Walking too fast, I unexpectedly collided into something unexpectedly at the corner, something that appeared to be a human wall, and a feminine one at that, because I felt softness against my chest.
Looking up, I realised that the 'wall' was none other than Bella!
What a small world.
She must be here, once again on the hunt for a wealthy man.
Her strategy of using men to elevate her status is something I neither commend nor endorse.
As I prepared to leave, Bella suddenly spoke up.
"You're like a pesky fly, always revolving around wherever Micheal is!"
Micheal? Her implication was, Michael is also here?
As the saying goes, what you fear comes true.
I didn't want to tarry with Bella, nor encounter the awkwardness with Michael later, so I responded coolly, "If you're looking to climb up using Michael, that's none of my business, but I have absolutely no interest in him.
Don't impose your thoughts onto me!"
After saying that, I walked past her, but Bella grabbed my arm, glaring at me spitefully, "You talk one way and act another, don't you feel disgusted?
If you're really not interested in Michael, why are you clinging onto him shamelessly?"
Just as I was about to retort, a slender arm suddenly draped over my shoulder.
"You misunderstood.
She's not the one clinging onto me.
I simply enjoy being by her side."
The deep, soothing voice was Micheal's.
Feeling his warm breath on my skin, I inexplicably felt weak in the knees, and my body involuntarily leaned into his embrace.
Seeing Bella's dejected expression, I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
Seizing the moment, I deliberately moved closer into Micheal's embrace.
"Humph, wait and see!" Bella huffed angrily, stamped her feet, and stormed off.
I quickly extricated myself from Micheal's arms and carefully maintained a safe distance.
"Am I a plague to you?
Do you really have to act like this?" Micheal's voice was low, seemingly a bit displeased.
"Well, you might not be a plague, but who knows what kind of unsanitary disease you, a playboy, might have caught?"
I retorted before quickly making my exit.
Back on the second floor's VIP room, Edwin was now accompanied by two flamboyantly dressed women, one on his left and the other on his right, repeatedly filling his glass.
I quietly took a seat off to the side.
As soon as Edwin spotted me, he hastily got up and said, "Baby, you seem displeased.
I invited these people to keep you entertained.
I promise to keep them away from me.
If their presence makes you happy, I'll give them extra money, okay?"
The talk of the extra payout instantly elevated everyone's spirits, and the room suddenly buzzed in excitement.
Drinking, playing games, it was a rare occasion for me to have this much fun.
Until we started playing Truth or Dare, where I tragically pulled the Dare card.
One of the women who had been pouring drinks earlier saw her chance to make things difficult for me and said, "Go find a man in the next room, and have him remove his underwear for you."
Flabbergasted, but knowing the rules ("play the game, pay the price"), I took a gulp of courage in the form of a shot, then boldly headed for the room next door.
Upon opening the door and seeing the elegant man sitting on the sofa leisurely swirling a glass of drink, I was dumbstruck.
Even in the dim lighting, I recognized him immediately.
It was no other than Michael.
He was the only one in the room, head low as if lost in thought.
Unnoticed, I quietly backed away to the door, ready to close it and leave when the woman who had dared me suddenly appeared behind me.
She pushed me back into the room and deliberately exclaimed, "What are you up to?
Don't tell me you're chickening out?"
As expected, the movement caught Michael's attention.
His gaze swept our way and eventually landed on me.
"Go ahead!
Go and take off his underwear!"
All the other people in the private room had already gathered around at some point without me realizing, yet there was no sign of Edwin, probably too drunk to notice.
The crowd began to make a commotion.
Stuck in an awkward predicament, was I really supposed to strip Michael of his underwear?
An embarrassing situation that made me wish I were dead.
Micheal casually sauntered over with a glass of wine in his hand, looking me directly in the eye.
With a deep voice he asked, "What's going on?"
Everyone in the room clearly saw his face.
The room fell silent, they all knew who Michael was and respected his status, hence nobody dared to utter a word.
At this point, the instigator nervously started talking, "We're playing Truth or Dare, she lost and drew a dare, so I told her to take off this man's underwear.
I certainly wouldn't have said that if I knew Mr. Micheal was the only man here."
After hearing this, Michael seemed thoughtful but did not speak.
The instigator seized the opportunity, gesturing everyone to leave quickly.
But just as they were about to retreat, Michael suddenly said, "Fair is fair.
Once you say it's a dare, how could you just walk away?"
Upon hearing his comment, everyone froze in their tracks, filled with a glimmer of hope, they stayed to watch the ensuing drama.
"What a freaking pervert Micheal is!"
I muttered to myself in my mind, yet maintaining a fake smile on my face: "Enough, Mr. Micheal.
After all, you are a person who values your dignity.
How could you fall for such a humiliation?"
"I'm not the kind of person who cares about face," he leaned over and whispered in my ear, with a low ambiguous voice.
"Since Mr. Micheal has already said so, then go for it!"
The instigator reignited the spark once again.
"Yes, yes, yes.
Let's see what Mr. Micheal's tastes are like!"
Amidst the crowd who was enthusiastically nosy, Michael continued grinning and keeping his gaze on me.
Suddenly, I was shoved from behind and tumbled directly towards Michael, ludicrously grabbing onto his pants legs in my fall!
"Seeing how eager you are, have you been thinking about this moment for a long time?
If you want to remove my underwear, let's see what kind of skill you have," came a teasing voice from above.
"President Michael is indeed a fun-loving person."
Someone started to flatter, and Michael smiled, making everyone think that the atmosphere was eased, only to change his expression abruptly, "Do you want to stay and watch?"
As soon as the words fell, the previously slightly crowded private room instantly remained only Micheal and me.
Micheal said softly to me, "Do you think if you fail to complete this game, would they let you go?"
No, they wouldn't.
The answer was clear to me.
Although those people had walked out of the room, they were actually still observing from the door.
"So, are you planning to take off your underwear for me to take away?"
I helplessly shrugged my shoulders.
Micheal slowly raised his arms, raised his eyebrows at me, and said, "You can do it.
I won't resist."
I was intoxicated by alcohol earlier, and came here without thinking about the consequences.
Now that I'm sober, I couldn't do this at all!
"You're filthy rascal!"
I glared at him with disgust.
Micheal was unfazed, "Now you have two options
. Either take my underwear and continue the game, or leave here with me directly."
I thought about his words seriously.
It seems that I have no other choice.
I decided to be daring for once, if I die, then so be it!
With my eyes closed and my heart pounding, trembling hands reached towards Michael below...