
"Wait—what? Tania? She is back?" Audrey exclaimed with disbelief.
Anne nodded.
Audrey tossed the cushion aside. "That scumbag," she spat. "He actually reconciled with Tania? Did he forget how she dumped him three years ago?"
"Honestly, I don't care," Anne said flatly. Her tone was devoid of the pain one might expect.
Audrey cast her a worried look. "Anne... are you okay?" Her voice softened, the fire in her eyes dying down. "You don't have to pretend. If you want to cry, cry. Don't hold it in."
"Cry?" Anne's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Why would I cry? I've already cried enough for that man. Now? I just want to enjoy my freedom."
Audrey grew even more concerned. She thought her friend was deeply hurt. This wasn't peace; it was numbness, the kind that masked a heart drowning in silent agony.
"Anne," Audrey murmured, taking her hand. "You loved him for years. It's normal to feel heartbroken. Let it out. Scream, cry, throw things if you have to. Hell, curse him if it helps."
"Audrey, stop being so dramatic." Anne waved her hand dismissively, cutting off her friend's concerned rambling. "I'm fine, really. I've wasted enough time on Denis. I'm done crying over a relationship that was never worth it. I have better things to do with my life."
But the more Anne tried to sound unaffected, the deeper Audrey's worry grew. She knew Anne too well. That forced indifference, that hollow determination—it was survival mode.
"Alright, alright," Audrey sighed, raising her hands in surrender. "No tears. You made the right call. Denis doesn't deserve you, and as for that bitch, Tania," she scoffed, flipping her hair dramatically, "fuck them both. Let them rot together."
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Her lips suddenly curled into a bright, mischievous smile. "How about we hit the bar tonight?"
Anne thought for a while. She hadn't gone to a bar for ages – not since she had agreed to be Denis's girlfriend.
Back then, her world had quietly shrunk, revolving entirely around his needs, his preferences, his happiness. She had convinced herself that his happiness was her own, sacrificing little pieces of herself until she barely recognized the woman in the mirror.
But she finally realized how wrong she was. She wanted to live for herself. To reclaim every moment she had lost.
Her phone buzzed, the screen blinking with an incoming call.
Denis.
Anne stared at the name for a heartbeat, then flipped the phone and ignored the call.
"You know what? That is a good idea," she beamed. "Let's go celebrate."
"Yes!" Audrey cheered, jumping to her feet. But there was a sly glint in her eyes, a mischievous little spark that Anne didn't notice. 'It'll be a surprise for her,' she mused.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Audrey whisked Anne away to The Eclipse—the city's most exclusive nightclub. From the outside, the building shimmered under neon lights.
Anne hesitated at the entrance, but Audrey dragged her forward with an excited grin. The moment they stepped inside, Anne was hit by a sensory overload.
A deep bass throbbed through the air, pulsing in time with the flashing, jewel-toned lights that flickered like fireflies across the vast dance floor. The scent of expensive perfume mingled with the smoky richness of aged whiskey and something faintly exotic.
Everything about the place screamed luxury, from the plush velvet seating to the golden accents lining the bar.
Anne tugged at the hem of her modest dress, suddenly self-conscious amid the effortlessly glamorous crowd. Women in designer gowns with sky-high heels glided across the floor as they owned it, while men in tailored suits lounged in private booths.
"Audrey," Anne whispered nervously, grabbing her friend's hand. "Why did you bring me here? We could've just gone to a local bar."
"Relax," Audrey murmured, flashing her an encouraging smile. "You'll like this place. Trust me."
Anne glanced around uneasily. "But it looks expensive. A single drink here probably costs more than my whole month's salary."
Audrey laughed, linking her arm through Anne's. "Don't stress. I got a bonus this month—we can splurge a little. Besides..." Her lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "...I've got a plan."
The playful glint in Audrey's eyes made Anne's stomach twist with unease. "What plan?" she asked suspiciously.
Audrey waved her off, already leading her deeper into the club. "Come on. Sit first, questions later."
Before Anne could protest, Audrey dragged her toward a cozy corner booth. Two men were already seated there, casually sipping their drinks. Both looked sharp—one in a crisp navy blazer, the other in a black shirt with the top buttons undone.
"Hello, guys!" Audrey chirped, waving both hands like they were old friends. "Mind if we join you?"
"Of course," the one in the blazer said, sliding further down the sofa to make room. His friend followed suit, patting the open seat beside him.
Anne hesitated. She tightened her grip on Audrey's arm. "Are you sure about this?" she asked in a hushed tone. "Sitting with random guys in a club? Do you even know them?"
Audrey laughed off her concern. "Relax. I know them." She pulled her down onto the cushy seat.
Anne sat stiffly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Everything about this felt rushed, forced. She glanced toward the exit, wondering if she should just leave and call a cab.
"Aren't you going to introduce us, Audrey?" the man who spoke just now asked.
Audrey grinned as if she had been waiting for that moment. "Oh! Right. This is my bestie, Anne." She shot Anne a playful look. "Freshly single and very available. She just dumped her asshole boyfriend and is officially here to have fun."
Anne's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected Audrey to say that. "Audrey!" she hissed, her cheeks flushing. Before she could say further, both men stretched their hands toward her.
"I'm Eric."
"I am Raoul."
Anne froze, her gaze darting between the two men. She wasn't sure if she should shake their hands or run away.
"Anne, don't be so nervous," Audrey teased, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. "They're good guys. Actually..." She leaned in, voice dropping into a whisper, "...they're both looking for a blind date."
"A blind date!" Anne exclaimed, realizing why her friend had brought her there. "You set me up for a blind date!"
Audrey shrugged, entirely unapologetic. "Don't be mad. I just wanted to cheer you up. Seriously, fuck Denis. Pick one of these guys and let loose for once."
Anne opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Raoul spoke.
"I'll treat you well and make you forget the pain." He extended a hand toward her. "May I have this dance, beautiful lady?"
Anne blinked, utterly speechless.
"Anne, come with me instead," Eric chimed in smoothly. "If you don't like this place, I'll take you somewhere else. Anywhere you want." He also stretched his hand to her.
Anne's eyes darted between them, feeling trapped in an unexpected predicament.
Audrey, meanwhile, was grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, this is adorable," she drawled, resting her chin on her palm as she watched the scene unfold. "They're both trying to impress you. So, Anne, who do you want to pick for tonight's date?"
Anne's head snapped toward Audrey, her glare sharp as a blade. If looks could kill, Audrey would've been six feet under.
"You—" Anne started, but before she could unleash her fury, a familiar deep voice cut through the noise.
"You're here, flirting with these guys. Didn't you say you were getting married?"
All heads turned toward the source of the voice and saw Denis standing not very far from them, exuding effortless arrogance, his piercing gaze locked onto Anne. His lips curled into a smirk as he strode forward.
"You knew I would be here. So you deliberately showed up and put on this little show—just to get my attention."
Anne's blood boiled the moment she saw him. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but Audrey spat, "She is no longer your girlfriend. She can flirt, date, or do whatever the hell she wants. And she definitely isn't looking for your attention."
Denis scoffed, his smirk deepening. "Oh, really?" His gaze flickered back to Anne, challenging her. "That's interesting, because just this morning, she told me she was getting married. And yet here she is, at a nightclub, looking for a date. If this isn't about me, then what is it?"