It was a busy night at Dionysus, an exclusive bar in the city. The place was teeming with celebrities, business people, and a few corrupt politicians occupying the private rooms. At the bar, Marcus sat with a woman she barely acknowledged.
Marcus was the second daughter of Aurelius and Elise Sepúlveda. Her father is the current Chairman of one of the oldest conglomerates in the country, Sepúlveda Group. Known for being reserved, hardworking, and strict, she rarely visited places like this unless she was with people she trusted. However, her best friend, Lux, had set her up on a blind date, leading to her current situation of having a drink with Ysabel, the country's new famous WLW actress.
"I really like you, Marcus. That's why I used all my connections to have this moment with you. It's fortunate that my cousin is your lawyer's girlfriend," Ysabel confessed. Marcus, without looking back, downed another shot of vodka.
"Are you not going to talk? Lux warned me that you're an introvert, but I didn't realize you were this quiet," Ysabel remarked.
Marcus finally looked at her. "I'm already taken," she said.
"You're just saying that to make me leave, right? If you had someone special, I'm sure you wouldn't have agreed to a date with me," Ysabel said with a smile.
Marcus hadn't agreed to this date. Lux had told her they were meeting at Dionysus to discuss some legal matters before celebrating a case she'd won. But Lux never showed, leaving Marcus stuck with Ysabel.
Marcus sighed. "Can we go home?"
Ysabel's eyes lit up. "You're taking me to your house?"
"No! I mean, I'll have my driver take you home because I'm drunk and can't drive," Marcus clarified. Ysabel suddenly clung to her, which Marcus quickly removed.
"Just take me to your house; I wouldn't mind," Ysabel insisted.
"Miss, I have a girlfriend. I don't know what the deal is between you and Lux, but I'm not going home with you," Marcus said, trying to be polite despite Ysabel crossing boundaries.
"I don't believe you," Ysabel chuckled.
"I don't care. If you don't want to go home, then I will," Marcus declared, placing a five-thousand-peso note on the counter. "Keep the change," she told the bartender as she walked toward the exit.
"Marcus! Marcus, wait!" Ysabel called after her.
Marcus collided with a stranger, sending the woman's belongings to the floor. "For fuck's sake, look where you're going!"
"Marcus!" Ysabel shouted from behind.
"Baby?" Marcus called the stranger and helped her up. "How was your get-together with your friends?" she asked, pretending to kiss her on the lips. "Please help me," she whispered.
"What the fuck are you saying? Help you with what?" The stranger, despite the loud music, managed to hear Marcus and looked confused.
"This is your girlfriend?" Ysabel chuckled. "You're kidding."
"G-girlfriend?" The stranger looked flustered, still confused, and likely drunk.
"Just play along, I badly need your help," Marcus pleaded.
"I told you, I have a girlfriend," Marcus reiterated to Ysabel, wrapping her arm around the stranger's waist.
"And I told you I don't believe you," Ysabel retorted, chuckling.
"You have to lie better than that, Marcus. She's a nobody, not in the same league as you," Ysabel said.
"I'm better than her. I'm a fucking star, Marcus!" Ysabel yelled, drawing little attention from the crowd.
"Wait, are you belittling me? Is that what this is about?" the stranger asked.
"Hey, don't fight with her. Your presence is enough to help me get rid of her," Marcus whispered.
"No! This isn't about that anymore; she said I'm nobody," the stranger snapped.
"Calm down, baby..." Marcus said, ensuring Ysabel heard.
"Are you offended? Go ahead, I'm not even scared of what you can do," Ysabel taunted.
"This... is what I can do," the stranger declared, placing her right hand on Marcus's nape and pulling her into a kiss. The kiss was meant to be a peck, but the stranger deepened it.
Marcus wasn't the type to kiss strangers or allow strangers to kiss her, but this time she found herself responding. Her lips was soft, with a mix of alcohol which both of them didn't mind.
The stranger then turned to Ysabel and smiled. "By the way, I'm Amelia Figueroa-as in, Figueroa Holdings. I'm not a nobody."