44. The Club

He stared at me for a few minutes then asked, "Why the club?", 

I stared back at him in my drunk state and started to make my case, "Look, it is my first time in Cape Town and this place is really cool with a lot of fun things to do but I had more depressing days than fun so I would like to have fun memories tonight. I will be leaving tomorrow, I want to make up for the lost days. I need to replace the bad memories I have. Understand?", 

Walter was sober since he was the driver, so he understood my sentiments, he smiled and said, "Okay, we will go to the club on two conditions,"

"What?", I asked

"We go back and change into club clothes, and we request a driver, if we go to the club, I would want it to be fun for the both of us". I agreed enthusiastically.

As Walter said, we went back to the hotel to change into something fun. I changed into black leather skinny pants and a white crop T-shirt with white boots, and Walter wore a white T-shirt, with blue jeans, and paired it with white platform sneakers. He transformed from a millionaire out on a date to a millionaire playboy. We managed to find a driver courtesy of the hotel.

Walter directed us to a nearby club which he was familiar with, the club was packed with a long line outside, but it looked like the bouncers knew Walter because they let us in with no questions asked, resulting in a bit of a riot from the people on the line, I slightly felt bad for them. 

Inside the club, the everchanging bright lights, the loud music, and the chaotic movement surprisingly overwhelmed me, seeing my pale face Walter bent down to ask, "Are you okay?"

I replied with a cracked voice, "It's my first time at a club"

Walter's eyes widen, "What? then why did you want to come here- you know what, come with me"

He led me to a VIP room which was quieter and less busy, "Do you feel better now?"

I felt like such a letdown, I was the one who was excited about the club and now we were tucked away in some room because I couldn't handle some little lights and a little crowd

I looked down and sadly said, "Yes, I am sorry..."

"What are you sorry for? Not everyone is a fan of loud and crowded places. Too many stimuli". A woman in a red short skirt shortly came in with an ice bucket of wine, 

"Welcome back Mr. Sekulu, I have brought the usual", she said putting it on the table in front of us. Walter smiled and gave the lady a nod.

I looked at Walter surprised, 'why was he so well known at the club?', I thought. I was about to confront him when I suddenly felt the urgent need for a bathroom.

The lady escorted me to a bathroom, "Will you make it back okay?", I nodded politely, and she smiled, "You are way too innocent compared to the other one. I hope he keeps you, you are good for him.", she said walking away, and smiling at the other girls on her way out leaving me to swallow my words, 'who is the other one? was it perhaps Rachel?' 

My bladder didn't let me dwell on what she said any longer, and I dashed inside. When I came out of the toilet cubicle I found Rachel fixing her makeup, we both looked at each other in astonishment, "You!", we said simultaneously,

Anger crept in on me and mixed in with the alcohol in my system, I landed a hot slap on Rachel's face leaving her shocked touching the area where I left my prints. The other women quickly rushed out leaving just the two of us, 

"What was that for?", she asked brushing her bruised cheek

I got even angrier at her question, I could feel the warm air through my nostrils, "What was that for??! Are you serious?! Your stupid childish posts almost cost me a career, and you are asking me what that is for ?!",

Rachel widened her eyes and turned to the mirror to look at her cheek, "Do you think I would be stupid enough to post something that not only attacks you but, also somehow puts a target on my back?? I have a career too you know!!! how do you think that little post went down after the video of your presentation trended!! I became a villain, and I was insulted for trying to ruin your life." seeing the puzzled look on my face, Rachel paused, and with deep breath, she asked "Wait, did Walter not tell you?"

"Tell me what?", I asked still wearing the same confused look, Rachel shook her head, and calmly started to talk

"I am not the one who posted that video, he checked my IP address and I was in London for a shoot when those posts were making rounds. The IP address from the posts came from Cape Town, didn't he tell you? You know what? Talk to your man and stop going around slapping people without solid proof, in this age of AI and fake accounts.", she walked out leaving me behind still trying to grasp the concept of what just happened, I left the bathroom more sober than when I went in.

If what Rachel said was true, then there was another person who knew about Walter and wanted to ruin me, and this person hated Rachel just as much seeing how she was thrown under the bus. I needed to talk to Walter, 'I knew he was keeping something from me, but this!', I was very angry.

When I got to the VIP hallway, I saw Khalinda coming out of the VIP room where Walter was, and she was visibly upset. Remembering how nice she was, I felt concerned, "Khalinda, what's wr-", she bumped me on the shoulder so violently that I fell on my knees. She looked down at me with a very sinister face and a smirk that sent creepy chills down my spine. Seeing me on the ground, the waitress from earlier rushed to help me up,

"Yup, that is the evil one", she commented