Hale pulled up to the nightclub Rouge. This was the last place she wanted to be, of all places. She never liked nightclubs just because they were never exciting. Sure, you went there, hung out, got drunk, but it wasn’t ever an experience worth remembering. She always thought if you went to a nightclub, you have no life.
Hale double-checked her makeup, hair, and disguise before she stepped out on the street across from Rogue. She may have just been paranoid, but she wasn’t going to ruin everything on the off chance he recognized her from the diner a couple of days ago.
Surprisingly, the line for the nightclub was a whole lot shorter than she thought it’d be, and the bouncer let her through after seeing a valid ID. Or what they thought was valid. Tonight, she was not Hale Sanford, but Tara Green, a young woman ready to party all night.
As soon as she entered the club, the displeasing smell of sweat and liquor hit her nose, making her scrunch her face. Some loud music played in the background, the lights everywhere almost blinded Hale. She felt the urge to turn and run back out into the street where it was quiet and. . . breathable.
Shaking off the unpleasantness of it all, she started to mix with all the other people in the crowd. She popped in and out of groups, looking for one person in the sea. A few of the boys, clearly drunk, tried to get an arm around her or buy her a drink, but she waved them off. She wasn’t here for them.
After a half-an-hour of searching, she found one of the boys whom she remembered being with Ryker the day of the commotion. Hale lifted her arms up, swaying her hips, spinning to the music and slowly dancing towards the boy. He entered the VIP area and Hale slipped behind him.
She followed him to where she found the rest of the bunch, seated around a table, drinking and laughing loudly. Hale's heart picked up. Right there. Right there, is her necklace, dangling on the neck of Ryker Adelman. She took a deep breath, composing herself.
She strutted forward, faking confidence and knocked on the table with her knuckles. All heads turned towards her and the corner of her mouth twitched.
"Mr. Ryker, may I have a word with you?" she said, staring at the boy.
The boy raised his eyebrows and grinned. Hale fought back her trembling as the boy hungrily raked over her body. She slowly inhaled and exhaled. She had to remind herself what she was here for. She cannot mess this up.
"Oh, we could have more than words, gorgeous," he said, winking at her.
Jesus Christ, this kid needs new pick-up lines, she thought.
"I'm quite satisfied with plainly conversing." Then she added, "Alone."
Ryker laughed and told his little band to go away. Hale sat across Ryker with her legs crossed and arms on the table.
"Well, what's it you wanna talk, baby?"
Her mouth twitched again. This task is proving to be strangely difficult.
"Your necklace," she answered.
"This lil' thing?" It angered Hale when he just gestured at the necklace as if it were some ordinary, everyday object.
She forced a laugh. "It isn't really a little thing Mr. Ryke—"
"Call me Ryker," he cut in.
"Well, Ryker," she said, gritting her teeth, "that necklace isn't just a 'little thing' as you say. It's very important. Very much to me especially."
"And why's it important to you?" Ryker questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Because. . . ." Hale breathed in. "Because that necklace rightfully belongs to my family. To my blood, and therefore, to me. You do not own that necklace, Mr. Ryker."
It was a silent for a few moments. Then Ryker began chuckling. Then it turned into full-blown hysterical laughter as he clutched his stomach, repeatedly slamming his hand onto the table.
Hale sighed. She expected this, actually.
"O-Oh—" Ryker choked out. "Oh my God— I- That is the funniest thing I heard! I don't know who the fuck you are, but nice one! Damn, from the way you speak, I could almost fall for that shit!"
"Mr. Ryker, I am serious about this matter and I have evidence to prove my statement."
Ryker sobered for a few moments and snorted. "Alright, show me your evidence then," he mocked.
Hale took out a file from her bag — yes, she brought a bag — and threw them onto the table. Ryker grabbed them and opened the file. Hale watched as his eyes gradually widened as he scanned through the file.
"W-What?" he stuttered. "This is obviously fake! Just– who are you?"
"Hale Sanford," I replied.
"Sanford. . . ." The boy trailed off.
"So the name is familiar to you after all? Then I'll have you know, that your family, the Adelman family is responsible for the crime of stealing the Sanford necklace. The necklace to many years to create, my ancestors put so much sweat and effort into it and yet the Adelman's just carelessly stole what was rightfully ours!" Hale took a moment to breathe. "Give me that necklace Ryker Adelman. I am saying this in the kindest manner; it belongs to me and I will have it, even if it's the last thing I do."
But Ryker scoffed, unaffected by her speech. "You're insane to think I'm going to hand over my necklace to you just because you showed me some fake papers! Just get lost already! I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but I'm just gonna let you fuck off! Go whine to somebody else about your stupid inheritance shit!"
Hale slammed her hand on the desk. "Listen Adelman, I can take you to the courts about this case. I'm giving you the chance to discuss and negotiate this topic so we could all peacefully return to our lives, but if you keep acting this way, I'm afraid I'm going to have to do some things you will regret making me do."
"Oh for fuck's sake, I'm not giving this necklace to some random bitch in a bar so just get out of my face!"
"Adelman, for the last time, I showed you contracts of the necklace and you know that every word I speak of is the truth!"
Ryker smirked and stood up abruptly, from where he was seated, stalking over to where Hale was. "You know what? Fine, you can have your stupid necklace. But under one condition: you have to become my personal whore."
That's it.
Hale clenched her fist and her eyes locked in on him. She swung her hand and an audible crack could be heard as it hit right on his nose. Ryker fell to the ground, crying out in pain. It was Hale's turn to smirk as she merrily watched the blood flow down from his nose. She grabbed him by the hair and punched him again on the nose.
His shouts had alarmed the others as they came hurtling in and saw the scene. There were five of them, Hale counted as they advanced towards her and Ryker. One of them got close and tried to punch her but she dodged, grabbing hold of his arm as she did. With a sharp turn, she bent his arm all the way back with an ominous POP! The guy fell to the floor with tears in his eyes, clutching at his dislocated shoulder.
Another of the boys grabbed her from behind, one of his arms trying to wrap around her throat, while another reached for her wrists. She grinned and bit into the bare arm wrapping around her neck, hard enough to draw blood. The boy let go, holding his arm, and Hale's elbow slammed into the other’s gut.
Three down, she thought, freeing herself from the boys, now just —
She gasped as someone kicked her in the stomach, hard enough to send her collapsing onto another table. She coughed, clutching her stomach as she struggled into a standing position. She grabbed one of the bottles and threw it at the one who kicked her. The bottle broke with the impact and cut up some of the girls face.
Hale looked around for the other one but she couldn't see him. Suddenly, she found herself in a tight choke-hold. Her hands tried to pry off the attacker, but to no avail; she was too weak. It became difficult to inhale.
"L-Let g-go of me!" she choked out.
Ryker snickered at her. "What? You done with your temper tantrum, princess?"
Black spots swam in her vision and Hale knew she had to get out alive. She clenched her fists. She didn't have a choice. She had to do this.
"I- I'm sorry! J-Just let me go, please! I beg you! I- I'll pay you money!"
Ryker smiled in a creepy way. "Let her go."
She was released from the stranglehold and she dropped to the floor, gasping and coughing while touching her throat.
Ryker stepped forward and knelt in front of her. He gripped her chin, making them face each other.
"You'll pay for this, you fucking bitch."
