Chapter 1 Multi-colored

"Strip! Strip! Strip!"

The group of frivolous women proceeded to chant the indecorous word at the male dancers as they resembled libidinous teenagers who couldn't get their fill no matter how hard they tried.

Looking like a wilting rose beneath the multi-colored flashing lights as she displayed an excessive amount of deference, Clara Raymond sat there in the VIP lounge. She sipped on a margarita with a bored expression on her face.

Her sister collapsed beside her after her third round spent gyrating against the half-naked pole dancers that were hired to "entertain" them for the night.

"God, I'm exhausted!" Chelsea exclaimed. "Do you think I can take that one home with me tonight?" She pointed at a particular stripper who was role-playing as a police officer.

His gaze met hers right on time and sent a delicious wink her way.

Chelsea squealed like a teenage girl who got noticed by her crush. "Did you see that? He wants some of this!" She proclaimed whilst nudging her sister in the side.

Clara forced a smile at her.

"Good for you."

"Hey," Chelsea said as she took both of Clara's cheeks in her hands. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

The brunette raised an eyebrow at her silently saying something along the lines of "bullshit".

Her piercing golden brown eyes finally had Clara caving in.

"I'm just exhausted 'tis all."

"But it's your bachelorette party!" Chelsea hopped on the couch they were sitting on, struggling to find her equilibrium in high heels, and gestured to the spacious club. "We booked this place out just for you!"

Clara's eyes scanned the large area of the famous club on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It was just as classy as people said it was. She had gotten many invites before, even from its owner upon its grand opening, but she never had the time to attend. Her schedule barely allowed for her to have the leisure of nightclubs.

Okay, that was a lie.

Compared to how her schedule was two years ago versus now, she had all the time in the world.

It was a matter of preferences.

Crowded places with sweaty bodies and irresponsible intake of alcohol weren't her taste when it came to picking hobbies.

Plus she preferred not to worry about her fiancee, Jake.

She had noticed how he reacted negatively every time she wasn't within his field of vision for too long. To imagine spending an entire night out was simply nothing short of a disaster in her mind.

Though she had to admit that cold reaction he usually had whenever she ventured outside hadn't been the case recently...

Still, she had to take the necessary precautions to not start a fight with him. God only knew how long it took for them to make up after they started shooting bullets at each other. She'd always have to be the one to apologize first. It was out of consideration for the shy person Jake was.

Despite him being the co-owner of Starz Entertainment he was a bit of an introvert.

Most times, it was an endearing trait of his.

Clara was broken out of her reverie when her sister took her by the shoulders and shook her -- hard.

"Loosen up, will you?! A night like this is once in a lifetime. Well, unless you get a divorce and decide to re-marry in the future..."

Clara's chocolate brown eyes were as wide as saucers at that last remark.

"What did you just say?"

"Calm down, Little Miss Muffet. I'm not trying to curse you or anything. It's not like something that happens in less than," The semi-copper-haired woman checked the watch on her wrist. "Eleven hours can make you change your mind about walking down the aisle. For Jake maybe, but you, nah..."

The glare her sister sent her way had her backpedaling," Kidding! Gosh, Ems, can't you take a joke?"

The elder sister drew for a drink from the table before them and forced it into the hands of the bride-to-be.

Clara blanched at the nasty color of the liquid Chelsea poured into her glass.

"Drink up!"

"Uh..."

Rolling her eyes, Chelsea took the glass from Clara and forced it into her mouth.

She had no choice but to swallow its foul contents.

"Ugh." She gagged a few times. A shiver went up her spine at how nasty it tasted. "I'll just stick with the one I was having earlier."

Her sister tried to argue but she held up her hands. "No buts."

Chelsea knew that once her baby sister had set her mind on something there was nothing that anyone could do to stop her.

So with one last encouraging smile on her face, she let Clara be and tried to get that hottie from the earlier phone number.

The night grew darker and Clara watched from the secluded position as her friends and sister had the time of their lives.

Taking a sip of her drink, she glanced at the time on her phone screen. She wondered what Jake was up to.

A smile bloomed on her face at the way he pouted earlier on at the sight of her all dressed up.

His hands had encircled her waist and he pulled her to him possessively.

"Damn, Clara. I don't think I've ever seen you wear something this sexy. Are you trying to drive me insane?"

Clara had blushed a deep red. Her face grew even hotter at his hand that crept up the skin of her leg.

Batting his hand away, she ignored his groan.

"Come on, babe. Just a little touch. I promise I'll make you feel good."

Clara bit the inside of her cheeks in contemplation.

Oh, how it hurt to keep herself from him like this but she wanted to save herself until her wedding night.

She was a firm believer that a husband should be the one to deflower his wife.

However, she did not judge those who engaged in sexual activities before marriage.

It was their choice, just like this was hers.

There was no doubt that the wait would be worth it then.

Stepping on her tippy toes, Clara granted him a soft kiss on the cheek. "I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

Jake let his head fall on her shoulder. She laughed as he stomped his feet like a petulant child. "But I wanna do it now..." He whined unashamedly.

Caressing the side of his handsome face, she gave him a look that she hoped showed him all the love she had for him.

"Soon."

The switch to an EDM song jerked Clara back to the present. She let out a sigh at the growing cognizance that Jake hadn't even checked up on her.

Maybe he was afraid he'd come off as too territorial.

Yeah, that must have been it.

With that assumption in mind, Clara began to type a text to Jake's phone inquiring what he was up to.

He had already had his bachelor party yesterday which left him all alone in his house.

Clara began to frown at the idea of him working on projects again.

To: Jake ♡

Today, 10:18 p.m.

Hi babe.

10:21 p.m.

What are you up to?

10:25 p.m.

Please tell me you're not up late working again.

10:32 p.m.

The light from your laptop can damage your eyes if you stare at it for too long...

Anyway, I miss you.

Twenty minutes later after ceaselessly checking her phone, there still was no reply from him.

Clara figured the best way to get this night over with was to be in a state where time held no meaning.

In layman's terms, she was about to get wasted.

You see, she was a lightweight and got drunk easily.

An even greater factor of her alcohol intolerance was that it was to the point where she would even pass out.

After drinking a little too much at her bachelorette party, Clara's fiancee finally arrived after calling and hearing how wasted she was.

The slurring and non-stop hiccuping were all verbal signs.

He brought her home to her apartment.

Albeit, it was a heavy task as she was completely wiped out.

An auspicious text lit up his phone.

He looked at Clara warily from the driver's seat before he called the girl.

"No, don't come over. I'm staying at her place today. Don't start this- hello?"

Jake heaved a sigh at the temper of the girl on the other side of the line.

If she kept this up they were gonna get caught.

Although he entertained the idea for a minute, wondering what Clara's reaction would be like.

She'd probably cry like she always does when things don't go her way. Such a fucking baby.

Jake had successfully carried Clara up to her apartment after unlocking the door with the password he knew.

He threw her down on the bed placed his hands on his knees and panted.

Was she gaining weight? He thought in disgust.

If her sister hadn't phoned him after he finished talking to the incoherent mess she was in earlier, he wouldn't have picked her up at all.

The things he had to put up with to maintain his image of the perfect boyfriend.

Just as Jake was about to start taking off his shoes to call it a night, the door to the apartment clicked open.

His eyebrows flew up in surprise. Who could it be at this hour...

He looked down at Clara so fast he almost had a whiplash. Is this bitch cheating on me?

Jake shook his head. No, she didn't have the guts to do that. She loved me so much she would sell her whole family if I asked her to, he boasted proudly to himself.

Oh, how she was so innocent in every aspect. To the degree that it was almost pitiful.

Then who could it be

His feet were on fire as he raced to the front door.