chapter five

                                    

                                          
Stephano hooked his arm around me as we walked out of the car and into the building. It was like a party. Everyone came with a date. There was soft music playing, violin and piano. 
                          
The men were in suit and the lady wore gowns. I could feel the air of influence around here. This was a room full of powerful men and rich women that could buy my death certificate.
                          
They all talked in low tunes, some sat at tables and a few were on the dance floor. Waiters and waitresses walked around with drinks and food serving. I could feel most people turn their eyes to us as we walked in. I wanted to look confident beside Stephano and try not to look so abstract from the other women and hurt his pride. So I held my head high in confidence as we walked in, though I was nervous as I walked so close to Stephano, his hand hooked in mine. Being this close to him I could smell his cologne and after shave. He took slow powerful strides and I did my best not to fall on my heels and emberass him. My eyes caught glimpse of a few women whose eyes raked jealously down my body. They gave me envious looks and most of them tried to wink at Stephano or give him that body language. 
                          
"Hey handsome." A lady in a red dress walked up to us. She had short wavy blonde hair. She was slim and and her dress was fitted. She trailed her long polished finger nails down Stephano's clad chest, her brown eyes glinting seductively, he swiftly picked up her wrist, flicking it away.
                          
She laughed a bit, trying to clear her emberassment. 
                          
"Good evening Anastasia." Stephano greeted. 
                          
"Stephano." A voice came behind us. 
                          
We both turned at the same time. Starring at the average height man, he wore a navy blue suit. His curly dark brown hair was lighter than the dark color of his eyes. He had a mustache and a small beard. 
                          
"David." Stephano spoke in that silky dominating voice of his that held no emotion.
                          
"How good to see you." David smirked, he turned his head towards me.
                          
"Ahhhh, who is this lovely damsel?" His eyes travelled down my body flirtatiously. 
                          
"My date." Stephano simply answered. 
                          
"What a lovely thing she is." 
                          
David brought his right hand to mine, raising my hand and pressing a small kiss to the back of my palm.
                          
"I am David, David Banks. The host."
                          
I smiled lightly. "I am Ariana."
                          
"About the deal..." Stephano began. "Are we having it or not?" 
                          
"How about we sit somewhere and talk man to man Stephano?" David grinned mischievously. 
                          
"Of course." Stephano pulled me closer as David began to walk away slowly. I gasped at the suddenness of his action. He grabbed my waist with his arms, I held his shoulders unconsciously. 
                          
He leaned towards my ear, his breath fanning my ear and neck as he whispered. I tensed up my body.
"Don't talk to anyone about anything. Avoid eye contact with any of the men, grab a seat by the bar and wait for me there, understood?" 
                          
"Yes." I whispered in return, starring into his deep blue eyes as he pulled away. Walking away from the crowd. 
                          
I turned, walking towards the bar and grabbing a seat. The bartender came up to me.
" Anything you will like to drink?" He asked.
                          
"Water please?"
                          
I sat by the bar sipping the water very slowly as I waited patiently for Stephano to come back out.
                          
"Hey beautiful." I turned to the man that took a seat beside me. He was smiling. 
                          
"What you doing all alone." He asked. "As gorgeous as you look tonight?" 
                          
"I am not alone." I answered. I found myself a bit uneasy, Stephano warned me not to make eye contact or talk to anyone. I didn't know what to do.
                          
"Is that so?" He asked. I nodded. "Then who are you with it?"
                          
"Stephano." I answered.
                          
The man's face looked taken aback. He quickly regained his composure. "I need to go check on something." He quickly walked away. I took a sigh of relief. 
                          
I turned back to my seat just to catch a glimpse of Stephano walking angrily towards me. His fists were clenched and his eyes were burning with rage. I found myself almost shivering with fear as I wondered what he would do to me for disobeying him. 
                          
I stood up quickly as he got to me. "I didn't..." I started.
                          
I hushed as his arms grabbed my waist again, I blushed but tried to hide it.
                          
His hand started to caress my waist and love handles. I tensed, my body stiffening up.
                          
"What are you doing?" I asked nervously.
                          
He didn't answer, I felt something slip into my stomach. I don't realize there was a very thin pocket there. 
                          
"Play along, I need you to get a hold of his wallet and phone in anyway possible. Use this only if very necessary." He was smiling, but his voice wasn't. I knew he was just using it as a disguise and something very serious was going on. 
                          
Before I could ask what this was all about. I saw David walking up to us with a smirk. 
                          
"Go with him." Stephano whispered. 
                          
I smiled, trying to hide my confusion. 
                          
David walked up to me and I could feel Stephano walk away.
                          
"You look dazzling tonight." He smirked, his dirty eyes checking me out.
                          
I hid my disgust as I smiled sheepishly in return, "thank you." 
                          
"What do you say we have a drink a two?" He grabbed two glasses from the waiter walking by. 
                          
"I don't drink." I lied, not wanting to drink the God knows what in the glass. I don't know what's going on here and I wasn't going to put my life at risk at for it.
                          
"Ahhh, that's a shame." He fake frowned.
                          
"Let's have a dance then." He smiled gulping down both cups and setting them down. 
                          
"I don't know how to dance." And this time I was actually sincere.
                          
"That's a lie." He laughed.
                          
"No it's not." I said my tone more serious. "I really won't want to emberass us."
                          
"You can't be serious." He laughed. 
                          
I felt a hand brush past me, slipping something into my palm. I looked behind to see it was waiter. I didn't change my composure so as not to let David become suspicious. I looked ahead of him, I sighted Stephano, he held a glass up, his eyes not leaving mine and he rubbed his fingers over it, as if sprinkling something in it, then he gulped it down. I got the message.
                          
"You know what? How about we have a drink and go dance somewhere more...quiet." I winked seductively at David.
                          
He grinned, satisfaction written all over his face.