Is this destiny?

Back to the present…

From across the street, Chloe observed people as they trickled into the Chaos nightclub. She never went to a club on her own and she was nervous. Chloe chanted internally that it will be OK. After all, it's just a club, and Rosie, Tim, and Chad are there so it's not like she doesn't know anyone. People go to the nightclub to meet other people and she is new in the area so this will be perfect.

Chloe wondered if her knee-length dark green dress will be appropriate. But she saw people wearing anything from sport-ish outfits to provocative mini-dresses, so she concluded that there was no dress code.

With that thought, Chloe took a deep breath and made her way across the street.

Chloe stood in line and moved slowly toward the entrance, feeling out of place. Everyone around her was in twos and threes and she was the only single person. 

There was a large man (aka the bouncer) at the main entrance who was letting people inside, and Chloe observed that everyone treated him with respect. No one got in before talking to him.

She also observed the building. If not for the "Chaos" sign above the main entrance, the gray building would look dull and plain and she would never think that it's a popular nightclub. Well, the line in front is a giveaway that something interesting is happening inside, but it does not look flashy like it should attract customers.

As Chloe inched closer to the main entrance and the big man guarding it, the man looked bigger and more intimidating. He was wearing black trousers and a black shirt with a white Chaos symbol embroidered on his left chest pocket and on his sleeves (eight arrows emerging from the same point). Chloe didn't know the meaning of the symbol, but she knew that it's related to the club because the 'o' in 'Chaos' sign above the door was a circle with eight arrows pointing away from it.

When Chloe reached the large man, and she saw the nametag on his shirt which said 'Mark'.

He observed her for a second before asking: "ID?"

Chloe scrambled through her purse and showed him her driver's license.

Mark typed her name on the tablet and then looked at her. "Are you representing someone or looking for a job?"

Chloe's name didn't come up as a repeated patron, so he assumed that she is either representing some new force or looking for a job. After all, they don't get random people coming here, and she was an unaccompanied young woman. There was a possibility that it's a fake ID, but if she wanted to be recognized as a repeated customer, she would use the same ID as the previous time.

Chloe blinked, unsure how to answer. She was not looking for a job but what was that thing about representing? However, she felt that if she says 'no' to both, she will not be allowed in. Ah! When Chad, Tim, and Rosie spoke about this club, they didn't mention any requirements for getting in. At the same time, this huge man in a black outfit was scary, and her brain refused to come up with something useful.

"Huh?", was the only thing sound that came out of her.

His brows furrowed. "I haven't seen you before. Are you looking for a job? Or… are you lost?" He dismissed the 'representative' thing because she looked too timid for that role.

"It's my first time…", Chloe stuttered.

"Hey, hey…", a cheery deep voice came from the side and Chloe's eyes lit up when she saw Chad. "Don't give her a hard time, Mark. She is family."

Mark (aka the big scary bouncer) looked at Chloe and smiled a little while his expression turned complex. "Family? What happened to Matilda?"

Chad's face darkened. "What are you thinking, meathead? Chloe is on the same floor as me and Tilda. She just got a job in administration."

Mark made a face at the 'meathead' comment, but he was more interested in Chloe. "Nice to meet you, Chloe, I'm Mark. Are you single?"

Chloe's eyes widened and she looked at Chad, silently asking for help.

Chad shook his head helplessly. "Let her in, Mark, and if you want to know more, find her during your break. Instead of asking if she is single right away, buy her a drink and work your way toward that question. No wonder you can't get a date, man. You need to work on your soft skills."

Mark didn't get a chance to respond, as Chad led Chloe inside.

"Thanks, Chad.", Chloe said as they made their way down the hallway that was dimly lit.

"Don't worry about it. Mark is big and looks scary, but he is a nice guy. What brings you here tonight?"

Chloe shrugged. "You spoke about this nightclub and since I've settled in my apartment, I had some free time and I thought of coming to see the club for myself."

She didn't want to say that she came here with the hope to see Noah, and she prayed silently that Matilda didn't mention their Noah-related chat to Chad. Luckily, he didn't bring it up.

Another double door opened, and Chloe's ears were assaulted by music and loud cheers from the people. She saw that there were many people present, and the big screens above showed some people fighting. It was like a boxing match but with no gloves and the fighters could use their legs as well.

"Where do you want to go?", Chad asked Chloe and he spoke while gesturing with his hand: "Booths are there, the dancefloor is straight ahead, and the bar is on the right."

"I will go to the bar.", Chloe said, while picking the lesser evil of the three. There was no way she will go to a booth on her own, and dancing in this packed place didn't seem like a good idea either.

"Allow me to escort you.", Chad offered.

"Aren't you busy?"

"I work here to make sure things are in order. Escorting you to the bar can be considered part of my work.", Chad grinned. "Come on. Don't be shy." He leaned closer as if to speak secretly, but he still shouted because of the surrounding noise: "The guys can smell fear. You should act with confidence, and if that does not work, find one of us…" He patted his chest and Chloe noticed the Chaos symbol on his left chest pocket. She understood that is the uniform of employees because even the waitress who passed by them with a tray full of drinks had the same outfit with the difference that instead of black pants she wore a black pencil skirt.

Chloe pressed her lips into a line at his last comment. Is it so obvious that she is flustered by this nightclub?

Chloe followed after Chad and he stopped in front of an empty barstool before gesturing for Chloe to sit.

Chloe's head tilted from left to right as she took in the massive length of the bar. The mirror wall behind it was filled with shelves and various bottles. There were also two large TV screens on that wall, that were showing the same as all the other screens through the club: two people beating each other like there is only one channel available.

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