Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 19

-Sofia-

I love to explore new tastes, and I'm sure everything Clara served on the table was excellent. But the message I heard before dinner killed my mood.

While Clara prepared the table, I went to the beach to get some air. I couldn't stomach Carlota shoving her busty boobs in Chase's face. The tranquility in the dark made me do something I promised I'd never do. It could either make me or break me. And worst, it ruined me from the inside.

I listened to one of Kyle's many voice calls. The very first one he sent me the day I left.

'Sofia... a long pause followed. He sounded drunk, slurring my name. A distant chuckle followed, pouring liquid over a glass and a loud slam and glass shattering. The f*ck you got the courage to defy me? I gave you that ultimatum. I was sure you'd stay, so sure... Sofia. You love me... I f*cking love you... come back... I need you here.'

"Is everything okay?" Clara's concern-filled voice pulled me out of my train of thought.

"Yeah," I said, finally taking a mouthful of the carbonara I'd been twisting with my fork. "Thank you for inviting me over. I miss home-cooked meals.

"You're welcome," Clara reached over the gold-accentuated white linen table.

Chase and I sat across from each other. Rafael sat beside him, and Carlota beside me. Carlota wasn't happy that Clara made me sit closer to her. How did I know? Beneath the table, she stepped on my toes twice. The third time, I kicked her in the ankles. Growing up with three brothers taught me how to subtly do my payback.

"So Chase," Carlota twirled a bunch of her curls, batting her fake lashes. I thought she had a panic attack. "Are we still on for later?"

The innuendo in her tone made my shoulder stiffen. I locked eyes with Chase. "Sure."

"Sofia is my plus one," Rafael butted in..

Chase groaned, glaring at his friend.

"Sofia?" Rafael ignored Chase. "Will you be my date later? It's Eros' club opening night."

I gnawed my lip. "I would love to, but I didn't bring any dress for clubbing."

He knew that. He kidnapped me from the penthouse.

Carlota squeezed my shoulder, surprising me. "Don't worry. I got a few clothes I think would fit you

in my car. "Perfect!" Chase grumbled under his breath. Rafael chuckled, and Carlota giggled as though there was a private joke between the three of them.

Despite Carlota's apparent animosity towards me, she wasn't lying about the dress. She even has spare shoes in her car.

I rode with Rafael, following Chase's motorcycle with Carlota tailing behind us.

"You look stunning," Rafael murmured, glancing over.

I tucked the wayward strands of my hair behind my ears. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail to show off my shoulder in the off-shoulder mini dress. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. It reached the middle of my thighs, and I did my best to put on makeup worthy of clubbing night.

"Thank you," I said, admiring Rafael in his fitted moss green dress shirt, the sleeves folded up to his elbows, stretched to accommodate his biceps and dark jeans. He brushed his curls back, making his five o'clock shadow prominent. "Who's Eros?" "A friend. He owns tons of clubs in Rio. I think this is his fifteenth."

"Wow."

"Carlota's brother," he said. My head snapped in his direction. "Stepbrother."

"And he knew Chase was dating his sister?" I was curious. I hope Rafael doesn't notice how quickly that question slipped out of my mouth.

"Carlota is not dating anyone. She sleeps with a lot of men," Rafael answered.

"Huh," I hummed, unsure what to feel about his revelation.

"Chase wasn't always like this," he explained.

"Really?" I asked sarcastically. "Because the Chase I remember from ten years ago, and now, not

much has changed. Maybe he's a successful businessman now, but he still collects women, stacking their names, exploring like he's making a memoir."

Rafael chuckled, holding the steering wheel with one hand and resting his elbow against the window. "You know him too well."

"Apparently," I said, bitterness made my throat tight.

As the drive takes place and this conversation rolls, I feel like Chase is treating me like one of his girls. Rephrase; he already did. The fact that he hadn't mentioned anything about last night and his passive expression when he saw me was proof that I was the only one who was putting so much thought into it. He is used to kissing women and taking what he wants. I knew better than to think deeper into what happened last night. One club stood out from the long stretch of clubs and bars on the beach as Rafael slowed on the street parking.

Chase waited for us beside the bouncer, speaking to the guy. The bouncers allowed us in, and inside I instantly understood why Eros owned numerous clubs and still counting. His club, Bronze, had the longest line of people wanting to get in.

We slipped through the throng of dancing crowds and passed the bar into an open space. Three pools of different sizes and designs had water lit up by colorful underwater lights. Tables stood along the poolside, busy and occupied. People greeted Chase, Rafael, and Carlota as we made our way further into the party. I was a wallflower beside Rafael.

"Are you okay?" Rafael draped an arm over my shoulder, drawing me closer as he continued to speak to a group of guys around his age. They were talking about a race that happened this afternoon. The winner was their friend. They were celebrating. "Yeah," I leaned closer to him. "Would you like a drink? I need one badly."

Rafael chuckled at my bluntness. This was nothing like I expected. It's like there were two clubs in one place. The first was the partying crowd at the main hall, and this one was more subtle and more intimate for the rich and elite. From the way they spoke, I gathered they were in the same circle as Chase. Wealthy, famous and had a lot of time to spend partying.

"I'll get us a drink," Rafael offered. I patted his chest.

"Nah, let me."

Catching on to my need for a quick escape, Rafale nodded, conceding.

Chase and Carlota were nowhere to be seen. I followed the signs leading to the restrooms, glad there was no line. Doing my business, I went out intending to fetch our drinks, but I paused by the hallway when I saw Chase hovering over Carlota on the wall. They were sucking each other's faces, too busy to notice anyone passing by them.

I swallowed hard, hoping to slip past them without announcing my presence. Seeing Chase make out with his girlfriends in the past left a bitter taste on my tongue. This time, it was different. Each careful step I took felt like dragging an anchor. He was just my childhood crush. Seeing him shove his tongue between Carlota's lips while his hands slipped under her skirt shouldn't feel this painful.

I held my breath, walking past them, ready to round the corner, but Carlota called my name. My shoulder stiffened. The last thing I needed to see was Carlota's smug smirk, and I did as I turned. The passive look on Chase's face only made this more painful than it already was.