Chapter 3

Vivian ran up to me excitedly, grabbing my arm. "Chloe! I booked a private VIP booth at the campus lounge this weekend. We haven't hung out in forever! Let’s invite a few people. Bring Marcus too, the more the merrier!"

I looked at her face. Her smile was flawless. I nodded. "Sure. You set it up."

"Awesome! Saturday at eight!" She shook my arm playfully before turning around to make a call.

That night, when Marcus dropped me off at my apartment, he casually brought it up. "So, Vivian mentioned something about a lounge party this weekend?"

"Yeah. She said it's a get-together. She wants you there too."

He scratched his head, showing a perfect touch of reluctance. "Alright, babe. I don't have plans anyway. I'll go with you."

On Saturday night, I arrived at the lounge with the "special drinks" I had prepared.

I pushed open the door to the VIP booth, and the booming bass hit me instantly.

There were already five or six guys inside. Aside from Vivian, it was entirely male. They were crowded around the table, playing drinking games and throwing dice. Marcus, sitting near the edge, stood up immediately when he saw me.

"Chloe's here!"

Vivian squeezed through the crowd, pulling my arm affectionately. "We were waiting for you! Come, let me introduce you to my friends..."

The guys stopped what they were doing, their eyes locking onto me. A guy with bleached blonde hair and a vape in his mouth blew a cloud of smoke and smirked. "Vivian, so this is the rich, pretty roommate you were talking about? Not bad."

The others laughed, their greasy gazes lingering on my body.

Marcus frowned. "Hunter, cut it out."

The guy named Hunter grinned, leaning closer. "Just a joke, Marcus. Don't be so tense. What are you having, beautiful? Next round is on me."

I ignored him and looked at Vivian. "This is the 'friends' hangout' you talked about?"

Vivian gave a dry laugh. "They're just playing around, Chloe. They don't mean anything." She grabbed a few beers from the table. "Come on, let's have a drink first. Don't just stand there."

"No need," I said, placing a luxury shopping bag on the table and pulling out two bottles of high-end whiskey. "I brought my own."

Hunter glanced at the bottles and sneered. "Rich girls and their fancy taste."

I ignored him, handing one of the bottles to Marcus. "I brought this for you."

Marcus took it, his expression slightly complicated. "Thanks, babe."

Vivian seized the opportunity to grab the bottle opener. "Oh, let's all drink! I'll pour for everyone!"

She poured drinks for everyone. When it was my turn, she poured a glass of my whiskey. As she handed it to me, her finger brushed against the rim of the glass in a barely noticeable motion.

I took it but didn't drink. I set it on the table.

"Why aren't you drinking, Chloe?" Vivian stared at me.

"My stomach feels a bit upset suddenly," I said, covering my mouth. I picked up the glass and forced it into Marcus’s hand. "Drink this for me, babe. Don't let it go to waste."

Marcus froze.

"Oh, making the boyfriend drink for you?" Hunter jeered. "Marcus, you gotta show her some love and chug it!"

Marcus looked at me. I gave him a sweet smile. He tilted his head back and drank the whole glass.

Vivian's face stiffened. She quickly poured another drink and handed it to me. "Then have this one. It's low alcohol. You won't get drunk."

I looked at the tiny, un-dissolved bubbles in the clear liquid and took the glass.

"There we go!" Vivian’s smile beamed again.

Under the watchful eyes of several people, I raised the glass. I pretended to take a sip, but right before the rim touched my lips, I winced and covered my mouth.

"I can't... the smell of alcohol is making me gag," I said, slamming the glass onto the table. I turned toward the exit. "I need to use the restroom!"

"Chloe!" Marcus tried to follow. "Don't follow me!" I snapped without looking back. I rushed out of the booth and straight into the restroom.

I locked myself in a stall and immediately forced myself to throw up the tiny bit of liquid I had purposely held in my mouth. I splashed cold water on my face and stared at my icy reflection in the mirror.

The drug would kick in within ten minutes.

The hidden spy camera I had tucked behind the frame of the painting in the VIP booth should already be rolling.

I fixed my face, opened the door, but didn't go back to the booth. Instead, I slipped down the fire exit and quickly left the lounge.

The show was about to begin.