Chapter 51


    This bar is upper-ss and elegant, not like the clubs I frequented in the city and Cami had been


    extremely strict about which outfit I put on for our evening. I’m in a fitted cocktail dress, ck with


    subtle beading, hair straightened and sleek, and killer ck stilettos to finish it all off. I look more like a


    girl in her mid-twenties than the baby faced one from this morning and the whole outfit makes me seem


    taller and somehow womanlier. I feel more in control, less roadkill, and this new confidence from my


    hair and clothes is helping me rx.


    Cami is already working the room with champagne in hand and dragging me along behind her like a


    pet puppy. I ampletely out of my depth in this scene, despite having a family that frequents these


    kinds of ces a lot. I have often been too young to go anywhere like this, or chosen not to, and I’m


    doing my utmost to act like I’m rxed and casual about being here.


    “Sophie, this is Malcolm, he’s a banker and a lush bit in the sack.” Cami giggles, leaning in and


    whispering something provocative in the young man’s ear before pulling back and running a finger


    down his tie. Mostly all the men in here are wearing expensive suits and good tailoring, and everyone


    reeks of money. Surprisingly, Cami seems well-known and I sort of smile shyly at him.


    “Well hello, Sophie, a pleasure.” Malcolm is tall and blonde, but not overly handsome. He extends a


    hand to me, kissing the back of mine when I connect to shake it. Ufortable immediately, my gut


    saying something is off in this whole scene, but then I’ve never really been used to his ss of party.


    I’ve avoided most charity events my family attend and prefer New York’s more urban nightlife to social


    niceties by the upper crust. Malcolm just gives me the creep vibes because, well, let’s face it... he’s


    male, and most men do that to me.


    “Hi.” I smile briefly, pulling my ss in front of me to fold my arms across my chest and his eyes rest on


    the hint of cleavage I have on show. This isn’t an overly revealing dress but gives enough hints to be


    sexy, and despite dressing like a ‘cheap hooker’ in the past, ording to Arrick, I’m more


    ufortable with Malcolm’s eyes trained on what little skin I am showing. Cami knows how to


    dress for a reaction, and I am seeing the result up close.


    I have been on a downer ever since I called Arrick this afternoon, ended up in tears while taking a


    shower to get ready and spent a long-time mulling everything over in front of my vanity when applying


    my makeup. I hopeding out would make me feel better, but I just feel dead inside. Somehow,


    telling him to never call me again seems more final than just dodging his calls. Really severing my


    connection to him, and it’s killing me inside, like I’m half of a person.


    “Sophie, do you like to party?” Malcolm moves in closer, leaning into me as Cami slides past him to


    talk to another man behind in the crowded bar and leaves me alone. I have zero interest in Malcolm, he


    isn’t even that charming, and I want to just move on out of here and go eat like she said we would. So


    far, we haven’t made it from the bar of this ce, which seems to be an actual hotel and not a


    restaurant at all.


    “I used to, I guess. I’m trying to tone it down nowadays.” I try to maneuver myself a little space, but he


    leans in further so I can feel his breath down the front of my dress.


    “Oh, that’s a shame. Cami throws some killer parties and I would love to see you on the girl list.” He


    smiles in my face, the stench of booze hitting me hard and I try not to visibly gag.


    “What do you mean girl list?” I frown, raising my voice to be heard over the crowd as Cami seems to


    cut back in.


    “Come on now you two, no one seems to be getting drunk!” Cami pushes herself between us, turning


    to catch the bottom of my ss and pushes it up against my mouth. “Down, down, down.” She chants


    with a smile, forcing me to gulp down most of the ss in one go. I almost choke with the effort as the


    liquides up, before running back down my nose because of the rapid intake. I cough violently as I


    try to sniff it away painfully, screwing up my face with the effort. Cami grabs my ss and


    immediately thrusts another in its ce.


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    “No, really, I’m trying to …” I protest, but Cami tries to force another in the same way.


    “You need to loosen up babes, you’re stiffer than a board and we need to let our hair down. I’m not


    trying to get you smashed, just merry drunk, so you can chill out and have a little fun. Trust me; I’ll take


    good care of you, Sophieboo.” Cami raises an expectant eyebrow my way, smiling widely as I eye


    her warily. My head is telling me to rx and trust her, but my gut is telling me to get out of here and


    just go home. I know this is probably thest ce I should be tonight while trying to prove to my family


    they can trust me. It really is thest ce I want to be right now either.


    I ce the new ss to my lips, vowing I will only have a couple and then cradle anymore she tries to


    pour down my throat. I don’t want to go home in the same mess I became in New York. I’m beyond all


    that and know that alcohol will only blur everything. I want to stay levelheaded-.