"Hey man, thanks for coming" Jake and Ollie shook my hand, giving me a side hug once I stepped into the brand-new, world class studio.
"Way to go Jake, I'm so proud of you bro, finally leaving the dream" I laughed giving him a hug. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. When Jake told me about the grand opening of his studio, I never expected it to be this big. What I was seeing was a world class studio with state of the art finishing.
He led us to a table filled with bottles of all kinds of drinks as we helped ourselves to some bottles of champagne.
"Where's May?" I asked Ollie after noticing her absence.
"She'll be here soon, she went to pick up a friend" he answered, sipping wine from his glass.
The whole place was filled with people dancing, drinking, and chatting. The studio was quite large and well lit and decorated.
Jake had ordered really great acoustic speakers and instruments which I appreciated. I watched as several upcoming artistes performed different songs. The atmosphere was charged up as people danced; I swear I was having so much fun by just watching all the activities that were going on.
"Hey boobear" I heard the voice of the one person who usually called me that - May Delaure. She pecked me on the cheek and kissed Ollie on his lips. Apparently they were dating.
"Guys, meet my friend Autumn Shepherd" she grinned introducing her friend to us.
"Hi Autumn" I shook her hands while Ollie waved his hands casually at her.
Autumn was as tall as May with black straight hairs. She looked more like a model, maybe she was May's work colleague. She was dark and beautiful. May tried to make her feel comfortable around us as she went from talking to us and then back to her.
"I can't see Jake anywhere" May said, her eyes searching through the room. "I want to hug him and tell him how proud I am of him. I can't believe he's now leaving the dream"
"Yea..." Ollie and I cooed beaming with smiles and helping ourselves to more of the champagne that was before us.
"I guess he should be around somewhere" Ollie muttered putting his hands around May's shoulders as we got engrossed with the artiste's performances.
I wondered how Jake got to know the entire people here because this place was freaking full to the brim.
Few minutes later, Jake joined us with a brunette. His hand was wrapped around her lower back. I looked at the lady carefully because I hadn't seen her before - maybe she was just a friend, I thought.
Then Jake introduced her as Gemma, an artist who he was currently working with. She had an oval shaped face with piercings allover her face. She looked interesting even as she laughed; I noticed that, there was also a ring on her tongue.
Ok…. she wasn't my type of woman.
I loved my women without piercings, but i could manage tattoos because I had about two of them somewhere on my body - One could be seen on my right arm, while the other on my back which was quite bolder.
Getting those tattoos was one of the craziest things I did back then in college. I had just broken up with one of my girlfriends that day and was so heartbroken. I had the option of attending one of the biggest music concerts that evening, one which I had planned for a long time but I just saw myself strolling into the tattoo shop.
While I was there I called May because she had always wanted one too, but Oliver never liked it. So we both had tattoos as I whined about my breakup to her. I knew she wished she could end things abruptly with Jake and immediately jump on a ship with me. But I would never ever betray my friends.
Anyways, I still haven't figured out what my tattoos meant or even represented.
Moments later, May led us in a toast to Jake as she filled our glasses with wine. It was a great feeling, seeing Jake this happy, after struggling to achieve his lifelong dream.
As the party continued into the night, we got chatting about random things, laughing and bringing back memories of University days.
My phone chimed, I looked at it and it was message, as I tried to swipe through to read the message, I felt a warm finger on my skin. Then I looked up, it was Autumn.
She had settled into the seat beside me and had this mischievous spark in her eyes and a flirtatious smile on her mouth- one that was almost decipherable. She leaned towards me with her face up to my ears, and whispered "Do you want to go someplace more quiet and relaxing Mr. Brent".
My intuition was overly right. I sighed and readjusted myself on the seat, giving a deadpanned expression. I narrowed my eyes immediately at May; giving her an 'I know you did this' look. She shrugged, giving me a half annoying smile with a raised eyebrow.
She literally got to me today, fully aware I was coming alone, therefore the date arrangement.
I chuckled lightly, still staring at her with my hands gently stroking my beard. Apparently, she's been on me for months now to get hooked up again after my break up with Gabriella. Sometimes she worked together with Millicent- my assistant at work to secretly set me up with dates. She's always like "Bryan…. you've got to move on… Bryan, open your heart….. Bryan, find love again" and blah blah blah.
Speaking of breakups, I had the most dramatic kind of breakup with Gabriella. It was a big hit on me because I loved her so much and was finally winding up in making her mine forever before boom!, She goes on air in one of her interviews and makes a public breakup on the fucking live show without even a hint or any pre- information.
So literally, I was still mending my broken heart and tonight was one of those days I wasn't feeling like coupling up with any arranged date.
But when I thought about Autumn's proposition, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a little distraction after the very hectic day. Besides she was gorgeous and almost irresistible.
I didn't know how much May had told her about me but hell; she was persistent in her flirting – from preening and rubbing her warm hands over my thighs. I swear her actions were starting a war within my body system. Maybe she wouldn't be bad after all; she may just be the one – my final relationship stop.
With those thoughts, I decided to respond her gestures. I threw my hands over her shoulders and gently nudged her towards me. Using my free hand, I tilted her cheeks towards mine, when we were facing each other; I mouthed "where do you have in mind?"
She smiled; biting into her lower lip "Follow me" She whispered, walking out.
I chuckled, and caught Ollie's gaze at me; he shrugged his shoulders shaking his head, before I nodded and followed her out. Without words, we had just communicated with signs.
The minute I was out away from all the noises and crazy partying, I combed around for Autumn but I couldn't see her just yet. I brought out my phone to read the message I was on before I got distracted by her.
As I lifted my head up from my phone after going through the text, my eyes fell upon the most captivating and mesmerizing figure I had ever seen - a human goddess and immediately I felt a tingling sensation on my heart. I was love strucked by cupid instantly and she was my cupid.
I pinched my chest to suppress the exciting aches I felt for her. My lips parted and for a second I forgot how to breathe, it was like she was draining my whole energy, I felt a strong force of attraction towards her.
She was attractively beautiful with a nice shapely figure. Her dark brown wavy hairs were dancing to the rhythm of the night's breeze. When she turned her face towards my direction briefly, I could see her sexy hazel eyes, they shone so brightly.
The black mini dress she wore hugged her body revealing her refined curves. For a moment, I felt we were together in our own little world of perfection as I closed my eyes to process it all and opened them only to find out that she was gone.
Was it all a dream? I groaned quietly in disappointment as I evoked myself back to reality. Autumn was standing by me flashing her whole set of teeth in a grin.
"I've been searching for you" she said pulling me by my hands forward to the spot where I parked my car. I threw a few glances back, hoping to find my cupid but she wasn't there – she was gone and pains suddenly consumed me.
When we got to my car, I was surprised to find out that Autumn knew my exact car as she demanded for my keys, probably to drive. Such boldness.
"Hell No!" I whisper yelled. "There was no way I was letting her drive my Aston Martin" I mumbled the words only to my hearing.
Shockingly, she kept insisting while I continued resisting. When she figured out that I was resolute, she hopped into the passenger seat with a frown on her face.
I couldn't help but grin at her funny attitude and facial expression as we drove off but somewhere in my heart, I kept searching for my cupid – The mystery lady.