Chapter 162: NY – Lead Me On

Thursday, January 12th, Evening

(Song Lyrics in Italics)

The UBER dropped them off in front of the club. They got out of the vehicle, and while one of them settled up, the other two looked over the club. It's Opening week for this new club. One of the members of their extended group had an in with family ties to the club ownership. They got them on the guest list. A nice perk, and they intended to enjoy it since not everyone is so lucky.

Bietio Hawk looked over the club with an objective eye and turned to his two friends. Jared and Jade Ambrose stood next to Bietio and nodded. Jared was the first one to speak up.

"Are you ready?" Jared asked.

"Yeah," Bietio said.

"Well then, let's go," Jade said.

The trio went to the door of the club. Jared talked to the doorman, and after a few moments and an ID Check, in they went. Bietio noticed that the club had a theme, Scarface/Miami Vice one. There's a lot of blue and pink neon giving the room an eerie hue, and Eighties dance music blared on the sound system. He felt too modernly dressed for the vibe, not the first time nor the last. He looked over the dance floor and smiled.

He observed several young women dancing. He admired the movement and form of the bodies and wondered if they were dancers hired by the club for the night. They looked too perfect, taking in the hair, make-up and dress would fit perfectly into those Eighties movies he watched when he was younger. He did note that several of the women had quite visible tattoos, and he knew that wasn't that common in the Eighties. He reflected, though, that it didn't ruin to appeal to what he was watching.

"She just arrived outside," Jade said, looking at her smartphone.

"She texted you?" Bietio asked.

Jade shook her head, "Nope, her Instagram feed," she said.

Jared chuckled, "Another good reason we could get in here tonight," he said.

"Wouldn't have it another way," Jade said, and typed out a message, "I let Justin know where we'll be to meet up. Let's go."

Their group ended up at the bar, and they ordered drinks. Bietio took his drink and turned to watch the dance floor. He was already enjoying the night out. Work drove him so hard that he rarely got the time to go out because he usually slept when he didn't work. He needed a night out, and because of a friend's influence, either it being it social media or family, being here tonight was a good idea and going to be fun.

"So, why did you bring me out tonight?" Bietio asked.

"Well, we had this opportunity come up, and you're always tied up working," Jared said, which Bietio reflected was true.

"That's how you get ahead, Jared," Bietio said.

"Well, you were always to hang out with, and it's too good of an opportunity to miss," Jade said, with a glint of trouble in her eye, Bietio noticed. Jade was always a busy body.

"Why do I have a feeling you're up to something, Jade?" Bietio asked.

"I'm not," Jade said, Bietio shook his head, she lies horribly, "What makes you say that?"

"Because you're you, Jade," Bietio said, with a smile.

"Don't worry about Jade," Jared said, "She can't help herself."

Bietio nodded and smiled at Jade.

She looked at Bietio and smiled, "I never could," she said.

Bietio laughed, "That's so true," he said.

Jared laughed and shook his head; finally, he looked into the crowd. "Here comes the rest of the group," he said.

Bietio turned and saw the crowd move. Their friend Finley mobbed by people wanting to take selfies with her. Or perhaps to appear on her Instagram feed. Finley Graham was a social media influencer, as well as having a father that was in finance. Her long-suffering boyfriend, Justin Philip, was standing one step behind her as they came up to the bar. Bietio moved over and greeted Justin with a firm handshake. Justin had a Scarface looking style suit.

"Bietio, how are you doing, man?" Justin asked and gave a firm handshake back to Bietio.

"Very well, and you?" Bietio replied.

Justin shrugged, "Good," he said.

"Don't you ever get tired of the whole, swarm of people around Fin?" Bietio asked.

"That's why we'll just go to the VIP," Justin said, and looked over the dance floor, "Eventually."

Bietio looked over and saw Finley coming over and trying to shed her followers. She's also dressed to fit with the theme of the club. "You look beautiful, Fin," Bietio said and kissed her on the cheek, and she returned it.

"Thank Bietio," Finley said, "You look nice as well."

"Thanks, Fin," Bietio said, "So, was this yours or your father's doing?"

Finley shrugged, ad looked over at her followers hanging just out of sight, "Well, I can't take all the credit for it," Finley said.

Bietio chuckled, "Your Father bankrolled the club?" he asked.

Finley shrugged, "Yeah, but that's about as much as he got involved," she said.

"So, this get together was…" Bietio said.

"My idea," Jade said, wrapping her arm around Bietio's arm. He nodded and knew that Jade was the arranger of this whole thing. The question was what her plan.

"So, what do you two have planned?" Bietio asked.

"Nothing," Finley said.

"Where's Libby?" Jade asked, Finley.

"She had to take care of something," Finley said.

"Oh," Jade said.

"You…" Bietio said but didn't finish when he saw Ellie coming through the crowd. Her blonde hair was loose and flowing; he noted there was a natural but slight curl to her hair. Her make-up was minimalistic and enhanced her blue eyes. She wore what Bietio could assume was a halter neck bodysuit in black, with a black mini-skirt. Around her neck was a purple choker.

Turn around to see you
In a crowded place
I watch for the emotions
On a guarded face
Saying lead me on

Victim of a dream
And a memory
But when I try to break free
You say to me
Come on
Lead me on

Ellie looked at him and nodded, "Bietio, right?" she asked.

"Yes, I am, and you're Libby," Bietio said.

She smiled and laughed a bit, "That I am," Ellie said, "Fin, did you order my drink?"

"Justin did," Finley said.

"It's over here, and I kept an eye on it," Justin said.

Ellie walked over and kissed Justin on the cheek, then grabbed her drink. Ellie's hair, which isn't terribly long, maybe to the bottom of her shoulder blades, moved and exposed one of her shoulders. Bietio noted the bodysuit was backless, and he saw a tattoo which said, Survivor.

A matter out of time
In the reaches of space
Caught up in the patterns
In the light of a life
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night

Saying lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on

He noted that it was an odd tattoo. On the other hand, it wasn't. Many women he knew would tattoo words on their body, trying to be profound. Bietio wondered, half-heartedly, what she could have survived that would be so horrible.

Ellie turned around and looked at Bietio. He smiled at her, and she smiled slightly and nodded.

"So, what are you up to?" Bietio asked.

"Right now, enjoying my drink and possibly getting out on the dance floor," Ellie said.

"I can't wait to see you dance," Bietio said.

"Why watch? When you could join in," Ellie said, and a suggestive way.

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," Bietio said.

"If you tease, you better be prepared to please," Ellie said.

Bietio smiled, "Hope I can," he said.

"Well, that is to be seen," Ellie said.

Bietio sipped at his drink, but he watched as Ellie pounded down hers. She gave a cute smile and head bod, she looked him dead in the eyes, challenging him, almost.

Voices in the night
Chase the demons away
Looking in the mirror
It's easy to say
Lead me on

The choices of a lifetime
In the dreams of a day
When the coast is getting clearer
I hear you say
Come on and
Lead me on

"Well, I feel like dancing," Ellie said and walked past the group and out onto the dance floor.

Justin looked at Bietio and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Weeelllll, are you going to stand here, or are you going to take the invitation?" he asked.

"Are you sure it was an invitation?" Bietio asked.

"It's Libby what can it be?" Justin asked.

Bietio nodded and walked away from the group. He moved through the crowd and headed to the dance floor. He found Ellie dancing with a few guys, and maybe a girl or two were sniffing around. Bietio approached Ellie on the dance floor.

A matter out of time
In the look on your face
Caught up in the patterns
In the light of a life
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night

Saying lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on

"I see you decided to join me," Ellie said, loudly in an almost purr.

"Why not? You only live once," Bietio said.

"I find you only live twice," Ellie said. Bietio canted his eyebrow and wondered what she meant.

"Maybe," Bietio said.

"Each their own," Ellie said, "Are you going to stand there or are you going to dance?"

Bietio smiled and joined Ellie in her dance. They moved with the music. Bietio was surprised; she had a rhythm to her movement. It wasn't random or a simple slide. She could dance. Ellie's ability meant Bietio had to up his dance game.

Talk to me of lightning
I'll hear what you say, my love
Reaching for the meaning all of the way

I can keep believing in you and me
My love
Oh, finding the answers that we need
Sometimes it's meant to be
Lead me on
Lead me on

"You dance well," Bietio said.

Ellie smiled, "Thanks," she said.

"What is your story?" Bietio asked.

"Not much to say," Ellie said, "They said if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, so I decided to give it a try."

Bietio smiled, "Yeah, I get the feeling," he said.

"There's something you want to ask me," Ellie said.

"What makes you think that?" Bietio asked.

"I just know people," Ellie said.

Bietio swayed his head side to side in time with the music, and in thought. This meeting was the second time in as many days they met, and she seemed interesting. So, why not ask to see her without the group.

"What are you doing tomorrow night?" Bietio asked.

"I don't know; it depends on what you're going to ask me," Ellie said.

"Would you like to get coffee or something tomorrow night?" Bietio asked.

"How about this," Ellie said, "Got a pen?"

"Yeah," Bietio said and produced a pen from his suit jacket pocket.

Ellie got closer and took the pen, she wrote on his hand. "That's my number after this song text me, and I'll send you some details," she said and handed him back his pen.

"You're quite forward, aren't you," Bietio said.

Ellie shrugged, "I found that you have to live for the moment," she said.

"Sounds admirable," Bietio said, thinking that thank god she wasn't so cliché that she had tattooed Carpe Deim on her body.

Turn around to see you
In a crowded place
I watch for the emotions
As they cross your face
Saying lead me on

I see you in a dream
And a memory
A captive of the light
You say to me
Come on and
Lead me on
Come on and
Lead me on
Come on and
Lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
Come on and
Lead me on
Lead me on
Come on and
Lead me on

The song ended, and they separated. Ellie went back to the bar. Bietio went over to the corner of the dance floor and pulled out his smartphone. He put in the number she gave him and sent a text message to Ellie. A moment later, Ellie replied with a time and address saying to meet her there.

Bietio smiled and put his phone away. He nodded, feeling confident, and headed back to the bar. Finley stopped him halfway. She looked at him and smiled.

"So, how did it go?" Finley asked.

"We're doing something tomorrow night," Bietio said.

"Something?" Finley asked.

Bietio nodded, "Yeah, she sent me a time an address to met her at," he said.

"Sounds so Libby, let me see," Finley said.

Bietio showed Finley his smartphone. Finley read it over and shook her head. "I don't know that address," she said.

"Well, I'm going to see what's up," Bietio said.

"Well with Libby, you can never know," Finley said, "They're at the bar, I'm heading up to VIP, meet me there."

"Will do," Bietio said.

He smiled and headed to the bar. Bietio found Jared and Hardy looking disturbed. "What happened?" Bietio asked.

"Hardy showed up with Ainsley," Jared said, "And well, Ainsley and Libby got into a fight," he finished and had an accusing tone as he looked at Hardy.

"Not my fault, neither of them told us they were fighting," Hardy said.

"What happened?" Bietio asked.

"They fought and headed off," Jared said.

"Ainsley went to the lady's room," Hardy said.

"More like ran," Jared said, "Jade followed her."

"Where's Libby?" Bietio asked.

Hardy shook his head, "I don't know," he said, which made Bietio pout.