Episode 20

FIORELLA FERRAZ

Avoiding people, I try to make my way to the bar, where it's quieter and the music less loud. There are some guys and girls nearby talking. I called the bartender and ordered something to drink.

"Are you new here?"

"Yes."

"Wait a moment." He goes and comes back in a few minutes. "It's on the house." He hands me a glass with a slice of lemon attached to the rim.

"What is this?"

"Martini." I brought the drink to my mouth. "Easy, girl."

I taste salt, but the drink is great, refreshing and quite alcoholic.

"Thank you."

"You're not from Australia, are you?"

"I'm German."

"Well... welcome."

"Thank you."

He smiles at me and goes to attend to the others. I look around. What should I do now, dance? I'm too embarrassed for that. I see some girls, they seem to be around my age, so I go over to talk to them.

"Hi!" They look me up and down and leave. What bitches.

"German? Sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation with the bartender, but you have a beautiful accent." I turned towards the voice and came face to face with a gorgeous man. "And those eyes," he complimented.

I smiled without knowing what to say, he's handsome. Looks to be around 25 years old, tall, black hair, a square jaw, manly features. He smiles and I am awakened.

"Yes, I... just arrived in the country a few days ago."

"And are you enjoying it?"

"I think so, it's my first time in a place like this."

"Can I be your host?" he asks, trying to make his voice stand out over the loud music.

You can be anything, hot stuff. You can be my first too, if you want.

"Yes, you can," I replied, feeling his cologne.

"Phew," he holds his chest in relief. "My name is Andrew."

"I'm Fiorella."

"Perfect name, suits you, Fiorella. You speak English very well, are you alone?"

"I arrived a few days ago, I don't know anyone here."

"No friends with you?"

"No."

"Don't leave.," he disappears into the crowd.

I'm still in shock, I'm so lucky to find such a nice and handsome guy on my first day. He comes back holding a girl's hand. My heart sinks in disappointment as soon as I see that sight.

"Fiorella, this is Ava, my sister."

"Hi, Ava."

"Fiorella, you're beautiful."

"You too, Ava

"And that accent?"

"She's German," Andrew interrupts.

"Fuck, what a dick. A German?" I nod.

More guys arrive soon after. They seem to be friends of Andrew and Ava's. Ava sits next to me on a chair near the bar. I order more drinks for us, my eyes never leave Andrew, he's further ahead talking with his friends, but he can't stop eyeing me. I'm excited about the situation, but also cautious. I came here precisely to have fun, meet new people, and I also wanted to lose my virginity, in fact, that's the main reason.

I wanted to lose it not with just any guy, but with one who would make me feel the same way I feel for that angry man, and Andrew seems to be that person. I feel attracted to him, I believe that's how women do it, they feel attracted and they have sex.

"My brother is into you."

"Me?"

"Not just him," I notice the friend looking at me too.

My legs tingle, this is kind of strange, I should feel good, after all, this is what I wanted, but seeing them look at me like that, I feel like just a piece of meat, a juicy one. Maybe that's why my father protected me so much.

I push those thoughts aside.

"Shall we dance?" I grab Ava's hand, I really liked her.

We dance, and then her friends arrive with more drinks.

"You know how to drink, Fiorella?" one of them asks.

"Of course I do." I gulp down the drink, making a face at the end.

"This one really knows how to drink," Andrew's voice behind me sends shivers down my spine. He grabs my waist and turns me towards his body.

A man is touching me, and this man isn't that damn angry mobster Argo Romanov. That thought invades my mind. Even though I feel physically attracted to Andrew, will my first kiss be with him?

While dancing, Andrew holds my hand and lifts it up. [End of paragraph]

Note: This is a direct translation of the original paragraph and may contain errors or awkward phrasing.

"And this ring?" he asked, noticing my engagement ring.

"It's..."

"Engagement?"

"Yes, I am engaged," I confessed.

"I knew it! A beautiful and single German woman? Where is your fiancé?"

"He brought me here and left," he chuckled, somewhat shyly, perhaps not believing what I had just said.

"Can we keep dancing, at least?" he asked, lowering his hand and timidly placing it on my backside.

I wanted this so badly, but why am I panicking? I think I'm going to vomit. The girls next to us dancing and laughing, and here I am afraid of doing what I so desired.

"Shall we sit over there?" he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"Let's go."

He took my hand and we sat in a more secluded area. I crossed my legs to hide the trembling.

"Are you nervous?" he said, noticing despite my attempts to hide it.

"As I said, it's my first time in a place like this, so..."

"Relax, I won't do anything you don't want. After all, you're engaged."

"Do you think I'm lying?"

"I think your fiancé is a lucky guy. I wish I could be that man."

I fell silent. I didn't know what to say. He placed a hand on my waist and squeezed, and my body responded to this boy. I feel attracted to Andrew, but not to Jared, my own fiancé. What the hell!

"Andrew, can I quickly go to the restroom?"

"I'll wait for you," he said, winking at me, damn it.

I entered the bathroom and had to take a deep breath. Fear and excitement, that's what I'm feeling. I want to kiss this guy, it's now or never, I can't back out.

"Fiorella," Ava entered the bathroom with her friends. "Are you okay? I thought you were going to vomit."

"I'm fine, just came to touch up my lipstick."

"You seem cool, Fiorella. I really want to get your number, can I?" she said, already taking out her phone from her purse.

Excellent idea, this way I can see Andrew again if things don't work out tonight. I took out my phone.

"I'll see, the number is new, I don't know it by heart yet," I passed my number to her and saw missed calls from Loretha. I won't call back, I'll pretend I'm sleeping.

We stayed in the bathroom for another 5 minutes, chatting. As we were about to leave, I heard my phone ring in my purse.

"You can go, I'll catch up," I said and went back into the bathroom. My heart skipped a beat, if it's my dad or Loretha, I won't answer.

It was a text message, from Argo Romanov. Oh my God! He found out! I sat on a bench to avoid fainting.

📱-You have 5 minutes to get out of there.

Help! How did he find out? I hope Jared didn't spill the beans, it's impossible for him to know where I am.

📱-I'm not doing anything wrong, I'll leave soon," I replied, and he called me immediately. My heart is racing so fast that I feel nauseous.

"Speak!"

"Leave that club now, I'm not joking."

"You sound like my dad."

"Miss, you have 2 minutes."

"Come and get me then."

"I can't go in, girl!"