Pure Inheritance ~ Ominis Gaunt

Part 9

This was different from her usual setting. She was more used to fancy restaurants and over-the-top pretenders who tried to pay for her. Here, in a nightclub that smelled like a nasty mix of cigarettes and alcohol, she felt small and insignificant.

Never mind that there was an unspoken competition between women trying to monopolize the attention by revealing as much skin as possible. Still, the bartender was so busy with orders he ignored her attempts to get a drink. The woman was getting frustrated, and it was like an invisible wall keeping her from making herself known to him. She could have sworn they had made eye contact several times, but he'd looked away at the last second.

The music was loud and obnoxious, but the man and woman enjoyed the unusual beat. They were all mingling in a mass of sweat, and she furrowed her nose at the sight of it.

- Hey!

The sudden shout made her jump, and her ringlets bounced around her face when she looked at the man towering over her. But he was not yelling at her.

- This lady has been trying to get your attention – he was yelling at the bartender, who was now looking at them with wide eyes -. Would you do your fucking job and tend to her?

Her cheeks blushed at the attention she was receiving from the entire bar, but his eyes were fiercely focused on the barman. The man sauntered to where she was sitting and smiled in a halfhearted attempt at an apology.

- What can I serve you, miss?

Her chest swelled in pride at finally receiving some notice.

- I just need a glass of Copper. Thank you!

The bartender's eyes almost jumped from their sockets at the unusual request. But one look at her new protector told him not to make any comments about her expensive taste.

- Right away, madam.

They saw him leave quietly, and the man beside her chuckled with a deep and proud undertone.

- A glass of Copper, uh?

She tilted her head and lifted her chin.

-Is something wrong with that?

- Nope – he smiled, and she could have swooned at the dimple on his left cheek. Overconfidence flowed out of him, but he didn't have the usual arrogance that came with it -. But it's definitely not what you hear every day. At least not here.

She received the glass of whiskey from the bartender and reached for her pearl clutch to retrieve the money to pay for her drink. She wasn't even halfway through the golden clasp when she saw the man handing several notes to the man across the bar.

- Thank you, sir.

- Keep the rest – his voice was so grave and darling she felt the vibrations on her chest.

The bartender nodded humbly and walked away to help the mass of customers waving at him for attention.

- You didn't have to do that – she knew that brand was too expensive for the common folk. She was somewhat surprised they even carried it in that establishment.

She smiled at him as soon as their eyes made contact.

- Why not? – He smiled back – I put myself on the spot just to get your attention – her smile widened -. I'll at least be a gentleman about it.

She chuckled, her cheeks turning pink at his interest.

- I only came here to let go of some steam – something was going on with her nerves -. I am not looking for company.