12-07-2023, 03:16 AM
Alistair and Nadya had found their way back to the bar, making little stops along the way. At each stop, Nadya introduced him; Alistair would stoically say hello, planting the seeds for future success like a farmer sowing a field.
Upon arriving at the bar, they mingled further, with Nadya assessing the room. When Maxsim approached, Nadya leaned in to whisper to Alistair about who Maxsim and his wife were. She insisted he would enjoy them, and the more he enjoyed them, the more they would spend. Alistair might have some fun, too. "Be nice, Alistair," Nadya whispered in his ear with a grin, her lips softly touching his ear.
"Hey, glad you could make it. Hope you and... your... wife?" Alistair greeted her, stopping to kiss her hand. He turned to Nadya with a grin, mockingly playing the part despite his usual reluctance to greet ladies with a kiss. Deep down, he loved it.
As he turned to Nadya, someone caught his eye. It was her. He quickly took note of her location. Now distracted, he turned back to Maxsim, still lingering in her eyes.
"Oh, sorry." He shook off his distraction. "Did you do well that night? I hope you put it all down for me and scored big?" Alistair asked Maxsim, glancing at his wife and then back at Maxsim. He played his role perfectly, portraying himself as larger than life - a figure every man wanted to be or be associated with and every woman desired.
As these conscious and subconscious manipulation moments unfolded, the room suddenly went black. Lights flickered, and the room shook from an explosion. Sounds of drinks falling, gasps, and abruptly ending music filled the air.
In the strobing light, Alistair began to walk away from Nadya. A man bumped into them, sending Nadya in another direction. Alistair spun around to survey the situation, briefly standing still, silent amidst the chaos.
Upon arriving at the bar, they mingled further, with Nadya assessing the room. When Maxsim approached, Nadya leaned in to whisper to Alistair about who Maxsim and his wife were. She insisted he would enjoy them, and the more he enjoyed them, the more they would spend. Alistair might have some fun, too. "Be nice, Alistair," Nadya whispered in his ear with a grin, her lips softly touching his ear.
"Hey, glad you could make it. Hope you and... your... wife?" Alistair greeted her, stopping to kiss her hand. He turned to Nadya with a grin, mockingly playing the part despite his usual reluctance to greet ladies with a kiss. Deep down, he loved it.
As he turned to Nadya, someone caught his eye. It was her. He quickly took note of her location. Now distracted, he turned back to Maxsim, still lingering in her eyes.
"Oh, sorry." He shook off his distraction. "Did you do well that night? I hope you put it all down for me and scored big?" Alistair asked Maxsim, glancing at his wife and then back at Maxsim. He played his role perfectly, portraying himself as larger than life - a figure every man wanted to be or be associated with and every woman desired.
As these conscious and subconscious manipulation moments unfolded, the room suddenly went black. Lights flickered, and the room shook from an explosion. Sounds of drinks falling, gasps, and abruptly ending music filled the air.
In the strobing light, Alistair began to walk away from Nadya. A man bumped into them, sending Nadya in another direction. Alistair spun around to survey the situation, briefly standing still, silent amidst the chaos.