Lethal Habit - Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Nadine heard the ping of a text message on her phone. It was Erik.

“Nadine, here’s the address. Just give your name at the door and tell them you’re my guest.”

She waited two hours and then texted back, “Okay.”

She watched ‘The Shining’ a movie she had downloaded and smiled at the lead character’s descent into insanity. Her life was calmer than it had been in the states, but she was about to change all that. She had a light dinner and ordered an Uber.  She figured showing up forty-five minutes late was about right. It took a while for her ride to arrive so she’d be even later, but thought, let him wait. At 9:30 she arrived and went up to a muscular man guarding the door.

“I’m Nadine Singer, a guest of Erik Lustenberg.”

She was let in immediately.

“He’s on the second floor in a private booth.”

“Thank you.”

She walked in and scanned the place. There were about a hundred people most of them on the young side - a mix of male and female with too much time on their hands and money to burn. She looked up and saw Erik talking to some people. As she climbed the stairs, he noticed her and got up from his seat.

“Nadine, you made it.”

Nadine smiled. Erik introduced her to a few men sitting at a table.

“Gentlemen, it was an interesting proposal. Let’s follow-up tomorrow.”

At that, the three men got up and left.

“So, Nadine, how’ve you been.”

“Getting used to living in London.”

“You live alone?”

“Always. What are you drinking?”

“Cristal.”

“I’ll have the same.”

Erik raised his hand, and a waiter came by and took her order.

“You seem to be right at home” Nadine said.

“I’m a part owner, they respect me.”

“Or fear you.”

“Is there a difference?”

She smiled, but not out of any humor in his statement. After a few drinks, she was feeling a bit disoriented. He’d slipped something in her drink, and she was fading fast. He lifted her up and carried her out of the club.

“Girl has had too much to drink” Erik said as he left the club. Someone drove them away. They headed to his place. He brought her to the bedroom. The next morning, she woke up in a strange bed alone.

“There you are. You passed out and not knowing where you lived, I brought you to my place.”

She couldn’t remember the last twenty-four hours.

“I can have my driver take you home. Do you want something to eat?”

“No, thank you.”

He took her down to the street where a car was waiting for her.

“I hope to see you again Nadine.”

She got in the back seat and was whisked away as Erik smiled to himself.