CHAPTER FIVE

They both arrive at the club at 9 pm but Rita sticks to looking at each corner of the walls and its disco lights. 

"Come with me, you'll get used to the surroundings on Friday nights like this, it could be chaotic sometimes," Says Olivia with a high-pitched voice. 

Rita kept examining people and how loudly the DJ played each song. Everyone dancing in the club seemed high on something, probably alcohol or weed. 

"Why acting so ancient, everyone is watching us; you don't have to act like a first-timer," Olivia says with a high-pitched voice.

"I'm nervous and I'm just doing this for the money and not because I love to be here," Rita roared into her friend's ear. The noise is making it difficult for them to hear each other. 

"I understand but you really can't turn back now". 

"I know and on second thought, I'll stop this once I've gotten sufficient cash to start up a business."

They head to the bartender who offers them a cocktail and they sip, waiting for a man who'll walk up to them. The noise around the counter is less and easy to hear each other. As Rita is about to say something, a husky voice spoke up, 

"Hello pretty, you sip like it's your first time tasting this drink" Rita smiles sheepishly but Olivia nudged her leg stylishly, prompting her to respond like a classic lady.

"It's not my first time, I just have a sore throat," Rita said with every courage she had in her but anxiety managed to get the better part of her. 

"Pardon my manners, I'm Richard Elliot but you can call me Richie," he says in a tone disseminating pride. 

I'm Rita" she extends a handshake to seal their introduction.

"Where are you going?" Rita asks after catching a glimpse of Maddie trying to excuse her and the new guest. 

"I'd like to use the washroom," she says, blinking at Rita who figured out she was leaving them both to find someone to dance with.

"You're beautiful," says Richie

"Thank you, sir"

"Did I hear you say, sir? You're not my employee, Rita", he tries to make a little joke out of it and they share a light laugh, sipping their drinks.

He stirs at her body in a lascivious way which Rita notices and she begins to stretch her neck to see if her eyes could glimpse Olivia but then she felt his frigid hand on her lap. 

"Don't worry Rita, I'll take care of you". 

She tries to take his hand off her lap in an unperceptive way but yet smiles knowing he was getting tipsy.

"You're beautiful and your skin is soft," he says, reaching for her lap again. 

She isn't about to lose her virginity to this drunk and not-so-good-looking man. His breath reeked the smell of drinks mixed with a stench of cigarettes, a smell she despises the most. She couldn't lie to herself anymore, she might not get on with this new lifestyle. 

"Don't touch me!" she says sternly, pushing his hands away from her. 

He forcefully grabs her by the arm and pulls her closer to himself, she tries to break free and is also staring at the group of people that we're dancing in the club to reach for Olivia but her sight is also getting blurry, 

"damn I'm getting tipsy". She mumbles to herself. 

Richie kept scuffling but then he lost balance from a hand that pulled him from behind and within a split second, he got a punch on the nose but before he could stand up to see who punched him, he had lost grip of Rita, and the rescuer.

"You don't sit and drink with a boozer, they've already lost their sanity by getting drunk and could rape you," the rescuer said as he grabbed Rita who was already intoxicated but could hear what he said.

"Take me out of here", she said with a muffled voice without glimpsing at who rescued her.

"Alright, I'll take you out of here but did you come here alone? He asks, looking down at her. 

"Take me out of here", she whispered again, dangling her right hand loosely while she rested her whole body on him. He navigated her steps till they got out of the club; he helped her into his car and drove like a bat out of hell. He stole a few peeks at her and couldn't help but get entertained by how she kept talking to herself in the car, making hand gesticulations sleepily. He arrived at a safe spot and then parked his car. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and gazed at him with surprise. 

"Do I know you?" Rita asks, even though she is intoxicated she still recollects everything that ensued at the bar. But what makes her surprised is why a total stranger would offer to help her when she needed him the most. 

"No, you don't." He retorts.

"So why did you help me?" She asks wearily, examining him with dim eyes. 

"You were about to get raped, that's enough reason to help," he says huskily. His baritone voice made her insides tingle and his spicy scent made her feel like comforting herself in his arms and maybe waking the next morning. 

"Oh…thank you" she manages to respond. 

"My name is Benjamin Gray. What's yours?" 

"Rita. Rita Peterson" 

"So what are you doing at the club when you lack the morale to withstand the menaces involved?" 

"What do you mean?" She asked and sat up on the chair. She's not about to let this man know she's a newbie, she decides to act tough. She decided to flip the script so that the young man wouldn't detect her fear. 

"Do you want me for the night or what?" She asks, scanning his expression and he appears surprised at her sudden bravery. 

"You can act all you want but you definitely can't lie to yourself. This is not the type of life you want to live, it's apparent. You lack the hooker's confidence."

She felt angry at the way this strange man is looking down on her self-confidence and ego.

"I asked you a simple question… Do you want a night or tell me what exactly you want?" She asks. looking at him, maintaining solid eye contact.