Story is set in the early 2000s
“I wonder what I should wear? “, Rachel wondered out loud as she looked into her closet in her dorm room. It was a Saturday night and she was planning to go paint the town red with her friends.
Rachel was in her 20s and studying in a local university. Sporting luscious shoulderlength hair with jet-black tresses that tumbled across her shoulders. She had a unique Pan-Asian look with sharp features on her dole like face: lush eyebrows which are like floral arches over a pair of hazel-black eyes that sparkled and were mesmerising to stare into. A cute button like nose adorned her face with a high ridge that sat in the middle of her lovely face, flanked with dimple cheeks on each side. Her lips were delicate yet plump as well as womanly which gave the most amazing and seductive smile ever. A smile that could melt any man’s heart or make him do anything for her.
She looked at herself and admired her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was like porcelain: smooth, milky-white and supple. Her legs were willowy and slender, a result of her many hours of running that showed as anyone could see she had a lithe and athletic frame and yet despite her slenderness, she was blessed with feminine curves that accentuated her sensuality.
Adorned on her chest were perfect pear shaped D cup breasts that looked slightly disproportionate on her petite slender frame. Like pink-frosted snow capped mountains, they rise gloriously from her chest. Her nipples were erect, with aureoles puffy with a pinkish hue from the warm bath she just had. In contrast to her slender frame, her breasts were eye-popping big and they filled up her dresses and bras. They were pert, taut but soft like Arabian pillows in a sultan’s palace. They were the alluring highlights of her young sexy body and were the objects of men’s gaze as they encounter her as she walks by them after her beautiful face catches their attention. If there was ever was an Asian avatar of the goddess Aphrodite, she would be it: Innocent and angelic but underneath that well-crafted image hid a devilish body with a cheekiness to boot.
A short buzz woke her up from her daydream as her Nokia phone vibrated on her dressing table. She picked it up and saw the SMS message: “What time should I pick u up?”
It was her Friend Alan whom she has known since before her university days. Alan has been a close and constant confidante of hers and have been one of if not the sweetest guy she has ever known. However, despite his sweetness and care towards her, she was never drawn nor attracted to him and treated him more like a Brother more than anything else. These feelings were however (and to Alan’s dismay) not mutual.
She was nursing a broken heart and Alan had suggested going clubbing with a few mutual friends at Zouk. Perhaps a wild night out would help drown out some of her troubles and sorrows, he hoped.
“730?” She replied nonchalantly as she blew her wet hair with a hairdryer.
Feeling particularly sexy, Rachel picked out her sexiest clubbing outfit which she had bought from Ebay. It was a black backless halter top with a plunging neckline to almost her navel. The thin fabric hung snuggly around her neck like a black serpent and in a cris-cross fashion, the thin narrow cloth was draped across her bosom on each side, barely covering her womanly mounds from prying eyes. Using the miracle of nipple and security tape, Rachel used it to cover her modesty precariously, a fine balancing act between sheer sensuality and dangerous exhibitionism. She then wore a tight fitting denim mini-skirt that were 3-4 inches above her knees and hugged her cute bottom nicely. So revealing and tight fitting was her outfit that she made a mental note to cover herself whenever she had to cross her legs or bend over. Underneath the skirt, she wore a pair of thin white cotton panties with heart shapes motifs which she had bought at a recent sale. Finally, she slipped on her black high-heels that when she stood in them highlighted her tone calfs and perked up a already cute bottom.
Raised in a conservative household, she felt wrong as she checked herself in her mirror before she left the house. The only thought that came into her head was “my Mother would disapprove of how I look, but whatever cos YOLO.”
At 730, her ride came with her friends Beth, Mandy and Lisa who sat at the back of Alan’s saloon car. They were dressed to the nines and were her friends from high school but as usual she was the prettiest in the group. There were countless cases of boys who would befriend them only to ask about Rachel.
“Hi… You look erm fabulous”, Alan said weakly as he felt a visceral physical reaction to seeing his friend dressed in such a revealing outfit for the first time. As she entered the car, he saw how her top clung so vicariously to her body, her deep V neckline showing her cleavage and a hint of her alluring globes. He gulped his saliva nervously, trying to be as cool as he can. Her bare-back implied she was not wearing any brassiere and the thought of her not wearing anything underneath that thin fabric drove him insane as he gripped his steering wheel tightly with his clammy hands.
“Stay cool Alan, stay cool. Don’t get weird on her.” He muttered under his breath as he drove the car to their destination, stealing glances at her whenever he could as he shifted uneasily in his seat.
As they reached the club, the group was joined by her friends’ 3 boyfriends, all of whom tried not to look at her as they took and held onto their gf’s hands. As they waited in line, Rachel started to feel abit conscious of her dressing as guy after after guy checked her out. “Who is that hot chick?”, the guys at the line and bar thought in almost collective unison.
She felt abit more uncomfortable as she felt their gaze on her grew, their stares undressing her with their eyes. She was cognizant of their gaze flowing from her face to her body clad under that ridiculously sexy outfit which left little to imagination. She found herself unconsciously gravitating towards Alan for security as he was one of the few guys not looking at her with lust but not without much effort. The guys made a mental note to see if she was attached and assumed the young strapping bespectacled Indian fella was her date.
As they proceeded to the counter to pay their entry fees, the bouncer a large thick-set Malay guy stopped the group at the entrance in their tracks. Pointing at Rachel, the bouncer gave a cheeky smile and said:" Babe, please show me your ID. You look too young and hot to be allowed inside"
Rachel was blushing at his remarks and fished through her purse for her ID.
“Lady, I am only kidding. Have you paid your entrance yet?”
“Not yet.” Rachel looked at him pleadingly hoping her night would not end so prematurely and unceromiously.
“Good. You don’t have to. Mr. Klauss has already paid for you and asked me to give you and your friends a table. He also invites you to join him at his VIP booth anytime later if you are interested.”, the bouncer said as he pointed towards a middle-aged Caucasian man who stood at the outdoor bar. He was dressed smartly in a suite, with his shirt at his collar unbuttoned. He was blonde, tall and had Long hair which he tied up in a bun behind him. The right mix of casual and formal, he exuded an air of confidence even though he was 10 feet away from her.
He smiled at her with very kind eyes but beneath that smile betrayed a hint of mischievous energy. Lifting his glass of wine towards her, he gave her a brief toast as an acknowledgement before returning to converse with his group of friends at the bar.
“I think I should at least go over and say thank you.” Rachel wondered out loud.
“I don’t think that’s a wise idea, he just wants to pick you up tonight. Can we just pay and get our own table?” Alan interjected with much irritation.
“I am sorry but I am afraid I can’t do that bro. Mr. Klauss is a very good Friend of our boss. He would be upset if we accepted your money”
Beth with a scrowl on her face betraying a hint of jealousy took Rachel by the hand and said:" Dear, let’s just go in since he offered. He will probably come over and said hi anyway"
As the group was escorted to their table, they saw waiters putting Two bottles of Christal champagne and a bucket of ice on it.
“Compliments of Mr. Klauss” the waiter told them as they set the glasses for the group.
“How much are these Two bottles of wine?” Rachel asked, getting pleased at the attention she was getting and her curiousity for this Mr. Klauss was surging with each passing moment.
“They are $1500 per bottle Miss. Mr. Klauss hopes you and your friends would have a fabulous night tonight.”
“Holy shit! That’s $3K? Who the hell is this guy? Rach you should totally wear this outfit more oft..” Beth’s Boyfriend exclaimed and stopped his sentence mid-air as his gf shot him a death stare and was at this moment, he realized he was in trouble.
Alan at this point was speechless while trying to control the rage and jealousy he felt rising inside him. Who the hell is this interlocutor trying to spoil the night for him?
The group popped the champagne and Rachel took only a sip. Rachel was a light weight when it comes to alcohol, merely its fumes is enough to make her giddy. However the champagne tasted light and refreshing and she noticed there were luxurious gold flakes inside her martini glass which accentuated its flavour and glimmered in the dark.
Rachel felt the alcohol flowing through her veins as her muscles relaxed. After the group had their fill of champagne and vodka, they hit the dance floor. The dance floor was darkly lit and with each bass drop of the music, it was filled momentarily with a cacophony of smoke and Colours. The DJ was playing an energetic set and gesturing to his fans around his Jockey table as they moved and swayed to his tribal music.
Rachel’s group huddled together as the group tried to shield Rachel from the unwanted advances from the other guys trying to dance towards her. After some time the boyfriends hugged their gfs tightly as they moved to the music. That left Alan and Rachel dancing awkwardly together with Alan trying his best not to touch her or step on her foot.
During a particular segment of the music, the bass dropped pretty heavily and the room was bathed in an unnatural light. Rachel looked across Alan’s shoulder and saw a figure which she recognised as Mr. Klauss on an elevated platform leaning against the rail. He was like an owl perched on a branch in the middle of an ungodly hour as his eyes strayed towards her direction, his prey for the night.
His gaze was laser-like as he zoned in on her with a tint of admiration. He broke into a wide smile when he realized she was looking back at him. He raised his glass towards her again, as if he was congratulating her beauty and his hand gestured to the left, in the direction of an enclosed room with bouncers at the entrance: It was the VIP room which the bouncer at the door had mentioned.
“Should I go up there and at least say thanks?” She wondered to herself. Her thoughts were broken suddenly as she felt a pair of hands circling her waist and pulling her nearer towards Alan. It was at this moment she realized the hands belonged to Alan. His eyes were half-closed but had a expectant look, like he was struggling to say something.
“You know how I…”
Rachel cut him off before he could finish his sentence and said"Alan, please let go. You are like a brother to me. Nothing more, nothing less"
“Okay…” Alan said with a defeated voice that crackled with sadness and betrayed his disappointment as he released his hands around her waist.
Rachel reeled from his touch and took a step back and announced to everyone: " I need to go to the ladies" as the group took the cue to stop dancing and retreated back to their table.
Lisa stopped her before she could leave and said" Dear, are you okay? You need me to accompany you to the ladies?"
“It’s alright, I just need to freshen up and be alone for a while”
“Okay, we will be at our table.” Lisa was mindful of what happened and patted Rachel’s shoulder on the back.
“Okay” Rachel replied and plowed herself through a sea of dancers as she made her away across the crowd towards the restroom. At times she was squeezed and compacted against writhing bodies around her and she tried her best to ignore the many stares from guys dancing but who were unable to resist checking her out. None however tried to talk to her and she congratulated herself for making her way safely through the crowd in one piece.
However her triumph was short-lived when she saw the queue。
Fuck.
It was really long with at least 8 women in front of her. She scanned her surroundings for an alternative restroom and as she did so she saw a sign which hung next to a spiral stairwell that read in bold neon red letters with an litted arrow pointing upwards. The letters read VIP ROOM.
“Go up and say hi.” She heard a voice inside her say to herself.
“Don’t give people ideas, just pass him a note to thank him before you leave.” Another voice retorted. This time huskier and much calmer.
She felt a conflict rise inside her with two different forces pulling her apart in different directions. Suddenly she heard the first voice say:" Just go up and say thank you in person. It’s the only polite thing to do. Besides, I am sure the VIP room has its own bathroom."
Taking a deep breath and mustering up her courage, she left the Long winding queue and made her way upstairs.
As she reached the end of the Spiral stairwell, she was met with two bouncers, one male and another female holding her clipboard like a combat shield. They looked at her snarkily and asked her if she was on the guest list.
“I am not on the guest list but I am looking for Mr….”
“Klauss, She’s with me”. She heard a deep booming voice finish her sentence from behind her and which startled her as her heart skipped a beat.
She spun around instinctively and was met with the chest of a man who towered over her. He was at least 2 heads taller than her and she looked up and was greeted by a very handsome smile. He smiled warmly at her and looked really regal and pleased like a lion whose prey had come willingly into his den.
Unlike the other men who were constantly checking out her body, she realized his gaze was different. It was warm, kind and yet mischievous at the same time. His gaze was also so intense like he was looking at her face as if he were a museum curator evaluating a masterpiece, admiring every brushstroke and every crevice.
She noticed his burning gaze on her face as his eyes bore into her soul. “What was this feeling?” she thought as she felt the rush of adrenaline hitting her bloodstream. Forcing her to break her gaze away.
She looked up again and saw his handsome face with sharp features and marked with wrinkles and greying blonde hair that still retained its golden hue. He looked like his was in his late 40s. She noticed he had a commanding stature and with bulging biceps on his lanky and wiry frame with rippling muscles that stretch out the inner sides of his shirt. He looked like he worked out or at least had the body of one who takes part in ironman competitions. She caught herself looking at him inappropriately as she turn her gaze away for the uptempth time and swayed/shuffled her feet like a fan girl excitedly meeting her idol.
“What’s your name?”, she asked gingerly.
“My name is Yohan. Yohan Klauss”. He replied with his seductive booming voice.
“Would you like to go inside for a drink? Let me buy you another one? Would love for you to meet my friends as well.”
“Okay” Rachel replied, surprised at her spontaneity.
“This way please”, he said as he guided her past the snarky bouncers who sneered at her.
Her heart started to flutter as she felt his large hand rest on the small of her back as he gently nudged her into the room. She was wearing a bare-back halter top and she felt the heat of his palm on her bare skin. His touch set her off like a jolt of electricity as the excitement seared up her spine. His fingers were soft but the creases on his palm were rough like that of a craftsman. She felt breathless as she realised that she had stopped breathing for a while.
As they reach the bar, they were greeted by Two interracial couples: 2 German guys (Han and Derek) and their Thai Girlfriends (Nok and Pee.) Both Han and Derek were tall like Yohan but were much younger in their early 30s. The way they talked and gestured towards him with respect, they look like his associates or even subordinates. On the other hand, Nok and Pee had similar features and Rachel found out they were in fact sisters in their mid 20s. The pair of sisters like the rest of the group were dressed glamourously in clubbing wear, each wearing a black and gold tube dress respectively that showcased their fake but voluptious bodies. The girls squealed with delight when they saw Rachel and they hugged and exchanged pleasantries like Long lost friends.
While the girls chatted, Han and Derek admired this new comer from across the table. They saw this sweet sexy young thing being ushered by their Friend into the bar and threw Yohan a knowing look: Their Friend had caught his prey early for the night and boy does she look appetising. Their looks were filled with jealousy as they compared their dates with Rachel, her soft milky white skin stood in contrast to the dark ebony skins of their Girlfriends. A real life booby college girl was a far better catch than working girls whom they picked up in Bangkok as well as a far superior conquest.
Rachel went up to the bartender and asked for one mocktail for herself and a martini for Yohan. As she took out her credit card, the bartender a PRC guy said in very broken English: “I can’t take your card, Mr. Klauss scold me.”
“只有你了解我的个性。这两杯酒放在我的账下。谢谢！”，Yohan said to the bartender in fluent mandarin.
Rachel’s eye widened in amazement as her respect for Yohan grew.
“你的中文讲的很好！” Rachel exclaimed.
“谢谢，我在中国公干了大半生。我的前妻是上海人，上海话我也能听的懂一点点。” replied Yohan in mandarin with a twinge of a shanghainese accent.
“You are married?” Asked Rachel as she instinctively looked at his left hand resting on the bar. His ring finger had a indelible compression on his skin but there was no ring adorning it.
“Was. Was married for almost 10 years. Tonight is kind of like my return to bachelorhood party.” Yohan corrected her as his friends toasted him jubilantly and chanted “Yohan’s free again! At last!”
Rachel and Yohan then proceeded to introduced themselves more. Yohan was an owner of an engineering firm that dealt with oil and gas. He had migrated to China when he married his ex-Wife and built his business around the region. He had also just moved his HQ to Singapore 6 months ago to start his new lease of life.