Chapter 6.
The Art of seduction.
It had been a busy week for Holly, orders had come in and she had been swamped with work. Still Kim made sure she squeezed time to teach Holly how to seduce a man. Her lesson notes had comprised of seductive poses, extensive teaching on talking dirty and a lesson on how to dance sexy.
Kim's idea of lessons were too comical for Holly to have taken seriously. But still, she pretended to be very interested in them and even took notes.
They had both decided to go out on Friday night, to unwind and also test Holly's newfound skills.
Holly had been sceptical at first, but there wasn't much she could do after she already accepted to be Kim's pawn.
"I don't feel too comfortable in this" Holly commented as they get out of the cab and cold breeze brushed her bare legs.
One of the dresses she had bought while shopping was a smooth purple satin fabric with a side draw string detail and low cut front.
The dress had clung to her like a second skin and Holly felt mildly uncomfortable in showing so much skin.
Although, she had to admit it was a great dress and it did wonders for her figure but she didn't like the feeling of being gawked at.
"Oh deal with it! That's a show stopping dress. It makes you look hot!" Kim replied as she cut straight to the front of the line and the security guard stepped aside for all three of them.
Being the assistant manager of one of the most famous clubs in the city had it perks and one of it was the fact that it gave Kim easy access to many other clubs.
Inside the club it was like dancing on the Northern Lights; beneath the dry-ice smoke swirled an array of blues, acid greens, hot pinks and gold. The air was heavy with the pungent smell of alcohol and the faint smell of sweat. The music played over the dance floor as if it had fused with the bodies.
Holly, Kim and one of Holly's friends Jordan waded through the crowd to get to the bar.
"This place looks packed tonight" Holly commented as she perched on a barstool in between Holly and Jordan.
"It's the weekend. Plenty of fish in the sea" Jordan replied Holly with a smile on her face.
Holly had never really liked Jordan. She was just Kim's friend whom she tolerated. Holly remembered the day she and Jordan met a few months ago, She had not made a very good first impression.
Kim looked distracted as her eyes searched all around the club. Suddenly she started walking away from the bar and Holly stopped her.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll going to try and get us into the VIP lounge. Why don't you guys order a drink or two, I'll be back soon" Kim said as she waved and disappeared into the crowd in her bubblegum pink bandage dress.
Jordan and Holly slipped into the first empty barstools they could see.
"I'd like to order two shots of Kamikaze please" Jordan quickly ordered as the bartender appears in front of them with a mixer.
"I don't want a shot" Holly turned to her and Jordan shrugged.
"They're both for me"
The bartender looked at Holly expectantly, impatiently waiting for her order.
"Dry Martini. Thank you"
As Holly watched the crowd of people on the dance floor moving their bodies to the beat, she remembered how much she had always wanted to dance in clubs.
But Mark always found it distasteful going to clubs, or even dancing in one.
I can dance in a club freely now. She thought as a smile came on her lips and she remembered that she was single and free to do whatever she wanted.
"So, why don't we do a little test" Jordan whispered as she adjusted in her seat so she could be close enough to Holly and angled her head in a way that only Holly would be able to hear what she had to say.
"Excuse me?"
"Let's do a little test. To see how much you've learnt. There's a man seated next to you, try and convince him to dance with you"
A short mocking laughter escapes from Holly's mouth.
"Are you kidding?"
Jordan's dark brown eyes widened in surprise as she glared at Holly as the bartender served their drinks.
"All that I'm trying to say is that, if you're going to try and seduce Ryder Bates, you should practice on someone"
She pressed on and Holly rolled her eyes.
"If you haven't noticed we're in a club"
Jordan shrugged as she lifted her hands in exasperation.
"Where exactly do you think you'd find a man? On the streets? Just do as I say so you don't make a complete fool of yourself when Ryder comes".
Holly's anxiety gnawed at her but she slowly pulled strands of her dark hair away from her face and turned to face the man a stool away from her.
She knew that she could easily stop and she knew that she didn't have to do it. But Holly did it anyway.
"Hello" she called out as she cocked her head to the other side while the man looked at her.
He was an average looking man at best. With thinning brown hair and a overgrown beard. He wore a dark blue shirt with a tie tucked into suit trousers which suggested that he must have just got off work.
His eyes travelled to her cleavage first, the swell of breasts and the creamy white flesh that was exposed excited him, before looking at the woman's face.
"Hi" he replied with a smile.
"What are you drinking?" Holly asked as she pretended to be interested in the man's drink.
The man smiled nervously as he moved and occupied the seat right next to Holly.
"Whisky on the rocks" he raised his glass and Holly nodded.
"Hnmmm a whisky man. My name is Holly"
She stretched out her hand coyly and the man took it in his.
"Justin. What's a pretty girl like you doing all alone?" Justin asked and Holly shrugged as she flipped her dark hair.
"Waiting for a guy like you to ask me to dance" she replied as she batted her eyelids like a flirtatious teenager.
Holly was pulling all the moves Kim taught her and it seemed to be working as Justin was smiling widely like he had just hit the jackpot.
"Well, lead the way Holly" he stood up from his seat and gulped down the last of his drink.
Holly gracefully slid down from the barstool and joined Justin on the dance floor.
Justin was clingy, Holly spotted that the moment they started dancing to the rap song that most of the dancers were grinding too.
"Do you do much dancing?" She asked as she removed his hands from her ass for the third time.
"Yea, I love dancing" he replied as he stepped on her toe for the second time.
Holly bit her lip to keep herself from screaming. Justin was a clumsy oaf, she thought.
She turned to look at Jordan who seemed to be having a good time laughing at the both and she flipped her off which only made her laugh more.
Holly was not enjoying the dance and Justin was too busy trying to grab her ass to notice.
She had to keep his hands firmly on her waist for more than half the time they were dancing.
"I don't think this is working out" she whispered to him.
Justin face fell quickly,
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Because she's with me" a voice answered which made both Holly and Justin turn.
Ryder Bates stood tall with a proud smile. Holly recognised him immediately she laid her eyes on his emerald green eyes. She had seen enough pictures of him to know who he was and she had to confess, pictures didn't do justice to the perfection that Ryder Bates was.
The only thing she could think of was how she understood why does women fell for him in the blink of an eye.
He was wearing dark pant trousers and a black T shirt with rolled up sleeves. His shirt was buttoned down to reveal a dangling silver cross and a well chiseled chest. His black hair was slicked back and his face was clean shaven.
He was staring at her intently with his smouldering gaze and intimidating build.
He shook Justin's hands and he smiled at him.
"Thank you for keeping my girlfriend company."
Justin still looked confused as he stared at Holly for confirmation.
Holly was lost in thoughts, she never expected that this would have happened. That she would meet Ryder Bates so soon. Her heart was racing fast as she turned and her eyes met Ryder's again.
"Honey I'm sorry I kept you waiting. There was traffic." Ryder turned to Holly and she managed a smile.
"It's okay, you're here now" she replied unsurely as Ryder held her hand in his.
His hands were large and warm and it enveloped her small hand completely. He squeezed her hand to reassure her.
She turned to face Justin who already looked beaten.
"Thank you for dancing with me Justin. Have a nice night"
He left without a word or a goodbye.
"So, I guess I deserve a dance too as a thank you"
Holly rolled her eyes as Ryder waited for her answer.
"Thank you? For what?" She asked as she folded her arms and looked away.
First rule of of seducing Ryder Bates was playing hard to get as Kim had taught her. Ryder Bates could never back down if he thought that a woman was a challenge. It made it all the more appealing to him.
"I saved you" he explained as if expected her to know why already.
"You didn't save me from anything. I didn't need your help."
"Then why did you accept my help?" He sneered as he took Holly's arm in his.
"I didn't want to be rude. But I'd appreciate it if you leave now. Thank you for the help I never asked for"
Ryder shrugged.
"Fine, I'm going to walk away. Your choice if you miss out on all this" he replied in a sing song voice as he stepped back and he gestured at himself.
Holly turned her back to him without so much as a backward glance.
She was halfway back to the thick of the dance floor when a hand pulled her back.
"Okay, please. Let me buy you a drink. Just one drink" he begged and Holly smiled.
"Just one drink" she snatched her arm back from him as she walked back to the bar.
Holly was playing the game like a pro and Kim couldn't be more proud as she watched Ryder run after her.