"h.e.l.lo! Honey!  My beautiful Cathy! Are you free today?" Laurice cheerily spoke while biting her lips. She very well knew her friend's temper and with her current situation she guessed it would be best to sweet talk her friend first.

"Hmp! Afraid now aren't you? Why won't you tell me what happened exactly? I've been sending you texts but you did not respond to any of them. You keep ignoring me and now you call me when it's convenient for you, huh?" The person on the other line spoke in a menacing tone. Catherine was a straightforward person, sometimes too frank that she could not bare to listen to her incessant rumbling.

"I know i'm at fault, i'm sorry. I'll tell you everything, alright? So, can i meet you today?" Laurice was guilty enough for her mistakes that she could not afford to offend anyone anymore.

She heard a deep and long sigh from the other side of the line but the person responded, "Yes, ofcourse! I am supposed to meet you earlier anyway. I've been wanting to asked you a lot of things. And i needed a favor from you, too."

Laurice's face immediately fell when she heard the word. Her eyes shrunk in suspicion.

"Oh! A favor. That's new. What could that be?" Laurice sounded doubtful. Cathy never asked her for favours but if she ever did, then it's one major favor that not even her, Catherine's most trusted person, is allowed to decline.

Catherine laughed in her ears silently.

It sent chills to Laurice for some reason, adding more to her suspicion.

"Actually ... i think i have something else today ..." She stammered in her words. Before Laurice could even finished her piece, an enraged voice erupted from the other line.

"Meet me at The Cube at 3 p.m. today. I'll send you the address. Set your gps while driving. If you dare not show up, i'll wring your beautiful neck. If you dare reschedule, i'm camping at your house forever." Her voice was laced with a tinge of warning making Laurice more afraid of her. Whatever the 'favor' is now, she will not dare refuse any longer. Cathy can be a vengeful person and she always gets want she wants. If something crosses her, she will retaliate ten folds back. In fact, Laurice was even more afraid of her friend than her own mother. Thinking about 'that' person, Laurice's mood dropped a few levels.

Laurice sighed heavily and replied timidly, "Alright, i'll meet you there."

A satisfied mumbling can be heard from Cathy before responding audibly with, "Good. See you Liz! I'm excited!" The ever fickle and moody friend shrieked from the other line.

As soon as the phone call ended, Laurice busied herself preparing for yet another tortous ordeal. She had a bad prediction. Laurice felt that something is bound to happen with meeting her good old friend and cla.s.smate.

She fled upstairs while muttering a silent prayer.

...

Soon, Laurice was already on her way to their meeting place. It registered that The Cube is at central most part of the metro. She heaved a long sigh.

'It seems it's gonna be one hel* of drive back.'

But she would rather book a hotel if they both stay out together late tonight.

Right now, Laurice was thinking she might need to hire just one more person to do the driving for her in the near future.

...

Fifteen minutes past the hour of four in the afternoon.

Laurice drove around the metro in circles. She was already worn out from the traffic that she was running late. She swore to familiarize herself around the capital sometime within this month since the business district is somewhere around the corner. And she was nearing her final exit towards her destination.

She's terribly exhausted now.

Soon enough, after a final curve on a busy street, a prominent tall building emerged from her line of sight. Laurice mouth twitched ever so slightly when the gps announced her arrival.

Her face grimaced.

'Catherine de Luna!'

Her fingers clutched tightly at the steering wheel as she screemed her friend's name in her head.

Cathy had apparently brought her to a bar.

No, quite specifically, The Cube is obviously a night club.

A high-end night club at the heart of the metro.

She looked around the neighboring establishments and her fury begin to rise.

Not even a private cafe? Or restaurant, perhaps?

But a night club.

She wondered if it was even opened at such an hour.

Laurice gritted her teeth as she drove forward and immediately saw a valet waiting rather patiently to fetch her car. She made a full stop and lowered the windows when the uniformed man approached her.

The man asked with a professional smile plastered on his face if she was a member or a guest.

Laurice replied, "Companion".

She did not forget to mention Cathy's name for further validation.

It seemed the establishment is not privately exclusive for members alone but the security was not lenient at all.

The valet politely nodded briefly after confirming her ident.i.ty and instantly went to her side of the car to help her out of the vehicle. Laurice alighted but her limbs are still slowly adjusting so she excused herself for a minute supporting her body as she leaned on her car before finally tossing her keys to the personnel. She no longer care if the man was ever having some crazy thoughts about her behavior but she just could not help it at all. Laurice supposed that she badly needed to exercise to keep her body in it's optimal state.

...

Laurice stood rooted to the ground.

Before her was a towering building spread over five floors with an exquisite cla.s.sic modern 60s architecture. It is an embodiment of luxury and decadence with a touch of playful charm to it. She does not frequent such places ever but she has been to one before in New York City. Clubbing is definitely not on her list of hangout place. She does not want to a.s.sociate herself with the high-society or meet just anybody for small talks in such a place. But she had no choice but meet her friend here today, and it seemed they won't be going out anytime soon. With a heavy and uneasy heart, she walked through the pavement leading towards the frosted gla.s.s-door entrance.